Throne of Magical Arcana - Chapter 559

Chapter 559: Dilemma

In the Nekso Palace, at the periphery of the Parliament of Nobles, Richard was waiting with a hundred main supporters for the religious reform.

When two God’s Arrivals appeared in the sky and attacked each other, those cardinals and bishops were more confused than ever. They mumbled similar exclamations: “How is this possible?”

“Which of them is the heretic?”

“One of them has to be a heretic, right? Then, why can a heretic use God’s Arrival, too?”

“My Lord, is this your test for us?”

God’s Arrival, a unique, supreme divine power that solely belonged to the pope, proved his identity as the spokesperson of the God of Truth on earth. It was the firmest confidence for the clerics. Even the heretic reverends and cardinals in the north would fall silent when talking about the problem. Although the pontiffs had God’s Grace, it was not nearly as good as God’s Arrival, which could injure and defeat the Silver Moon and the Lord of Hell.

But today, Sard, a saint who had betrayed His Holiness, was also using God’s Arrival. Did it mean that it was not the Lord’s special grace but a regular divine power that everybody could grasp?

If Sard was capable of ‘God’s Arrival’ because of the Lord’s grace, then which of them was the Lord’s spokesperson on earth? When two blessed believers destroyed each other with God’s Arrival, which of them was the heretic? Why would the Lord allow that?

Chaos and confusion surged in their hearts, and their faith seemed to be shaking. If they were swallowed by the holy light, the Congress of Magic would definitely grant a prize of special contribution to the pope and Sard for their remarkable work in destroying the faith of the clerics.

At this moment, Lucien questions echoed in Richard’s head.

“God loves the people but loves the shepherd more? God loves the people but is unwilling to communicate with everybody’s mind directly? When you pray, God’s solemnity is different in your home and in the church? You can only receive divine powers under the guidance of the clerics?”

“If the pope is indeed the only speaker of God, why did he keep misreading Canon? Why did he make so many changes to the Doctrines?”

“Both the pop and the Church are the barriers between the believers and God. Whether or not you have the divine power, you should be equal in front of the Lord.”

At some point, he spoke what was in his mind by quoting the Canon.

The neutral clerics looked at him in confusion at first, but as they listened on, they recalled the doctrines that Richard introduced – to return the right of interpreting the Canon to every believer!

“Is this the purpose of the Lord’s test?”

“This is the real Paradise on Earth that the Lord wants to create! A heaven where everybody can be saved with a devout mind regardless of their age, gender and wealth!”

Their faces became peaceful. In the end, they all shouted after Richard:

“We should make those get out of the way who keep talking about faith and belief but are in fact blaspheming God’s will.”

“Say farewell to those monopolists who are sucking power and wealth from common people’s pure faith!”

“Between Lord and believers, there should be no barriers made by any; there should only be faith, and the faithful demeanor!”

As they shouted out, ivory, gentle holy light spread out from countless clerics. The God of Truth seemed delighted that they finally understood the true meaning of ‘Paradise on Earth’!

Having thrown the mental burden, Richard delightfully felt that he was closer to the Lord. His divine power finally surpassed the threshold that advanced into level nine.

Around him, many clerics had been improved by one level, too.

“This is the Lord’s grace. He’s happy about our choice,” said Richard joyfully.

Another cardinal smiled. “Bishop Richard, after your religious reform is achieved, you may become a saint cardinal.”

“Our work is not for reward but because of our faith.” Richard waved his hands.

Then, he saw Natasha, with a silver armor and a gold crown, striding in magnificently when the legendary battle outside was shaking the Nekso Palace now and then.

When she passed Richard, Natasha nodded slowly and drew a cross on her chest. “The Lord will always be in our hearts.”

Her tied purple hair moved with her hair, making other people worry that her crown might fall.

“Only Truth lives forever.” Richard understood that they had Natasha’s support and bowed back at her with the clerics.

Natasha did not say anything else. The nobles in the Parliament of Nobles must’ve seen the clergy’s shift. Their faith would be shaken, too!

Inside the Parliament of Nobles, Duke James, Duke Russell and Count Henson looked at the high sky gloomily. The ocean of light and the world-destroying vibe could compare to the shock of ‘God’s Arrival versus God’s Arrival’.

Even though they were inclined to the Congress, their faith had been melted into their blood and their heart. The God of Truth was the unquestionable one true god, except that God created and tolerated everything and did not discriminate against the normal sorcerers.

But now, the self-consistency shook their faith violently. Perhaps, the Lord simply granted the divine powers according to certain rules without caring about anything else like the sorcerers described. Even the schism and the battle of ‘God’s Arrival versus God’s Arrival’ were nothing!

The shift of the clerics including Richard gave them another explanation to the phenomenon. They calmed down and were deep in thought.

“I didn’t know that Sard was capable of God’s Arrival, too…” Duke James spoke to his partner.

Russell replied with a bitter smile, “His Holiness didn’t, either. That’s why he had to use God’s Arrival to resist.”

Without any redundant words and analysis, they understood what each other meant.

Rex, Solefen and other conservatives were even more befuddled, not even knowing what was the Lord, the Pope or the Church.

They were mumbling the same as the clerics, dazzled and overwhelmed.

At this moment, Natasha walked in, followed with Camil. It was the first time she had entered the Parliament of Nobles with the silver Armor of Holm and the crown of Holm. The nobles found someone they could count on and were gradually relaxed.

The Sword of Truth in her right hand made Rex, Solefen, James and other nobles surprised that the queen hid her capabilities!

Now that the Sword of Truth had arrived, the last concerns in their heart were gone.

Ignoring the terrible scene outside where magic and divine powers were flying, Natasha said in a low voice: “The emergency meeting of nobles commences now.”

Thank you, Pope and Sard. You have added more leverage to my persuasion!

A strange magic item was placed on the podium. It recorded Natasha’s voice and let the sound spread beyond ‘Paradise on Earth’ through a metal tube. Since such a transmission was not supernatural, it left ‘Paradise on Earth’ and reached a manor in the suburbs.

The sorcerers hurried to broadcast the ‘live meeting’ to the Parliaments of Nobles in the Kingdom of Colette, the Kingdom of Brianne, the Duchy of Calais and the north coastline.

…

After the legendary battle began, everybody flew to the sky. Had it not been for the restraint of ‘Paradise on Earth’, they would have flown to ten thousand meters high like Benedict II and Sard did.

After the air of God’s Arrival against God’s Arrival came, Saint Melmax was more than puzzled and shocked. Then, he felt great pressure.

“Sard is a traitor? He’s capable of God’s Arrival?”

“His Holiness burnt the remainder of his life to use God’s Arrival…”

“What exactly happened?”

“Sard is indeed brutal. He intentionally fought His Holiness in the high sky. This is to shake the foundation of the Church’s faith! Even if he dies, the Church will be mired in a swamp.”

Of course, Melmax also knew that Sard’s other purpose was to prevent Rentato and Paradise on Earth from being destroyed.

He used ‘Paradise on Earth’ to block the legendary battle partly to protect the believers of Rentato. Otherwise, the whole Rentato would’ve been destroyed just now.

The competition of God’s Arrivals twisted time and space. Benedict II and Sard were briefly gone.

Melmax, prepared that His Holiness could not join the battle for now, began to observe the battlefield:

Douglas was on the winning side in the battle against the Angel King. Even the regular magics were as good as legendary magics in his hands. However, the Angel King, with ‘God’s Guard’, had the best defense and kept the enemy occupied. The Emperor of Arcana was unable to prepare more powerful legendary magics.

Hathaway was gradually familiarized with the strength of the peak of legendary. She began to suppress the two saints. As for Oliver and Hellen, they were on par with the enemies.

However, in other places, due to the suppression of ‘Paradise on Earth’, the saint cardinals and the divine knights of the Church were on the winning side. The Light of Stars, in particular, only survived under Astira and Arzaro’s attacks with his legendary items and weird magics, but his death seemed already underway.

The Lord of Storm was also suppressed by him. Although he couldn’t finish the guy for the time being, he could still protect the massive transmission magic circles.

They still had the advantage in the battle!

Thinking about that, Melmax looked at the massive transmission magic circles. As long as a few saints or legendary knights came, the seven legendary knights on this side of the Storm Straits would know what to do!

As long as the sign of failure showed up, it would be as unstoppable as a flood!

If Brook returned in advance, it would be more troublesome. More reinforcements would be needed, which would give the Dark Congress and the northern heretics a chance. Of course, if His Holiness returned first, chances were that half of the legendary sorcerers would be wiped out first!

“But why has Fernando never used his ‘Eye of Storm’?” Thought Melmax in confusion.

The Church knew very well that the Lord of Storm had two legendary items, one being ‘Robe of Dominance’ and the other being ‘Eye of Storm’. Since his life was not in danger, it was hard to tell if he was wearing the former, but the latter was a marvelous weapon for attacking. Why did he not use it when he was obviously suppressed?

…

Inside the Nekso Palace…

When he walked to the control pivot, Lucien did not encounter Kritonia. It seemed that Winston had indeed stopped him. Otherwise, he would have to ask for Rhine’s help. While Rhine was already nowhere to be seen, Lucien believed that he was around waiting for an opportunity. If Sard had left any other plans, he wouldn’t mind sabotaging them by the way. Or rather, it was what he desired to do right now.

The control pivot was right before his eyes, when a silver sword with the terrifying gaps of void emerged out of nowhere and slashed at Lucien.

Under the sword, Lucien’s body was torn in half directly, but they vanished like foam.

“Gordon, the Torn Sword…” Not far away, Lucien popped up and saw the man with silver eyes who attacked him just now.

Gordon also said in a low voice, “Seventh-circle magic, Simulacrum…”

The magic could create a real illusion that was half the level of the caster. The illusion had senses, voice, smell, overlapping fate and could perform magic.