Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 359 Return to the Church
After the "Guiding Priest" Colen recognized him, the [Main Mission] was refreshed on his panel!
This made Thomas' eyes light up.

What surprised Thomas even more was that

Even in his task panel, the current version of [Main Task] is still [Judgment War]. Not only that, his main task panel seems to still retain the task points from the internal test!

The hard work they put in as "internal beta" players did not disappear, but instead remained in the public beta in the form of points. This shows that... their starting point as "internal beta" players is naturally much higher than that of most public beta players. With the advantage in intelligence, they can firmly occupy the first tier of combat power!

"..."

Thinking of this, a happy expression appeared on Thomas's face.

I wonder if other beta testers have such early benefits... I'll ask other beta testers I know when I enter Songyuan City...

"Come on, then, Thomas."

While Thomas was thinking, he heard the voice of the "Guiding Pastor" Colen again:

"I will take you back to the church first, Thomas. Afterwards, a priest will examine your body or treat your wounds. If you have no problem, please help us find other missing 'Guardians'."

"Okay." Thomas nodded.

He reached out and patted the dust off his body, then mounted the horse that Pastor Colen and the other clergy had brought. Then, under the half-curious and half-envious gazes of the other players, he followed the clergy and galloped towards the direction of Red Maple City.

……

Scenes like what happened to Thomas were happening in every corner of the gravel plain outside Red Maple City.

Many players who were originally "Guardians of the Holy Spirit" were found by the priests who were ordered by Luo Xiu to go out of the city to search. Although the number of "Guardians of the Holy Spirit" found was only about a quarter of that in the internal test, it was already a good start.

In addition to these beta test players, Luo Xiu also dispatched clergymen from the church to bring back the new "refugees" scattered outside the city.

Some of these clergymen who were carrying out the mission assigned by the bishop had also participated in the last mission to bring back the "refugees".

They had a vague feeling that the number of "refugees" that appeared outside Hongfeng City this time seemed to be much larger than last time... Not only that, it seemed that the "refugees" this time gave people a stranger feeling than last time.

They always spoke words that the clergy could not understand, and had an inexplicable fanatical curiosity about everything they saw.

The standard configuration is a team of four clergymen, which can restrain about fifty refugees.

But this is an ideal situation - the reality is that the clergy who are going to lead the refugees back to the city will almost always be attacked by stones, fists, and even headbutts from the "refugees" who are not extraordinary people!

Although their attacks were not threatening, they caused considerable trouble for the clergy to maintain the formation of the refugees, so much so that they had to resort to some extraordinary means.

For example, the "Prison of Evil" - turning the spirituality of the Holy Light to control the most erratic "refugees" first, does have some deterrent effect on the other "refugees"...

At least in the eyes of the clergy, it was indeed a "deterrent" because the other refugees who were ready to make a move did restrain themselves, but more gazes that made the clergy feel creepy were fixed on them.

In addition to these, many refugees have also fought each other.

It was a rather primitive way of fighting, an intimate combination of fists and flesh, with stones on the ground occasionally used. It was a sublimation from apes to humans.

It should have been a bloody scene, and the clergy not far away could already see the blood spurting out from their bodies.

But for some reason, the clergy felt that the scene before them was absurd and funny...

That was probably because the two fighters did not show any painful or ferocious expressions on their faces, nor did they make the expected screams.

On the contrary, the atmosphere of happiness spread among the sounds of “Oh, well, I’m dead!”

But the clergy didn't care about that.

At least most of the "refugees" now seem normal and obedient.

They continued to lead these refugees towards the city, and on the way back to the city, they could not help but increase their vigilance.

……

Red Maple City, Church.

Inside the bishop's throne, "Bishop" Luo Zhengxiu was watching the players' situation from a distance with an amused look on his face.

All I can say is that the familiar taste has indeed returned... There is a reason why this group of "adventurers" were later called "natural disasters". Although they have not yet touched the extraordinary, they can already glimpse the prototype of "natural disasters".

While browsing the [Player Forum] and [World Channel], Luo Xiu was also thinking about other things in his heart.

This time, the [public beta] does have more things than the [internal beta].

For example, the [Apocalypse Mall], a game mall specially prepared for paying players, has currently launched several props and gift packs suitable for the early stages of the game.

However, this thing is of no use to Luo Xiu. Even though he is quite familiar with the numbers [328] and [648], he cannot spend money to buy them - he can only look at them but cannot obtain them.

But it doesn’t matter.

Just 3 free points and 1000 basic experience points are no longer enough for Luo Xiu now.

He could, however, spy on what new products the [Apocalypse Mall] had released and use that to plan what to launch in his own "Holy Abyss Mall", which would actually help him gain greater benefits.

Except for [Apocalypse Mall].

Through the NPC panel in the background, as well as the discussions in the [World Channel] and [Player Forum], Luo Xiu also roughly knew the general situation of the players coming for this [Public Beta].

A total of more than nine million players "descended" into the entire Apocalypse World, and the number of players that descended around Red Maple City roughly doubled compared to the internal test, to about ten thousand people.

In addition to Red Maple City, there are more "landing points" in the entire Apocalypse World——

There are hundreds more initial landing points for players to descend into the Apocalypse World, and the locations are spread across the Fanor Continent, Storm Continent and Broken Continent. Most players have already begun exploring the surrounding areas of the landing sites.

Although nine million players are only a tiny number compared to the natives of the entire Apocalypse World, they will still grow, and they will grow quite rapidly... and it won't be long before they gather into a terrifying force.

Soon, the natives of the apocalypse world will be deeply shocked by the "Adventers" for the first time.

……

"..."

Then I browsed the forum and the world channel.

Luo Xiu closed the panel and released the barrier of the Holy See.

At this time, the clergy who were sent out had brought back most of the "Adventers" outside Songyuan City.

The players who were originally the "Guardians" of the church had been brought back by the clergy who had been sent out earlier. About forty of them were now waiting in the inner courtyard of the church, in front of the altar.

Sitting up from the edge of the bed, Luo Xiu walked to the clothes rack, grabbed the bishop's robe and put it on, then walked out of the holy seat.

He wanted to meet the players he had missed for a long time.

……

In the inner courtyard of the Red Maple City Church, in front of the altar.

Thomas followed the "guiding priest" Colen back to the church, and was brought here by Colen first to gather with other "guardians" found by the clergy.

Koren then left, and Thomas looked around at the figures around him, the expression on his face becoming more and more excited.

——Those are all familiar faces!
There were about forty "Guardians of the Saints", all of whom were players who had participated in the internal test and chose to join the church and become "Guardians of the Saints". Thomas, who was also a Guardian of the Saints, was familiar with all of them.

These "Guardians" who were found all have one thing in common - the facial shaping and modeling of their own game images are basically the same as during the internal test.

This may be the main reason why the clergy of the church can recognize them at first sight. And the IDs of several of these "Saint Guardian" players who were found have changed compared to the internal test.

That might be because someone else’s ID was registered when the account was created for the public beta test, but the clergy of the church don’t know this yet.

"Hi, Thomas?"

As Thomas was thinking in his heart, he suddenly heard someone calling his name from behind.

Thomas looked back and saw a muscular man as big as a mountain, smiling and greeting him.

That was also a player. Thomas knew him by face. He remembered that his ID during the internal test was "Iron Pot Stewed Goose"...

"Hi, hello, goose."

While recalling, Thomas greeted "Iron Pot Stewed Goose" and at the same time cast a detection on him, trying to peek at his panel.

[Crocodile Stewed in Iron Pot (lv.1, Adventer)]

[Race: Human]

【…】

"Iron pot stew... crocodile?"

Thomas looked a little stunned. He looked at the panel again, then at the "big crocodile" in front of him, and his expression turned into trying not to laugh.

"I can't help it. Someone else has registered the ID of 'Iron Pot Stewed Goose'. I can only call it this for now."

The crocodile spread his hands and said with a helpless expression:

"It takes seven days to change the ID, and you also need to buy a name-changing scroll from the [Apocalypse Mall]... Oh, it's really troublesome."

"I think I saw someone posting on the player forum."

Thomas continued to hold back his laughter and said:

"I thought you were the one who registered someone else's ID, but it turned out to be the other way around?"

"My family members are helpless." The big crocodile shook his head.

"However, the other party seemed to think that 'Iron Pot Stewed Crocodile' sounded better and more domineering. He privately messaged me and said that he wanted to exchange IDs with me, but it would take at least seven days."

In fact, I also think that "stewed crocodile in an iron pot" sounds better... Thomas muttered inwardly, he looked at the "crocodile" in front of him, smiled and said:

"Just use 'Iron Pot Stewed Crocodile' first. Who knows, this ID may be more suitable for your image."

"Really? That's fine for now."

"..."

The two chatted intermittently, and as their voices grew louder, other players around them joined in the discussion.

However, the players' greetings did not last long, as Thomas heard a rustling sound coming from the direction of the Su Yu altar.

The clergy around all turned around, their eyes converged towards the altar, and fell on a young and sacred figure.

That is the "Bishop" of the Church!
——It’s “Roshua Carlos”!
As soon as "Bishop" Luo Xiu appeared, Thomas' attention was immediately attracted. He temporarily stopped chatting with the players and looked intently in the direction where "Luo Xiu" appeared.

This time, the "bishop" of the church did not make his appearance as grandly as when he first appeared. He just walked towards this side slowly, surrounded by a group of "priests" of the church.

While walking towards the "Guardian" players, the young bishop's scorching eyes swept over the players. When his gaze fell on Thomas, Thomas couldn't help but shudder.

That bishop...he has become even more oppressive!

This was the first instinct that arose in Thomas' heart when he saw the "Bishop" Ross Carlos.

Like most of the players around him, he checked the panel when Bishop Luo Xiu appeared, but the result was undoubtedly just a bunch of question marks.

Until "Bishop" Rossu Carlos, he had already come to the altar and stood still.

"I am so glad that I can see you again, my sacred comrades."

In Thomas's eyes, the bishop's bright and majestic eyes just looked down calmly, and at the same time he spoke lightly, saying loudly to the players in front of the altar:
"Just a month ago, you suddenly disappeared, and there has been no trace since then."

"I once sent people to look for your whereabouts. I thought of many possibilities, such as whether you were abducted by the pagans or imprisoned by the executioner, but I could never find you... However, the Great Sun blessed you for a moment, and today, you finally returned."

"It's just that I can feel it."

"You don't have the blessing of Glory, and you don't even have any extraordinary powers. This is not a normal situation... I want to know what happened to you in the past month, but there is no rush."

After a pause, Luo Xiu looked around at the "Saint Guardians" in front of him and continued:

"I remember all of you, and your contributions to the Glory."

"Even when the blessing fades and the power ebbs, I will still remember these, my comrades."

"Now, I want you to - call on you too."

"Remember. The blessing of Glory will not really disappear, and all you have to do is return to the sacred position you were supposed to be in."

"I will always believe in you. And my fellow soldiers will do their best to help you."

"..."

After saying this, Luo Xiu raised his hands and formed a triangle in front of his chest, and nodded and said:

"——The momentary glory of the sun will be with you forever."

"..."

It was at the moment when Luo Xiu finished his last sentence.

In front of Thomas, his panel also popped up at the same time -

[Trigger the commission task]

[Commissioned Task: Bishop’s Blessing (Normal Difficulty)]

[Recommended level: lv.1]

[Task type: commissioned task]

[As a lost "Saint Protector" of the Red Maple City Church, you have finally returned to the church and met with your bishop in front of the altar.

The bishop of the Red Maple City Church, "Rosius Carlos", has given you a sacred blessing. He hopes and calls on you to return to your sacred post, and he is eagerly looking forward to your response.

[Mission Objective: Agree to the request of "Bishop" Ross Carlos and resume your sacred position.]

[Completion Reward: Basic Experience +3000, Free Attribute Points +3, [Glorious] Destiny Skill: "Glorious Inscription" Skill Knowledge*1]

【…】

……

(End of this chapter)