Freezing Water Port’s “Gallery” had proven that the distorted nightmares could grow and heal if left alone.
According to the Silver Sire Church, nightmares could grow to the point where they affect reality directly.
Worse still, Silver Sire Church could not do anything about the “Gallery”.
The nightmare was not a mechanism that could be solved through “brute force”. Although the priests had a significant advantage in the field of nightmares compared to ordinary people, nightmares were still relatively fair to everyone.
There was no guarantee for any challenger to purify a nightmare successfully.
The typical outcome would be having some sacrificed. In a sense, it was using human life as disposable and utilizing the erosion of their souls in exchange for more opportunities to see the full picture of the nightmare.
Then, they would try to purify the nightmare and stop its expansion and growth. That was the second stage of the mission.
Annan couldn’t help but ask, “So, no one wants to go in the end?”
“No, many have already prepared to sacrifice themselves.”
Alexander shook his head lightly, denying, “There are many bishops in the capital who have left office. They can no longer supervise a territory alone because they are too old or because their erosion rate is too high.
“However, they are ready for the final sacrifice at any time. As long as they’re needed, they can go to places and use their rich experience and last reasoning to peer into the hardest and most dangerous nightmare rules, or purify them directly.”
“It was just because Louis was the first to sign up when he learned that someone needed help and that someone had to put himself in danger.
“No one else in the Silver Hand signed up except him. But that was beyond reproach because Lord Pope did not intend to choose ‘victims’ from the Silver Hand. We have a rich ‘reserve team’, and we even have a respected elder being on standby near the Freezing Water Port.”
Alexander sighed and spoke in a complicated tone, “But Louis… he is an earnest man. He thinks from the bottom of his heart that he needs to use his life to help others. He firmly believes that the youngsters, who have more reasoning to resist erosion, can last longer than the elders. Thus, he went for the mission. I recognize and respect his choice.”
Annan remained silent for a long time after Alexander finished speaking. He felt that something was surging in his heart.
However, Annan was still able to maintain calm amid the surging emotions because of [Winter Heart].
“I see.” After a long time, Annan slowly exhaled, “I thought that with the Silver Sire here, you wouldn’t have any hardships that can’t be solved. My perception of the Gallery is false. I’m deeply sorry about it.”
Hearing this, Alexander laughed heartily, “What is there to apologize for? You helped Louis defeat this nightmare, and I should thank you for that.
“You’re still too young, Your Highness Annan. Not everything the deity knows is right…”
“Including Silver Sire?” Annan hesitated before asking in a low voice.
After all, they were at the Noah First Bank.
The highest church in the Silver Sire was above the First Bank’s warehouse. It could be less than 500 meters away from here.
It wasn’t nice having a Silver Knight speak ill of Silver Sire at this distance.
However, Alexander had no scruples about it.
He waved his hand casually, “Of course, don’t be nervous. Even though you’re not wearing that outfit, I know you’re the one Silver Sire favors. Silver Sire doesn’t mind this kind of thing.”
Alexander looked at Annan and teased, “Why? Is it a surprise for me to say such a thing?”
“To be honest, it caught me off guard.” Annan nodded honestly.
The complex relationship between the priests and the deity did not match his common sense.
Alexander brushed through it with a smile and suddenly asked, “Your Royal Highness Annan, do you think transcenders are the same species as mortals?”
“I think so,” Annan answered quickly.
“Isn’t that clear?”
The middle-aged man who gave people a sense of reliability laughed, “Transcenders are just mighty and noble mortals, and deities are only stronger and more noble than transcenders.
“There is no naturally born deity in this world. It’s just that the souls of upright deities rose from the earth a long, long time ago. It’s normal for deities to lie, make mistakes, and get angry. “
Speaking of which, Alexander glanced at the Paper Princess next to Annan.
The Paper Princess nodded, turned her head to look at Annan, and said, “Annan, don’t be too afraid of deities. We were all mortals once.”
“Even the twelve upright deities?”
“Of course. The difference between upright deities and subordinate deities with ordinary false deities is that we never die. We would expect rebirth on our respective Holy Day every year if we were dead. That’s what ‘Remembrance Day’ is all about.”
The Paper Princess explained slowly, “It’s not necessarily that all upright deities are stronger than false deities. They are stronger because their domain is essential and survived for long, not because they are stronger upright deities.
“There is no need to eat, drink, sleep, and no lifespan constraints. We can use the power of elements infinitely and bestow believers power. Other than those, there is no essential difference between deity and the powerful Truth Rank transcender.”
No, I think the difference is already huge. Annan thought so in his heart.
A question that had troubled Annan for a long time finally arose in his heart at this moment.
In the presence of a Senior Silver Knight and a subordinate deity, perhaps he could get the answer to his question, “Then, why is an upright deity an upright deity?”
Annan asked the Paper Princess, “What is the essential difference between an upright deity and a false deity? Can this question be answered?”
“Ha, it’s the same question again!”
“Have I also asked this question back then?” Annan was stunned.
“Yes. The first question you ever asked me about the deities was this. This knowledge is not a deep secret, nor is it too burdensome for you. I suppose I can tell you.”
The Paper Princess organized the answer in her heart, silently screened through her words, and then slowly said, “Let’s put it this way, Annan.
“At least in the first era, there was no difference between ‘upright deity’ and ‘false deity’, and there was not even the title of ‘deity’. Although at that time, twelve upright deities have already become deities.
“At that time, in the language of the elves, they addressed a ‘deity’ as ‘feudal lord’. The centaurs called them the ‘living pillars’, the dragons called them the ‘kings’, and the giants called them the ‘elders’. Everything changes at the end of the First Age.
“The fall of a ‘deity’ has led to the demise of the realm under his control in the world. In fact, the fall of a deity has happened many times. Each time it has caused some concepts to be wiped entirely from the world, but only that one case was particularly serious.
“I can’t tell you exactly what concept was erased. That knowledge is too heavy for your current soul to bear… At least you won’t understand until you reach the Gold Rank and complete the perfect ‘dyeing’ process.
“You only need to know that the race ‘demon’ was born at that time. With the lack of a certain concept, the ‘people’ can become ‘demons’. This led to the Epoch Disaster of the First Age.
“To avoid repeating the same mistakes, all the deities joined forces to arrange a grand ritual later at the beginning of the Second Age. They divided the year into twelve parts, called ‘twelfth months’. We utilize the power of time and history to preserve the twelve most important deities, guaranteeing that they will not die and avoid the disintegration of the realms associated with them that are capable of bringing the demise of the world or civilization.
“Subordinate deities come later. With the increase of false deities, the number of important and immortal deities increases. After they are born, there will be upright deities to invite them into their subordinate deities, giving each of them a portion of the power of rebirth, just for safety.
“Apart from the ability to be reborn as time passes, the subordinate deities are virtually indistinguishable from false deities.”
The Paper Princess concluded, “That is not because upright deities are ‘powerful’ enough, but because they are ‘important’ enough.
“They are the twelve pillars that support the world. As long as they are still there, the world will not be destroyed.”