Pagan…
It was the word used by common people to refer to those who carve patterns that covered the sun on everything or anything they wanted.
Of course, they also claimed to uphold the title of the "True Night," but no one called them by such a name.
The sun was a sacred symbol representing the Altair, the god of light, to the people of the continent, so the act of intentionally carving a pattern that covered it was the same as denying the divinity of Altair.
As a polytheistic religion, the continent acknowledged the existence of several gods, but among the numerous gods, only Altair, the god of light and radiance, was called the main god. In the past, it was a story that anyone living on the continent knew, that Altair himself came down in the form of a hero in the present world and fought against the evil of the world.
This legend was recorded in the history of all races without distinction, and even from that alone, it could be discerned that Altair received distinct treatment compared to other gods.
The most powerful country in history and an empire boasting a thousand-year-old history that had continued to this day also held traces left by Altair, the Supreme God.
After establishing the mighty empire of Estelia on the ground, the hero disappeared into history by ascending to the sky, leaving behind numerous legends. However, as if proving that the imperial family of the empire were his descendants, they were born with shining golden hair symbolizing Altair, and possessed tremendous divine power from generation to generation.
That was why the empire was able to have an unshakable center and legitimacy, and as a result, the current continent had grown to the extent that it was not an exaggeration to say that it belonged to the empire.
However, even they had something they couldn't overcome. It was the group of pagans that was no different from their main enemy. They called themselves the "True Night."
The Empire showcased its influence throughout the entire continent, much like their symbol, the sun. However, just as where there was light, there was darkness, the Empire couldn't control everything. As the glory of the Empire grew, so did the darkness that lurked beneath it.
No matter how brilliant the light was, shadows always followed.
The "True Night" was such an existence.
They were like shadows that wouldn't disappear no matter how much the Empire tried to separate them. For a long time, the Empire made various attempts to erase the existence of the pagans, but each time, they changed their names and forms, continually maintaining their existence.
They had many names in the past, but now they were called 'True Night', and as proven by their history, they were individuals who could never coexist with the Empire. Just as the Empire harbored dissatisfaction with the pagans' existence that wouldn't disappear no matter how much they tried to erase it, the pagans themselves also had significant grievances with their own situation.
In the eyes of others, they were pagans who seemed nothing but lunatic fanatics, but they wanted to dominate the world with their god as their Supreme main god, just like the Empire did in the past.
Their goal was to summon the extraterrestrial gods watching them from beyond the distant stars, causing the sun to fall to the ground. And from that shattered world, they aimed to establish their own kingdom.
Their thoughts seemed nothing more than grandiose dreams, to the extent that one might think they were insane fanatics
However, the power that the gods from the other realm bestowed upon their followers were so enticing and potent that it could make such dreams seem possible, even more so than anything on Earth.
If they wanted, they could turn the world into a sea of flames and plunge it into chaos immediately. However, they knew that if they pursued such a path, they would ultimately be the ones to fall in the end.
That was why they hid themselves in the dark and waited quietly.
Just as the Empire was established by the incarnation of Altair, the hero, they awaited the day when their own god would descend upon this land.
Although there were individuals, known as choin, who possessed great power in the modern era, it was debatable whether they could be considered stronger than the heroes who wrote the past myths.
Of course, it couldn't be said that there were no individuals who could match those heroes. However, it could be asserted that there was no one comparable to the "Hero" who established the Empire for a thousand years. Moreover, even if the Hero were to descend upon this land again, these individuals had no doubt in their minds about the victory of their own god.
Their god had promised their advent and guaranteed victory.
And finally, the time of that promise had arrived.
The Archbishop revealed the artifact emitting an ominous light and declared that the long-awaited day had come.
When the revelation came with solid evidence, the decision was quick. In order to worship the god who came down to this land as soon as possible, the two cardinals who were present took the holy relics and left for Merohim, the place of the prophecy.
Upon reaching Merohim, the artifact emitted a light that surpassed anything before, fueling an indescribable excitement within them. It was only natural that blood rushed to their heads when they thought that the grand plan they had been waiting for centuries would finally come to fruition.
[You're late.]
Even the darkness couldn't conceal his colossal figure.
Wearing a black robe, he stood on the white walls of Merohim, looking out at the city shimmering in various colors. He muttered to himself, thinking of his comrades who did not return.
Considering their abilities, even if the person of prophecy was inside the Winter Castle, by now, he should have received a message stating that the one had been found.
Knowing that his massive body would draw too much attention if he engaged in a search, he chose to wait quietly here. However, if it weren't for that, he couldn't have resisted the urge to rush into that brightly lit city and stole all its light, drenching it in darkness.
However, he just couldn't distort the grand plan for the sake of his own petty desires.
He turned his head and looked at the seemingly endless expanse of the pure white snowfield. The landscape immersed in darkness, where nothing was visible, provided a sense of calm to his heart.
If he were to meet the person of prophecy, perhaps he could suggest turning this noisy city into a tranquil snowfield like this one. With them, neither the bothersome tower nor the irritating white wizard would pose any obstacle.
Above all, destroying this Merohim seemed perfect for announcing the coming of the Great One to the whole world. "On second thought, it seems like a good idea," He said, touching his chin with a very satisfied face.
As he indulged in his imaginative thoughts about the future, a shadow of anger suddenly crossed his face. He was tired of silently gazing at the snowfield or sitting alone with his thoughts. His shallow patience quickly reached its limit, and he turned his gaze back toward the city, emitting a sinister violet gleam.
[Come to think of it, causing a rampage in the city might not be a bad idea. Even if the white grand wizard descends, if Paula arrives in time, we would be able to escape… Perhaps upon seeing me in this state, that person might also reveal himself
immediately.]
He shook his head, saying the complete opposite of what he had just been saying to himself.
Having such extreme self-centered thinking was his innate nature, but ever since he embraced the power of a foreign god, he had become like an unrestrained colt, completely unbridled.
Nevertheless, his own abilities were outstanding enough to hold their ground against the so-called choin. Other individuals were sent alongside him to control him, but the Archbishop did not anticipate the extent to which his patience would run out, causing unexpected delays.
Goooh-
An enormous amount of aura began to gather around his lower body as if he were about to leap toward the city at any moment.
His aura, which distorted even the flow of air, was putting an enormous burden on the wall he was standing on, even with the aftermath concentrated on his legs. This was partly due to his ignorant manner of manipulating his aura, but his indigo-colored aura was formidable and heavy enough to disregard the finesse of typical aura knights.
The accumulated power finally reached its peak.
Transformed into a bomb that seemed ready to explode at the slightest touch, he realized he had reached his limit and attempted to detonate the aura gathered in his legs without hesitation. Fortunately, just as his intention was about to be carried out, the looming black shadow did not appear before his eyes.
[Hey, Paula, it's too late….]
He corrected his posture and looked into the shadows with a dissatisfied expression as he spoke, but he soon stopped talking due to the intense pressure hitting his body.
The five senses, which had become more sensitive than ever to raise the aura, made the reason that had been buried at the bottom of consciousness come to mind again.
As he met the gaze that was staring at him from within the darkness, he felt as if he were being thrown outside naked, an overwhelming sensation coursing through him.
The powerful presence that swiftly scanned his entire body was undeniably familiar to him, yet it qualitatively differed from any divine presence he had experienced before.
There was no doubt.
The person in front of his eyes was the person of the prophecy the Archbishop spoke of.
Just standing in front of him exuded an intimidating aura that made his knees feel weak.
The power that had always protected him now seemed to press down on him, creating an unfamiliar feeling. But all he could do now was submit to that power; anything beyond that was not permitted.
As the darkness receded, his eyes widened with astonishment.
Her white hair shone distinctly even in the dark night. Her clear amethyst eyes, resembling crystals, looked down upon him, contrasting with his deep violet eyes. In that instant, he almost lost himself in her appearance, but the realization that the person before him resembled someone deeply ingrained in his memory helped him regain his composure.
[Edel… Weiss…?]
The girl reflected in his eyes was undoubtedly from the Edelweiss family, the rulers of Merohim. As he grasped that fact, an indescribable joy filled his heart, and a twisted smile formed on his face.
Could fate be this cruel?
Of all people, it had to be the Edelweiss. The gods truly have a twisted sense of humor.
Perhaps the previous Edelweiss's consciousness no longer resided in that physical vessel, but just the thought of toppling Merohim with the hands of an Edelweiss brought him enough joy.
Above all, thinking of the white wizard who would face death by his own daughter, the smile on his face didn't leave him at all.
While he was engrossed in such thoughts and laughing to himself, a melodious voice gently pierced his ears.
"What is so amusing that makes you laugh like that?"
[Ah, it's nothing… Cough!!]
Startled by the beautiful yet chilling voice, he quickly looked up, but the divine presence that had been circling around him, following her intentions, swiftly constricted his throat.
Even among the true knights, he was known for his exceptional strength and solid physique. However, compared to the overwhelming divine power she wielded, his body, no matter how tough and well-trained, felt as fragile as paper.
Under the force suppressing his body, he could no longer feel any sense of joy. The overwhelming sense of powerlessness that came from the disparity in power was accompanied by the constant fear of losing his life. As that fear began to dominate his mind, something that had been invisible before started to seep in.
[Paula…]
In the hands of the pure white girl looking at him, there was no doubt that it was the head of the Cardinal Paula, who had visited her first. The girl glanced at the head she held in her hands and immediately ignited flames, erasing it from existence, leaving no trace behind.
"Iolon ."
At the sound of her calling his own name, he unconsciously gazed into her eyes. He wanted to say something, anything, but his constricted throat barely allowed him to breathe, let alone speak. He had no room to spare to utter a word.
"First, I must thank you. Thanks to you, I could save the trouble of searching."
Her voice remained as gentle and unchanged as ever. However, such softness in her voice only stimulated the fear within Iolon.
Why does she know his name? What is the meaning behind the salutations directed at him? Countless unanswered questions swirled in his mind, but they remained as mere questions, unable to evolve into any further thoughts.
Lost in a haze, he no longer registered her words.
In his blurred vision, only the ominous amethyst eyes flickered, casting their eerie glow.