This was a spectacular coastal canyon.
Tall dark trees blocked the sun, and the winding, rugged coastline stretched to the horizon.
Inside the ancient divine hall, leaders from various tribes of the Freedom Alliance Tribe had gathered, surrounding a handsome elf dressed in a tailcoat.
The elders and the people of each tribe had already filled the inside and outside of the divine hall, making it impenetrable.
Inside and outside the divine hall, silence reigned, and everyone's gaze was focused on the lifelike faceless divine statue and the nervous young girl kneeling in front of it.
"Divine Envoy Lord, great Savior, can really hear our call?"
An elderly tribal leader couldn't help but look towards the smiling elf envoy, his hoarse voice trembling slightly.
"Elf Divine Envoy" Sebastian smiled gently.
He stretched out his hand and drew the symbol of a thorny rose on his chest, his voice gentle yet fervent:
"Just as you all have been longing for this day, the great one… has already cast his gaze upon you all."
Having said that, he turned to the girl sitting at the front of the divine statue:
"Astrid, the time has come, begin the ritual."
"As I have taught you, feel, call, and praise the true divine name of his Majesty!"
"As long as your heart holds faith, as long as your spirit is pure, as long as your faith is devout, you will naturally be able to invoke the blessings his Majesty left in you, and the great one… will naturally hear your voice!"
Encouraged by Sebastian, Astrid drew a deep breath, her expression gradually firming.
She extended her right hand, drew the symbol of a thorny rose on her chest, and then bowed profoundly towards the divine statue on the altar:
"Dark overseer and protector,"
"Subverter and reshaper of order."
"Sovereign of Dark Night,"
"Savior of the Freedom Alliance Tribe, incarnation of the cycle of light and dark—"
"Great... Dark Night God!"
"Your devout believer, Astrid, prays to you here, seeking your watchful eyes, seeking your protection, seeking… your power."
The girl's voice was ethereal and utterly devout.
As she prayed, the people of the tribal communities within and outside the divine hall also knelt down, joining the girl in chanting:
"Great Dark Night God!"
"Your devout believers… seek your watchful eyes, seek your protection, seek your power!"
The massive voices surged like a tidal wave, stirring echoes in the canyon that completely drowned out the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.
Everyone bowed toward the divine statue, their eyes filled with hope and apprehension.
The echoes of the prayers gradually dissolved into the sound of the waves.
The ancient divine hall returned to silence once more.
Looking at the unchanging divine statue on the altar, the expectant gaze of the people gradually dimmed, and the light of hope in their eyes slowly extinguished.
Even Astrid, who knelt before the divine statue, slowly closed her eyes.
"Still… no response?"
Looking at the unaltered altar, an elderly tribal elder's expression fell, displaying despair.
The girl suddenly opened her eyes.
She clasped her hands together and placed them on her chest, lifting her head, her expression devout as she gazed at the lifelike divine statue: Updates are released by novel✦fire.net
"I... I think I felt the power of the Savior..."
As soon as she finished speaking, a crimson glow burst forth from the girl's body.
Her chest emitted a red brilliance, and a phantom orb slowly ascended from her.
Drawn by some force, the orb flew toward the Divine Statue on the altar, eventually merging with it.
The crimson radiance spread across the Divine Statue.
Suddenly, the once faceless Divine Statue underwent a transformation!
Its features gradually became distinct, its form progressively complete, until in the blink of an eye, it had transformed from a faceless Divine Statue into a delicate and beautiful goddess statue.
A column of crimson light, centered on the Divine Statue, shot into the sky.
An ancient and venerable aura slowly descended upon the Divine Hall, accompanied by an awe-inspiring Divine Might that seemed to dominate all under heaven.
In a trance, the praying believers of the Savior seemed to see a grand Divine Hall appearing in the void, where a goddess in a black divine dress sat high upon the Divine Throne.
Stars adorned Her throne, and the Blood Moon formed Her backdrop.
Everyone felt as if an awakening pulse reached deep within their veins, accompanied by a voice that was majestic, melodic, and ethereal, resonating in their hearts:
"Your prayers, I... have acknowledged."
A subtle wave of energy diffused out, passing through the people and further into the distance.
At this moment, all believers of the Freedom Alliance Tribe felt as if some shackles had been shattered within them, and at the same time... it was as if something got connected.
The crimson radiance continuously burst forth among the crowd.
Those tribe priests who had already met the criteria of Totem Priest but had never been able to successfully cast the Totem Divine Skill were ecstatic to discover that an astonishing totem power had suddenly appeared within them!
That wasn't totem power.
It was the power of Divine Arts, a gift from the deity that the Clergy should have wielded!
"I... I think I can use the power of the Totem now!"
"No, not just the power of the Totem! It's Divine Arts! It's the Dark Night Divine Arts belonging to our Freedom Alliance Tribe!"
"The Savior has not forsaken us! The Savior... really has not forsaken us!"
"Praise the Savior! Praise the Order! Praise the great Dark Night God!"
Priests awakened with "Totem Power" cried and laughed, bowing in worship toward the glowing Divine Statue on the altar.
"Divine Favored girl" Astrid also showed excitement.
Listening to her people's cheers and feeling the unprecedented power of Divine Grace Blessing in the Divine Hall, she felt that all her persistence and efforts had been worthwhile.
"Praise the Order, praise the Darkness, praise the great Dark Night God!"
Her voice trembled as she bowed once again before the Divine Statue.
The crimson radiance continued to spread.
Gradually, the light moved away from the statue on the altar, converging right in front of the girl.
Astrid's heart stirred.
Almost instinctively, she reached out her hand.
The crimson glow, as if sentient, landed in the palm of the girl, coalescing and evolving until it formed a thick book with a black base and golden red trim.
On it, written in the common language of the continent, were the words:
Sebastian, who was attending the ceremony, couldn't help but look over.
He recognized it as the scripture of the Dark Night Church that he, along with Werewolf Luf and priest Lotti, had composed under the guidance and teaching of the True Ancestor, and that had recently been submitted to the True Ancestor.
Today's update is short, consider it half an update, there will be more tomorrow.