Chapter 217: Divine Decree

Chapter 217: Divine Decree

Inside the basement, Neo stared at the unfolding images before him. Turning his head toward Bertha, who cowered in the corner, he asked:

"In the mythological narratives of the *Light of Order*, is there any mention of the relationship between the God of Order and the God of Samsara?"

Bertha looked at Neo in sheer astonishment and questioned, "You are asking me about the contents of the *Light of Order*?"

Was it you lurking within the Church of Order, or was it me?

Neo replied with complete composure, "I have never cared much for those texts, let alone bothered to memorize them."

Bertha swallowed hard and answered, "The mythological narratives of the *Light of Order* contain no independent record of the dealings between the God of Order and the God of Samsara. Likewise, the *Grand Scroll of Samsara* lacks any distinct record regarding the God of Samsara and the God of Order."

Hearing this, Neo inquired, "Are you certain?"

"Certain. I can recite both texts by heart."

"Oh, no wonder your efficiency is so poor. To think you wasted so much effort on such meaningless endeavors."

"..." Bertha was speechless.

Neo crossed his arms, his fingertips lightly tapping against his bicep. "This is quite peculiar. Both the God of Order and the God of Samsara were highly active chief gods in the previous era. Why, then, is there no record of any contact between them in either the *Light of Order* or the *Grand Scroll of Samsara*?"

Bertha answered, "Because their relationship was not a good one."

"Oh? Do elaborate."

"The *Age of Light* records an encounter between them."

At this point, Bertha paused.

"Go on," Neo urged.

With this, Bertha confirmed that the powerful adherent of the Light faction standing before her had not even read his own faction's *Age of Light*.

"In the mythological narratives of the *Age of Light*, there is the following passage:

The God of Samsara constructed the Gates of Samsara, inviting the departed souls of the world to enter the cycle, that they might pursue the happiness of rebirth.

The God of Order thus sought out our Lord, proclaiming that the Gates of Samsara would sever the illumination of Light, and concurrently halt the extension of Order.

Our Lord replied: The Gates of Samsara may mitigate the chaos of departed souls in the mortal realm, granting the dead a better final resting place."

Bertha pursed her lips and added, "That is the entirety of the record."

"When did this occur?" Neo asked. "I mean, this recorded event."

"The mid-period of the previous era."

"Oh." Neo nodded. "So, the lack of any interaction recorded between the two chief gods in the *Light of Order* and the *Grand Scroll of Samsara* stems from the fact that their relationship was hostile."

The passage from the *Age of Light* could be interpreted thus:

Because the God of Samsara had established the Gates of Samsara, the God of Order sought out the God of Light to articulate the perils of those gates.

The underlying implication was that the God of Order desired the God of Light's consent to launch a crusade against the God of Samsara.

During the early and middle periods of the previous era, the God of Light held the most exalted status. Though the God of Order possessed the qualifications of a chief deity back then, he mostly followed the guidance of the God of Light’s will.

Yet, the God of Light refused.

Throughout the many divine wars of the previous era, the God of Samsara either abstained or, when participating, essentially aligned with the camp of Light, sharing the same banner as the God of Order.

As the leader of this alliance, it was entirely natural for the God of Light to desire no internal strife within his own faction.

However, Neo sensed that the matter was not so simple. What if the God of Light’s protection of the God of Samsara was rooted in something beyond mere factional unity?

"Granting the dead a better final resting place."

Neo chewed over the phrase.

The problem lay in the latter period of the previous era. The God of Order had gradually broken free from the God of Light’s control, and their relationship shifted from subordinate to equal. Under the mantle of "Order," he began declaring war continuously upon numerous deities.

It could be said that by the end of the previous era, the number of deities personally suppressed or brought to ruin by the God of Order was simply staggering.

In the current era, many cults were deemed heretical precisely because their venerated gods had been branded as evil deities by the God of Order during those final days.

Furthermore, with the Church of Order expanding and thriving in this era—ultimately supplanting the vanished Church of Light to become the new hegemon among the churches—the faithful of Order could hardly overturn their own chief god's decrees. Thus, those cults... had no choice but to remain cults.

Yet, why did the God of Order spare the God of Samsara?

If a crusade was truly warranted, why didn't the God of Order personally strike down the God of Samsara and destroy the Gates of Samsara at the end of the previous era?

Was it because the God of Order believed he could not best the God of Samsara?

Neo shook his head. No one well-versed in the mythological chronicles of the eras would harbor such a thought.

For it was not merely the *Light of Order* embellishing its own lord's glory; nearly every mythological narrative across all churches recorded just how frenzied and terrifying the God of Order had been during the twilight of the previous era.

The accounts within the *Light of Order* did not embellish this period; rather, they deliberately softened and downplayed it, lest their chief god appear so violently demonic during those years as to tarnish his glorious and magnificent image.

What was the fundamental reason the God of Order chose not to move against Samsara during that time?

What secret did the Gates of Samsara truly hold?

Neo fell into deep contemplation.

After a long while,

he let out a slightly regretful sigh. He predicted that this war initiated by the Church of Order would, at most, cripple Samsara rather than utterly annihilate the Church of Samsara. Had the Church of Order resolved to destroy Samsara completely, sending the Grand Knights invading into the Valley of Samsara, the secrets of the Gates of Samsara hidden deep within the valley might have finally yielded a true answer.

A pity. A great pity indeed.

Neo cast his gaze back to the images before him, his lips murmuring the very words Karen had spoken to Talina moments before:

"The existence of the Church of Samsara disrupts the... order that should inherently exist between life and death."

...

The three departed souls bound by the white chains gradually grew quiet, but their "emotions" began to transmit into Karen's heart through the links. Fragments of highly fractured memories started flashing across Karen's mind.

Karen's eyes reddened slightly as he forcibly suppressed the vertigo in his brain. He made no attempt to decipher these memory fragments, for it would demand too much energy, and he had no desire to collapse into unconsciousness just to "spy on a diary."

Yet, the anger and hatred directed at Talina by the three departed souls were vividly perceived by Karen.

Although the Church of Samsara possessed the ability to forge Samsara Covenants with departed souls—allowing them to drive spirits to possess their bodies and fight on their behalf—they could never replicate the First Knights of the Church of Order to form a legion of Samsara wielders for themselves.

Souls selected to sign a Samsara Covenant must have possessed extraordinary traits in life. Such individuals were generally unwilling to accept a post-mortem fate of being reduced to another's servant.

When facing a weaker opponent, the Samsara Covenant was indeed effective. But if the adversary proved stronger—no, even if they were merely equals—the spirits would choose to slacken their efforts without their "master" realizing it.

Just like the second female spirit who had utilized sorcery; the summoned azure python had clearly sensed the threat from behind, but Talina had not. Thus, the female spirit intentionally commanded the python "not to turn around," indirectly aiding Karen in executing his ambush.

The sensation resembled an army driving a horde of slaves into battle, while those slaves constantly waited for an opportunity to turn their blades.

At this moment, Talina knelt upon the ground, her expression fraught with immense agony.

The white chains stripping away the three departed souls felt akin to slicing and tearing at her own soul. Her entire face had distorted from the pain.

Karen lifted the Sword of Arreus and took a step forward, advancing toward Talina.

Talina heard the approaching footsteps. Anticipating her ultimate fate, she somehow mastered the pain, lifting her face to glare at the approaching Karen:

"What is your name? What is your name!"

Karen ignored her, continuing his steady stride forward.

"What on earth is your name? What, you have the courage to kill me, but not the courage to tell me your name before you do?"

"My name is... Raniedal."

"Raniedal? Fine, Raniedal.

Believe me, you will be found by the great Samsara. Your existence will not be permitted by Samsara!

I curse you, that you shall endure the torment of falling into the cycle of Samsara generation after generation!

I curse your family, that their souls shall be exposed to the elements upon the Valley of Samsara, never to find peace!

I curse your offspring... I curse..."

Karen stopped in his tracks and looked at Talina. He had no prior grievances with this woman; tonight was, in fact, the first time they had ever met.

But this was war. In the context of war, stubbornly clinging to morality and mercy was not kindness, but foolishness.

All reflection should only take place after the war had ended and the losers and winners had been decided.

Karen stopped his tracks, raised his head, and said:

"I will not kill you."

"I curse your... huh?" Talina froze. "Really?"

Karen nodded, resting the Sword of Alius back upon his shoulder.

And then,

Karen closed his eyes.

The white chains withdrew entirely, retreating swiftly until they vanished beneath Karen's feet.

"Ah!!!"

"Ah!!!"

"Ah!!!"

The three departed souls, having already been severed from Talina's soul and now freed from the confinement of the white chains, unleashed shrill and furious shrieks. Together, they lunged at Talina, demanding their vengeance!

"..." Talina.

The three departed souls began to invade Talina's body, wrestling with her for control over it. Talina screamed continuously as her body twisted and folded relentlessly, spells manifesting one after another and blasting into her own form.

Finally, the agonizing screams ceased.

Karen slowly opened his eyes. The three departed souls stood before him, while Talina lay dead upon the ground.

Using their respective religious etiquettes, the three souls offered their gratitude to Karen.

Karen shook his head, neither accepting nor acknowledging the gesture, for he had not acted against Talina for the sake of rescuing them.

In truth, he had intended to give Talina a quick death, but her final curses had changed his mind.

He turned his gaze toward the photography studio behind him. He could feel a pair of eyes watching him fixedly. Perhaps, that was the very reason the person inside had sent Talina out to encounter him.

Captain,

are you trying to observe me?

The three departed souls began to dissipate, vanishing into nothingness in the blink of an eye. Their continued existence had relied entirely on the supply of life force within Talina's bead; now deprived of it, they ceased to exist, yet this was the very liberation they had always sought.

Karen bent down and picked up a dark red bead. This bead now felt no different from an ordinary glass marble, and Karen was in no hurry to try channeling spiritual energy into it.

"That is a Covenant Bead of the Samsara Church. The one in her hand should be of high quality, quite valuable."

Neo appeared at Karen's side.

Karen presented the bead to his captain and asked, "Does it need to be turned in?"

"Only you and I deployed

The two men stared at each other on the street shrouded in absolute darkness.

Finally,

Neo drew in a deep breath and said, "I thought you were going to say you were just joking with me, Captain, and then take back what you just said."

"I was just about to take it back, but you spoke first, Captain."

"Fine, if it actually works, you don't have to return the coupon points you borrowed from me today; consider it a medical fee, provided that the treatment must truly be effective."

...

The garrison had already arrived in front of the academic administration building, completing their encirclement around it.

The Throne of Order was still being maintained, and negotiations were underway.

The Order Holy Church offered only a single condition: either unconditional surrender, or this academic administration building would be utterly erased from the municipal planning map.

Inside, Chief Bishop Sako had declared that he would renounce the use of force, but he needed to wait for the divine decree of war before taking the next step.

This meant he was prepared to surrender, but he required a legitimate and justified surrender to prove he was a prisoner of war rather than an apostate.

This seemed like a completely unnecessary step, but for Sako and the host of Reincarnation Holy Church clerics inside the building, it was of paramount importance.

In this way, once the war concluded, as long as the Reincarnation Holy Church still existed, they could return to it as released prisoners of war.

Eisen sat by the roadside accompanying his injured wife, directly ahead of them lay the academic administration building and the garrison troops arranged in neat formations.

"I never expected Richard's teammate to be this formidable," Kathy said.

"Yes," Eisen nodded.

"If he hadn't appeared, would our Richard have become an orphan tonight?" Kathy asked.

"He still has his grandfather, and his aunt; without us, he wouldn't be an orphan either."

Kathy felt her wound beginning to throb with pain again, and then, she cast a somewhat resentful glance at her husband, who had actually left her lying flat on the ground where the concrete slab beneath her head was painfully hard, failing to place her head upon his lap.

"Eisen, you should go see a psychiatrist."

"No need."

"If you don't go, I will officially divorce you and find Richard a stepfather."

"Alright."

"..." Kathy.

Just then, a massive eagle flew in from the sky, transforming into a black scroll as it descended; Delon reached out to catch it and walked to the entrance of the academic administration building, which was the very edge of the array barrier.

Standing opposite him was Sako, the Chief Archbishop of the Reincarnation Holy Church for the Wien region, and behind him was a gathering of Reincarnation clerics who had straightened their divine robes, everyone waiting to be taken captive, lacking only the final protocol.

Before the crowd inside, Delon unfurled the scroll.

"In the name of Order, the divine decree of the Senate: Because..."

When reading to this point, Delon froze for a moment; he had anticipated the possible justifications for war that might appear in the divine decree, after all, a ready-made one existed this time, and he heard they were caught red-handed with the stolen goods, but he never expected it would be this.

Of course, the actual reasons for launching the war could be communicated privately between the orthodox churches, whereas the reasons recorded on the divine decree had to be grand and dignified.

However, he was not dissatisfied with this reason; quite the contrary, he was exceedingly pleased, so pleased that his wrinkled face flushed with an unusual, radiant glow at this moment.

Because only this befitted the grand style of the Order Holy Church, only this accorded with the majesty of the God of Order!

He continued to recite aloud in a booming voice:

"Because the existence of the Reincarnation Holy Church disrupts the order that ought to exist between life and death, we, the Order Holy Church, declare war upon Reincarnation!"

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There is only one update today, my body feels somewhat weary, taking a rest, everyone should also take care of your health.