Chapter 265: Summer (2)

Back when Kendrick and Tania were young, Louis had only taught them the first half of the Hero King’s Lawless. He intentionally limited their growth, unsure of how the situation might change.

Even with just the first half, they’ve already reached Tier 1.

This was faster than Kendrick’s original breakthrough in the Original Work. Despite only learning half of the Demonic Scripture, the combination of Louis’s exceptional guidance and the siblings’ competitive dynamic had produced remarkable results.

Now, with the second half of the Hero King’s Lawless bestowed upon them, it was like adding wings to a tiger.

As expected, the Flame Siblings began progressing rapidly as soon as they started learning the latter half of the scripture.

Just one week after they began their training…

Kendrick and Tania had both advanced beyond their previous levels of cultivation. Kendrick had reached the Intermediate Tier 1 stage, while Tania had attained the Advanced Tier 1 stage.

Their growth rate was astonishing, almost unbelievable. This rapid progress was due to Louis’s personalized training regimen over the past week and the Lower Class fire attribute medicinal herb he had provided.

Displaying his fully matured Spirit Sword, Kendrick muttered with a hint of disbelief, ”…Is it really okay for us to get this strong this fast?” Even he knew that his own rate of advancement was abnormally fast.

Louis snorted at Kendrick’s mumbling. “Don’t get cocky. If you don’t want to piss yourself in front of the Mad Dragon, you’d better spend less time whining and more time training.”

“Yes…” Kendrick, who would normally have grumbled in protest, clamped his mouth shut.

After all, he had witnessed the Mad Dragon’s terrifying power firsthand that day. He had been completely overwhelmed by the dragon’s sheer presence, unable to do anything.

That was why Louis’s joke about pissing his pants if they encountered the Mad Dragon again didn’t sound like a joke at all.

I boasted about doing something, but if I end up pissing myself, what a humiliation… Since I’ve already committed, I might as well try to stab that crazy dragon at least once!

Even if he died, leaving at least one scratch on it would salvage his pride.

To achieve that, rigorous training was essential.

And what fueled his burning determination to train?

”…That stubborn woman.”

On one side of the training yard, Tania was meticulously practicing her punches, her face serious. Having set her sights on obtaining the Elixir to stay by Louis’s side forever, she was more dedicated to her training than ever before.

Tania, sacrificing even sleep, displayed astonishing focus day after day. As a result, Kendrick gradually felt the gap between their skill levels widening.

This realization stung him.

My pride as her older brother is on the line! How long can I keep getting beaten down like this?!

What if the gap between Tania and him grew even wider?

He was already constantly getting pummeled; how could he face an even stronger Tania?

The mere thought sent shivers down his spine.

That absolutely cannot happen!

Kendrick shook his head violently and threw himself back into training.

Louis watched his disciples engrossed in their training.

Their growth is certainly rapid.

Even considering they had obtained the latter half of the Hero King’s Lawless scripture, the Flame siblings’ growth rate seemed to defy human limitations.

But…

It’s not enough.

After all, they had only just reached Tier 1.

By human standards, their progress was undoubtedly remarkable. But they were about to face a dragon who had reached Zero’s Domain.

Tier 1 was nowhere near enough.

They’d need to be at least Top Tier to even stand a chance.

Of course, even that wouldn’t be enough.

If his disciples reached Top Tier, and with the preparations Louis had made, they might have a decent hand to play against the Mad Dragon.

Speaking of which… it’s about time I set sail for the Summer Continent.

The more trump cards they had against the Mad Dragon, the better.

And if those cards were part of the Legacy of the Sea Emperor, all the better.

The Sea God’s Bow, Atelierize.

The Divine Machine wielded by Heavenly Palace Jerome, used to shatter the wings of the Mad Dragon Genelocer.

To obtain it, one had to unravel the secrets hidden within the Tears of Siren.

To do so, finding the Holy Mother, said to reside somewhere on the Summer Continent, was essential.

Moreover, wasn’t the one who could wield the Sea God’s Bow better than anyone else likely to be right by the Holy Mother’s side?

Thus, Louis tentatively decided his next destination would be the Summer Continent.

As he pondered this, someone came to mind.

”…It’s about time I called that guy.”

The moment when the peace that “someone” had been enjoying was about to be shattered was fast approaching.

Eastern Winter Continent.

During the year Louis resided there, the Eastern Winter Continent was thrown into turmoil by a series of rapid changes. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the power structure of the region had been completely reshaped by his presence.

After Louis departed, a new force rapidly rose to prominence in the Eastern Winter Continent: the Order of the Divine Body.

While the Order had previously been recognized as remarkably strong for its relatively small size, it had undergone a transformation so profound during Louis’s absence that it might as well have been reborn. Thanks to the missionary work he had initiated, the Order’s membership swelled daily. As a result, it had grown into a formidable organization boasting a staggering 100,000 members.

As the Order’s membership swelled, the inevitable expansion of their headquarters followed. What had once been a mere village now rivaled the capitals of major kingdoms in size.

Already considered the strongest single organization, the Order’s rapid growth put many kingdoms on high alert. All eyes turned to the Dominant Empire, the undisputed ruler of the Eastern Winter Continent, to see how they would respond.

Will the Empire simply stand by and watch?

Or will they attempt to crush the Order?

Though weakened by frequent civil wars, the Dominant Empire remained the dominant power in the East. The prevailing opinion was that the Empire, which had historically kept numerous kingdoms in check, would inevitably view the Order’s expansion with suspicion.

As if mocking public opinion, the Dominant Empire imposed no sanctions whatsoever on the Order.

Of course, this wasn’t a matter of choice, but rather necessity. Those unaware of the true circumstances were simply puzzled by the Empire’s inaction.

What’s wrong with the Empire?

They’re not usually this passive.

While speculation grew, the Order solidified its position by forging even stronger ties with the neighboring Kanburk Kingdom.

Observers unanimously declared:

“Soon, a Holy Kingdom devoted entirely to the Pantheon will emerge.”

Thus, the Order of the Divine Body became the hottest topic in the Eastern Winter Continent.

At the helm of this vast, unified religious organization was none other than Pablo, the Order’s so-called Great Warrior.

Now the officially recognized Priest: Louis.

It was widely known that the Great Warrior oversaw all the Order’s affairs during Pablo’s prolonged absence.

In the early days, the overwhelming workload had pushed Pablo, who had risen to Tier 1, to the point of nosebleeds.

However, after Louis brought people from the Kanburk Kingdom to assist him, Pablo’s responsibilities gradually diminished.

Over three years passed.

Now that everything within the Order had stabilized, Pablo could finally afford to relax.

No, not just relax—he could now step back from most routine tasks altogether.

This was truly the power of time.

“Hehehe!”

Pablo strolled with his hands clasped behind his back, humming a cheerful tune.

How long has it been since I felt this relaxed?

Not since Louis’s departure, until just a week ago.

The past three years had been a relentless whirlwind of activity. It was only now, with the younger members of the Order finally proficient in their duties and able to handle their responsibilities independently, that Pablo reclaimed his once-peaceful routine.

Is this all happiness is? This is true happiness!

Pablo gazed contentedly at the snow-covered landscape, sparkling under the morning sun. To an outsider, it might seem unremarkable, but to Pablo, who had finally rediscovered his leisure, this everyday scene was more precious than anything else—a small, simple joy.

He prayed that every day would be just like this one.

Leaving the Order, Pablo ambled into the village with his hands clasped behind his back. Though it could barely be called a village anymore, its size so diminished that touring it took a considerable amount of time, exploring the residential area had become Pablo’s sole pleasure these days.

And then…

“Ah! Great Warrior! Good to see you!”

“Heh heh, no troubles today?”

“None at all! It’s all thanks to the grace of the Pantheon! If the world could stay like this, I’d have no regrets!”

“Heh heh, I feel the same.”

Pablo strolled leisurely through the village, exchanging greetings with the locals. He occasionally accepted snacks from housewives and chuckled good-naturedly at the children’s pranks. His humble demeanor made it hard to believe he was a high-ranking great warrior.

This unassuming behavior earned him the genuine respect and affection of many within the Order.

Thud… thud…

Enjoying the warm sunlight, Pablo eventually reached the heart of the city. There stood the colossal tree once known as the Promise Tree, now revered as the God Tree.

At the heart of the residential area stood the God Tree, a place teeming with devotees offering prayers to the Pantheon.

It was no different now.

“Great Warrior, you’ve arrived!”

One by one, the devotees who had been praying before the God Tree rose and bowed to Pablo.

“Ah, I’m fine. Please continue with your prayers,” Pablo said with a dismissive wave of his hand as he walked toward the God Tree.

Warriors stationed nearby to guard the God Tree against damage made no move to stop him. Who would dare impede Pablo, the highest-ranking member of the Order in the absence of a Priest?

Pablo strolled leisurely to his usual spot beside the God Tree, where a rocking chair now occupied what had become his private sanctuary. He settled into it naturally.

“Ah… this is nice.”

To leisurely gaze up at the sky near the God Tree, which radiated a vibrant energy that other members of the Order could only dream of, was a small privilege Pablo enjoyed by virtue of his position as a Great Warrior.

As Pablo continued to indulge in this habit, those who had grown accustomed to the sight gradually stopped paying him any mind.

Rocking… rocking…

Pablo’s custom-made rocking chair.

The warm afternoon sunlight streaming down.

The tranquility that had settled in his heart.

The perfect harmony of these elements drew a natural smile to Pablo’s lips.

Ah… this is nice… really nice.

Pablo’s face radiated blissful contentment as he savored the leisurely moment.

As he basked in the sunlight, drowsiness inevitably began to creep in.

A post-meal stroll would be nice, but nothing beats a good afternoon nap.

Overwhelmed by fatigue, Pablo’s face relaxed completely, and his eyes drifted shut.

Then, in that very instant…

*Tsu tsu tsu-. *

“Huh? W-wait! Great Warrior!”

“It’s coming from the Great Warrior’s body!”

A soft light suddenly flickered around Pablo’s body.

Those watching cried out in astonishment, but Pablo, completely relaxed and drifting into a peaceful slumber, remained oblivious.

Meanwhile, the light enveloping him grew steadily brighter, becoming pure white.

“Hah…”

“Good heavens…”

The sight of Pablo, bathed in holy light with a serene expression, was enough to ignite a strange, inexplicable misunderstanding among the onlookers.

Perhaps thirty seconds passed.

“W-what’s happening?!”

An illusion appeared, showing Pablo’s body transforming into light and shooting upward into the sky.

And then…

Tssst!

The moment a blinding light flashed, everyone instinctively closed their eyes.

A brief moment passed.

When they opened their eyes, astonishment spread across their faces.

Only tiny particles of light remained on the chair where Pablo had been sitting.

Even those soon melted away in the winter sunlight.

The crowd marveled.

“Ah… the Great Warrior…”

“So… so he’s gone…”

“The Great Warrior has ascended!”

“Waaah… Great Warrior…”

“The Great Warrior has gone to join the Pantheon…”

“Don’t grieve so deeply, everyone. The Great Warrior must have been called by God.”

”…May you find peace in the embrace of the Pantheon.”

The crowd surged toward the spot where Pablo had been sitting, the place where he had vanished in a blaze of light.

A man wearing a hat removed it as a sign of respect, approaching the sacred ground where Pablo had been.

Several people placed artificial flowers before the chair he had occupied.

Thus began the day Pablo disappeared in a burst of light.

Witnesses quickly spread word of the event, and soon the Order declared the chair where Pablo had rested and the spot where he had vanished to be the site where a great warrior had ascended to the Pantheon after receiving God’s call. They began to pray for Pablo’s well-being, though their prayers were ultimately directed toward the Pantheon itself.

Meanwhile, Pablo, who had vanished in a blaze of light after being summoned by the Church of the Whole, frowned at the commotion around him.

Buzzing noises…

Did I doze off?

It must have been a pleasant nap.

Why is it so noisy? And… why is it so hot?

Even with his eyes closed, the sudden intensity of the sunlight made him instinctively squint.

Pablo cautiously opened his eyes to assess the situation.

“Ugh…”

The harsh sunlight streaming through his slightly parted eyelids forced him to hastily raise a hand to shield his eyes.

Time passed slowly as his vision gradually came into focus.

”…Huh?”

But his vision also caught something it shouldn’t have.

A figure he dreaded even seeing in his dreams: an androgynous figure with snow-white hair, smiling at him.

“Welcome,” Louis said, waving his hand with a cheerful jingle.

”…”

Pablo stared at Louis, speechless, as Louis’s hand swayed with a faint jingling sound.

Then, he closed his eyes again and muttered, “It’s just a dream… What kind of crazy dream is this?”

Lost between dream and reality, Pablo squeezed his eyes shut, desperately hoping it was all just a nightmare.

But a voice yanked him back to reality: “You trying to die? Get up now!”

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

It wasn’t just the voice that jolted him awake; a sudden kick to his backside snapped him fully alert.

Pablo rolled away, clutching his bruised rear.

“Ah…”

Sprawled on his back, he squinted at the intense sunlight—so different from the pale glow of the Winter Continent—and winced.

“I want to cry…”