Chapter 900: Chapter 901: Into Difficult Times No one had such audacity to call Father Dantalion Danny. In fact, it was unheard of. Who dared? No one... with the sole exception of Damon Grey. His hand was still outstretched, and Dantalion had the small urge to cut it off, but reason and logic stopped him from doing so. And of course, the consequences. The Nine Star Elders were spiritual leaders, and so was the High Templar, who acted as both Templar and Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire, although he was more of a spiritual leader. That said, the real deterrent was the Grand Duke, who would not care and would level this whole city if his grandson was touched. Not to mention afterward he could just claim he was acting to protect the Holy Child. Dantalion slowly reached out his hand while cursing Damon’s shamelessness under his breath. Damon didn’t seem satisfied. In the most shamelessly androgynous voice he could muster— "Kiss the ring, Danny my son... kiss the ring." Everyone was watching. Many people were here. He had to kiss the ring, even those other fanatics from the Inquisition. He put down his pride and took the hand again, placing a kiss on the ring. As soon as he was done, Damon took out a handkerchief and cleaned the ring like it was the most disgusting thing ever. He cleared his throat. "Ahem... you are blessed, my child." He placed a hand on Dantalion’s head, which was weird. Damon almost felt something before Dantalion moved his head back. "Many thanks, your holiness." Damon turned away, his gaze now landing on Aurelius Venn. The dragon-kin almost wanted to spread his wings and leave, but he took a slow breath and sucked it up. He would make sure to make things difficult for Damon later. "Venny, my boy... kiss daddy’s ring... I mean, kiss the holy hand and receive the goddess’ divine blessing." He cleared his throat, even though he had just said what he said, and everyone was practically looking away. Aurelius Venn bit his lips, then took Damon’s hand. Damon closed his eyes as if he was receiving some divine revelation. "The goddess has forgiven you, Venny... you are blessed." No one wanted to be next. Damon was making a spectacle of a holy event, but no one stopped him. He was, after all, the one the event was made for. He was just about to return to the altar when he noticed someone. Damon paused. His eyes narrowed. Wasn’t this the priest the Temple had sent to buy his Ascendant armor back when he had returned from Lysithara? In fact, this man tried to make things difficult for Damon. A lesser man would forgive him and be magnanimous. Damon was not a lesser man. He paused in front of the man, pointing his hand in his direction. "I sense evil energy around you..." Damon just wanted to be rude. At most, he would be investigated, but they’d eventually let him go if he was innocent. "You must be colluding with demons... I sense evil around you..." The man’s face paled when Damon said that. His eyes widened. Dantalion frowned heavily, his gaze cold as ice. Damon risked his life and rotated a bit of that divine energy. The Holy Shroud made him even holier. "You are an enemy of the goddess. I see your truth laid bare..." "Seize him," Damon commanded. He was the main character today; they had to give him face. The Knights Templar who were there glanced at the High Templar, who slowly nodded. At most, they’d release him later and move him to another branch so the Holy Son continued being mysterious. However, the priest’s face tightened, his gaze filled with madness. "Damn you foul people... you will never take me!" He reached into his robes and pulled out a small ornament that seemed like a pendant. When Damon saw it, he was almost stupefied. It had the familiar symbol of the Unknown God. As soon as it appeared, everyone’s eyes widened with shock. Damon was even more confused. He was just trying to make things difficult for him; he didn’t really think he would be a demon race spy. He raised the ornament. "Hail Unknown, the Unknown God." When he said that, a barrier appeared around him, covering him in a circular dome. He laughed wildly. "Hahahahaha! You cannot harm me. I will chant the Unknown God’s divine name, and when it’s complete I will be sent to the Snake Temple..." The Knights Templar raised their swords and sliced at the barrier, but it all bounced off. "Hahaha, fools! Only those of the Unknown God’s faith may pass." He fell to his knees, clutching the ornament. "All hail Unknown— God of Names, Unmaker of All. The Dreamer and the Void, The Birth and the Silence." When he spoke, the area within the barrier began to distort as if space was folding. The High Templar gritted his teeth. "Raise the holy barrier. This traitor must not escape alive. Seal this whole space." When he said that, golden light seeped from the ground and shot up to the heavens. A large barrier sealed the whole Holy City with its golden radiance. But it did nothing. He continued to chant. "Wielder of All Absolutes, Bringer of Truth, Master of Lies. Genesis Alpha — the First Light, Nemesis Omega — the Last Breath." Damon paused. It was surprising the Temple had a spy amongst them. This guy was clearly a human, yet he was a believer in the Unknown God, and he must have been quite high-ranked to be given this ornament with such magnificent power. This was the ultimate escape tool for when your life was in danger. He had to get it to preserve his own life. His prayer did not stop. "He who is the Law, and He who denies it. He who dreams reality and wakes into nothingness. The End of Ends, the Origin of Origins." Then knights, mages, and whoever else bombarded the barrier, yet even with all their power it was like it existed in another reality. His escape was certain. Space was now becoming illusionary. "God of Wrath. God of Resentment. Praise to the God of the Damned. Hail the Lord of Choice." Damon took a step forward and placed his hand on the barrier. There was no resistance. It would let him through. He suppressed a smile. Right—he was still technically on the Unknown God’s side, so he was one of the people this barrier would grant access to. Before everyone’s baffled eyes, Damon walked into the barrier. "Unseen Sovereign. The Silent Witness. Discordia the Imperfect. Hail the Paradox. Hail the Abyss. Hail Unknown, the Unknown God." And he grabbed the priest before he could disappear. With a single action, he pulled out his sword from his shadow storage and stabbed his heart. With his other hand, he took the ornament and shoved it into his shadow storage using the shadow of his palm. "Ho... how did you get past the barrier..." Damon was so lucky he asked naturally. He spoke loud enough for all to hear. "The goddess is by my side, and she has given me the divine mandate of the heavens. I shall be the end of all heretics." Blood spilled on the ground as the man’s eyes faded in death. Damon got his revenge in the most unexpected way. Meanwhile, everyone cheered for him. All those Knights Templar and followers of the Temple were now looking at him with awe, basking in his holiness as he stood in his white shroud, crown gleaming on his head. Father Dantalion frowned deeply, but he kept his expression restrained. The High Templar walked up to the corpse, surrounded by Knights Templar. "Where is his evil ornament..." Damon closed his eyes. "I’m afraid it must have been destroyed by my holy aura... evil things cannot seem to withstand me... ahh... goddess be with us..." He shook his head slowly, as if disappointed. "A shame. Who would have thought these evil people could sneak into our glorious and holy Temple? How dare they blaspheme the goddess’ name and practice such heresy before your holiness, to boot. We must act to crush any remaining followers of that vile, no-good god." Damon spoke with righteous indignation in his voice. Of course, he didn’t forget to cast shade on everyone else and make the Temple crack down on its own people. "We cannot tolerate such evil amongst us. I personally cannot abide that Unknown God and his corruption. He is truly the most vile and evil of existence." This was his honest feeling, especially since the Unknown God liked to screw him over. After all, he was holding a grudge. "Indeed. Indeed," the High Templar said slowly. "But how did you get past the barrier?" Damon pressed out his holy aura. "The goddess spoke to me... it was divine inspiration. Only the power of the goddess can overcome this evil, and I have been chosen." The High Templar nodded. "Yes, I see. I finally understand why the Aether Academy made the decision it did. The Temple will fully support them. Only someone like you can handle such a task." Damon suddenly felt his danger sense explode. "Huh? What?" The High Templar placed his hand on Damon’s shoulder. "The Academy will fill you in... goddess be with you in your difficult times." Damon was now utterly gobsmacked.