Storm of Gods

Chapter 128 Reality and Illusion

Although His Majesty the King has not yet made an official announcement, a consensus has been reached within the nobility that the champion is the most likely candidate to enter the royal selection process. All the major families are putting in their best efforts to prepare, as everyone knows that Estella is the apple of the King and Queen's eye, which is enough to guarantee a family's prosperity for centuries.

The added significance has elevated this battle for glory to its highest level in decades.

Families with hidden strengths understand all too well how precious the power of honor that can be gathered this time is to those who practice the way of chivalry.

The strongest knight academies and monastic colleges in the major cities of Montaleta will send their strongest lineups, with ages limited to 16 to 25. This depth is very large, which also means that there will be many experts.

Besides Heldan's Order of the Cavalry and the Knights' Academy, the same applies to the other cities in Montaleta; the level they demonstrate will directly determine their status, and they cannot afford to lose.

Seeing the excited and expectant looks in everyone's eyes, he knew that the members of Saint Ze were all very hardworking and diligent. It was not easy for them to catch such an opportunity. However, he was also aware of how deep the water was in this pool, what kind of monsters were hidden in the Knight Academy, and those who came from the secret fortress and inherited the power of the royal family and the holy land. These people had powerful bloodlines and the strongest resources. Their efforts were probably the least important thing.

Because he knew all too well that he had no expectations for the Battle of Glory, but just didn't want to dampen the enthusiasm of others, he smiled and said, "We can arrange a training match, Lancer. Let's say hello to the other Faculty members."

"Alright, Captain, that's what we've been waiting for! The brothers are full of fighting spirit!" Lancer and the others said. This kind of stage might only come once in a lifetime, so how could they not be excited? They couldn't be as composed as their captain.

After the team members left, Celia didn't leave. Looking at her cousin, on whom the family had placed high hopes, she saw not calmness and composure, but a clear lack of fighting spirit.

“My dear cousin, don’t you have any thoughts about becoming a prince consort?” Celia said with a smile. “The elders in the family have been discussing it intensely, saying that this is our family’s only chance to turn things around.”

“Celtis, do you think I should have any ideas?” Simmons smiled wryly. “You should know how fierce and dangerous this competition is. Sometimes I feel it’s unnecessary to take everyone on such a risk.”

"Do you know why the Grand Secretaries supported the Council of Religion, and why the King agreed?" Celia suddenly asked.

"It's because of Hextech, and the model is pretty good too. I went to Lilong, and the development there is truly amazing," Simmons said. He chose to enter the Order of the Church, so he also wanted to witness the Hextech miracle firsthand.

Celia shook her head. "Wealth, power, and hidden forces are all concentrating in the hands of a few families and individuals. If this doesn't change, problems will arise, and it will also affect the monarchy."

……

Simmons stared blankly at his cousin. "Is this what you wanted to do?"

Celia smiled slightly and winked playfully. "Luther is a very wise man. His books reveal many things. This is how the Li Dragons are unified. Some things also apply to us in Montcareta. Simmons, I think it's the right thing for us to choose the Faculty. As long as we achieve results, we will be rewarded many times over. In Luther's words, this is called going with the flow. You came from the Secret Fortress, after all. We're not competing for first place, and no one expects you to win the championship. As long as you play well, prove yourself, and let the King see our value, you will become a role model for the Faculty line and can also soar!"

Simmons fell silent. He wasn't stupid; he understood the subtext. Looking at Celia, he wasn't lacking in fighting spirit, but he knew he didn't have the strength to win the championship. Now, he saw that there was definitely an opportunity. No, this battle for glory would be the greatest reward for his risky choice to join the Order of the Church!
Celia saw things even more clearly, "Besides, there are rumors that Grand Scholar Vladimir is about to become a demigod, so the Church Council won't fall!"

Simmons looked at his opinionated cousin. She had a good relationship with the princess and was very well-informed, so she was probably right. He didn't need to compare himself to the Royal Academy. As long as he performed better than the other academies and surpassed several knight academies, he might be used as a role model.

Often, vision and perspective are more important than hard work.

Simmons' heart pounded, but he kept a calm facade. "Do you know how strong our opponents are? Our chances are slim."

“Young Master Simmons, you’re like an eagle. How can you achieve great things without some challenges? You have the best vision in our family, but that’s precisely why you sometimes lack the reckless courage of young people. Didn’t our ancestors fight their way to build their family fortune? If the enemy is strong, then we must find a way to become stronger,” Celia said. “There are actually many strong people among the commoners who are not valued. I have a few candidates here who are not valued in their own council. We can recruit them.”

Huh? Suddenly, Simmons' heart skipped a beat. He suddenly remembered someone. "You think so highly of me?"

"Dear cousin, it's not that I think highly of you, it's just that I had no other choice. I saw you raise your eyebrows just now, and your eyes suddenly lit up. Did you think of something? Tell me, let me give you some advice?"

“Dear Celia, I do have someone who can help us, but he needs your help with his request,” Simmons said. His cousin was quite ambitious, and although she didn’t say it, he could guess what she was planning.

"Oh, is there such a person? I'll see if he's worth it." Celia was somewhat interested; life needs a bit of challenge to be interesting.

In stark contrast to the sunny and breezy Heldan, on the Misty Continent, at Lighthouse 108, Barty was carving a mark on the wall. His movements were slow and meticulous, because time was of the essence, and he needed to do everything carefully and remain focused.

A moment represents a day. Although the misty world is dark, there are still subtle changes in light. The transition between thick and thin fog is used to record time. During the transition, the misty world will have a very short period of faint light. Of course, there are more precise clock towers in the city, but in the lighthouse, he needs to make himself feel the passage of time in this way.

Below the lighthouse, there was a mound of earth. The previous lamplighter had turned into a monster, but even as a monster, his remaining consciousness still remembered that he had to guard the torch.

His will collapsed the moment he saw Barty, and he began to attack Barty frantically. Once he turned into a monster, his strength became terrifying. Barty was very confident in his strength, but he was still struggling to cope. Of course, he had many ways to defeat a monster that had lost its mind, but he had to finish the battle quickly so that it could not destroy the lighthouse, and he could not get injured. If he was seriously injured, it would be no different from death here.

Unexpectedly, in his first battle as the Lighthouse Keeper, Barty used the divinely bestowed black sword to kill the fallen lamplighter. His body quickly rotted, and his abdomen and chest were bitten through by more than a dozen worms. He did not repay his sins in this life, but he hoped he could do so in the next.

Barty cleaned up all the worms, and then, just as Lord Tishri had said, he suffered excruciating pain all over his body for a day and a night.

After recovering, Bati ate something and drank some water, prayed for the deceased, and made a simple grave for him. This was a very luxurious treatment for Rada, as in the city, he would usually just be returned to fertilizer.

He hoped that if he were to suffer misfortune, his next partner would treat him the same way.

Sigh, am I being too hopeful?

During working hours, Barty needs to regularly patrol the area around the lighthouse, set traps, and prevent damage from mist creatures. If they encounter them head-on, it's likely time for a snack.

Barty strives for perfection in every step, which gives him a great sense of accomplishment and honor. After completing these tasks, he will spend some time cleaning the lighthouse, first tidying up the interior, and then using the remaining time to train his swordsmanship, maintaining his best condition to meet any challenge. Even if there is a real attack from an abyss monster, he is confident in his ability to handle it.

In this situation, the day will be very fulfilling. Of course, you also need to set aside some time each day for prayer to receive the protection of the Trinity and to follow the rules of the lamplighter. This also prevents hallucinations from occurring if you don't speak for a long time.

The black sword inside his body also caught his attention. There was a legend in the lamplighter camp that only special lamplighters would be given divine items. His black sword should be that item. Barty also obeyed Lord Tishri's orders and would not use the black sword on his own initiative.

The life of a lamplighter is extremely monotonous, and it is easy to go crazy in such a lonely environment. But Barty is a special case. He can endure loneliness and actually likes this quietness so that he can train wholeheartedly and wait for the moment of completing the mission.

Sleeping was indeed a bit difficult. Although there were also attacks from delirium in the city, the protection of the Triad God made them much less severe. But it was a different story in the wild. He understood how painful the attacks from delirium were. Crazy thoughts surrounded him from all directions. Enduring pain was not difficult for most Rakshasas, but controlling one's will was something that not everyone could do.

The lamplighters have undergone special training. At this time, they must maintain a righteous mind and pray to the Triad God for protection, chanting the name of the Triad God. The Triad God, the all-knowing and all-powerful God of the Great Evolution Heavenly Net of Procreation, Creation, and Destruction, cannot be explored, doubted, or pondered. All they must do is believe. Only in this way can they maintain their sanity.

In fact, most lamplighters can persevere in the early stages. Being chosen in the first place already indicates considerable ability. However, time is a terrible thing, especially the unchanging, gloomy life away from people. The survival rate of lamplighters is only two or three percent. Of course, lamplighters who successfully complete their mission will become shepherds. If they make meritorious contributions, they can even help their relatives become shepherds as well. This is Buddy's motivation. He will definitely complete the mission and live a normal life with his sister.

A person with goals and a strong will is not easily destroyed.

However, Barty has had a question these past few days: the black blade vibrates at night, as if something is calling to him, but he dares not respond. On one hand, Lord Tishri once said that this is a divine weapon that he cannot wield, and can only be used when facing creatures of the abyss, and that it will cause intense pain after use. On the other hand, he is unsure whether it is a divine weapon or a hallucination caused by delirium.

Every lamplighter knows that what's terrifying isn't delirium, but the inability to distinguish between illusion and reality.

The food had been placed on the tower by Barty: steamed buns made of black moss that could be stored for a long time without spoiling. Becoming a lamplighter would also provide some dried meat and a portion of water. The rest of the time, one would have to collect or find black water when it rained.

Since the Three Gods blessed them, it has rained on the Misty Continent every now and then. The rain still cannot dispel the mist, but the visibility has improved. Each time it rains, not only can they provide drinking water, but they can also see the hazy sky. It is their festival and hope. One day they will see the legendary sun and moon again, as well as the blue sky.

(End of this chapter)