Chapter 55: The Emergence of Evil Forces
“Dragon calamity? That’s a good term. The Five-Colored Dragon Clan is indeed secretly plotting a war against humanity.”
Nodding, Eagle said this, then turned his head to look southward. Golden light flowed within his eyes. He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: “In a few days, I will inform Emperor Amos of the Empire about this matter. Although the Empire seems to have made some preparations, this is not a matter for one nation or one region—it is a disaster concerning the entire continent. He cannot stand idly by and must also contribute. We need to suppress and annihilate the Five-Colored Dragon Clan in the Far South before they launch a full-scale war.”
So that’s how it is. Hearing this, Joshua had already understood many things—both the information in the old steward’s confidential letter that he hadn’t fully grasped, and the great counteroffensive that had stopped the dragon calamity from spreading completely in his past life. He now understood the reasons. Many things that previously couldn’t be connected now formed a logical chain.
In his past life, he hadn’t reached this level, hadn’t entered the true inner circle, so he couldn’t know this information. But this life was different. The epic quests from the four major servers in his past life, which players had originally thought were independent, now seemed to have corresponding connections deep within.
The old Pope had said so much that he too seemed lost in thought. His body, originally formed of Holy Light and quite solid, had begun to slowly scatter pale white light particles after this long. Noticing this, Eagle chuckled softly, then spoke to the warrior before him in an aged voice: “So, Joshua, do you have any more questions? As you can see, this incarnation of mine doesn’t have much time left.”
Originally, he had manifested through Holy Light using a trace of his mark residing in the Seven Gods’ Sacred Emblem. To have crossed an entire continent and lasted this long was already a testament to Eagle’s profound strength and his control over energy, which had reached a level akin to a deity.
Joshua naturally had many questions, but since time was short, he could only pick the most important matters.
So, he told Eagle about the lake formed by a palm print beneath Nissier Snow Mountain.
“An ancient battlefield from a lost era… The Northern Lands has one too. But that’s not surprising—it’s a normal thing.”
After a brief moment of thought, the old Pope understood. He chuckled and said seriously: “Joshua, you’ve probably noticed that the space-time barrier in the Northern Lands is exceptionally thin, making it very easy for creatures from other worlds to invade.”
“Indeed.” The warrior nodded. He naturally knew this, but then he also understood the meaning behind Eagle’s words. He realized: “So that’s it—that place was a battlefield against the Evil Gods!”
This was similar to what he had guessed, but since Eagle nodded, the conjecture could be confirmed.
“That’s right.”
Agreeing with a nod, Eagle’s body was now scattering more and more Holy Light particles, forming a ring of stars around him. His face was beginning to blur, but even so, he answered clearly: “That place is where, in the distant ancient past, the Sage and his apostles fought against Chaos. The palm print you mentioned might be the mark left by an apostle, or even the Sage himself striking personally… That is a true holy land.”
Saying this, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion: “The Sage’s power far exceeds my imagination. Even though I have reached the peak of the Legendary Realm and my soul’s rank is close to the Boundless Heaven where the gods reside, when I hold this Pure White Scepter, I still can’t help but marvel at his vast power… This light, originating from the First Flame, I can barely even begin to explore, yet the Sage was able to forge it into a legacy for us, his descendants.”
As he spoke, the old Pope’s fingers tightened around the scepter, and Joshua also gripped the Azure Orb in his hand.
The Pope was absolutely right. The power of the [Fire Seed] and the [Soulflame King] truly surpassed any concept he had known before. This orb, which he had initially thought was merely a family heirloom, held secrets so deep that the warrior couldn’t help but want to uncover them.
And the Sage… for a person to become this powerful was truly exhilarating and thrilling.
After his sigh, Eagle realized that his incarnation’s time was almost up. He turned to look at the still-unconscious Paladin, his golden eyes full of affection: “This Paladin you fought, named Loranda, is my future successor… He wanted to know the truth behind the sealed lands, but I am bound by an oath and cannot tell him, who knows nothing of the Evil Gods.”
Saying this, he turned to look at Joshua, who now understood the reason, and shook his head regretfully: “I was afraid that, due to his comrades’ deaths, he would stray onto a path of hatred and doubt… So, consider this an old man’s request, Joshua. I hope you can selectively tell him some truths about Chaos, so he no longer doubts what his enemy truly is. Speaking of which, the fact that you defeated him without paying much of a price is truly remarkable.”
“That’s hardly a request.”
Joshua didn’t take the old Pope’s words seriously. He shook his head and said: “His strength is considerable. If he truly wants to fight Chaos, I would eagerly ask him to join me. Why would I not tell him the truth? But the oath…”
The old steward had also been bound by an oath, unable to tell him anything about the Evil Gods. His father was likely the same. Not only that, but all Guardian Families who learned of the Evil Gods had to swear an oath not to spread the information. But he was a transmigrator—it seemed he wasn’t bound by this restriction.
However, Joshua wasn’t insane enough to want to spread information about the Evil Gods, so this thought only flashed through his mind.
“The Sage’s legacy items number four in total: the Pure White Scepter, the Azure Orb, the Order Twin Blades, and the Wisdom Robe. Three of them are on the Mycroft Continent, and their holders are all humans. But the Wisdom Robe was lost long ago in another world, and who knows when it will be gathered.”
Meanwhile, the old Pope, still sighing, walked over to the unconscious Loranda. He lightly tapped the Paladin with the Pure White Scepter, and instantly, a dense, pure holy light began to spread over him. Not long after, with a pained groan, Loranda—who Joshua had estimated would remain unconscious for another two hours—opened his eyes and woke up.
“…Father…?”
The first thing he saw was Eagle, radiating a powerful aura of Order Light, like a deity descending to the mortal world. The Paladin immediately stood up and muttered unconsciously: “Am I dead? But why is Father here too…”
“I won’t die even if you do, and even if you really died, I could bring you back.”
Shaking his head, Eagle sighed. He extended his light hand, which had already entered its final stage of dissipation, as if wanting to place it on his child’s head, but his fingers were already beginning to crumble. So, the old Pope could only send the Pure White Scepter back to the Church of the Seven Gods before speaking seriously: “Loranda, your defeat in this battle stems from your youth and lack of experience. You have fought too few battles against people, and your understanding of various tactics is too simple, too naive. In the future, you need to learn more. Understand?”
“Y-yes!”
Already accustomed to being criticized by his adoptive father, Loranda lowered his head in shame, but inwardly he grumbled that Joshua was clearly younger than him, so why was his combat experience so rich? Even the Northern Black Tide’s opponents were only magical beasts—it wasn’t any different from his own experience.
“I have already asked Joshua. If he is willing, he will tell you what you want to know.”
Eagle’s Holy Light projection had completely disappeared from the feet up, leaving only a blurry torso and head. But his aged voice was still unaffected, transmitting clearly: “Time is short. It’s time to recall this incarnation… Joshua, remember, the Azure Orb in your hand contains one of the Sage’s powers to reshape the world. Guard it well. Perhaps it is a hope.”
Before Joshua could answer, he shook his head. The old Pope seemed to have many more things unsaid, appearing quite regretful. Loranda also seemed not yet fully recovered from the shock of his adoptive father suddenly appearing and then leaving—after all, he was still concussed, and the Holy Light had only awakened him—so he didn’t have time to say anything.
“Actually, there are many things we haven’t had time to discuss.”
In the last few seconds before Eagle’s projection dissipated, the old Pope nodded to Joshua and smiled: “Joshua Van Radcliffe, I invite you, in the name of the current Pope of the Church of the Seven Gods, to visit the Far Sea Holy Mountain.”
“Next time you come to the Holy Mountain, I will tell you everything.”
With that, the remaining afterglow vanished cleanly, and the Legendary power within it seemed to return to the distant place along with the light’s disappearance.
“…”
Loranda’s helmet had been shattered into pieces by Joshua’s punch, so his full face was visible. But now, his platinum-blonde hair was disheveled, blood and sweat sticking it to his face, making him look quite disheveled. His azure-blue eyes were still unfocused and scattered, as if he was still struggling to wake up fully.
Joshua was also pondering the information gained from this exchange with the Pope. Lost in thought, he had no time to deal with the Paladin before him.
But a few seconds later, the warrior sensed a familiar aura approaching.
Bishop Artemis appeared at the top of the large pit, staring in shock at the light particles that had not yet fully dissipated.
He had sensed a powerful Holy Light aura from afar and had vaguely seen the Pope’s projection. But during the time he had rushed over, full of confusion, the Pope had already recalled his projection and returned.
Looking down at the dazed Paladin, he was even more startled.
Wasn’t this the Church’s First Paladin who had said he was coming to the Northern Lands?!
From the looks of it, he had been beaten into this state… Joshua had fought him and turned him into this, and even the Pope had shown up?!
Taking a deep breath, Artemis looked at Joshua, who was unharmed and seemed to have suffered no losses. He suddenly felt that his friend’s junior was truly something extraordinary. (To be continued.)