Chrysalis Chapter 1709 - Judgement

“We have arrived to carry out the Church’s divine will.”

Rows of soldiers stood motionless and silent, their silver armor shimmering brilliantly beneath white robes. They listened with unwavering discipline as the command echoed through their ranks.

“Keep your faith steady and your objective clear. Should doubt enter your mind, crush it without hesitation. The smallest fracture in our resolve makes our armor useless. Dismissed.”

The deck thundered with the sound of stomping feet as the Judgement Battalion began disembarking rank by rank. Moving down the gangway and onto the pier, the soldiers maintained flawless lines. The citizens of Green Mountain showed appropriate respect, clearing a path for the military procession to enter the city. From his vantage point on the ship's deck, War Bishop Pearson observed his subordinates. They marched with heads held high and spirits ignited, prepared to fulfill the Church's mandates.

With a stern gaze, he waited for the final row to depart before he followed them. Confident that the auxiliary staff would handle the maintenance of shields and weaponry, he trailed the rear of his troops, keeping his senses alert to the atmosphere of the mountain.

Years had passed since Pearson last stood here, yet the location remained largely unchanged. These were a martial folk living under the shadow of one of the greatest monsters ever birthed by the Dungeon. Because of this, locals were expected to maintain a specific conduct regarding the depths. The Dungeon was a constant adversary, a dark presence that loomed even on the sunniest days.

The arrival of the Soldiers of the Path was greeted with enthusiasm. Cheers erupted for the Battalion, accompanied by showers of freshly cut garden flowers, while some citizens even laid their cloaks across the path of the soldiers. However, beneath the festivities, Pearson sensed a hidden layer of dread and tension, like a parasite eating away at an apple. To an extent, this was logical; a Judgement Battalion was only deployed when a target required elimination, signifying that danger was close at hand.

Still, he felt the issue was more profound. Something here was fundamentally wrong.

Once he ensured his troops were settled in their quarters and his captains understood their assignments, War Bishop Pearson departed to attend his first meeting.

High upon the slopes, near the peak of the residential zones, he located a manor carved from radiant white stone. It was a residence fit for royalty or a high-ranking noble, overflowing with opulence and gleaming under the mana-infused radiance of the fourth. Nervous servants took his name at the gate to verify his appointment. Once cleared for entry, they timidly requested that he remove his armored boots before entering the home.

Pearson paid them no mind.

Pushing past the hesitant staff, the War Bishop marched inside, intentionally letting his heavy footsteps echo against the patterned marble floors. He found his target on a sprawling balcony, positioned beneath a perfectly crafted stone arch that stretched twelve meters out from the manor's edge.

“Grand Priest Alir Vinting,” he announced.

The man stood from his lounge, pressing a hand to his chest as he offered a welcoming bow.

War Bishop Graham Pearson felt nothing but contempt.

“It is a pleasure to have you here, War Bishop,” Alir remarked with a smile. “I am pleased the Church responded so swiftly to my report.”

Pearson’s pale blue eyes, as freezing as glacial ice, remained fixed on the Grand Priest without blinking.

“What is the cost to the Church for you to stay in this manor, Grand Priest Vinting?” he demanded.

Alir blinked, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Although he hadn't encountered this specific War Bishop often, Pearson’s reputation preceded him among the Church hierarchy. With his golden hair pulled back tightly and secured at his neck, the man lacked even a single stray strand or a speck of dirt on his plate armor. He was the embodiment of rigid discipline and unyielding standards.

“Given the gravity of this mission, I felt it vital to reside in a place that upheld the authority and prestige of our Church,” Alir explained, his smile becoming strained.

Pearson remained silent for a moment, scanning the surroundings. He noted the artwork, the fabrics woven with gold thread, and the rug crafted from the pelt of a formidable beast. Then there was the scenery. From this elevation, the waters of the fourth sparkled like gemstones, while distant peaks rose like giants to support the firmament.

“I find it to be indulgent. You will end your stay here immediately and move into the barracks with my soldiers.”

The War Bishop’s tone was absolute, leaving no room for debate. Alir hid his flinch and kept his smile in place, though a flicker of fury sparked in his chest.

“You lack the standing to order me.”

“When deployed in the field, I am your superior.”

Alir looked around, raising his eyebrows in mockery.

“Do you truly consider this to be 'the field'? Is there some hidden threat I haven't noticed?”

A faint, cold smile finally touched Pearson’s lips.

“Those within the Judgement Battalions are required to be combat-ready at all times when outside the cathedrals. The moment we pass through the cathedral gates, we are on the battlefield. If you take issue with this, you are welcome to discuss it with the Arch Bishop when you return.”

Both men understood that Alir could not openly defy him. If he refused to move, Pearson was capable of physically tossing him down the mountain like a toy.

“Be grateful,” the War Bishop added. “I will personally ensure the gold saved from this residence is given to the widows and orphans of those slain by monsters. In this manner, we light the Path.”

Grand Priest Alir Vinting fought back the rage that threatened to overwhelm him.

“We light the Path,” he repeated, bowing low to conceal his face.

Pearson showed no sign of enjoying the other man's discomfort, and Alir knew the Bishop was likely being sincere.

“Now,” the War Bishop commanded, “provide me with the details of this beast I have come to slay.”