Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1201: The Grand Display

The following day, the most awaited sunrise shone brightly over the Abyss Empire. Though it wasn’t a real sun, the warmth felt by everyone at early dawn was just as real as the one from the two suns in Vantrea.

An enormously expansive city, at the heart of the Abyss Empire, came into light. This city, with the highest population, most advanced technology that adhered to their culture and tradition; along with the diverse races and species of people from different classes and occupations within the cohesive society, gave off an aura of anticipation as well as unity.

Naraka was the name of the capital of the Abyss Empire. And today, it was at the peak of its grandiose.

Streets were filled with citizens gathering, street vendors were selling goods for worshipping the God of Darkness, while the Law Enforcement clad in Blue and White uniforms, mostly armored, managed the crowd and maintained order.

And all of them, regardless of their race, gender, and species... headed towards the temples and monasteries closest to them, where the arrival of the man in question would be celebrated most divinely.

On the eastern end of Naraka, the main headquarters of the Cult of Darkborne was brimming with citizens, devotees, and warriors who served and worshipped the God of Darkness.

Thud!

Thud!

Giant steps were taken on the wide roads leading to the massive headquarters of the cult that spanned 15 kilometers by its own. In particular, the center itself had a 3-kilometer circular altar used as a ceremonial ground just for occasions like this.

And dozens of gigantic spectral beings, that looked like translucent ghosts in white robes, each of them at least 20 meters tall, skinny titan as per their appearance, carried massive palaquins together.

Each of these palaquins held an important relic of the cult that had been preserved since the founding of the Abyss Empire over 10 thousand years ago.

And these divine relics had similar runes and insignias as the ones used by Argos, etched onto them.

As for the aura they emitted... it was both nerve-wrecking about also contained an immeasurable force of nature that couldn’t be described by normal understanding.

And following these titanic figures... was an Army.

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Thousands of warriors, belonging to different classes, professions, wearing different colors of armors, bearing weapons of at least a Rare Rank while brandishing the symbol of their legion with pride... marched in an orderly parade.

Their stampede shook the ground, and the entire headquarters spanning the 15 kilometers felt the vibrations of their unified steps as these warriors, mostly wearing helmets of their respective legions, each one unique in design and carrying the insignia of their own Chapter engraved at the center of their chest.

Thud!

Thud!

At the very front, every Chapter had its Chapter Master leading them with pride while adorning their massive armors and unique weapons. And behind them were the remainder of the thousand templars.

Every Chapter Master was the best warrior of the Chapter, who had not only led their legion for centuries, but rose in ranks from the lowest initiate to their greatest warrior by serving the God of Darkness and fighting for his cause.

And every single Chapter Master was a bona fide Saint Rank warrior. Even the weakest among them was a 3rd stage saint. Yet no one would dare to look down upon a single one of them because they were simply... unrivaled.

Friendly reminder... There were 40 of these Chapter Masters.

The previously worn-out armors, now polished to the brim for this occasion, shone with luster despite surviving countless battles over the centuries.

Each armor, or the surviving part, was always passed down to a new successor after the previous bearer died in battle or could no longer serve in the field.

Every armor worn by the thousands of Doom Templars had its own legacy; chanting the tale of sacrifice and eternal service.

However, some figures even towered over the 15-foot-tall Chapter Masters.

These were called War Champions. There were 20 of these giant humanoid war machines that stood 10 meters tall and had a crew of 3 trained templars each in every Chapter.

These were armed with magic missiles, turrets, artifacts that created mana shields, and even deployed magic formations within a certain distance.

Even 10 Doom Templars would have a low success rate in taking down just 1 War Champion despite their extensive training and experience of decades.

These War Champions were never revealed to the public eye since they were one of the cult’s most powerful field weapons and generally were deployed only when even the templars couldn’t handle the situation during times of war.

Yet, every legion brought out all of their War Champions just for today’s event. To show their full might and reinforce the morale of the cult followers. Knowing that these death machines fought and protected them when all hope was lost... only deepened the fervor and devotion in the eyes of the followers of the Cult of Darkborne.

”Indominati Sevuska El Doomanius Melvikas!” a whispering chant echoed.

”Gravius Nusaka Du Sanctumus Traviona!” another loud chant resonated in the surroundings.

Because behind the 40 thousand Doom Templars... was the Clergy of Psychics.

These were a special group of devotees with supernatural powers. These clergymen, wearing brown and blue robes with the insignia of the cult, were not warriors who invoked a class.

These were people born with natural powers such as the ability to seal, cleanse, create shields, and even glimpse in realms beyond the naked eye while using the divine power granted by the God of Darkness.

The Clergy of Psychics only had 3 thousand members, but their importance was akin to a thousand lives per person.

But unlike the Doom Templars... their arrival was very distinct.

Because all the Clergymen were tied to wooden crosses with the Skull placed on the top, their bodies chained, but even so, they all were clasping their hands and chanting the doctrine of the Cult of Darkborne.

The chants were not just the doctrine but also prayers conveyed by the psychics. And not a single person found their state pitiful; rather, many revered them due to their ability to serve the God of Darkness in ways not even the Doom Templars could.

And lastly, a massive vehicle carrying the most important members of the Cult of Darkborne arrived.

Surrounded by 20 Semi-Saint rank guards, a group of hooded devotees stood proudly, holding censers (incense burners) in their hands as they too chanted vehemently.

This group was called the Divine Cadre of the Darkborne.

And at the front of that group was a black winged succubus wearing dark red clothes, and a belt made of skulls around her waist.

This was the most important person who would conduct the rituals that would embark on the new future of the Abyss Empire.

Morrigan Morningstar, the High Priestess of the Cult of Darkborne.