Chapter 692- Capital Of The Ancient Kingdom & Clues About The Seven Gods (4)
Chapter 692- Capital Of The Ancient Kingdom & Clues About The Seven Gods (4)
"Each layer corresponds to a directional sequence. The outer ring rotates based on energy input timing. The inner ring responds to pattern symmetry. And the core requires a complete mirrored alignment."
Erza blinked. "You figured it out already?"
Reinhardt did not answer immediately. Instead, he stepped forward.
"Stand back." The knights immediately retreated.
Mana gathered around his fingertips, and then he began inputting precise sequences.
Click... click... click.
A series of mechanical sounds and rotating gears echoed out. The entire structure responded like a sleeping mechanism slowly waking after thousands of years.
The air grew heavier. The glowing lines intensified.
KRRRR... Before long, the entire gate shuddered. And slowly, it began to open.
BOOM... The massive doors of the shrine sprang open. At the same time, a heavy, ancient air filled the place.
While everyone was marveling at the scene, Reinhardt turned to address them.
"A few knight squads remain here at the entrance. The rest follow me."
It was only then that everyone came to their senses.
"You really solved the puzzle..." Erza muttered, walking beside him.
"Haha, it’s nothing. I’m just somewhat versed in the ancient language."
He was not lying. Thanks to the [Heaven’s Memory], which gave him knowledge of the divine, and the [Eyes of Divine Clarity], which saw through everything, he was able to solve the puzzle with ease.
Hearing his explanation, the others nodded their heads, seemingly buying the excuse.
A while later, a circular chamber appeared before them. The space stretched into the darkness above, and the entire place was made of radiant gold.
What was even more impressive were the seven towering statues around the chamber. Each stood nearly thirty meters tall, carved from luminous white stone veined with faint silver and gold.
Time had failed to diminish them. Not a single crack could be found on their surfaces. And more importantly, there was a trace of faint but unmistakable divine power. It caused every knight present to instinctively straighten their backs.
The feeling was similar to standing before a World Tree branch. A presence vast beyond comprehension.
"The Seven Gods," Vanessa murmured softly.
Even Reinhardt found himself becoming serious. According to every scripture and record on the continent, these were the beings worshipped by humanity since ancient times.
The Altars that gave humanity the power to resist the demons were also thanks to the Seven Gods.
Reinhardt observed each of the statues.
The first statue stood at the very front. A towering armored warrior held a great hammer in one hand and a shepherd’s staff in the other. His physique was imposing enough to support the heavens themselves, yet his expression was gentle.
The statue was of none other than the God of Might and Humility... Oros’Vael.
Reinhardt also noticed something written on the golden pedestal below the statue. In fact, this writing could also be found on every pedestal beneath the statues.
[Eyes of Divine Clarity] already activated, Reinhardt slowly read the words written below.
"The mountain that bears the world never boasts of its burden."
Hearing these deep and profound words, several knights and heroes frowned. Some of them seemed to gain a faint sense of enlightenment from the phrase alone.
Brutus stared at the statue longer than anyone else. Something about it resonated deeply with him.
On Oros’Vael’s left stood a beautiful female deity. Her long robes flowed like water. Flowers bloomed beneath her bare feet. One hand held a branch while the other extended outward as though blessing the world.
She had a beautiful smile that could soothe one’s soul. Goddess of Healing and Love... Odeth’Rhea.
"Healing is not merely mending flesh. It is to give another the courage to continue walking." Reinhardt slowly enunciated each word.
Several healers among the knights immediately felt warmth spreading through their bodies. Vanessa too seemed to come to some epiphany at this moment, repeatedly muttering those words.
The third statue stood in the middle of the seven statues and radiated an overwhelming sense of authority. Golden wings unfurled behind him. A sword pointed downward before him while scales rested in his other hand.
Judgment... law... order. Everything about him embodied those concepts. God of Light and Justice... Kael’Rhydon.
"Justice without mercy becomes tyranny. Mercy without justice becomes corruption."
When he uttered the words written at the pedestal below Kael’Rhydon, everyone stared at him for some reason.
"That sounds surprisingly familiar," Erza remarked. It was not just her; several heroes suddenly found the Divine Paladin’s behavior and skill set oddly similar to this statue.
Reinhardt coughed. Moving on, he looked at the fourth statue.
Unlike the others, half her face was hidden behind a mask. Countless stars were carved into her robes, and her eyes seemed to be gazing toward the heavens.
The Goddess of Moon and Purity... Mona’Rhadath.
"The future is not a road already traveled. It is a path forged by countless choices."
The words written underneath the statue stirred a strange sense of déjà vu in Reinhardt. However, he quickly composed himself and placed his attention on the remaining statues.
The fifth statue portrayed a tall man carrying a spear. Wind swirled around him. Birds, beasts, and forests were carved into his cloak. His expression was free and untamed.
God of Nature and Temperance... Thas’Vaelon.
"A caged bird may survive. Yet only one who flies truly lives."
Hearing those words, several knights with ranger- and scout-type skills stroked their chins in contemplation. They could almost feel the wind blowing through the chamber.
The sixth statue was perhaps the most intimidating. A woman clad in dark black robes. A crown of black crystal rested upon her head. In one hand, she held a scythe and in the other, a lantern.
Goddess of Death and Diligence... Aven’Nyxara.
"Every ending is a beginning unseen." Reinhardt frowned. Again, he felt a strange sensation after reading those words.
Finally, the seventh statue stood at the farthest end of the chamber. A robed figure whose face could not be clearly seen. The sculptor had deliberately obscured it. In one hand rested a book. In the other, a sphere resembling a world.
The God of Wisdom and Charity... Tyros’Ergo.
"All things are born from understanding. To seek truth is humanity’s greatest privilege."
The moment Reinhardt read those words, his Divine Trait, [Celestial Harmony], stirred slightly. It was not a warning, but recognition. Sensing this, his eyes narrowed.
This shrine... these statues... The traces of power lingering within them were far too real. To say that they were ordinary statues would be an understatement, since inside each of these statues lingered a unique divine power.
It was also no wonder that every knight felt a sense of familiarity coming from the shrine. It was due to the lingering power within the seven statues.
Observing these statues, Reinhardt could not help but think how real they seemed. As though the people who built this place had not merely worshipped the Seven Gods, but had actually known them.
A sudden thought surfaced in his mind.
Humanity knew that the Seven Gods had fallen and that only the inheritance they left behind, the Seven Supreme Treasures and the Altars, pointed to their existence.
However, was it really as history told it?
Did the Seven Gods really fall?
As someone who had already stepped into the realm of divinity, he knew the power that came with that level. Not to mention certain things that only beings who had stepped into the divine realm could do.
To put it another way, if the question was whether gods could be killed so easily, then the answer was no.
Reinhardt could not help but wonder if the Seven Gods had gone into hiding or slumber after the devastating fight against demonkind.
Of course, his thoughts did not have a solid basis. However, it was well worth considering. Reinhardt’s gaze remained fixed upon the seven satues.
The faint resonance from [Celestial Harmony] had not disappeared. Instead, it was growing stronger.
At first, it was subtle, like ripples spreading across a calm lake. But soon, it became gigantic crashing waves.
"Hm?" Reinhardt narrowed his eyes.
The next moment, the traces of divine power sleeping within the seven statues awakened. Before anyone could react, Reinhardt felt something tug at his soul.
The force was incredibly ancient, as if it had traveled through countless years to reach him and pull him somewhere.
Had it been another knight standing here, even a hero, their consciousness might have been dragged away instantly.
However, against Reinhardt, it was not strong enough to forcefully take him anywhere against his will.
If he wished, he could shatter the connection immediately. That said, he did not resist and allowed the force to pull his soul.
The reason was simple: he was curious.
After coming this far, he wanted to uncover everything.
The world around him warped in an instant. The golden chamber faded, the statues vanished, and the weight of the shrine fell away like mist scattered by the wind.
Reinhardt felt his consciousness sink through layers of space, as though he were descending into a memory that had been sealed for ages.
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