The Pale Holy See, the unknown inner court.
"Sasha..."
The sound of sweeping filled the air. At the deserted steps of the main hall, an elderly man dressed in brocade robes was quietly sweeping the wide, high steps of the Holy See Palace.
Wearing such fine clothes, yet performing the work of a servant, is truly incongruous with his status.
Abraham quietly swept the silvery steps, his hair flying and his brocade robes fluttering in the wind.
Judging from its appearance, it does indeed have a somewhat mystical charm, much like the classic sweeping monk, and might even be mistaken for a hidden master.
A century has passed, and judging from Duoxia's verification alone, there may not seem to be any changes. But in reality, the entire Human Federation has undergone earth-shattering changes during these hundred years.
With repeated defeats at the front, the Great Expedition Plan was proceeding at breakneck speed.
As the battle lines gradually close in, the Pale Holy See and the Human Federation Government, which are considered the most central and political centers of the Human Federation, are forced to abandon humanity's ancestral land, Garden of Eden, and flee outwards amidst the approaching danger.
Currently, both the Pale Holy See and the Human Federation Government have moved out of the Garden of Eden region and to the rear star system for command and control.
The vast, Pale Holy See is now deserted, devoid of its former bustle.
It even seemed that the departure of people had created a sense of desolation, as even the Pale God Norton had left years ago, following the migration of the Pale Holy See to the new Holy See.
Elizabeth relayed the message back, and Abraham was thus temporarily left behind in the old Holy See.
He still lives in his little house, sweeping and cleaning the Holy See every day, his face full of reminiscence.
I happened to climb to a high place and look out over this planet that gave me life and nurtured me, a planet that has been home to me for thousands of years.
No one could have imagined that Abraham, the most heartless and cruel man, would now be the one most reluctant to leave the Garden of Eden.
"Sasha..."
Abraham swept the steps, the broom making a rustling sound.
His gaze and movements seemed to penetrate both the inner and outer Holy See. After sweeping the inner Holy See, he actually picked up the broom again and started sweeping from the beginning. This time, he was able to sweep up to the steps of the outer Holy See. This power of the Sixth Stage was truly miraculous.
"Tap... tap..." The sounds of footsteps and sweeping mingled together, rising slowly and deliberately.
The Holy See was deserted and lifeless.
I don't know when it started, but the footsteps seemed to have taken on a slightly different sound, creating a different kind of noise.
If you listen carefully, you can hear the footsteps overlapping each other, as if one is inside and one is outside, one is near and one is far.
"Da... da..."
The wind blew along the mountain path in front of the Holy See, swirling leaves into a fluttering dance.
A slightly gloomy sky and a gentle breeze carrying drizzle, combined with the deserted mountain path and the desolate Holy See, evoked a subtle sense of melancholy.
A disheveled figure appeared at the entrance of the Holy See at some unknown time. The noble robes he wore were now wrinkled and dirty, and his once carefully groomed gray hair was now scattered and flying in the wind. Even the crown on his head could not restrain it. Even his old face, which was usually filled with gloom, was now full of desolation and indignation, as if his heart was broken to the extreme.
"Come out here! Come out here!!!"
"You liar, you devil who treats humans as playthings, you demon who sees human life as worthless! I know you're here, so get out here!"
"Ah!!! Norton, Norton!!! You despicable and shameless scoundrel, you devil who deserves to be condemned to eternal Hell, you scourge of Garden of Eden, you Butcher slaughtered countless people for your own selfish gain, come out!!!"
"Boom!"
A shrill roar echoed from the disheveled man's mouth. He stood outside the gate, looking up and roaring angrily at the pure silver mural on the once sacred and majestic gate of the Holy See. He felt his eyes widen in disbelief and he felt utterly disgusted.
With a shout, he swung his arm violently, and with a deafening explosion, the gate was smashed by Duoxia, and rubble flew into the empty Holy See.
The gate shattered, dust and debris swirling in the air. Amidst the billowing smoke, Duoxia, his eyes bloodshot, stood at the entrance, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Even his crown, which had long since lost its luster, was thrown into the mud in front of the hall during his violent action.
Unfortunately, its loud shouts were like ants trying to communicate with humans, completely useless.
Outside the desolate, Pale Holy See hall, all remained empty; the ancient, dilapidated hall remained dilapidated, showing no sign of divine intervention, nor any sign of divine wrath.
But this emptiness only drove Duoxia even more mad.
"Aaaaaah!!! Norton!!! Get out here right now!!!"
"You damned beast, you greatest scourge of Garden of Eden! You have no heart! You have no humanity! You deserve to die at the hands of the Holy Lord Church of old, you deserve to be sealed in the hands Jonah Kuba, you pathetic and ugly piece of trash! You have always been a rat in the gutter, and even now that you have ascended to godhood, you are still essentially a rat trying to steal food in the shadows! You are still essentially a piece of trash who chose selfishness and self-interest after witnessing the atrocities of the Holy Lord Church!"
" Norton!!!!"
The piercing scream was so loud that it shook the entire hall, shattered the glass, and even caused some of the plaster to peel off the walls.
Despite his furious roar, the empty hall remained silent. Even Abraham, who was sweeping the steps below, seemed not to hear him at all, continuing to quietly sweep the steps and the ground in front of the hall.
Duoxia laughed and cried at the same time, even hitting her own head while spewing insults at Norton, seemingly trying to get Norton to reveal himself.
But in reality, he still harbored a last sliver of doubt.
What if? What if Norton really did seal himself away on the sun? What if those Aberration truly defied basic logic? What if everything they, with their short-sighted human calculations, was actually wrong?
Therefore, he used insults to lure Norton into appearing.
He couldn't believe that this super slave owner, who was extremely concerned with his image and regarded all life except himself as lowly slaves, would allow a slave to insult him in this way.
Therefore, if Duoxia dies here, it will completely confirm the speculation of Norton's existence. Then, tonight, the Pale Holy See and the Human Federation Government, which will not wait for him, will release a conclusion about the truth of all this.
But if he survives and still doesn't see Norton or even Abraham, then the research of the Human Federation, or rather, humanity's perspective and the nature of this world, may indeed have some cognitive problems.
Duoxia roared angrily, hurling insults incessantly.
But the empty hall remained completely silent and unresponsive from beginning to end.
Abraham, who was sweeping in front of the temple, seemed not to hear anything and continued sweeping as if nothing was wrong.
Perhaps the two Holy See exist in different times and spaces, so no matter how much Duoxia shouts and curses on this side, Abraham on the other side cannot hear or see any sound?
Just as Abraham was sweeping and cleaning in front of the temple in front of Duoxia, Duoxia at the entrance remained completely oblivious.
Thump!
Abraham swept the dirt with his broom, and swept the crown, which had fallen into the dirt, into a dustpan. Then he picked up the dustpan, which was full of dust, rubbish, and the crown, and emptied it into a rubbish bin not far from him.
This commotion, which transcended time and space, was not heard by any other voice.
However, the crown that was embedded in the mud in front of the dilapidated palace gate quietly disappeared into the air.
Duoxia's pupils constricted, and his head exploded with a deafening roar.
Although the commotion was completely silent, he was a Fifth Stage expert and could observe even the slightest changes in his surroundings with remarkable clarity.
Even though he couldn't hear the sound, he could sense the crown disappearing.
Duoxia felt like his head was about to explode, his knees went weak, and he instantly knelt on the ground.
All the irrationality of the past was instantly explained.
Why did someone like Norton choose such a grand self-sacrifice before the Aberration invaded?
Why was Abraham, a Sixth Stage being, completely bogged down by a Star System Aberration in the very first battle on the front lines?
Why has the Human Federation, in its war against the Aberration, subconsciously ignored research on them and only focused on rampaging through massive armies?
Once all these irrationalities are attributed to Norton, then everything makes sense.
Duoxia knelt on the ground at the gate, remaining kneeling silently for a long time. Suddenly, he burst into laughter as if he had gone mad, only to break down in tears amidst the laughter.
"Hahahaha, waaaaaah... I, Duoxia, have existed for sixteen thousand years, and from beginning to end, I have always tried to walk on the truly correct path... Whether it is for the continuation of my Holy Church, or for the prosperity of my people, whether it is for the propagation of humanity, or for the flourishing of Garden of Eden... I, Duoxia, have spent my entire life pursuing the fundamental cause of humanity!"
I have changed my principles countless times, and denounced my own conscience countless times. I thought that after many attempts and changes, I had finally found the right path. I thought that there was a true God in Garden of Eden who could bring true harmony to mankind!
But now, everything is utterly ridiculous!
Hahahaha... I, Duoxia, am utterly ridiculous!
God shepherds the flock; all living beings are merely insignificant livestock!
I fought for the survival of humanity for a thousand years, only to find myself an accomplice of the devil in the end! Hahahaha... Hahahaha...
"God is ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs. I never imagined that the Holy Lord Holy See, which I, Duoxia, once considered utterly cruel, would actually be the true guardian of Garden of Eden!" (This is not a quote from the Tao Te Ching; Duoxia's point is that Norton truly treated them like dogs.)
"How ridiculous! Ah, Norton! How ridiculous!!!"
You, God, filled with human desires, are in reality a demon teeming with greed!
Tears of blood welled up in Duoxia's eyes, a mixture of extreme anger and utter despair burning within him, nearly killing him.
At this moment, all hope has vanished.
His mind, which knew Norton so well, almost instantly grasped the purpose behind Norton's actions.
They've lived for ten thousand years and they're not stupid.
Not to mention those who know Norton best; in the past, Norton had to pretend to be so convincing to deceive them. Now that the results are in, everything becomes clear in an instant, and the truth is revealed.
"Hahaha, Norton! I know, I know what you want!"
I know you attempt to maintain your eternal rule through this, I know you attempt to maintain your eternal divinity through this, I know your fundamental reason for doing this lies in the Anchor of return, in replacing the God of the Holy Lord Church! I know what you truly fear is the immense will of humanity becoming the benchmark for the birth of that God!
Therefore, you used the threat of the apocalypse to unite people's faith; therefore, you used extreme struggle to cultivate devout believers!
You beast, worse than a pig or a dog, I will surely ruin your reputation! I will surely summon the true God to crucify you, you beast, on the holy cross!!!
Duoxia's roar echoed throughout the hall.
Abraham was completely unaware of this, seemingly still immersed in the sorrow of Garden of Eden's impending collapse.
This guy, he's even learned to use a knife now.
Unfortunately, this step might just be another calculated move.
After all, how could the Human Federation have only now suddenly discovered that they hadn't researched the Aberration?
Have they truly forgotten about the research, or has Norton now brought up the time for them to conduct it?
Abraham sighed softly, feeling utterly powerless.
He now even felt that this so-called exposure might be exactly what Norton wanted.
Otherwise, if Duoxia had called him by his name here, hurling insults and resentment, Norton, the First Stage god, would have remained completely unresponsive, as if he were blind and deaf.
"Well..."
Abraham sighed deeply.
Abraham had never been so tired in his entire life.
You're First Stage god, capable of destroying the world at will, why do you have to resort to scheming?
I'm speechless!