Chapter 97

Chapter 97
## Chapter 97

The Beginning of Change (1)

Isolated in the deep recesses of the mountains, a place untouched by human presence.

Splat—!

A creature forced its way out from the damp earth.

Soon after the initial breach, a second, a third… their numbers multiplied rapidly.

[Groan—]

The spectacle of a boundless horde of the dead rising to the surface resembled a horrific cinematic nightmare.

They crawled from a hidden laceration of the abyss, a chasm that had been entombed beneath the soil over a long period.

As the barriers weakened following the unlocking of the abyss, the entities trapped within the void managed to break free one after the other.

Creak—

Clatter!

This gathering contained no common undead, such as basic zombies or simple skeletons.

Once more than a hundred superior undead—each possessing strength at least equal to a Skeleton Knight—had emerged, they secured the perimeter and organized themselves into strict formations.

Their coordination was far from the chaotic wandering of typical monsters; they moved with clear intellect.

An army composed of death itself, radiating a dark energy that polluted the air, had finally established its presence upon the world above.

[…First… we advance…]

Commanding this legion was a Dullahan Knight, a warrior clad in majestic armor who held his severed head securely beneath his arm.

Clatter, clatter!

Thump, thump—

Though the event was profoundly unnatural, it was no longer an isolated phenomenon.

Identical horrors were unfolding simultaneously across every corner of the continent.

—

The world was transforming at a frantic pace, causing a rapid shift in political alliances.

Occult sacrifices had been executed across many lands, fracturing the boundary to the abyss and triggering the resurrection of ancient undead legions tied to those dark portals.

The architect behind this widespread terror was none other than the great scourge of the world, the Immortal King.

Faced with an immediate and terrifying reality, the rulers who had previously disregarded the warnings issued by the Church finally began to take desperate action.

Naturally, a select few nations had maintained rigorous defense strategies from the very beginning…

Among those prepared realms was the Talia Kingdom, positioned at the far western edge of the land.

“What news do you bring regarding the current situation?”

“The entire continent has entered a state of maximum alert, Your Majesty. Detecting the scars of the abyss is nearly impossible once they close, so the general populace is gripped by anxiety, never knowing where a horde might strike next.”

Mulo Brokoslack delivered his report with deep respect to Heinz the Second.

The current crisis caught everyone off guard, as a disruption of this magnitude had not occurred even during the absolute reign of the Immortal King three centuries ago.

The cumulative damage from past Immortal Kings constantly battering the gates of the void was finally fracturing the world.

“On a positive note, our own Talia Kingdom and the adjacent territories have avoided significant casualties thus far.”

‘That is precisely as intended.’

The reason for their safety was clear.

Hans, having inherited a unique legacy from the previous Immortal King, possessed the ability to locate the emerging undead forces. He was systematically intercepting them at the moment of their arrival, locking them away securely within his personal subspace.

‘While his sensory reach remains limited for now, his constant scouting is steadily broadening his awareness. We should manage to keep the western territories stable.’

The situation would be vastly improved if he could call forth his forces without restriction, but the fragile state of the world’s fabric prevented such measures.

For the time being, manual containment was the only viable strategy.

Given that the western portion of the land contained the highest concentration of spatial ruptures, achieving this level of stability was already a massive triumph.

“How fares our alliance with Hubert’s Trading Company operating out of Tarak within the Tulk Kingdom?”

“We have established secure lines of communication and are delivering clandestine assistance precisely as they requested.”

“Ensure every single one of their demands is met without delay. My prior agreements with Hubert remain solid. Their organization will offer us full reciprocity, which will prove invaluable as we extend our reach into the Tulk Kingdom.”

The public operations of Hubert’s Trading Company complemented the covert maneuvers of the Brokoslack Clan perfectly.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement designed to generate exceptional results for both factions.

“Regrettably, they remain ordinary mortals. Placing absolute faith in a mere merchant carries inherent dangers. Might it not be more prudent to absorb his operation directly into our clan…?”

“Hubert possesses a rare loyalty. He is incapable of treachery; ensure you remember this.”

“…Ah! I see you have already secured his compliance through your own methods. I shall follow your guidance implicitly.”

Mulo offered a respectful nod, clearly jumping to his own conclusions regarding the matter.

With both organizations operating under his ultimate authority, maintaining internal discipline among his followers was his only real concern.

Yet, difficulties still persisted.

The most critical issue had yet to be resolved.

“…Have we received any indications regarding the spread of madness?”

Heinz directed the question to Mulo, still detecting the faint, unsettling residue of that chaotic power drifting in the air.

Days had passed since the breach of the abyss allowed the madness to leak out, yet this diluted force, now dispersed across the lands, remained strangely dormant.

‘It defies logic. Even as an incomplete manifestation, a corruption originating from the deep void should not remain this passive. A hidden variable must be at play.’

“Definitive proof remains elusive given the short timeframe, but reports suggest an increase in violent altercations over trivial matters, likely a symptom of the spreading ‘madness’. We require more prolonged observation to compile verified data.”

“The low density across the continent means it likely targets the subconscious minds of the populace. Maintain a vigilant watch over these developments.”

“Understood. Furthermore, we have another matter that requires thorough verification, though the signs are troubling…”

Mulo fixed his gaze on Heinz, his demeanor turning incredibly grave.

Despite his cautious words regarding the need for more time, his expression betrayed a deep sense of certainty.

“The behavior of the wild beasts has turned completely aberrant.”

—

The holy sword served as far more than a weapon; it was an absolute emblem of faith.

The clergy boasted holy warriors, dedicated templars, and the elite Paladins at the absolute apex of the Main God Church’s military hierarchy…

However, those titles were merely structures engineered by mortal hands.

Much like the Saintess, who served as the living vessel for the deity’s declarations, the chosen bearer of the holy sword functioned as the primary blade of the Main God.

Consequently, any individual who claimed the weapon experienced an immediate, monumental elevation in societal standing.

This was the reality now facing Heinrich.

They were gathered within the grandest sanctuary of the Roselia Cathedral.

A pair of Cardinals, multiple Archbishops, high-ranking Paladins, and the primary leadership of the Church filled the space.

The presence of so many influential figures during a time of continent-wide upheaval underscored the profound weight assigned to this gathering.

This grand assembly marked the investiture of the holy sword’s new master.

The official Paladin knighting ceremony for Heinrich was underway.

‘The passage of time feels surreal.’

It seemed like only yesterday he had achieved the rank of a standard holy knight, and now he was ascending to the rank of Paladin.

To elevate the occasion further, the ritual was conducted by the Saintess herself—an extraordinary honor denied to standard Paladins.

‘In a sense, it is entirely justified.’

He stood as the first true master of the holy sword to emerge in three centuries, arriving precisely when the world faced total ruin.

Thus, the exclusive ceremony for Heinrich unfolded with deep reverence and absolute precision.

Sacred invocations were chanted, traditional offerings to the Main God were presented, and the foundational rites concluded until…

At last,

Heinrich knelt on a single knee before the Saintess upon the raised dais, summoning the sacred blade directly from the glowing brand marked upon his palm.

Wooong—

The magnificent silver holy sword manifested, its blade vibrating with pure energy the instant it entered the physical realm.

The onlookers let out a collective breath of awe as the weapon revealed its full splendor.

Among the gathered Paladins were several who had previously failed the sword’s rigorous trials, making the display deeply impactful for them.

“Behold… the legendary weapon.”

“An extraordinary sight. Though it takes the form of a sword, the divine power radiating from it is bottomless.”

Amid the collective awe, only Heinrich and the Saintess maintained perfect composure.

With the audience captivated by the weapon, the liturgy proceeded seamlessly to its conclusion…

“…A blade dedicated to the preservation of the helpless and the eradication of corruption, I hereby ordain Heinrich Landguard as a Paladin of the Main God Church.”

The investiture concluded within an atmosphere of intense devotion.

‘This carries a familiar weight.’

Though conducted on a vastly grander scale, the underlying feeling mirrored his original initiation as a holy knight.

Streams of brilliant light fractured through the intricate stained glass, bathing the grand sanctuary in a warm, ethereal glow.

The Saintess maintained a gentle, supportive smile as she placed the formal medallion of a Paladin around his neck.

The entire scene possessed the flawless, enduring quality of a masterwork painting.

《The subject has fulfilled all necessary criteria and achieved higher comprehension. You have unlocked the unique ability “Grand Blessing: Knight of Light”.》

Right on cue, the familiar divine notification materialized before him, mirroring his past advancement.

‘…Wait, what is happening?’

An overwhelming torrent of divine energy suddenly surged from deep within Heinrich’s frame, catching him completely off guard.

This power felt fundamentally distinct from any ordinary consecration he had previously experienced.

A denser, far more potent force saturated his entire being.

This boundless divine energy surged through his veins before binding directly with the essence of the holy sword that resided within him.

His consciousness expanded dramatically, elevating his awareness and forging a significantly deeper bond with the Main God.

‘Ngh… ’

Heinrich clamped his jaw shut, activating his “Mind Hub” capability to its absolute limit to preserve his focus against the raging spiritual tide.

A single moment of weakness would result in his consciousness being utterly overwhelmed.

In that exact instant, his perception shifted completely…

A vast cosmos materialized before his eyes.

Whoosh—

Simultaneously, the witnesses observing Heinrich—who stood enveloped in a radiant aura while gripping the silver weapon—felt their spirits unite in awe.

“Look! A Grand Blessing has descended!”

“Praise be! The favor of the Main God shines upon us!”

Just as it had occurred during Heinrich’s initial knighting, the formal ritual spontaneously transformed into an impassioned assembly of collective worship.

The gathered faithful prayed with unprecedented intensity, fully aware that the eyes of their deity were directly upon them.

As the sanctuary reverberated with religious fervor,

‘Ah… ’

Heinrich’s focus, which had been drifting through the brilliant radiance, gradually anchored itself back to reality.

Within the celestial expanse that had opened inside his consciousness, he could interpret the intent of the Main God with far greater clarity.

Naturally, just as before, the underlying emotion he detected was limited to basic ‘curiosity’.

‘The scale of his consciousness remains too vast for a mortal mind to truly interpret.’

If a tiny insect were to transform into an ant, its perspective from beneath a traveler’s boot would still be restricted to a single toe.

True comprehension was impossible when the fundamental levels of existence were so completely mismatched.

Nevertheless, the bestowal of a Grand Blessing indicated that the deity looked upon his recent endeavors with immense satisfaction.

His course of action remained simple: continue along his current path.

‘Keeping the celestial benefactor pleased is always advantageous.’

-Subject Name: Heinrich

-Universal Traits: “Mind Hub”, “Persona”, “Super Recovery”, “Clear Mind”

-Individual Traits: “Holy Baptism”, “Grand Blessing: Knight of Light”, “Blessing: Fortified Body”, “Blessing: Leap”, “Blessing: Holy Blade”, “Blessing: Capacity Increase”, “Blessing: Holy Sword”, “Logia Holy Combat”, “Martial Bones”, “Auterica Holy Magic”

-Special Assessment: The traditional thresholds for divine power have been dissolved; capacity will scale indefinitely alongside personal resolve. The potency of divine energy has been elevated to an extreme degree. The spiritual connection to the holy sword has anchored within the physical frame, drastically enhancing baseline physical attributes. Martial proficiency has increased exponentially through the assimilation of ancestral champion memories.

The status display before him was nothing short of extraordinary.

He was rapidly evolving into a champion capable of standing against the Immortal King Hans… or more accurately, Hannibal Strauss.

‘What is this?’

While reviewing his updated status with a sense of accomplishment, Heinrich noticed a physical alteration as a strand of hair drifted across his vision.

‘White?’

Upon closer inspection, the pigment had shifted due to the saturation of extreme divine energy, yet it possessed a brilliant luster that went beyond simple white hair.

It bore an uncanny resemblance to… the distinctive silver hair of the Saintess.

‘Surely it didn’t change that as well?’

A sudden realization struck him. He quickly raised the holy sword, utilizing the polished surface of the blade to catch his reflection.

The initial feature that drew his attention was the cascade of silvery-white strands framing his face.

And then…

‘…Luminous gold eyes.’

Even the structural definition of his face had undergone a subtle refinement.

His features, which had previously mirrored the baseline appearance of the host body, had shifted into a striking, flawlessly proportioned countenance.

‘My original face was perfectly fine!’

He had received compliments on his appearance regularly in the past.

A slight sense of irony washed over him as he contemplated the altered faces of Heinz the Second, Harris, and now Heinrich.

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Every single one of them is an extension of myself. There is absolutely no reason to feel inadequate compared to my own manifestations… ’

As he stood in silence, staring intently at the reflection cast by the steel, completely immersed in his thoughts…

“Sir Heinrich Saint Landguard… no, that title is no longer accurate.”

The Saintess stepped toward him, her face illuminated by a gentle smile as she corrected herself.

“Saint.”