Shepherding Humanity

Chapter 108: The birth of the Church of Light.

Meanwhile…

Akina’s Speedster was hiding in a corner with a few other surviving players. The small animal watched this scene and commented: “Who’s this? This PKer is so lewd. Doesn’t this this shape look just like a *****? Yea, and it’s constantly ‘creating’ offspring too. So big.”

“Stop messing around, dude. This is clearly a colossal gravestone. Although its shape is a bit… Yea…”

At this time, they were discovered.

“It’s the Blind Idiot God, Azathoth!” The witches were on guard.

*Boom!*

Countless witches converged on them.

“Run, guys! Strategic retreat!”

Akina’s Speedster cried out in panic.

He took control of his muscles, gathered his bizarre organs, and gave the witches the middle finger while making a funny pose. As he ran away, he even turned his head back and shouted out between gasps: “How many times do I have to tell you pretty ladies that you're pronouncing my name wrong!”

After some struggle, Akina’s Speedster’s group reached the secret base that players used as a hideout, located in the headquarters of an underground religious movement.

In the past few years, this religious movement has spread to various towns and villages. They worshiped the “Goddess of Wisdom Mercury”, and placed in the center of their chapels beautiful statues of the goddess, with torch in hand.

In this turbulent age of demonic beasts, everyone lived in fear.

The Church of Light had been born in order to assuage people’s doubts and inspire them to make a stand against the evil witches.

Akina’s Speedster sneaked in through the backdoor while muttering: “What an *asshole! Not only did he create a church in secret, he also genderbended the God of Wisdom, and gave ‘her’ such beautiful curves! That figure is so alluring… But, I like it! This is our revenge for the beating we received from the God of Wisdom, Mercury, back then! Besides, it’s not like anyone has ever met him in person, and he’s considered a deity without form and gender.”

The concept of a “Church” has never existed in the Magic World before.

There has only ever been “Sects” and “Academies”, which were gatherings of witches.

On the other hand, the members of the Church of Light were all-inclusive, with poor citizens, craftsmen, merchants, and mages alike among their faithful. Priests of the Church would open soup kitchens for the needy and treat their diseases for free with healing magic, gaining them a very good reputation among the common folk.

At this moment, Saintess Linda was preaching in the Cathedral of Light.

She held in her hand the Book of Holy Light, which was said to hold the teachings of God. Great power and endless wisdom was hidden within the white-covered tome.

“Oh faithfuls! Believe in the Lord, for He will save this sinful world! Our Lord will vanquish the Evil Gods, and put an end to the demonic beasts! Let us pray together, so that our voices will reach God!”

The Saintess’ clear voice resonated throughout the entire cathedral.

“With the descent of the Evil God, our realm has been turned into a giant chopping block, and our people, meat waiting to be slaughtered! What we must do is refine our Magic in the fires of this calamity, and reach Ascension!”

Her flock stirred with passion.

These words were filled with so much courage and ambition! They had been full of hateful complaints, fearfully railing against this cataclysmic era, but now that they thought about it, with great danger always came great opportunity.

With pressure came the chance to breakthrough!

In the Tribal Era when Magic did not exist, their honored ancestors had only created Mages when pressured by the ever looming threat of giant beasts.

The crowd fervently roared as one, united in their faith:

“We will expel the Evil Gods!”

“We will expel the Evil Gods!”josei

F*ck!

“Look at this sonova b*tch, he’s living such a good life while we’re all suffering!”

Akina’s Speedster’s group dumbfoundedly watched the proceedings while hidden in the shadows, their minds struggling in vain to process the scene. “How would they react if they knew that their ‘Holy Book’ is also one of the Evil Gods who’s responsible for this calamity? Look at this thief brazenly pointing fingers at others!”

“Cerebral Buff has been corrupted! He’s become utterly shameless! He’s learned from being tricked by those pricks online back then and has completely changed himself! He went from a book that could only utter dirty pickup lines to a holy bible selling chicken soup for the soul! Look at him preaching! Is he a fan of Dr. Phil or something? He’s even managed to gather a bunch of zealous followers!”

They were utterly speechless.

After the sermon, it was now time for consultation. A witch stood up and fearfully confessed: “Great Saintess, I cannot help but be afraid each time I face off against a demonic beast, what should I do? I don’t want to become its food!”

On the Pedestal of Light, The Saintess flipped through the Holy Book, reciting the words that slowly appeared on its pages: “Fear is the worst way to deal with things. You must overcome your own heart.”

Saintess Linda stepped down from the pedestal and approached the witch. She took out an egg and commanded: “Break it!”

The witch did not understand, but obeyed all the same. “Saintess, did you mean to say that with destruction comes rebirth?”

Linda shook her head. “Look at this large round egg. If it is broken from the outside, then it’s nothing but food. But if it’s broken from the inside, then it would give birth to new life.”

“If you can break through your fear from within, then you would be born anew!”

With this, the witch had a revelation. She was in awe of the profound wisdom contained within these words. As expected of the sacred tome that could communicate with the Gods!

Next, a girl from a poor family stood up: “Great Saintess, when demonic beasts attacked our town half a month ago, my boyfriend abandoned me and fled. Later, he knelt down and begged for my forgiveness, and I feel a little sorry for him. Should I forgive him?”

The Saintess turned the pages and quietly read the words that appeared. She raised her voice: “Do not bow, or your crown will fall. Do not weep, or men will laugh.”

The girl’s entire body shook. She understood.

The congregation had never heard such deep words before, and their faith only grew.

After helping the believers assuage their doubts, Linda silently descended the steps and whispered: “Why is an Evil God like you siding with us against his kinsmen?”

Cerebral Bluff was no longer the chump who had been scammed by the nutcases on the net into memorizing those ‘kind and compassionate’ 13 common greetings. He had since reflected, and taken the time to memorize 130 phrases which were chicken soup for the soul.

He answered in a voice filled with affection and sincerity: “I did not have a choice in the past, but now, I want to be a good person!”

“He’s completely changed.”

Just like her faithful had been, Linda was moved to tears.

I shouldn’t have blamed him back then.