NOVEL NEXT Chapter 155: The First Worshiper
The entire city seemed mute, silenced by the monstrous display of Jax's power. Only the muffled wails of the souls trapped inside the crystal sphere still echoed, proof of the cruel torture they endured.
Jax lowered his hand slowly, letting the golden light illuminate the pale faces of those gathered.
"Listen well…" he said. His voice was deep, resonant, carrying into every corner of the plaza. Impossible to ignore. Each word pressed down like burning iron against the hearts of all who heard.
"They did not die because they resisted me… they died because they were rotten to the core. Murderers. Rapists. Thieves. Hypocrites hiding behind priestly masks. Every sin they committed was a chain dragging them to this very day… and I shattered those chains into dust."
Some began to sob. Others clenched their jaws, foreheads pressed hard against the stones, trembling.
Jax lifted the sphere, and the crowd shuddered as the spectral wails rose from within.
"This is the fate of the corrupt. Of those who hide behind titles and riches. Of those who make the innocent suffer. Eternity will be their punishment… and I myself will be their executioner."
The air grew heavy. An invisible pressure fell upon everyone, as though a mountain itself pressed down upon their shoulders. Few could breathe; none could move.
"But you…" Jax continued, his golden eyes blazing like merciless suns, "…you are not innocent either. All of you here have sinned. All of you have committed crimes, great or small. And all of you will be judged."
A murmur of panic rippled through the crowd, but Jax raised his hand and silence struck them instantly.
"The difference is this, your sins may yet be redeemed."
The pressure tightened for a moment longer, forcing many to scream in pain, before Jax slowly lowered his hand and allowed them to breathe again.
"Redemption does not come through empty words or false prayers. Redemption is earned by labor, by service, by giving your strength to the true God. By serving with your heart. Every act of service in my name will be a step toward absolution. Every deed done in my name will stand as a wall against eternal punishment."
The crowd wept, some in relief, others in terror.
Seraphina, still on her knees, gazed up at him with absolute devotion.
Jax raised the sphere once more, holding it high as a symbol of the fate awaiting the corrupt.
"From this moment on, Lumina will be purified. The God of Dreams does not tolerate corruption or hypocrisy. Serve with all that you are… or burn like them."
The black flames within the sphere roared, and the chorus of screams rose again, a timeless reminder of the weight of his words.
Silence reigned for ten long minutes before Jax raised both hands to the sky. His golden eyes shone so brightly it seemed as if a new sun had been born in the night.
A golden light descended upon the city. At first it was soft, then an unstoppable torrent of divine energy that swept like waves across the ruined streets.
Collapsed homes rose, stone by stone. Roofs sealed. Roads smoothed. The wounded moaned as bones knit, flesh closed, and blood ceased to flow. Even the dead within the crowd gasped, eyes opening wide as life returned to their bodies. They stood, crying out in awe.
Weeping turned into cheers.
"Miracle!"
"The God of Dreams has saved us!"
"Glory to the eternal God of Dreams!"
Voices rose higher and higher in devotion unlike anything ever seen. And Jax felt it.
The power of faith, pure and blazing, flowed into him like rivers of celestial fire. Each cry, each bent knee, each surrendered heart made him stronger. His aura swelled until it seemed as though the very world held its breath in terror of his majesty.
But amid the splendor, one detail was clear.
The temple of the ocean god remained in ruins. Not a stone shifted. Not a crack was sealed. It stood as a hollow carcass, blackened by divine fire.
Jax pointed with a cold gesture.
"There… my temple will rise. Not of stone, nor of wood. Of pure gold. With statues thirty meters tall, solid, inlaid with gems that will blaze even in the darkest night. I want the glory of my majesty to blind every eye that dares gaze upon it from across the sea."
Nobles, soldiers, commoners, all rose at once to work, as if possessed. It was as though an unseen force drove them. No hesitation. No resistance. Only obedience. The sound of hammers, picks, and shouted orders soon filled the air, the city consumed by a frenzy of divine labor.
Only two figures remained unmoving at Jax's side: Seraphina, and the Dark Guardian still stained with blood. Both bowed low, remaining alone before the envoy.
Jax's gaze froze their souls.
"You have failed."
Seraphina snapped her head up, tears streaking her cheeks.
"M-my lord…?"
"The power you showed was weak. Your prayers trembled. Do you know why?"
His voice thundered like the sky itself.
Seraphina pressed her hands to her chest, trembling.
"Please… teach me… what do I lack?"
Jax raised a single finger, pointing at her, his presence wrapping her like invisible chains.
"Because your faith is still faith… not worship. If you truly believed, if you surrendered all that you are and all that you own to my will, you could unleash my power without limit. Even the heavens would obey your voice."
His words pierced her like spears. Her heart pounded wildly, her tears no longer born of fear but of understanding. Of surrender.
She collapsed to her knees so hard her bones cracked.
"No more doubt! No more fear! No more lukewarm faith! From this day forward, I will not only believe in you… I will worship you, my eternal God!"
A scream tore from her chest. At that moment, a torrent of energy descended upon her. Her eyes flew open, blazing like golden stars. Her body trembled, and even the Dark Guardian stepped back, shocked at the power emanating from her.
Jax smiled, satisfied.
"This is how it must be. True worship breaks the limits of flesh and spirit alike."
In that instant, Seraphina was no longer a mere believer. She had become the first worshiper of the God of Dreams and with it, the flame that would ignite all of Lumina.