In just two weeks, he was able to purify the River of Lamentation.
— Aaaaahhhh…
The groaning sound coming from the River of Lamentation faded away.
The grievous wails had disappeared, leaving only the sound of serenely flowing water. The river was still incomparably dirty, but the ghosts made far more comfortable expressions.
Ding!
The Fight Against the Embinyu has been completed.
The secret plot of the Embinyu Church to call forth ghosts and fill the continent with Demonic Spirits has been stopped by a righteous Sculptor.
It created a significant disruption in the Embinyu Church's plans, but they will contrive another plot.
In addition, the darkness enshrouding the Matallost Church has not yet been lifted.
— Fame has increased by 720.
You have accomplished a Sculpting Achievement.
For demolishing the Embinyu Church's plot, intimacy with all the Churches in the Versailles Continent has increased by 20.
Contribution to all the churches on the Versailles Continent has increased by 300.
With the Sculpting Achievement, you have acquired the title, 'World-Changing Sculptor.'
Kings and nobles will treat you like a famous figure and be prudent.
— Level has increased.
— Level has increased.
— Level has increased.
He completely recovered the levels he used to grant the sculptures life and even went up by two more levels.
His current level was exactly 360!
“It must be done now.”
Weed pulled out the Matallost Church symbol, the Statue of Death.
The statue was holding a sickle, and opened it eyes. Then it spoke.
— The trial has not yet ended. The Embinyu Church's plan has been disrupted, but they will conceive a new, more powerful ritual.
Ensure their ritual does not progress.
Interfere with the Embinyu Church's Ritual
The Embinyu Church will not cease to interfere with the River of Lamentation.
Stop the ritual completely by taking away the articles necessary for the altar and the ritual.
The Guardian Knights of the Matallost Church who guides the dead will assist you in your endeavor.
Chain quest to Rescue the Prisoners of the Matallost Church, Eradicate the Embinyu Church's 11th Sect, and the Matallost Church's Long-Cherished Wish.
Difficulty: A
Rewards: Relic of the Matallost Church
Quest Restriction: All chain quests will end if you are defeated by the Embinyu Church.
It meant if he were to fail the quest; Rescuing the Prisoners, Eradicating the Embinyu Church's 11th Sect, and the rest would also end.
Weed's eyes had already started sparkling the moment “rewards” were mentioned.
“As a righteous adventurer journeying across the Versailles Continent, I cannot turn a blind eye on the evildoings of the Embinyu Church. For the sake of the Matallost Church, I will ensure their ritual will be stopped for good.”
— You have accepted the quest.
Black smoke gushed out from the Statue of Death, and the River of Lamentation began to overflow. The water surged to the riverbank like crashing waves, and after a while, Knights walked out of the river.
Ghosts!
The 100 Guardian Knights who were hazily coming into existence were Weed's reinforcements.
Weed put the Guardian Knights, the Five Phoenix Brothers, and Yellowy on standby where he stood and stealthily crept near the location of the Embinyu Church.
The Embinyu Priests and Dark Knights had suspended their slaughter ritual and were plunged into chaos. The over 1,000 Demonic Spirits who had been guarding them also looked somewhat weakened. The light in their eyes had weakened, and their steps were strengthless.
'Seems like the purification of the River of Lamentation had an effect.'
Weed used the opening the Dark Knights on guard duty provided to inch closer.
There was a blood-red Skull and Coffin sewn on the robes of the Embinyu Church Priests. There were only 10 Priests who had Crows on their robes.
He could overhear their conversation.
“The River of Lamentation is not responding to our ritual.”
“Sacrifice more offerings.”
Priests with the Crow emblems looked like they were in charge. As they performed the ritual, hearts of lambs and deers were sacrificed.
The ritual showed a violent response, enough to flood the River of Lamentation! It had been potent enough to erode the rocks, and ghosts flew out helterskelter.
Weed watched the ritual nervously, but the river continued to flow leisurely.
The Priests, whose faces were barely visible due to upturned robe hoods, halted the ritual and said, “The strength of the ghosts has decreased.”
“What about the Demonic Spirits we sent aboveground?”
“They will also become increasingly weak.”
“The ritual must continue in order to make additional Demonic Spirits…. We'll have to bring the Matallost Church prisoners and ask them the reason why.”
The survivors of the Matallost Church!
It seemed they had become prisoners and were captives of the Embinyu Church.
“If we are to bring the prisoners, we will have to report to His Holiness, the Pope.”
“His Holiness will lead us. Let us return to the temple for now.”
They left about half of the Embinyu Priest and Dark Knight troops behind and moved downstream.
The temple was at a place where Weed hadn't scouted yet. He snuck behind them, and after following them for about two hours, a brilliant fortress made of gold and jewels appeared.
It was a high-class temple, entirely different level from the ruined temple of the Matallast Church!
The temple had been built into the natural terrain of the rocky mountain. It was equipped with a thick stone gate, a moat, ballistas, and even defensive installments for the deployment of Archers.
“Defend this place.”
Uuuoooohh!
At the command of the Embinyu Priests, the Demonic Spirits guarded the fort like an iron wall.
Weed couldn't go inside the fort, so he turned back to the place where the rituals had been performed.
“If they're to come back, there's probably only going to be a day, maybe two days in between!”
Weed mounted Yellowy in his full equipment, the armor and equipment gave him happiness!
He stood in front of the Guardian Knights with his cloak flapping.
It was a decisive moment.
Weed raised his sword high and burst out with Lion's Roar—
“GUARDIAN KNIGHTS, ATTACK!”
60 Guardian Knights ran forward in unison.
It was a charge made by only 60 party members towards over 500 Demonic Spirits, Embinyu Church Priests, and Dark Knights!
It looked incomparably reckless, but the reality was actually very different from the exterior.
The Guardian Knights who lead the dead were not living beings. As warriors of the Matallost Church, they were no different from ghosts. They would never die from normal methods, and they only received blows from the holy power of high-rank Priests or the black magic of the Dark Knights and above.
“It's the remnants of the Matallost Church.”
“Stop them!”
30 Dark Knights and over 500 Demonic Spirits held the front lines, but the Guardian Knights broke right through them.
Grawr?
“Get them!”
The Dark Knights turned and chased after the Guardian Knights.
The Guardian Knights only had one purpose.
Eradicate the Embinyu Church's Priests!