Free Web NovelChapter 102: Chapter 78: Fatal Temptation and Unyielding Martyrdom
Knowledge, power, wealth... when these become your life’s pursuit, congratulations. You are already a follower of the Formless Divine Monarch.
The Supreme Mages who once ruled the Real Cosmos greedily plundered all the world’s knowledge and ideas. They built great towers, selfishly claiming everything for themselves.
It was on the very day the Tower of Knowledge was completed that the Void Realm was born.
The Supreme Mages who stepped inside were never seen again.
Those powerful beings, who possessed the Mighty Power to reshape the Real Cosmos, along with the great Wizard Civilization they had forged with their own hands, were utterly annihilated in the river of time.
The Formless Divine Monarch.
The most ancient and mysterious of Demons.
Its history since its birth is so long, it can no longer be traced.
In a way, a mere Mortal should not know so many secrets about Demons.
But when you pick up that red gem, these truths hidden beneath the world’s surface become a lure, appearing temptingly in your mind.
Few can resist the mysteries and knowledge it holds. freēwēbnovel.com
Of course.
If you are a devout follower of the Divine Emperor, or a Judge who would stop at nothing for the sake of the Empire, this forbidden knowledge can become your sharpest weapon against the Empire’s enemies.
That is, provided you know exactly what you are doing and why you are learning this forbidden knowledge—not simply finding a clumsy, self-deceiving excuse to fall into complete depravity.
Reinhardt, of course, knew what he was doing.
A Void Divine Artifact cannot be destroyed, only sealed or banished. The only way to deal with this red gem now was to use a precious opportunity for a Radiant Reforging, seal it completely, and then make it his own.
He was no follower of the Divine Emperor.
Even if it was a profane creation from the Void Realm, as long as it could help him grow stronger and reach the peak of Knight Power, one Radiant Reforging was... nothing...
Raphael, unable to hide his pilgrim-like excitement, slowly rose to his feet.
If Reinhardt hadn’t revealed his identity, Raphael would have gone his whole life without knowing that one of the Divine Emperor’s Angels had been by his side all along.
Silently watching over this world in the name of the Divine Emperor, observing everything that happened at Caster Monastery.
At that moment, it felt like a long-foretold destiny.
The despair and confusion deep within Raphael’s eyes vanished completely. His gaze pierced the mists of the future; he saw his path, his mission, with perfect clarity.
Yet, the injustice of fate... or rather, the machinations of a Demon, seemed to be playing a cruel joke on him.
He had followed Reinhardt’s command, directing his brethren at the Monastery to evacuate the residents of the ruined city outside. He had returned to Reinhardt’s side and, as a loyal follower, knelt humbly on one knee before this Angel of the Divine Emperor, ready to hear the gospel from one so close to the Divine Emperor himself.
But after waiting for a long time, Raphael still had not heard the Angel’s voice.
All he heard were the fading footsteps of the people, the hushed whispers of his Monastery brethren, and... those murmurs he had heard more than once before.
It was the voice of a Demon.
Raphael’s brow furrowed.
When he looked up, the red gem, the size of a pigeon’s egg, seemed to possess an infinite gravity, capturing his gaze and refusing to let go.
Like a transparent heart, Raphael could clearly see twisted, writhing veins inside the gem extending, little by little, to seep into Reinhardt’s skin.
The power of a Void Divine Artifact was far beyond what any Mortal could imagine.
A cold sweat broke out all over Raphael’s body. He tried to cry out for help, but discovered to his horror that his body was no longer under his control.
He could only watch, helpless, as the tiny veins from within the red gem burrowed deeper into Reinhardt’s skin and flesh, unable to make a sound.
Worse still, he could clearly hear the Demon’s mocking laughter and gloating.
’Everything is going according to my plan, Angel. Did you really think I would bestow such a powerful Void Divine Artifact upon a mere Mortal?
You vastly overestimated your willpower.
How could anyone refuse the power of the Mind-Stealing Gem?
Heh heh, this is the Supreme Power of the Formless Divine Monarch. You should feel honored.’
Compared to the bloodthirsty Dark Abyssal Great Demons, the Thousand-Change Monarch’s gloating rambles about its schemes were as long as an instruction manual.
Four years of meticulous planning, all so that Reinhardt would personally execute Chad on this very day and unearth this Void Divine Artifact, which possessed the Mighty Power of the Formless Divine Monarch!
If it could successfully corrupt Reinhardt, this chosen of two gods, it could only imagine the looks on the faces of Avernus and the Radiant Divine Emperor.
And in return, it would receive the blessing of Mighty Power to ascend and become a Venerable Great Demon!
Having seized control of Reinhardt with the Mind-Stealing Gem, the Thousand-Change Monarch seemed to be in a marvelous mood. It knew Raphael could hear it, so it continued nonchalantly.
’Descendant of the Ancient Remnants, I noticed you long ago. The abilities of Mind Connection and mental foresight are quite rare.
You’ve always been worried about this world’s future, haven’t you? Well, I can tell you frankly that in the near future, a rebel army’s landing beacon will arrive.
Everything you cherish will perish in the coming war.
Caster Monastery will be reduced to rubble in the flames of war, the statue of the Divine Emperor will crumble in desecration, and your mentor, in an attempt to save you, will die by a profane Longsword.’
