Start in Terra, immortal

Shortly after the boy left, Zhao Xin's figure quietly appeared at the village entrance.

A warm and pure aftertaste still lingered in the air, the imprint left after the release of immense sacred power, intertwined with the scent of earth and vegetation, yet distinctly separate.

"The host of that power... has it been found?" Zhao Xin murmured to himself, sensing the unique purifying and dispelling power of chaos within it, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

The suitable candidate that Remedios sought—one capable of bearing and wielding the "Apostle-level" power originating from the source of light and life—appears to have found his way here. The nature of this power is indeed a natural weapon against the corruption of chaos.

His gaze slowly swept across the village. The houses were intact, the streets were clean, and even the pottery jars on the windowsills hadn't tipped over.

If it weren't for the undeniable purification of the air and the almost imperceptible, completely erased traces of chaos, this place would seem like an ordinary, quiet village that had just finished a day's work.

There were no scars of battle, no traces left by desperate cries, only a gentle "erasure".

This was completely different from his previous methods, which involved using excessive energy to forcibly cleanse chaotic strongholds, leaving nothing behind.

Seeing all this, a slight ripple suddenly stirred in Zhao Xin's heart.

When did it begin?

When did I start to get used to using this power, which far exceeds what I could have imagined in my mortal days, to "solve" problems?

That all-consuming energy, while efficient and capable of sweeping away filth, also erases things along with the filth—things that could have been preserved, the traces of homes that hold people's memories and lives.

Power brings control, efficiency, and the ability to uphold one's beliefs in times of chaos.

But perhaps it also subtly brings about a certain alienation? A tendency to habitually "handle" problems with absolute power imbalances, rather than to "resolve" difficulties more subtly?

Zhao Xin looked down at his hands.

These hands, once gripping a spear to protect their homeland, can now easily unleash destructive energy. Has this leap in power also inadvertently shifted certain values ​​within them?

Perhaps what comes with power is never just authority and responsibility. There is also an eternal questioning of the “way” in which this power is used, and a continuous examination of the “cost”.

Zhao Xin stood there quietly for a long time. In the end, he did not venture into the depths of the village, but instead imprinted the image of this land, which had been "gently" purified, deep into his mind.

Then, he turned around, his figure disappearing back into the deepening night, continuing his patrol and protection.

However, his steps seemed to carry a hint of quiet contemplation compared to when he arrived.

......

The effects of the Blood Curse extend far beyond the Perus Empire. Its shadow, like ink dripped into clear water, slowly spreads and permeates all human settlements on the continent of Arad.

Wherever there are human footprints, there is the potential for demons to breed. And once a single demon appears, its instinct to mimic humans and lurk in disguise can quickly create an entire network of contamination hidden among the population.

Thus, the name "The Imposter" spread like wildfire.

When the existence of imposters becomes an open secret, the entire human society is suddenly plunged into a massive crisis of trust.

Family members you spend every day with, comrades-in-arms you fight alongside, and even your bed partner may suddenly reveal inhuman fangs overnight.

Suspicion spread like a plague, and some even used the guise of "eliminating imposters" to carry out the elimination of dissidents, bringing order to the brink of collapse and civilization to the brink of peril.

At this critical juncture, a turning point quietly emerged.

Among the crowd, special individuals began to emerge who could identify imposters. They claimed to have received divine revelation, gaining the power of "revelation" to see through disguises and directly perceive the true nature of chaos.

The boy named Michel was the pioneer who first accepted this revelation and spread its meaning and mission.

Driven by an innate sense of responsibility, Michelle brings together those who have received enlightenment to fight the threat of imposters.

He collectively referred to these people as "Clerics" and personally taught them the "Holy Fist" technique that he had comprehended and improved, as well as combat techniques that used giant weapons to defeat enemies.

Soon after, a "Cleric Order" was formally established with the aim of finding and eliminating imposters and dispelling chaos in the world.

From then on, the figures of these holy clergymen, possessing divine power and traveling among calamities, began to appear frequently throughout the Perus Empire.

Zhao Xin, who was also traveling around and clearing away chaos, naturally encountered these holy officials many times.

Sometimes Zhao Xin would finish his work first, and the clergy would arrive late; other times, the clergy would have just finished their purification when Zhao Xin arrived.

The members of the Cleric Order initially viewed Zhao Xin as another divinely inspired, more powerful, and solitary figure.

They greatly admired his overwhelming power to eradicate evil. Therefore, they sincerely invited Zhao Xin to join the cult several times and hoped to introduce him to the founder, Michael.

Faced with this enthusiasm, Zhao Xin had to solemnly clarify: "Although I am fighting against the Imposters and Chaos just like you, we are not of the same origin. I was not inspired by Remedios; the one who guides my path is another being."

Hearing that Zhao Xin's words did not contain any specific reverence for Remidios, the clergy understood that what he said was true.

"Haha, it's alright!" the clergy who had fought alongside Zhao Xin would often laugh heartily. "Even if you don't join the order, we still consider you a respectable fellow traveler!"

Their respect was heartfelt. Because wherever Zhao Xin appeared, the Cleric Order had never lost a single comrade in the battle against the imposter.

Although no one said it outright, everyone knew in their hearts that Zhao Xin often chose to face the most troublesome and dangerous situations that were beyond their control.

Within the Order, there was only one person with such overwhelming power—the founder, Michel.

As more and more clergy members encountered Zhao Xin, rumors about this mysterious and powerful figure quietly began to circulate within the Order. Michelle, as the founder, was naturally not unaware of these rumors.

"Without divine guidance, yet he confronted chaos with his own body..."

A hint of inquiry flashed in the depths of Michelle's deep blue eyes.

From the descriptions of the returning clergy, he had already discerned the silent protection that his companion, Zhao Xin, had shown to the Order—allowing them to hone their skills in real combat while always ensuring they were not trapped in truly dire situations.

The fact that he could so precisely grasp the nuances, protecting others while clearing away chaos, convinced Michelle that Zhao Xin was essentially the same kind of person as herself.

They are all fighting against the darkness that is eroding the world in their own ways, and cherishing the remaining light and life.

"I hope this 'fellow traveler' will be willing to meet me."

As the main force of the clergy, Michel has always been active on the front line in the fight against chaos.

However, to his regret, despite traveling through countless lands shrouded in shadow, he never actually met the "legend" that was passed down among the clergy.

Not even once.

These subtle near misses sometimes made Michelle wonder: Was it just a coincidence, a matter of fate that their threads never intersected? Or was the other person intentionally avoiding her?

The thought only flashed through her mind, but it made Michelle want to see that person even more.

He wanted to see for himself whether that person was indeed walking a similar path of "protection" as he was.