Pantifical Hill, shrouded in mist.

This mountain in the northeast of Vettinburgh is a sacred place in the hearts of thousands of devout believers on the mainland, a symbol of heaven in the mortal world, and the location of St. Arthur's Basilica, the most magnificent of the world's countless churches.

Arthur is a disciple of the Holy Emperor and the first pope after the human race came to the Salvation Continent. His wisdom is as deep as the starry sky, and his heart is as broad as the ocean. It was under his leadership that humanity gained a firm foothold in the Continent of Redemption.

It's a pity that only ten years after his coronation, Arthur's soul returned to the sea of stars. In his honor, the Cathedral on the Holy See Hill, which was completed fifty years later, was named St. Arthur's Basilica.

It is a lifelong wish of all believers to be able to pray at St. Arthur's Cathedral once in their lifetime. It's a pity that no matter how many believers come here to sleep out, no matter how devout they are and how long they wait, only a very small number of them can realize their wishes.

Most people can only stand at the foot of the mountain, looking at the top of the church tower on the high and majestic peak, kneeling and praying, pious and lonely.

At this moment, thousands of people of the faithful are ringing the bell of the Holy See and are praying daily on the flat ground south of the foothills. They knelt on white blankets, and not far behind them were their carriages and tents. Whenever the bell rang, they fell down and touched the ground with their foreheads.

In front of them, there is a wall of 100 meters high.

The entire Papal Hill is surrounded by such strong walls. There are four fortresses in the four directions, southeast, north, and west, in which the most elite knights under the command of the Holy See are stationed.

Amid the sound of bells and prayers, the papal guards stood like javelins on the walls, indifferently looking at the faithful below. They are no longer surprised by such a scene. Every miracle day, the scene of hundreds of thousands of believers praying together at the foot of the Holy See Hill is spectacular.

There was a sound of horses' hooves, and a convoy appeared in the field of view of the Holy See guards.

See the sign on the carriage. The captain of the guard quickly ordered the iron gate to be raised and opened. Soon, a dozen papal knights, friars and a carriage carrying cardinals drove through the gates, passing through the fortress without stopping. Drive along the stone ramp to the top of the mountain.

"How many are these?" Several patrolling papal knights happened to pass by, watching the carriage turn around the corner and disappear. One of the blonde knights, dressed in a white robe and covered with black double-ring chain mail, frowned and turned to the captain of the guard in charge of the gate.

"Your Excellency," replied the captain respectfully, "this is the twenty-seventh cardinal who has arrived today. ”

When several papal knights heard this, they looked at each other in surprise.

The cardinal archbishop is the most powerful and powerful figure in the Holy Church, second only to Pope Nicholas II and the three popes. They sit high in the Vatican Castle. It is a symbol and symbol of the great power of the Holy See. Every person who stomps their feet can trigger an earthquake.

Since the Romans, the Holy Church has been dominant. The thirty-six cardinals were rarely presented. Occasionally, three or five people are summoned, and something earth-shattering must have happened.

And since the Demon Clan broke through the Broken Sky Mountain Range and attacked the Salvation Continent, in the past two months, the situation in the north has been eroded, and the frequency of the cardinal archbishop being summoned has also increased significantly. As far as everyone knows, the most one. The Pope summoned fifteen cardinal archbishops to the audience.

However, no one expected. This time, before it was dark, twenty-seven cardinal archbishops had arrived. According to the rule, there will be at least three or five more in the next two prayer times. This means that the total number of cardinals who came to the audience this time will be historically higher than thirty!

"More than thirty cardinals...... "One of the papal knights stammered, "this is unprecedented in the history of the Holy Church, right?"

"Not really. An outspoken knight said, "Don't forget that old fellow Farrington ...... thirteen years ago."

Before he could finish his words, the leading blonde knight scolded: "Shut up!"

The knight was startled, knowing that he had broken the taboo. His face was pale and his mouth was tightly closed. His eyes swept around, full of panic.

Another tall epee knight beside him saw that something was wrong, and quickly changed the topic: "It seems that the situation this time is far more serious than we imagined. ”

"Of course," the blonde knight's face softened and nodded, "The northern demons are attacking the city and plundering the terrain like a bamboo, and the abyss demon invasion has happened in the south, and in terms of the situation, it is the north and the south are attacking. It couldn't have been worse. His Majesty summoned the adults to discuss countermeasures. ”

"But," said the Heavy Sword Knight, puzzled, "it's been more than forty prayers since news of the Southern Demon Invasion arrived. If you want to make a move, shouldn't you do it as soon as possible? Why is it only ...... now?"

The knights nodded, their expressions equally puzzled.

You must know that the Abyss Demon, which represents darkness and evil, is the natural enemy of the Holy Religion, which represents light and justice. Their life form determines their destructive properties. Once they descend on the continent, light will turn to darkness, life will wither and wither, and the entire continent will be destroyed.

By that time, the vibrant continent of Avalon will be reduced to a dark and lifeless graveyard with nothing but lava and stinking water.

This is not unfounded speculation.

In fact, such a scene once appeared in the oracles of the Holy Religion. It has also appeared in the legends of all the religions that flourished and died on the mainland.

It is said that the gods of ancient times once traveled through the cracks of time and space to travel around the sea of stars. I have seen many continents that have died due to the backlash of the Abyss Demons.

These continents were also home to different races and life forms, with a history and civilization that was not inferior to that of the Avalon continent. However, when the demons, which are the dark side of the continent, break through the boundaries, everything is completely destroyed.

It's like a shadow devours the body, like a virus kills the host.

In the endless void, these continents drifted like ghost ships, becoming the most heart-palpitating and profound warning to those who passed by.

Therefore, the gods all sent oracles to their servants. A warning against the demons of the abyss. Whether it's an elf or a dwarf, a goddess of life or a god of craftsmen...... Similar accounts can be found in the history of religions of almost all known races, large and small.

And by the time of the Redemption Continent, the other intelligent races had already declined. The only people who rule this world are humans. And the only true god of mankind is the Holy Emperor.

Therefore. When the demons invaded the continent, the Holy Sect didn't react at the first time, not to mention ordinary people, even these Holy Sect knights couldn't figure it out.

In silence, the blonde knight turned his head to look in the direction of the top of the mountain. The golden dome of St. Arthur's Basilica looms in the surrounding clouds.

"Let's go. He turned his head and looked around. Ordered.

The knights pulled the reins, rode their horses away from the city gates, and marched along the ramparts.

Amid the slow and crisp sound of horses' hooves, the blonde knight said intentionally or unintentionally: "I heard that Abraham has rushed to the south. ”

The knights were stunned for a moment, and then reacted.

No one spoke, but when they turned their heads to look at the top of the mountain, the awe in their eyes deepened.

If this troubled world is a game of chess. Well, high on the papal throne in the depths of the palace. The silent, thin old man was the only one qualified to play chess.

The people of St. Solan always believed that Abraham in the Temple of Magic was a mountain that could stand alongside the Pope. It was his presence that prevented the expansion of the Holy Religion's influence in the Solan Empire.

But for the Holy See, this is nothing more than babbling.

Under those wizened hands, Abraham was just a pawn!

###

The knights continued to patrol.

In the eyes of the guards, these patrolling papal knights were richly dressed. Status: Revered. But in fact, in the Holy See. They're just little people at the bottom of the pyramid.

Therefore, their eyes could not see that on the thousand and first stone steps in front of the majestic St. Arthur's Basilica on the mist-shrouded Holy See Summit, an ascetic in gray robes was walking slowly.

He looked very old. One was blind in one eye. The other was also half-closed, with cloudy eyes. He was thin and thin. The wide monk's robe was worn as empty as if it were hanging on a clothes pole. Exposed skin is full of wrinkles and age spots. Blood vessels and bones bulge high under the loose skin.

The ascetic was barefoot.

With every step of the stone steps, a flaming lotus flower bloomed at his feet.

Then, people can hear the snort. You will see the thin bare feet burning, and the skin will be open and blackened. And the ascetic's face will show a look of extreme pain.

But when he went forward again, his raised foot would return to its original shape.

Cycle.

Just like that, step by step, the straight and steep steps left a charred footprint. The breeze blew, and the black footprints turned into golden leaves, then shattered, and flew up, turning into thousands of golden butterflies, following behind him.

Finally, the ascetic ascended the steps and stood in front of the magnificent church.

Under the twelve hundred-meter-high columns and sculptures, he looked so small. In particular, the lowliest ascetic gray robe was even more incompatible with this supreme holy temple.

But no one dared to despise him.

Several black-clad bishops were already waiting in front of the church gates. They saluted the low-ranking ascetic respectfully, and then ordered the guards to open the gate.

Under the awe-struck gaze of the multitude, the ascetic entered the church.

When he crossed the threshold of the gate with his bare feet and stepped on the mirror-like marble floor of the church, there was no more flaming lotus. In its place, there was a soft, holy, divine white light.

This step made a trace of irrepressible change appear on the ascetic Gujing Wubo's face.

His one eye opened, and there was a flash of excitement in his eyes.

Then, he continued on his way. Every step, a white light. And with the appearance of these white lights, his whole person began to change.

His rickety body became erect. His wrinkled skin became smooth and elastic. Age spots begin to fade and gray hair turns a healthy flaxen color. When he finally reached the depths of the main hall, in front of the high throne. Even the eye he had lost was seeing again.

The ascetic knelt down.

Pope Nicholas II sat quietly in his chair.

Judging from his appearance alone, it is hard for people to believe that this old man, who is only one hundred and sixty centimeters tall and thin as a malnourished little boy, is the Pope who is as high as a god in people's minds, whose strength is unfathomable, and who has been powerful in the continent for decades.

However, only those who are familiar with this hall know what terrible power is hidden in the body of this short and old man.

He just sat there.

This silent and magnificent hall, this high platform, this magnificent velvet throne, and this thin old man constitute the most profound picture in the minds of many high-ranking people of the Holy Church. And this impression has not changed for many people from the time they first came here until they died.

It seemed that Nicholas II would sit there forever, no matter how powerful the enemy, no matter how stormy the waves, could not shake him. As long as the thin palm he put on the armrest was flipped, no matter how great the wind and waves were, it would disappear, and even the most powerful enemy would be wiped out.

And at this moment, the eyes of Nicholas II shone brightly. It is like a thousand thunderbolts, and it is like a bright galaxy.

After a long time, when the light faded, he looked down at the ascetic who was kneeling in front of him.

"Do you know what I saw?" asked Nicholas II.

"Fate. The ascetic whispered.

"Yes, fate," Nicholas II condescended, his eyes cold, "sixteen years ago, the fate that should have been cut off by you. ”

The ascetic fell to the ground, pressed his forehead against the cold floor, and trembled.

"The sixteen-year Lotus Hell is a punishment and a practice," Nicholas II waved his hand lightly, "Now that I have lifted the discipline technique, it means that you no longer have to take responsibility for your past mistakes." However, the fate that you have not been able to cut off will always be entangled with you......"

Seeing that the ascetic raised his head, Nicholas II said: "This line of fate was hidden before. Now it is becoming clearer. Clear enough that I could feel its presence. So, Pullman ......"

He stared into the ascetic's eyes.

Ascetic Pullman understood, and a hint of hideousness appeared on his face: "Your Majesty, I will cut it off." This time, I won't be making the same mistake I made sixteen years ago. ”

Nicholas II nodded, raised his head, and his gaze traversed the mountains and rivers to a flying empty demon ship.

There, Abraham, who felt something, turned his head suddenly.

Nicholas II retracted his gaze, a sneer on the corner of his mouth, and said to Pullman: "The heavenly kingdom has sent an oracle, and Lulian's demonic invasion is the opportunity for that fate line to emerge. That person will step on the corpse of the demon and come out. That was the last step he took to the stage. ”

There was a glint of shock in Pullman's eyes.

He knew what was happening in the south, and he also knew what it meant for the continent for the Abyss Demon to break through the ban. But what he didn't expect was that the line of fate would be twisted together with this matter.

"Destiny is a flat lake. Only when the mud on the bottom of the water is covered will you know where the loaches are moving. So, sometimes it's not a bad thing to muddy the water a little. Nicholas said, "Now, he has appeared." So, go south and don't let me down. ”

"Yes. Your Majesty. Pullman bowed deeply...... (To be continued.) )