Chapter 29

Chapter 29
## Chapter 29

### Heinrich (2)

Sacred essence stood apart from alternative energies due to the primal atmospheric current known as mana.

Combatants drew in mana, refining it into vital aura within their physical vessels, whereas practitioners of the dark arts corrupted it with malevolent intent, reshaping it into forbidden magic.

The sanguine sorcery of the Vampire race, conversely, required perverting the mana and life forces residing in blood through the act of draining a victim.

Yet, sacred power was a manifestation obtained entirely from a higher entity.

Once this grace was embraced, a person lost the capacity to wield any other form of mystical energy.

Because of this, the initiation ritual was exceptionally strict, demanding intricate perquisites.

It called for a pledge of absolute devotion to the deity, alongside the forging of a spiritual pathway to channel the celestial authority.

The ceremony ultimately decided whether this conduit would resemble a narrow tube or a wide, expansive gateway.

‘It hinges entirely on devotion.’

Heinrich maintained his silent supplication, sensing the torrent of sacred energy swelling within his form.

This was precisely why I chose the trajectory of divine grace for Heinrich.

Up to this point, the “Mind Hub” had been utilized solely to suppress sentiments and external triggers, but I recognized it could function inversely as well.

Following numerous trials with different approaches, I felt certain enough to commit entirely to this path of adoration.

Employing both “Mind Hub” and the “Enlightenment Index,” I cleared away Heinrich’s stray thoughts, reducing his psyche to an unblemished canvas.

Instilling a solitary sentiment—absolute ‘devotion’—into his consciousness, I magnified it using the “Mind Hub.”

‘To put it another way, Heinrich has truly transformed into a fanatical zealot.’

I paused the operations of all alternative personas and redirected their collective capacities toward Heinrich, merging the resources of the primary entity, Hans, Heinrich II, and the newly available manifestation.

By leveraging the initiation rite, centering the trajectory of this adoration toward the creator proved simple.

Expending the entirety of my psychological reserves, I reinforced the spiritual gateway binding him to the celestial.

‘The distinct capability has progressed, widening the horizon of choices. The capability of the manifestations has surged, and the psychological energy of each node can be distributed with greater harmony.’

The advancement of the “Avatar” capability throughout this endeavor was an unforeseen benefit.

Owing to that progression, focusing on the task at hand became much more manageable.

“Astounding, to witness such a magnitude of sacred essence from an initial initiation.”

“Who could he be? A prospective champion of the faith? Even if he claimed to have lived as a cloistered ascetic for decades, I would find it hard to credit.”

“Well, that fellow mentioned an aspiration to join the holy knights, and he only arrived here a handful of months ago…”

The clergymen and the surrounding initiates waiting for their own rituals began to whisper among themselves.

The high clergyman presiding over Heinrich’s initiation appeared taken aback, yet he carried out the liturgy without stuttering.

‘The end is near.’

I mobilized every ounce of my willpower to pull in the sacred essence, locking it safely within the physical vessel.

If adoration dictates the width of the gateway, then psychological fortitude is the mechanism that pulls the sacred essence through it.

Deficiency in either attribute would mean failure.

[Subject satisfies the parameters, unlocking the distinctive capability ‘Sacred Baptism.’]

‘Perhaps this is the threshold for the moment…’

In principle, no boundary existed for sacred power, given that it flowed from a creator.

Provided one possessed sufficient psychological fortitude, it could be drawn upon and wielded without end.

Nevertheless, even if the source of the grace was a creator, the vessel utilizing it was a fragile human being.

Consequently, forcing oneself past reasonable boundaries could fracture both the physical form and the sanity.

Wielding a force that vastly outmatched one’s current threshold could induce severe sickness or, in dire circumstances, fatality.

‘The adoration and psychological fortitude are adequate, but the physical frame is not yet conditioned to withstand this magnitude of sacred essence.’

Though I had employed various maneuvers, confronting an unfamiliar energy brought unavoidable friction.

To accommodate a more potent sacred essence, the physical form required an interim to acclimatize.

Leisurely, Heinrich consolidated the sacred essence and gathered his awareness.

Inevitably, the pathway of adoration shrank back down, but with a focused resolve, it could be expanded again at any moment.

‘Much like a tensed band of rubber, the subsequent attempt ought to be far less demanding.’

“Your designation is Heinrich, correct?” As I regained my footing with the assistance of nearby acolytes, the high clergyman who had overseen the rite addressed me.

“Yes, that is my name.”

“Mhm, this is an unprecedented occurrence in my tenure, quite bewildering. Regardess, your devotion is profound, which is magnificent. You possess the makings of an exceptional cleric. Keep pressing forward in the days to come.”

He offered a kind expression, slapping my shoulder with a lighthearted remark.

Though my sights were set on becoming a holy knight rather than a member of the clergy, there was little point in offering a correction.

I offered a respectful nod of appreciation and shifted to a different area.

The liturgies persisted within the grand hall, though occasionally, I detected lingering gazes drifting in my direction.

Paying no heed to the attention, I took a seat in a specified alcove, lowered my eyelids, and entered a state of contemplation.

These strategies were executable only because the creator of Outerica was not an anthropomorphic entity, but rather an immense abstract principle or an all-encompassing framework.

Following Heinz II’s onboarding into the foundational tenets of Outerica, Heinrich’s subsequent immersion into the theological canon, and now this initiation rite, my suspicions were verified.

‘This is no deity burdened with fickle sentiments, akin to the pantheons of ancient myths. Presently, it resembles a massive abstract concept or an operative framework.’

A reality that naturally permeated existence, serving almost as an elemental law of nature.

That was the true nature of the creator of Outerica.

‘No, a conscious intent does seem to linger… though it likely operates outside the boundaries of human understanding.’

The moment Heinrich bound himself to the Creator during the initiation, he could perceive the boundless reality of that unnatural phenomenon.

This was an occurrence unmentioned during my preparatory research, likely a consequence of the unorthodox strategy utilized to gain the initiation.

If I were forced to translate that ethereal impression into a recognizable human sentiment…

Indeed, it closely mirrored ‘curiosity.’

‘It is a relief that it wasn’t interpreted as an act of profanity…’

Even if the deity viewed it as an insignificant matter and chose not to interfere for that reason, it mattered little now. My gamble had already borne fruit.

—

A handful of days following the conclusion of the ceremony.

The fresh contingent of novice holy knights and training clerics, now altered by their initiation, pursued their education through distinct regimens.

Cultivating foundational devotion via supplication and scriptural memorization formed the bedrock, while the clerics focused on psychological exercises to expand their mental stamina.

“Give me another repetition!”

“Ngh~!”

“Keep going! Push, push, push!”

“Gah!”

The noises of sheer exhaustion drifted across the training arena.

These were the complaints of the novices enduring the drills under the supervision of veteran holy knights.

“Hah, huff! Whew!”

‘I assumed my prior physical conditioning was intense. But it paled in comparison. These individuals are genuinely…’

I muttered inwardly, shifting the weighted iron pieces from one hand to the other.

Clank, clank—the heavy links secured to the weights restricted my entire posture with every movement.

Across the training arena sat conditioning apparatuses that could easily rival contemporary gym equipment.

The primary distinction lay in their more imposing, threatening architecture, combined with a total absence of protective mechanisms.

These implements were engineered for the sole purpose of systematically breaking down the physical vessel.

Engaging with them did not merely tear muscle tissue; it steadily fractured skeletal structure and overextended connective tissues.

‘There is a threshold for physical strain. What kind of sadist devised this approach?’

It was truly a methodology that demanded progression by destroying the biological frame.

Naturally, such overexertion posed no permanent threat here.

“Aaaargh!”

From a far corner of the arena, a sharp cry pierced the air.

A novice holy knight hit the dirt, his frame shaking violently.

His arm was contorted abnormally, tears and sweat covering his features; something had clearly failed during his repetition.

Under normal circumstances, he should have been carried to the medical ward immediately, yet the instructor standing above him offered nothing but a stern lecture.

“Your concentration wavered! While engaging in these drills, your supplications must never falter for an instant! Get up and channel the sacred essence once more!”

“Ngh! Oh, Creator—!”

As the supplication left his lips, a gentle radiance washed over the fallen novice.

Gradually, the agonizing cries began to quiet down.

Before long, he pulled himself up unsteadily.

“You are still completely inadequate! Maintain your supplications while enduring the strain! Mend your form before your physical structure collapses entirely! Through this repetition, a higher state of grace is achieved!”

“Yes! My apologies, sir!”

“Until your arm mends completely, redirect your efforts to the lower limbs! And naturally, keep the supplications flowing!”

“Yes! Understood!”

It was an undeniably primitive display.

Yet, remarkably, this was a time-honored methodology embedded deep within the faith’s history, serving as a highly effective regimen.

Supplication assisted in the control and deployment of sacred essence.

For frontline combatants facing active warfare, this skill was as vital as shielding their own lives.

Intentionally engineering hazardous scenarios and forcing continuous supplication was a deliberate strategy to guarantee the deployment of sacred essence under extreme duress without a moment’s pause.

‘Furthermore, repeating supplications under severe physical stress anchors devotion through automated suggestion, resulting in a fortified sacred essence. Wielding the essence, tempering the vessel, expanding power via intensified devotion, and forging psychological endurance through tribulation—all achieved simultaneously. It is an incredibly streamlined system.’

And within this gathering of zealots, I managed to draw significant notice.

“Remarkable… Truly fitting for the standout prospect of this generation. Managing that tier of resistance already is quite the feat.”

“Wields the sacred essence with precision, and looking at that, his biological mending velocity is astounding. He is already outmatching the bulk of our seasoned fighters.”

Veteran holy knights congregated near the perimeter, evaluating my performance.

From the outset, owing to the physical conditioning I had accumulated prior to this, alongside the benefits of “Martial Prowess” and “Rapid Recovery,” I adapted to their instructions seamlessly.

Compounding that were the attribute augmentations secured through the Karma Shop.

As I grew more adept at converting internal mana reserves into pure sacred essence and moderating the flow via “Sacred Baptism,” my preeminence became undeniable.

“The midday drills are concluded! Restore your gear to its proper place and make your way to the washing stations systematically! Reassemble in the grand hall within two hours. Dismissed!”

“Dismissed!”

At the veteran’s declaration, the combatants organized their gear and migrated toward the washing stalls one after another, granting themselves a brief window of respite.

Stepping into the washing quarters, I directed freezing streams over my overheated skin, dulling the burning sensation within my muscle fibers.

Sssss—

As I systematically cleaned away the grime and applied friction, my overstrained muscle groups twitched, displaying their enhanced durability.

‘The returns appear quite substantial.’

A handful of days following the initiation, despite the bizarre nature of the conditioning, the benefits were undeniably real.

The sacred essence, circulating through my frame to mend the stressed biology, felt more natural with every passing cycle.

“Ugh… I feel like I’m going to expire.”

Muffled complaints drifted from various stalls within the washing quarters.

Drying myself off, a quiet grin crossed my face.

‘It is certainly extreme. Utilizing ‘Mind Herb,’ I can dull the discomfort. But for the rest of them, they must master it through sheer stubbornness alone.’

While such tribulation served to elevate devotion and psychological fortitude, I had no requirement for it and preferred to sidestep it whenever possible. I simply reinforced their internal assumptions.

“As instruments of the divine, our purpose remains to shepherd the Creator’s flock, directing them along the path of illumination…”

Following the physical drills, a theological seminar was conducted in the grand hall as an element of spiritual instruction.

The combatants, carrying exhausted frames, were forced to combat drowsiness throughout the presentation.

Naturally, I was subjected to the same trial.

To earn the rank of a holy knight, one had to show competence not merely in martial engagements but also in academic endeavors.

Two months slipped away in this fashion.

—

While Heinrich applied himself to securing his position as a holy knight, the Immortal King’s Expedition was confronting substantial obstacles.

“Phew… it is maddening. Where on this earth could that individual have vanished to?”

Latius, the Archbishop anchoring the Immortal King’s Expedition, let out a weary breath while rubbing his temples.

Despite mobilizing several tracking units and pursuing ‘Hans’ for a duration of multiple months, they failed to uncover a single indicator of his path.

Not so much as a phantom glimpse had been reported following their initial clash, leaving them deeply discouraged.

The Holy Maiden had exerted her utmost capabilities to pinpoint the quarry, but outside of fleeting, disconnected instances, tracking remained virtually impossible.

Even on the rare occasions a locale was determined, they came back empty-handed, missing any indication of the target’s presence.

Knock—

“Archbishop Latius, Paladin Tooskin requests entry.”

“Ah, Paladin Tooskin. Please, step inside.”

Receiving Latius’ assent, the office door swung open, and Paladin Tooskin crossed the threshold, offering a formal greeting.

Much like the Archbishop, his visage displayed clear indicators of lingering exhaustion.

“What news do you bring?”

“…The situation appears highly problematic. Those cursed vampires must be providing sanctuary.”

“Sigh…”

Grave administrative stress from the Talia Kingdom was mounting, and the Immortal King’s Expedition, formed specifically to apprehend the lineage holder of the Immortal King, was failing to produce meaningful outcomes.

This failure served as an ideal leverage point for the administrative stress from Talia to intensify.

“Given the scale of our operations, the reality that we cannot locate him suggests he may have departed the Talia Kingdom entirely, would you not agree?”

Selecting his phrasing with care, Tooskin’s hesitant tone caused Latius to let out another breath, lowering his eyelids.

They had exhausted every available strategy to locate ‘Hans.’

The ongoing friction with the Vampire Clan and the clandestine ‘Oath of the Reversal’ operating from the darkness had generated immense collateral strain.

In the midst of these events, the Oath of the Reversal sustained meaningful losses, enduring aggression from both our forces and the vampire bloodlines.

It slunk away to lick its wounds, yet the hostilities with the Brokolak Clan showed no signs of abating.

“Presently, we must operate under the assumption that he has sought refuge in an entirely different region. I intend to dissolve the Talia Temple Expedition and order the personnel back to our primary base.”

“Understood. I shall oversee the necessary arrangements.”

Tooskin offered a short nod, bowed from the waist, and exited the workspace.

The Immortal King’s Expedition, setting aside its leadership tier, was largely comprised of combatants loaned from the local Talia Temple, meaning there was extensive administrative work required before formal dissolution.

Once those reassigned assets returned to their respective stations throughout the realm, they would pick up their conventional responsibilities.

The moment the organization’s intelligence apparatus detected any sign of the quarry’s presence elsewhere, a replacement expedition would be mobilized within that sector.

‘Reflecting on recent events, there was a particular combatant who stood out.’

As Tooskin navigated the corridor, an image crossed his mind, causing him to narrow his eyes.

A prospective fighter who manifested cleric-level sacred power during his initiation ritual, showing immense promise during the subsequent conditioning.

‘Abandoning an individual of that caliber in a peripheral outpost feels like a terrible waste…’

Unrivaled physical capabilities and a mending factor that rivaled an established knight, alongside an innate capacity to quickly master instruction and a rapidly ascending ceiling.

Even if one omitted the sheer volume of his sacred essence, this person possessed a level of capability too significant to ignore.

While he harbored no desire to diminish the local Talia branch, the reality remained that a combatant of such caliber would find it difficult to fully realize his potential within their standard ranks.

Regardless of how exceptional his performance might be, would they ever receive direct backing from the primary center?

‘Mhm… his designation was Heinrich, if I recall correctly. If the opportunity arises, I would prefer to transition him into my personal retinue to foster his advancement directly. I must arrange a time to discuss this prospect.’