[Vol. 8] Chapter 67: When the Holy One Arrives
A huge storm caused by the chaotic currents of space and time suddenly spread out from where Violet was standing. It was like a great flood from the Bible, endlessly pouring outward. Countless silver stars floating in the void were instantly swallowed and vanished into the dark flood that stretched beyond sight.
The original form of the Space-Time Rift was completely destroyed and changed in an instant. If this place had been a world where living things existed, it would’ve caused a disaster with billions of casualties, like the end of the world.
But just like how [Noah's Ark] gave people a chance to survive the great flood, even in this scary and messy storm of time, there was still a way to stay afloat and ride the flow.
The Anchor of Time, a shard of one of the Primordial Artifacts, truly lived up to its name. Even though the priestess didn’t fully understand the terms her friend Hen used, like the “three states of time” or what “the present” really meant. At least she could see how it worked.
Even in this nearly insane storm of time, the light of the Anchor of Time remained steady like a mountain. It held the flow of time around Violet in place, as solid as a rock. This made her feel much more at ease, even though she had already decided to trust her close friend without hesitation.
Being inside space and time like this was a strange experience. Even for Violet and the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden Dawn, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, this was a first. In fact, before this, Violet had never even heard of a place like the Space-Time Rift, which exists completely outside of reality.
Just like how the Underworld could only be reached through the spirit fox’s [Reincarnation] power, or how the River of Time had to be opened through a ceremony with the three Holy Artifacts, places like these could only be accessed by those who met some very rare and strict conditions.
The Chairman of the Twilight Council... was it them?
Violet briefly recalled the glowing nebula-like light she saw inside the giant snake’s body. As the thought passed through her mind, she focused hard, trying to listen closely to the wild flood of time pouring out like a storm.
What she was listening for was clearly different from the dark flow of time that wasn’t made of magic or anything physical. What she was searching for were voices, soft, pure, and full of devotion. They were the voices of people praying with sincere hearts.
In the past, Violet had never really listened carefully to the prayers of these so-called followers. She treated the faith they sent like unopened packages, accepted, stored away, but never opened. Because she always felt the contents would be too embarrassing to deal with. The kind of embarrassment that could make someone curl their toes until they could dig a hole big enough to live in.
But now, almost all outside sources of faith had been cut off—99.9% blocked. Only the purest and most devoted voices could still get through. If she still handled them the same careless way, it would be nearly impossible to catch those faint thoughts and use them to trace back the “anchor point.”
So Violet had no choice but to listen, really listen, and try to catch even the shortest flickers of those voices.
And soon, she found them. Those familiar voices she had heard so many times before.
[God, please forgive me. If my sins truly can’t be forgiven, then at least give my family... light and hope...]
[Holy War! Holy War! This holy war is unavoidable! In the name of God!!!]
[All evil gods from outside are fakes! Only the Goddess of Light, the true form of the Primordial Light, is the real one!]
[Dear Goddess, I’m so hungry... please save me, save Mommy... Why is there a war...?]
[Holy and noble Goddess, today I go to the battlefield. If I die with honor, please protect my family. Keep them safe from war and let them live in peace and happiness. I offer my life... so that your holy light will shine forever.]
[The time of your holy arrival has come. Please cast your noble gaze upon us. Watch over the people and guide us on the path ahead!]
Tiny, yet sincere and pure wishes gathered like sparks of light. They broke through the twisted waves of the [Space-Time Rift], going beyond cause and effect, beyond time and space. They became the purest, most powerful force in existence, ringing out like a giant bell, joining together into one powerful voice.
[The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come! The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come! The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come! The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come! The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come! The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come! The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come!!!!!!]
[The time of the Holy One’s arrival has come! On behalf of the 14th Pope of the Goddess Church, Edwina Cecilia, together with the Angels, the people of the Holy Empire, and the billions of faithful followers of the Goddess, we humbly welcome the arrival of the Goddess!!!!!]
Faith surged like a tide. It flowed into the divinity known as [Radiance], causing it to tremble like never before. It grew, sang out loud, and sent out waves of golden ripples like the sea!
“...?”
Edwina? Why did her faith show up here? And those words just now...
At that moment, a golden beam of light tore through the sky like a shooting star. The priestess felt something deep inside and, without thinking, reached out and grabbed it. In the next instant, a dazzling light burst out from her body!
Using the anchor point as a guide, the girl turned into a huge golden rainbow, far more brilliant and powerful than that falling star, and shot straight into the black crack opened by the [Blade of Hollow Mark], vanishing from sight.
…………………………………………
The Angel City.
Outside the Grand Church, the crowds were massive and loud.
According to the divine message announced by the Pope a month ago, today was the day the Supreme Goddess would arrive in the Holy Capital and begin the Trial of the Chosen Heroes.
Because this kind of true [Day of Divine Arrival] only happens once in a thousand years, faithful believers from all over the world dropped everything the moment they heard the news. They rushed toward the Holy City as fast as they could, hoping to witness the Goddess’s appearance with their own eyes.
Since the founding of the Holy Empire, and since the church moved its capital to East Angel City over 300 years ago, this holiest of places, filled with deep faith, had never been as crowded as it was today. Because the divine message did not limit who could worship or take part in the hero selection, nearly ten million visitors had packed into the enormous city, filling it to the brim.
Even though prices had increased to many times the normal amount, every hotel and rental home was completely full. Many more people who couldn’t enter the city chose to set up tents outside instead of leaving. They created a new gathering area in the countryside, and the Holy Knights had to be sent in to keep things in order.
For the followers of the [Goddess Church], just being able to witness the holy and amazing moment of the Goddess’s arrival, even if it was only from outside the city, was something they could brag about for the rest of their lives. It brought them great comfort and joy.
And those lucky few who were allowed to gather in front of the Grand Church to wait for the Goddess’s arrival up close were all carefully chosen by the church. They were loyal and trusted core believers. After all, the arrival of the Goddess was such an important event that even a tiny mistake was something no one, not even the Pope, could afford.
The sky was bright, and the morning had arrived.