The Last King Of Darkness-Chapter 1573 - 745: Battle of the Pope (2)
Looking at this massive city embedded within the mountain range, Rod felt a surge of emotion; the last time he came here, it was with the First Saint Heir, Takxis, but now, Takxis has found peace.
All living beings in Saint Rel found peace with the demise of the Blood God.
Rod stood on the mountain, gazing into the distance; this colossal city was submerged in darkness, with silence echoing in the air. The streets and squares swallowed by black fog were haunted by newly born Dust Level monsters, the weakest and most primitive creatures born from the twisted souls under the law of darkness.
Though merely approaching Rod would turn them to ashes, given enough time, they could grow into monsters even Rod wouldn’t dare to challenge lightly.
Rod took a deep breath and leaped into the Royal City of Saint Rel.
As his powerful soul field descended, countless specks of dust vanished in an instant, leaving no trace.
Rod walked swiftly down the main street, countless fine gray lines flying in from all directions and merging into his soul; in the entire Royal City, no monster could approach within four hundred yards of him.
With the Blood God’s demise, those powerful monsters also turned to ashes, and the Royal City of Saint Rel had almost become a deserted city.
Looking at the countless majestic buildings, Rod felt a deep sense of regret; this was the culmination of eighteen hundred years of civilization—how wonderful it would be to make use of it? 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
Soon, after crossing countless streets and squares, Rod arrived at the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground in the Royal City of Saint Rel. It was a massive semicircular structure with a diameter of over ten thousand yards, much larger than the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground in the Biterolian Royal City.
Its outer wall once shrouded in an impenetrable invisible barrier had now completely disappeared.
The entire Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground was eerily quiet, and even the black fog had grown thin.
"Master, something feels strange."
The Book of Knowledge whispered in his mind.
"I haven’t sensed the aura of any powerful monsters, didn’t Sun Knight Kai and Moon Knight Olivia sense the True King’s aura in the Royal City?"
Rod frowned, suddenly recalling from his conversation with the transport personnel that these two Great Knight Captains were systematically clearing from the outer layers inward based on Bossivale’s suggestion, who believed this approach would eradicate monsters spreading from the outskirts of Saint Rel while salvaging as much as possible without leaving anything behind.
Yet, the Royal City of Saint Rel was located at the very center of Saint Rel.
They knew full well the fallen Pope was here, so there’s no way they’d make this their starting destination.
So who relayed this message?
Was it the Ancient Evil Thought?
But strangely, when Rod awakened Asa, he silently, then decisively, denied it.
"Master, I don’t detect the aura of evil conspiracies; this might not be Ak’s doing. However, you’re currently too far from the conspiracy’s core, so I can’t be certain. If you could pinpoint the source of the message, I could make a more accurate assessment."
Rod shook his head; he had already reached the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground—how could he return to the Royal City now?
Moreover, if this was a false message from evil intent, what were they aiming for?
To remind Rod that there was a Holy Fire Seed here and a fallen True King? To lure him to his death?
But such an assumption is illogical—no one understands the demise of the White Sect’s Pope better than Rod; he doesn’t need any reminders. The message included no suggestive information, and it was the Book of Knowledge that reached the conclusion. No matter how powerful the Ancient Evil Thought might be, it couldn’t remotely influence a Book of Knowledge that possesses Dream Protection and an almost intact spirit.
Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive.
Rod thought to himself, perhaps they had been here; I’ll find them and confirm when I return.
He took a deep breath, set aside his distractions, and stepped into the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground of Saint Rel.
The sacrificial ground was silent; beneath the mute black fog was a thick layer of dust, as if it had been left in darkness for countless years, the weight of history palpable.
Slight dark waves rippled through the air, indicating a degree of overlap between the Sacrificial Ground and the Spirit Realm.
Rod focused his mind on his senses, yet despite his super perception enhanced by Divine Sense, he detected no presence, as if this was an empty, long-abandoned building.
What is going on?
Where is the Pope?
Rod furrowed his brow and cautiously made his way step by step toward the center of the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground.
The thick dust sprayed up beneath his feet, quickly settling again; the faint footsteps echoed as if treading upon his soul.
It was unclear how much time had passed before Rod finally reached the upper level of the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground. The gap in the ground was still there; he leapt gently and descended into the central area of the Holy Fire Sacrificial Ground in Saint Rel.
Thud!
A soft sound, Rod landed in the thick white ash.
Silence pressed against his eardrums; he looked up at the elliptical arena, unchanged since his last visit, surrounded by white ash, the central giant basin intended to hold the Holy Fire. But the burning Holy Fire was nowhere to be found, leaving it covered in infinite ashes, coating every part of it.
The pollution had vanished; the Black Water flowing within the King Artifact was gone, and on the ground, apart from white ash, there were no pollutants at all, even the black fog in the air was thin, resembling a morning mist.
