Chapter 81 – Holy Land Lumen

The Holy Land Lumen was spread with a sanctuary of immense scale. It was to the point of being embarrassing to compare it to the temporary sanctuary the Priest Beatus had deployed.

If the temporary sanctuary was about the size of a large training ground, the real sanctuary was on the level of a major city.

Swoosh.

As they passed through the sanctuary’s boundary that repelled Awakened Monsters, numerous miracles applied to the sanctuary settled upon the group.

“Prolonged Life, Purification, Healing, Regeneration, and even Resurrection?”

Hanna read out the types of miracles applied to herself and let out an exclamation of admiration.

The Priest Beatus, being from the Holy Land, was more surprised by Hanna’s senses that immediately noticed it than by the sanctuary’s abilities.

“Oh. You noticed that right away?”

In reality, it was thanks to the sensation Lee Hanseong experienced from Yu Sehee’s lantern flowing into Hanna that she could notice it.

But since that was also Hanna’s ability, there wasn’t much difference.

Deng— Deng—

Then, a majestic bell sound resonated throughout the entire Holy Land.

Hanna’s group’s gaze naturally turned toward the bell tower rising high at the center of the Holy Land.

“It’s an awkward time to ring the bell now, isn’t it…?”

“That’s the bell announcing our visit. When outsiders enter the Holy Land, the bell rings twice like that.”

“So the miracles applied to the sanctuary aren’t just the ones I mentioned.”

There were probably miracles detecting entrants and miracles determining whether they were originally from the Holy Land or new outsiders.

As if Hanna’s guess was correct, the Priest Beatus explained.

“That’s right. In addition to the constantly deployed miracles, the sanctuary also has conditionally activated miracles applied.”

Hearing that, she could feel something.

If an enemy invaded the Holy Land, miracles like the Priest Beatus’s Binding, Pressure, and Judgment would rain down upon them.

And if those miracles couldn’t intercept them, conditions were set for miracles of Protection and Stealth to settle upon allies.

These were miracles Hanna had learned or indirectly experienced through the Priest Beatus, so she could notice them.

But besides these, there were many more miracles in the Holy Land’s sanctuary that she hadn’t discovered.

“How is this possible?”

“The real sanctuary doesn’t need miracle renewal like the temporary sanctuary. Thanks to that, the miracles added by successive Adults have remained permanently, leading to the present state.”

“Ah, so that’s why…”

“If Lady Saintess imprints the Blessing miracle on the sanctuary this time, the Holy Land will become even more abundant.”

Come to think of it, Blessing wasn’t applied to the Holy Land’s sanctuary.

If Blessing had been applied, Hanna would have noticed it long ago.

“It’s an honor that I can contribute my power to the sanctuary.”

Then, the Priest Beatus’s gaze, who had been talking with Hanna, turned toward the inside of the Holy Land.

“Ah, it seems they’ve arrived now.”

A figure from the Church, having noticed their visit from the bell sound, was coming to greet them.

A man in priestly robes looked at the Pilgrim Knight Order and let out a sigh of relief.

“The Pilgrim Knight Order! You were alive? Why has there been no news all this time…”

Then, the priest who confirmed the Priest Beatus’s face gaped.

“Successor? Have you returned?”

“That’s right.”

At the title the priest used to address the Priest Beatus, surprise also appeared on the expressions of Hanna’s group.

Successor? Whose successor?

For the priest to show such a respectful attitude, he must at least be the successor of an archbishop.

“But who is that person beside you? Could she be a Saint Candidate?”

The priest, seeming to sense Hanna’s Divine power, looked at her and asked with a gentle smile.

Though phrased as a question, his expression seemed already convinced.

“That’s correct. However, she is also one upon whom the Holy Spirit has descended.”

“Ah… like that apostate?”

As the priest made a pitiful expression, the Priest Beatus added.

“Yes, but her faith isn’t as shallow as his, so you don’t need to be too wary.”

“If the Successor says so, then I suppose I can believe it.”

From the Priest Beatus’s response, Hanna felt anew how much her relationship with him had changed.

The two-year pilgrimage had greatly altered the Priest Beatus’s attitude and reactions.

Even he, who initially watched her with suspicion-filled eyes, now had this much faith in her.

‘Since when did the Priest Beatus’s reaction change?’

Tracing back her memory, it seemed the Priest Beatus’s reaction softened from when the rescue operation began.

The priest’s gaze toward Hanna now turned to Duren and Dice.

“I think an explanation is needed for these two as well.”

“This is Sir Duren Spirit, a warrior of the Golden Holy War. He carries the same Holy Spirit as Lady Saintess within his body.”

“The Holy Spirit to two people simultaneously? Well, since he’s not a priest of the Church, it won’t be a big problem.”

“And the other is Sir Dice Ten.”

“Ten, as in from the Ten Spirit Domain?”

“That’s correct.”

At the priest’s question, Dice nodded.

“Ahem! There’s still more to say. Why are you leaving out that he will become the commander of our Pilgrim Knight Order?”

Sir Clark added with a stern expression.

However, the priest didn’t seem to easily believe it.

“Hey. What kind of joke are you saying so seriously… Are you serious?!”

“Of course.”

But as all the Pilgrim Knights showed agreement with Sir Clark, he ultimately had no choice but to believe.

“More urgently, there’s something that needs to be reported. The Pilgrimage Path is dangerous.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“A Swarm-type Phantom Beast Species appeared. If it weren’t for the Saintess’s group, we would have become its hosts.”

“So that’s why there was no news all this time…!”

“Therefore, the Holy Land’s support is needed. We must hurry to eliminate it before it Awakens to 8-Star…”

Grrrrrrrrrr!

Suddenly, a commotion occurring outside the Holy Land cut off Sir Clark’s words.

Dark clouds covered the sky, and intense tremors shaking the earth touched the sanctuary’s boundary.

“This is…! Is it already too late?!”

They came as quickly as possible, but it seemed the Fungus Demon King had already Awakened to 8-Star.

Even when they checked before entering the Holy Land, the area where the Fungus Demon King’s spores had spread was about three days’ distance from the Holy Land.

Crrrrrrrrrr!

The expansion that began simultaneously with the Awakening instantly narrowed that distance and surged all the way to the Holy Land.

Just as the temporary sanctuary was repeatedly covered by spore floods during the rescue operation, the real sanctuary also became covered by the Fungus Demon King’s spores.

No, it was different from back then.

—That light… I want it.

The temporary sanctuary enhanced with Stealth Miracle didn’t particularly attract the Fungus Demon King’s attention even when covered by spores.

But perhaps due to the Holy Land’s scale, even with the added Stealth Miracle, its presence couldn’t be completely concealed.

The Fungus Demon King’s will, having reached 8-Star and grown even more powerful, was targeting the Holy Land.

“First, let’s join where His Holiness the Pope is. A detailed explanation seems necessary.”

“Understood.”

Following the priest’s guidance, the group hurriedly moved to the grand cathedral located at the center of the Holy Land.

If they had leisure, they would have marveled at the magnificent planned cityscape or fountains from which Star Beasts sprang that came into view, but there was no time for sightseeing.

As the Holy Land’s scale was large, the contact area with spores inevitably increased.

Crackle—

Even with the Protection miracle applied, it seemed difficult to withstand the erosion power of the Fungus Demon King that had reached 8-Star.

Small cracks were forming on the sanctuary’s boundary.

Whoosh!

Miracles like Binding and Pressure were activating and delaying the spore invasion, but it didn’t look like they could hold out for long.

Tap-tap-tap.

Arriving at the grand cathedral like that, the Holy Land’s main combat forces were already gathered there.

Inside the cathedral, a huge lantern hung from the high ceiling, somehow looking similar to Yu Sehee’s lantern.

Lee Hanseong could actually tell that this pure white flame was the core maintaining the sanctuary.

Flicker—

An old man who had been watching the flame shaking unstably as if announcing the sanctuary’s precariousness looked at them entering the cathedral.

“You’ve come. Beatus.”

“Your Holiness. Outside right now…!”

“I already know, so calm down.”

Despite the urgent situation, the Pope’s composed expression strangely brought reassurance.

“Now that everyone who should come has arrived, I’ll tell each what to do. First, you all sit down as well.”

“……?”

“The objective is the subjugation of the 8-Star Fungus Demon King.”

Without even explaining about the opponent trying to erode the sanctuary, proceeding as if he already knew, the Priest Beatus seemed to realize something and closed his mouth.

Sure enough, as if he had been waiting, the Pope began deploying the strong individuals gathered in the cathedral to appropriate positions.

“Bishop-level priests, go outside and evacuate the Holy Land’s believers together with the priests.”

Priests whose Divine power was similar to Bishop Alex or the Priest Beatus rushed outside the cathedral and scattered in all directions.

“Gold Plate warrior Sir Andrei. I’ll request the Fungus Demon King subjugation to the Golden Holy War, so please gather the warriors staying in the Holy Land.”

A warrior wearing a Gold Plate marked with 10th place bared his teeth and grinned.

“Sir Dice Ten. I appoint you as the Pilgrim Knight Commander, so please protect the Holy Land together with the Pilgrim Knight Order.”

Dice clearly looked puzzled but nodded understandingly.

“And Beatus Bright. If I return to the Radiance, succeed the position of Pope as my successor.”

The Priest Beatus looked at the Pope with anxious eyes.

The Pope who must lead the Church of Radiance must learn the divine art of revelation.

Surely the Pope must have already foreseen the current situation through revelation.

Perhaps even the outcome of this subjugation battle.

“Why are you saying such things? What exactly did you see…?!”

“It’s simply time for me to sacrifice myself.”

“Father!”

Ignoring Beatus’s call, the Pope continued with what he had to say.

“Saint Candidate Hanna Bright. From now on, you become the official Saintess of the Church of Radiance and help Beatus, help us.”

“What should I do?”

“First, adding the Blessing miracle to the sanctuary will suffice.”

“Blessing.”

Upon hearing the Pope’s request, Hanna immediately deployed Blessing toward the ceiling’s lantern.

Whoosh!

The Blessing effect spreading throughout the entire sanctuary.

“Hoho. You already know well what the sanctuary’s core is without being told? I hope you do the rest just as well.”

“Yes.”

Hanna also realized the Pope intended to sacrifice himself but didn’t stop him.

That would instead be an act insulting him.

“Beatus. I leave the rest to you.”

Fwoosh!

The Pope, originally 6-Star, reached 7-Star through Blessing.

Whoosh.

The will to sacrifice himself called forth the Miracle of Light.

As the Pope’s elderly body transformed into a faint spirit form, brilliant wings of light embraced him.

Flutter!

Then, with fully spread wings, the Pope’s revealed appearance was no longer that of an old man.

It had changed to the form of a pure child.

The Pope’s 6th Awakening Skill 《Angelification》 had activated.

Whoosh!

Immediately after, the Divine Form of an angel soaring into the sky.

Even having become an angel, the Pope’s Grade was still inferior to the Fungus Demon King’s.

The Pope knew this, which was why he prepared himself for sacrifice.

“I offer this body, please send the power to protect the Holy Land.”

Whoosh— Flash!

The light emanating from the Pope’s body gradually brightened, then at some moment transformed into a pillar of light.

He became the conduit connecting heaven and earth himself.

—Aaaaaah!

The heavens open.

Along with the Fungus Demon King’s scream, the spores covering the sanctuary’s ceiling evaporated.

And down the pillar of light reaching the high clouds above, something enormous descended.

“An angel…?”

It was an angel.

But it was somehow different from the angel the Pope had transformed into.

It was so large that the sense of perspective became strange.

An angel so gigantic that the Holy Land felt like a toy.

“This one descends.”

Thud!

The giant-type angel, 8-Star Nephilim, had descended.

In a state amplified to 9-Star by Blessing.

Zzzzt— Zzzzt—

However, as if the descent was unstable somewhere, noise appeared throughout its form.

“Hmm. Only a single strike is permitted.”

The Nephilim, gauging the limit of what could be exerted through descent, muttered.

“But one strike is enough!”

Immediately after, as if a great sword of light made of Divine power appeared in the Nephilim’s hand.

Flash!

The surroundings turned pure white, bleached.

—Kyaaaaaaa!!!!

The Fungus Demon King’s mental scream resonated.

Fssssss…

‘All the hosts the Fungus Demon King could use as bodies evaporated?!’

Only Hanna, looking down from the sky with Aerial View, could recognize the result the Nephilim had created.

The Fungus Demon King, having formed a spirit body, wouldn’t die even without a physical body, but with all hosts of 6-Star or above having disappeared, it became unable to resurrect anymore.

The Nephilim, as if having finished its task, turned into particles of light and returned to heaven.

—Host… Need new hosts!

Having lost all the hosts it had prepared as insurance, the Fungus Demon King, having lost its reason, began gathering the Starlight Spores it had spread across the vast area to maintain its existence.

Whoooooosh!

As if a dragon whirlwind was rising, Starlight spores were drawn up into the air.

And they compressed again into the form of a giant mushroom.

A Primal Spirit God formed solely from spores in a purely spiritual state after losing its physical body.

—New hostssss—!!

Its instinct accurately pinpointed Hanna located within the sanctuary and shot toward her.

Thud! Crrrrackle!

The sanctuary’s protective power, already cracked, couldn’t stop the charge of the 8-Star spirit body concentrated into one.

But the lights of Binding, Pressure, and Judgment that activated the moment it entered the sanctuary also prevented it from advancing further.

The Fungus Demon King became stuck at the sanctuary’s boundary.

“Everyone, attack!”

And so, on the stage the Pope had created, the Fungus Demon King subjugation battle began.