The wind howled and dust scattered. Once the city which was bustling with life and vigor, stood like a lifeless husk filled with mutant plants and zombies.
Unlike the Steel Fortress or Survivor’s Garden, the land filled with a layer of snow, the weather was much colder than any other place.
The snow wasn’t pure white as it had a pale yellow tint on it. Unlike other things, the snow might be a source of water. But no sane person who knows the truth would dare to do such things.
Because the water melted from snow is no less dangerous than the radioactive water filled with nuclear waste. Just one sip is enough to make someone die in agony and pain.
However, among many of those dilapidated buildings, there was a massive church standing. One could see the striking difference between this and other ones.
The white polish building looked well maintained. The paths surrounding it were much more clear. As some mindless zombies roamed around it, a group of people armed with guns dealt with them easily.
After digging out the energy crystals in them, they sliced the neck of the mutant zombies.
After that, they carried those heads as they walked into the church.
Although the outside of the church was pretty cold, the inside was wll insulated. The walls were covered with white luminescent lamps that glowed faintly. But it was giving the darkness inside a better touch, rather than lighting the surroundings.
Inside there was a massive hall, with a giant altar at the end where a statue of a headless got with open arms stood. Soon, the hall filled with a large number of followers. All of them wore a dark golden cape, with a symbol of an inverted tower.
” Praise the Lord!”
” Praise the Lord!”
An old man with shriveled skin walked onto the altar as he wore a crimson cape with golden symbols. He held a dark staff a human skull was adorned with various colorful gems. The human skull was also plated with gold, as it gave the staff a unique aura.
He slammed the staff on the ground as the ground rumbled. Everyone became silent as they looked at the old man.
” My fellow worshippers, the time has come yet again that we worship our true lord, the savior of all corruption and misery!”
” Praise the lord!”
” The heretics of East, those bastards of Survivor’s Garden started to move yet again! However, a new power also emerged!” The priest shouted. ” They called themselves the Heaven’s Sanctuary City!”
” How dare they call it Heaven’s Sanctuary? They defiling our lord’s sacred realm! Can we forgive them?!”
” No! NO!”
” Kill them! Sacrifice them in the name of the Lord!”
” Very well, It shall be decided by our Saintess Evangeline!”
Suddenly, everyone became silent as they looked at the incoming figure.
Clad in a pristine white robe, the woman’s head was covered with a hood. Her long chestnut hair cascaded to her waist as they swayed with her footsteps.
The body of perfect proportion, the stockings were tight and the heels were making a clicking sound that could strike a strong feeling into someone’s heart. Thicc thighs, the outlined ass, the breasts jiggling with each step she was taking, the dress was showing an ample amount of her bountiful breasts.
Although the hood covered her head, one could see the pair of eyes shining like crimson gems. The cherry like lips along with a face that is almost unrivaled, made her the most alluring woman any man could see in this era.
However, something else was hidden under the allure, something that could make someone’s heart sicken. Under the gaze full of calm and tranquility, the aura of a sadistic demoness was lurking.
However, no one dared to look at her directly, her alluring figure only added more fear to anyone who knew who she was.
She was Evangeline, the saintess of Salvation Church.
She walked to the altar and clasped her hands and her eyes became closed. Her lips mumbled as if she was giving her prayer to the headless statue.
However, everyone could see her fist was dripping with blood and her robe was also stained with red stains. There were no injuries on her fist at all, but everyone acted like it was normal.
” Begin the ritual!”
Her voice echoed, making everyone excited. Soon, the me dragged three men onto the altar as their masks got taken.
” Please! Let me go! I will do anything!”
” Bastards! I am a B grade Ability User! I will kill you go!”
However, all the devotees gave a cold, mocking grin when they saw the struggle. Pity and sympathy were something that was absent in that place.
Evangeline raised her arms as her voice boomed. ” Today is the final day of Moon Month. It shall end with our gifts to the Great Lord. The higher quality the sacrifice, the happier he shall be”
” So, Let’s commence the ritual!”
” Praise the Great Lord!”
” May the Lord bless us!”
Evangeline raised her hands as three golden swords appeared out of thin air. They gleamed with a golden brilliance as if they were condensed with molten gold.
Suddenly, those golden swords flashed as they severed the heads of those three men at once. Their heads rolled like balls on the ground ” Praise the Lord!”
Evangeline looked at the crowd as she clasped her hands.” My and blood slashed out, staining the statue’s feet.
” For the Lord!”
” Praise the Lord!”
Evangeline looked at the crowd as she clasped her hands.” My fellow devotees, the heretics of East is rapidly expanding, and taking away the resources which is Lord’s gift to us.”
” So, Should we cower and stay behind? Should we let them do as they please?”
” No! No way!”
” Kill them! Sacrifice them to Lord!”
” Therefore…” Evangeline’s smile became cruel, ” We are going to…”
However, everyone was stunned as a rumbling sound came. Evangeline turned around as her eyes widened.
” This… This is…”
” My goodness! Is this happening? Is that really happening?”
Everyone saw the headless statue, giving off a bright golden brilliance as cracks started to appear on it. Saintess Evangeline and the pope, both became shocked to their core as the feeling of a divine presence washed on them.
The darkness of the church washed with a golden brilliance as a green colored energy spread across the hall, and a faint aroma of medicine made everyone’s nose twitch.
” I… I am feeling so refreshed.”
” I think even my wounds are getting healed.”
” Blessing! It’s a blessing from Lord!”
” This…This… What is happening? What the hell is happening?!” The pope became enraged as he looked at it. ” Who is pulling tricks at us? Who is committing such a blasphemous act!”
However, Evangeline was looking at the statue intently her lips curling upwards like a fanatical smile.
” Amusing…How amusing.”
A voice echoed through the entire hall, it echoed like a thousand people speaking at once. The voice was imposing, striking fear and awe in the hearts of listeners.
All the believers fell on their knees as they slammed their head on the ground.
” Praise the Lord!”
” Great Lord! Please Bless us!”
” Save us from misery and pain!”
The broken statue filled with even brighter radiance as the entire hall filled with a veil of mysterious mist. The voice echoed again.
” The end of suffering is near! Only those with a faithful heart shall escape from this hell and be able to see the true paradise in your own eyes.”
Suddenly, the mist changed as everyone saw a clear blue sky, and the ripened rice filled, ladened with golden grains. The clear water and soft soil moved everyone, including Evangeline herself.
” Behold, A glimpse of paradise.”
” Bastard! BASTARD!”
Everyone was shocked when they heard the pope was cursing. However, their eyes widened when they saw the headless statue broken and the shadow of a gigantic being reflected on the veil of mist.
Although it was merely a shadow, the divine aura forced everyone to not look at it directly. An imposing figure that looked like a male, the fluttering robes and wings spanned both sides.
” Your devotion managed to break my slumber. Pope Jia, You have been acting like a true follower of mine. Yet, to think you didn’t adhere to the rules of the church and did many things in secret.”
” Blasphemous Pope, As your punishment, I shall purify your soul.”
” What?” The pope was shocked. ” Yo-You! I will-“
*CRACKLE BOOM!*
A blue colored lightning mixed with a golden aura flashed as it landed on the pope’s body, killing him instantly.
Evangeline shivered violently, not because the pope died. But, she suddenly felt a gaze, a gaze that even made her soul shiver with fear. However, Evangeline’s expression remained determined as he walked toward the source of light.
” Are you really our lord? The true benevolent and sacred god of heaven and earth?” Her voice trembled with both fear and anticipation.
” Why do I feel doubt in your voice?” The voice echoed. It was like the voice was chuckling. ” The scene you saw, it wasn’t a mere illusion. It was the true glimpse of one of my divine kingdoms, the Heaven’s Sanctuary City.”
Evangeline shivered when she heard that. Although she heard many light that covered the headless statue. It was like she traversed an entire realm as she walked through the mist.
rumors about Heaven’s Sanctuary City, she felt most of them would be fake. But now, she wasn’t that sure at all.
She felt a sudden impulse as she rushed forward, to the towering light that covered the headless statue. It was like she traversed an entire realm as she walked through the mist.
Suddenly, her steps halted as she realized she was standing in a paddy field. The golden grains swayed gently in the wind as the sky looked pretty different than her kingdom.
And in front of her stood a young man, without a shred of clothing.
Skin fair like snow, yet the body is well defined, without a single defect. Hairs like pitch black night, yet the eyes were filled with multicolored light, which could see through anything.
A perfect specimen of male, the epitome of manliness. Yet, the imposing aura that the young man gave off was enough to make Evangeline’s heart accelerate.
Falling on her knees, her hood slipped back, revealing her face completely.
” Slave Evangeline greets the Great Lord.”