Chapter 111 – War of Sacrifices

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Every star burns itself to shine.

If it gave up shining out of fear of the burning pain, people would point to that star and say this.

That it had lost its light and died.

Whether it was twinkling was the only way those who clung to the ground and lived could know of a star’s death.

So the stars gladly burned themselves to let it be known they were alive, to illuminate the world even a little more.

While revealing all sorts of vanity and arrogance toward all creation in the world.

But what was the result?

The moment the Sun God turned its back on the world, the true nature of the stars fixed in the heavens and showing off was also exposed one by one.

The stars who abandoned those who believed in them and refused to sacrifice became meteors and fled from the heavens.

-Leaving behind only the Celestial Church, who tried to change the Sun God’s mind to the very end.

The god made of smooth, curved silver figures, Serving Moon, did not forget the myriad of emotions it felt then.

Even now, it dared not fathom the shock it felt when it learned the Sun God had turned its back on the world.

And the foolishness of the gods who, far from persuading the Sun God, lunged at it while looking down on it, was also unexpected.

However, even in the moment the situation worsened, it didn’t think the gods would all flee the heavens.

When left alone in the heavens, what Serving Moon resented was not the Sun God, but the gods who had fled.

The price for trying to block the dark radiance crushing the world was more terrible than death.

After falling to the earth, Serving Moon wailed as it watched the starlight hurriedly hiding.

[Why do you think a star that has fallen to the earth can continue to shine.]

It was natural for the stars to be obscured by the sunlight.

At least the Celestial Church thought so.

Though those other arrogant gods seem to have denied this obvious fact and exalted themselves.

[Where in the world is there a star that falls from the sky for fear of being obscured by sunlight!]

Serving Moon’s silver light held no meaning whatsoever.

The lonely struggle to salvage the world from the shadows ended in an instant.

The Celestial Church, kneeling and begging for forgiveness, was half-destroyed by the Sun God they had served.

Every time the Sun God’s indifferent hand gesture was swung, angels more devoted than anyone else died.

Souls far more noble and honorable than the gods who fled were dying in terrible pain as the price for not fleeing.

=O Sun, appease your wrath. I petition you with this life!=

=Brothers and sisters, fear not. If we can soothe the Sun’s wrath, it will be more valuable than any devotion.=

=Why is the light this sorrowful. Why is it this…=

Amidst the pitiful screams rushing in from all directions and the swarming despair, Serving Moon agonized.

It didn’t take long for that agony to lead to a question.

Is this truly fair?

This sight where the strongest ones fled early on, and only those who cherished the world remained, begging while sacrificing their lives?

From that moment, Serving Moon’s silver light began to deteriorate.

The silver light changed not into a light to illuminate the world, but a light that blinds the eyes.

Only then did the gaze of the Sun God, who had been waving its hand at the angels as if shooing away bugs, shift.

The Absolute who turned its back on the world was approaching Serving Moon.

Before long, Serving Moon faced the golden armor and the violent radiance leaking from its seams.

[Serving Moon, my pitiful loyal servant. Do not cling to vain endeavors. In this world, there is not a single person who will receive my forgiveness.]

The violence and cruelty emitted by the Sun God makes those facing it cower.

Thus inducing them to misunderstand the Sun God’s disposition and origin.

However, even this is a deceit. The Sun God is not a simple, ignorant combatant as commonly misunderstood.

Even if the whole world didn’t know, Serving Moon at least knew that fact well.

[Nevertheless, because the loyalty you have shown pleases me, I will grant a reprieve. A reprieve that only those who have served me shall receive.]

There was no room for choice.

Serving Moon was a divine name harboring the mission to serve the Absolute.

Of course, even if it weren’t for commandments or fate, it would have gladly bowed its head and kissed its feet.

Serving Moon could not dare resent the Sun God even if it turned its back on all creation in the world.

[Please command me.]

[The last aphorism written in the scriptures, the prophecy about the last god who will complete the world, will soon come to pass.]

Serving Moon, while prostrated, only lifted its head slightly.

The Sun God’s feather mantle was dyed stark yellow.

As the only god who knew all the dark memories and the origin of the Sun God, Serving Moon couldn’t help but shudder.

The feather mantle dyed yellow is an auspicious omen that appears when using the power of the Precursor God.

However, from a certain point on, the Sun God did not use the power of the Precursor God.

It was easy to guess the reason.

It didn’t take long for Serving Moon to infer the circumstances.

[Even with the power of the Precursor God, could you not see what happens after being entangled with the last god?]

[The completed world cannot be violated by the incomplete past. All I could see was the back of a man wearing a tattered robe.]

The feather mantle of the Sun God, having finished its foresight, returns to its original color.

The Sun God stroked the brilliantly colored feathers and kept silent for a long time.

Long enough for Serving Moon to ponder whether or not to speak first.

It was then that the Sun God finished sorting things out.

[Whatever the divine name of the last god becomes, it must be a name I have never possessed.]

The future seen through foresight, the man in the tattered robe was not a divine name the Sun God had ever possessed.

If it were, the Sun God would have noticed it first.

The only clue indicating the last god was a name it didn’t possess even though it created indiscriminately and scattered indiscriminately.

If it dealt with him with a complacent mindset, it might end up being countered.

The Sun God, ruminating on the fight with its sibling stars, looked down at its pitiful loyal servant.

Toward the god who had gone mad chasing a slight possibility that the world could be saved instead of facing reality.

[I will usurp that name and complete the world. All creation in the world received my grace, so I shall take it away once more.]

[As you will, may it be done as you will.]

How cruel hope is.

The Sun God, agonizing over a salvation that would not be fulfilled, looked at the god who still couldn’t give up.

Serving Moon believed that if it showed absolute loyalty, the Sun God would look favorably upon the world again.

However, it was a vain expectation the Sun God had never promised.

And the Sun God knew well how to use this vain hope.

[I have prepared sufficient tricks aimed at the last god. All that is left now is the absolute obedience of Serving Moon, my loyal servant.]

[O Noble Sun God, what must I do?]

At those words, the Sun God spoke of a sinister plot with insidious eyes.

[Hiding. I need your help to make it difficult for the enemies to gauge my strength.]

***

Orrak Plains.

Blood was spilling on this vast plain located on the way to Salutaris.

Where red blood spilled, those murdered by the Celestial Church angels tumbled about.

Conversely, where scarlet radiance spilled, murdered angels were plummeting to the ground.

The survivors, shivering at the completely unexpected sight, were busy running away.

“Th-the angels are fighting amongst themselves?”

“Hide for now! Something, something went wrong!”

What was unfolding above their heads was war.

The angels with scarlet halos and the angels with stark blue halos fought against each other, aiming spears and swords at each other.

However, as the fight continued, it became clear who had the advantage.

Against the stark blue halos, the Nebula Church, the Celestial Church was far too weak.

It wasn’t just the strength the angels possessed.

There was a difference starting from the competence as a god commanding the angels.

“Anniel, I’ll leave the rest of this side to you!”

“Yep! Pabiel, Hatiel! Pop out!”

“Gah! It’s divine characters!”

“Y-Young Father! Protect us!”

The Celestial Church couldn’t even kill the angels of the Cycle Church, who were evaluated as the weakest among angels.

The cause of the poor battle wasn’t something like a lack of fighting spirit.

There was a battle in an unseen place, one that trivial creatures couldn’t feel.

The reason the Nebula Church was crushing the Celestial Church was because of the difference in blessings and divine protection.

Star Creation settled in the crater, and Serving Moon remaining in Salutaris.

The two gods were fighting a proxy war by working their subordinates instead of directly exchanging blows.

And Serving Moon marveled at the strength Star Creation possessed and shouted.

[It is indeed the Sun God. Behold, for there is a proper reason for everything the Sun God schemed. All the things plotted for the God Who Makes Stars!]

The memory of that day when the meteor shower fell fundamentally changed Serving Moon.

The originally strong loyalty had long since escalated into irrational fanaticism.

Under a roof painted with celestial maps, Serving Moon paced the temple dedicated to the Sun God and wailed.

[Then there must be a proper reason for the world’s destruction as well! I shall gladly accept it, my Sun! My Master!]

The face without features undulated indiscriminately.

Then, ominous silver light scattered in all directions and filled the inside of the temple.

However, the moment its excitement reached a certain level, Serving Moon stopped its frenzy and began to sink into calmness.

[…Is all that’s left for Cooling Breath to die on time.]

The arrangements and plans left by the Sun God were almost complete.

The moment Cooling Breath died, the last god would receive an unexpected surprise attack.

Because it knew what was needed for that, it had no choice but to stop its excitement.

What moved Serving Moon now was resignation and despair, not hope.

Before it knew it, Serving Moon was looking around the temple and shouting once more.

[If there truly is no hope for the world to be saved, if it is our fate to ultimately be abandoned by the Creator!]

The god who lost commandments and faith completely entrusted itself to madness.

[I suppose I must return even a speck of the grace the Sun bestowed! Hahahahahaha!!!]

Silver light is an auspicious omen for manifesting a miracle.

As if the opponent had no intention of leaving it alone, he emitted his characteristic bizarre blue light to counter the silver light.

The silver light of the mad god scatters and disturbs the world.

The stars in the flesh of the young god began to orbit.

A clash between god and god.

Serving Moon faced the young god made of stars and the cosmos beyond the vision looking down on the Orrak Plains.

Star Creation, befitting a god stemming from humans, was enraged seeing humans being helplessly massacred.

[You.]

Of course, there was no reason for Serving Moon to listen to that complaint.

Serving Moon shouted toward the Celestial Church scattered across the world.

[Celestial Church, it is time to punish the heretical light!]

It could catch and kill the ones who fled as much as it wanted.

Serving Moon made a swift decision based on this judgment.

-Unique Miracle, Scattered World

Serving Moon was the god who led the Inquisition as a vehement follower of the Sun God.

There was a reason it was chosen as the second-in-command of the Celestial Church.

Only then did Serving Moon look at Star Creation and burst into laughter.

[If you gnawed on the remains of the losers, you must know what my miracle is.]

Scattered World is a miracle that creates a two-way portal.

Using this miracle, Serving Moon fled when at a disadvantage, and gathered its subordinates in an instant when at an advantage.

A simple and cowardly-looking, but equally certain strength.

[As long as I am here, there is no army anywhere that surpasses the mobility of the Celestial Church. No matter how strong your angels are, they will not be able to protect all the sacrifices.]

It might be natural in a way for Serving Moon to be confident.

However, because Serving Moon was busy revering only the Sun God, it failed to look closely at its adversary.

[To think you’re conceited while only working angels.]

The price was clear.

The moment Star Creation’s arm made of stars moved, Serving Moon doubted its eyes.

Flap flap, flap flap…

The sound of flapping wings was creating a new wind.

Of course the four-legged beasts running fiercely beneath it, down to the bugs clinging to their bodies.

They were the myriad animals that went extinct, unable to endure the harsher environment.

Every time Star Creation reached out his hand and moved, a new life was sculpted.

Sometimes splitting and growing into bizarre and comical appearances, sometimes into efficient and violent appearances.

An army.

A massive army, enough to completely fill and cover the entire plain, was advancing.

An overwhelming difference in quantities that made the mad god feel despondent for a moment.

With this amount of numbers, even an angel would find it hard to confidently secure victory.

[This is. How.]

Even if he usurped the Elysium of Growing Life, he’s a young god.

It was safe to say there was no such thing as a god properly using the authority of another god, but that common sense was being broken.

Moreover, he didn’t show a single sign of fatigue.

Star Creation was still swinging his hand and sculpting myriad lives.

[You said you need sacrifices to offer to the Sun God?]

The miracles Star Creation showed overwhelmed everyone.

Seeing the animal army running from afar, the people knelt down without anyone saying a word.

Instead of comforting them, Star Creation sent fierce hostility toward the Celestial Church.

[Then I shall receive you bastards as sacrifices.]

While declaring a war where each side tries to offer the other as sacrifices.