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Chapter 55: A Daunting Task
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Inside the temple, Janus walked an entire hall decorated by statues of dark blue stone giants.
The snowy mountains had long soaked the place in a chilling ambience and the unmoving figures added more to this never ceasing sense of cold.
Twenty statues lined on each side walls like guardians 20m high; they all had the same sets of weapons and armors and faced each other as if they were on guard. Although they seemed to be of uniform height and physique, a careful look will reveal the fact that each and every one of the statues had different faces showing different personalities.
At the end of the long hallway stands a large 30m high, 20m wide metal door. Mysterious runes and symbols were engraved on the two doors giving more emphasis to the sturdiness of the structure.
On the sides of the door were two differently armored 20m high statues holding halberds that radiated an incredible sharpness despite seeming to have been carved out of rocks.
"I wish you would forgive me for what I'm about to do, Siva..."
As if a wish, Janus pushed the door open. The symbols momentarily lit up as if to reject the opening of this eternally closed domain but as soon as they lit up, the lights also instantly died.
Janus' weak-looking physique was contrary to the strength he was using to open the two blue rock doors; CALK! CLAK! CLAK...! The loud clanging sounds of the hinges that haven't been moved for many years echoed to the ears of the ones waiting outside the temple.
With a final soft push, a loud bang resounded and shook the temple that the ground rumbled as snow fell from roof of the temple. The tremor alarmed those waiting outside butt they didn't dare to come on Janus aide.
WHHOF~~~WHOOF... WHOOF!! Following that loud bang, flames began to burn on the sleeping torches. Warming golden interior of the temple, the atmosphere insulated the cold drizzling breeze of the mountainside hall. Majestic golden flames lit the torches, the chandelier candles and the center altar reflecting the light of the fires, a lone golden bowl on top of the altar could be seen burning what seemed to be a fire spirit.
Behind the altar, a conspicuous knight statue with a sword stabbing the white jaded floor stood atop an erected pedestal. The altar and this knight, when compared to the ones outside this temple, were millions of miles away in terms of majesty and ultimately... in presence.
Seeing this statue, a gentle expression of akin to a parent drew on the old man's face.
"Alexander." He called softly.
Janus' voice rang like a call of the heavens. It traveled in the wind towards an unknown place until finally reaching the ear of the owner of the name and finally responding.
TAK... TAK....
Sounds like that of bones crackling from movement rung in the entire temple, the knight statue that stood atop the pedestal in the altar... began to move!
TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK~~!!
At first it was one or two sounds of crackling sounds but sooner, with every second that passed, the crackling sounds increased.
Before, it was just a dark blue and dull-looking statue but as soon as the sounds of movement echoed, changes began to occur.
The first change happened on its eyes.
Underneath the hollow of the helmet, blue gas-like eyes lit up like lamps in a very dark cave.
There were no irises but there was a deep and profound essence of life greater than that of a mortal's, a quintessence unique only to sacred existences... the kind that could ignite reverence to any weak heart that would see.
And along with the revealing of these eyes were ethereal lights descending from the ceiling, or, better yet, from a firmament beyond the neither here nor there of the jaded walls and ceiling.
These lights formed and fluctuated, falling down the dilapidated inconspicuous details of his armor and body. These details formed runes that then seeped through the skin as the sound continues to ram every joint of his rock body.
"Great... Creator..." a male's godly voice boomed on the entire hall of the temple, shaking the walls and the ceiling, the fires fluttering and threatened to dim.
The statue's armors now had golden details and although it was still blue, the coldness of the rock had long vanished and what the statue now wore is real and authentic god armor, complete with many living runes and symbols that radiated a suppressing might just with the sight alone.
With a humming sound, the statue moved and took a step. In just one leap, it landed in front of Janus and knelt like an obedient subject.
If anyone, including Gabriel, would see this, he would be shocked beyond repair to see a God actually kneeling in front of the old man.
"My deepest honor to have been called by you, Great Creator!" Said the knight called Alexander, the booming solid voice was obviously delighted as it spoke. "It's been so long since I have been in these lands, Great Creator. I was unfamiliar with the scenery I now see before me. And you, Great Creator... why do I feel that your essence have somewhat diminished? Your current form... is filled with the thick aura of mortality. Had the devils managed to hurt you too? Had the war been lost? I-I feel lost, oh Great Creator, my memories before being sealed to sleep have yet to come back to me."
The God Knight was obviously furious of the fact that he can't feel the Great Creator's godly presence. Alexander's reference to a war long past caused Janus to recall certain memories that ultimately softened his expressions and made him utter a sigh. Janus, to the Chaos Gods and God Knights of the lowest ranks, is an existence akin to their own parents.
Only the traitorous and sinister Devil-kin would actually hurt the Great Creator. To them, he is akin to a sword hanging by a hair above their heads.
"Such audacity!" Alexander's voice boomed in fury. "Desecration to the divinity of the immortal race...! This act... to have even dared to have the thought to attack the Great Creator is worthy of the heaviest punishment of the heavens! They have to face complete annihilation!"
Janus sighed as he listened to the furious roar of the God Knight.
Things may be far or close to the God Knight's assumptions, Janus's visit to this place holds an important part to his one last task.
He told him, "It is not the devils that made me this way, God Knight, but it is my own choice. It needed to be done."
The God Knight raised his head and the blue light as its eyes that exuded an immortal gas-like aura looked at Janus as if he was worried.
"Just what kind of heaven-rending tribulation had befallen the heavens that it even caused you to forcefully experience mortality? Wait, no. More importantly, your calling of me in this mortal plane in such a manner... I ca only guess that this said tribulation requires me to use physical incarnation and not just this avatar. I beg thee, Great Creator, pray tell to what must this humble me have to accomplish to be able to help your cause?"
Sighing, Janus looked at the ceiling as if his gaze was actually looking beyond the roof and into the endless field of stars.
"A very, very... daunting task..." He told the God Knight. "First is to open the golden gate. Second is to try and defeat... the vessel of Siva."
"Siva?!" the surprised voice of the knight boomed in the entire hall and this one single surprised shout almost caused the entire temple to collapse on their heads. "Great Creator... the war that happened 56 years ago had awakened that taboo of an existence... Mother Terra had to abandon her own essence just to seal the vessel herself. This puny me, Great Creator... I fear that I might not be able to become of great help."
Janus shook his head sullenly, "I have already put in the key. All that's left is a little push from this side to allow the others to descend. Unlike you, they have no attachment to this plane and as such, they need to find their own vessel. Among all the Immortals, you are the last to actually ascend to Godhood. I know very well about your limitations and because of those limitations, you are perfect one I can trust to accomplish this very daunting task. Do not worry. For the second task, you are not alone. You needed only to be the first to raise a hand against the vessel."
"I..." the God Knight's voice was stuttering. If the people outside would hear this, they would instantly know that this almighty God Knight is in great fear of Siva.
A question then... just who is Siva?
Before, Siva was only just a name. But now, he is regarded as a God for some reason. If Alexander would only know then he wouldn't even think of look at Siva in the eyes and outright deny that he exists, much less raise a hand against him.
Still, since this 'daunting' task was given to him by the Great Creator, instead of fear, he had to treat it as an honor to be tasked by a Trinity.
Besides, Janus clearly said that he only had to 'try and defeat the vessel' not actually kill him.
With this, it can only be said that Alexander, the God Knight, was only giving Siva's vessel a test to prepare him for his own tribulation when the time comes that Siva had to fully allow this vessel of his to inherit his legacy.
It can be treated as him, Alexander, was giving Siva a hand. It won't warrant any crime against that taboo of an existence.
The Great Creator is one of the three great divine entities that even the Elder Gods above his own cathedra revere as their own gods. If the mortals treat the Immortals in Alexander's level as Gods to idolize, then using the same comparisons, he, God Knight Alexander, was like a mortal in front of Janus who was one of The Trinity.
From the top, the highest class of Divinities is the Great Trinity who was the ones present and was able to witness the creation of the First Universe.
And then following the rankings of their divinity...
First Class: Primordial Gods
Second Class: Elder Gods
Third Class: Chaos Gods
Lowest Class: Immortals
Alexander is an Immortal and [God Knight] is his title for he is the patron of knights with valour, the churches erected to his name are all made up of Templar Knights.
"I chose you," Janus interrupted his chaotic mind with his voice and Alexander started to relax, "in all the other children out here because you are the only one left in the mortal plane. Your attachments to this mortal plane had now given a chance for this world to be saved. Right now, all my powers are sealed and I am currently more focused to the world outside ours and stopping all interferences that might ultimately destroy this realm, than battling the battles in this realm. As such, I have no choice but to employ all the hands that I can reach to in order to help accomplish my designated tasks."
From his words, Alexander could feel the graver and more frightening tasks that Janus is speaking of.
Other side?
So there are other realms besides this one?
This frightening thought scared the God Knight that although he was an almighty Immortal 'of this realm', there might actually be more powerful almighty existences on this [other realm].
Perhaps not just [another realm] but ultimately of [other realms]... as such, to be needed like this by the Great Creator means not only an entire honor on itself but was in fact a great service to the [realm] that he lives in.
Janus extended his left hand and pat it on the right shoulder of the God Knight. "We are short on time. The Envoy of Hell is after me."
"...!!" a gasping sound echoed. "An Envoy of Hell?! Great Creator, should I be protecting you then instead of facing Siva's vessel...?"
Janus shook his head. "No. This battle with the Envoy is be a predestined fate that ought to have ended that year." Janus paused and then uttered a deep sigh. "Siva both saved and doomed this realm but it doesn't mean that what happened 56 years ago should be treated as a sin. Sigh... worrying won't do a thing. If I do get defeated by the Envoy, he still wouldn't be able to kill me."
The God Knight lowered his head and a sigh can be heard escaping the hollow space in the helmet.
"But Great Creator, you are a mortal now... the pain of experiencing Sinflamesfrom a demon of hell is just... even us, Immortals of Terra, will still have to suffer, what more is your mortal body?"
"Ahaha... such a worrywart." Janus chuckled and patted the shoulder. "Heh. I really made the right choice on you. Your compassionate personality is just like my students'. To be able to ascend to immortality, one must either be brutal and without hesitation or be kindhearted enough to earn the veneration of an entire generation. You guys are really one piece of a pie. You will do fine."
If Alexander had a brow, it would either be twitching or creasing right now.
Guys?
What sort of language is this?
Alexander was secretly really worried.
Right, ascension...
Mortals are bound to die when one's lifetime runs out. But in one's entire lifetime, a chance to ascend to immortality is possible.
After experiencing and surmounting all challenges of one's own generation, or of many generations at that, one can ascend to immortality and have an everlasting life if he succeeds on conquering his tribulation.
But to ascend to immortality, one must abandon his or her own mortal attachments not because it was a requirement but because it would be easier for one to ascend to godhood if one does not bother himself on the mortals' ways.
One reason why God Knight is yet to ascend to Godhood, despite his title, is because he loved his origins so much that he even decided to establish a city in honor of its memory.
For God Knight, being an Immortal is enough. He will forever protect this city as long as he lives.
So, if his home is not facing obliteration, he will still not emerge. Besides that, another reason is because he...
"Is the reason for your hesitation that which you are trying to suppress?"
Alexander raised his head and looked at Janus with his blue gaseous eyes. "Yes, Great Creator, for I was tasked by Mother Terra of suppressing that creature for as long as I am alive. For this task, I have made ample preparations for it that year and had to also ask help from my brothers."
"Mn. Mn." Janus nodded. "Hahaha! Do not worry about that dragon. Of all the things he fears, he is most afraid of offending Siva. Also, of all the people, Siva's vessel was the one who found one of his sealing treasures. Unless theEnvoy plans for it... or if Pegasus tries to... that dragon will forever stay silent and will not even utter the slightest of sounds to attract Siva's attention."
Janus' eyes had a strange glow as he spoke to Alexander. The all-trusting God Knight never had any notion to doubt his words so this weird and peculiar glint on the old man's eyes was treated as just a look a concern.
Was there even a reason Janus had to lie about something? Tricking an Immortal... it was part of the authority and privilege of a Chaos God, what more of a Trinity God?
"Great Creator, who is Pegasus?"
Janus only sighed at him, "A great enemy." He said with a helpless tone as he shook his head.
Alexander bowed his head and his aura sincere.
His heart was clear and didn't pursue his inquiry.
This Trinity God has his own problems when trying to guard the safety of the realm. If Janus won't tell him, then he won't pursue.
He can only assent, "I shall do as you wish, Great Creator. This humble knight shall unsheathe my sword at your beckon and –hm?" in the middle of his words, a weird sound came from the God Knight as he seems to have sensed something in the far distance.
Janus's expression changed as he also turned to that direction the God Knight gazed off to.
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His identity confirmed...!!
A God is walking amongst mortal men!
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Next chapter: A troublesome name appears...