Chapter 953
Eiv’s Pre-War Speech
May 1st.
Avalon’s West Coast, Summer County.
The war was about to begin, and the armies of various nations had gathered here. The former enthusiasm had gradually cooled, and a tense, oppressive atmosphere permeated the surroundings.
The emergency promotion the previous night, while absolute value for money in terms of exchange ratio—at an average of less than 1:2, nearly half of the soldiers under his command had been promoted by one tier. From any angle, this was a profit, a huge profit, a bloody profit.
However, the voices from within the legion’s encampment were not quite so positive.
Despite the dramatically improved win rate, an inexplicable panic was spreading.
Whether someone was strong or not was not immediately obvious without a fight; however, the soldiers could clearly see their companions and comrades-in-arms being massively injured. Especially since this war had a somewhat “no return” flavor, their withdrawal from the war due to injury had drawn condemnation from some.
—Could it be that they deliberately participated in the Ascension Ritual and used injuries to evade combat?
After all, the country where the demons descended was the Star Antimony Kingdom, not their own.
Few were willing to risk a battle to save the people of another country—especially since a significant portion of them had been at odds with Star Antimony not long ago.
The Iris Kingdom had already been facing oppression and threats from Star Antimony. Although no war had broken out, the economic and political pressures had persisted for many years.
Not to mention, Daffodil and Black Hawk had only recently gained independence from Star Antimony. Avalon was even more so—every passionate youth remembered the curse on the royal family and the assassination of the Queen. Therefore, even though the Gryphon Knights had ridden roughshod over Star Antimony for several months, there had never been any talk of war weariness within Avalon.
Under normal circumstances, the risks of the Ascension Ritual were high enough, with potential for permanent disability or death upon failure.
This time, the Ascension Ritual set a new record for low mortality, and those who failed happened to have the opportunity to leave this war they were unwilling to participate in—so those soldiers who had the chance to ascend but hesitated for various reasons regretted it.
Some of them were afraid of death, and some felt they were not fully prepared. Only a small portion of the soldiers were aiming to maintain their condition to face the enemy… yet almost everyone claimed to think this way. As a result, those who ascended inadvertently became selfish—their purpose turned into “seizing the opportunity to ascend with the prevailing trend” or “self-mutilating to evade conscription.”
And what they found most unacceptable was… that quite a few people actually had these thoughts.
Jealousy, anger, arrogance, sloth… all sorts of dissatisfied emotions boiled over inexplicably. People became more prone to jealousy and anger than usual. Since the number of participants and non-participants in the Ascension was almost a 1:1 ratio, the situation became stagnant, and chaos spread like wildfire.
Seeing that the war had not yet begun, a civil war was about to erupt within the various legions.
The few who remained sober had sent out intelligence requests much earlier.
—To this day, perhaps only Eivass, who had organized them here, could prevent this civil war!
At 4:30 PM, news arrived—Eivass Moriarty was about to arrive.
The arguments and chaos then subsided slightly, turning into a standoff and cold war.
After all, regardless of their home country, these soldiers still held Eivass in considerable respect.
Not only because Eivass, as a human, had become a Cardinal and an Eternal Pope… but also because Eivass himself was a devotee of the Fifth Tier.
—For most of the low to mid-tier Extraordinary beings, their understanding of the Path of Devotion was “good people”; and the higher the level, the better they were. A Second Tier devotee was already a very, very good person they could interact with, and a Third Tier was clearly much better than a Second Tier, considered an almost universally recognized and respected public representative of a region… and so on, they couldn’t even imagine what kind of saint a Fifth Tier devotee was.
Only a very few Extraordinary beings knew that high-level devotees were the opposite of what they seemed, being completely lunatic. And these people revered Eivass even more—he had seized the position of Pope from a group of top-tier lunatics! He could be considered the most insane among the insane, someone absolutely not to be trifled with.
As Eivass approached, the allied camp gradually grew quiet.
By the time Eivass truly arrived, all conflicts seemed to have disappeared. Everyone became friendly—no one wanted to be embarrassed in front of this respected former Pope. Even if they had to pretend, they would pretend to be friendly.
Louis Victor was an officer from the Iris Kingdom—strictly speaking, he was a Marshal. The supreme commander of the Iris Kingdom’s army.
Although he appeared to be only in his early thirties, he was actually eighty years old. Naturally, his true identity was a Child of the Moon of the Blood Heavenly Envoy faction.
Although the Children of the Moon had almost completely controlled the upper echelons of the Iris Kingdom… people still held a natural opposition towards them.
This was not discrimination, but fear.
Because of this, no matter who was believed by the public to be a Child of the Moon—for example, when they de-aged or miraculously recovered from a serious illness—they would publicly deny their identity in the newspapers, even if they had already been transformed into a Child of the Moon. Even if people knew they were Children of the Moon, they would never admit it.
—Until now.
This situation had changed.
The demon legion invaded the Material Realm—and the Children of the Moon, who were natural counters to demons, became the saviors!
The Pope, the Church, the Elves… the “Holy Ones” revered by the people, personally spoke out—demanding that the Children of the Moon participate in the war!
This initially caused dissatisfaction and complaints within the Child of the Moon community, but the true higher-ups knew… this was an opportunity.
An opportunity for the Children of the Moon to be whitewashed!
Not to mention… His Majesty the Pope had also promised research on the “Perfect Being.”
After discussion, the Children of the Moon of the Iris Kingdom concluded—this was a rare Pope who held a friendly attitude towards the Children of the Moon.
Because of this, upon hearing that Eivass was coming to inspect, he had been waiting at the entrance of the military camp for a long time, wanting to express his friendly attitude towards him.
However, Eivass did not go to the military camp, but went directly to the Nine Pillar Gods’ Sacred Hall in Summer County.
When Louis learned of this, he hurried with his men to the Sacred Hall.
This was a very important matter… after all, it concerned the “Perfect Being”!
Although the Children of the Moon were very united internally and acted in unison, they had many factions within. At least, the positions of the Children of the Moon of each country naturally included a portion of the upper echelons of each country—the interests of the Children of the Moon of the Iris Kingdom and the Children of the Moon of the Daffodil Duchy were definitely not entirely unified.
They cared about their race, but even more about themselves. Whoever could establish a good relationship with Eivass first would have a better chance of obtaining the “Secret of the Perfect Being”!
When Louis went to the Sacred Hall, he was annoyed to find… that everyone else thought the same way!
The Grand Mage from the Daffodil Duchy, the Legion Commander from the Black Hawk Duchy, they were all gathered here—even the Grand Guardian of Avalon and his giant Gryphon!
—What business is it of yours to be here!
Oh, are you the driver? Then never mind…
Eivass was seen diligently conducting a sacred rite.
It was May 1st, which could also be considered a sacred day for the Hourglass.
Although it was less sacred than May 5th, priests still had to perform worship.
As a former Eternal Pope and Child of the Candlemaster, Eivass no longer needed to reverently kneel before the Nine Pillar Gods.
This was not the main headquarters of the Church, so what was enshrined in the Shrine was not the true body of the Hourglass.
Instead, it was a giant hourglass—
Inside the hourglass were sands made of topaz, and two trays extended from its sides, which were empty.
“I implore the Hourglass, the God of Sacred Number Five.”
Eivass crossed his fingers in front of him, holding them horizontally, palms facing inward.
The posture was like offering incense, and also like toasting.
He murmured softly: “God of Earthly Severance, God of Harmony of All Aspects… Oh, Hourglass of Balance.
“Fallen Heavenly Envoys descend to the world, and peace ceases to exist. Grant me the power of balance to vanquish the Fallen Heavenly Envoy…”
As Eivass prayed, the scales on both sides of the hourglass suddenly moved.
One side produced clear water out of nowhere, and the other side ignited with flames. It swayed for a moment and returned to balance.
Then, a strange, bright yellow wave spread out from the Sacred Statue in all directions, covering the entire city!
As it entered everyone’s bodies, whether human, elf, or Child of the Moon, they felt a strange warmth.
That was the Hourglass’s power of balance!
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then a clear illusion appeared before their eyes—
No matter where they were, they saw Eivass standing before the hourglass.
He was clad in the black robes of a Cardinal. His hands were released, held high, palms facing forward.
Then he turned his head—that gaze seemed to traverse fractured space-time, looking at each of them from afar.
This was also the first time people had seen this young Pope.
He wore a black episcopal robe embroidered with golden runes, and a large emerald jewel on his chest. A pair of jade antlers, over a dozen centimeters long, grew from his head, and his handsome, upright face was awe-inspiring.
His emerald pupils gradually ignited with bright yellow flames—a testament to the overflowing power of balance bestowed upon him. A pair of antlers on Eivass’s forehead burned with white flames… resembling the Candlemaster.
“Everyone.”
Eivass suddenly spoke, his voice transcending space-time and resonating in everyone’s hearts: “I ask you a question.
“—Do you know when humanity last fought against a god?”
The Pope’s first words startled everyone!
People were terrified, and even those in the Shrine dared not reply.
Finally, the Grand Guardian tentatively asked: “Perhaps… the change of the 『Royal Power』?”
He dared not directly utter the name of the Silver Crown Dragon, only vaguely answering with a euphemism.
“That is not so.”
Eivass shook his head.
He frankly said: “The Silver Crown Dragon was able to defeat the Supreme Heaven not because he was human, nor because he was a strong human…
“But because he was a 『Crown Heavenly Envoy』 descended—it was not humans defeating gods, but gods defeating gods.”
Eivass spoke and looked around.
He gave the correct answer: “Humans have never defeated a god. Not even a Heavenly Envoy, or an Apostle—there has never been a victory. Besides humans, all other intelligent races have confronted gods.
“—Why? Is it because we cannot?
“But an Apostle descending to the world may not be stronger than you or I!”
What Eivass said were all rebellious words.
“It is cowardice.”
Before anyone could respond, Eivass said: “It is fear. It is inferiority.
“—It is the phrase ‘I am not worthy.’
“Dwarves and Elves defeated Monsters, and Dragons defeated Sea Monsters. Snake People, Lizardmen, Harpies… those races that seem weak now once had glorious histories.
“Dwarves had already developed railways three thousand years ago, and Harpies had contended with the gods eight thousand years ago. Even in the depths of the sea, cities of ancient civilizations are still buried.
“—Is it because we are too weak?! But now humans are the masters of the world!
“—Is it because we are not united enough? But the civilizations of the past couldn’t even form nations!”
Eivass’s words made people fall into thought.
…Right.
Humans were not inherently weak. Although the Church remained powerful, humans had truly ruled this world, becoming the rulers of most regions. Even ancient Dragons could be captured and hunted…
But back then, when even those races could contend with gods, why…?
“It is because we are too young! Because we missed the risks, and at the same time missed the opportunities!”
Eivass’s voice was exceptionally clear and penetrating: “When we descended to the world, the Hourglass had already severed the heavens—no god set foot in the human world, and even the Apostles no longer descended.
“Now, the era of change has arrived!
“—This is not a disaster, but our trial!
“This is a challenge, a horn call, a drumbeat, the declaration we have been missing!
“To defeat gods with mortal bodies!
“Listen, everyone—this is such a glorious omen of victory! It is a possibility we have never faced! It is the hope of the future!”
Eivass’s voice lessened slightly here.
He asked: “Do you have any questions—why have gods never descended before this time?”
This was precisely what people were wondering.
Although they felt their hearts surging with emotion listening to him… it was just that.
They were even more afraid of the Fallen Heavenly Envoys—because Eivass’s speech emphasized that the Fallen Heavenly Envoys were gods, not demons that they could defeat.
—But why would gods descend to the human world for no reason? Can’t gods interfere with the Material Realm?
Why could Fallen Heavenly Envoys occupy mortal nations?
And, most crucially…
—Why didn’t the gods we worship come?
And Eivass finally answered their doubts.
“This is not the first time the Fallen Heavenly Envoys have descended to the world.”
Eivass looked around, uttering a shocking statement: “Have you ever considered why the Hrasal Empire of the past suddenly collapsed? Why the bloodline of Hercules suddenly vanished?
“—Yes, just as you thought! The Hrasal Empire summoned the Fallen Heavenly Envoy to the lower realm—just like the situation Star Antimony is facing!
“This is not a disaster, but a trial! Star Antimony, like Hrasal, summoned the Fallen Heavenly Envoy when faced with desperation…
“Because this is a ritual, a trial—it is the key to opening a new era!
“—As long as we defeat the Fallen Heavenly Envoys, we will ascend higher!”
Eivass finally revealed the greatest secret: “Distribute the power grasped by the gods to everyone, and make us stronger!
“Sixth Tier will no longer be the exclusive privilege of the Pope, and Fifth Tier will no longer be the privilege of the strong—you can also easily become Fifth Tier, just like you became Third Tier! You can, and you can too!
“You can also become Sixth Tier, even Seventh Tier, or even higher! We can be gods in the mortal world, just like the gods of the past! In the Material Realm, we can surpass Apostles, surpass Heavenly Envoys—and reach the Wall of Pillar Gods!
“That wall—the Wall of Balance will be crossed by us! Not by breaking it, but by us holding up the sky, and raising that sky higher!”
Hearing this, people’s eyes widened.
So… the limits of Fifth Tier and Sixth Tier were not unshakeable truths?
Can they really… break through?
Effortlessly, become Fifth Tier, Sixth Tier…?
If anyone else said this, people would absolutely not believe it.
—But that is the Pope!
He is the Spokesperson for the Nine Pillar Gods, and he also has the horns of the Candlemaster!
Could this be the will of the Pillar Gods?
Eivass leaned against the hourglass and scales burning with water and fire, proclaiming loudly: “This is not an act of rebellion, nor is it a presumptuous statement!
“In the name of myself, the Child of the Candlemaster, the Eternal Pope, I declare that this is the Hourglass’s Trial of Balance! Even the Pillar Gods wish for us to defeat the Fallen Heavenly Envoys!
“Listen well, we will defeat the Heavenly Envoy who descended, and open the limit of the Path!
“Listen well, the era that changes everything has arrived! This trial, which has not been overcome in eight thousand years—or even further back—will be completed by us here!
“Yes, we have the ability, and we have the will! We will march forward with our heads held high, towards a new realm that no race has ever ventured into!
“We will surpass the Hrasal Empire—this will be easily achieved! Because we are not Hrasal facing desperation, nor are we Star Antimony in chaos and despair. We are not without hope; rather, we are filled with hope! We are united, fortunate, and powerful!
“The Fallen Heavenly Envoy is afraid, which is why we are arguing! Which is why we are in conflict—it is precisely because the Fallen Heavenly Envoy fears our power that he intervenes, wanting to divide us!”
Eivass declared loudly: “Listen well, everyone! He is afraid! Because to this day, he is the weak one! Just as we feared the gods!
“This is not a rescue, although we will also save the lives and souls of the Star Antimony people—but this is a hard-won trial! An opportunity, a possibility that has not occurred in eight thousand years!
“It is because the Star Antimony people initiated the trial, because they lost—and we will win! Because I am with you!”
In everyone’s visions, Eivass was powerfully calling out: “We will all become history!
“From now on, the river of the world will flow in different directions, and future generations will remember our victory!
“We will become glorious history! We will become heroes that people are proud of!
“We are history!
“We are the future!
“—You are history! You are the future!”
(End of this chapter)
