Only God
Chapter 61 - 57 God Really Left

Chapter 61: Chapter 57 God Really Left

Over these past days, Dertulian had climbed the high mountains many times.

The Prophet’s second son had hoped that at the summit, he could catch a glimpse of God’s presence, even if just once.

Yet, no matter how often Dertulian reached the mountaintop, he had never seen God standing above the high mountains.

Could it be that God did not exist?

Full of doubts, Dertulian often paced in the Pattern Garden.

This son of the Prophet, the bravest Hunter in the Kingdom, harbored complex emotions toward the God who had endowed rationality.

On the one hand, under the influence of his father, Dertulian likewise had faith in God.

On the other hand, since God had never revealed Himself to the Prophet’s second son, Dertulian could only learn about Him through the accounts of others, so his faith was not deeply rooted.

At this moment, Dertulian hesitated.

It was impossible for God not to exist; his own father, even the deceased Sapo, had seen God many times.

But why... why had he never encountered God at the summit of the mountain?

"Antion, have you seen God?"

Dertulian asked a Priest in the Pattern Garden.

Antion was the first person in the Kingdom to be made a Priest by King Yarlessto for his merit and was also a man of great renown for his wisdom.

Since he had entered the Pattern Garden, he had worshipped the deities devoutly, adhering to the customs set down by Prophet Al and seeking to understand the patterns of the world.

Sometimes, Antion’s piety and reverence for God made even the other Priests in the Pattern Garden marvel.

It was said that Antion praised God and Prophet Al every evening before sleeping and thanked King Yarlessto for granting him his Priesthood.

"Son of the Prophet, I have never seen God, but I know that God is at the summit of the mountain,"

Antion gave what he thought was a satisfactory answer.

Dertulian was clearly not pleased with this answer and said with a sneer,

"Then I have to say, even as a son of the Prophet, I have climbed the high mountains several times, yet I have never seen the face of God."

Antion was stunned for a moment, as Dertulian’s response was beyond his expectations.

In the minds of the people of Logos, there was an established rule—only the Prophet and King Yarlessto were entitled to climb the mountain and see God.

Therefore, Antion had never imagined that Dertulian would have climbed the high mountains several times.

And because of his status as the Prophet’s son, it was difficult for anyone even to think of reprimanding him.

After a while, Antion regained his composure and said with a wry smile,

"Second son of the Prophet, what kind of answer are you truly seeking?"

Dertulian lowered his head and shook it slightly, saying,

"I don’t know. I just want to ask, what must I do to be able to see the face of God like my father... and like my brother who is King."

"Perform the rituals, second son of the Prophet, and one day, God will see your loyalty,"

Antion answered almost reflexively.

Dertulian just shook his head and said,

"Ever since I became a Priest, I have never neglected the rituals, yet I have not seen the presence of God."

Antion also fell silent.

For he had been sincerely performing his duties in worship and sitting quietly in the Pattern Garden contemplating the laws of the world for a century now, believing he had not been negligent for a single day, yet he too had never seen God.

After pondering for a moment, Dertulian caught Antion’s expression and suggested,

"Let’s go up the mountain, Antion. Join me in a climb, and once you see the sight from the summit with your own eyes, you will surely harbor the same doubts as I do."

Antion stared for a moment, sizing up the Prophet’s second son.

For some reason, Antion of Logos, devoted to the rational God, sensed a vague and elusive feeling, akin to God having departed.

After hesitating for a long time, Antion clenched his teeth and said,

"Fine, son of the Prophet, I will go up the mountain with you. In seven days—no, make it a month."

Over the past century, the people of Logos had discovered a month, discovered seven days. Concepts like year, month, and day had already taken root deeply in people’s hearts.

Dertulian nodded slowly.

He understood that Antion before him harbored the same doubts as himself.

Was God still there?

Had He left?

If He had left, how long would it take before He returned to the side of the people of Logos?

.........

.........

Dertulian and Antion, after overcoming countless hardships, finally reached the summit of the high mountain.

The mountain path was extremely dangerous, steep, and difficult to climb. It was hard to imagine just how the Prophet Al managed to ascend the high mountain time and time again to meet with the deity.

Antion looked incredulously at the scenery at the mountain’s peak.

Almost completely empty in front of him, there was neither the fabled God standing there, nor any trace of divine presence to be found.

There was merely a single tall and slender tree branch growing at the summit.

"Could it be... could that tree branch be God? No, impossible. The mural clearly stated that God was enveloped in light."

Antion suddenly fell into a state of panic. He had never neglected any ritual sacrifice, yet now he could not find any sign of God at the mountain top—how absurd and lamentable.

"Look, Antion, I told you God is not here."

Dertulian, seeing Antion’s shaken state, said as such.

Under the impact of spiritual shock, Antion’s legs gave out, and he knelt on the ground, his eyes wide.

"You’re saying... it’s actually true. Where... where has God gone? Have you truly never seen any sign of God every time you ascended the mountain?"

"Never, Antion, not even once."

Dertulian looked at the place and said with despair,

"Perhaps... God has truly left."

The young Priest, his voice trembling, feigned denial,

"No, I don’t believe it. I am a Priest of God, certainly not one of little faith. I... I will wait for a hundred years. I will come here every year until I meet the deity."

He could not accept everything before his eyes.

The sound of Antion’s panic reached Dertulian’s ears.

Not seeing God brought merely a sense of loss to Dertulian.

However, Dertulian realized, for Antion it seemed as though the sky was about to fall.

Dertulian found it hard to empathize, but his intelligence as the son of the Prophet allowed him to understand such emotions.

In truth, God’s departure was not only a bolt from the blue for Antion.

For the Logos Kingdom that was saved from the cataclysmic floods, this could turn into a massive crisis potent enough to split the entire civilization.

God had given the Ape-man language, bestowed upon them a race name, and at the time of the cataclysmic floods, manifested miracles to save the people from dire straits.

Logos people and the Logos Kingdom itself were born on the earth out of God’s grace and had survived the end days because of God’s salvation.

Without God, what significance would the people of Logos have? What value would their civilization hold?

Once this crisis of rationale erupts, it would prove far more terrifying than the one faced by Prophet Al.

For in that era of the Prophet and King, there was still a God to answer questions about death.

Now, who could answer questions about God?

That was precisely why Prophet Al and King Yarlessto were determined to exert all their efforts to hide the truth.