Chapter 1201: Secret (Part One)
What did this mean for the Holy Church and the Azeroth Continent?
Many people were already thinking about this in their heads, trying to measure the magnitude of shock and change that Stabila’s return was going to bring.
“Child, it has been tough on you for the last few hundred years.” Stabila lightly caressed Batistuta’s head with his dry hand and said genially, “There are only a few children from the choir at that time who are still alive, right? You did great. The [Black-Cloth Shrine] achieved redemption in your hand; I’m proud of you.”
“Sir, you have disappeared…”
“About 800 years ago, I grew a little careless and got ambushed by Blatter and the masters of a few other shrines. Although they couldn’t kill me, they imprisoned me in the dungeon at the bottom of Sicily Island, torturing me with all kinds of magic spells and methods. From then onward, I couldn’t see the sunlight, and I was only accompanied by the coldness and heat while the underground chilly energy and lava alternated once per day. I could only guess how long has passed with the alternation cycles…” Stabila sighed and told everyone his story.
This experience was tragic and bone-chilling. When Stabila told the story with a calm and casual tone, it was even more shocking.
It was hard to imagine being imprisoned in a dungeon and tortured by inhumane methods for 800 years. The extreme coldness of the underground chilly energy and the extreme heat of the lava alternated once per day, and drastic changes to the environment could turn most people insane.
Only those who were like Stabila could withstand it! After all, Stabila reached the Godly King Realm, and his mentality reached a high level as well. It was the only way that he stayed sane and didn’t commit suicide.
However, 800 years of torture turned Stabila, once the heroic and majestic Pope of the Holy Church, into an old man who looked like a ghost.
“Until a year ago, Blatter and Platini started to fight. In order to defeat Blatter, Platini contacted me in secret, and I pretended to be willing to work with him, finally finding a good opportunity. Then, I recovered a bit of strength and escaped from the dungeon at the bottom of the island,” Stabila said slowly.
“Then, the current Holy Church…” Batistuta thought of something.
“Of course, the Holy Church is now in my control…” A trace of pride finally appeared on Stabila’s face as he said that, and others were able to vaguely see the presence of the pope from 800 years ago.
After all, Stabila took the Throne of the Pope from Blatter in only less than half a year after coming out of 800 years of imprisonment! This was insane and unthinkable! After all, Blatter had managed the Holy Church during this time and nurtured many henchmen.
The only explanation for this was that the conflict between Blatter and Platini weakened their strength. Also, perhaps Stabila had hidden cards from 800 years ago.
The real masters could always do what others thought were impossible.
For a long time, Fei stared at this old man whose body was almost rotting from the inside out.
After hearing the terrifying and shocking secret, he had to praise in his mind, “800 years of imprisonment where he was kept away from the sun. Others would have gone insane, but this man lasted all this time! Terrifying!”
The masters who were observing in the sky all chatted among themselves as well.
From the surface, it seemed like Stabila’s return and control of the Holy Church was more beneficial for the entire continent.
Chapter 1201: Secret (Part Two)
After all, the Holy Church 800 years ago was righteous, just, and kind under Stabila’s leadership. At that time, the Holy Church’s reputation was excellent, and they strictly followed the [Code of God] and helped the humans around the continent.
The Holy Church’s mission was saving all people and alleviating pain and suffering in the world. The priests walked around the continent to heal people, and the godly knights soared in the sky and eliminated evil.
The continent from 800 years ago was the peaceful golden age for humans.
Once Pope Stabila disappeared, the Holy Church started to change as Blatter and others came into power. Greed, corruption, lust, desire for power… all these negative factors turned the Holy Church from a righteous organization into something dark. It became violent, authoritarian, and vicious, killing those who disobeyed them, and no one dared to go against its will.
Perhaps Stabila’s return was going to change this situation by a lot.
After all, Blatter who caused the corruption of the Holy Church was now a prisoner, and the other roadblock, Platini, was killed by the Human Emperor of the North.
Batistuta was finally able to control his emotions, and he slowly stood up and bowed at Stabila before returning to Fei’s side.
Some of the people in the area felt a little strange. People thought that Stabila was dead, and that was how the Human Emperor of the North took the position as the Bishop of the [Black-Cloth Shrine] many years later. Also, they had to admit that the Human Emperor of the North performed well, bringing the [Black-Cloth Shrine] that was on the verge of collapse back to life. Now, the [Black-Cloth Shrine] was shining with vitality.
Here was the issue. With Stabila’s return, who was going to lead the [Black-Cloth Shrine]?
Once a conflict broke out, the war between the Northern Region Empire and the Holy Church would be unavoidable.
Batistuta was clear on how powerful the Northern Region Empire really was; perhaps the entire continent didn’t know what the Human Emperor of the North was capable of. A few races couldn’t even handle the Northern Region Empire, and even if Holy Church was back to its prime, it might not be able to last long.
“Child.” Stabila looked at Fei with a smile and took a small step forward. He said, “I think as an old monster who has lived for more than 1,000 years, I can call you ‘child’, right? Now, you should be able to ditch your old opinions about the Holy Church and have an in-depth conversation with an old man like me, right?”
Fei walked off the Throne of Creation and slightly bowed while saying, “Indeed. I need to pay my respect to you.”
What Fei said instantly made the masters who came to watch this meeting heave sighs of relief. They thought to themselves, “Just like the rumors had said, the Human Emperor of the North is a kind and generous lord. He didn’t become rude and overbearing due to the increase in his strength and power.”
The slight bow was enough to show the Human Emperor of the North’s intention of trying to bring back peace to the Azeroth Continent.
“Most of the heroes are the youthful ones!” Brilliant glints appeared in Stabila’s old eyes, and he looked at Fei as if he was looking at himself when he was young. He sighed, “When I was imprisoned in the dungeon below Sicily Island, I was worried that a greedy figure like Blatter might bring giant catastrophes to the continent once he became the Pope of the Holy Church.”