In the Nekso Palace, at the periphery of the Parliament of Nobles, Richard had been waiting with a hundred main supporters of the religious reform.
When the two God's Arrivals appeared in the sky and attacked each other, the red robes and bishops were more confused than ever. They were mumbling words that were different but had similar meanings.
"How is it possible?"
"Who is the heretic?"
"One of them must be a heretic, right? Then, why can the heretics use God's Arrival too? "
"Lord, are you testing us?"
God's Arrival was the highest divine power that only belonged to the pope. It undoubtedly proved his identity as the spokesperson of the God of Truth on earth. For a thousand years, it had deterred all the strong enemies including the demigods. It was the firmest confidence in the hearts of the clerics. Even the pastors and bishops of the northern heretics would all fall silent when the issue was brought up. Although all the popes had "God's Grace" that could approach the strength of demigods for a short period of time, compared to "God's Arrival" that could wound and defeat the God of Silver Moon and the Lord of Hell, it was like the difference between a lesser angel and the King of Angels.
However, today, Sardes, a saint who rebelled against His Holiness, had used "God's Arrival" too. Did it mean that it was not a special gift from the Lord but a common divine power that could be grasped after exploration?
If Sardes also knew "God's Arrival" because of the grace of the Lord, who was the spokesperson of the Lord on earth? When two favored by the Lord destroyed each other with "God's Arrival", which one was the heretic? Why did the Lord create such a scene?
Chaos, confusion, and other feelings echoed in their hearts, as if their faith would be swallowed by the holy light if they were careless. In that case, the Congress of Magic would certainly award the pope and Sardes with "Special Contribution Awards" for their distinguished contributions in destroying the faith of the clerics.
At this moment, Lucien's question echoed in Richard's head.
"God loves the world, but he loves the shepherds more? God loves the world, but he is unwilling to communicate with everyone's mind directly? Is the majesty of God different when you pray at home and in a church? Can divine power be bestowed only under the guidance of the clerics? "
"If the pope is the spokesperson of the Lord on earth, why did he misinterpret the Cannon so many times? Revising the Doctrinal Canon again and again? "
"… The Pope and the Church are all obstacles between the believers and God for the sake of personal desire for power. Whether or not you can obtain divine spells, you should be equal in front of the Lord …"
He didn't know when, but he recited these words from the Holy Scripture.
At first, the moderate clerics looked at him with confusion and helplessness, as if they were looking for the true meaning of their god. But as they listened, they seemed to understand something. Some of them keenly connected it to Richard's program, which was to return the right to interpret the Cannon to every believer!
"Perhaps this is the purpose of the examiner?"
"This is the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth that the Lord truly wants to create! Regardless of gender, old or young, rich or poor, as long as one's heart is pious, everyone can be redeemed! "
Their expressions became peaceful and kind, but their eyes were full of determination and fanaticism. In the end, they all shouted with Richard:
"Those clerics who say 'faith, faith' to the believers, but blaspheme faith themselves, get lost!"
"Those clerics who say 'God loves the world, God loves the world' to the believers, but try to monopolize the path of the soul, get lost!"
"Between the believers and the Lord, there should be no artificial obstacles. There should only be faith and the deeds that match faith!"
When they shouted that, milky, gentle holy light glowed on the clerics. Beautiful and ethereal singing seemed to be echoing around them. It was like the joy of the God of Truth for them to understand the true meaning of 'Kingdom of Heaven on Earth'!
Having completely thrown away the spiritual burden, Richard felt that he was closer to the Lord and more joyful and free. His divine power had finally crossed the gate and reached level nine.
Around him, many other clerics had also advanced by one level.
"This is the gift of the Lord. This is his joy for our choice," Richard said in high spirits.
A red robe who had also advanced by one level said with a smile, "Cardinal Richard, when your program of religious reform is realized, perhaps you will become a saint cardinal."
"Our contribution is not for return but for devout faith." Richard waved his hands softly.
At this moment, he saw Natasha, who was wearing a silver armor and wearing a gold crown embedded with many gems, striding over with the majesty of a king in the dangerous environment where the divine power defense barrier of the Nekso Palace was shaking because of the battle of legends outside.
When she passed by Richard and the rest of them, Natasha nodded her head and drew a cross before her chest. "The Lord is always in our hearts."
Her long purple hair that was tied up shook up and down slightly, making people worry that the crown might fall off.
"Only Truth lives forever." Understanding Natasha's support, Richard led the clerics to return the salute.
Natasha did not say anything else. The nobles in the Parliament of Nobles must've seen the changes of the clerics. Their faith would've been shaken, too!
In the Parliament of Nobles, Duke James, Duke Russell, Count Henson and the rest of them looked at the sky gloomily. The ocean of light and the air of destruction were not as shocking as the words' God's Arrival versus God's Arrival '.
Even though they were nobles who were inclined to the Congress, after hundreds of years, their faith had been integrated into their blood, spirit, and will. The God of Truth was undoubtedly the only true God. However, the God of Truth created and tolerated everything, and he did not discriminate against normal sorcerers.
However, the self-contradictory scene shook their faith violently. Perhaps the Lord was exactly as the sorcerers described. He was high and mighty and kept the world running according to certain rules without caring about anything else. Even if the Church was divided, even if it was' God's Arrival versus God's Arrival ', it would still be nothing more than a farce!
The change of Richard and the other clerics outside seemed to have given them another explanation for this behavior. Their mood gradually calmed down, and there was more contemplation in their eyes.
"I didn't know that Sardes could use God's Arrival too …" Duke James looked at his companion next to him.
Russell replied with a bitter smile, "I'm afraid that His Holiness didn't see it coming either. That's why he had to stop it with God's Arrival."
There were no superfluous words or other analyses. There was only a simple reply. Everything was conveyed without words.
Rex, Solefen and the other conservative nobles were even more confused, as if they did not know what the Lord was, what the Pope was, and what the Church was.
What they were mumbling to themselves was similar to what the moderate clerics did earlier. They were all confused and sluggish.
At this moment, Natasha walked in, followed by Camille as usual. It was the first time that she had entered the Parliament of Nobles in the silver 'Triumph of Holm' and the Holm Crown. Her thick and beautiful purple eyebrows, her bright and resolute eyes, her high nose, her tightly pursed lips, and her slightly rigid face made the most beautiful picture. Together with the full armor and the gold crown, the Knight and the majesty of a king were fully displayed. The nobles seemed to have found their backbone and gradually calmed down.
The 'Sword of Truth' in her right hand, on the other hand, slightly constricted the pupils of Rex, Solefen, James and the other nobles. The queen had concealed her strength!
However, after the Sword of Truth showed up, some of the fear and worries in their hearts were gradually gone.
Weird noises echoed when the metal boots stepped on the wooden platform. Ignoring the terrifying view outside where magic and divine powers were flying, Natasha said in a low voice,
"Let's begin the emergency meeting of nobles."
Thank you, the pope and Sardes. You've added more weight to the persuasion work than we expected!
A strange magic item was placed on the platform. It ran on electric currents and recorded Natasha's voice. Then, the voice was transmitted out of 'Paradise on Earth' through a metal tube. Because the telephone lines that were established in advance were connected to the outside of the city, and such a transmission did not belong to supernatural powers, the voice was transmitted out of 'Paradise on Earth' into the manor at the suburb.
The backup sorcerers in the manor hurried to broadcast the 'live voice' of the meeting of nobles to the Parliament of Nobles in the Kingdom of Colette, the Kingdom of Brianne, the Duchy of Calais, and the northern coastal corridor through the artificial planets.
… …
After the battle of legends began, they all flew to the sky and fought for dominance. Had it not been for the restriction of 'Paradise on Earth', they would've flown to the altitude of ten thousand meters like Benedict II and Sardes.
After the air of 'God's Arrival' and 'God's Arrival' penetrated the barrier of 'Paradise on Earth' from the sky, Saint Melmax was more than surprised and confused, but then he felt heavy pressure.
"Sardes is a traitor? He knows God's Arrival? "
"His Holiness burned his remaining life to perform God's Arrival …"
"What's going on exactly?"
"Sardes is truly brutal. He intentionally challenged His Holiness in the sky. He's trying to shake the foundation of the Church's faith! Even if he's dead, the Church will be mired in mud. "
Of course, Melmax also knew that Sardes flew to the sky for another purpose, which was to prevent the destruction of Renstadt and Paradise on Earth, the medium of triggering his God's Arrival.
He blocked the battle of legends with 'Paradise on Earth' not only to strengthen the Grand Cardinals of the Church and weaken the sorcerers, but also to protect the believers in Renstadt. Otherwise, the whole city of Renstadt would've been destroyed in the uncontrollable battle just now.
The battle of God's Arrival in the sky seemed to have twisted space and time. Uncannily, Benedict II and Sardes temporarily disappeared.
Melmax, on the other hand, was prepared that His Holiness would not be able to free himself for a while. Suppressing the Lord of Storm, he glanced around the battlefield.
Douglas had gained the upper hand in the battle against the Angel King with his endless spells. Even the ninth circle, eighth circle, and first circle spells were as effective as common legendary spells in his hands. Also, they were faster and simpler. However, Mecantron, the Angel King who boasted 'God's Guard', defended himself so firmly that the Emperor of Arcana could not free himself to prepare more powerful legendary spells.
Hathaway gradually got familiar with the strength of top legends and began to suppress the two saints. Oliver and Hellen were weakened by 'Paradise on Earth', and the two saints on her side were strengthened, but they were still on par with each other. The grand arcanists were indeed stronger than the saints.
However, in other places, the saint cardinals and the divine Knight of the Church gradually gained the upper hand because of the suppression of 'Paradise on Earth'. The Light of Stars, in particular, was struggling under the siege of Astira and Arzaro. He was only not killed because of his legendary items and the weird spells. However, it seemed that his doom was coming soon.
Fernando, the Lord of Storm before him, was suppressed by him too. Although he couldn't finish him off anytime soon, he was able to free himself to protect the massive transmission magic circles.
The advantage of the battle was still on his side!
Thinking about that, Melmax looked at the massive transmission magic circles down below. As long as two more saints or level-three epic Knight came, they would be able to kill the evil sorcerers effectively without having to summon more people. Once that happened, the seven epic Knights on this side of the Storm Strait would know what to do!
As long as the sign of failure appeared, it would be unstoppable like a flood!
If Brook came back first, it would be troublesome. More Grand Cardinals and epic Knight would have to be summoned, which would give the Dark Congress and the northern heretics an opportunity. Of course, it was possible that His Holiness would finish the battle and come to reinforce them first. In that case, half of the legendary sorcerers would be killed!
"However, why hasn't Fernando used his' Eye of Storm '?" Melmax thought to himself in confusion.
The Church was well aware that the Lord of Storm had two legendary items. One of them was' Robe of Dominance ', and the other was' Eye of Storm '. It was impossible to tell whether or not he was wearing the former before his life was threatened, but why was the latter, as a' divine weapon ', never used? He had clearly been suppressed!
… …
In the Nekso Palace …
On his way to the control center, Lucien was not stopped by Kritonia. It seemed that, as Natasha predicted, Winston had stopped him, or he would have to ask Mr. Rhein for help. Although Rhein had disappeared, Lucien believed that he was around and waiting for an opportunity. If Sardes had any other plans, he would not mind sabotaging them. Or rather, he craved them.
The control center was right before his eyes, when a silver sword that carried hideous cracks in the void suddenly burst out and slashed Lucien.
Under the sword, Lucien's body was torn into halves, but it vanished like bubbles.
"Gordon, the Tearing Sword …" Not far away, Lucien appeared and saw the man with silver eyes who attacked him.
Gordon also said in a low voice, "Seventh-circle Magic Simulacrum …"
The spell could create a real illusion that was half of one's level. It had feelings, sounds, smells, and overlapped destinies. It was possible to perform magic.