Chapter 786: Priestess (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 786: Priestess (4)
“Manipulation?”
“Yes. The moment Sanna finished her first prayer, records suddenly started pouring in. It was as if the interference that had been plaguing the battlefield vanished in an instant.”
Valeria opened a record window.
<Lokia Ganesto rescues Kelliark Zipple from the brink of death and exits the Tower of Stories.>
<‘It cannot end here, Kelliark Zipple. You must become complete and face Cyron.’>
Two sentences were clearly displayed in the record window.
“The records I obtained about Lokia from Sir Luntia’s subspace weren't stable like this; they scattered and destabilized immediately. That could have been due to the historical manipulation surrounding Lokia, or it could have been one of her own tricks.”
“But unlike then, the records you obtained about Lokia this time are perfectly stable…?”
“Exactly. Sanna interfered. And I believe she thinks I didn’t notice. I wouldn't have been certain myself if I hadn't witnessed the prayer end, or if I hadn't already confirmed how unstable Lokia's records usually are.”
What Sanna had interfered with was not the record magic itself, but the records left behind at the scene.
If she had interfered with the record magic, Valeria would have undoubtedly felt it. However, if the records themselves were altered, the current Valeria had no way of knowing. Her record magic wasn't perfect yet.
As Valeria explained this, her companions nodded in understanding.
“So, Sanna was manipulating the records, expecting us to arrive. We just happened to get there at the exact moment she was tampering with them, which is how we noticed. It also seems she couldn't perfectly replicate the unique instability of Lokia's records,” Jin summarized.
“That’s right, Jin.”
“Then doesn’t that lower the possibility of Priestess Sanna being in league with Lokia Ganesto?” Siris asked.
As she said, if Sanna and Lokia were allies, there would be no reason to manipulate the records in this manner. Lokia could have simply stepped forward and done exactly what she did in Luntia’s subspace.
Mort’s breath hitched. A short while later, the group arrived at the Tikan Palace garden, and the meeting began immediately. Ruet, who was at the Garden of Swords, and Iello, on Honka Island, were also able to participate via communication devices.
For a while, Valeria took the lead, sharing the information she had gathered from the Tower of Stories with her comrades.
“…That is all.”
{[You’ve worked hard, Valeria. Based on your explanation, I believe there are three main points. First, the truth behind Kelliark’s berserk state and his current whereabouts. Second, the relationship between Zipple and Sanna, and between Lokia and Sanna. Third, the reason for the manipulation and the enemy's true objective.]}
As Ruet spoke, the discussion began with Kelliark’s berserk state.
When the question of whether Kelliark Zipple truly sought the power of the Evil God was raised, Jin and most of his companions were skeptical.
“Kelliark has never shown any signs of this before. We might have missed something, but this is the first time a berserk state and a battle have occurred within the Tower of Stories.”
“That is true, Young Master. It also makes no sense for the clan to try and turn Kelliark into the Evil God. That power is uncontrollable, and it was already defeated by the temporary alliance once before. Especially since your Fighting God Union played the most decisive role, there’s no reason for Zipple to covet it.”
The power of the Evil God was a disaster that could lead the world to ruin.
However, it had been defeated by the Great Powers and Jin not long ago. To obtain the absolute dominance Zipple desired, they needed a power greater than that of the Evil God.
Furthermore, they had the Demon God Stone. Rather than seeking the power of the Evil God, completing the Demon God Stone was far more in line with Zipple’s goals.
“The process of becoming the Evil God also requires Heluram’s authority. However, unlike the Prophet, the priestess named Sanna uses the authority of the Sun God.”
“Then… it means Kelliark’s berserk state might have been Veradin’s doing, for the sake of a purge.”
The companions' eyes turned toward Quicantel as she spoke.
“Veradin Zipple orchestrated all of this to purge Kelliark and seize absolute power over the clan…?”
“If Veradin has been intentionally provoking Kadun to strip away his influence, then Kadun’s recent behavior could also serve as evidence for that.”
“There are plenty of motives for a purge. If Kelliark was in an unrecoverable state, Veradin could solidify his own power by taking him down. Even if Kelliark had to be killed for going berserk, it would have been better for Veradin to frame him and deal with the matter personally.”
Jin met his comrades' eyes and continued.
“…Or, just like with the Evil God, it might be another one of Lokia Ganesto's schemes. Whichever it is, it’s clear that Kelliark has been ousted. Finding his whereabouts and asking him directly will be the surest way to know the truth.”
“As my Lord said, it would be best to find Kelliark. Since Sanna’s record was a fabrication, there might not have been anyone who helped him escape. If so, he must have escaped on his own and is currently in hiding.”
Whatever the reason for Kelliark’s purge, the head of Zipple was now Veradin. Kelliark’s era had come to a complete end.
And Jin felt it instinctively.
Fighting his friend, who had become so strange, would be harder than facing Kelliark ever was.
An authority similar to record magic, a stronger Demon God Stone, the Holy Land, and the presence of the Magic Swordsman Bio-Golems there…
In reality, the abilities Veradin had shown since returning to lead Zipple as the Acting Patriarch were far more threatening than anything from Kelliark’s era.
{[Valeria is the only one who can take on the task of finding Kelliark. Even if he didn’t become the Evil God, it’s a fact that he went berserk with Chaos energy, so he won’t be able to hide for long. Chaos energy of that magnitude will eventually be exposed somewhere. We must find him before Zipple does to learn the truth.]}
“Understood, Lady Ruet.”
{[Regarding the record manipulation, I will also work hard to deduce more information.]}
“Now, let’s talk about Sanna, the priestess,” Jin said. “Appearing out of nowhere, she didn’t hide her solar authority at all. She informed us that there are several sects within the Sun God religion and showed enough authority to manipulate records.”
“And Jin, when you asked if she intended to destroy the world first before resurrecting the Sun God, she hesitated for a moment,” Siris added.
“Until now, Sun God followers, including Orgal, have claimed that the world will become complete again once the Sun God is resurrected. So, Sanna might be trying to resurrect the Sun God after destroying the entire world. Since the world will become complete again once the Sun God returns, it wouldn't matter if it was destroyed first.”
If Siris’s assumption was true, the difference in stance between Kinzelo and Sanna became clear.
Kinzelo wanted to preserve and transform the world, while Sanna likely wanted to start over from the very beginning.
“If Lady Siris’s assumption is correct, the destruction of the world might be a prerequisite for the Sun God’s resurrection. At least, that’s what Sanna’s sect might believe,” Jin mused.
“Then doesn’t that also explain why Sanna is with Zipple instead of Kinzelo?” Enya exclaimed. “She’s planning to use Zipple to destroy the world first! Using things like the Demon God Stone and Elona Zipple, whom Lady Misha is currently sealing.”
As Enya spoke, the companions' eyes widened.
It was merely an assumption, but they all felt a chill run down their spines.
“However, if the destruction of the world is a prerequisite for the Sun God’s resurrection, then Sanna and Lokia have overlapping interests. Lokia is the one suspected of inducing Rosa to become the Evil God from behind the scenes.”
“No matter what assumption we apply, the possibility of Lokia and Sanna being allies remains open,” Valeria said. “The reason the manipulated record wasn’t unstable this time could simply be because Lokia, who is cooperating with Sanna, was unavoidably absent.”
The companions nodded at Valeria’s opinion.
Sanna, Lokia, Kinzelo.
These three, regardless of their differing paths, were individuals with the same ultimate goal. This meant they could join forces at any time if a decisive moment to resurrect the Sun God arrived.
{[Sir Vail, do you know anything about the Sun God religion or its sects?]}
“No, nothing. It’s quite annoying that this Sanna brat might have greater authority than I do.”
{[Try to be more useful.]}
“Alright… sorry.”
“Hmm, anyway, based on the assumptions we’ve made so far… it seems highly likely that Zipple and Sanna are in a relationship of mutual exploitation,” Jin said. “Zipple is sticking with her for the completion of the Demon God Stone and the Magic Swordsman Bio-Golems, and Sanna is with them for the resurrection of the Sun God.”
“It’s a situation similar to when Kinzelo and Zipple were allies in the past.”
“Just like then, we have no choice but to carefully maneuver them into turning on each other. We have to ensure neither of them achieves what they want.”
The completion of the Demon God Stone and the resurrection of the Sun God—the enemies' goals were clear.
For a while, the meeting continued with similar theories. Since the situation only allowed for assumptions without any firm conclusions, they needed to meet someone with the most definitive knowledge about the Sun God religion and Lokia.
“I must meet Orgal, Your Majesty. He will surely know about Sanna. If I just barge in like last time, he’ll cause a scene, so please send a letter immediately.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
Just as they were about to wrap up the meeting, urgent footsteps echoed from the hallway. It was Jet, running.
“Jet?”
“My Lord! Kelliark! Kelliark Zipple’s…!”
As soon as Jet burst into the meeting room, he blurted out Kelliark’s name with a look of utter shock.
“What?”
“Someone claiming to be from Kelliark Zipple has come to Tikan! They said they have an urgent message for you, my Lord…! I thought it was just some lunatic, but they showed me the Seal of Fire!”
“…Bring them in at once!”