Passing through the narrow gate, a street scene of the Holy City, similar to her mories, unfolded before the Hero.
But unlike the once bustling and lively scenery with crowds all around, the streets of the Holy City before her now were deserted, worn out and shattered, like a faded painting.
The shop windows by the roadside were covered in a thick layer of dust from lack of cleaning, signs had fallen off due to disrepair, and the once neat stone road was now overrun by wild weeds, entangled with trash and unrecognizable scraps of fabric.
The air no longer carried the occasional enticing aroma of food or the scent of flowers, only a musty, dry sll of decay, brushing across the cheeks with the silent wind.
The girl lightly tapped her toes, gently leapt, and flew to the top of a clock tower nearby. The large bell, which once rang out with clear tones, was now rusty.
She gazed far into the distance, looking towards the coastline. There, once lay a beach as white as snow, but now, all she saw was murky and thick blackness — decades ago, the Nether Sea Dream landed there.
The Kingdom of those days, although it had established the Angel corps, were all stationed on the northern front opposing the Dragon Tide. And the Holy City, due to differences in beliefs, rarely saw the presence of Half Angels, becoming one of the few cities without Angel garrisons.
So, when the Deep Sea Demon erged from the dream to land, this city, which had already fallen into decline, could only struggle to hold its own amidst the waves of that Nightmare.
The Church emphasized the power of the Spirit, whether in forging Holy Artifacts or activating the Holy Grail, both required the sincere prayers and wishes of the people. In essence, this was no different from the Angels' power of faith.
However, under the radiant brilliance of the Angels, the Church's faith at the ti had already dimd and lost its light.
After all, even the "Divine Knowledge Saintess", who once symbolized the absolute, this guiding star of the Church, chose to side with the Angel's camp. Her divergence of mind and body had long torn the power of the Church apart.
Thus, the military power of the Holy City was not what it once was. The Holy Artifacts were covered with dust, faith was depleted, and the light of wishes gathered during the new Saintess's initiation ceremony couldn't even fill a third of the Holy Grail.
Therefore, under the invasion of Nether Sea Dream, the Holy City suffered heavy losses, the Pope fell, and the new Saintess was also severely injured.
The Holy Sword within the Cathedral, at that ti, was probably only a step away from being unsealed.
Although, in the final mont of destruction, the Holy City held out until the Angel reinforcents arrived, from that mont on, the Church which managed to maintain a bit of spirit now slumped into irreversible decline.
Nether Sea Dream left an indelible scar on the Holy City, and the remaining survivors no longer tried to preach to the Kingdom, only a few who stayed true to themselves remained in this desolate Holy City.
They stayed with the weak Saintess, who was bedridden due to the severe injuries caused by the Great Demon, witnessing the end of this city under the Dusk light of the Cathedral.
On this land without a future, even if newborns arrived, their parents wouldn't let the children stay here but rather chose to quietly send them off to the other side of the Gate.
Who could bla them for their actions?
A few years ago, after the last Saintess also passed away from overwork, the final banner of the Church was lowered as well. The remaining people, so left, others scattered.
Now, the Hero stood atop the dilapidated clock tower, looking back, only able to see a few wisps of smoke in the area of the Colorless Ring of the Holy City.
This once airship clustered, bustling Holy City now had a population likely less than that of a small town at the border.
Without disturbing those still living here, the Hero leapt down the clock tower and headed straight toward the Pure White Square.
After the last Saintess's death, the Cathedral had been left vacant. This once Holy Sanctuary thronged by Pilgrims had now beco a place even local residents were unwilling to tread.
The once smooth and white square was now full of cracks.
At the center of the Square, the Heroic Soul Monunt still stood, though many nas had been added to it. So nas the Hero rembered, but most were ones she had never heard of.
Next to the Monunt grew a lush tree, almost as tall as the Stele. In this perishing city, only it thrived with vitality, looking out of place. Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting fragnted and mottled spots of light on the Square.
A familiar sensation surged in the girl's heart — it was a feeling she had when the Imperial City fell, when the Jade City broke, and now this feeling was even more real.
"...Ah, is this the end?"
The end, the finish.
After the Apocalypse.
After gazing at the Monunt for a long ti, the girl finally turned away, ascending the steps of the Cathedral.
At the end of the staircase, from the slightly open door, the dusk-colored crystal radiance continued to flow out as always.
The Hero's steps were calm and unhurried.
It had been more than half a day since arriving at the Holy City. The sun was gradually setting, the sky was covered with red clouds. But this was rely an illusionary scene as the real sky hadn't been seen by the people within the light-wall enveloped Kingdom for decades.
Under this false twilight, the Hero finally reached the entrance of the Cathedral, extending her hand to gently push open the heavy door.
Sowhat surprising, yet sohow expected — the interior of the Cathedral was not empty.
Basking in the radiance of the Dusk Crystal, a figure was kneeling before a Divine Statue, silently praying. Hearing the movent behind, the person slowly stood up, turned around, unsurprised.
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