Only God
Chapter 198 - 172: Battlefield Where Heroes Gather

Chapter 198: Chapter 172: Battlefield Where Heroes Gather

Returning from the abandoned temple, time had swiftly passed, and night had soon fallen.

"Recently, the Royal City has become heavily guarded."

Facing Noen, Casas spoke,

"My father said that the coalition of Beastmen will reach Ajia’s city gates in seven days."

Noen nodded slightly, having already heard the details from the horsemen.

"What now... With the looming war, what did Queen Isis say?"

Noen asked.

A brazier burned between the two, and Casas slowly said:

"Queen Isis, in His Majesty’s name, had already ordered the gathering of the brave within the kingdom.

Now, the armies of the Three-eyed Ape People’s city-states are hurrying to the Royal City’s aid, and those heroes had already demonstrated their prowess in a previous battle."

"Heroes?"

"Like Baird."

Mentioning the man once draped in Dragon Skin, Casas smiled.

"I know; I heard about him from Shanon among the horsemen."

"Noen, but you haven’t heard how truly heroic he was,"

Casas was somewhat agitated, his face showing admiration as he described the battle scene to Noen,

"Facing Chenfeng’s Beastmen, he alone, on his chariot, launched spear after spear. The sound of them tearing through the air accompanied the Beastmen’s screams, and even the swiftest horsemen couldn’t catch up to him.

Once Baird leaped from the chariot, he sprouted Dragon Scales, a blessing from Endora, and with a Bronze Giant Sword in hand, slaughtered the Beastman warriors like cattle.

Even a Beastman hero named Bolos, who similarly received Endora’s blessing, reluctantly fell by Baird’s hand, and the renowned panther-man archer Puli had one of his arms severed, leaving him unable to bend a bow and string an arrow for the rest of his life."

In Casas’s animated narrative, scenes of heroic battles unfolded before Noen.

Baird, like a rising star, shone brilliantly in this Gem War.

"Noen, even the Beastman king of Chenfeng admired him, commanding his heroes to grant him an honorable death.

Baird,

now the whole city sings his name."

For both sides’ warriors, Baird stood as the paragon of heroes, towering on the battlefield, his valor even mildly stirring the heart of the Prophet.

"By the way, has Baird found the gemstone that can touch the heart?"

Noen suddenly asked.

Casas’s expression stiffened slightly, then he said:

"No, the last time I saw Baird, he still seemed lost.

His beloved still sleeps,

and even the victory of war can’t bring this hero lasting joy."

"Is that so..."

Noen sighed.

He and Casas, nine years ago, had discovered the non-existent horn of the Taurus.

Yet, Baird had always failed to find a gemstone poignant enough for his beloved.

Suddenly, Noen thought of something and asked:

"The Heavenly Descending Gem... could it be the gemstone that Baird is searching for?"

"You ask at a crucial point."

Casas, manipulating the brazier with a pair of tongs,

"Baird believes... that universally coveted Heavenly Descending Gem, should indeed be the gemstone that can awaken his beloved."

Casas turned his head, gazing out at the tightly packed houses beyond the window.

Then, he said with a smile,

"Noen, why don’t we go see Baird? It’s been such a long time since you parted; seeing you will surely make him happy."

As his words fell on Noen’s ears, he nodded slightly.

The next day arrived swiftly.

Noen was in no rush to work on the construction of the New Rule Garden; instead, he instructed that the members of the Yibia Family, who worshipped the Lord, should henceforth pray in the abandoned Temple.

As a Prophet, Noen held high esteem, and the Stone Slaves did not question his decision. Following Casas’s approval, they followed Noen to clean and tidy up the forsaken Temple, laying carpets and setting up an altar.

Watching the Temple, long covered in dust, become bright after cleaning, Noen couldn’t help but smile.

After the noon prayers, Noen and the Stone Slaves gathered together to share the roast cakes and bread sent by Casas, along with some fine barley wine.

While they ate, the Stone Slaves reminisced about the old Priest, lamenting the changes over the years.

Noen’s gaze drifted to the Palace, his eyes seemingly piercing through the spice-filled palace walls, landing on Queen Isis standing next to the throne.

A moment later, Noen shook his head.

The old Priest’s final wish was for him to find his homeland and faith of yore, not to seek revenge.

Moreover,

Noen was no longer just himself; he was also God’s Prophet.

He would not, nor could he, wield a sword for personal vengeance.

"Let God judge her... judge her soul after death."

When people die, their souls will eventually go to the Tree established by God on the high mountain.

After an extensive time, God will conduct a grand judgment in His Kingdom, where countless souls will either be rewarded for their virtue or punished for their evil, and God’s Law will forever stand high above.

After noon the following day.

Casas came to the almost renewed abandoned Temple, wanting to join Noen in visiting Baird.

Noen stood up from the ground, nodded, and followed Casas.

The two walked through streets patrolled by soldiers, heading toward the residence of Baird.

Baird’s current residence was a gift from the Queen. He was not born in the Royal City; he hailed from a remote city-state near the grasslands where wild beasts roamed, which perhaps was why he had fostered his world-renowned bravery.

Arriving at the plaza in front of Baird’s residence.

Noen looked around; the plaza was filled with robust warriors clad in armor, awaiting Baird’s orders.

They wielded wooden swords and shields, sparring with each other at the center.

Baird stood in a corner of the plaza, his chiseled brows slightly furrowed, flanked by heroes less renowned than him yet full of charismatic valor, with several Minstrels trailing behind them, ready to perform at any moment.

When Casas brought Noen in front of Baird.

After staring for a moment, Baird exclaimed in astonishment,

"Is that you? Noen! You’ve returned?!"

"It is I, Baird."

Hearing the familiar voice, Baird trembled.

It was the belated excitement of seeing an old friend after a long time.

He grabbed Noen’s shoulders, suppressing his excitement as he asked,

"Noen... how long has it been since we parted?"

"Nine years, over three thousand days and nights."

Noen, too, was emotionally stirred.

The other heroes behind Baird cast curious glances at Noen.

"Baird, is he your friend?"

"Yes, Tusi."

Baird turned around and spoke softly,

"You don’t know the kind of great deeds Noen has performed.

You only know of my bravery on the battlefield.

But you cannot see how he fulfilled the covenant with the Divine."

"The covenant with... the Divine?"

Tusi, bearing his shield, showed a look of surprise.

Realizing he had said too much, Baird smiled guiltily and continued,

"Forgive me, because of the Queen, I cannot reveal everything."

Upon hearing this, several heroes nodded, expressing their understanding.

Then, to meet with Noen and Casas, Baird and the other heroes made a temporary farewell.

Walking on the flat grand avenue of the Royal City, Noen could feel that along the way, people looked up at Baird with admiration and envy.

This hero among heroes was so dazzling that one might even doubt whether he was the illegitimate son of the Divine.

"Baird... That Heavenly Descending Gem, could it really be the treasure that awakens your beloved?"

Casas suddenly asked while they walked.

Baird looked puzzled and replied,

"Didn’t I already mention it?"

"Noen doesn’t know."

"Oh."

Baird turned around and smiled at Noen, saying,

"I don’t know if that gemstone is truly the treasure that will awaken my love.

But... I can only pin my hopes on it.

Just like I once did with the Ancient Elf Kingdom."

Hearing this, Noen gazed at the distant city walls.

"Aren’t you afraid... of dying in the war?"

Noen asked.

Baird shook his head and slowly said,

"My parents tried to stop me from participating in this war.

They made a prophecy, which stated:

’I must not win three major victories, for if I do, I shall surely die.’"

Saying this, Baird smiled,

"But still, I came. For my beloved, and also for my bet with Endora."

Looking at Baird, Noen didn’t know what to say.

The Three-eyed Ape People all knew the power of a prophecy.

Yet this man, draped in Dragon Skin, was fearless and resigned to his fate.

"Baird..."

"What is it?"

"No, never mind."

Noen shook his head.

Having received the grace of the Angel, Noen, as a Prophet, knew that Baird was still undergoing the Angel’s trial.

After hesitating, Noen chose not to disclose the trial Baird was enduring.

Because once revealed, it would automatically be considered a failure.

In the time that followed,

whether Baird would pass the trial or face its failure, Noen did not know.

........

........

Seven days later.

The Beastmen camped far from Ajia.

Noen, accompanied by Casas, ascended the city wall, with the Elf Xilan closely behind; they saw the flags of the Beastmen appear on the vast land beyond the high walls.

On the city wall, besides Noen and Casas, there were several Minstrels, their anticipatory gazes welcoming the approaching war and surveying the vast battlefield.

They stood atop the wall to boost the morale of the soldiers, and in this era, even amongst the civilized Three-eyed Ape People, it was still the armed Nobles who formed the main force on the battlefield.

This meant...

No matter how fierce the combat, it was to be a righteous war in praise of heroes—here, only the brave would bleed out, and the cowardly deserters would be scorned; as for the weak, women, and children, neither side could harm them.

Below the city wall, a thunderous clopping reverberated.

Noen looked down.

Only to see several chariots, bearing heroes, moving across the land, amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd, as they shouted Baird’s name.

Baird, at the forefront, pulled the reins of his horse and waved to the people with a smile that embodied heroic charisma.

Noen watched as Baird slowly exited the main gate and Ajia Kingdom’s soldiers followed their hero to the campaign.

A decisive battle was soon to commence in front of the city walls.

Stepping forward, the leading Minstrel spoke loudly and passionately:

"The tall and majestic city walls are like the steps of the gods,

The shining swords and blades across the city like the gods’ carpet.

How beautiful,

Kagawus, do not let Ajia be stained with our blood."

As the heroes and the army crept closer to the encampment of the Beastmen, a battle-challenge was delivered by the Scouts.

Both armies’ flags fluttered over the land.

The Minstrel looked out over all this and chanted loudly:

"In the crowd, a hero among heroes stands on a chariot,

The infallible Medes with his sword and shield, Tusi, and the strong Lammon, capable of snapping bowstrings,

They all hold limitless admiration for Baird.

The heroes of the Beastmen, with their fierce and murderous gaze, emit ferocity."

The Minstrel’s vibrant chant elicited enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

"This is a battlefield where heroes gather.

The King of Chenfeng Country, sitting on his tall horse,

King Chenfeng looks into the distance, longing to shatter this place,

Yet can only gaze at the tall city walls and lament.

People of Ajia!

Our known world,

Will witness a battle like never before!"