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Chapter 790: Lanchi's Eternal Punishment (Part 1)
Chapter 790: Lanchi's Eternal Punishment (Part 1)
"So that was the dream I had..."
Cardinal Lanchi closed his eyes, recalling the dream he had.
In his dream, he saw a tyrant, unforgivable, indiscriminately burying everything.
However, there was also a slight difference.
He couldn't quite put his finger on what that difference was.
"What dream? Did you have another nightmare?"
Talia's heart clenched as she asked Lanchi.
She didn't want him to be alone in understanding something in this shadow world, where his punishment of eternal life and undying existence was taking place.
She could listen to his heart.
"When we passed through the Land of Eternal Night and stayed in Xiao Ye City, I dreamt that Rankulos killed everyone he saw..."
Lanchi confessed to Talia.
If the dream was too absurd, who would take it seriously?
He knew that Talia had a good impression of the Dark Sun after watching Kaliera's shadow weave, and he didn't want to talk about such an irrational dream.
"Even if I saw such a dream, I would still believe in the historical Rankulos. It is impossible for him to fall, no matter how dark his journey or how deep his psychological trauma, he will not lose himself. He will always be that kind soul."
While Talia spoke of the Dark Sun, her gaze seemed fixed on Lanchi.
In her opinion, her disciple would always make the same choices as Rankulos.
She believed in the firmness that Lanchi had taught her, so she also believed in the Dark Sun, who was extremely similar to Lanchi countless years ago.
"Master, don't say that... Now I feel guilty about doing your daily tasks."
Lanchi's eyes glistened with laughter as he looked at the distant, unreachable white sun and spoke to Talia in his heart.
"You just called me an old lady, and I didn't even blame you. Only with you would I be so forgiving."
Talia snorted coldly, reproaching him.
"So, can I call you that to your face now?"
Lanchi never expected Talia to be so easy to talk to.
"Go ahead and try it, and I'll show you how long I can keep you lying on the ground."
Talia still felt her blood pressure rising.
This guy just kept pushing his luck, and his eager-to-try attitude was infuriating.
If she gave him an inch, he would take a mile.
"Hahaha, never mind, never mind."
Lanchi chatted with Talia for a while, and he seemed much happier.
He closed his eyes, and his expression became solemn.
Like the silver-white mask, his features were soft, his expression tranquil, and his eyes held a compassionate pity for the world.
He prayed for the repose of the departed souls, for the strength of the survivors, and even more so for the strength to bear the weight of this world, which was about to fall apart.
When he opened his eyes again, his emerald green irises blazed with intensity.
He now knew that the battle in Blood Moon City was just the beginning, and the real battle was yet to come.
The figure of the white-robed pope disappeared from Blood King Palace.
When he reappeared, he was in the capital of the Honing Empire, which had turned into a demon domain, on the surface of Saint Trick.
The demons that had turned into a vast and overwhelming miasma surged at the end of the earth, covering the entire sky.
They blotted out the sun, and the eclipse resembled an ominous eye, coldly observing the turmoil on earth.
Lanchi flew towards the distance.
In the once beautiful and prosperous capital of Honing, Saint Trick, countless demons ran amok, their bodies twisted and deformed, their eyes burning with bloodlust and madness.
More monsters fell from the sky like black raindrops, crushing all living beings into powder.
In the distance, a city turned into a sea of flames, with thick smoke rising into the clouds. Little demons were torn to pieces by the larger ones, devoured by flames, or trampled into a bloody mess.
The south had completely fallen, turning into a hell on earth.
The northern region of the Honing Empire still had residents who had not been implanted with the blood tribe's modification toxin, and further north, the Saint Soul Rand Empire was the last untouched land, not yet plunged into the abyss of demonization.
The demon army was surging towards it, their numbers too great to stop.
Once the north fell, the entire world would be plunged into eternal darkness.
The demons spotted his figure and let out a joyous roar.
"Human... human!"
"Eat him!"
This human would bring them endless pleasure.
Countless demons swarmed towards Lanchi like a tidal wave.
They were either ferocious or ugly, their mouths spewing corrosive poison, and their eyes glittering with hunger.
Lanchi didn't take a single step back. He raised his hand, and a dazzling light gathered, condensed, and expanded in his palm, eventually transforming into a lightning bolt that pierced the sky and struck the demon army.
In an instant, the world changed color, and countless demons were reduced to ashes, turning into black mist.
However, his attack seemed to have acted like a signal flare.
Many of the demons that had been rushing north turned back.
More demons continued to surge forward, relentless and heedless of their lives.
Lanchi charged north, like a human weapon, crashing through the ocean of demons and sweeping away all obstacles in his path.
There were just too many crazed demons.
They were everywhere, as far as the eye could see, even covering the entire territory of the Honing Empire across the continent.
In the distance, the demon army continued to swarm, their black figures occupying the horizon.
Behind Lanchi was a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, the stench of blood heavy in the air.
He suddenly opened his eyes wide, his emerald green irises filled with radiant light. He raised his arms high, his body floating straight in the air like a rising sun, illuminating every corner of the earth.
The next second, the earth shook and the sky tore apart.
A light, wider than mountains and deeper than oceans, erupted from Lanchi's body and shot straight into the sky.
It tore through the gloomy sky, ripped open the surging black mist, and devoured all the filth on the earth.
In the face of this sacred light, even the most powerful demons were like moths to a flame.
They let out piercing screams as their bodies burned and were annihilated, turning into ashes. More demons continued to surge forward, only to meet the same fate within the pillar of light.
Moments later, the demon army was no more.
The earth returned to peace, and the sky regained its azure hue.
Only the silver-faced, white-robed figure remained, standing tall like a majestic god.
"The territory of the Honing Empire is too vast and boundless. Even with the 'Eternal Punishment' fixing your body, when your lifespan ends and you turn into an undead, your body will gradually decay and crumble."
Talia reminded him.
Although the recovery speed of a ninth-level spellcaster was fast, the burden of Eternal Radiance was too great.
She didn't want Lanchi to experience the death that Rankulos had endured once again.
"It's alright, all of this is something that Rankulos has experienced at least once."
Lanchi knew that he might never truly understand Rankulos' state of mind.
He always felt that everything in the Blood Moon Calamity era was not yet over.
This may not be the worst outcome, but it was certainly not the best one either.
The key to a relatively optimal outcome lay within the last remaining Taberius Mirror. If they didn't explore it, perhaps one day in the future, they would repeat the same mistakes, make the same choices, and history would repeat itself, over and over again.
He took a deep breath and dove towards the north once more, forcing himself to ignore the fatigue of his body and the dwindling magic power.
His silhouette was tall and resolute, as if blending into the darkness, yet also tearing through it.
...
Far to the north, over ten thousand kilometers away, lay a peaceful and serene land.
The capital of the Saint Soul Rand Empire, Helsal렘.
The setting sun shone through the gaps in the towering ancient trees, casting a golden glow upon the earth.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, whispering a song of life's praise.
The air was filled with the fragrant scent of grass and soil, mixed with the delicate fragrance of flowers, a delight to the senses.
In this land lived the most simple and kind-hearted people of the Northern Papal Dominion.
They tilled the land, led honest lives, and enjoyed a life of simple happiness.
On one side of the city-state, a newly built wooden house stood out.
Its walls were made of red bricks, the roof tiled with brown shingles, and the cobblestone path leading to the door was spotlessly clean.
Smoke rose from the chimney, enveloping the entire house in a dreamlike haze.
"Children, come and eat!"
A gentle female voice called out from inside the house, filled with warmth and love.
"Coming, Mom!"
The cheerful voices of children echoed as they ran into the house from the street.
Inside, a simple wooden table was set with a hearty dinner.
There was steaming potato soup, golden crispy bread, and fresh fruit. The family gathered around the table, their faces radiant with happiness.
The father, a tall and sturdy middle-aged man with a resolute face, smiled as he watched his wife and children. The mother, a plump and gentle woman, served the soup, humming a tune as she did so.
"I heard that next week, the Pope will be going to the Iron Fort Oberron to attend the Peace Memorial. They say that as long as he's there, we won't have to worry about war and suffering anymore. He will bring us an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity!"
The children chatted excitedly, their eyes sparkling as they discussed their experiences in Helsal렘.
"Yes, I heard about that too. With the Pope, we will enjoy peace for generations to come, free from the ravages of war."
Another child eagerly joined in, admiration shining in his eyes.
"But the Pope is still human, isn't he? He will leave this world one day."
"No! The Pope will surely live forever, he will always remain in this world!"
Listening to the children's lively chatter, the father took a deep breath.
"What are you all talking about?"
He squeezed his wife's hand reassuringly, and they shared a meaningful glance, their eyes filled with hopeful expectations.
"Eternal life can be a punishment, something you children may not understand yet."
The mother spoke with a tone of wisdom, her eyes reflecting her loving and devout nature.
Although she knew the children were expressing their blessings for the Pope, she wanted them to develop a mature perspective on life and death so that they could offer their blessings in the right way.
"Isn't it good to live a long life?"
The child asked, confused.
"Based on my experience of living for over thirty years, which already feels like a long time, if you ask me to live for three thousand years, I think I would go crazy. As for eternity... try to imagine just how long that is."
The father looked down at them, presenting a thought-provoking question.
The children thought about it, their understanding still limited.
"Forever is probably longer than three months, right?"
"Definitely longer than a year."
"No matter how long it is, when I grow up, I want to become a knight of the Saint Soul Rand Empire. I want to protect the weak, punish evil, and bring peace and happiness to my parents and everyone else!"
The young son soon raised his small fist, his eyes determined.
"Silly child, as long as you're safe and healthy, whatever you become, your father and I will always be proud of you."
The father ruffled his son's hair affectionately, offering words of encouragement.
The dining room was filled with warmth and laughter, their faces illuminated by hopeful smiles.
Outside, the sun slowly sank in the west, casting its final crimson rays upon the earth.
In the dusky twilight, a few birds flew towards the south, their calls fading into the distance.
Everything seemed so peaceful and serene, as if this world would never know sorrow and darkness.
However.
What they didn't know was that at that very moment, on the southern border of the Saint Soul Rand Empire, blood flowed for hundreds of miles, staining the Oberron Canal red.
Countless lives withered under the onslaught of the demons.
The earth was soaked with blood, and the sky was shrouded in miasma.
Cities fell, homes were shattered, and wails, cries, and curses blended into a symphony of despair, echoing through the ruins.
Far away from this hellish battleground, a figure stood in the northern region of the Honing Empire, drenched in the blood of countless demons, holding back the majority of their assault for the Saint Soul Rand Empire.
At this moment, he had long lost his former grandeur.
His once pristine white robe was now stained black and red with blood and mud.
His arms, holding the staff, were covered in wounds, and each time he waved it, blood trickled down.
The silver-white mask had shattered completely, revealing a face that could no longer maintain its disguise.
His horns, made of white jade-like exoskeleton, were cracked and dull, and his skin was as pale as paper, riddled with large and small fissures, like a broken porcelain doll.
In the deep sockets of his eyes, a pair of emerald green orbs shone eerily, like ghostly flames.
Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, dripping down his chin and mixing with the stains on his body.
Above him, the sky remained a lifeless gray, and the land was scarred and devastated.
"Hu... Hu..."
The Pope stood there, unmoving.
No one knew how long he had struggled in this hellish place, how many demons he had slain.
His lifespan had long exceeded its limit, and he had become an undead.
The body of the living dead was slowly crumbling and decaying.
Beneath the broken skin, his flesh was mangled, and his internal organs were all but destroyed.
Each breath he took was accompanied by excruciating pain.
Even more terrifying was the curse that devoured his soul.
The rules of the undead side were slowly eroding his will, but his remaining sanity told him that he had to keep fighting.
He couldn't stop.
Every spell he cast might save hundreds, even thousands of families.
"Be careful, there's an oversized demon ahead! Possibly above the eighth rank!"
A heart-wrenching shout tore through the dead silence.
Following the voice, Lanchi saw a group of figures riding on silver-armored horses.
Their armor shimmered with silver light, their lances gleamed, and their banners fluttered in the wind.
They were the elite knights of the Saint Soul Rand Empire, who had rushed here from the north, once sworn to follow the Pope of Saint Soul Rand to the bitter end.
Hope surged within Lanchi upon witnessing this scene.
The vanguard of the Saint Soul Rand Empire had arrived.
This meant that the first wave of attacks on the southern border of Saint Soul Rand had likely been halted.
But the next second, as he discerned the expressions on the elite knights' faces, he also understood who they were referring to as the oversized demon.
"Form ranks, everyone!"
"Wait!"
"Why does this demon seem to have a sense of reason?"
"What...what is that...?"
"His robe, his accessories..."
"No, it can't be!!!"
The knights widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief and fear.
They trembled, inhaling the blood-laden chill air, their hands shaking so much that they could barely hold their weapons.
Indeed, standing before their eyes was the terrifying leader of the demons.
From his attire and accessories, there was no doubt that he was the Pope of Saint Soul Rand.
The Pope?
A demon?
In the midst of this century's calamity that swept through the Honing Empire and the Saint Soul Rand Church overnight, no one knew the cause or where the Pope had gone. They only knew that there must be a mysterious mastermind behind this catastrophic event.
An unidentifiable liquid, whether blood or mud, oozed from his shattered skin, emitting an eerie red glow as if lava was flowing within his body.
Even more horrifying were his eyes.
Those eyes, once as gentle as jade, now emanated an unnerving green light. The deep sockets resembled two pitch-black abysses, ready to suck in the souls of all who gazed into them.
How could this be the beloved Pope? He was clearly the most terrifying monster!
"Back away, quickly..."
The commander of the knights faltered, his voice cracking,
"That's not His Holiness the Pope... It's a demon... Run!"
The silver-armored knights retreated in disarray, their silver lances and spears haphazardly pointed at Lanchi.
(End of Chapter)
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