It was Winston’s turn. The pope came forward and started addressing the people.

"Beloved children of the Light, faithful citizens of our sacred land.

"On this day, we gather beneath the eternal radiance of Light God Lux that has guided us through 16 years of triumph, trial, and transformation."

"16 years ago, from the ashes of turmoil and the uncertainty of a fractured past, we forged what we now know as the Holy Sun Empire - a beacon of order, faith, and divine purpose."

"We remember those early days not with sorrow, but with reverence, for it was through hardship that our devotion was tested, and through devotion that we were made worthy of His grace. The Light of the divine Lux did not abandon us in those times. No, He refined us, as fire tempers steel; he was shaping our empire into a vessel fit to carry His will. Yet we must not blind ourselves to the truth."

"Before this sacred age of light, this land hosted another faith, one that believed in a mere static existence called the sun."

At this point, his tone had hardened and turned stern, as if reprimanding the listener.

"The so-called Solaris Empire revered a false belief. There is no sun god; it is merely a figment of imagination painted by fragile minds. They mistook the creation for the Creator, the glow for the source. And in doing so, they walked a path that led only to shadows.

"Unfortunately, the consequences of that fatal error led to the prevalence of the cruel, lost-from-light Shadow Clan, a clan that slaughtered innocents, spread disease, and brought chaos and curse upon this land."

"At that dark age, where truth was clouded, and evil prevailed, the church finally had enough. We chose to fight for the light, for the people of this land, and the God of Light—the true creator of everything—blessed us."

"The Holy Sun Empire was born from the ashes of evil to lead our society towards greater truth. Holy Sun does not refer to the sun god; instead, it refers to Lux himself, as he is the one who brings light to this world. The sun is merely a medium—the true creator is our lord!!!"

By now, half of the Aris continent observing the broadcast were disgusted, while the other half had stopped watching.

But suddenly, the next words drew everyone’s attention again.

"But now the name Holy Sun has served its purpose.

We are no longer people who merely follow anything with blind faith; our minds are illuminated. We are a people chosen by the Light itself. Thus, before you all, and under the divine gaze of Lux, I declare:

From this day forward, our empire shall be known as the Luminous Empire. A name not of celestial bodies, but of divine truth. A name that reflects not what we see, but what we believe."

"YET" Winston paused.

"A name alone does not cleanse the past. A name alone does not banish evil."

"The title of ’Luminous’ will hold its true meaning only when the remnants of that misguided era are brought to an end. When every whisper of false worship, every hidden ember of heresy, and every lingering shadow of Solaris is extinguished."

"And so, with a resolute heart, I proclaim what must be done."

"Those who continue to cling to the old ways... those who defy the Light of Lux... those who would see our people led back into darkness."

"THEY SHALL BE EXECUTED."

"Let this day be remembered not only as a celebration of our founding... but as the dawn of our purification."

"Stand with me, children of the Light," he shouted.

"Stand with Lux."

Winston shouted at the top of his lungs. His mana-amplified voice boomed across the colosseum and shook the very foundations of the structure itself.

His eyes turned cold as he looked at the gatekeeper of the inner gate of the colosseum.

"BRING THE HERETICS!!"

"THEY SHALL BE EXECUTED IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE ARIS!" Winston declared at the top of his voice, spreading his arms wide as if embracing the entire colosseum.

His scepter remained firmly gripped in his hand, the golden head catching the light and making his already exaggerated gesture appear even more imposing.

His voice echoed across the structure, shook its foundations.

Moments later, the massive metal gates of the colosseum creaked open. The sound drew the attention of every person present. From within the dark entrance, a large wooden cart slowly rolled out into the arena.

Its construction was crude, but its purpose was clear.

The upper frame of the cart was concealed beneath a heavy red velvet cloth, draped carefully to hide whatever lay beneath it. The top of the cart took the shape of a guillotine behind the fabric.

The entire display had been arranged with deliberate grandeur.

Winston turned his gaze toward the cart, a faint sneer forming on his lips as it came to a halt in the center of the arena. His eyes carried a twisted satisfaction, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

Without warning, several individuals dressed in church attire began moving through the commoner stands. They carried baskets filled with stones and started distributing them among the common people seated across the colosseum.

"Their sins have tainted this land for thousands of years," Winston continued with false righteousness. "Oh, believers of light, you may pelt stones at the sinners and help them relieve the burden of their actions."

His words spread through the crowd like a command rather than an invitation.

Among the stands, unease took root immediately.

Almost every commoner present had already guessed who might be beneath that red velvet cloth. Rumors had spread for days, and the sudden appearance of the cart only confirmed their fears.

The possibility that it was the former empress of the Solaris Empire was enough to shake even the most loyal followers.

The hands of the people present shook with hesitation. They did not want to do this.

Suddenly, the sound of metal cut through the silence.

Several guards stationed around the colosseum unsheathed their swords in unison. The sharp, synchronized motion was unmistakable. Their expressions remained cold and unyielding as they looked toward the crowd.

The message required no words.

Pelt the stones or face the consequences.

The fragile silence was shattered.

A few individuals, unable to withstand the pressure, threw their stones toward the cart. Their actions broke the invisible barrier holding the rest back.

Soon, more followed; the people were filled with tears while their hands moved to carry out the sins they might never forget.

A barrage of stones filled the air, striking the covered cart from all directions. The sound of impact echoed across the arena.

Yet, no screams filled with pain followed. There was no reaction from beneath the cloth.

Winston watched the scene with a satisfied expression. He was fully aware that such stones meant nothing to a cultivator of any real strength.

But that was never the point. The real purpose was humiliation.

To create a spectacle.

Winston enjoyed it.

Creating such displays pleased his god, Lux.

With a broad grin, he turned around and returned to his seat, as if the outcome was already decided.

"Isn’t this too much?" Aliastar spoke, stopping the pope in his steps. His tone carried displeasure as he looked toward Winston.

Winston reacted at once. He slightly bowed; his earlier arrogance was replaced by caution.

He spoke quickly, offering explanations that attempted to justify his actions without directly opposing the primarch.

His words carried little substance.

Aliastar listened briefly before shaking his head. He did not pursue the matter further, though his expression remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, Winston finally turned towards Andrea with a massive, sinister expression.

"Miss Principal," he said, his voice dripping with mocking politeness, "how is the festival going for you? Are you entertained?"

Andrea met his gaze without hesitation and smiled.

She nodded lightly. "Truly, my lord, you really know how to create a spectacle worth watching. I was surprised at first, but you have surpassed my expectations. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life."

Her expression was a bit too composed.

For a brief moment, Winston felt something was off. He expected anger, resistance, or, at the very least, discomfort. Instead, she appeared almost amused.

Just then, before Winston could raise his brows or even wonder why Andrea was unfazed, several screams sounded from the other parts of the colosseum.

The screams sounded as if they had seen horror.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Within the pulvinar, every guest rose from their seats. Their movements were hurried, their composure was breaking as they rushed toward the edge of the railings to see what had caused such a reaction.

Even the most composed Primarch Alister could not stay seated but instantly appeared by the edge.

Winston turned sharply, taking in the screams and the surprised expressions. His smirk wore off as he looked at the mocking smile on Andrea’s face.

She was smiling - not politely but with open mockery.

Without wasting another second, he turned toward the arena to look at the source of the chaos, and at most, he expected Tamsya and Anasthasia to break the chains and rebel somehow, but what he saw in reality froze him in place.

What he saw rendered him breathless. He was forced to clutch the railing of the pulvinar in order not to lose footing.

The red velvet cloth had been removed.

The cart stood fully exposed at the center of the arena.

The man who had been pulling it was gone.

But that was not what mattered.

Instead of the restrained figures of Tamasya and Anastasia, only two objects were resting on the platform.

Two severed heads.

One belonged to Cardinal Nicholas.

The other -

belonged to his son.

---

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