"Have to say, such awe-inspiring talent . "
Rising from his seat, Igor studied the warrior with his real eyes . The pope was not in the best of health, that much was clear as he stood up . However, anyone could clearly sense a tremendous power lying within the thin and frail body, as grand and majestic as the forces of nature .
"I know that there are existences that possess heaven-gifted abilities," he said, his tone grave and gruff . "Since their birth, they have displayed all sorts of natural talents—such as elemental control, communication with beasts or the ability to see the flow of energy in all things . "
Igor spread his left fingers and looked down carefully at the holy light that whirls at his palm . "Such beings include me, Emperor Israel and Vahina, Sage of the Eastern Sea . As the saying goes—give 'The Chosen' a chance and their ability would grow by leaps and bounds . "
The old man's tone soon became doubtful and curious .
"Joshua, I've heard about your past," he said, leveling his golden gaze to the warrior's crimson . "In the past twenty years, you've stayed largely anonymous, living like a typical heir of nobles . Even in the army, you've relied on family connections to get a plain position without making any eye-catching achievements .
"Thus your first twenty years ended like a grain of sand in the beach . But two years after your father's passing, you rose like a meteor . Before this, I've said that was due to your sage inheritance, but now I think that was inaccurate . "
"Then, does Your Holiness believe that I'm a Chosen?"
Although Joshua knew that his body was as ordinary as any other that flowed with plain human blood, he did not feel weirded out by Igor's attitude . Anyone would be shocked to see the extent of his improvement . Most of them would believe that he was naturally gifted, but those who knew more would naturally find all sorts of reasons and excuses for him .
Be it 'Sage's Legacy' or 'Chosen', all are reasons and excuses . In the end, Joshua did not have to say a thing and there would be those who would write a detailed explanation . The people of this world never were the suspicious kind—they were more used to connect anything special with things they were familiar with as well as their knowledge scope .
But what does that have to do with divinity?
"That's right . " Igor did not hold back on his hypothesis . "I believe that you have awakened your innate talent as a Chosen after the passing of the last Moldavian count . Hidden powers awakened by intense emotions were not rare throughout history—but more importantly, you should know what your innate gifts are . "
The elder nodded, as if assuring himself of the validity of his own speculation . "Now, it looks like it could be 'plunder' . You will attain what you defeat, which in turn accelerates your improvement—it's a common trait in powerful demons of the Abyss . "
After hearing the last part, Joshua's expression twitched . He was not thinking about the pope's guesses, but was remembering that voice he heard in the Bloodmoon Abyss .
It was the moment he triumphed against Mandagar that a majestic, mysterious and androgynous voice echoed in his mind . It wanted Joshua to stay there, and become its liege .
That probably was what was known as the 'Will of the Abyss' . Like the Steel Python Joshua encountered at Karlis and Illgner, the incarnation of a world's mind .
Its purposeful invitation was undoubtedly an acknowledgment of the warrior's depth—and along with Igor's reasoning, he could not help start suspecting he had such an aspect . After all, his power of the Glorious Light collects the soul shards of the defeated to increase its own power . To describe it as plunder was perfectly apt .
Noticing his change in expression, Igor shook his head and smile . "Don't worry, Joshua . Even if it is an Abyssal demon trait, it isn't rare for humans to possess it . To grab power from the loser, after all, is a common thing . "
"According to the texts, during the ancient era where the first sages discovered aura along with breathing skills, that sort of skill has already been observed . It was exactly because they could rob daemons off their lifeforce and mana that they could put in a cornerstone for the human forces . "
The old pope returned to his seat and shook his head lightly after a brief silence .
"To be frank, Joshua, however fast your power improves it would only make me happier . As an agent of Order and the heir of the Sages, you would only have my sincerest blessings even if you turn Legendary now . "
"Still…" Igor sighed, his gaze towards Joshua welling with golden sacred light . "Combat, slaughter, destruction… Such divinity just isn't too benevolent . Still, you giving it form meant that it is the best suit for you . Along with the gift of plunder, perhaps that is the reason your impressive rise in ability . "
"Quite . "
Apart from that 'rise in ability' part, the old pope was spot on . Even Joshua nodded agreeably—he does feel that this divinity was too out of bounds . Combat is still alright since it fits the warrior's nature, but slaughter and destruction were simply too malevolent .
He did not enjoy both though…
Suddenly, he stopped and narrowed his eyes . He was remembering how he lay waste to the millions of daemons and Chaos existences, demolishing the landscape and entire buildings without realizing it .
Come to think of it, it was not that weird to develop such divinity .
"You've already experienced that pure and infinite power divinity boasts . "
The pope's ancient and clear voice echoed in the hall, a ray of golden sunshine reflecting off his face as he sat on his white chair . Igor was not looking at Joshua anymore, and looked up towards the ceiling of the Great Altar painted with celestial bodies and the sky . Streaming Holy Light ripples made them appear alive, with an indistinct holy chorus .
"I could see clearly that your divine power came from anger . The stately strength that comes from one of the bases of our world allowed to kill a crystal dragon despite the mismatch . " Igor's gaze was tranquil . "That is why you would definitely understand the splendor of the power and its constraints .
"Exactly," Joshua replied lowly . Now, he finally understood the reason he was summoned to the Great Altar at the summit of Sacred Mountain . "That monumental power was over the top . It was like a great river that does not stop crashing around, or a tidal wave that consumes everything . You would be sucked in even by touching it lightly, turning into nothing but a little splash . "
"If I didn't free myself from that strength I would have been torn apart by it to the very depths of my soul . "
"That's exactly how it is . " Igor nodded seriously, his tone decisive . "'Divinity' is the simplest concept in this world, and only the simplest fellows could earn it by fate and chance . And it would be hard to manipulate because of that, and would annihilate the user in one split second of carelessness . "
Suddenly, the pope laughed . "Joshua, you're a man who loves to fight . There would be more combats against the Chaos where you tear down your enemies . When the time comes and they are too powerful, you won't hesitate to unleash your divine powers . "
The wrinkled old man shook his head while flashing a bitter smile . "If that's the case, you would destroy everything including yourself . "
"Allow me to say something a little selfish . As long as the Sage's Legacy is incomplete, I won't let you die for some foolish reason . It's a lucky coincidence that the Church still stores some information regarding divinity, and it does explain the experience and methods of handling it . "
"And now, I shall instruct you in those ways . "
Chapter end
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