Myths Reawakened

May fifteenth, night.

The Death Knight set out to patrol his territory. During the day, when the Gate of Hell opened, pawns that the demon alliance had cultivated in Palis—namely, the Black Axiom Sect—had launched an all-out attack at the headquarters of the Ministry of Magic in Palis.

The Francan world of magic had been under the control of four churches over the years: the Life Alliance, consisting of Nature, Sun, and Moonlight, and the Church of Heavenly Father, the top faction of the Chosen Land.

Among them, the Church of Sun and the Church of Moonlight had first succumbed to demonic influence before their Holy Maidens wiped them all out, leaving only High Reverend Givenchy. The Church of Heavenly Father had been similarly corrupted. Under Auriel’s forceful persuasion, the clergy ‘saw the light’ and returned to the embrace of the Heavenly Father.

With the three churches facing substantial devastation, the Church of Nature became the only faction that could hold the fort.

That would seem like certain doom, but it wasn’t the case. Although the Black Axiom Sect had pawns amounting to tens of thousands under their control, the majority of them weren’t much of a threat. Aside from the one-use vessels, others were all extras, merely filling the number.

When they were each weaker than the last, the headquarters of the Ministry of Magic, though unable to stage a counterattack, had no trouble defending themselves.

The siege battle started during the day and lasted until nightfall. Then, laughter rang above the headquarters. The Death Knight leaped out of a portal with his sword, sending heads rolling with every swing.

The tentacles of volatile Death energy swept across the area, corroding physical forms and erasing thoughts, leaving only loyal skeletons in his wake. As the fight progressed, the Black Axiom Sect’s numbers dwindled, while the Death Knight’s troops expanded. The scale of victory tipped to one side, with no chance of tipping the other way.

The previous Death Knight had been fighting formidable enemies like Death’s avatars and the Big Three of the demon alliance, and Wayne, the current Death Knight, didn’t fall far behind. He had kissed Ines, the Goddess of Darkness, in a confessional, and he had cultivated with Śār Hesione in bed.

He was a master plumber with a wealth of experience.

Having just won a Challenger match, he saw no challenge in a fight with AI bots[1]. He reaped the enemies in large numbers, easily dominating the battlefield. He was so lost in the slaughter that he shattered six defensive wards at the headquarters with a hit, one ward away from conquering the Ministry of Magic.

Such was the way of a chosen knight. Corresponding to the reincarnated angels in status, a chosen knight’s primary mission in the human world was to intimidate the Church of Heavenly Father from slaughtering and raiding their church. The knights were undeniably powerful, especially the previous generation. Moula, Leo, Dareinne, Vichy, and Rognes were all powerful in their own way.

In terms of strength, all of them were powerful; in terms of morality, four out of five of them were outstanding characters. Any one of them could crush Franc’s world of magic.

It wasn’t about skills. They had enough raw power not to care about that.

Seeing the Death Knight tear down six of their defenses as easily as drinking water, the mages at the headquarters were close to having a mental breakdown. They almost offered the Black Axiom Sect an alliance.

Before the two sides could prepare the necessary tributes to become sworn brothers, though, the Death Knight walked away.

They stared at each other. Then the Black Axiom Sect fell without a cry.

Wayne hadn’t gone far. Riding on his happy little mare, he strolled around Palis with an army of skeletons, realizing his dream of having a military parade. He couldn’t do it in Londan, but it would be a waste not to do it in Franc.

Once again, what happened in the world of magic should be resolved in the world of magic. He could hold a parade, but not in front of the civilians. Faith was too deep a water for the regular people to dip into. Ignorance was truly their bliss.

Therefore, Wayne had taken his army through the sewers, targeting the followers of the Black Axiom Sect all across Palis. They showed no mercy to the evil. Wayne had never once pulled his punches when faced with Hell’s pawns.

He rode Julia around the whole night, only making the command to retreat when day broke. Julia was satisfied, and so was Wayne.

He hadn’t known her true value before, considering her simply the Headless Knight’s mount. Only now did he know that she was one of Death’s manifestations. It would be an insult to the Goddess of Death inhabiting his eye if he didn’t ride Julia a few more times.

Pay the rent this month, Goddess.

Huh? You’ve gone bankrupt and don’t have any money on your person?

Hahaha, but you have your person!

According to Rognes’s willful perspective, the goddess was essentially riding Herself. He and Wayne were merely containers of the goddess’s thoughts, so they wouldn’t be defiling the object of their faith.

Wayne didn’t understand that logic, so he didn’t try. He was happy when he rode Julia. That was all that mattered.

***

The next day came. In High Reverend Sandrine’s office at the Church of Nature’s headquarters, the beautiful ladies slumped on chairs or the office desk with no regard for their images—it was a large desk, enough to fit Isabella, Galen, and Sukra.

Boneless on the office chair was Hestia, who had her head lowered and rested on her chest.

Aside from the ever energetic Corte, everyone else was exhausted from the difficult fight. Sandrine and Givenchy weren’t here. As District High Reverends, they were working overtime at the Ministry of Magic’s headquarters. The factions in Palis had undergone a paradigm shift due to yesterday’s chaos. They could expect to be busy for a long time.

Corte paced outside the door to the inner room, pressing her ear to the door now and then to eavesdrop. She pondered whether she should step in and fuel the fire.

Galen had said that Wayne had no interest in the two of them, so Corte would only be inviting humiliation if she insisted on giving herself away. Rather than thinking about how they should complete the oracles, it was better to behave themselves and put up the front of icy beauty. Judging by the temperament of Wayne’s secretary, that was clearly his preference.

Galen’s argument made sense, but Corte couldn’t stop thinking about the oracle. She was a career woman and wanted nothing more than to make progress.

Click!

The door opened. Wayne emerged rejuvenated. After an hour of sleep, he felt like he could spend another day with the demons—or Hesione. He wasn’t picky.

Mona followed him out, adjusting her glasses. When she saw Corte trying to get a good look in, she cursed the old pervert out silently. The Holy Maiden of the Church of Sun was a curious one. She kept trying to commit sins in the name of oracles.

Wayne came up to the desk and looked at the three women lying on it, then at Lust incarnate, who occupied the chair. He gestured at Mona and Corte to move these women into the room. The bed was big enough to fit four women, and with company, they wouldn’t have to worry about getting lost once they woke up.

Wayne sat down on the still-warm chair, propping his feet on the desk. When he saw the hesitant look on Corte’s face, he said with a smile, “What’s wrong? Are you still thinking about the oracle?”

He held quite a lot of goodwill for the Church of Sun. Among the members of the church, everyone he had met had a bright personality and a kind heart, with Houry being the only exception who had chosen to fall.

In comparison, members of the Church of Moonlight differed in quality, while the Church of Nature was a den of degenerates.

“You misunderstood, Mr. Wayne,” Corte stammered with a blush. “I’m in no rush to complete the oracle. It’ll be your decision.”

Mona rolled her eyes, standing behind Wayne and massaging his shoulders.

Wayne rested his head on the cushion for the best spine support. “If you’re in no rush, I’m in no rush, either. You should head inside and take a rest. You must be exhausted after a whole day of fighting.”

“Oh, no. I’m all pumped up, not tired at all.”

Corte boasted her endurance. As the Church of Sun’s Holy Maiden, she was much more durable than Galen, the weak Holy Maiden of Moonlight.

Makes sense!

Wayne thought about the OG3 of his harem. Kristen never lasted long, while Vera was always good for another go. They weren’t even in the same weight class.

“What are you muttering about?” he asked.

“I want to ask about your schedule, Mr. Wayne,” Corte said with anticipation. “Have you considered heading to the Church of Sun’s headquarters in Graeci?”

Once he was in her home ground, she would have the final say, and she could complete the oracle in more ways than one.

“Church of Sun’s headquarters...”

Wayne’s eyes lit up. If memory served, the headquarters of the Churches of Sun and Moonlight were both in Graeci, making them neighbors. By making one trip, he could obtain two Philosopher’s Stones for free as the chosen knight. It would be a rare bargain!

He had to go!

“I would like to,” Wayne said, shaking his head regretfully. “However, Graeci is far away. I don’t plan on traveling there at the moment.”

“Mr. Wayne, you’re the Sun Knight and the goddess’s chosen one in the mortal realm,” Corte urged. “You shouldn’t stay far from home for so long. At least you should visit often.”

You truly have no tact at all!

Corte was such a straightforward woman that she didn’t understand the subtext of a negotiation, or perhaps she understood, but she didn’t think much of it since she considered Wayne one of their own.

Wayne stopped beating around the bush. Rubbing his fingers together, he said, “You want me to go to the headquarters, Corte? I’ll go, but I’ll need compensation for my appearance. I’m too busy to go on a free tour.”

“But-but you’re the Sun Knight!”

“So what?” Wayne widened his eyes in disbelief. “Can’t the Sun Knight embezzle from the treasury?”

He was a true noble from Londan. He had to continue the excellent noble tradition of corruption.

Corte rolled her eyes, opening her personal storage with a wave to place treasures on the desk. Most of them were magical items, among which was a red gem.

Stunned, Wayne said in disbelief, “Isn’t this a Philosopher’s Stone? Why is the key to the headquarters in your possession?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Corte asked.

“From what I’ve learned, it’s usually with the Pope for safekeeping,” Wayne said. Someone like Corte would be a security flaw. The combination of limitless stamina and a complete lack of tact would make sure she got more than nine times out of him per night.

“That’s for the other churches. The Church of Sun has undergone a revolution... The Church of Moonlight, too. The Holy Maidens hold more power than the popes, who only take care of administrative affairs. The chosen knights are the churches’ most powerful combatants, followed by the Holy Maidens.”

Corte explained why that was: Corte and Galen were talented enough to become perfect vessels for their goddesses. When lives were on the line, they could take out a demigod or two, which was much more than what the popes were capable of.

Corte and Galen could ensure mutual destruction with a demigod and above, and they were unrivaled with all those below demigodhood!

The world of magic was practical. Power was king. Since Corte and Galen had power, the Popes could not compete with them. Moreover, the Holy Maidens held the exclusive privilege of interpreting oracles. Thus, the keys to their churches were in their hands.

Wonderful! Wayne grabbed the Philosopher’s Stone. With a nom, he got the knowledge he wanted.

“Mona, wake Holy Maiden Galen. She’s not eighteen anymore. How could she shamelessly stay asleep when others are working?” Wayne snapped his fingers, sending Mona in to wake Galen up. Now that there was no one standing behind him, Corte volunteered to take Mona’s place, patting herself on the chest.

Wayne ignored her. Once, he never left anything well enough alone, but now, he would leave well enough alone. He decided to stop expanding his harem. When Corte passionately offered herself, he rejected her by saying he would have a go next time, for sure.

Galen woke up in a daze, coming up to the desk while yawning. When she heard that Wayne wanted to check out her Philosopher’s Stone, she shot Corte a glare.

She didn’t have to ask to figure out that Corte must be trying to lure Wayne to her church’s headquarters to have her way with him, and that was why Wayne asked for a deposit in exchange. She could also guess that Wayne would walk away after taking the payment, pretending that nothing had happened.

Nevertheless, Galen produced the Philosopher’s Stone for him. The Moonlight Knight was one of their own, so she had nothing to hide from him.

“I approve of your decisiveness!” Wayne gave her a thumbs-up, having another good meal.

The five churches possessed five Philosopher’s Stones, among which Wayne had gotten his hands on four. That left the Church of Death.

With his twenty-twenty foresight, he was already plotting how he should acquire the stones of the Church of Death and the Papal State.

The amount of resources spent on him to rank up from Gold to Legendary had been terrifying, and he would need immeasurable resources to become a demigod. The Philosopher’s Stones alone wouldn’t be enough.

Even with all the helpful demon investors who had invested in him, he was still far from reaching the threshold of ranking up.

1. Challenger is the highest rank in League of Legends. ☜