Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 259 Dawn's Guidance. They denied the existence of the Main God worshipped by the Religious Order. They believed their own god—Dawn's Hand—was the true deity worthy of reverence as the Main God. Unlike that illusion whose very existence was unclear. That's right. Unlike the Main God, who was merely a conceptual being whose deeds and traces remained only in legend, the god they believed in was real. The miracle He wrought left clear traces in the world, and even now one could experience that wonder. As a priest's faith and Status increased, they could feel His presence and hear His voice. "I kindle the Sacred Fire in this world filled with darkness and create the first light." That great miracle said to be performed by the Main God, the master of the Sacred Fire. It was an undeniable fact. The miracle performed by Dawn's Hand was trivial compared to the creation of light. But what would be impossible with mere words? If one were to speak only of miracles, one could create not just light, but even darkness and the entire world. However, Dawn's Hand did not do so. The real deity acted personally instead of borrowing the mouths and words of others. Resurrection. The Priests of Dawn witnessed that wondrous miracle with their own eyes. The dead who returned from death praised that great being! They realized. That creating light—such absurd nonsense—was not a miracle. The Priests of Dawn. They knew what a true miracle was. They knew what a true god was. Their faith in the true god was unwavering. -[Heretics: Dawn's Guidance] *** [Title: Dawn's Guidance < Guys, is this right?] Content: They say their god is greater than the Religious Order's Main God and want to elevate him as the new Main God, but when I compare their specs, no matter how I look at it, the Main God is superior? -: How did you compare their specs? -: Oh, is the Main God an Ivy League graduate??? -: All major corporation CEOs are from there anyway ㅇㅇ; -: To be a Continent CEO, you do need to scrutinize education carefully ㅇㅇ -[Author]: No, not that shit Main God: Kindled the Sacred Fire in a world filled with darkness and created light ; Dawn's Hand: Performed miracles to save a city collapsing from the power of an archdemon ; There's a clear class difference -: A light patent is pretty impressive;;; -: So the Religious Order collects light taxes instead of tithes? -: How the hell is someone who patents light and collects taxes a god? That's Satan -: Main God specs) Developed light, collects light taxes continent-wide, is the CEO of the Religious Order which is a major continental corporation, gathers priests for frenzied prayer parties whenever bored -: Just a fucking alpha god itself -: For real; why don't we have Main God-ham in our world I want to believe in Main God-ham too -: But wait The Main God isn't even a real person, just an original character. Some really old person had nothing to do and was writing a novel And said "Guys, this is an original character I made, please rate it" and that story just became a religion, right? -: For real, Dawn-ham actually performed miracles in real life? -: Dawn-ham specs) Resurrects the dead Created immortality magic that prevents death and illness! What is this if not a miracle, for real -[Author]: ...Isn't that just a Dark Mage? -: What -: Their positions do overlap a bit ㅇㅇ; -: No, Dawn-ham did that with divine power? -[Author]: Just a Dark Mage but Only the power source is divine power? -: What the hell, did you see spoilers? -[Author]: Oh what Is this really it? ㅋㅋㅋ I just said it randomly -: Ah ㅋㅋ You didn't get spoiled, right? -: For real, that's a relief -[Author]: ??? What Why are these guys worried about me getting spoiled? Is this such important content? I'm suddenly getting excited -: That Dawn's Hand's true identity is actually a light demon that was purified by the Saint before ㅇㅇ It's telling its followers to cause chaos in the Religious Order to get revenge on the Saint -[Author]: No, fuck If you're going to do this, why did you worry about me getting spoiled -: Because I wanted to spoil it (E/N: I love this) -[Author]: Wow *** "..." Asrania's faith in her god was wavering. The catalyst was a man of unknown identity who had suddenly appeared before her. The man displayed his aura to Asrania without reservation. It was an aura as if all kinds of power, including swordsmanship and magic, were swirling within him. Asrania felt that aura and thought of one expression, but immediately denied it. She considered it blasphemy toward the true god she served—Dawn's Hand. 'Confusion...' That was the expression Asrania thought of. Powers of different natures could not coexist within one body. Therefore, that aura should be dismissed as having the nature of 'confusion.' "My child. I know what you are thinking." Then, the man spoke. "You must be doubting the nature of this power." "...!" Asrania was shocked. The timing. The content. The man had perfectly read her inner thoughts. 'Mental Interference?! No— for that, I would have felt some power. Then how on earth...' Thus, Asrania ended up attributing great Mystery and meaning to the man's actions. 'Since I showed so much aura at once, she must be doubting its nature like others have done.' The man— Because she was not accustomed to such abnormal power and situations like Risir was. Risir, sensing Asrania's agitation, continued his actions. "...!!!" Asrania's eyes widened greatly. It was impossible for such diverse types of power to coexist within one body. Therefore, Asrania had doubted the man's aura and dismissed its nature as 'confusion.' "How..." But the man, as if denying that, displayed each power separately. When the man raised his right hand, the power of swordsmanship and Divinity dwelt there. When the man raised his left hand, the power of Magic and Black Magic dwelt there. "There is nothing to doubt. You just need to be honest about what you see and feel." The man was blatantly guiding Asrania's thinking. However, Asrania could not see through that blatant intention. She had never encountered something called 'Magic Swordsmanship.' The terribly unfamiliar power and aura paralyzed Asrania's thinking. She had no choice but to meekly fall into the man's scheme. "Omnipotence..." Asrania came to feel the man's existence as 'omnipotent.' Dawn's Hand. More than the emotion she felt toward her own god. At that moment, the necklace in Asrania's hand began to glow. It was the Vessel where she had accumulated power for her god. -Asrania... Dawn's Hand was different from the noble Main God. Unlike the Main God who gave no response to the earnest calls of believers, Dawn's Hand would gladly descend to low places and guide them whenever believers were confused. Thus, a god was not an incomprehensible and lofty being that could not be approached, like the Main God. They were a familiar presence who always came to our side and embraced us. That was how the Priests of Dawn treated their god. -Do not be deceived... That is not your god... That will not understand you... For example. The man was vastly different from the god Asrania wished to believe in. The man's incomprehensible power, aura, and actions that could not be fathomed—they mercilessly overwhelmed Asrania and gave her a terrible sense of powerlessness. It felt like being a bug placed on a giant palm. It was an unpleasant emotion she had never felt when dealing with the kind Dawn's Hand. -Asrania...! But why was it? "..." Asrania could not take her eyes off the man. The familiar god's voice could not capture her attention as before. "Are you..." Asrania said as if entranced. "An omnipotent and great being...?" "..." The man's lips seemed about to say something, then moved again to create a mysterious smile. What happened at the same time. "Ah." Asrania's head turned toward the sky. The World Tree. That sacred tree that scattered the energy of life grew even more, creating a majestic appearance. It didn't end there. Whiiiiing! A massive Sandstorm swept through, continuously bursting with thunder. Waves of insects surged in to cover the sky. A pillar of Black Fire rose up, piercing through the sky. Finally, a star that shone brightly even amid all those disasters rose. Confusion. Asrania once again thought of such an expression. Around the World Tree that seemed to symbolize infinite vitality, disasters that seemed to symbolize infinite destruction were swirling. And a bright star that could not be obscured by anything looked down upon all of it. At first glance, it looked chaotic, as if everything in a pocket had been spilled on the floor. However, humans were beings who attributed meaning even to a single drop of rain. Believers who followed a great Will were even more so. "The cycle of life... the Will of the world..." Asrania murmured. The man's actions provided sufficient answer to her question. She glimpsed omnipotence in the 'Mental Image' the man had shown. "Are you perhaps..." Asrania said with a trembling voice. "The master of the Sacred Fire...?" Thus, the Priest of Dawn spoke that name. The name of the heretical god she had always denied. The name of the Main God. "..." The Main God(?) showed a benevolent smile toward the heretic. Asrania unconsciously stepped back. Her breathing trembled rapidly. She recalled the countless deceptions she had committed while claiming to be the Saint of the Religious Order. It was certainly blasphemy that mocked the Main God and their believers. "Why, why did you appear before me...!? Before me of all people— you must know my true identity...!" Perhaps. Was all this for judgment? Had he personally come to punish the heretic who dared to claim to be his apostle and deceive believers? -Asrania... you must not be deceived...!!! Right now you are in that thing's Inner World... all of this is nothing but illusion...!!! That voice briefly shook Asrania's heart, but it didn't last long. -The man was actually someone who was with the First Saint. -The man bestowed aura upon Asrania in place of the First Saint. -Asrania, who received that aura, suddenly became a follower. To accept that voice, she would have had to accept all those premises beforehand. It was absurd beyond even what could be described as a trick of Fate. It was more realistic to believe that the being before her eyes was the Main God. So, Asrania gladly chose to do so. "Have you come here to punish me...!?" Asrania knelt helplessly before that omnipotent being. One hand placed on her chest, the other stretched out desperately as if begging. "My child." "...!" Then. The Main God(?) grasped the hand that the Saint(?) had extended. "The Sacred Fire is a flame that guides those who have lost their way." "Ah, ahh...!" The Saint(?) felt the affection and tolerance(?) contained in that voice and shed tears. She had come to regard her past self as 'a foolish person who had lost her way.' "I can clearly see it in my eyes. The Sacred Fire you hold." "Is, is that really true!? Can I too, like the great you, guide those who have lost their way— become such a great flame that drives away the darkness of the world!?" The Religious Order's doctrine she had learned to act as a Saint. When that doctrine was spoken from her lips, it contained not the previous deception but sincerity. Thus, the Saint revealed her true heart to the Main God without reservation. The true heart of hope and anxiety. "..." The Saint did not know. The meaning of that benevolent smile of the Main God. "We can all become a Sacred Fire that guides someone." The Main God extended his other hand toward the Saint. "Ah...!" The Saint sobbed with emotion. She immediately rose from her place and extended her other hand as well. Along with the 'Vessel' held in that hand. -No!!!!! *** "...Huh?" Saint Asrania. She trembled and looked around. The World Tree and star. The sandstorm and all disasters. The Main God. All of it had vanished without a trace. Expelled from someone's Inner World, she had returned to her own room. She was dominated by a terrible sense of unreality. "A dream..." It would be perfectly natural to dismiss it as such— No, rather, it was an experience that only made sense if dismissed as such. "Huh?" Just then. Asrania's gaze turned toward her own hand. "...Ah-" Her eyes reddened instantly, and transparent tears formed at the corners of her eyes. The Vessel. The necklace for the 'heretical god' had vanished without a trace. "You have taken away my sin... so that I may walk the righteous path..." The Saint knelt in place and put her hands together. It could be said to be the first prayer she had ever truly performed, despite countless times kneeling and putting her hands together as a Saint. "Main God... Master of the Sacred Fire..." That prayer was directed toward the Main God(?). *** ▷Fate 76: Stolen Light - has been deactivated. A corresponding Perk is granted. *** "Phew...!" Risir, who had exited from the Inner World, gasped for breath. Even for him, acting as a god and maintaining gravitas was not an easy task. Afterward, Risir explained to Shuyen and Tara what had happened in the Inner World. He then proudly showed them the Vessel he had recovered from the 'Saint.' "I suppose you could say it's befitting of a Saint. She was quite pure. To be deceived by such lies—...huh?" And as he was about to have a gossip session about the villainess who had been deceiving others while wearing the mask of a Saint— His companions' reactions were quite different from what he had expected. "Everyone?" The fairy opened her mouth with difficulty. "No... isn't it natural to be deceived by that?" "Pardon?" A woman with a pure mind. They could not agree with the gossip topic Risir had suggested. "...Why is this happening again—" Suddenly. Tara Dollin looked at Risir and rubbed her brow. "Tara?" "Risir, you—" "Yes?" The fairy pointed at Risir. "... are sparkling again." "...Pardon?" *** [You have acquired a new Trait!]