Only God

Severe pain coursed through Eden's body as he clung tightly to the horn, feeling as if his back were about to shatter.

The mountain shook, and he kept rolling downward.

Fortunately, he didn't fall from a height of seven or eight meters all at once, but kept tumbling down. Although he looked a mess, he wasn't badly injured and only lost consciousness.

After an unknown amount of time, Eden's consciousness finally returned, and he discovered that he was no longer rolling. He tried to get up, but pain made him groan.

"Huff, huff, huff."

Eden gasped for air continuously.

The mountain still shook, but there were no larger fissures forming. Eden slightly lifted his head and saw two or three heathens who had also fallen into the crack. Unfortunately for them, they hadn't been as lucky as he; all of them were dead.

One of them had died a horrible death, turned completely into a half-congealed mass of flesh. The other two, one had his neck broken, and the other had his skull penetrated by sharp rocks.

Seeing such a mournful scene chilled Eden to the bone. He managed to stand up with difficulty and subconsciously whispered prayers for the dead to comfort their souls.

He steadied himself, still gasping heavily, as a cold wind howled through the fissures in the mountain.

"…It collapsed suddenly. Did I trigger some seal?"

Eden murmured to himself, looking down at the horn in his hand.

The black horn, covered in ancient bloody, fleshly patterns, was eerie and ferocious. Just looking at it made one uncomfortable, giving a sensation of acid reflux.

Eden continued to stare at the horn, his gaze suddenly becoming fixed. For a moment, he couldn't look away; the horn seemed to possess some magical power that made one want to stare at it all day.

The bloody, fleshly patterns moved like wriggling maggots; the horn seemed as if it might come to life at any moment.

Boom!

Another roar of the mountain collapsing brought Eden back to his senses.

He glanced at the horn in his hand and shuddered involuntarily, then stuffed the horn into his bag, refusing to look at it again.

The space around him wasn't vast, and the rocks above looked like they were about to fall. It was clear to Eden that he needed to leave quickly.

He lifted his foot and squeezed out of the crevice into a dim passage where eerie laughter echoed, hinting at hidden, malevolent spirits.

"Damn!"

Eden felt something drawing nearer.

In a rush, he emerged from the crevice into what resembled a man-made chapel. The walls around him shook continuously, and dust fell.

"Is this place collapsing too?"

Eden rushed to push open the door, only to find the passage ahead blocked by fallen rocks.

"Damn… how do I get out now?"

A cold wind blew from behind, causing Eden's hands to tremble slightly, sensing something drawing ever closer.

Had he indeed triggered some seal?

Eden shivered.

What to do? What now?!

Eden clenched his fists, searching for another passage, but found none.

The cold wind grew stronger, chilling him to the bone.

Eden immediately entered a state of spiritual cultivation. Through his spiritual vision, waves of netherworldly evil surged toward him!

The terrifying force twisted Eden's soul, while his facial muscles uncontrollably twisted into a frightening smile, much like the figures in murals.

"Lord!"

Eden exclaimed tremblingly.

In the endless darkness, a thin, pale hand reached out. Eden saw a misshapen, obese body contrasting with that thin hand, and it was slowly drawing near. The large, twisted head bore three faces—a woman, a man, and a child—as if a family of three were living within the same body. The faces pressed against each other inharmoniously, like skin peeled off and sewn back on.

When it saw Eden, all three faces twisted into sinister smiles.

"There's no escape!"

Eden gritted his teeth, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

The twisted, mutated creature before him was neither ghost nor devil; Eden had never seen such an evil spirit before. Its distorted appearance reminded him of a scripture describing how pale storms can mutate living beings.

The Skin Stripper with three faces, its two pale thin hands extending joints like an exquisite skinning tool. In his state of spiritual cultivation, Eden tried chanting ancient words, releasing a vibrating halo around him, but the creature's evil aura instantly overwhelmed the halo.

Fear of death swept over him.

He was going to die here.

For a moment, that was the only thought in Eden's mind.

He hadn't noticed that since he fell into the crack, the stone pendant on his chest had been getting hotter.

Just as the Skin Stripper drew near.

At the critical moment, the stone pendant burst forth with surging white light, engulfing Eden instantly.

After the white light, the place where Eden had stood was now empty.

The Skin Stripper stopped, raising its hand in confusion, touching the empty air in front of it.

............…

............…

Giant stone pillars towered at the base of the mountain, a majestic hall backed by the peak stood solemnly there.

Just as the Ancient Kingdom of Logos is the Holy Land of the True Religion world, here lies the Holy Land of the Giant King World.

The Temple of Kings.

Dark stone serves as the foundation of this Holy Temple, atop which stands the ancient, gray-white building adorned with gilded fire basins on both stair sides, with scripture-etched columns supporting the faith of countless people. In this structure, one could see the shadows of temple-like buildings from thousands, even tens of thousands, of years ago.

A figure in a hemp robe was climbing the steps.

He appeared so inconspicuous, like any middle-aged man one might see anywhere. Yet, it was this very man who was detested and cursed by countless True Believers as the Devil King, the ghost among ghosts.

Your poison, their sweet sugar.

As intensely as the True Believers despised him, so revered was his status in the eyes of the Giant King believers.

In those rumors or prophecies, on the day when the 'King of Kings' judgments arrive, he would be the leader of all people, housing the soul of the Great Angel, destined to duel with the prophesied Destroyer at the ends of the skies and seas. Believers trusted that when that day comes, every church of the True Religion, along with temples of other heresies, would collapse together.

He was Asabai, the chief among the Sixteen Holy Servants, known as the Listener to the Revelations.

Under the cover of night, the fire basins beside the steps burned fiercely.

He slowly ascended the long steps, where at the top, the Chief Priest awaited him.

The position of Chief Priest was similar to the Pope in the True Religion, although differing significantly both in theological significance and specific duties. Still, True Religion followers considered the heretic Chief Priest as the heretics' Pope.

The Chief Priest was surprised at Asabai's arrival.

"Helmsman of helmsmen, you… have come for what?"

After exchanging a ritual greeting with Asabai, he asked as such.

"It seems I have disturbed the Chief Priest."

Asabai responded.

"You know, your every word and deed seem to represent the will of that Angel."

The Chief Priest replied.

Asabai did not speak. After pondering for a moment, he slowly began,

"I have not come to discuss theology, though it's our most important affair in the world."

The Chief Priest perked up his ears,

"If not for that, then for what?"

Asabai turned around, gazing into the distance,

"Over there, the Prophet Abyss found by the holy servant of Oranto."

The Chief Priest squinted then recited scripture before saying after a moment,

"What happened there?"

"People have been there, where Prophet Azizhar once went; the seal there has loosened,"

Asabai spoke slowly.

The Chief Priest was momentarily startled.

His face turned devout and solemn, tears welling in his eyes,

"Does this mean, does this mean… the prophesied Prophet is coming?"

In the Giant King World, there are many prophecies.

Just those explicitly mentioned in the scriptures number nine hundred and ninety-one.

Among these prophecies, the most important is the judgment of the 'King of Kings' and His Divine Envoy.

In the legend,

The 'King of Kings' would judge everything under Heaven and Earth, much like the Lord worshiped in the True Religion.

And that day of suffering would be a hundredfold worse than the days before the descent of Heaven—a day that is the utmost End.

That Envoy would walk the path Prophet Azizhar trod, receive revelations from the 'King of Kings,' and join Asabai at the ends of the sky and the sea when judgment arrives.

The Chief Priest sighed emotionally,

"Asabai, I believe you too are tremendously stirred, after thousands upon thousands of years, so many Asabais have returned to Heaven, only you will witness the coming of judgment, and we will not have to wait for another Asabai."

Upon finishing, the Chief Priest, unable to control himself, continued,

"Ah, King of Kings, let your grand world descend, have we not waited long enough? Are we not worthy of the coming new world?"

His hands trembled uncontrollably, tears sparkling in his eyes, the faith making the old man shiver.

Asabai, however, looked calmly in that direction.

The leader of the Sixteen Holy Servants stood there, gazing into the distance, waiting for the Chief Priest to calm down before speaking slowly,

"In the prophecies, it was not only the appearance of the Envoy that was foretold."

The Chief Priest slowly raised his head, his fingertips trembling slightly as he spoke,

"Are you referring to… that Destroyer, that great enemy?"

Asabai neither nodded nor shook his head.

The scripture's prophecies had mentioned that the 'King of Kings''s great enemy would walk alongside the 'King of Kings''s Envoy.

"The seal of the Prophet Abyss has loosened… someone surely has gone there.

But who… is it our Prophet, the divine Envoy of revelations, or that great enemy spoken of in the prophecy… who destroys the Holy Temple?"

Asabai's brow furrowed, sinking into contemplation.