Virus King - Chapter 152

Chapter 152: The Church’s Judgment! The Spear of Longinus!

TL: YYang

Vatican City.

This small city, merely two hundred kilometers from Florence, was one of the core centers of the Western world.

Here, at the relative heart of the Holy Roman Empire, stood the papal state—a fusion of church and state, an unyielding symbol of power and faith.

Every day, countless devout believers traveled long distances, carrying a pilgrim’s heart to this sacred place. They came to their holy land, the boundless realm of light, seeking an audience with their God and His earthly representative.

However, at this moment, the grand cathedral, regarded as a sacred site by innumerable pious followers, was shrouded in shadows. Fourteen figures sat around a long table bathed in the radiance of the cross.

The divine light seemed unable to brighten the somber expressions of those gathered around the table.

At the head of the table sat an elderly man cloaked in white and gold robes. His expression was grim and uncertain.

The crusade launched in God’s name had not reclaimed the Holy Land. Instead, it had brought back a terrifying plague that now ravaged the entire Western continent!

The glory and authority of God seemed feeble and frail.

Even within the papal state, even in Rome itself, many began to question the church’s authority and, by extension, the might of God.

This blow to the church’s standing was unimaginable!

And yet, at this moment, there was another pressing matter.

“You’ve all heard about the Cult of the Plague, haven’t you?”

The Pope glanced at the other figures seated at the long table.

Here were the eleven cardinals of the church, the head of the Inquisition, and the Grandmaster of the Knights Templar.

In other words, this was the highest assembly of the church.

The towering, broad-shouldered blond Grandmaster of the Templars placed a fist over his heart and declared: “Any heresy shall vanish under the True God’s gaze. The Knights Templar are prepared to clear all obstacles for the True God! Your Holiness, command us!”

The Pope nodded in satisfaction.

Yet, at that moment, one of the cardinals spoke up: “However, it seems the Cult of the Plague has indeed found a way to deal with the plague. Reports from Florence indicate that there is truly no sign of the plague there anymore!”

Realizing the odd gazes of his peers, the cardinal quickly added: “This must be heresy stealing our Lord’s divine authority. We should reclaim this authority for our Lord, illuminating the world and returning the glory and power to our Lord and the church!”

Only then did the others withdraw their stares. The Pope’s expression returned to one of solemnity and coldness:

“Purging the Cult of the Plague is not an immediate concern. As Michel said, reclaiming our Lord’s authority and glory is the true priority. And now, our Lord has provided guidance!

That heretic has already entered Rome! Divine revelation has shown that these heretics will only understand our Lord’s omnipotence under His purification!

Soren! Take the knights loyal to our Lord. I permit you to wield the artifact, the Spear of Longinus. Under our Lord’s gaze, pierce the heretic’s body and reclaim our Lord’s authority!”

“Yes, Your Holiness!”

…

Rome.

Although not the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, Rome was a prosperous city within the empire and the seat of the church’s greatest power. Its population was beyond question.

Now, standing before it was Chen Bai.

He was genuinely intrigued by the church.

Having spent several days in this medieval Western world, Chen Bai decided to take his time and prepare for a prolonged campaign. As long as he could obtain an SSS-Rank Profession Scroll, any sacrifice would be worth it—even if it meant staying here for a while.

What Chen Bai didn’t yet realize was that under the influence of the Time Hourglass, the flow of time in the outside world had diverged significantly from the secret realm’s time.

The Western continent was vast beyond measure!

Even with his extraordinary constitution and speed, gathering all the Plague Seeds by himself was an exceptionally difficult task.

The establishment of the Cult of the Plague was inevitable. In the Holy Roman Empire and the Frankish Empire—regions most devastated by the Black Death—the greatest obstacle he faced was the church itself!

The spread of the Cult of the Plague would become much easier once the trouble posed by the church was resolved.

…

“My Lord! You are the Creator who saves all. I am willing to donate my entire fortune to build a cathedral in Your name here in Rome. It will serve as a holy place where those You have saved from suffering can praise Your deeds!”

In the city of Rome, a wealthy merchant knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

Chen Bai smiled faintly as he felt the growth of the Plague Seed in his palm. He simply chuckled and replied: “The plague is everywhere. Anyone who walks alongside my children is already my follower. Whether there is a cathedral or not is of no consequence.”

He slowly stepped out of the room.

His dark green robe, though worn for less than two days, had already become a symbol of divine miracles to both the poor and the rich in Rome.

His healing required no payment. His blessings cared not for one’s status. Wherever He appeared, true miracles manifested.

For He Himself was the True God.

Yet, if this were anywhere else, it might have been of little consequence. But this was Rome.

Not far from the city of Rome lay the Vatican, the heart of the church’s power.

This place was where the church’s rule was most unyielding.

Nearly all inhabitants of this city were devout followers of the Church of Light.

Here, a command from the Pope held more sway than the imperial decrees and armies of the Holy Roman Empire’s emperor.

Thus, scarcely had Chen Bai stepped out of the long street when the previously bustling avenues fell silent. The citizens had vanished, replaced by rows of knights clad in gleaming silver-white armor.

Under countless watchful eyes, the one they regarded as a walking True God showed not a trace of fear. On the contrary, He seemed entirely unaware of the knights encircling Him and continued walking unhurriedly toward the very center of Rome.

…

At the heart of Rome stood a vast square.

In its center rose an enormous cross.

This was the only execution ground used by the church when passing judgment on heretics.

And at this moment, under the bewildered gazes of all Romans,

Their faith was about to drive the True God, who had healed their bodies, to this very place, where He would be judged before the eyes of the masses.

And the instrument of this judgment was none other than the artifact that had long been the object of fervent worship—the Spear of Longinus!

Yet at this moment, no one stood in solidarity with the church.