Chapter 986: Bronze Gate

While [The Empress] was being stalled by the bandits of Riddle world.

At another location.

The Death Wilderness world.

This entire world consisted of only the wilderness, but there existed no living creatures in this wilderness. Aside from a series of ancient death formations, there was only a single black structure.

A magnificent black cathedral that stood in the center of this world.

——the Holy Church of Death.

The central area of the Holy Church was the Death Sanctuary.

Only the servants of Death were allowed entry into the Death Sanctuary.

Not even the Pope had the qualifications to come here.

Its gates were shut tightly.

In the sanctuary, the black crow of death had led Anna and Lin inside, while the bell ringer dog was already here waiting for them.

Black Hound carefully observed the effigy of Death that Black Crow brought back, then sighed and spoke: 「 It’s real, this effigy is really the token to open the underground passage 」

“Then, from what we’ve seen, that person is an ally more than an enemy” Black Crow commented.

The two servants of Death both turned to Lin.

「 Are you sure you want to enter the secret passage of Death? 」Black Hound tried probing.

“The person who gave you that token of Death ordered me to protect the heir of Death” Lin curtly answered without a shred of emotion in her voice.

She then casually took out a golden armor and tapped on it.

The armor scattered into components and swiftly equipped itself onto Lin’s body.

As the helmet and visor covered her face, no one else would be able to tell what Lin’s expression currently was.

Lin then took out a pair of burning red gauntlets and wore it on her hands.

Both the armor and gauntlets were things that Laura picked out for her, so even with Laura’s sharp eyes, they were the best possible equipment for the job.

The two servants of Death exchanged glances.

This woman has clearly prepared herself to guard and protect Anna.

Black Hound hesitated for a brief moment, then carefully asked: 「 It might be rude to ask, but who exactly was that person…」

Lin didn’t say anything.

She put one hand forward, summoning Elemental Fire from the gauntlet that danced at the tips of her thin long fingers.

Her finger moved.

The fire morphed and changed into a pattern.

——on top of the flickering embers that looked like floating stars was a grandly shining crown.

Anna was shocked to see this.

This woman was extremely impressive, she only used a tiny bit of summoned Elemental Fire to draw such a complicated and meaningful pattern.

Her control over the element had reached an unbelievable level.

But compared to Anna, the two servants of Death were significantly more shocked.

「 This pattern… how familiar…」

Black Hound appeared to be reminiscing.

While Black Crow immediately recalled the entity that this pattern represented.

“The Exiled Apostle, Greatest Above the Star Crown… it’s him”

Black Crow had retracted all of its feathers and spoke in a silent and wary tone.

Black Hound also realized:

「 It is him! So that’s the reason…」

Black Hound lowered his head and couldn’t help but express a sense of respect.

The two servants of Death were respectfully bowing to Lin.

“There is no need to be formal, I’m also working as ordered—– do you have any other questions?” Lin asked.

「”None at all”」

The two servants of Death answered at once.

“Anna, we will leave what comes next to you” Black Crow told her.

Anna was surprised and asked: “Leave what to me? What do you mean?”

「 Do not delay this, Anna and miss guard, the two of you may now enter the passage, hurry 」Black Hound told her.

“Wait a minute, you won’t be coming with me?” Anna asked.

「 We are only servants of Death; we cannot enter that place—– only the one who will inherit the power of Death, as well as her guard, may enter 」Black Hound replied.

“I’ve never known about myself having some sort of power of Death” Anna was still confused.

Black Crow explained: “In truth, every member of the Holy Church of Death will undergo an awakening ceremony without them knowing it. Through coming into contact with the awakening Soul Artifact, they would have a chance to awaken the power of Death”

「 No one has been able to awaken the power of Death over the past 10,000 years. We had all given up until you appeared, Anna, you have awoken that power 」Black Hound told her.

Anna raised her hand and manifested a boiling black flame in the middle of her palm.

“But this is only my God’s Chosen ability” she was still confused.

Black Hound answered: 「 That is a disguise, Anna. When you first awoken, the weapon manifested from your God’s Chosen ability underwent change, do you still remember? 」

Anna carefully thought about it.

Indeed, at the time I felt that everyone else obtained something good from the ritual, while I only…

And then the Scythe of Death mutated.

Black Hound continued: 「 Anna, both fate and opportunity that coincided at this moment in time. You are the true heir that we have been waiting for, if you want to witness the truth of reality, go and accept the inheritance of Death 」

Anna hesitated and turned to look at Lin.

She is Gu Qing Shan’s elder sister…

Anna asked her: “How should I refer to you?”

“My name is Lin”

“——Lin, if you don’t want to risk danger, please wait for me in the Holy Church of Death, after I’m done with this matter, I will look for you and we’ll return to the Bramble Bird Kingdom together”

“Your concerns are unnecessary. Your strength is hardly enough to survive that passage, so I’ll accompany and protect you” Lin casually told her.

Anna was startled.

So I’ll have to travel with Gu Qing Shan’s elder sister…

Why do I feel a bit awkward about this?

Anna couldn’t help but look at the two servants of Death.

Both of them nodded.

“It’s very dangerous” Black Crow said.

“You will indeed require her protection. Even the ancient prophecy foretold that the heir of Death would enter the passage together with a guard”

“Fine”

Anna could only relent.

The air around them suddenly started to change.

The ground, the void, everything underwent a tiny but very real change.

The wind began to blow.

This was such a faint gentle breeze, yet it caused both servants of Death to turn pale.

「 The Era of [Chaos] has arrived 」Black Hound muttered in a low voice.

“Indeed, at the time when all things are coming to an end, [Chaos] and [Order] are still locked in strife” Black Crow sighed.

Lin sensed the changes in the world but stood still without moving.

No one could see her expression behind the golden visor.

Black Hound looked at Anna and spoke seriously: 「 Little Anna, I know you have much that you want to achieve, but for the sake of survival, to provide powerful support for the ones you care for, you must witness the truth of reality and inherit the power of Death——- only with strength can you truly change a situation as you see fit——- this reality had and always will be that practical 」

Anna nodded and encouraged herself: “Very well! That’s the most motivational thing I’ve heard all day”

As the two of them finished preparing themselves, Black Crow flew to the end of the Sanctuary and landed in front of a mural.

It was a gloomy mural that depicted an entity wielding a long-handle scythe with their back turned to the outside, silently hovering above boundless darkness.

This mural took up the entire wall and gave off an impression of magnificence and historicity.

As Black Crow viewed the mural, its eyes depicted all sorts of emotions.

Black Hound explained to Anna and Lin: 「 Under normal circumstances, I am responsible for accumulating the power of Death and dealing with any spontaneous battles that may arise 」

「 But Black Crow was different, its power of Death must not be utilized for anything at all 」

“But why?” Anna couldn’t help but ask.

Thinking back, she had indeed never seen Black Crow personally fight before.

「 Because Black Crow’s power was something that the God of Death himself passed down from ages ago. For the sake of inheritance, Black Crow was responsible for conserving this power until a certain moment arrived 」

Black Crow continued: “Indeed, and that moment has arrived”

It reached out with its long beak and lightly pecked the mural.

The mural silently split apart to reveal what was hidden inside.

It was a large 5-meter tall bronze gate.

The gate was completely bare without any decorations, but by simply standing in front of it, one couldn’t help but feel insignificant.

Black Crow stepped forward and chanted an incantation:

“Eternal God of Death, I came here from the countless eons to report to you”

“A Saintess who carries the power of Death from birth has appeared, she spreads your dignity throughout the infinite worlds, she walks the path you walked, and stands where you once stood”

“At this moment, I use the divine power that you left behind to allow her entry into the underground passage”

Countless strands of gloomy darkness emerged from Black Crow’s body and were absorbed into the bronze gate.

A moment of silence.

Rumble rumble rumble!

The heavy sound felt like a long sigh filled with vicissitudes.

The bronze gate slowly opened.

Black Crow breathed a sigh of relief and stepped to one side.

Behind the bronze gate was an underground path filled with darkness that extended very deep into the passage without any visible end.

Only a single stone slab hovered by the entrance, waiting for the one who entered.

Black Hound reminded her: 「 Black Crow has used up all of its power only to open this gate once. Anna, you must treasure this chance, as this will be your only chance, and also the entire Holy Church of Death’s only chance 」

Anna gritted her teeth and nodded.

Black Hound and turned to Lin: 「 Please take good care of her 」

Lin replied: “Don’t worry, I know”

Black Hound also stood to one side.

Anna and Lin entered the bronze gate and stood on top of the hovering stone slab.

Their figures were slowly swallowed up by the darkness.

It was nearly time for goodbye.

Black Hound couldn’t hold itself back and muttered: 「 Little Anna, if it’s truly impossible, you must protect your life above all else. Return alive 」

Seeing the other party’s concerned expression, Anna felt warmth in her heart before she silently nodded.

The bronze gates slowly closed again.