Chapter 300

Words : 2604 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 300 Forty days had passed within the Sanctuary, equivalent to only four seconds in the outside world. Today, Se-Hoon was gazing with his arms folded at the golden expanse, which was littered with countless gray letters and geometric shapes. “Hm... This isn’t it.” Skimming over the details once more, Se-Hoon activated Pilgrim’s Prayer, causing some letters and shapes to vanish, replaced by fresh new ones. Without proper writing tools in the Sanctuary, Se-Hoon had decided to just utilize the power of Grace to turn the entire space into his writing medium. “...Finally.” After two days of relentless revisions, it looked like he had at last completed the formula. Taking a deep breath, he went over the result one last time before sharpening his focus and starting the materialization of the outcome with Pilgrim’s Prayer. Swoosh- A gray form began to emerge before him; its organs, veins, muscles, and bones gradually took shape. Then finally, when a layer of skin covered the figure, a gray flame was imbued into it, following the path Se-Hoon had devised. Fwoosh! However, the gray body was incinerated in an instant, like a lit matchstick. “...” If it had been a real person, it was no doubt they would have died instantly to the intense flames. Frowning at the sight, Se-Hoon sighed heavily. “I guess I failed again...” It had been ten days since he started attempting to replicate the disease that potentially stemmed from Li Kenxie’s power. He thought he had gained enough knowledge about the Sacred Flames, having experienced it himself many times, but success remained elusive, despite his continuous trial-and-error approach. The basic framework should be correct.... The core essence seems to be the problem. Although Se-Hoon had deciphered much of the flame’s composition, understanding its purpose—its synesthetic mindscape—was proving to be nearly impossible. Frustrated, Se-Hoon plopped into a chair and leaned back Nothing ever comes easy nowadays... He felt as if every time he found the clue to proceed to the next step, the labyrinth just became more and more complicated. At a loss, Se-Hoon stared blankly into the golden expanse above, allowing himself to drift into thought. What is the Tower of Heroes, in the end? What kind of place was it for it to have the ability to bestow such overwhelming power on those who conquered it? His questions had only multiplied, despite currently knowing more than he ever had about the Towers of Heroes. The way the Towers of Heroes operated, the concepts the Perfect Ones introduced to the world, and the reason the world had changed so dramatically—none of it made sense, no matter how deeply he pondered it. Questioning everything, he was just about to lose himself in his thoughts when a white dagger suddenly hurtled toward him. Whoosh! Clang! A gray shield appeared just in time to block the blade. Se-Hoon’s reflexes had saved him at the last moment, preventing him from being skewered to death. “That was close...” Tightening his grip on the shield, Se-Hoon forced himself to refocus. If he had reacted even slightly later, the dagger would’ve pierced him, forcefully ejecting him from the Sanctuary. Tapping his temple to clear his head, Se-Hoon turned to face the source of the attack. Looking toward the pavilion within the garden, Se-Hoon saw a figure knelt in prayer—Karl. Seeing him still knelt, the same posture he had been in since last week, Se-Hoon regarded him with a mix of astonishment and admiration. I can’t believe it actually works... Though the power of Grace was essentially omnipotent within the Sanctuary, it required deliberate activation. That was why normally, if one was as focused as Karl right now, they would struggle to target Se-Hoon precisely. However, Karl had implemented a workaround. He actually established a new law within the Sanctuary.... What a terrifying technique. A week ago, Karl had declared a single rule across the entire Sanctuary before entering his prayer: “The weak shall be punished.” And just as he declared, the Sanctuary immediately punished anyone who weakened physically or mentally. To enforce such a thing in the outside world, it had to be done personally, but not in the Sanctuary. The space itself enforces the law. Moments ago, because Se-Hoon had let his mind wander, his punishment had manifested as a dagger. If he hadn’t recovered his focus immediately after, the enforcement would’ve continued until he was expelled from the Sanctuary entirely. This could be incredibly effective against groups of enemies. No matter how many enemies entered the Sanctuary, the law would ensure they all received equal retribution. Of course, the extent of what could be declared as law was the key limitation, but considering the capability of the power of Grace so far, most things seemed feasible. If this were applied on a global scale... If such a thing happened, then even if the Demon Force attempted mass terrorism across the entire planet one day, it would be handled immediately. But despite its usefulness, Se-Hoon quickly shook his head and discarded the forming visualizations of how to impose such a thing across the entire planet. It may be highly efficient, but it’s too dangerous. Allowing a single person’s synesthetic mindscape to influence the entire world? That was a recipe for disaster. For now, Karl’s track record suggested there would be no immediate issues, but even a single mistake could lead to a global catastrophe. With such risks, Se-Hoon believed it was, in fact, better to tread carefully around the matter. “Hm. I think it’s time to wrap things up.” Technically, he could remain here for another ten days, but there was no reason to prolong his stay. At his current point, it was better to gain experience by meeting Li Kenxie personally or doing experiments with the Sacred Flame in the outside world. “Alright, let’s do this.” Convinced it was time to go, Se-Hoon cleared away the remnants of his work before approaching the garden. “...Are you finished?” Karl asked, opening his eyes when Se-Hoon neared. “I believe I’ve done all I can.” “I see.” Rising slowly, Karl glanced around the Sanctuary. “I thought this would take no more than three weeks.... I didn’t expect you to stay this long.” While it was remarkable that Se-Hoon had lasted so long in the Sanctuary, what was even more impressive was that his composure was still unwavering. At this rate, he should be able to survive even a year here... With unshakable mental strength that surpassed even well-renowned archbishops, Se-Hoon reminded Karl of his former disciple. “Se-Hoon, do you have plans once you're finished with your wager with Li Kenxie?” “Hmm... Not particularly.” There was still an overwhelming number of long overdue tasks, but he hadn’t come up with a plan to address them all yet. “Then... would you consider learning Divine Magic from me?” “Divine Magic?” “Yes. At a more serious level this time.” The offer caught Se-Hoon slightly off guard. Considering Karl was always busy patrolling the Pilgrim’s Path, shielding humanity from the Abyss of Demons, Karl’s offer to teach him Divine Magic personally carried a significant weight. If he wants to teach me seriously... could this be about succession? Even though Se-Hoon knew Karl had long been considering him a potential successor to his role, Karl’s current attitude felt different. Unlike before, it didn’t seem like contingency planning; Karl genuinely seemed to want to pass everything on to him. “Do you have a specific reason?” “Well, there are quite a few, but the biggest one is the mental fortitude you’ve shown during your time here. Strength in that aspect is crucial for Divine Magic, after all.” Humans struggled to communicate even with their superiors, so it was obvious how overwhelming repeatedly interacting with God would be. And that was especially true for those who could use the power of Grace, since the pressure intensified to unimaginable levels. “Also, I trust you to not fall to Apostate’s temptations,” Karl added. “Temptations?” “You know, the heretics with their usual lies about false gods or empty promises... the same old story.” There was a bitter expression on Karl’s face as he gazed up at the golden sky. “I pity them every time I hear their story, but I guess it’s inevitable. God put us under this constant temptation after all.” “...” “But for some reason, I believe you’ll be just fine.” If anyone could resist the temptations of heretics, Karl believed it would be Se-Hoon. He considered Se-Hoon’s view of God and the derived divine mana as mere phenomena that would naturally shield him from such deceit. Divine Magic, huh... Se-Hoon sank into deep thought, realizing what Karl was trying to convey. Before his regression, he had studied several texts on the subject while working with the Pilgrimage Church. Yet there were still many aspects that eluded him, as many teachings were passed down only orally. There were also certain powers that could only be wielded by those who trained directly under Karl, like the Sanctuary. Learning to use the Sanctuary would certainly be useful. If he could master the lost techniques of crafting Holy Artifacts—such as the forging method of the Stigmata Karl had taken to his grave—as well... then the range of what he could forge would broaden significantly. However, there was one massive drawback: becoming a target of Apostate. Getting marked by that lunatic would be a headache... wait. Suddenly struck by an idea, Se-Hoon paused with a strange expression on his face. “Mr. Anderson, may I ask you something?” “Of course.” “If I fight Apostate, who do you think would win?” “Hmm...” Contemplating the answer, Karl’s gaze fixed on Se-Hoon. Physically, Se-Hoon was already at A-rank level. And weapon-wise, he had Legendary-tier equipment which he used to prove his combat prowess, defeating monstrosities like the Dream Demon and the Harbinger of Fragmentation. And on top of all that, he even wielded several powers of the Perfect Ones and had a strong mental fortitude that would protect him from Apostate’s corruptive mind control. With everything Se-Hoon had, even if Apostate somehow managed to corrupt Se-Hoon’s mind, Se-Hoon could still fight without relying on his synesthetic mindscape—he was practically immune to Apostate’s usual tricks. And that heretic wouldn’t know any of this... wait, then... Midway through the calculations of who would come out victorious if the two were to fight, Karl’s eyes widened in realization. “...” “...” The two locked eyes in silence, having reached the same understanding. “So... I guess the Apostate isn’t that strong after all,” Se-Hoon said with a faintly awkward grin, breaking the silence. “Apparently not...” In truth, Se-Hoon’s diverse skill set gave him a natural advantage. Still, it was undeniable that he would be able to hold his own against Apostate. It was such an unexpected revelation that Karl was left bewildered. “Mr. Anderson,” Se-Hoon called out. “How about we do a little fishing?” There was a mischievous smile on Se-Hoon’s face. *** Meanwhile, as Se-Hoon spent his days in the Sanctuary, the outside world continued to move forward, albeit slowly in comparison. “Heresy!” “Subdue him immediately!” The blacksmiths of the Pilgrimage Church charged toward Se-Hoon, who stood dazed with a vacant expression. They, who had been dispatched to Paradise, were all skilled blacksmiths with above-average capabilities, putting them easily on par with B-rank heroes in terms of pure combat power. For such people, neutralizing an unresisting target should be doable in under a second. Click. However, someone stepped in. “Don’t move.” Jake appeared in front of Se-Hoon, gripping the hilt of the Windchaser Sword. A restless breeze swirled around him, growing strong by the second. Whoosh- The wind quietly howled, seemingly threatening to erupt into a storm and shred anyone who dared to take even a single step forward to pieces. It was a threat the blacksmiths could feel instinctively, freezing them in place. And when that happened, Jake glanced to the side and spoke firmly. “You should also stand down. No one needs to get hurt here.” At his words, the blacksmiths shifted their gazes downward and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Thorns, just mere inches from their bodies, were stopped midair—right before they pierced through. Just as Jake had intervened to stop the blacksmiths from getting to Se-Hoon, Erika had also stepped in, using her Bound Celestial Garment to neutralize them. If that young man had been even a second slower... We’d be dead already. The technicians felt their mouths dry out, paralyzed by how close they were to death. “Only if they step back.” Erika’s gaze was frigid. She made sure her intentions were clear: if they advanced even an inch closer, she would strike without hesitation. The excessive hostility made Jake frown, but before he could say anything, he heard someone else’s voice. “...Fascinating.” Kamal, who had been watching Se-Hoon, broke into a smile. “So this is what the Awakening foretold by the Oracle Cards meant.” Before anyone could ask what the Oracle Cards were, however, the atmosphere shifted. Rumble! A powerful tremor shook the entire workshop, instinctively prompting Jake and Erika to move closer to Se-Hoon, both ready to evacuate him should the building collapse. “...Hmm. Just past five seconds,” Se-Hoon muttered, having finally returned. “What happened?” “Are you alright?” Seeing the shock on their faces, which he was seeing for the first time in what felt like two months, Se-Hoon chuckled. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” At the moment, the tremors intensified, and an urgent voice blared through the announcement speakers. —An abnormal phenomenon has been detected at the Divine Tree in the central square. All visitors near the area are advised to evacuate immediately to the nearest shelter... “What the hell is going on?” Jake shouted, bewildered. Even the other blacksmiths seemed flustered, unfamiliar with the situation. Unlike everyone else, though, Kamal and Se-Hoon exchanged knowing looks. “Isn’t this a bit much?” Se-Hoon asked with a grin. “I mean, such flairs are needed for joyous occasions,” Kamal replied. “Besides, this will definitely get everyone’s attention.” “Fair enough.” Unable to understand their cryptic exchange, Erika was left puzzled. “Hey, what’s happening?” she asked. “You’ll see soon enough. It should all be ready outside; let’s go.” Saying nothing more, Se-Hoon strode toward the exit. And though they were confused, Jake and Erika followed, emerging in the central square of the monastery behind Se-Hoon. “That’s...” Both Jake and Erika froze in awe at the sight of the towering, golden tree, radiating overwhelming amounts of divine mana. The Divine Tree was shimmering with a golden light, its enormous amount of divine mana palpable even from afar. Seeing the two in a daze, Se-Hoon tapped them on the shoulder, snapping them out of it. “Try to pay close attention,” he said. Se-Hoon then activated Pilgrim’s Prayer, and his surroundings shifted in an instant. Now, he was standing on top of the Divine Tree, gazing down at the landscape of Paradise and the crowd staring up at him in astonishment. Clearing his throat, Se-Hoon addressed the masses. “Greetings, faithful of the Pilgrimage Church.” Using the Divine Tree as a transmission tower, his voice resonated to all believers of the Pilgrimage Church around the world. “My name is Lee Se-Hoon, the newly appointed Grand Archbishop of the Pilgrimage Church.”

Chapter 300

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