Chapter 208 : An offering to a god

What does this mean? (Sasha)

Sasha tilted her head in confusion.

It means that a god created this castle and illuminated the endless night. And that order of creation mustve been what created this underground world. (Anos)

Just as I thought, this world mustve been created by a gods order.

However, there was no statement here that confirmed it was the work of Militia.

Now that I knew Arcana could use the Moon of Creation, it wouldnt shock me if she was capable of building a world as well.

Or perhaps Arcana was connected to Militia somehow.

Then, what about the line No more life was born, and the world came to a halt? Sasha asked again.

Since I deprived the world of the order of destruction by bringing the Goddess of Destruction Abernyu to our realm, all the lives that shouldve perished were not destroyed. This would mean that no new life was created, and the world came to a standstill. (Anos)

The total number of sources circulating in this world was fixed.

Birth and destruction were two sides of the same coin.

Or maybe it means that something bad will happen because of it. (Anos)

That wasnt to say that the destruction of lives just for the ones that had yet to be born was acceptable, though.

Only the gods were concerned about no more new lives being born due to the old ones surviving.

There was no reason to follow that cycle.

The rest of this text seems to be the same as whats written on the other stone monuments. (Anos)

I skimmed through it and read its content.

Then all the runes on the wall glowed pale.

He deciphered all the oracles? a surprised voice uttered behind me.

How in the world? How did a heretic from the surface manage to read the secret runes when no one else could in over a thousand years? (Student A)

Please tell us, O Almighty Radiance Equis What manner of trial are you imposing on us? (Student B)

The students of the institute were so shocked that I was able to decipher the eternal runes that they simply knelt there and prayed to the gods.

N Not yet somebody murmured.

God has not forsaken me yet Gazel the Saint uttered with a vacant look as he staggered to his feet.

He headed toward the magic circle to run away.

But he stopped halfway through.

In front of him was the silver-haired Arcana.

She gently held out her hand to Gazel.

Your Pledge Jewel. (Arcana)

Gazel shuddered, and guarded himself as if to hide his hand with the Pledge Jewel ring on it.

O Great Selection God Arcana, my judgment has yet to be passed. I shall return to this sacred land once I find a new god (Gazel)

Arcana silently shook her head.

By the prayer of my follower, the Oracle Ahid Alovo Agartz, and my authority as the Selection God Arcana, I shall pass judgment upon thee, Gazel Apt Ageila. (Arcana)

Gazel took one step back.

No This cant be (Gazel)

Just as Gazel was about to run away, his hand was chopped off and sent flying in the air.

GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! (Gazel)

Arcana was holding a sword made of snow in her hand, with blood dripping from its tip.

When she turned her palm to the sky, the Pledge Jewel ring Gazel was wearing flew into it.

The jewel fit neatly in her small hand.

A mans voice echoed from the magic circle at the entrance.

The God of Brilliance Giosselia, who was your Selection God. The Keeper of Restoration Nutra Do Hiana. And the God of Piercing Beheus. In accordance with the pledge of the Selection Trial, I offer the orders of these three gods to my deity, Arcana. (Ahid)

A huge amount of magic power overflowed from the Pledge Jewel.

It all came from the very sources of the God of Brilliance, the Keeper of Restoration, and the God of Piercing that I had destroyed.

The three blue flames that were burning in the Pledge Jewel emerged from its black gemstone and levitated in the air.

I accept this offering. The orders of these three gods are now mine. (Arcana)

Arcana stuck out her little tongue.

Then she took the three blue flames into her mouth and ate them one by one.

Her body glowed with their powerful magic power.

The sources of the three gods were assimilated into her own.

As Ahid had declared earlier, it meant that he offered them to his deity so she could consume them.

In other words, Arcana had acquired the three gods orders.

C Cardinal! (Gazel)

Without even using recovery magic to stop the bleeding from his wound, Gazel glared at Ahid.

Are you betraying me?! Me, a fellow believer of Jiordal, faithful to the Almighty Radiance?! (Gazel)

Ahid made a solemn gesture and prayed.

His expression was brimming with a haughty sense of justice.

I received an oracle. We are not to oppose or compete with each other, but to fight together. And I shall inherit both your will and your gods. Such were the words of the Almighty Radiance. (Ahid)

It cant be Gazel protested.

It cant be, it cant be, IT CANT BEEEE!! Then what about my salvation? Where is my salvation in all this? What was the point of my life as a holy knight, as the Saint, as a fervent believer of the Almighty Radiance?! (Gazel)

That, too, is a test, Gazel. The gods say that overcoming it is within your power. (Ahid)

Dont take me for a fool! You did this to me, and you call it a test?! Is that what a clergyman does?! Is that what the gods do?! (Gazel)

Gazel. (Ahid)

Gazel was startled by Ahids harsh tone.

Are you doubting the gods? Then by my authority as the Cardinal of Jiordal, I excommunicate you. (Ahid)

Unable to talk back, a look of despair crossed his face.

We are all born with nothing. What belongs to you belongs to the gods. What merely happened is that you gave it all back to them. What is there to be so sad about? (Ahid)

Gazel fell to his knees and dejectedly hung his head down.

Now is the time for you to repent. God will surely forgive your sin. (Ahid)