CHAPTER 496: CHAPTER 427: WHAT ON EARTH HAS BEWITCHED YOU?! (TWO IN ONE)_2

Within the palace, braziers for light and warmth stood all around, with priests positioned before them, and across the braziers others stood.

"At first,

the heavens and earth parted in darkness,

and then,

God descended into an era when nothing in the world yet had a name."

As the High Priest’s sonorous and devout voice resonated, the other priests chanted loudly in unison, gazing reverently at the solemn stele, filled with immense awe.

The High Priest ignited the papyrus of the Pattern Garden, its crackling sound echoing through the palace, while some struck the palace’s great bell above, lending gravity to the sacrament.

"God said,"

"You were not born to be beasts."

"The King asked,"

"If not beasts, what then shall we be?"

Leading the chant, the priests proclaimed with deep devotion:

"God said,"

"Be yourselves,

and establish your own Kingdom!"

These were words from the Holy Scriptures, their sincere voices united, resonant and solemn, and King Nimirda bowed his head, slowly reciting his personal prayer.

"I, Nimirda, am King of our Kingdom, Logos."

"Lord, I am aware of the trials you have honed me with, and now I beseech you for salvation."

As these words fell,

Boom!

Outside the palace, suddenly, the sound of footsteps like thunderclaps roared, as if hundreds of legs clad in heavy armor marched on the ground, the flooring beneath beginning to tremble slightly.

King Nimirda could not help but raise his head, while the priests on either side were clueless.

Outside the palace, where a grand sacrament had been held, a tumultuous noise arose, and the clashing of swords sounded like a chaotic tumble of pots and pans, while desperate cries of alarm shredded the sacred atmosphere; the fear of death transmitted instantly through the palace, as a priest rushed to the entrance, only to be met with countless flashes of cold metal.

The chaotic sounds battered the entire palace, and the priests witnessed scenes of terror unprecedented since the foundation of the Kingdom.

Hundreds from the expeditionary force surged toward the palace, and war cries filled the square as civilians scattered in panic, casting fearful glances back amidst the clamoring mayhem, the majestic palace now seeming to totter on the brink of becoming ruins.

"Rebellion!"

"Rebellion! The expedition has rebelled!"

The priests recognized the expedition’s banners and cried out miserably; in an instant, the whole palace went into an uproar. Under the threat of death, they fled in disarray, with objects knocked over everywhere; in the commotion, braziers were kicked over, and unnoticed flames began to spread.

Listening to the thundering cries of battle, watching the priests scramble, King Nimirda’s face turned ashen. He stood motionless, as if disbelieving what he saw.

"Nimirda, depart, leave this place.

Carry the consequences of your faults, as shall I."

The parting words of his father echoed once more in his mind, like a patient Hunter dealing a sudden, ghastly arrow, striking lethally.

The scene before him was like a prophecy long foretold, all already inscribed in God’s volumes.

"Is this the salvation I begged for?"

muttered King Nimirda, dazed.

With cries of slaughter drawing nearer, the palace boiled in chaos, flames burning in hidden corners, like a startled serpent baring its fangs in fear... Such extraordinary sights, as if the prayers just recited from his lips were now being fulfilled by God himself.

"Rebellion!"

"It’s Prince Rowley! He has rebelled!"

"Swear to defend the palace, swear to defend the Holy King!"

The ceremonial guards did their utmost to hold back the advancing expeditionary force, but they were merely for show and stood little chance against an organized and premeditated attack, securing hardly any time.

"The King! Run!"

"They won’t hold much longer!"

A few priests who hadn’t fled urged the King to leave, knowing that if the King escaped the palace, the rebellion would soon be quelled.

King Nimirda did not follow those priests’ advice to flee; instead, he slowly stood, a wry smile on his face, picked up his crown, and approached his throne.

"If you wish to go, then go!"

"If all this is God’s design, then struggle is futile."

"I am willing to accept it all."

King Nimirda returned to his throne, seated with dignity aloft; he was indeed a King of Logos.

......

Not long after, the priests had all fled.

The expedition teams had no intention of harming the priests who served God, so they did not try to stop them from escaping. They even deliberately cleared the way or shooed them, and even the honor guard’s soldiers tried to capture them.

Prince Rowley took brisk steps up the long stairway of the Palace, bursting into the great hall like a blaze.

Following him was an old-looking merman.

No one paid attention to the burning flames, and as the black smoke billowed, only Nimirda remained, seated high upon the throne.

A venomous snake on the armrest of the throne raised itself up, watching Prince Rowley with utmost vigilance.

The soldiers who participated in the rebellion stood outside the main door, not taking a step further without orders, leaving only three people inside the Palace.

Prince Rowley lifted his head; he saw his father on the throne, his hands shaking violently.

The father he revered, the Holy King Logos, was now sitting on the throne, waiting for his arrival.

"Father King,"

Prince Rowley said with a trembling voice,

"You’ve let your guard down with me..."

There was not a hint of hatred in the prince’s voice, but more so the fear of a child who defied his parents; he had stormed the Palace for only one answer, naively believing that he and his father were not locked in a fight to the death.

King Nimirda gazed at Prince Rowley and the merman Po Han, and in a moment, he seemed to understand something.

After a while, the King spoke slowly,

"So it is, your mother was right...

You are truly weak, easily swayed by others."

The words fell from the throne, and the venomous snake raised its head, looking down upon Rowley and Po Han.

"No, that was my choice!"

Prince Rowley immediately retorted.

"You just believe that it was your choice."

King Nimirda’s authoritative gaze pierced through his spirit, striking at the deep recesses of his eldest son’s heart.

Prince Rowley shuddered; he felt as if his blood had stopped flowing.

It seemed as if it was his father who was besieging the Palace, not him.

At the crucial moment, it was Po Han who steadied him by the shoulder and said,

"Look him in the eye, look your father in the eye, Rowley!

We have no way back now. Haven’t we always wanted an answer?"

Finally, Prince Rowley regained his composure and looked directly at his father again.

King Nimirda sneered, stroking the venomous snake on the armrest before turning to Po Han,

"I probably should have executed you long ago.

But I did not... God’s plan is indeed mysterious..."

Po Han didn’t entangle with the Holy King; he knew he was an Observer, his role was merely to witness the unfolding story and record it.

He remained silent, refusing to meet King Nimirda’s gaze.

"So, what exactly do you want by coming here?"

King Nimirda surveyed the two, with black smoke swirling behind the throne.

"Answers... we want answers!"

Rowley stated passionately,

"Why has the utopia we sought never arrived?!

My land remains barren, our people still toil...

After so much hardship, why has God not granted us abundance?!

My father King, the Holy King Logos, what bewitchment has led you astray from the path of God, and yet you have not fulfilled the mission bestowed by God!"

The questioning voice echoed in the burning Palace, embodying not only his own, but the concealed questions of nearly all the Exiles hidden beneath devout prayers.

We came for a better world.

For this, we have endured trials, hosted death as a guest, and borne the barren land while remaining devout in our prayers.

Our King must have been bewitched.

That is why God did not grant us the promised abundance, why our land has not become the utopia.