Chapter 344 The Grander Conflict

The Second Grand War.

The event that occurred during the period of Patkmas Yujgi, the Emergence of the Pillars as recorded in the books of the current age.

It was an extraordinary event that came after the Giants were driven from Feinheath and Opungale by the powerhouses that arose from the teachings of these behemoths.

The irony of it was amusing and then some but it wasn’t limited to merely that…

As the Purity took hold, consolidating the belief in the Deities despite the entire war that had risen with the very entities that taught of these sacred beings, a certain peace seemed to wash over the continent.

The Purity spread its influence, creating large temples for communion with the Deities or at the very least attempts at doing so.

The creation of relevant classes like Priests and all was yet to fully be realised in these times.

Faith was something that predated the coming of the Giants and for some reason, sentient creatures remained with the idea of idolatry regardless of how advanced they became.

From praying to rivers and trees, they turned to devoting themselves to beings they couldn’t see, but unlike with the natural forces they had given their reverence to, the Deities ‘spoke’.

They gave guidance to all that sought it. Guidance in Direction that most would not want but needed to follow anyway.

In this, none could Discount that the Deities were true and thus belief  did not wear out.

In fact, it exploded and in its grand rise, it gave birth to another group of people who chose not to build temples for worship but to imitate the Giants who built shrines.

This group quickly grew, mainly being comprised of men and women who believed that they… were nothing.

Their bodies and souls were not profound but held collective importance that needed guidance into the next life after death.

They believed all life was created for naught but the mundane work of keeping Aigas as beautiful as it could be, keeping the bodies of the Deities clean and sacred by constantly making known to all things what Aigas was.

For that, they discarded the self and embraced a sense of oneness, much like the Giants.

They believed the Giants’ calling was to make everyone aware of their lifestyle which was seen fit for them to receive the revelation of the Deities first over the humans and the Sif.

This group called themselves, the Unnamed Keepers.

The Purity shunned these men and women who were dubbed as cultists instead and warred against them, hunting them down and putting them to the sword.

It wasn’t a simple slaughter, however, as this group had the means to protect themselves as well.

This feud was but a portion of the age that came after the Giants’ departure, unfortunately, as amidst the culling on both sides, a new party entered the fray with a sacrilegious belief that tore the war between the Purity and the Unnamed Keepers apart.

Fulgardt.

One of those who awakened incredible powers in the Patkmas Yujgi, a Hidden Class.

He was a man of great stature and a powerful presence that did not need the fondling of mana.

His raw, bodily air was like that of a world when he was merely a scaler of the Stages much like every other warrior on the continent and this sole appearance of his was what demanded everyone’s attention before he made his intent known.

His desires and words shook not only Feinheath but even Opungale, as they were a challenge to the world.

His message spread far in only three days, everyone who was close to any channel of information hearing the words of the man who would be known as the Immoral.

“I have received revelation. Enlightenment. While you quarrel among yourselves about which way to praise the Deities, these beings who were once worms like us, treading on the dry dirt, now masquerading as gods, I have received a message from the one, the true one. The Wanderer Who Seeds..!”

Such words.

Such bold words.

Who was this man to declare something like this?

A brute from the nation of Maqi with too much strength and naught much brain to think.

That was the sentiment that all shared.

Yet, his words did not cease and neither did he sit still for long after appearing.

“I am emboldened by a vicious power that tugs at my very blood. The purity of light and the evil of the darkness pull me in two, yet they declare the same thing of me… That I slay all who bow to falsehoods!”

Thus were his words.

No more a mere verbal expression of intent but a warning of the imminent death and destruction that would come for those that worshipped the Deities.

And surely…. death and destruction came.

This one man who was thought to be alone cast four more shadows over the world as he wreaked havoc with them in tow.

Four more monsters with Hidden powers much like himself.

Among these was a man that Fulgardt called his most trusted friend.

Quilforg.

A man of great power and of similar vision much like the other three that composed of this order of rebels to what had been determined as the natural order of the world.

Quilforg believed that as Fulgardt had said, there was no need to praise and adore the Deities.

He believed that his friend had truly been enlightened.

That an existence worthy of the title of TRANSCENDENT had shown this man something grand and resplendent!

Why was his faith in Fulgardt so strong?

Well…

The might that this friend of his displayed was easily the barest of answers.

Cutting down tens of powerful elites with Hidden Classes much like him within a few seconds was as sinister as it could get, especially when considering that all these men and women were further in their Stages than the Incandescent Stage where Fulgardt was at the time.

Yet… none of the fights he engaged in lasted more than a minute whether he was swarmed or otherwise.

How he fought, how he brutalised the believers of the Deities whether they were from the Purity or the Keepers and mocked their blessings and belief as he laid his feet over their heads…

This wasn’t casual MIGHT afforded by any Deity.

This was atrocious MIGHT from somewhere else entirely.

It had to be.

Quilforg relished in their movement as they went, tearing down shrines and temples alike and watching the normal people cower behind each other as under Fulgardt’s oppressive might, they could only denounce the Deities.

In a measly year, the entirety of Feinheath was forced to recognise this man as a threat to all things.

He and his group of ‘fanatics’, that was.

The death toll in the one year of his debut almost culled the continent of all its newly risen powerhouses who had fought in the First Grand War!

Were these people insane?!

Why would they actively choose to fight against the entirety of Feinheath and potentially Opungale as well?!

Why would they injure the legacy of humanity?!

Who was this Wanderer Who Seeds whom they devoted themselves to?!

The confusion and chaos called for all those who believed in the goodness of all that they had learned to band together once again for another age of war.

A warring between humans!

Billions joined hands for the sake of the Deities while thousands chose to join Fulgardt and his movement, for not all believed in the righteousness of the three beings that were said to make up the world.

In the wake of this terror that was only yet to fully ripen as the numbers continuously swelled for Fulgardt’s side, ‘he’ changed his mind.

‘His’ sudden change afforded much needed help in the next many years that it took for Fulgardt to taste defeat and it is his records that detail the intents of the Immoral as written to this current day and age, beginning with simple words that portrayed his immense emotion.

“I only realised later that what I thought I believed in this friend of mine was false. I did not relish in causing pain and crushing what others held as a crutch as he did. Crushing belief. Crushing hope. I had been manipulated by the light and dark he exhumed without even knowing it. Perhaps it was his way of making sure we would not clash on the matter but still… I strayed from him after conjuring all my might… He was to fall at all costs. For Aigas’ sake…”

—

[Author’s Note]

And I’m back. Sorry I extended my break to be much longer. I had to nab my driver’s licence on the weekend so…

But I’m back now. Also.

[Ding!]

[Arcanzer has donated AGGRESSIVELY to the novel! I’m stupendously hyped! +4 Chapters over the daily quota sometime this week!]