The Norton 3K era, year 159.
The Human Federation Government, which had been silent for over three thousand years during the time of the Pale God Norton, united with the old and new elites of the past three millennia to seize power again through a coup.
Because his accession to the throne was illegitimate, he had no choice but to force the old ministers under the command of the Pale God to submit and relinquish power in order to demonstrate his legitimacy.
Led by Abraham, Duoxia, and Elizabeth, Norton's former retainers, for the sake of their personal safety, had no choice but to bow their heads and acknowledge the legitimacy of the Human Federation Government's acquisition of power. They also decided to issue a public statement because the Pale Church was too large, its various religious departments too complex, and its overall size too large to be controlled.
On the last day of the 159th year, this point in time was traditionally a celebration of the arrival of the new year, and also a celebration of the resurrection of the Pale God.
That's right, in order to deify himself, Norton forcibly added the benefit of resurrection to his life.
According to historical records, the last day of each year is called ' Ascension ' and the first day of the new year is called 'Resurrection'.
For the past three thousand years, these past two days have been the activities of the Pale Church.
On the last day of each year, the Ascension Ritual will be held in Church across the world. Church on every planet in the Human Federation will light bonfires, bring out a paper effigy, tie it to a wooden cross, and burn it, symbolizing the tragic experience of the Pale God Norton.
However, it has now been brainwashed by the Pale Church into believing that 'burning the body of sins cleanses past impurities.'
On the first day of the new year, a "revival" ceremony is held, with Church priests leading a large gathering of believers in the city's streets and alleys. The city is deserted as everyone sings the familiar Church song, " The Pale God Resurrects in the Third Epoch." Holy water blessings, prayers for all, and a grand banquet, led by the Church, are held for all local residents and believers, all free of charge.
These rituals, passed down for three thousand years, have long since become an indispensable part of human life and a joyous celebration.
But this year, everything is different.
December 31, Norton 3159.
Led by the Human Federation, with the full participation of all high-ranking archbishops of the Pale Church, and documented by tens of thousands of highly influential media outlets throughout the Human Federation, the separation ceremony of the theocratic regime was held at the newly reorganized Pale Holy See.
This meeting touched the hearts of countless believers, missionaries, and even Church knights.
This means that after this conference, the Pale Church, which has maintained its rule and power for three thousand years, will truly change masters.
With the separation of church and state, and the return of power to the Human Federation Government, the Pale Church will retain only divine authority, once again becoming a theological religion that can only spread its doctrines.
This is all too familiar; it's happened several times in history, and each time it's been related to Norton.
This person is utterly inhuman.
However, the inhumanity of the Human Federation Government far surpasses that of Norton.
Leaving aside the fact that Norton's self-sacrifice was a pretense, a fabrication.
Simply put, the Pale God Norton sacrificed himself for all humanity, but before a week had even passed, before Norton's seven-day mourning period was over, the Human Federation couldn't wait to betray them.
This kind of ungrateful behavior has simply crossed the line of human depravity.
In other words, in this kind of Europe world, there is no such thing as orthodoxy or legitimacy; otherwise, such a small amount of ingratitude would be enough to cause the whole world to rebel.
However, even in this type of Europe world, the actions of the Human Federation Government have met with resistance and opposition.
Members of the Pale Church at all levels were filled with righteous indignation. Many fanatics spontaneously gathered together, hoping that at this meeting, the old ministers and archbishops under the Pale God would strengthen their resolve to resist, defend the dignity of the Pale Church, and then rally the masses to rebel against the Human Federation Government and restore the glory of the Pale God!
Unfortunately, Abraham, that coward, ultimately disappointed everyone.
Norton 31, 3159, afternoon.
This highly anticipated meeting has officially concluded.
The Vampire True Ancestor under the command of the Pale God, the old minister who had served the Pale God for ten thousand years and who embodied the last hope of the Pale Church believers, ultimately lost the will to fight and succumbed to the threat of death.
At the meeting, the Pale Church expressed its willingness to relinquish its ruling power, retaining only the autonomy of the Holy See, and even, to show its loyalty, to disband the Pale Church's knightly ranks, retaining only missionaries to spread its doctrines.
Surprisingly, none of the archbishops in the Church objected to this statement; although their expressions were grim, they ultimately yielded.
The news of this result shocked the entire Human Federation.
The Pale Holy See's high-ranking officials' surrender without a fight, their self-inflicted wounds, and even their betrayal of their own people, chilled the hearts of the Pale Church's believers and followers after the news spread.
Norton 1, 3160.
The Human Federation Government fears that the Pale Church followers might take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble and overthrow the government.
Despite his busy schedule, he immediately ascended the throne and on January 1st, he announced the reclaiming of his rule. At the same time, he contacted various powerful figures, large and small, to gather a tremendous force and prepare for a final armed struggle against the Pale Church, a dying dragon.
After all, the Pale Church lacks many things, but it has countless Fifth Stage experts and an even greater number of fanatical followers.
The surrender of the Pale Church's leadership is merely a nominal legitimacy; true legitimacy and power lie in armed confrontation with these dissatisfied fanatics of the Pale Church.
After all, political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.
Those in control behind the Human Federation Government were right.
On January 1st, a large number of Pale Church fanatics stormed the Human Federation Presidential Palace and government departments in various locations.
These fanatics were numerous, including not only a large number of first, second, third, and fourth-tier believers and missionaries, but also a large number of Fifth Stage Church knights wearing power armor.
The scale of battles today is far beyond what ordinary wars of the past could compare to.
Even a small group of fanatics can easily mobilize hundreds of millions of people to form a powerful military alliance to fight against the Human Federation Government in a military manner.