CHAPTER 401: 401 MOVEMENTS IN LIGHT

[OP: ]

(Theocracy of Cross: Western continent: Western peninsula.)

[The Holy castle of Divine presence: Temple of Tulef.]

(Heart of the temple: )

"In this sanctum sanctorum, since Genesis, only the Representatives have ever stepped foot in."

A voice containing a strange kind of warmth, which harmonised with a unique anger resonated with echoes throughout the unique room before disappearing without a trace.

"Do you know why that is, sir knight?"

When he spoke again, the voices resonated similarly, before they disappeared once again.

It was a unique phenomenon, something one could not understand with the common logic since neither the walls nor the voice itself was the reason behind this phenomenon.

"The innermost place of the Temple is called the house of the Gods and only the most qualified of the mortals, the one bearing the position of the Pope and saintess shall enter this blessed sanctuary."

The voice of the knight in the shining white armour shining under the bright lights coming from all the luminescent jewels embedded in the finely carved walls did not resonate in the room as the old man’s who stood at the front facing a giant rock onto which twelve distinct carvings had been made.

"Hmmm..."

Each one of the twelve carvings represented one of the twelve gods that the temple worshipped as a pantheon.

Each one of the carvings were done with such a precision that just by looking at this one stone, one could feel all the elements of nature, all the elements of this world, and the sheer divine power of the tre gods depicted in them.

"It is said that the Great gods descended upon this world thousands of years ago through their chosen apostles and one of them, Lord of Earth, carved this rock with their own hands."

The innermost chamber of the holy place exuded a serene and sacred atmosphere. Circular in shape, the room featured high ceilings adorned with complex painting depicting celestial scenes of divine harmony.

The ’frescoes’ shimmered with a faint luminescence, as if the stars and heavens within them were alive with divine energy.

The walls were finely carved with intricate patterns and symbols telling stories of ancient legends and sacred rites. Something all the faithful believers of this religion would already know about.

"Why have I been called here, your holiness?"

Diamonds on the walls of this place sparkled like captured starlight, rubies pulsed with a warm inner fire, sapphires shimmered like pieces of the deep blue sky, and emeralds glowed with the verdant light of a forest in spring.

"Knight of light," for the first time since they had entered here, moving his head while still facing the tall rock.

"The Divinities have chosen you for a crucial task."

Polished marble covered the floor, reflecting the soft glow of the jewels and the flickering candlelight.

The marble beneath their feet was intricately inlaid with gold and silver filigree, forming delicate, swirling patterns that converged at the very back where the massive, glowing holy rock stood.

"A crucial task?"

Tall, slender candles in ornate golden sconces lined the perimeter, their flames dancing gently and adding to the serene atmosphere. The faint scent of incense wafted through the air, enhancing the feeling of tranquility and reverence.

Tall columns rose to meet the vaulted ceiling, each adorned with delicate carvings and wrapped in vines of shimmering green of nature.

"The emperor has fallen."

This sacred space, with its finely carved walls, jewel-embedded surfaces, and soft, divine light, created a profound sense of peace and sanctity. The room felt like a sanctuary where the presence of the gods was closely perceivable and revered.

However, with the two unique people present in this room, it did not seem to be something out of the fantasy.

"..."

This place was real and they were standing here, with the older person having a stronger, more ethereal presence than the Knight in white armour.

Both of them did not seem like a simple presence, however, they surely were not on the same level in terms of both Authority and power.

"And with the fall of the emperor, the treaty that our great ancestors had made with him has now become void."

There was a grave seriousness in his mysterious voice.

It was as if he was not the one saying those things in the first place.

The resonance in his voice and the way it strangely echoed in the room was also mysterious, however, to the knight in white armour, this did not seem like that strange of an occurrence.

The person standing before him was the sole individual directly connected to the great gods that he, and hundreds of thousands of people along with him served with all their devotion.

This was the same person who had received favour from all the twelve gods and was chosen as their proxy... the words that he spoke were the words of the gods and the words that were related to them by their gods were the absolute truths of this world.

"The emperor had the favour of all our great gods, however, he had greater ambitions and a strange desire to protect what belonged to him.

And, the Temple had thus never interfered with him or anything that was being overseen by him, however, after his departure, the (White sanctuary), the blessed capital of Barnacle that would have truthfully belonged to the Temple and the great gods must now come back to us."

The delegations that he was talking about would relay the will of the gods to the new emperor, the one who was being manipulated by the heretics who had stolen their holy relics from all over the world.

"The heretics that now control the empire from behind the shadows are going to revive the divine punishment. However, that is something I must do myself."

The pope turned back and looked up at the statue that had its unique luminosity.

"You, Knight of light, must go to the Capital and ask the new emperor to return what should not belong to him.

Merely deliver the message, and return with the reply of not the Thieves who ended the emperor, but the reply of the new emperor who sees the world with the eyes of the emperor."

The Knight in the white armour was a very important figure within the Temple.

He was a holy knight who rose to his current position thanks to his devotion and faith in the powers of the great divinities, and his unique thirst for self improvement.

He was a swordsman, someone who walked down the path of the sword and devoted everything he had to the sword, to the Lord of war and weapons, as well as to the Temple where he had grown up.

"You are to carry the words of the god to the Barnacle, Knight of Light." The pope turned around.

"Do you understand?" And asked the knight one last time.

And as the only response that would have been accepted in this holy place, the knight in white armour got on his knee and raised his sword with both of his hands before the pope.

"It would be my greatest honour, your holiness."

He was a knight of the Temple, the greatest High Swordmaster who had mastered the sword.

He was also the only successor of the divine teachings of the previous holy saint who wielded the divine sword arts, as well as the creator of three divine sword dances.

"Then..."

The pope walked up to him with slow steps, and stood before him.

"My the gods look after you, great knight of the Temple."

Taking out his blessed divine sword from his sheath, the pope placed it on his shoulder as a light carrying holiness shined from the edge of the sword.

-Oooooooooooooooong!

"May you receive with a positive message."

And then he placed the sword on the other shoulder.

"May the Light of Heavens forever walk beside you."

And lastly, the pope placed the sword back into its sheath, and placed it on the knight’s hands.

"Go. Prepare for your departure."

The knight stood up while looking down, not meeting the eyes of the holiest one anymore.

"May the One’s blessing be with you."

The knight placed his sword back and walked back after saying his prayer to the lords and wishing a good life to the old pope.

He was a man of holiness, a unique vessel of the gods onto which they had descended upon multiple times.

He was not the same as them mortals, he was also not just a simple high authority figure of the Worldline.

He was beyond the system and great rules that ran this world.

"Haaaa..."

Different from someone who could hear the blessed voice of this world and see the divine Screen, he was able to communicate with those higher beings directly.

He was a chosen one who had devoted himself to the ways of the gods ever since he was a young boy and now that he was an old person, he possessed greater experience than any of the members of the Temple.

His predecessor, the previous pope, taught him all that he needed to know however, even from the historical perspective, he was considered to be one of the greatest leaders to have ever appeared in this world.

"Look after him, oh great lords..."

Not only did he possess great strengths and powers, he was also someone who will bring salvation to this world according to the prophecy that was announced right after the fall of the emperor.

"He is a good pawn that should be used for a little longer."

For the world, the pope was the holiest authority.

However, that was just a fake mask.

In reality...

"Thus, oh great lords... look after him."

He was merely a parasite that needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

His continued existence on this world was even more corrupting than the emperor’s.