Published at 24th of December 2020 07:54:29 PM
Chapter 288
RMSBS - Episode 288 . Rhapsody (3)
Brigant, the Artemis Church’s flagship, was cruising through the dark sky, despite the torrential rain and cutting winds . On top of its bow stood Priscilla Haicilkite, wearing a nun’s ceremonial funeral robes, adorned with crimson red trim and a deep black stole .
She glanced down with an emotionless face . The lights adorning the Empire’s roads were buzzing from afar . The entire city before her had a massive defensive spell array encapsulating it, and numerous knights were standing in formation, ready to block the advancing Holy Paladins .
“Finally… ”
The time to act had finally arrived . Their plan had been in the works for several decades . Priscilla had been making connections in secret, growing the power of the Artemis Church across the continent . Powerful knights had left their kingdoms, trading companies gave them good deals, and she had even gained the power of the Outsiders . All their previous efforts had culminated together, and they were currently marching towards the finale .
“We’re ready, Saint . ”
Three figures stood behind Priscilla .
One of them was a tall handsome man . If an angel came down to Earth, it would have looked like him . He wore dazzling silver armor .
He was the leader of the Paladins, someone who had led the Artemis Church’s forces for a very long time .
There was another person standing beside her, a man that wore a pierrot mask . He was leaning precariously far over the railing, unphased by the prospect of death while staring at her .
Finally, there was a single woman dressed in a traditional nun’s habit, who had been walking on eggshells for the past hour . Every one of her actions was timid in nature, and she clutched her holy book tightly . Her chest bore a badge with the inscription of an upturned cross, the signal of the Inquisitors of the Artemis Church, their most fanatical and devoted followers .
“They are such pitiful people . ”
Priscilla spoke without looking back .
That was extremely generous for a label for an enemy . It was so generous that it was nearly touching .
“A flock of sheep that shiver with endless fear for a tiny turmoil and struggle eternally . They’re the living proof of the absence of the Goddess . ”
If any priest of the Artemis Church heard that, they would have been horrified .
Nobody questioned her remark, even though what she said was enough to brand her as a member of some cult . Conversely, she was a Saint .
“It’s time for the true redemption of mankind that humanity attempted at one time . ”
“But, Your Eminence… ”
It was the nun who spoke up .
She continued, lowering her head as Priscilla turned her eyes towards her .
“One thing I’m concerned about is that I am unsure if it’s the right thing to do… to use such cruel methods . ”
Her eyes were darting around anxiously . Traces of her fear towards the Saint could be seen in her eyes .
“Sister Rhea, you don’t need to be afraid . I understand your concerns . I would have gladly chosen another way if there was one . ”
Priscilla grinned . She asked Rhea who was about to smile back awkwardly .
“But Sister . Look at this world . Are you aware of how much pain there is in this world?”
Rhea could not help but hesitate at the sudden question .
Priscilla’s smile started clearing up slowly . The look on her eyes froze icily .
“Burning, stabbing, cut wounds, lacerations, abrasions, and contusions . The pains from split and torn skin, burst intestines, decapitated heads, and crushed limbs . ”
For a brief moment, the leader of the Holy Paladins and Priscilla made eye contact, before quickly averting their eyes .
“There’s more pain other than what comes from a human's senses . An epidemic, starvation, natural disasters, and catastrophe . Not to mention man-made calamity for the sake of profits and ideology: war . This world is indeed full of immense anguish . ”
*Drip*
The rain was coming to an end . The moonlight broke through and the clouds soon cleared .
“Do you think this world is right, Sister?”
“I do not . ”
Rhea shook her head . The fear on her face faded away slowly . Rather, it started filling with ecstasy slowly . Priscilla smiled before continuing .
“This world is wrong . The fundamentals of it are wrong, to begin with . We need sincere redemption . This war started in order to do that . That’s right . This is a jihad, a mighty holy war, which will redeem all of mankind . ”
Priscilla’s tone was passionate . Her whole heart was in it . She gave up everything solely for this . Status as a religious body, honor, friendship, emotions . All of them .
Because she believed it was right .
“Trust in me, Rhea . The world will be redeemed by me, and it will be born again as an absolutely flawless world where there is no pain . ”
“Ah, Your Eminence . ”
Rhea began to grin with an emotional groan . Her lips stretched up to her cheeks . Her wide veiny eyes were imbued with lunacy .
“The results of this war will dictate whether we can carry out this world’s redemption . Regardless of means or sacrifice, that redemption will be a reward everyone can bask in . So Rhea, as the Saint, I command you to treat anyone that blocks your path as a heretic . ”
“I will gladly obey your command, Your Eminence . ”
Rhea answered swiftly, grinning from ear to ear and flicking her tongue .
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Priscilla now turned her eyes from her to look around .
While making eye contact with each one slowly, she began to speak again .
“Today, it’s finally time to end this fabricated world . ”
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The sky cleared over the eastern ramparts of Dresden . It was silent, save for the icy cold winds ripping through blond hair . The middle-aged man carried an overwhelming presence, matched only by his gigantic build and piercing blue eyes . He had already saved the Hebrion Empire from a civil uprising in the past, and he wasn’t going to let this final gateway fall today .
Guiltian Zedgar F Rogfelas .
His gaze swept past their frontlines and into the slowly fading darkness . Until just now, heavy clouds had swallowed the moonlight and shielded their enemy . The wind continued to blow, fluttering his white-blond hair as though it was a mane on a lion, lying in wait for its prey .
“Are they coming?”
*Rumble*
Beneath their feet, the steel rampart began to tremble with the vibrations of the planet’s crust . Though it was faint, the intensity gradually increased . A silver light began to pierce the weakened darkness, the signature shine of the Artemis Church’s Holy Paladins .
As they came into view, the silence that had overcome the rampart was replaced with agitation . It was a natural reaction; anyone who was aware of their opponent’s strength would do the same . The army before them was twenty thousand strong, and each individual was a well-trained knight capable of using aura .
No single army was as powerful as them . Not only were their combat skills frightening, but many of them had received a Blessing of Light, which granted them abilities verging on the realm of superpowers, far outclassing the versatile uses of aura . Each Blessing manifested in a unique variety, but all of them carried unpredictable power that defied any classification system used by the world at large . Their strength lay in a different plane altogether .
‘It’s practically like fighting a knight and a magician at the same time, while also dealing with unpredictable variables . ’
Mundane strategies would prove useless against them, as they failed to operate under normal rules . That alone made them stronger than any other foreign adversary that had attacked Dresden in the past . They had instantaneously captured several cities, but that was where their insults would end .
“Swan . ”
As Guiltian spoke, Swan walked forward from the darkness and kneeled down in front of him .
“Get ready for it . ”
“Your wish is my command . ”
Swan faded away somewhere .
Then immediately .
*Buuuzz*
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An alarm blared throughout the rampart, a starting signal for the individuals positioned in the five nearby watchtowers . Each tower hosted four magicians, all Sixth-Circle . Together, they accounted for well over half of the magical military force the Hebrion Empire could summon .
With the signal given, they all began to invoke a spell, this one consisted of an eerily different magical array . Though they should have been finished being arranged, they all continued to spread out like sentient vines, becoming entangled with one another before becoming entangled with the other watchtowers .
The spell arrays of the royal magicians encompassed the sky over Dresden .
“This… ”
Other magicians understood the significance and admired it .
Enormously complicated spell arrays made by several magicians were connected organically like an orchestra, uniting and completing a single spell .
“Commence interception . ”
Guiltian had given the order . A flash of light sputtered from each lookout tower .
[Baptism of Ruin]
The beam swept the ground and stretched out towards the Artemis Church’s army, each soldier no bigger than ants at this distance .
*BAM*
The tremendous blast resounded . The soldiers of the Empire strained themselves to not break formation .
Soon the shockwave it left behind as it passed overhead abated, and what they witnessed after they narrowly regained their formation was an immense explosion .
*BOOOM*
The shocking blast echoed through the mountain range around Dresden . The heat was so powerful that the icy winds were shoved aside as a wave of heat passed over the rampart .
“Whoa… ”
The magicians quietly marveled at it . What they had just witnessed was twenty Sixth-Circle mages coming together to fire a Seventh-Circle spell, the strongest attack humankind was capable of .
Although the spell was completed successfully, Guiltian had a dull face . This was not the end of it . He opened his mouth with a calm attitude .
“Commence . ”
[Nuclear Stream Burst]
The sight of not one, but two Seventh-Circle spells being fired in succession was unreal . The view left behind was nothing short of a disaster .
Someone let out a smirk .
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“Well, we might have to draw a new map after this . ”
Before Desir Arman appeared, the only magician in the highest echelon of power was Zod Exarion, who was decidedly independent of any one nation’s command . Genius was a gift bestowed by the heavens, so all they could do was wait for a transcendent individual to appear . Therefore, Guiltian’s stopgap was simple .
Quantity .
If they did not have a genius with one in a million talent, then they would have to make do with twenty gifted magicians who had one in fifty-thousand . With their combined power, they could invoke spells with power that only Zod Exarion and Desir Arman could use .
*BAAAM*
As the bombing continued, the frustration on the soldiers’ faces diminished . The morale of the army, who had previously cursed their fate, soared endlessly .
Meanwhile, Guiltian opened his mouth .
“They betrayed our loyalty . ”
The army gazed at Guiltian .
His voice solemnly resonated from where he commanded atop the rampart .
“At the same time, they invaded this land where our families established, harmed our citizens, and also aimed to take control of this great empire . What do they look like in your eyes? Do they deserve mercy?”
He lifted his sword .
Guiltian declared in the tense atmosphere .
“Today those fanatics will pay for coveting our empire . ”
Hebrion soldiers let out a ferocious war cry .
The Sun of Hebrion made his first move .
Chapter brought to you by Kevin K .
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ED: Purplemen101
TLC: N/A
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