It was just past noon, and despite it being near November, the Mediterranean climate wasn't as cold as expected.
A few bunches of vines dangled from the retro balcony, brushing Ryan's hair and bringing a slight tingling sensation. His leather shoes clicked on the cobblestone road as he walked, comfortably taking in his surroundings.
The city hadn't changed. The café was still full of people basking in the sunshine, and the sound of a bell chimed as a special tourist carriage passed slowly by.
There wouldn't be any changes. The Fire Moth Chasers weren't fools. How could they reveal the matter of the Seventh Herrscher? With its terrifying power, it was nearly impossible to hide.
Ordinary people couldn't help at all. If the Herrscher truly arrived, death through ignorance would seem almost humane.
But you, your mindset is truly impressive. Is this the calmness of a bystander?
Ryan stopped and let his eyes wander. He spotted a nun sitting by an alley with a drawing board in front of her, gently sketching with a pencil.
Occasionally, passersby would stop to pray to the nun, and Aponia would smile and return their greetings.
A beautiful nun, a perfect charlatan.
Behind her was a blooming flower wall. Her expression was neither serious nor frivolous, and although her figure was so striking that it was almost bursting out of her attire, it was difficult for people to feel any sense of blasphemy.
Invisible temptation was the deadliest, and it barely fit her.
Ryan watched her with admiration, not concerned that Aponia would reveal her identity. The secrets of Sundown Alley couldn't be deeply investigated. As for her identity as a nun, it might attract attention elsewhere, but it was far too common in this holy city.
Forget it, as long as she's happy, but her temperament is really mysterious.
The two of them had gone out that morning. Aponia visited the famous sights of the city and then found a quiet corner to paint. Ryan, on the other hand, had to worry about what came next, but Aponia seemed calm, just quietly observing. It was hard for him, but she seemed fine.
Ryan chuckled, remembering the scene when they left the house. Pardo's big eyes seemed to speak, full of "Master, you plotted against me."
She was definitely going to get scolded. Kalpas wasn't as patient as him, but don't worry, Brother Kalpas is also a good person.
Ryan felt a little irritated, but Kalpas wasn't really a maniac. Well, he understood Kalpas's feelings.
If Kalpas were truly a murderous maniac, he wouldn't let himself be bound and bled by a group of natives. He would have avenged them after their village was destroyed.
"Do you want a home? You're just too hard-mouthed."
Ryan smiled unconsciously. When he looked up, he saw that Aponia had put down her brush. Curious, he walked over.
"Finished?"
"Well, I kept you waiting."
Ryan raised his eyebrows as he looked at the painting. It was really good. Aponia clearly had some skill in sketching. However, the content was a bit unsettling.
The painting depicted a ruined building, surrounded by flames. Some monsters with octopus-like faces wandered through the ruins, which made Ryan pause and glance around.
The quaint houses, quiet alleys, and bustling cafes had nothing to do with the scene in the painting, but Ryan wasn't stupid.
"Is your painting a depiction of the future?"
"I can't tell. I just let my mind wander and let my hands sketch what I see."
What you see is different from what I see. It's far beyond physical vision.
"You mean, something will happen to Rome?"
"Maybe. Maybe not."
Ah, this... I hate cheaters. This is totally unscientific.
Ryan scratched his neck and straightened up slowly. "So, do you want to continue?"
"Of course. If you're afraid of the future, you'll feel lost. But with you here, the future may not be what it's supposed to be." Aponia said with a little compassion. After seeing this, Ryan wasn't as annoyed as Kalpas.
Putting yourself in someone else's shoes and foreseeing the future isn't a good thing. People with poor mentalities will eventually go mad. This is what's called:
When the beheading happens, it's most uncomfortable just before the blade falls.
"Alright, let's go to the cathedral."
"Sorry, I shouldn't have made you suspicious." Aponia's face was filled with apologies. It was a little disappointing.
Ryan waved his hand freely and paid the painter for her work.
"Relax, I won't be affected."
"Is it because of your power?"
"No, because I firmly believe that even if you know the outcome, fate can be changed. The so-called foreknowledge can only provide an early warning." Ryan answered without hesitation. In terms of spoilers, he knew more than Aponia. If he was afraid of the outcome, what was he even doing right now?
But this confidence felt different in Aponia's eyes. Her blue eyes widened slightly before returning to normal.
"You are such a confident person."
Ryan shrugged and said nothing. He led the way. His blonde appearance now resembled that of a bodyguard, and the passersby continued to salute Aponia. Though her nun's uniform was simple, Aponia gave off a saintly aura. They all wondered what important person had come to St. George's Cathedral. Soon, the two arrived at the square Ryan frequently visited and walked into the cathedral through the tourist entrance.
"It's really magnificent," Ryan said, looking up at the tall dome. The sunlight shone through the mosaic glass, casting delicate shadows. The interior of the building resembled what he had imagined for a church. The giant dome made people feel particularly small—an intentional psychological effect. The diameter of the crystal chandelier exceeded ten meters, and the murals on the walls were also very intricate. They depicted saints, heroes, and gods. Some knelt in prayer, others rushed toward monsters, while others spread their arms to protect civilians.
Ryan didn't know much about religion, but in this world, those murals weren't just myths. Humans had been fighting against the collapse for countless years. According to Mei's research, there were even previous civilizations, but they left nothing behind.
For example, the troll holding a shield resembled a temple-level collapse beast. In the age of cold weapons, it was hard to imagine how many lives it would have taken to kill it.
"This is Saint Arthur, the hero who protects Europe."
"This is Saint Peter, who sacrificed his life to save a city…"
As they walked, Aponia introduced the murals and reliefs. As a professional nun, she knew every story like the back of her hand.
Ryan listened carefully. As a scientist, he didn't despise religion. If it had been Mobius, the scene would have been different. She would have rationally peeled back the sacred veneer of every story with sarcasm.
"Why doesn't this person look human?" Ryan asked with interest, noticing a statue of a young man with an octopus-like face, gazing off into the distance.
"This is St. George. Legend has it that he swallowed a demon alive to gain the power to protect humans, which is why he became like this."
Hey, the original version of the fusion warrior. It seems that there's a Long Aotian in every era, and this guy is even more ruthless than Kevin.
Ryan took a closer look. The success rate of this crude "fusion operation" is less than one in ten million. Besides cheating, he couldn't find any other adjectives.
"It seems he's very famous. This church is named after him."
"Yes, Saint George is one of the twelve saints and is known as the savior," Aponia said lightly, every detail of her face revealing reverence. "But Ryan, you also have the chance to become the savior."
In terms of merit, I am already more powerful than all these saints combined. As for strength, even a low-level fusion warrior can defeat them.
Ryan thought this to himself, but outwardly, he bowed respectfully and paid tribute to the pioneers. After all, the old bastard Honkai was a person who judged others based on their power. Had he appeared a thousand years ago, the Herrscher would have arrived a thousand years earlier, and there would have been no help in that dark age.
The two continued walking, and Ryan listened as Aponia told him about each hero's deeds. He seemed patient, unlike Mobius and Mei, who were more obsessed with science.
Back in those days, there was neither science nor the guidance of past civilizations. Of course, people had to rely on religion and metaphysics to unite, which is why no one laughed at Aponia's appearance as a charlatan.
She had grown up in the church. Could she really explain the Honkai phenomenon with imaginary numbers and quantum mechanics?
After introducing the last saint, Ryan smiled and said, "It seems your faith is very firm."
"I've also been hesitant and shaken. After all, that ability is a curse, making people question the truth in the scriptures." Aponia sighed and gave Ryan a strange look. "But I've become firm again. God hasn't given up on the world and has sent his messenger."
Well, the Aeon is also a god, and it's not wrong for me to become an apostle.
Ryan didn't say anything, thinking she was full of metaphysics. Just as he was about to explain the topic, he suddenly heard a bell ring.
"Let's go. The lecture is about to begin."
The voices in the church suddenly quieted. People walked toward the next hall like puppets. There were rows of benches already filled with people.
At the front was a high platform, with a giant statue inlaid on the wall. It looked like a pair of hands forming a cross. This was the symbol of the church, so non-believers called it the Cross Church.
Ryan felt the scene was familiar, except there were more people. After thinking for a moment, wasn't this like the scene in Snow Prison Town when he shot the priest in the head?
He wasn't very interested, but Aponia had already taken a seat and was looking up at the stage with her head tilted, so he had no choice but to sit down.
In the silence, he saw a figure in complicated robes walk up to the high platform. The man lowered his hands, and the believers who had just been restless instantly quieted.
Wow, is this the power of metaphysics? Making a group of civilians more obedient than regular troops?
Ryan watched the old man, who was called the "Pope." Before this, he had only heard of him in the news. Now, he personally experienced the man's supreme prestige, and a thought crossed his mind.
Could this world-class big shot be the Fire Moth?
This idea came up randomly, and he glanced at Aponia, who was focused, then activated the power of wind.
The flame of the candlestick flickered, and a barely perceptible breeze spread in all directions, infiltrating every corner. A moment later, Ryan, who had been listening to the chanting, felt a twitch in the corner of his eye.
Underground... can the Honkai react?!