Read Novel Full Chapter 542: Sol Invictus
Chapter 542: Sol Invictus
Gabriel appeared in the sanctuary and headed straight for the underground floor, where a vast, cavernous hall held countless people in chains. These were real people, imprisoned and used as sources of mana to sustain his exorbitant activities. He siphoned mana from them continuously, treating them as little more than batteries, but now a great number of them were dying.
A disciple stood beside him, dressed in a black robe with an oversized hood that concealed most of his face. Yet a brilliant light shone through the opening, illuminating his features as though his face were a torch.
"Faith," Gabriel said.
Faith bowed his head. "There was nothing I could do." He pointed towards the massive golden halo suspended above the prisoners. "I have given them faith. They believe wholeheartedly and are giving more than ever before, but nothing is changing."
Gabriel turned his gaze upon him. Faith, a disciple who had risen to become a Chosen, shivered beneath the coldness of his stare.
He’s all we have. Killing him would be a waste.
The voice sounded in Gabriel’s head.
Without another word, Gabriel stepped through a portal and emerged inside an enormous hall. He had never seen one larger, and seated upon the dais was Cain, his human head, with long black hair cascading over his bare torso.
Despite its immense size, the hall felt hollow.
"Has she answered?" Gabriel asked.
Cain shook his head gently.
Gabriel ground his teeth and drew several deep breaths, struggling to calm himself. "What do you think?"
"I never thought the peak of God-King would be our limit. But there is no need to cower. Everything we need to do is already in motion. Sebastian will kill his first two summons, and the attack on Paradise will force him out. There, he will die and become ours. Then we take over Earth."
"The Authorities are about to bring a Primordial into this world. Our world! And we’re reduced to scheming in the shadows!" Gabriel retorted.
"We have always plotted in the shadows. You especially, Gabriel."
"Back then, we had power! We had undeniable power! It was a game to me, a game I could win regardless of how things turned out. Even when the outcome wasn’t in my favour, it never troubled me. But now we have equals."
Gabriel’s eyes widened with anger. "We do not have equals. We are not meant to have equals. We are the one true god! And now, a boy we once held in the palms of our hands has become a threat."
Gabriel sighed. "It wasn’t meant to be like this. You know that. That tree is lying to us. It has caged us, and we need to break free."
Cain rose to his feet. "We will win."
"I thought I knew that, but now I’m beginning to doubt it. We don’t even know our creator. Every time we try to think about him, the thought slips from our minds. We can barely speak a word about him to anyone without killing them, or having them turn against us. We’ve searched for a century. Is there even a creator, or has that tree been lying to us all this time?"
"If there were no creator, my consciousness would not have survived in my clones after I died. We exist as immortals because he writes my story and will continue to do so," Cain replied.
"You may have eyes, but you are blind!" Gabriel bellowed.
"I existed before you, Gabriel. I was there when you were nothing more than raw emotions, without a true personality of your own, and I know the tree. It made me. It made us. If it has blinded us, what do you intend to do about it? This is why we have chosen to remain on Earth, to retain as much control as we can over what little we possess. Entities like that tree hold far greater power over us. The Unknown King is our goal."
Cain walked towards Gabriel and stopped beside him.
"Sebastian is our rage, our might. He will complete his mission, and it will all be over. With Godfrey and the castle, we will break through and become Primordials. Perhaps we might even reach the level of a True Ancient."
He walked past Gabriel and headed towards the door.
"And if you discover that it has been lying?" Gabriel asked. "That it has been manipulating us just as it manipulates everyone else?"
Cain stopped. He blinked calmly before answering.
"Then I will burn this world. If I can’t have it, no one will. And the tree won’t want that."
***
"Toria."
Victoria lifted her head and saw Tempest hovering high above the castle. His wings, formed from tendrils of lightning, were a stunning sight, lending him a majestic appearance.
"You’ve been away from the main castle for some time. I’ve made inquiries, and you have no active duties. If you take no offence, I would like to know why you’re here," Tempest said, watching as the ordinary knights departed the area.
He descended towards her.
"I just don’t see Godfrey in what he’s become," Toria said calmly.
She lifted her chin and looked directly into Tempest’s eyes, her jaw clenched. She waited for his response, knowing it would not be kind, but she was prepared to accept it. They were partners. If she couldn’t speak openly with him, who else could she turn to?
"You’ve told me that you trained him from childhood. I can understand how you feel," Tempest replied as he settled onto the broad staircase.
Toria walked towards him, her steel boots striking the weathered stone. She sat beside him and hesitated for a moment before leaning against his shoulder.
"I thought you wouldn’t come."
"You have a lot of thoughts," Tempest replied.
Toria chuckled.
"The Unknown King means a great deal, Toria. His return has strengthened our faith that he is truly our king, and it has solved the very problem that once broke us."
Toria nodded gently. "I know. But... do you think he’ll come back?"
"I..."
The rest of Tempest’s words died on his lips as a spatial tear suddenly opened nearby.
A colossal golden sphere emerged from the opening and hovered silently above the ground. Its smooth, metallic surface was engraved with intricate circular patterns, while curved plates wrapped around its body, leaving narrow gaps through which an orange light glowed. At the front was a massive, mask-like face with two piercing eyes and a blazing jewel set into its forehead.
"What is that?" Toria exclaimed, springing to her feet.
The sphere turned towards them, and the light within its eyes intensified. Both generals immediately activated their Black-Out States and leapt away from their positions as a concentrated beam of sunlight erupted from the sphere.
The beam swept through the castle and the forest beyond, vaporising everything in its path.
In a single instant, both were gone.
A tan-skinned elf emerged from a compartment at the top of the sphere and clasped his hands behind his back.
"I have accompanied Sol Invictus, guardian of the untamed deserts of the Suntouched, to administer judgement upon Pathan for meddling in affairs beyond its authority."
’The Sun Elves are with the Authorities! How are they securing the allegiance of these races?’ Toria thought grimly.
"It will take the King a few more days to become a Primordial," Tempest said to Toria in a low voice. "I actually came to make sure you’ll be there when he does."
Toria looked at him. She could already tell where this was going and it wasn’t good.
"Our King might not be in his best form. He just concluded a battle with a Godking."
Toria’s eyes narrowed at his words. This was the worst possible time for an attack.
"I am willing to take prisoners. The technology of the Pathans is quite fascinating. Surrender, or I shall reduce you both to ash," the Sun Elf declared.
Toria brandished her rapier. "You don’t know what you’ve stepped into."
"And you don’t know what you’re about to face. This entity beneath my feet was created to deal with threats that can ruin cities in a harsh world like ours. Gods have been reduced to smoke by Sol Invictus. This is not a threat, but a warning. If you choose to engage us, it will end horribly for you both."