The Terrifying Legion Awakens!

The carriage door closed, and the carriage rolled away. Inside, Foden closed his eyes, sinking into deep thought. Just as Vigulin picked up the snow-wolf fleece blanket to drape it over the Whip-Wielder's lap, she noticed to her shock that his hands were trembling faintly. Yes, Foden was afraid. Last time, when he had merely suspected Karen of being the inheritor of some branch god of their church or a deity closely allied with them, he had derived endless amusement from studying cards and tracing connections. This time, a suspicion had already formed in his mind, and through continuous probing and testing, he had drawn closer and closer to the true answer. Yet instead of joy, terror grew exponentially with each passing day. Foden slowly opened his eyes and looked out the carriage window at the sights of the Holy See. Many of the palaces bore the unmistakable imprint of the "Exalted Ones." Those venerable figures had established many of the Church of Order's systems, and their stories covered the walls in dense detail. Indeed, they were gods. However, between the monotheistic tradition of the Church of Order and Foden's own lofty standing, in his perception, even those once-lofty figures were ultimately nothing more than another post higher up than his own or that of the High Priest. The Lord was different. The Lord was the sole existence, the supreme, the ultimate faith of Order. The faith of Order believers in the God of Order had always differed vastly from that of other churches' followers in their respective deities. For the latter, god encompassed everything; for the former, it contained a massive degree of worship for a personal heroic epic. This was vividly evident in the attitude of the Order branch gods toward the God of Order. Consequently, it had forged a sentiment in the hearts of Order believers toward their God of Order that transcended traditional worship of a deity to reach an even higher plane. So... Was he? He had to be. Yet Foden dared not ask. Karen had no need to deliberately maintain this secret. Just moments earlier, when his manservant stood by the carriage door conversing with Foden, the servant had displayed an unmistakable confidence. That former manservant did not fear him learning the truth, because even if he knew, what could he do? Foden might dare rebel against a "polluted" Tyrannus, but before the true Lord... he could do nothing but prostrate himself. Foden raised both hands, covered his face, and rubbed it gently. When everyone else remained muddled and oblivious, he was always able to draw closest to the truth with unmatched speed—that was an affirmation of his professional skill. Yet after discovering the truth, far from daring to do anything about it, he was forced to proactively preserve the secret... and that was an insult to his profession. In his ears echoed the manservant's words: "God would say... get up and get back to work." It was supposed to be a meaningless exchange borrowing the cadence of mythological narrative. Yet damnably enough... Foden had understood it. He had not wanted to understand, but he could not help it; comprehension had struck him instantly. Right now, he rather resented his own excessive professional acumen. Vigulin watched as the Whip-Wielder slowly lowered his hands. Within his originally profound, somber gaze, a bloody glint flickered—resembling craving, greed, eagerness, and... an indescribable, deep-seated terror. What the Whip-Wielder said next frightened his secretary so thoroughly that she sprang from her seat and fell prostrate upon the carriage floor. "Tell me, should I... go ahead and die once first?" *** Regional Director's Office. Head Bishop Bern, who had concurrently assumed the post of Regional Director of the Wien Region, sat behind his desk leafing through several of today's Wien newspapers. Ever since extreme weather had struck the waters near Wien the previous month and disrupted maritime shipping, the public had developed a keen interest in weather reports. Furthermore, extreme natural disasters had indeed become more frequent across the globe lately. Terrifying climatic anomalies had emerged in numerous locations over vast areas; a certain ocean bordering a certain continent had even plunged into a total blackout of communication. Bern knew very well that behind these frequent natural disasters lay the widespread eruption of religious wars. Aside from the Church of Order, which focused entirely on resisting the return of the gods, the other orthodox churches had promptly thrown themselves into wars of downward annexation after paying sufficient alliance "dues." Regarding this, quite a few questioning voices had already arisen within the church. Those dissenters dared not deny Order's core tenets or the policy established by the previous High Priest to create a godless world. Instead, they circuitously probed and suggested whether the church ought to spare some energy to take part in the current wave and claim its own share of the spoils. Bern had seen the articles published in the internal journals by Vic and Leon, specifically attacking the rise of this ideology and calling on everyone in the church to reflect and study more deeply. Karen had no time to write articles now, nor did his current status permit him to engage in such matters. Therefore, no matter how busy his own work was, as one of the few high-ranking clergymen in the team currently at his post, Bern had to pick up his fountain pen and write something to raise the call. The office door opened, and an aide walked in. "Head Bishop, here is the newly compiled military supply manifest. Everything listed is ready; please look it over." Bern scanned it, confirmed everything was correct, signed his name, and urged, "Dispatch the military supplies at the fastest possible speed." "Head Bishop, there is still some time before the delivery deadline. The personnel below have been exhausted lately. I suggest we do not cancel this week's rest day and allow everyone to relax a bit. Otherwise, I worry someone might collapse from overwork and go to meet the Lord ahead of schedule." Bern said, "The Lord will just call you back up and tell you to get back to work." The aide was taken aback. He had merely been joking, but the Head Bishop's response seemed a bit overly theatrical. Strictly speaking, it bordered on blasphemy, leaving him able to manage only an awkward smile. "Localized divine wars could break out ahead of schedule at any moment. Our preparations must be completed as early as possible. This is not mere work; this is a mission, understand? "Do not fear working yourselves to death, for far more people will die on the battlefield." "Yes, Head Bishop!" The aide took the documents and left at once. Watching the closed door, Bern shook his head and sighed. "What I said just now was the truth." After all, he had died only to be immediately called back up by the Lord to continue working. Who said death was an eternal slumber and rest? He had experienced it firsthand—it did not even match a short nap! Just then, the desk lamp flashed red. Bern promptly straightened his clerical robes and rose to his feet. The communication formation in the center of the office activated, projecting a phantom figure that depicted Budalas. Ordinarily, a top-down notice of this level directed to the regional directors across the various regions could only be issued by the High Priest. He was overstepping his authority... or rather, had he not overstepped? "The first round of hostilities is about to commence. The Wien Region is entering a Level One state of alert." "Understood, High Priest." The form of address felt entirely natural on his tongue. After all, Bern had grown up listening to stories of Budalas. "None of us will be in Wien in the near future. Keep a close eye on Wien's affairs." "Understood, I will." "Ensure nothing goes wrong back home. The young master cannot afford distractions during the upcoming battles." "Understood. I see." "Mm, that will be all." Budalas's figure vanished, and the communication formation shut down. After issuing the order to enact the Level One alert across the Wien Region, Bern walked over to the window and gazed at the dense traffic on the streets in the distance, suddenly struck by an overwhelming sense of unreality. Opening the window, he reached his hand outside, clutching at the air as though grasping something, yet also as though catching nothing at all. "The second phase of the divine war has begun. Can we protect this unreality before us?" Bern tilted his head back, gazing up at the rare clear sky overhead. "At the very least, we have been here. But if possible, we hope our presence was not merely a fleeting visit." *** Official missives from the War Department, paired with the High Priest's decrees, cascaded down to every department. The church apparatus, already operating at high efficiency, had the accelerator stomped all the way to the floor. Kred had grown accustomed to serving as a mascot. He no longer even sat behind the desk in the Administrative Temple, preferring instead the tea lounge space left behind by the Chief. Whenever his presence was not required, he drank tea, puffed on cigars, and read through the books left by the Chief. At long last, Kred had come to experience the Chief's joy. Particularly while lounging at leisure and watching the swarms of clergymen bustling in and out outside the tea lounge, the cigars tasted richer, and the tea smelled more fragrant. Theoretically, things functioned even better when he refrained from hands-on micromanagement. In terms of executive capability, whether it was Budalas as the "High Priest" or Diknuo as the "Cardinal," both surpassed Kred by far. As for the other branches and departments, they had already been running smoothly on their own and required no intervention from him. Once he broadened his perspective, the world became delightfully comfortable. All he needed to do was delegate, delegate, and delegate further. If they failed to weather this epochal shift, then he would be the final High Priest of Order; at worst, he could emulate the Mad Pope of old, scramble to the summit of the Administrative Temple, and shout: "There are no gods in this world!" If they succeeded, his historical standing would directly surpass all past High Priests, including Budalas, making him the second most accomplished High Priest after Tyrannus, the first honorary High Priest. How could future generations possibly determine whether he had been a mere figurehead? Regardless, everything had occurred during his tenure, and that could never be erased. Taking a sip of tea and turning a page, Kred sighed with emotion. "Who could have thought that even I would have a day like this?" Alfred stepped into the tea lounge space and reported: "High Priest, the first battle is about to begin." Kred waved his hand. "Just let me know the final outcome." "Yes, High Priest." Alfred walked out of the tea lounge and looked toward the murals lining the walls of the Administrative Temple. Without enduring a coup, without bloodshed, without even much confrontation or resistance, their side had already seized the core authority at the very apex of the Church of Order. "Is it because it was too easy? Why do I feel so little sense of accomplishment?" *** At the encampment of the First Knight Order. Teleportation gates were officially opened one after another after their coordinates were calibrated. This time, the plan called for deploying an operational unit of the minimum standard corps level. Karen, who had been staying here recently, summoned the bone dragon and took to the sky to oversee the formal awakening of the legion. Zhongtasen flew up beside Karen atop his massive tome, asking gingerly, "High Priest, is this truly fine?" "The decision is mine; it has nothing to do with you. Besides, the paperwork is fully in order." Originally, during the preheating stage, the First Knight Order had organized three corps-level establishments. More remained inside the pyramid to replenish them, and the topmost level had not even been touched. Yet Karen still felt that this establishment was a bit too large. The deities returning in the second phase were divided into twelve batches; they were weak, and in all likelihood, there were no longer any main-god-level entities among them. Therefore, given the First Knight Order's extraordinary individual prowess, expending such a large formation as a single chess piece was excessively "luxurious and wasteful." For at least three days after awakening, a First Knight Order unit of equivalent size could fight three or even more active Order knight orders. Thus, drawing upon his past combat experience and practical realities, Karen had trimmed the establishment. He had scaled down the various battalions within the original structure and pieced together the remnants, yielding two additional complete corps. When dealing with precious single-use expendables, it was far better to deploy small amounts multiple times than to squander too much at once, which would produce excessive overkill and severe waste. However, in Zhongtasen's eyes, such alterations by Karen amounted to altering the "ways of the ancestors." This left him deeply uneasy. After all, awakening clergymen spent almost their entire lives mechanically repeating the procedural training laid down by dogma. They dared not change, and they rejected change—not out of stubbornness, but because the framers of the regulations never wished to see any unnecessary accidents occur here. "The condition of our opponents is different, so naturally, we must adapt," Karen continued reassuringly. "Alright, if the worst comes to pass, we can simply call for reinforcements. Not only can we send more from here, but although the active knight orders won't enter the battlefield directly, six of them are already on standby to deploy at a moment's notice." "I trust you are right." Zhongtasen forced a smile. Karen pointed to the twelve teleportation gates below and remarked, "Actually, eight teleportation gates would be enough for efficient transit. There was no need to open four extra ones; it just causes waste." Zhongtasen immediately replied, "High Priest, you may alter anything else, but please leave this untouched. Rounding it out to twelve brings good fortune." Hearing this, Karen relented. "Then, let the awakening begin." "Yes, High Priest." Zhongtasen issued the command. Below, the awakening clergymen divided into numerous large, medium, and small units, employing formations, holy artifacts, and divine artifacts to initiate the mass awakening. In the unseen realm, countless prayers and chants seemed to resonate, sending relentless tremors through the bloodline of faith. Awakening spells were Karen's greatest specialty, yet even he felt immense pressure at this moment. This was no one-on-one awakening; this was the collective resurgence of a unified will. Every person lying here may have met their end through various circumstances, but while alive, all had understood the mission for which they would one day be laid to rest within. *Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!* The sound of countless coffin lids splitting open rang out, and many individuals even punched right through their caskets. In truth, all the coffin lids would have levitated on their own, but some people simply could not wait the moment they opened their eyes. Yet this was not done for show, let alone to flaunt individuality. Instinctively, they assumed the enemy was likely right outside, and that they had to charge out to engage in battle at the fastest possible speed. It was just like someone abruptly jarred awake from deep slumber, their mind still momentarily groggy. Once they opened their eyes and took in the surroundings, realizing that the most critical crisis had not yet arrived, they naturally lapsed into an opposite state of excessive relaxation. One after another, they sat up inside their coffins. Some leaped out, some floated into the air, some began shouting, some burst into laughter, and some began... introducing themselves. The most common greeting was: "Hey, what year did you die?" Furthermore, due to familial heritage—often resembling the Guman family with lineages of spellcasters, array masters, or summoners—members were very likely assigned to the same battalion within the same corps. As a result, quite a few even began calling out their family names to make it easier to find their grandfathers or grandsons. Below, the noise swelled steadily, resembling the scene of a massive festive gathering. The anticipated order and discipline did not appear immediately, which was hardly surprising. At the same time, the intense battle intent that had collectively surged forth before their awakening had been genuine as well. Witnessing this, Karen felt no disappointment; rather, a sense of warmth welled within him. These predecessors, after all, had been human in life. Zhongtasen turned the pages of the great book beneath him. For awakening, the awakening clergy system possessed its own mature procedures, which entailed far more than merely "calling people up." *Buzzzz!* The horn within the pyramid sounded a resonant, melodious blast. Communication formations prearranged by the awakening clergymen activated one after another, projecting gigantic phantoms. Towering like colossi, their voices boomed thunderously; they represented no specific person, serving solely to relay orders. Immediately, all the colossal figures spoke in unison: "You who have entered the First Knight Order, do you still remember the oath you once swore?" The prior clamor vanished instantly. The smiles on everyone's faces faded, replaced by solemnity. Then, all the colossal phantoms performed the same motion, crossing their arms over their chests. Below, every awakened clergyman mirrored the gesture at once. Though the giant phantoms uttered no further sound, a wave of solemn voices rose in perfect unison: "Praise be to the great God of Order!" From that moment on, the brief burst of liveliness came to an end. With just a single prayer, having only just awakened, they shed the final vestige of "humanity" upon them and transformed into the most loyal warriors under Order. Commanders at every level of the corps assumed their roles, ordering their combat units into position with brisk efficiency. No one bickered over why another was commander while they were not; even a knight order commander from his own era silently raised a shield without a word of complaint, serving as an ordinary shieldbearer. They began donning armor, taking up weapons, distributing supplies, familiarizing themselves with and warming up war machines, coordinating and integrating from the bottom up. In the past, Karen's Yorktown Region militia corps had required over a month of intensive drill before deployment. Had anyone previously told Karen that a hastily assembled force of strangers who had mostly never met could instantly form ranks and achieve combat effectiveness, Karen would certainly have called it impossible. Now, here, the impossible had become visceral reality. Because... their individual caliber was simply too exceptional, so exceptional that a single glance to their left and right was all it took to seamlessly integrate into the machinery of the battle array. "Shieldbearers, raise!" *Swish! Swish! Swish!* The frontmost "wall" of the battle array rose as the shieldbearers hoisted their shields. In an instant, dharma bodies of varying degrees condensed behind half of the shieldbearers, signifying that every single one of them possessed the strength of a regional bishop. Moreover, among the half who had not manifested a dharma body, it was not that they were incapable, but that they had not realized the need or had deliberately held back. The commander called out, "Still Order!" *Hum! Hum! Hum!* All the dharma bodies across the shieldbearer phalanx dispersed, and everyone fell into immaculate synchronization. Far from a mere wall of shields, their presence seemed to carve an impassable chasm between worlds. This was merely the opening maneuver of the front line, yet it had already generated a terrifying sense of shock. Little Kanna piped up, "Ooh, that's scary enough to frighten a dragon..." Karen could not help but sigh with emotion: if, at any other time, he could command such a legion—not even all of them, just this single force— He would have absolute confidence in leading them to trample the holy see of any orthodox church into dust. Three days? What of three days? Which orthodox church could possibly hold out against them for three days? Yet... were the orthodox churches even worthy? Though Zhongtasen was the most senior awakening clergyman here, this was his first time witnessing a mass awakening on this scale. Utterly overwhelmed, his lips trembled as he stammered: "Our church... our church has always possessed... the power to annihilate the other churches..." Karen shook his head. "No. Sending them to attack other churches would be blasphemy, desecration, and waste!" Karen pointed toward the twelve glowing teleportation gates waiting below. "Their only opponents are gods!"