Chapter 823: Chapter 423: The Love God’s Dearest Knight Bids Farewell to His Only Deity (Part 3)
At that time, when he was young and full of doubts, he asked:
"Why don’t we worship the god? Did they do something evil?"
Back then, the adults would always tell him:
"Relying on a god is not as good as relying on oneself, believing in a god is not as good as believing in oneself. By tempering the body and honing curse magic, we can also survive in this turbulent world on our own."
"But... what does that have to do with not worshipping them? Believing in oneself and believing in a god aren’t mutually exclusive."
"Child, you do not understand."
At that time, he truly did not understand.
And on this day, as he wandered, he came across this statue.
It might be the statue of a legendary deity.
He touched the headless statue with his hand and suddenly said:
"Someone must have protected you well in the past."
Although the statue had lost its head and was covered in dust, traces of its past careful protection could still be seen.
In a daze, he seemed to hear a soft laugh.
He didn’t linger long and soon left the place.
Time passed by, day by day, and year by year.
He became a competent Curse Swordsman, but he never entered the church again.
Just sometimes, when he occasionally passed by that church, he would think of the headless statue.
Until one day, he encountered the Evil God Cultists.
It was the most malicious woman he had ever seen in his life.
Just for a slim chance to maintain her youthful appearance, she rampantly slaughtered poor girls in the slum, offering their flesh as sacrifices, a Legendary Mage who taught him a lesson in life.
Blood spread from his body.
An unprecedented feeling of powerlessness spread throughout his body.
He could only watch helplessly as that mage, more vile than a demon, prepared to deal a fatal blow to the survivors.
He leaned against the wall outside the church, feeling his body growing colder.
At that moment, he longed so much for a god to descend.
"God, if you can hear my prayer, please save those children... even if thereafter, I shall execute the justice that belongs to a god."
Then a warm light floated out from the church, gently falling on him.
"This is my last strength, child..."
That voice was so weak, yet it resounded in his ears so deafeningly.
He heard that god roaring: "Go execute justice, even if it’s just the embers!"
That day, he chose to believe.
In countless years thereafter, on the path of defending the belief in justice, when blood flowed in battles until he was senseless, he saw His silhouette countless times in his unconsciousness.
Along the path he walked, spreading towards the muddy and filthy distance.
In the illusions he could no longer see clearly, he ran tirelessly, countless times seeking to touch His silhouette, but never able to catch up, the pain making him feel immeasurably sorrowful.
"Child, when you truly need to execute justice, call upon me then."
In a daze, he heard His voice.
"When is it truly needed to execute justice?"
"When you need to even give up on me."
"No, I swore to make the fierce sun’s name resound among the stars, until my death!"
"But you said..."
"I..."
...
A brilliant light of the fierce sun rose from Aaron.
The scenes from years ago dissipated like smoke.
His vision had been blurred by tears, and this time, He stopped, turning to hold his hand.
At that moment, Aaron knew, this was the last time.
"Go now, follow... the will of the god, execute... justice."
A crisp sound, and a rain of blood fell from the sky.
The crowd looked up in astonishment.
It was the sign of a god’s fall.
When they reached out to touch the blood rain, they heard the world cry.
The Eternal Fierce Sun had fallen.
"My words and deeds are without deceit, my sincere faith has never wavered. I swore to make the name of the fierce sun resound among the stars, unyielding until death, dedicated — to my only faith."
The knight most devoted to the Love God bid farewell to his only god.
A new sun rose.
Dawn broke.
