Chapter 931 - 154: Jerusalem, Supreme and Unrivaled
In the sky above Jerusalem hovered the fifty-meter-long Three-headed Demon Dragon.
Seated upon its head, the King of the Crusaders was enveloped in a divine golden radiance, his entire being like a blazing sun, making even the fierce and menacing dragon appear sacred beneath this golden glow.
The demon dragon circled the city more than ten times before finally descending slowly upon the walls of Jerusalem.
The city guards felt their hearts skip a beat, worried whether the aging city walls could withstand the weight of such a colossal being.
"Good day, Your Majesty!"
"God bless you, Your Majesty."
The guards, initially enthusiastic, found themselves at a loss for words once the massive creature landed beside them, as even just one of Ladon’s heads was the size of a house.
"Open the gates, gentlemen, let my soldiers enter the city."
Losa gently patted Ladon’s head, which obediently lowered to the ground, allowing Losa to step down its spine, clad with bony spikes, as if descending a stairway to the wall.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Quick, open the gates!"
The guards unhesitatingly opened the city gates.
At the forefront marched the Winged Cavalry, Losa’s elite army renowned for their bravery and skill, entering first. Following them were the armored cavalry, appearing like towering steel fortresses, filing in one after another.
Next came the Monastic Knights, clad in tricolored coveralls, along with the Sipahi Cavalry and Kheshig Cavalry. Losa’s finest forces were all on display for the people of Jerusalem to witness.
A herald, breathless, ran to the feet of the dragon, regaining his breath before loudly announcing, "Your Majesty Losa, His Majesty Baldwin requests you to proceed immediately to the Holy Sepulchre Cathedral!"
Losa nodded slightly towards him, "Inform His Majesty that I will proceed immediately."
Swiftly, he arrived at the city gates, and like an arrow released from a bowstring, the Solar Eclipse galloped towards him. Losa leaped onto the saddle of the unicorn nightmare steed.
Roar—
Ladon let out a loud dragon roar and soared into the sky.
His role in the spectacle complete, Ladon was eager to return to his dragon’s nest outside Alexandria for a good rest.
With Ladon gone, the atmosphere in Jerusalem became even more fervent.
Many attempted to extend their hands, hoping to capture a touch of the divine afterglow from Losa.
Before the Holy Sepulchre Cathedral, various lords, knights, nobles, clergy, and guild representatives—hundreds of lavishly dressed individuals gathered.
They whispered among themselves, with many expressing dissatisfaction with Baldwin IV’s autocratic ways.
As the upper echelons of Jerusalem, the prospect of change was their greatest fear.
They detested the likes of Guy of Lusignan, a colt just arrived from Europe, and distrusted Losa, a monarch unwilling to toe the line.
Yet, no matter their dissatisfaction or worries, when Losa’s procession appeared, they had to promptly wear smiles, as if, like the ordinary citizens and pilgrims, they too believed Losa’s ascension to King of Jerusalem was highly anticipated.
No one thought Losa, this acknowledged knightly monarch, would stir up bloodshed in Jerusalem, but they understood that circumstances forced their hands.
"Your Majesty."
Losa dismounted and exchanged greetings with Baldwin.
"Your Majesty."
Baldwin deliberately emphasized as he repeated.
Losa couldn’t help but say, "It has been a long time, and our first meeting is to jest with me?"
Baldwin, restored to his youthful vigor, winked and joked, "Even the emperors of the Empire cannot match your grand entrance. Jerusalem, small and weak, requires me to show due respect to you."
"Since you have already decided, my visit this time is to take up your mantle. The more grand the spectacle, the fewer words the opponents will have."
Losa paused, "Your Majesty, is it because you fear I may change my mind that you requested me to come to the Holy Sepulchre Cathedral first thing upon entering the city?"
Baldwin smiled, not denying it.
He removed the crown from his head, placing it on a tray held by an attendant.
"In the name of the Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit, I, Baldwin, ruler by the grace of God over the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Holy City and the Holy Sepulchre, hereby declare to the people of all Jerusalem and the entire Christendom, that I willingly abdicate the throne of Jerusalem, returning this sacred and heavy crown into the hands of God."
Upon hearing this, the attendant presented the tray to the Church’s representative, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Hercules.
Baldwin continued, "My decision to abdicate is not due to coercion or fear of bearing this burden, but because of my waning health and inability to govern. Fortunately, there is Losa, lord of Egypt, faithful to God and full of wisdom and valor, having accomplished remarkable deeds. Therefore, I intend to pass the crown of Jerusalem to him. Does anyone object?"
The crowd exchanged glances, unable to hold back their thoughts.
At this moment, even if Duke Raymond of the North were summoned back, few would dare to openly voice an objection.
"Since no one objects, I hereby declare the succession to the throne of Jerusalem is legitimate."
Supported by Archbishop William of Tyr, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Hercules, slowly approached Losa, with some difficulty applying the holy oil to Losa’s forehead.
"Child, may the Lord grant you wisdom and strength, that His Holy City, under your governance, may become a true earthly heaven, Amen."
"May the Lord bless you, Your Excellency, Bishop."
Hercules had always been in poor health; much of the church affairs were handled by the Bishop of Tyr, William, who was also an old acquaintance of Losa.
Losa exchanged a glance and a light smile with William of Tyr, "Lord William, Hercules is aged and quite weary."
William hesitated, assuming Losa wanted him to perform the coronation on Hercules’ behalf, feeling a glimmer of joy.
"As for the coronation, I’ll perform it myself."
Losa’s lips curved slightly as he suddenly reached for the tray holding the golden crown, placing upon himself the imperial-style golden crown given to the Crusaders by Alexius I.
Amidst the astonished gazes of the clergy, Losa mounted his horse, gathering golden light into the "Spear of Destiny," which was revered as the "Holy Spear of Longinus."
His spear pointed skywards, "From this day forth, Jerusalem acknowledges none but me."
"Long live!"
"Praise to the great King of Jerusalem and Egypt, Losa!"
"King of all Franks in the East!"
"Common Lord of all Crusaders!"
The Winged Cavalry, serving as the honor guard, were the first to raise their swords, shouting loudly.
The echoes spread through the city like a contagion.
Baron Goffrey, looking at Losa bathed in the cheers and admiring gazes of the crowd, asked, "Your Majesty, do you truly have no regrets?"
"Just call me Baldwin, Lord Goffrey."
Baldwin chuckled lightly, "Since my coronation, I rarely donned that crown. I suppose in Losa’s hands, it will not be neglected as it was with me."
Since he became king, the kingdom’s governance was controlled by the regency council; Baldwin was referring to both the crown and the royal authority.