This mountain peak located northeast of Vatican City is a holy place in the minds of thousands of devout believers on the mainland. It is a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. It is also the location of the most magnificent St. Arthur's Cathedral among countless churches in the world.
.
Arthur is a disciple of the Holy Emperor and the first pope after mankind came to the Redemption Continent. His wisdom is as deep as the starry sky and his heart is as broad as the ocean. It is under his leadership that mankind has gained a firm foothold in the Redemption Continent.
Heel.
Unfortunately, just ten years after his coronation, Arthur passed away. To commemorate him, people named the Cathedral of Holy See Hill, which was completed fifty years later, St. Arthur's Cathedral.
It is the long-cherished wish of all believers to go to St. Arthur's Cathedral to pray once in their lives. Unfortunately, no matter how many believers come here and sleep in the open, no matter how pious they are and how long they wait, only a handful of them can realize their wish.
.
Most people can only sit at the foot of the mountain, looking at the top of the church tower on the high and majestic mountain, kneeling and praying, pious and lonely.
At this moment, a team of thousands of believers, following the bells of the Holy See, were performing daily prayers on the flat ground to the south of the foot of the mountain. They were kneeling on the white blanket, and not far behind them were their carriages and tents. Whenever
When the bell rang, they prostrated themselves and touched the ground with their foreheads.
In front of them was a city wall that was hundreds of meters high.
The entire Holy See Hill is surrounded by such a solid city wall. There are four fortresses in the four directions of southeast, northwest and northwest, in which the most elite knights under the Holy See are stationed.
Amidst the ringing of bells and prayers, the guards of the Holy See stood on the city wall like javelins, watching the believers below indifferently. They were accustomed to such a scene. Every miracle day, hundreds of thousands of believers gathered under the Holy See Hill.
The sight of prayer is truly spectacular.
There was a sound of horse hoofbeats, and a motorcade appeared in the sight of the Holy See guards.
Seeing the sign on the carriage, the captain of the guard quickly ordered the iron gates to be raised and the gate opened. Soon, a dozen Holy See knights, monks and a carriage carrying a cardinal drove into the gate without stopping for a moment.
Pass through the fortress and drive along the stone ramp to the top of the mountain.
"What number is this?" Several patrolling Holy See knights happened to pass by and watched the carriage turn the corner and disappear. One of them, a blond knight wearing a white gown and a black double-ring chainmail, frowned and turned his head.
Asked the guard captain in charge of the gate.
"My lord," the guard captain replied respectfully, "this is the twenty-seventh red archbishop who arrived today."
Upon hearing this, several Holy See knights looked at each other in surprise.
The cardinal archbishop is a big figure in the Holy Church whose strength and status is second only to Pope Nicholas II and the three popes. They sit in Vatican, high up, and are a symbol and sign of the powerful power of the Holy See. Everyone stamps their feet,
Can cause an earthquake.
Since the Roman Dynasty, the Holy Church has become the dominant family. The thirty-six cardinals rarely go out. Occasionally, if three or five people are called, it must mean that something earth-shattering has happened.
Since the demons broke through the natural barrier of the Broken Sky Mountain Range and invaded the Redemption Continent, the situation in the north has deteriorated for more than two months, and the frequency of the red archbishop's summons has also increased significantly. As far as everyone knows, the most recent time the Pope has summoned
Fifteen cardinals came to see him.
However, no one expected that this time twenty-seven red archbishops would arrive before dark. According to the rules, at least three or five more would come during the next two prayer times. This is also true.
This means that the total number of cardinals coming to see him this time will historically exceed thirty!
"More than thirty red archbishops..." a Holy See knight exclaimed, "In the history of the Holy Church, this has never happened before, right?"
"Not at all," said an outspoken knight, "don't forget that old guy Farrington thirteen years ago..."
Before he finished speaking, the leading blond knight yelled: "Shut up!"
The knight was startled, knowing that he had violated a taboo, and closed his mouth tightly with a pale face. He glanced around, full of panic.
Another tall epee knight beside him saw something was wrong and quickly changed the subject: "It seems that the situation this time is far more serious than we imagined."
"Of course," the blond knight's face softened and he nodded, "The demons in the north are attacking the city and plundering the land. The invasion of the abyss demons has happened in the south. From the perspective of the situation, it is a north-south attack. It can't be worse.
His Majesty summoned the adults to discuss countermeasures."
"But," the heavy sword knight said in confusion, "it has been more than forty prayer hours since the news of the southern demon invasion came. If we want to take action, shouldn't it be sooner rather than later? Why only now..."
The knights nodded, all looking equally puzzled.
You must know that the abyss demons, who represent darkness and evil, are the natural enemies of the Holy Religion, which represents light and justice. Their life forms determine their destructive attributes. Once they come to the mainland, the light will turn into darkness, and life will wither and wither.
, the entire continent will be destroyed.
By that time, the vibrant continent of Avalon will turn into a dark and lifeless cemetery with only flowing lava and stinking water.
This is not unfounded conjecture.
In fact, this kind of scene once appeared in the oracles of the Holy Religion. It also appeared in the legends of all the religions that prospered and died in the mainland.
It is said that the gods of ancient times once traveled through the rifts in time and space and traveled across the star sea. They saw with their own eyes many continents that had become dead places due to the backlash of the abyssal demons.
These continents originally had different races and life forms, and had a history and splendid civilization that was no less than that of Avalon. However, when the demons from the dark side of the continent broke through the boundaries, everything was completely destroyed.
Just like the shadow swallows the body, like the virus kills the host.
In the endless void, these continents are drifting like ghost ships, becoming the most heart-wrenching and profound warning to those who pass by them.
Therefore, the gods all sent down oracles to their servants, issuing warnings against the demons of the abyss. Whether it is elves or dwarves, whether it is the goddess of life or the god of craftsmen... almost all races known to people, large and small,
There are similar records in religious history.
By the time of the Redemption Continent, other intelligent races have declined. The only one who rules this world is human beings. And the only true god of human beings is the Holy Emperor.
Therefore, when the demons invaded the mainland, the Holy Church did not respond immediately. Not to mention ordinary people, even these Holy Church knights could not understand.
In silence, the blond knight turned his head and looked towards the top of the mountain. The golden dome of St. Arthur's Cathedral was looming in the surrounding clouds and mist.
"Let's go." He turned around and looked around before ordering.
The knights pulled the reins and rode their horses out of the city gate. They walked along the city wall.
Amidst the slow and crisp sound of horse hooves, the blond knight said intentionally or unintentionally: "I heard that Abraham has rushed to the south."
The knights were stunned for a moment and then reacted immediately.
No one said anything, but when they turned to look at the top of the mountain, the awe in their eyes became deeper and deeper.
If this troubled world is a chess game, then the silent and thin old man on the high papal throne deep in the palace is the only person qualified to play chess.
The Saint Solan people always believe that Abraham in the Magic Temple is a mountain that can stand alongside the Pope. It is his existence that prevents the expansion of the influence of the Holy Religion in the Solan Empire.
But to the Holy See, this is just nonsense.
Under those skinny hands, Abraham was just a pawn!
###
The knights continued patrolling.
In the eyes of the guards, these patrolling Holy See knights are luxuriously dressed and have a respected status. But in fact, in the Holy See, they are just little people at the bottom of the pyramid.
Therefore, their eyes were unable to see an ascetic in gray robes walking slowly forward on the one thousand and one stone steps in front of the majestic St. Arthur's Cathedral on the top of the Holy See shrouded in clouds.
He looked very old. One eye was blind, the other was half-closed, and his eyes were cloudy. His body was thin. The large monk's robe was worn on his body. It was as empty as hanging on a clothes pole. His pity was exposed.
His skin is full of wrinkles and age spots. Blood vessels and bones protrude under the loose skin.
The ascetic is barefoot.
Every time he stepped on the stone steps, a flaming lotus bloomed under his feet.
Then, people will hear a scoff and see the skinny bare feet burning. The skin will be ripped open and the flesh will be charred black. And the ascetic monk's face will show a look of extreme pain.
But when he moves forward again, his lifted feet will return to their original shape.
The cycle begins over and over again.
Just like this, step by step, charred footprints were left on the straight and steep steps. The breeze blew, and the black footprints turned into pieces of golden leaves. Then they broke, flew up, and turned into thousands of golden leaves.
The butterfly follows behind him.
Finally, the ascetic climbed the steps and stood in front of the magnificent church.
Under the twelve pillars and sculptures that are hundreds of meters high, he looks so small. Especially the gray robe of the lowest ascetic monk, which is incompatible with this supreme holy temple.
However, no one dared to despise him.
Several black-clothed bishops were already waiting in front of the church door. They bowed respectfully to the low-level ascetic and then ordered the guards to open the door.
Under the awe-inspiring eyes of everyone, the ascetic monk entered the church.
When his bare feet crossed the threshold of the door and stepped on the smooth, mirror-like marble floor of the church, no flaming lotus appeared. Instead, there was a soft, holy, white light full of divine aura.
This step caused an uncontrollable change to appear on the face of the ascetic monk Gujing Wubo.
His one eye opened, and a trace of excitement flashed in his eyes.
Then, he continued to walk forward. With each step, a white light appeared. And with the appearance of these white lights, his whole person began to change.
His rickety body became straight and straight. His wrinkled skin became smooth and elastic. His age spots began to fade away, and his white hair turned into a healthy flaxen color. When he finally reached the depths of the hall, in front of the high throne,
At that time, even his blind eye regained sight.
The ascetic knelt down.
Pope Nicholas II sat quietly in his chair.
If you just look at his appearance, it would be hard to believe that this old man, who is only 160 centimeters tall and as thin as a malnourished little boy, is the one who is as aloof as a god in people's minds, with unfathomable strength and power.
The Pope who shocked the mainland for decades.
However, only those who are familiar with this hall know what terrifying power is hidden in the body of this short and old man.
He just sat there.
This silent and majestic hall, this high platform, this gorgeous velvet throne, and this thin old man form the most profound image in the minds of many senior leaders of the Holy Church. And this impression remains with many people from the first time they came here to
They died unchanged.
It seems that Nicholas II will sit there forever. No matter how powerful the enemy is, no matter how strong the winds and waves are, they will not be able to shake him. As long as he flips his skinny palm on the armrest, no matter how big the waves are, they will disappear.
Even powerful enemies will be wiped out.
At this moment, Nicholas II's eyes were shining with light. It was like thousands of thunder and lightning, and like a bright galaxy.
After a long time, when the light faded, he lowered his head and stared at the ascetic monk kneeling in front of him.
"Do you know what I saw?" Nicholas II asked.
"Destiny." The ascetic whispered.
"Yes, fate," Nicholas II said condescendingly, with cold eyes, "the fate that should have been cut off by you sixteen years ago."
The ascetic monk knelt down and put his forehead on the cold floor, trembling all over.
"Sixteen years of training in the Lotus Hell are both punishment and practice." Nicholas II waved his hand gently, "Since I have lifted the punishment spell, it means that you no longer need to take responsibility for past mistakes. However,
The fate you failed to cut off will always be entangled with you..."
Looking at the ascetic monk raising his head, Nicholas II said: "This line of fate was hidden before. Now it has become clearer and clearer. So clear that I can feel its existence. So, Pullman..."
He stared into the ascetic's eyes.
Pullman, the ascetic monk, understood what he was doing, and a hint of ferociousness appeared on his face: "Your Majesty, I will cut it off. This time, I will not make the mistake I made sixteen years ago again."
Nicholas II nodded, raised his head, and cast his gaze across thousands of mountains and rivers on a flying Sky Demon ship.
There, Abraham suddenly turned his head as he felt something.
Nicholas II withdrew his gaze, with a sneer at the corner of his mouth, and said to Pullman: "Heaven sent an oracle, and Lulian's demonic invasion was the opportunity for that fate line to emerge. That person will step on the demon's corpse and walk out. Then
It was his final step onto the stage.”
A gleam of shock appeared in Pullman's eyes.
He knew what happened in the south, and also knew what it meant to the mainland for the Abyss Demon to break through the restrictions. But what he didn't expect was that the line of fate was actually intertwined with this incident.
"Destiny is like a flat lake. Only when the mud at the bottom of the water rises, you will know where the loaches are moving. So, sometimes it is not a bad thing to make the water a little muddy." Nicholas said: "Now, he has appeared. So.
, go to the south, don’t let me down.”
"Yes, Your Majesty." Pullman bowed deeply... (To be continued.) For mobile phone users, please visit http://m.piotian.net