"The monster races regenerate rapidly, healing even the most grievous wounds. To protect humans, Judex Divinum granted us gifts for survival and established The Temple to maintain order. Guided by his power and wisdom, The Temple rules the world, and at its head stands the Knight of God."
Asura rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "So he is the king. King of the humans? Human King? King Human? Like the other races' kings?"
"He is said to be the one with the highest blessing from Judex Divinum, at least, according to those who follow The Temple." The old man's tone dipped, laced with a subtle bitterness that only Asura acknowledged. He regarded the man with no reverence. Asura raised a brow, but before Asura could question him, the old man pressed on.
"This brings us to how the human race acquired holy mana. Unlike monsters, humans cannot produce mana naturally. It must be gifted. Judex Divinum entrusted the seven Archangels with holy mana, and the Archangels offered humans a choice.
He motioned towards those in the room, "A choice we all made. To dedicate themselves to God through an Archangel and receive the gift, or live without it."
He paused for a moment before shifting gears. "Let us start from the lowest rank. A Priest within The Temple is the weakest in terms of both strength and mana. They must rely on incantations and enchanted weapons to fight monsters. Their primary duties involve maintaining enchantments and wards. Next is the High Priest. High Priests are granted holy weapons and possess a greater ability to wield holy mana."
Asura cocked his head, intrigue flickering in his eyes. "What's the difference between holy weapons and enchanted weapons? Sounds like the same thing."
"Holy weapons are forged by Hephestine, the Archangel. Unlike enchanted weapons, they are unbreakable and can withstand greater amounts of holy mana. Enchanted weapons, on the other hand, are man-made, and while they can be infused with holy mana, they will shatter if pushed beyond their limits."
The old man's tone was steady, carrying the weight of experience.
"Beyond High Priests are the Paladins. Unlike Priests and High Priests, Paladins rely less on incantations. Their blessings grant them vast reserves of mana and physical power. They also receive unique abilities from their Archangel, gifts akin to superpowers. For example, Mel's ability to shift the form of her gun."
Asura glanced at Mel, who merely folded her arms with little thought toward the conversation.
"However, Paladins are far fewer in number than the lower ranks. Their hierarchy is divided into seven tiers, labeled from First to Seventh Rank. At the Seventh Rank, there are fewer than a hundred individuals, and those who reach it are known as Knight Candidates. But we will discuss that later."
The old man briefly paused, rubbing his brow as he pondered the information he spoke next.
"Above the Paladins are the Twelve Arch Knights. Their mastery of mana and combat far surpasses that of the lower ranks. They are the generals of Judex Divinum's army, each meant to rival the Apocalypses that lead the monster kingdoms. When war erupts, it is the Arch Knights who lead the charge."
His voice faltered briefly, laced with something. Displeasure? Resentment? Asura watched as he shifted uncomfortably, eyes scanning the pages before him with irritation.
"At the top of the hierarchy stands the Knight of God. It is said that his blessings come directly from Judex Divinum himself. His strength is rumored to rival that of a Monster King, but" He folded the book as if the information was no longer relevant. "That is speculation.
Asura's ears twitched. Is that skepticism in his voice? He expected the lesson to end, but as the old man inhaled, he let out a sigh filled with misery.
"His pure holy mana alone is enough to place him above even the Twelve Arch Knights, securing his position as the highest authority in The Temple. Paladins typically oversee smaller cathedrals like this one, managing a few teams of Priests. In larger cities, multiple Paladins work together, each commanding several Priests under their leadership."
The old man leaned against his desk, "Those abandoned by the Temple are left to do what they must." His voice was low as if implying his dissatisfaction. Without addressing it further, he continued.
"Arch Knights, on the other hand, govern major cathedrals within strongholds and major cities, overseeing vast territories with entire squadrons of Paladins beneath them. As for the Knight of God, he remains in Eden, not the garden, but the largest fortified city in the realm. It is there that The Temple's headquarters resides, the heart of its power."
Asura leaned back, crossing his arms. He had expected a dry lecture, but there was something in the old man's demeanor that left him leaning on the edge of a cliff.
Asura raised his hand, frowning as he worked through the new sea of information.
"Wait—if Paladins run Cathedrals, why is Mel here?" he threw a thumb in her direction. "If there are only a limited number, shouldn't she be somewhere… you know, important? Or is she just that bad at her job?"
Mel scoffed and turned to the window, tapping her arm with sharp, impatient movements. Though she tried to appear indifferent, the stiffness in her posture gave away her irritation. Asura smirked. He had struck a nerve. The old man replied matter-of-factly, "Mel is here because of her attitude. She's under my supervision to learn some humility and will stay for quite a while."
"Whatever…" Mel grumbled under her breath, crossing her arms.
The old man swiftly redirected the conversation as he rose back to his feet. "Back to the lesson."
Asura groaned while letting his head roll back. "There's more?"
With a quick dismissal of Asura's cry, he continued. "The rankings of Angels follow a different structure."
The moment Angels were mentioned, Asura's boredom evaporated. These were legendary beings forged by the hand of God, ethereal guardians of heaven and earth. In his mind, they were like an elite task force from a show he had seen, poised to strike at Judex Divinum's command and wipe out evil. He sat up straighter, fully engaged.
"There are Angels, the lowest rank among them," the old man explained. "But measuring their strength is difficult because they rarely appear. We have little knowledge of their full capabilities. However, when one does descend, all of humanity must show respect."
He pointed toward the ogre. "And ogres," he spoke with a stern glare.
"After Angels are Archangels, who have the power to grant blessings to humans, but as I mentioned before, most who receive an Archangel's blessing never surpass the rank of High Priest."
The old man's voice grew heavier. "Archangels are unrivaled in strength, both in heaven and the monster realms. Their holy mana is limitless, and they can annihilate an Apocalypse with ease. There are numerous records of Apocalypses attempting to invade Judex's gardens, only for their carcasses to be all that was left behind."
"Even the monster kings tread carefully around them. Fortunately, they are bound by Judex Divinum's decree to guard his sacred Gardens, which means they cannot interfere in the human world. If they did, we would face mass extinction." His voice turned grim, the final words hanging heavy in the air.
Asura frowned. "Aren't they the ones supplying your holy mana? Why would that be a bad thing?" A shift in the old man's demeanor was immediate. His body tensed, and his expression darkened. "They would be… disappointed by the current state of the human realm," he murmured. Then, as if there was nothing else to his words, he returned to the lecture.
"The blessings they provide us, gifts entrusted to them by Judex Divinum, grant us the strength to fight. One angel also forges our holy weapons. The Archangel of Forging, Hephestine, crafts these weapons in a forge blessed by God himself. Without their blessings and mana, we would stand no chance against the monsters that invade our world."
Asura's thoughts snapped back to an earlier statement as if a sudden bolt of lightning had jolted his memory.
"What did you mean earlier when you said you needed holy mana to kill a monster?" Asura asked, raising a brow. "I don't have Quotidian mana. Can't you just use a weapon? That's all I've ever needed."
The old man's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Wait… you don't have demonic mana?"
"Nope. Also, fu—" Asura stopped himself mid-curse, glancing at the old man before muttering, "Screw you."
He braced for a scolding, but the old man appeared more intrigued than irritated.
"It's not demonic just because it isn't holy mana," Asura continued. "If all other races have it, doesn't that make it the normal one?" He folded his arms. "Maybe humans are the weird ones. Ever think about that?"
Mel, who had been only half-listening, suddenly leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "You actually don't have demonic mana? I thought all demons had it."
Asura shot her a glare. "Nope. Never needed it, and I can't use it. Well… that's a lie. I used weapons from the Cyclops for a while. But usually, I just punch things. Like you, if you keep calling me a demon." He pointed upward at Mel without looking back. "One more time. I dare you. Say it one more time."
Asura watched as the old man stroked his beard, deep in thought. "Interesting... That explains why you could enter the cathedral. I assume your weapons were made from a material infused with mana or were enchanted." He nodded in approval of his statement. "That would allow you to kill monsters… But I've never met a monster without mana before."
The ogre's eyes widened with anticipation as a smile curved his lips. "So, can I get holy mana from an Angel then?"
A sudden burst of laughter filled the room.
Asura's body tensed as he clenched his upper fists, heat prickling beneath his skin. His lower two arms trembled as he fought the overwhelming urge to smash Ash's face in. His fingers dug into the wooden desk, splintering it with a slow, ominous crack.
Finally, Ash caught his breath, his tone dripping with mockery. "Monsters can't use holy mana, idiot. It'll burn you from the inside out. Only humans are favored by God, not worthless garbage like you." Ash jested to himself, "What kind of demon doesn't know that?"
Before Ash could smirk, a book flew across the room, slamming into the side of his head with a resounding thud. His face smacked into the desk in front of him with a loud bang, leaving him momentarily stunned.
Asura grinned, relishing the sight of Ash rubbing his aching skull, clearly dazed. The high priest's hand twitched toward his sword, rage twisting his expression. But before he could retaliate, the old man stomped his foot, shaking the entire room.
The sheer force of it stopped Ash cold. His teeth clenched as he seethed in frustration, but he sat back down, glaring daggers at Asura. If there were another chance, his blade would taste his blood.
The old man remained unfazed, continuing his lecture without so much as a pause as if the outburst had never happened. "Back to the subject."
"Monsters are summoned into our world by cultists, either through ritual summons or gates. More commonly, cultists use human sacrifices to open small portals, summoning specific monsters or groups," he went on. "The more blood they spill, the larger the portal they can create. Unlike a ritual summon, which closes once the monster appears, Gates are much harder to shut."
"Gates occasionally open due to the actions of a monster king or an Apocalypse, creating a rift between realms. These rifts serve as massive doorways, allowing hordes of monsters to pour through. Our job is to stop them before they succeed and to destroy whatever they've brought to our world."
With that, the old man left a refreshing breath of silence. Asura's eyes widened. Finally. He jumped to his feet, throwing his hands up in overwhelming joy. "It's over! Sweet freedom! How long has it been? Months? Years? How long have I been imprisoned in this horrid room?"
Mel rolled her eyes. "Drama queen." Yet, deep down, she could not help but agree.
"That should cover the basics for now. Class is dismissed. You should expect a fight soon." The old man gathered a few papers from his desk, "Due to recent events, it would be good to get you accustomed to fighting with the team."
The moment Asura heard the word fight, his entire demeanor shifted. His eyes widened with excitement, practically sparkling like a dog spotting a dangling treat. A bit of drool formed at the corner of his mouth as his fingers twitched restlessly against the desk, itching for action.
"What do you mean fight ahead?" he asked, barely able to contain himself.
The old man smirked, recognizing the hook. Asura was an intriguing oddity. An ogre without mana. It fascinated him. How does a monster like him fight in the monster realms without magic or weapons? Holy weapons required mana to wield, and demonic weapons were rare, immediately purged upon discovery to maintain public safety. And yet, Asura was skilled, far skilled enough to go toe-to-toe with a Paladin.
The old man leaned back, arms crossed. "Lately, cultists have been more active in this area. We need to eliminate them before they become too dangerous."
His eyes gazed into Asura's. "They've been trying to summon a specific monster, but we have no idea what rank it belongs to or its name. I assume that's why you were summoned, Asura. Any thoughts as to who?"
"Uh, no. I have no friends." He answered as if it were obvious.
The old man sighed. "They failed to summon their intended creature, so they're stockpiling sacrifices. Children, the elderly, anyone they can take. And they won't stop." His expression darkened. "You have a day or two to adjust. After that, the four of you will investigate."
Asura frowned, counting the people in the room. "Four?" His gaze swept over Mel and Ash before landing back on the old man.
"Four of us? Are you join—?"
Before he could finish, the door burst open. A man stumbled inside, nearly collapsing onto the floor. He was panting, hands braced on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.
Asura raised an eyebrow. Did this guy run a marathon before walking in? Sweat drenched him, his dark brown skin glistening under the room's light. His long, matted locks clung to his damp forehead. And then there was the smell, a potent mix of sweat and earth, like muddy soil. The scent intensified when Asura noticed the filthy backpack slung over the man's back, dirt and moss clinging to its worn fabric. Well, that explains the stench.
Despite his disheveled state, the man's uniform matched Ash's and Mel's: a black jacket embroidered with Judex Divinum's emblem and military-style pants that housed far too many pockets. Finally standing upright, he held up a hand, still gasping for air.
"Sorry, I'm late, Captain... I, uh... got lost... again."
His eyes roamed the room before locking onto Asura. His head tilted slightly. "Whoa. A monster? Who's that?"
Asura sprang from his chair, arms flailing in exaggerated celebration. He spun to face Mel, pointing at the newcomer with two hands while gesturing wildly with the others.
"Look at this guy! Ain't even met me yet, and he gets it! No slurs, no demon this, demon that—just a normal damn question. What the hell is wrong with the rest of you?!"
The words had barely left his mouth before he realized his mistake. His expression fell, and he quickly dropped back into his seat, clamping a hand over his mouth.
"Uh… sorry."
The old man's gaze turned sharp, his usual patience thinning. Asura had assumed he had let it slide, as he had before, but the look in his eyes said otherwise.
"I swear," the old man muttered, voice dangerously low, "next time, I will hold you down and force-feed you a bar of Michael's soap."
Mel's eyes widened at the mention of Michael's soap. "I vote we use it." She leaned back in her chair, idly twirling a strand of her red hair as she wiped down her guns with a green cloth.
However, the old man paid no mind to the call for a vote. "Asura, meet Wain. He's the fourth member of your team. You'll get along… I assume. Mel will lead, and the rest of you will help."
Asura's curiosity was piqued. A new teammate meant a new potential opponent, entertainment if nothing else. He leaned forward, eager to gauge Wain's strength.
"What rank is Wain?" The ogre asked excitedly.
Wain rubbed the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. "A priest."
Asura blinked. Silence filled the space between them. "Like... the weakest rank in The Temple? Not even a high priest or something?"
Wain's expression darkened. He had heard it all before. Countless times. The endless jabs from his peers, the dismissal, the doubt. He thought coming here might be different, but the weight settled in his shoulders just the same.
The old man stood from his desk, giving Wain a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading toward the door. Across the room, Ash let out a sharp laugh, ever eager to twist the knife.
"Even the monster thinks you're weak. Maybe you should just quit and go back to collecting those plants you love. Not that anyone would buy them."
Mel shot Wain an apologetic look as she stood. "Ignore him, Wain. You'll get there. It just takes time. Keep at it."
Wain sighed, resigned. But before he could say anything, Asura leaned in, studying him with an unsettling intensity.
"You wanna beat the tar out of that idiot?"
Wain hesitated, glancing at Asura properly for the first time. At first glance, the black skin and horns reminded him of the devil's likeness. But his short stature made Wain smirk slightly. He was not as towering as the captain or Ash, but there was no mistaking it. This monster was strong. His entire presence radiated it.
Demonic mana? No. The strength was not unnatural. It was earned, a body honed through sheer willpower and relentless training.
"Uh... sure? But you're the one who started it, you know."
Asura ignored him, rubbing all four hands together like a scheming villain, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Perfect. We'll make sure that jackass eats his words."
Wain hesitated. Every instinct told him that trusting this chaotic little monster was a terrible idea. But curiosity and Ash's mocking words echoing in his ears got the better of him.