Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 901 - 902: The Concealed History

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In the Church Nation of Asumos, beneath the holy city of Vinatia, a group of over a hundred young believers aged between fifteen and twenty gathered in an underground training ground. Led by holy knights, they streamed in continuously, each emanating a strong aura of holy magic.

While their power was insignificant compared to top experts, they were undoubtedly the cream of the crop among their peers. At this moment, these talented youths focused their attention on the platform ahead, their gazes converging in unison.

There stood an unremarkable man, donning a noble archbishop’s robe of white and gold, a golden-plumed hat atop his head. His graying hair draped over his shoulders in slight disarray, adding a touch of indolence to his exceedingly ordinary features.

Despite his plain appearance and lack of a powerful presence, the young believers and fully-armed holy knights dared not underestimate him. For this man was none other than Zuoben Navis, the second-in-command of the Church Nation, holding the position of Prime Minister

However, the crowd held their breath and focused not on the Prime Minister, but on the images projected through magic stones behind him. As the contents of the images entered their eyes, nearly everyone stopped breathing, their already solemn faces sinking to new depths.

As the footage continued, the atmosphere in the training ground plummeted, hitting rock bottom, a spine-chilling coldness instantly enveloping the entire area. The images displayed two segments from six years ago, a truth concealed on the Ancita continent.

One segment showed the Holy War that took place in Anvika, while the other depicted the great battle on the plains of Digha Banlo. Two distinct battles, yet the footage revealed a strikingly similar point—the human allied forces were utterly crushed in both.

No, perhaps "crushed" was too mild a term. The most fitting word would be "slaughtered." To the wide-eyed disbelief of countless Church believers, the supposedly invincible Holy War Allied Army, composed of the continent’s top forces, and the formidable central army of the Red Leaf Empire, appeared utterly fragile before the crimson butterflies.

Like newborn infants, they were devoured and annihilated by the bloody butterflies without resistance. The entire scene was filled with shattered limbs and splattering blood. Even through mere footage, the believers could almost smell the thick stench of blood and feel the despairing atmosphere of death.

"Just who is that person?" As they watched the flickering black silhouette with an indiscernible face, this question involuntarily arose in everyone’s mind. Regardless, that black figure was undoubtedly the culprit behind the calamity six years ago.

Realizing that the disaster was not a mistake of the previous Pope, but an attack by the Abyssal Demons, everyone shocked. An indescribable, unprecedented anger and hatred spread like an out-of-control virus, madly corroding their minds.

After all, every young believer present had lost important family members in that great war. The buried resentment in their hearts was starkly reawakened by the footage. A suffocating atmosphere gradually enveloped the training ground.

However, unlike in the past, this intense hatred was not directed at the former Church leadership, but squarely at the black-haired girl controlling the crimson butterflies. In their hearts, the girl who slaughtered the Holy War Allied Army had become their irreconcilable enemy.

A strong impulse surged in the hearts of these believers—to tear that black silhouette to shreds and avenge their blood feud.

Amidst the atmosphere shrouded in resentment, some of the more rational believers, after accepting the shocking truth, quickly found their hearts enveloped by a thick sense of confusion. After much hesitation, one young man mustered his courage, stepped out of the ranks, and respectfully lowered his head towards Zuoben on the platform:

"Lord Zuoben, may I ask a question?"

Glancing at the blond man who posed the question, Zuoben did not feel displeased by his unsolicited interruption. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile:

"Speak, Stinco."

"Thank you, Lord Zuoben." The blond man named ’Stinco’ nodded respectfully in gratitude, then turned his gaze to the horrifying footage playing on loop:

"Lord Zuoben, the calamity in Anvika six years ago, the deaths of millions, was not the fault of the previous Pope, but that black-haired girl... correct?"

"Yes, the footage should have clearly conveyed this fact to you all."

"Just who is that person?"

As these words left his mouth, the gazes of the 129 young believers present converged on Zuoben in unison. Before seeking revenge, they at least needed to understand the true identity of their enemy.

"That person is Bloody Butterfly."

"Bloody Butterfly?! That Demon King-level Abyssal Demon?"

Upon receiving Zuoben’s answer, Stinco couldn’t help but furrow his brows:

"Bloody Butterfly, the one who first appeared in records six years ago? Lord Zuoben, I know Demon Kings are powerful, but... the Holy War Allied Army had countless top experts. Why, why were they beaten so badly by a single Demon King? Is that person really just a Demon King? Also... since the disaster six years ago was caused by that monster, why do the history books portray it as the sin of the previous Pope?"

The man voiced the doubts in his heart. Similarly, these were the common questions in the minds of the believers present.

"Heh, good questions." Zuoben chuckled lightly:

"Let me answer your first question. Indeed, your judgment is correct. That woman is not some Demon King. She? She is an existence more terrifying than Demon King, the very source of all Abyssal Demons, the legendary Demon Temple."

"?!!"

At these words, the believers present were all stunned, looking at each other in disbelief.

"What?! The Demon Temple?! Isn’t that an ancient ruin?"

"It’s normal for things with great power to develop intelligence. There’s no need to be so surprised. You also don’t need to wonder why the Holy War Allied Army was beaten so badly. That person is the source of all Abyssal Demons, the creator of Demon Kings. Naturally, her power is not something we can match. Unfortunately, Pope Kael six years ago did not realize this and rashly launched the Holy War. So it’s not entirely wrong for the history books to say that disaster was Kael’s sin."

"Then why hide the history?"

"It’s simple." Zuoben revealed a carefree and pleasant smile, then spoke the spine-chilling truth.

"The Holy Lomari Empire, Sadik Empire, Fata, Night Wish City... the controllers behind these renowned forces are the Demon Kings created by the Demon Temple, as well as those human traitors. They don’t want the public to know this truth, so naturally, this real history cannot appear in textbooks."

"L-Lord Zuoben? Y-You’re joking, right?"

"I know it’s hard for you to accept, but this is the truth. Not only those top forces, even our Church Nation has no choice but to bow and scrape before those monsters in order to survive. Strictly speaking, the entire Ancita continent is actually controlled by Abyssal Demons. We humans, and other intelligent races, are nothing more than livestock raised by the Abyssal Demons, ready to be consumed at any time."

As these words were spoken, the entire training ground fell silent. All the believers were stunned, at a loss for words. The information was too overwhelming to accept at once.

Undoubtedly, what Zuoben said was unbelievable. But the footage didn’t lie, and the believers also believed that the esteemed Prime Minister would not deliberately waste time deceiving them, ordinary believers.

This was the truth. The Abyssal Demons, thought to have been defeated by humans and sealed in the Winter Forest, had long infiltrated human society and secretly controlled the entire world.

At this moment, the flames of vengeance that had just ignited in the hearts of the believers were ruthlessly extinguished by reality. They wanted revenge, but they were too weak.

If such elite troops couldn’t prevail six years ago, helplessly defeated and cruelly slaughtered before Bloody Butterfly, what could these young people who couldn’t even kill ordinary Abyssal Demons do?

Seeking revenge? A pipe dream.

As the hatred gradually faded, a strong sense of powerlessness and confusion enveloped the believers.

"Then what should we..."

"Children, I know what you’re thinking." Just as everyone was feeling down, Zuoben spoke again.

"Shocked, right? Hard to believe, right? Feeling powerless, right? I understand you. Three years ago, when I became Prime Minister and learned this truth, I was just as shocked, just as stunned, just as doubtful about life."

"You know? These years, how stifled I’ve been? Clearly knowing those Demon Kings are our mortal enemies, the ones who killed countless of our colleagues, yet I still have to greet them with a smile, fawn over them, and even help them monitor our own people within the Church Nation, helping them brainwash the new generation of youth. Do you know how it feels to be forced to aid the wicked?

"I’m the Imperial Prime Minister! Yet before those monsters, I can’t even hold my head high?! They’re clearly the murderers of my parents, but I can only smile at them?! Because if we don’t obediently smile, our entire nation will cease to exist!!! Do you know how stifling that feels?!!!"

As the words poured out, Zuoben’s tone even became somewhat hysterical. The believers below could feel Zuoben’s humiliation, unconsciously clenching their fists.

But at this moment, Zuoben, who had just lost control of his emotions, suddenly seemed like a different person. He abruptly stabilized his emotions and calmly looked at the crowd below:

"Therefore, in order to no longer live in such humiliation, WE made a decision together."

"We will once again launch a Holy War to save the continent from the clutches of the Abyssal Demons."