Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 379 - 380: The Silent Pope [8/8]

Within Asumos Church,

Truthfully tell, everyone has their own hidden agendas.

Kain was no exception.

However, this fervent believer always nurtures one objective in his mind. That is to adhere to the Goddess’s will, collaborate with the Chosen Ones, annihilate the Demon Temple, and restore pace to this continent. Therefore, when discussing this matter, Kain’s usual frivolous expression vanishes, supplanted by incomparable gravity and earnestness.

Observing the silent supreme leader of Asumos Church, after hearing his words,

A touch of anxiety arose in Kain’s heart,

Worried that the Pope might not believe his words, Kain hastily continued:

"Holy Father! Although what I said seems unbelievable, my judgment is based on certain facts! Shortly after I arrived at that empty space, I was surrounded by the Demon King Nightmare and nearly thirty Level 7 Abyss Demons! However, their attacks seemed timid, as if they were unwilling to damage anything within the barrier. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had such an easy time finding a loophole and escaping. Clearly, everything within the barrier is of great importance to the Abyssal Demons!"

"..."

"Additionally, before I withdrew from the barrier, I gathered some samples from the snow-covered ground. After bringing them back for expert analysis, I discovered that traces of other Demon Kings Shadows energy still linger in the soil! We detected not only Snow Devourer and Deathwing, but even Shadows of all Demon kings, including Higanbana! This indicates that this is a gathering place for Demon King entities, making it highly likely that it’s the location of Demon Temple"

"..."

"Finally, Holy Father! Before Cabane’s death, didn’t he mention possessing information about Demon Temple, with plans to venture into Winter Forest? During our investigation, we even found residual signs of Cabane’s Holy energy! If my speculation is correct, this is where he met his end! The Demon Temple should be within this barrier. The reason I couldn’t see it likely stems from the Demon Temple having already vacated this place! I know this notion may sound mad, but I genuinely believe..."

However,

Before Kain could finish, Kael raised his hand to stop him.

Kael spoke slowly:

"No need to say more. I’ve seen your memory; I know your thoughts."

"Yes..."

Upon hearing this, Kain stopped talking, instead lowering his head quietly, waiting for the Pope’s next instruction.

As for Kael, he took the soil analysis report handed over by Kain without a word.

Looking at the content of the report, Kael fell into contemplation...

"Has the Demon Temple... left the barrier..."

’Demon Temple’

’A building? After gaining consciousness, it ran away?’

’If this was said, I’m afraid no one would believe it.’

In the common sense of the continental populace, this is too absurd.

And Kain, who proposed this, would most likely be deemed insane.

However,

At this moment, Kael did not deny Kain’s conjecture. On the contrary, the Pope even slightly nodded in agreement.

Indeed,

According to the analysis by Kain and the technical staff of Asumos Church, the place where the Apostle of Heaven stepped foot might indeed be the location of the legendary Demon Temple. But to outright say that the Demon Temple has consciousness, and ran away on legs? That’s too hasty.

Just because the Demon Temple wasn’t visible doesn’t mean it certainly isn’t within that barrier.

You know, many ancient ruins and lost palaces have their special ways of hiding themselves even further. Take, for instance, the underground dungeon that the Fifth Apostle explored. Wasn’t the entrance to the dungeon made invisible, and thus unseeable?

Who knows if Demon Temple might be in a similar situation? That’s the origin of all Abyssal Demons, and to only have an external barrier as protection seems too underestimating of this Abyssal Demon hive.

Therefore,

Saying Kain’s hypothesis is too hasty is somewhat understandable.

However,

At this moment, Kael, as the Pope, acknowledged Kain’s speculation in his heart.

"Perhaps... the Demon Temple really does have consciousness."

His half-closed eyes opened slightly,

The Pope focused intently on the report in his hand,

His thoughts, at the same time, returned to over four hundred years ago, to the fourth Northern Expedition War led by Asumos Church...

--

Over four hundred years ago, when Kael had just been promoted to be the Heavenly Apostle, he followed the church’s expeditionary force to the world’s land of sin, the Winter Forest. At that time, Kael was a young man who had become the Heavenly Apostle, full of energy and confidence.

Even though he had long known from the Saintess about the horrors of Abyssal Demons, and the unfathomable depths of Winter Forest, Kael was still full of confidence.

Not only was he confident in his own strength, but he was also confident in the allied forces assembled by the church!

The church’s troops were the most numerous in history, a massive army of over three million men, marching toward Winter Forest. Of course, these forces didn’t count the troops from various empires and other powers, as well as all sorts of magical creatures and summoned beasts.

Besides the sheer number of troops and complete equipment, the number of powerful people was also considerable. Nearly a hundred Saint Level experts and a full ten 8th Level unmatched powerhouses! Such forces were more than enough to casually destroy any existence on the continent.

Kael firmly believed in this.

However,

Soon, the young Kael realized,

He had overestimated the combat power of the alliance. Even though they were an alliance, those filled with a victorious faith did not want their own forces to suffer too much. When faced with a powerful Abyssal Demon group, they all hoped to let the troops of other forces fight with the Demons, and they would pick up the pieces.

In the process of eliminating the Abyssal Demons,

They wanted to weaken their potential competitors as much as possible.

The constant intrigue greatly reduced the combat power of the alliance. As their combat power decreased, they missed countless opportunities. Unnecessary sacrifices were happening all the time.

To be contemplating the issue of dividing the spoils after victory, when victory hasn’t even been achieved yet?

It’s simply,

Absurd and ridiculous.

Of course, the most important thing is that both himself and the entire alliance underestimated the combat power of Abyssal Demons, as well as the infectious power of Shadow. Even though there were only the ’Sword Demon’ and ’Inferno’ two Demon kings existences in Winter Forest at that time, the terrifying combat power of these two Demon kings, and the ability to unleash world-destroying power in an instant, was a direct slap in the face to the alliance in its prime.

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