Chapter 451 - 92: October Revolution
His praiseworthy achievements are threefold:
First, stabilizing the College of Cardinals.
Following the cataclysm in the Sanctuary, the Church Court was rife with anxiety, and factional infighting intensified.
Cyril, leveraging his experience and connections, swiftly forged a consensus within the College of Cardinals. This prevented the Church Court’s highest decision-making body from fracturing and laid the foundation for his coronation and the new era.
Second, ensuring legal succession.
His coronation ceremony strictly adhered to the millennia-old traditions of the Church Court. Presided over by Saint Elizabeth, the procedures were complete and legally irreproachable, thereby preserving the legitimacy and sanctity of the papal succession during a turbulent period.
Third, responding to crisis.
When the calamity erupted, he decisively joined forces with the Northern Great Shepherd Leader to activate the "Wall of Faith." Although it was not a complete success, this action was crucial in containing the disaster’s spread and buying time, thus averting the worst-case scenario of the Holy City’s total destruction.
His undeniable failings are also threefold:
First, failure of oversight.
Security for the grand coronation was tight, yet an evil sigil was allowed to infiltrate the main square and detonate undetected. This disrupted the ceremony and destabilized the Half-Plane. It was his primary failure, revealing major flaws in his control over the Holy City’s core and his crisis-alert systems.
Second, a slow response.
Once the calamity began, despite activating the "Wall of Faith," he failed to immediately take more effective measures to contain the spread of wind, thunder, and water. The rescue and evacuation efforts were also chaotic, leading to heavy civilian casualties and the devastation of the Holy Land. This was his second failure, demonstrating a lack of decisiveness and executive ability when facing a sudden, large-scale supernatural disaster.
Third, insufficient power.
As the new Pope, his personal power and strategic capability were insufficient to quickly quell the chaos and save the people when faced with a calamity of ancient Wizard Level. He was forced to rely on the "Wall of Faith" for a desperate defense, ultimately ending up nearly helpless. This was his third and most fatal failure. From a theological standpoint, the Pope is Oriane’s highest representative on earth and should possess the power to protect the faithful and purge evil. Ete I fell short in this regard, causing his authority to rapidly erode during the disaster.
The Holy Sword Turns the Tide
As the Church Court struggled to hold on and the Holy City teetered on the brink of destruction, Holy Sword Murphy (an honorific from later generations; at the time, he was known as the Thunder Sword) appeared.
His Excellency Murphy first, with a single strike of his sword, intercepted a fatal sneak attack on Saint Elizabeth by the lurking "Shadow of the Earth," ensuring her safety.
He then decided the outcome with four strikes of his sword:
One strike to sever the Withering Wind, saving all living things from its Bone-Eroding touch;
One strike to extinguish the annihilating Thunder, preventing destruction before it could begin;
One strike to part the endless flood, opening a path to survival in a desperate situation;
One strike to intimidate the Shadow of the Earth, forcing the powerful foe to flee.
His power was immense. Single-handedly, he defeated the extended assaults of three ancient Wizards head-on and heavily wounded a fourth, reversing the course of the battle in a single stroke.
After quelling the calamity, His Excellency Murphy publicly pointed out Pope Ete I’s "three failures," stating bluntly that he "is no longer worthy to wear this crown, wield this Scepter, or sit upon this Holy Throne." He then proposed that Saint Elizabeth temporarily assume the duties of the Pope.
The Abdication of Power and the Dawn of a New Era
Faced with these irrefutable facts, Pope Ete I did not offer any vehement protest.
Gravely injured and exhausted, he personally removed the Crescent Star Crown and the Pope’s Staff. Refusing aid, he walked alone through the blood to stand before Saint Elizabeth.
At that moment, the sky was gloomy, and leaden clouds hung low, as if casting a shadow over this tragic transfer of power.
But then, Holy Sword Murphy swung his sword again. The Sword Qi shot to the heavens, brazenly tearing apart the thick, dark clouds!
Golden sunlight poured down from the rift in the clouds, forming a pillar of light that reached to the heavens and enveloped the altar.
Within the pillar of light, Pope Ete I, with his last ounce of strength, solemnly placed the Crescent Star Crown upon Elizabeth’s head, completing the sacred ritual of transferring power. He left her with his final words: "The Church Court... is in your hands."
He then collapsed from exhaustion and passed away in the light. (Note: While some historical sources claim he did not die but retired to recuperate, the official account records his death at this moment.)
Beneath the radiance of the sun and the crown, Saint Elizabeth accepted the authority of the Church Court.
This event is known to history as the "October Revolution" or the "Restoration of the Holy City."
Aftermath and Conclusion
After ascending to the throne, Saint Elizabeth took the regnal name "Vesta I," a name signifying "holy fire," "guardianship," and "rebirth."
During her reign, she focused internally on treating the wounded, comforting the faithful, and rebuilding the Holy City, while externally, she actively coordinated with various powers to stabilize order on the Continent. She also initiated a series of reforms aimed at strengthening the Church Court’s relief functions and easing internal conflicts, a political program known to history as the "Vesta New Policies."
The reign of Ete I, which began with a grand coronation and ended with his abdication during the great upheaval, lasted barely an hour, making him the shortest-reigning Pope in the history of the Church Court.
In his life, he was dedicated to consolidating the traditional authority of the Church Court, yet in the end, his own departure made way for a new era with a greater spirit of reform.
Later historians evaluating his merits and demerits mostly consider him a transitional figure who bridged two eras. He is credited for struggling to keep the Church Court from collapsing during a crisis, but faulted for being unequal to the task and failing to lead the Church Court in facing new challenges during a time of great change.
His final act of calmly relinquishing power is seen as a wise decision that prioritized the greater good and ensured the continuation of the Church Court.
—The Editorial Committee of "A Thousand Years of the Papacy," finalized in the 1220th year of the Pioneer Era.
[End-of-Volume Addendum]
Regarding the deeds of "Holy Sword Murphy" described in this volume, there are still differing opinions and controversies within the Church Court concerning the nature and origin of his power. However, his meritorious deeds in saving the Holy City and protecting the Saint during the "October Revolution" are undeniable. Therefore, they are hereby recorded in the annals of history for the knowledge of future generations.