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 .

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*

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 .

“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

QC: N/A