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Chapter 68 - 2-22 The Chains of Faith

Episode – Plunder in the Name of God

Whispers of Unease

Across the continent, rumors spread like wildfire.

"The Oath of Light's crusaders are seizing magical artifacts in the name of their god."

From tiny charms to heirlooms passed down for centuries, nothing escaped their grasp.

And those who refused… were "judged."

■ The First Village

In a small square, crimson-cloaked crusaders rode into town.

The sigil of the Triangular Eye gleamed on their shields.

One knight spoke with a soft, almost soothing voice.

Knight A:*"May the blessings of the Light reach this village.

The Divine has decreed it—all items imbued with magic must be delivered to the Temple."*

At first, the villagers complied.

They brought out trinkets, old staves, even worn symbols carved into their homes.

They gave willingly.

■ The Spark of Conflict

An old man stepped forward, trembling as he held a silver bracelet.

Old Man:*"This was my wife's gift before she passed.

Yes, it holds some power…but it's all I have left of her.

Do you truly have to take it?"*

Knight B smiled—but his eyes stayed cold.

Knight B:*"It will be a sacrifice the Divine will cherish.

This relic will be… cared for in the Temple."*

■ Escalation

Days passed.

The smiles vanished.

Demands hardened.

Those who hesitated faced "correction."

Villager A:*"Please—this is all I own!

I haven't hidden anything, just… please, let me keep this one thing!"*

Knight A raised his shield, voice like iron.

Knight A:*"Defy the will of Light, and you are guilty.

Surrender it."*

Fear drowned the village.

Children cried.

Adults bowed their heads.

■ A Larger City, a Harder Stand

The crusaders' next target was Bellac—a thriving trade hub and treasure trove of magical items.

At first, city leaders welcomed them.

But when their "mission" became clear, the mood shifted.

City Leader:*"These artifacts are our history, our lifeblood.

To demand them all… is to demand the death of this city."*

■ The Crusaders Respond

The Oath's representative, Evan, stepped forward.

His shield slammed against the ground, echoing like thunder.

Evan:*"There is no mercy for those who defy the Light.

We do not bargain.

We purify."*

The crusaders moved.

Shields locked.

Merchants' stalls shattered.

Citizens who wielded magic were branded heretics.

■ Plunder

Crusaders smashed doors, stormed homes.

Ancient heirlooms were dragged from mantles, loaded into crates.

Some people screamed.

Some simply closed their eyes.

Villager B:"Please… that's been in my family for generations!"

Knight A:"It belongs to the Light now."

■ Departure

When they left, wagons sagged under the weight of magic.

Evan looked down on the silent city, voice unwavering.

Evan:*"This is only the beginning.

Every magical relic on this continent will come to us.

All who oppose the Divine… will be purified."*

■ What Remains

The city was silent.

Shops smashed.

Families broken.

Anger smoldering like embers.

Villager C:*"Is there no one to save us?

Where are the strong?

Where are the ones who can stand against this?"*

The Oath of Light moved on, hunting more relics—

leaving only fear in the name of faith behind.

***

Episode – The Stolen Relic

Into the Depths

Rian's party journeyed deep into the continent—to a ruin whispered about in old songs.

Not just ruins, but the resting place of a shattered god.

The Oath of Light's obsession with the site was obvious.

Rian:"What's hidden here will show us just how dangerous their 'faith' truly is."

Ivela:"And if we're too late, there'll be no avoiding a fight."

Serin:"If that relic is more than just power—if it's a key to awakening something—we can't let them have it."

They stepped inside.

The air turned cold.

Old wards shimmered faintly underfoot.

At the far end stood a massive statue—its blackened surface like metal, its eyes closed, as if some dead god only slept.

Kairen: *"This isn't just any relic.

Something… foul moves here."*

Rian's grip tightened on his greatsword.

And then—

Thoom.

Thoom.

Thoom.

Footsteps. Heavy.

The Oath of Light had arrived.

■ The Wall of Faith

Crusaders in flawless formation.

Shields layered like steel walls.

And at the front—Tyreus,flanked by Raunel, priests, and a black mage.

Tyreus:*"This is holy ground—the last remnants of the Divine.

Outsiders have no place here.

Surrender the relic."*

Rian:*"That 'divine' power isn't pure.

It's corruption asleep under stone.

If you take it, you'll bring ruin."*

Raunel sneered.

Raunel:*"You're not worthy to speak of it.

Those who defy the Light—will be purified."*

A silence.

Then—

Shields slammed to the earth.

The crusaders spoke as one.

Crusaders:"Bind!"

Scarlet sigils flared across their shields.

Breath, blood, will—all joined.

■ The Fight

Rian moved first.

His greatsword crashed against the wall.

Clang!

Metal screamed across the ruin.

Rian:"Push!"

Ivela hurled lightning, spears of white fire slamming down.

*Crack!

But the crusaders absorbed the wounds—sharing them through the Bond.

Ivela (furious):"They can take that much?!"

Serin:"The Bond—they heal as fast as they bleed!"

■ The Dark Mage

Black mist rolled in.

Nastier, the Oath's warlock, spread his cloak.

Nastier:*"The Light is ours.

Even the darkness kneels."*

Shadows tangled feet, strangled breath.

Rian:"Take down the mage first!"

Ivela's hands lit with storm.

CRACK!

Lightning shredded the mist.

The warlock staggered, crumpling to his knees.

For a moment, the wall wavered.

■ The Commander Holds

Tyreus raised his shield.

Tyreus:"Left flank—reinforce! Stack shields!"

BANG!

Three shields overlapped, forming a new iron bulwark.

Rian struck—but a counterattack slammed back.

BANG!

Rian skidded across stone.

Kairen (breathless): *"They're… not just holding shields.

They're moving like one creature."*

Rian split his greatsword into twin blades.

Rapid strikes sought seams.

But every gap closed—the Bond knitted the line whole.

■ The Turn

The fight dragged.

Every push met steel.

Every wound disappeared into the Bond.

Finally—

Tyreus:"Forward! By the will of Light!"

Shields surged.

A living battering ram.

Rian, Ivela, Kairen—all shoved back.

Stone cracked under their boots.

The Oath reached the statue.

■ The Theft

Tyreus extended his hand.

Priests chanted.

Light wrapped the statue.

The relic vanished into their shielded ranks.

Tyreus (cold):*"Resistance is finished.

The will of Light is absolute."*

Rian's fingers bled against his sword's grip.

He couldn't take another step.

Ivela (through clenched teeth):"They… took it."

Kairen (grim):"That Bond—we couldn't break it."

■ Aftermath

The crusaders withdrew in perfect order.

The ruin was left in shards and blood—and defeat.

Rian (quietly):*"We failed.

The relic is theirs."*

Serin:*"This isn't just a crusade anymore.

They're hunting the corrupted god's power."*

Rian's hands tightened on the greatsword.

Defeat and resolve tangled in his face.

Rian:*"If we let this go… that power will consume everything.

We have to grow stronger.

Stronger than we've ever been."*

****

Episode – The Master of the Legendary Blade

Wounds of Defeat

After losing the ancient relic to the Oath of Light, Rian's party stopped deep within the forest.

Broken shield fragments and bloodstains marked the ground,ghosts of battle lingering in the mist.

Rian sat with his sword across his knees, dried blood still clinging to his knuckles.

Rian (quietly):"We couldn't stop them.They claimed that power."

Ivela's teeth clenched.

Ivela:"That cursed Bond… that shield wall.No matter how many we felled, they rose again.One man fell, and another bore his wounds. The wall rebuilt itself."

Kairen spoke by the fire, voice heavy.

Kairen:"That wasn't mere training.Only those bound by faith could fight like that."

The silence deepened, broken only by wind through broken branches.

Serin:"I've never felt so powerless.Neither magic nor steel… could touch them."

Rian lifted his sword, moonlight glinting faintly on the blade.

Rian:"Strength alone won't win this.We need something else to break that Bond."

The Old Legend

Kairen's eyes lowered, cautious.

Kairen:*"Rian… there's an old legend I heard at the monastery.

Something… that might be that 'something else.'"*

Rian's gaze rose.

Rian:"What legend?"

Kairen:*"Long ago, there was one they called the Master of the Blade.

He conquered the world with a sword—but he didn't chase power.

He sought the meaning of the sword, the reason to wield it.

Even monks respected his philosophy."*

Ivela tilted her head, curious.

Ivela:"Monks?Monks usually avoid weapons."

Kairen:*"Exactly. But he was different.

He wielded his blade not only for battle, but for inner peace.

His swordsmanship became a philosophy, not just a skill."*

Serin (softly):"And what did he leave behind?"

Kairen:*"A scroll, they say.

And the place where he left his last teaching—the Sanctum of the Silent Blade.

Only those who truly understand the sword can open its gates."*

Rian's eyes narrowed.

Rian:"This Sanctum… what will we find there?"

Kairen (firm):*"His teaching.

To break the Oath's Bond, we must wield the sword not as 'force'—but as intent."*

The fire cracked.

The weight of the forest pressed in.

Rian looked down at his blade, then raised his head, eyes steadier.

Rian:*"Fine.

Strength alone failed us in that battle.

We'll find the Master's teaching.

We'll learn the 'intent.'"*

Ivela smiled faintly.

Ivela:"Fine by me.But… does this Sanctum even exist?"

Kairen:*"Legend says few have ever found it.

Even fewer returned."*

Ivela smirked.

Ivela:"Maybe they couldn't leave…or maybe they just gave up."

Serin chuckled softly.

Serin:"Then we'll just be the first to return."

Rian raised his sword toward the fire.The blade caught the red glow.

Rian:*"The sword we need to stop the Oath—it won't come from strength alone.

We have to find the intent."*

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