The divine power differed from other forces based on the natural energy called mana.
Warriors absorbed mana, purifying it into aura within their bodies, while dark mages tainted it with corrupt intentions, transforming it into dark magic.
Vampire blood magic, on the other hand, involved distorting the mana and life force in blood through the act of bloodsucking.
However, divine power was a force received entirely from the divine.
Once accepted, one could no longer manipulate other magical energies.
Hence, the baptismal procedure was rigorous, requiring complex conditions.
It involved swearing to follow the deity and creating a conduit to receive the power of the divine.
The process determined whether this conduit would be a thin straw or a thick conduit.
'It's all about faith.'
Heinrich continued to pray, feeling the overflowing divine power within him.
The reason I chose Heinrich's path for divine power was this.
Until now, "Mind Hub" had only been used to restrict emotions and stimuli, but I realized it could also be used in the opposite way.
After experimenting with various methods, I gained confidence in dedicating myself to the faith.
Through "Mind Hub" and the "Enlightenment Index," I emptied Heinrich's thoughts and created a blank slate.
Injecting only one emotion, 'faith,' into him, I amplified it with "Mind Hub."
'In other words, Heinrich now truly embodies the fanaticism of a devotee.'
I halted all other avatars and poured their resources into Heinrich, including the main body, Hans, Heinrich II, and the newly summonable avatar.
Using the baptismal ceremony, focusing the direction of faith towards the deity wasn't difficult.
Pouring all my mental energy, I solidified the conduit with the divine.
'The unique skill has evolved, expanding possibilities. The potential of avatars has increased, and the mental energy of each entity can be more efficiently shared.'
The growth of the "Avatar" skill during this process was an unexpected gain.
Thanks to it, I could concentrate more easily on my work.
"Incredible, to have this level of divine power from the first baptism."
"Who is he? A candidate for a holy warrior? Even if he claims to have been a monk for decades, I find it hard to believe."
"Um, that friend said he wanted to become a paladin, and it's been only a few months since he came in..."
The priests and those waiting for their baptisms began to murmur.
The high priest officiating Heinrich's baptism seemed bewildered but continued the ceremony without pausing.
'It's almost done.'
I exerted all my strength to draw in divine power and encapsulate it within the physical body.
If faith determines the thickness of the conduit, then the mental strength is what draws in divine power through it.
Neither can be lacking.
[Individual achieves conditions, unlocking the special skill 'Sacred Baptism.']
'Is this the limit for now...'
In theory, there was no limit to divine power, as it was a force received from a deity.
As long as there was enough mental strength, one could draw and use it endlessly.
However, even if the giver of the power was a deity, using it was done by a mere mortal.
Therefore, pushing beyond limits could burden the body and mind.
Using a power that didn't match one's abilities excessively could lead to illness or, in severe cases, death.
'Faith and mental strength are sufficient, but the body is not yet prepared to accept this level of divine power.'
Despite trying various tricks, encountering a new power was inevitable.
To accept a stronger divine power, the body needed time to adapt.
Gradually, Heinrich gathered the divine power and regained focus.
Naturally, the conduit of faith diminished, but with a determined mind, it could be restored at any time.
'Like a stretched rubber band, next time I should be able to use it more easily.'
"Your name is Heinrich, right?" With the help of nearby priests, as I stood up, the high priest who conducted the ceremony spoke to me.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Hmm, this is the first time for me in a situation like this, quite perplexing. Anyway, your faith is strong, so that's excellent. You could become a great priest. Keep striving in the future."
He smiled warmly, patting my shoulder along with a jest.
Though aspiring to be a paladin rather than a priest, there was no need to clarify.
I nodded in gratitude and moved to another spot.
The ceremony continued in the sanctuary, but occasionally, I felt glances brushing past me.
Ignoring the stares, I sat in a designated resting area, closed my eyes, and began meditating.
All these maneuvers were possible because the deity of Outerica wasn't a personification but a colossal concept or a system close to it.
Through Heinz II's introduction to the initial Outerica doctrine and Heinrich's entry into the doctrine to learn theology, and now through this baptismal ceremony, I was convinced.
'It's not like a being with various emotions, like gods in Greek and Roman mythology. At this point, it's closer to a giant concept or a system.'
A presence that naturally existed in the world, almost like a kind of natural law.
That was the deity of Outerica.
'No, it seems there is a will, but... that may not be a standard judged by human criteria.'
When Heinrich was connected to the Lord through baptism, he could sense the transcendent presence of that supernatural being.
It was a phenomenon I hadn't heard of during the pre-training, perhaps due to the abnormal method of receiving the baptism.
If I had to express the vague sensation I felt back then in human emotions...
Yes, it was 'interest.'
'It's fortunate that it wasn't considered sacrilegious...'
Though to the deity, it might have been a trivial matter and didn't intervene due to that, at this point, it was irrelevant. My attempt had already succeeded.
***
A few days after the ceremony ended.
The newly born novice paladins and apprentice priests, baptized and reborn, were undergoing training in their own ways.
Basic faith cultivation through prayer and doctrinal study was the foundation, and the priests focused on mental cultivation to enhance their mental strength.
"Just one more!"
"Ugh~!"
"More! More, more, more!"
"Ugh!"
The sounds of dying echoed throughout the training ground.
It was the groans of the novices training under the guidance of senior paladins.
"Heh, hup! Hoo!"
'I thought I worked out quite hard myself. But that was nothing. These humans are really...'
I muttered to myself as I moved dumbbells alternately in my hands.
Clang, clang
—chains connected to the dumbbells pressed down on my entire body in response.
Throughout the training ground, there were exercise machines that could easily rival modern ones.
The only difference was that they had a larger and more menacing appearance, and there was almost no safety.
These devices were solely designed to more efficiently torment the body.
Using them didn't just result in muscle tearing but gradually broke bones and tore ligaments.
'There's a limit to overloading the body. Where does this perverted idea come from?'
It was truly a training method that pushed beyond the limits of the physical body.
Of course, there were no issues with such overtraining.
"Aargh!"
From one side of the training ground, a scream erupted.
A novice paladin collapsed on the ground, convulsing.
His one arm clenched, tears and mucus streaming down his face, something seemed amiss in his training.
Typically, he should have been immediately transported to the infirmary, but the senior standing in front of him merely berated him.
"Your focus is disrupted! When training, you must never cease praying for even a moment! Now, use divine power again!"
"Ugh! O Lord—!"
With the prayer, a faint light enveloped the fallen trainee.
Gradually, the moans subsided.
After a while, he staggered to his feet.
"You're still far from sufficient! Keep praying while you train! Restore yourself before your body is completely destroyed! By repeating this, you can attain a high blessing!"
"Yes! I apologize!"
"Until your arm fully heals, focus on the lower body! Of course, don't stop praying!"
"Yes! Understood!"
It was an overtly unsophisticated scene.
However, surprisingly, this was a longstanding tradition passed down in the doctrine and an efficient training method.
Prayer aided in the operation of divine power.
For frontline paladins in combat, it was as crucial as preserving their lives.
Creating extreme situations intentionally and continuing prayers was part of the training to ensure the ability to operate divine power without hesitation in real situations.
'Moreover, repeated prayers in extreme situations solidify faith through self-suggestion, leading to strengthened divine power. Divine power training, physical conditioning, increased divine power due to heightened faith, and enhanced mental strength through hardships—all in one. It's an incredibly efficient method.'
And I, amidst this group of eccentrics, garnered considerable attention.
"Wow... Indeed, worthy of being the promising one of this cohort. Already handling this weight is impressive."
"Proficient in using divine power, and considering that, the recovery speed of the body is no joke. Already surpassing most seasoned paladins."
Senior paladins gathered on one side, critiquing me.
From the start, thanks to the training I had undergone so far, along with "Martial Prowess" and "Rapid Recovery," I easily kept up with their guidance.
Add to that the stat enhancement effects from the Karma Shop.
As I became more familiar with converting internal mana into divine power and adjusting it with "Sacred Baptism," I began to stand out even more.
"Afternoon training is over! Clean up the equipment and proceed to the showers in an orderly manner! Gather in the lecture hall in two hours. Dismissed!"
"Dismissed!"
Upon the senior's command, the paladins tidied up their equipment and proceeded to the showers one by one, granting themselves a brief rest.
As I moved to the shower room, I poured cold water over my heated body, soothing the sensation of burning muscles.
Sss—
Mechanically washing and applying pressure, my muscles, pushed to their limits, writhed, proudly showcasing their endurance.
'The effects seem quite impressive.'
A few days after the baptism, despite the eccentric training methods, the results were unmistakably tangible.
The divine power, spread throughout my body to recover the tortured physique, felt adaptative with each repetition.
"Ugh... I'm dying."
Groans echoed from various corners of the shower room.
Toweling off, I chuckled to myself.
'It's definitely excessive. Thanks to 'Mind Herb,' I could alleviate the pain. But for them, they had to overcome it with their will alone.'
While such agony helped increase faith and mental strength, I didn't need it and wanted to avoid it as much as possible. I simply supported their beliefs.
"As followers of the divine, we shall always guide the Lord's lambs, leading them down the bright path..."
After the training, there was a doctrinal lecture held in the lecture hall as part of mental education.
The paladins, tired bodies in tow, had to battle sleep during the lecture.
Of course, I was no exception.
To become a paladin, one had to be proficient not only in martial skills but also in scholarly pursuits.
Two months passed this way.
***
While Heinrich struggled to become a paladin, the Immortal King's Expedition faced significant challenges.
"Sigh... it's frustrating. Where in the world could he have disappeared to?"
Latius, the Archbishop in charge of the Immortal King's Expedition, sighed and massaged his temples.
Despite deploying multiple search teams and chasing 'Hans' for several months, they couldn't find a trace of him.
Not a single shadow was spotted since their first encounter, making it impossible to lift their heads in frustration.
The Holy Maiden had done her best to locate the target, but except for a few brief moments, tracking was nearly impossible.
Even when the location was identified, they returned empty-handed without finding a trace of the guy.
Knock—
"Archbishop Latius, it's Paladin Tooskin."
"Oh, Paladin Tooskin. Come in."
Upon Latius' permission, the door to the office opened, and Paladin Tooskin entered, giving a salute.
Like the Archbishop, his face also bore the signs of fatigue.
"So, what happened?"
"...It seems quite challenging. Damn vampires must be involved."
"Sigh..."
Political pressure from the Talia Kingdom was escalating, and the Immortal King's Expedition, organized to capture the descendant of the Immortal King, was not achieving significant results.
This became a pretext for the political pressure from Talia to intensify.
"Despite such an extensive search, the fact that we couldn't find him implies he might have already left the Talia Kingdom, doesn't it?"
Carefully choosing his words, Tooskin's cautious demeanor prompted Latius to sigh again, closing his eyes.
They had done their best to find 'Hans.'
The conflict with the Vampire Clan and the 'Oath of the Reversal' lurking in the shadows had created excessive friction.
In the process, the Oath of the Reversal suffered considerable damage, facing attacks from both the organization and the clan.
It retreated, tail between its legs, but the conflict with the Brokolak Clan continued.
"At this point, we can assume he has hidden elsewhere. I'll disband the Talia Temple Expedition and instruct them to return to headquarters."
"Understood. I'll be prepared accordingly."
Tooskin nodded, bowed slightly, and left the office.
The Immortal King's Expedition, excluding high-ranking members, consisted mostly of personnel supported by the Talia Temple, so there was much to do before disbanding.
When those dispatched returned to their posts throughout the kingdom, they would resume their normal duties.
And as soon as the surveillance network of the organization detected the target's movements, a new expedition would be summoned in that area.
'Come to think of it, there was a noticeable paladin.'
As Tooskin walked, he suddenly thought of someone and furrowed his brow.
A prospective knight who awakened priest-level divine power during the baptism ceremony, demonstrating potential during subsequent training.
'To leave such a talented individual in this remote place seems like a waste...'
Incomparable superior physical abilities and recovery power comparable to a knight, not to mention a talent for quickly absorbing teachings and an ever-growing potential.
Even if he were to separate divine power, this individual was a talent too valuable to overlook.
While he had no intention of belittling the Talia organization, the reality was that a warrior with such talent seemed somewhat insufficient to fully bloom within its ranks.
No matter how well they perform, will they only receive support directly from the headquarters?
'Hmm... His name was Heinrich, right? If possible, I'd like to bring him along and nurture his potential directly. I should consider having a conversation about this.'