Chapter 135

Chapter 135
## Chapter 135

Continental Summit (3)

“To begin, I want to express my gratitude to everyone for making the journey here despite your demanding commitments.”

Once Liesta, Heinrich, and Cardinal Cordelia took their places at the vacant spots around the central circular table,

“Let us now convene the Continental Summit.”

The primary discussion commenced following the Cardinal’s succinct introductory remarks.

“Our world is currently confronting a peril without precedent. One could argue this danger eclipses even the dual catastrophes of the prior Immortal King occurrences.”

Resonating with sacred energy, Cardinal Cordelia’s voice carried across the expansive assembly chamber.

The entire gathering focused intently on her deep, authoritative address, which bore the weight of decades of wisdom.

“Ten centuries ago, the chasm of the abyss tore open. The Immortal King descended into our realm, enveloping half of these lands in the shroud of demise.”

The inhabitants of the continent back then succeeded in overcoming the Immortal King and his legions of the restless dead only by uniting their collective might and enduring immense loss.

“Three centuries past, a second Immortal King arose, brought forth by a practitioner of dark magic who uncovered the Immortal King’s Heart. That entity annihilated the Sarv Empire, which possessed the grandest military power of that era.”

Yet through widespread alliances, they managed to subdue the threat and halt the devastation before it consumed everything.

Furthermore, changing their strategy from the past, they shattered that core and placed one of its remnants under seal, believing such a catastrophe would never plague them again…

“Yet today, a third Immortal King has emerged upon the earth.”

Cardinal Cordelia steadily proceeded to recount the details surrounding Hans, the recently ascended Immortal King.

The Talia Kingdom, situated in the western territories, was the earliest to discern his presence, but Hans had manipulated them from the very start, demonstrating an unpredictable brilliance far beyond what they anticipated.

He displayed immense cleverness by baiting the Holy Order, forcing them into open conflict with the rival vampire clan.

He showed cold indifference by abandoning his own loyal dark mages as mere decoys the moment their utility expired.

He exhibited remarkable agility, calmly awaiting the hunting party that had tracked him down, only to mock their efforts as he vanished into thin air.

He proved his mastery of evasion by completely neutralizing the Holy Order’s continent-wide manhunt, vanishing without a trace.

“Mmh…”

“This far exceeds what we anticipated…”

Grim expressions fell over the attendees as the Cardinal spoke, yet her testimony was far from over.

She detailed the obscure, unnatural biological experiments perpetrated within the wilderness of the western monster forest, highlighting their sheer barbarism.

She noted his swift calculations, intentionally leaking the location of that laboratory to draw the garrison of the Roselia Cathedral far from their post.

And following that… his staggering arcane talent, which enabled him to breach the holy sanctuary—despite not possessing the full heritage of the Immortal King’s power—and plunder the sealed Immortal King’s Fragment from its deepest vault, completely bypassing the Holy Order’s stringent defenses.

All of this was achieved through calculated stratagems and an existential evolution rate that defied regular logic.

“………”

“…Ahem.”

A heavy chill settled over the room, and every face turned somber.

This shift included…

Heinrich, the Saint, who sat quietly in his assigned position.

‘Good grief… Hans is truly a terrifying individual!’

Reviewing the timeline compiled from the Holy Order’s intelligence, he felt a shiver run down his spine at the calculated precision of Hans’s operations.

‘However, regardless of the foe’s strength, I, Heinrich, shall never falter!’

Clenching his hand into a tight fist, he adopted an expression of deep solemnity.

He was filled with the resolve to champion the world’s light, no matter how oppressive the dark might become.

Though he sensed numerous eyes shifting toward him, he refrained from looking back.

This wasn’t a performance for the crowd; this resolve originated from the very depths of his soul!

The briefing pressed onward while he remained locked in his internal monologue as a champion of righteousness, fueled by a grand purpose.

“Yet the most critical matter lies elsewhere. The Immortal King of this era does not rage blindly like those who came before him; he covers his path flawlessly and strikes from the darkness.”

Hans’s subsequent objective was to fracture the planar barrier once more, orchestrating blood sacrifices across the length of the continent.

A multitude of ancient undead, entombed during the older wars, spilled forth from the fractured boundaries of the abyss, inflicting massive casualties.

“But the truest threat has manifested elsewhere. As you are all aware, the ‘madness’ of the abyss has permeated the atmosphere of our world.”

This taint predominantly corrupted beasts of low intellect, drastically amplifying their raw strength and ferocity, sparking global destabilization.

It wasn’t contained merely within monster-dense territories like the Northern Mountains—frequently dubbed the wilderness of beasts—even creatures that had resided harmlessly in local peaks succumbed to the frenzy, causing the destruction to escalate exponentially.

The crisis grew more dire with every passing hour, for the ambient corruption drifting across the world was latching onto these beasts and multiplying.

Once this ‘madness’ took root, executing the host creature did not dispel the energy; it either dissolved back into the atmosphere or was consumed to fuel an even deadlier predator…

“Our scholars have deduced that the sole method to quell this epidemic of frenzy is to shatter the core of madness, an artifact that must have crossed over alongside the cosmic rift when the abyss was unsealed.”

Such was the verdict delivered by the investigative forces of the Main God Church after an exhaustive analysis of the primary ritual grounds where the rift was breached.

Though a massive portion of the corruption fractured and dissolved due to the flawed nature of the summoning, a material anchor must exist within this physical plane.

It was highly probable that the Immortal King kept this anchor concealed, intending to wield it as a catastrophic asset against civilization.

Furthermore, the recent covert maneuvers of the undead legions remained deeply concerning.

They conducted themselves as though preparing for a massive offensive, and the Holy Order was keeping a vigilant watch on their positions.

“Consequently, we must direct our combined strength toward eradicating the Immortal King, the root of this blight. We must act with utmost urgency before the window of opportunity closes entirely. To achieve this, your unified allegiance is vital.”

Whispers and murmurs arose—

The assembly hall erupted into quiet discussions the moment Cardinal Cordelia concluded her brief.

Being individuals of high status, they possessed basic knowledge of the crisis, yet her presentation unveiled numerous realities previously hidden from them.

Moreover, her account openly touched upon a vulnerability that was incredibly compromising for the Holy Order…

While the room weighed the implications, an individual seated at the sovereign table smoothly raised an arm, capturing the focus of the chamber.

“I require clarification on a matter.”

The speaker was a youthful noble possessing radiant golden locks and sharp green eyes, bearing an arrogant demeanor that showed total indifference to the scrutiny of the room.

This was Simon Carte Azeria, the Crown Prince of the Azeria Empire.

“Had the Holy Order secured that relic with proper diligence from the outset, would the resurrection of the Immortal King even be a threat today?”

Just as he pointed out, the Cardinal had essentially confessed to a catastrophic oversight by the Main God Church.

The dark entity had reclaimed its footing precisely because the artifact under their guardianship was plundered.

“Are you openly acknowledging that the Holy Order’s negligence paved the way for the Dark Lord’s return? That your own administrative failures catalyzed this global threat?”

Crown Prince Simon, whose entire existence revolved around calculating political advantages, was not one to ignore an adversary’s vulnerability.

The Azeria Empire stood as a dominant superpower that viewed itself as the premier authority on the continent, even alongside the influential Main God Church.

They had no intention of yielding ground, particularly when their counterpart had committed an undeniable error.

“In what manner does the Holy Order intend to offer restitution for this failure?”

Whispers and murmurs arose—

A myriad of nations present had endured immense hardship due to this crisis.

With public sentiment likely aligned with his argument, this presented an ideal opening to diminish the spiritual authority’s leverage.

‘This plays perfectly into my hands. The Holy Order’s overreaching sway has always been a thorn in my side.’

The grander the authority of the altar, the lesser the power of the throne.

The current reach of the Main God Church was immense enough to cast a shadow over the sovereignty of the Empire itself.

‘I am destined to be the monarch who commands the Empire. While I revere the Creator’s majesty, I refuse to tolerate his ministers positioning themselves above the crown. Striking a blow to their standing right now is an excellent strategy.’

This was entirely distinct from personal piety toward the Creator.

He viewed the clergy merely as mortal men exercising influence through divine branding, whereas he, by virtue of imperial lineage, held true terrestrial supremacy.

“Sigh—”

Seated nearby, Liesta offered a quiet sigh as the objective of the gathering drifted off course.

Time was already too scarce to devise an immediate defense against the shadow, yet here they were, bogged down by political posturing.

Looking at the room, however, it was evident that many shared the prince’s sentiments, even if they kept silent.

It was a fundamental trait of mortal psychology to seek a scapegoat when disaster struck…

Yet now that the accusation hung in the air, it could not be brushed aside.

Just as Cardinal Cordelia prepared to answer,

“I comprehend the direction of your inquiry.”

A masculine tone, resonant with immense internal energy, vibrated through the chamber walls.

The collective focus of the room instantly gravitated toward a single point.

“However, our Main God Church…”

Heinrich, who had maintained a quiet presence until now, rose to his feet and locked eyes with every dignitary present.

Crown Prince Simon’s expression twitched minutely when that piercing gaze met his own.

“Has never abandoned its obligations to this world.”

The royal heir’s logic held weight, yet he had missed a vital truth.

The Main God Church was fundamentally different from the secular factions the prince usually managed—factions that buried their errors for self-preservation and engaged in underhanded maneuvering.

The Holy Order never harbored any intention of masking their failure.

Had concealment been their goal, they would not have laid bare the facts of the breach.

But with catastrophic dangers looming over them, dwelling on past faults was an indulgence they could not afford.

“A millennium ago, three centuries past, and throughout every prior dark age, the Main God Church has consistently shed its blood on the frontlines, never once abandoning its post.”

Historically, it was the Holy Order that took the initiative to bind the fractured nations together.

It was the Holy Order that bore the brunt of the casualties and gathered intelligence by hunting the steps of the Immortal King.

Even when circumstances demanded the sacrifice of their own to forge a path to victory.

Even when they cleared a passage for the legendary champions to confront the Dark Lord in the deciding conflict.

Even when they accepted the grim duty of sealing away the shattered remnants after his defeat.

The Main God Church stood invariably at the vanguard.

“And we shall occupy that very position in the trials ahead.”

Heinrich’s piercing look locked onto Simon.

The aura radiating from the young man dominated the space, causing the assembled lords to hold their breath involuntarily.

“I have no desire to minimize our shortfall in this matter. Both myself and the Holy Order will offer full accountability through our deeds.”

An absolute hush enveloped the assembly chamber.

Only the resonance of Heinrich’s declarations filled the wide room, yet the air felt incredibly heavy.

“I shall stand at the absolute forefront of the vanguard against the Immortal King. Should a retreat ever be forced upon us, I will be the final soul to abandon the field.”

This standard of conduct in the coming conflict applied not just to himself as the Saint.

Every servant of the Main God Church would lay down their life without a second thought, a commitment that would endure until the day they cleansed the Immortal King entirely from this continent.

“…In perfect accordance with the traditions of the Main God Church.”

Long after his voice quieted, not a soul in the chamber made a sound.

Yet the underlying mood of the room had shifted entirely.

The majority of the leaders nodded in silent agreement, and even those who had previously shown hostility softened their expressions, choosing to remain quiet.

In truth, Heinrich’s speech could be summarized as: ‘We confess to the blunder, so afford us some grace, as we intend to risk our lives fixing it. Our track record speaks for itself.’…

Nevertheless, there was a foundational reason why the inhabitants of this realm offered unmatched reverence to the Main God Church.

While divine reverence played a part, the core of their authority rested on centuries of demonstrated sacrifice.

The generational alliance of honor and dedication they had forged had solidified into an absolute truth, transforming into an invaluable cultural asset that granted them peerless moral standing.

“…We shall see how events unfold.”

This reality was not lost on Crown Prince Simon either.

He merely offered a strained smirk and settled back into his seat.

Recognizing that his initial political ploy had dissolved the moment the room’s sentiment shifted, he swiftly adapted his strategy.

‘To push further would be counterproductive. It is wiser to yield the floor for now. Future circumstances will provide better opportunities.’

Naturally, he had not abandoned his overarching ambitions.

His calculating eyes drifted back to Heinrich, who remained the centerpiece of the room’s attention.

A peerless champion of the faith, pious, elegant, and radiating absolute rectitude.

‘Saint, Heinrich… ‘

He was far from the only individual observing the young man with such intensity.

That powerful display left an indelible mark on the minds of all present, drawing gazes filled with complex motivations toward Heinrich.

By all metrics, it was an exemplary introduction to the continental stage as a Saint.

‘Whew— I managed to salvage that disaster. Quite a masterful recovery, if I say so myself.’

Naturally, he was simply clean-up crew for a mess of his own making.