Chapter 704

【 THE BLESSINGS OF THE POWER OF FAITH 】

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Cypher felt as though his emotions were like a roller coaster, rising to great heights in one moment and then descending sharply to their lowest point in the next.

Active Title: The Destined Chosen One.

He glanced at the title currently equipped on his character, and his excitement gradually grew.

Since the Goddess had issued this quest, he knew for sure that there was no way she would fail to leave behind the means to complete it.

In all likelihood, the key to completing the quest lay in the identity of the “Chosen One.”

As his thoughts expanded, Cypher felt that he had finally found a direction.

At that moment, the game system suddenly emitted a series of notification sounds. Cypher’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and he turned his attention toward the source, only to realize that it was an alert related to the forum post he had recently created.

In his help request post, he had configured a reminder to notify him once the number of replies exceeded fifty.

With anticipation, Cypher reopened the system interface, accessed the official forum, and quickly found the help post he had just published, eager to see what others had replied.

“Wait… you actually triggered a personal epic quest?!”

“Lol… for real? This isn’t a scam, right? Lmao… please confirm your identity.”

“Damn! The great Cypher is finally active here! Boss, please carry me!”

“Hahaha, can you let us join your quest?”

“Hoho, who’s this female elf in your post? She is totally gorgeous. I’ll definitely help you, dude!”

Cypher: “…”

Most of the replies were just jokes or completely random stuff.

Even though he had already anticipated it, Cypher still couldn’t help but feel annoyed at these people who spent most of their time either trolling and joking in the forum.

Thankfully not everyone was messing around and a decent number of players actually gave serious replies.

“Bro, don’t use the Scepter of Life to these elves. That’s the old symbol of the Goddess’ faith. I remember the old one used to be tree-shaped, right? Check this pic I attached.”

“That’s normal. According to my understanding of the official lore of the game, the Goddess often conceals her aura to hide her identity, and the divine favor players receive is different from the divine favor granted to NPCs. For the latter, their divine favor is bound to faith, but for us players it is not. So it’s normal that those NPCs doesn’t recognized the Goddess’s aura. At this point, what you need to do is find a way to borrow the power of faith to prove your identity. Do you have a priest subclass? If you do, then it’ll be easy. Otherwise, it will be troublesome.”

“Oh, I know about this! I remember asking our guild leader about it. Ordinary players’ divine favor isn’t complete, and you can’t distinguish the identity of the true deity behind it. It can only be sensed as you being a follower of the Goddess of Life. Otherwise, back when everyone was roaming the human lands with their divine favor active, the quest would have collapsed entirely.”

“What kind of divine favor do you have? It shouldn’t be just a stat boost, right? I think I saw other divine favor enhancement markings under your buff. What is that? I circled it here in this screenshot.”

“Bro, try to trigger a divine miracle. Nothing proves your identity better than a miracle from the Goddess. You have to believe that the Goddess loves you.”

“Mr. Cypher, post more quest-related information here on the forum. We can give you some advice. Let’s work together to bring those frost elves back as soon as possible.”

As Cypher read through the responses from the other players, his thoughts gradually became more clearer.

His gaze then fell on the golden buff beneath his character icon—the one that the player had circled in their screenshots—and a realization began to form in his mind.

The buff granted him the ability to borrow the power of faith.

And based on the replies, Cypher also learned that this was something players who had obtained divine favor through battlefield missions did not possess.

What they had was only a buff that increased their strength for a limited time and allowed them to temporarily enter the Godwarden-state.

With this in mind, Cypher felt that he had already found the answer.

If he wanted to gain the recognition of the Frost Elves, he would likely have to start by wielding the power of faith.

Estelle had said that the ‘Chosen Maiden’ could manipulate their Matriarch’s power of faith, and coincidentally, the divine favor he had obtained was likewise an ability to borrow the power of faith.

The Frost Elves prayed to their Matriarch, but since she was also the Goddess, the faith they gathered belonged to the same deity as well.

Therefore, if he could prove that he could harness the faith stored within the holy statue in their temple, wouldn’t that confirm that he was truly the Goddess’s Chosen One?

And once he was able to use the power of faith, they would’ve naturally perceive as a “divine miracle” since no ordinary person were capable of such feats.

By now, his line of reasoning had become much clearer.

If he wanted to break the deadlock, he would need to find a way to approach the holy statue and draw forth the power of faith stored within it. That would be the ultimate proof of his identity as the Goddess’s Chosen One.

As his thoughts settled into focus, Cypher felt his mood lighten. A weight he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying seemed to lift slightly.

“Estelle.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Thank you. I think I finally know what I need to do.”

“Hm?”

The elven girl tilted her head.

Seeing her slightly bewildered expression, Cypher grinned, laughed heartily, and reached out to rub her head.

“W-What—!”

The girl quickly dodged away, puffing out her cheeks as she muttered, “Hey! Touching my head will stunt my growth!”

“Hahaha! Do you Frost Elves really believe that too? Haha… you’re so adorable!”

Cypher laughed loudly, the sound filling the room.

Gradually, the light inside the chamber dimmed, and the heavy toll of the temple bells drifted in from outside.

Cypher paused and looked out the window, noting that dark clouds had begun to churn again across the sky.

The lightning that had previously illuminated the heavens had also stopped too.

“It’s coming again…”

Estelle’s voice carried a heavy undertone.

Cypher’s gaze sharpened.

He knew exactly what she was referring to.

—The Black Tide.

A demonic surge composed of abyssal demons and corrupted beings, within which there could even be fallen elves.

“Does the Black Tide occur this frequently in this world?” he asked.

Estelle shook her head.

“If the scale is small, several minor Black Tides usually occur closely together. But if the scale is large, then typically there’s a long interval between them.”

“This is already the fifth minor Black Tide recently. After this one… there should not be another for a while and the situation should be able to remain stable for seven or eight days.”

Cypher nodded and let out a soft sigh.

It was difficult to imagine how hard life must be to live in such an environment.

Suddenly, a growing glow appeared outside the window, drawing Cypher’s attention.

He looked toward it and saw that, in the direction of the temple, faint points of light were slowly rising from the tallest tower in the city.

“It’s the city’s holy barrier. Lady Aurora has activated the protective barrier once more,” Estelle said.

The holy barrier…

Cypher looked at the statue atop the tower, deep in thought.

At that moment, something stirred in his mind.

He slowly stood up and walked toward the door.

“Brother Cypher, where are you going?”

Estelle asked nervously.

Cypher glanced at her and spoke with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, Estelle. I need to step out for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

“What are you going to do? The Black Tide is about to arrive! There are no formations outside to isolate abyssal power. It’s very dangerous! Even on the streets, you could be contaminated, you know!” Estelle spoke urgently.

“Don’t worry.”

Cypher smiled faintly.

“I am the Goddess’s Chosen One, the one destined to lead every member of your clan out of the abyss. Don’t worry, nothing will happen to me!”

“I’m just going to prove my identity. Wait for my good news, okay?”

With that, he pushed the door open and stepped outside.

༺⟐༻

Cypher left the room and closed the door behind him.

Above, the heavy dark clouds were pressing downward, and a faint mist had begun to drift through the streets.

He could even see traces of black miasma faintly lingering along the ground.

That was the power of the abyss.

Outside the city, the holy barrier had been fully activated, its radiant light stretching across the skyline and illuminating everything below.

Even so, it could not completely block the abyssal energy that was seeping up from deep underground.

Cypher, however, was already accustomed to such faint presence of abyssal energy. Since any player who spent time grinding in dungeons had already encountered it countless times…

After all, it was the most common type of energy within the Demon Lord Labyrinth.

As long as one was not exposed to it for long periods, it posed little serious threat. But for those who already showed signs of corruption, even brief contact could be dangerous, accelerating the mutation of both body and soul.

The deformities of the Frost Elves were a clear example of this.

The wind had begun to howl.

The streets were now completely empty, and from beyond the city walls, the faint roars of monsters could already be heard.

Cypher looked toward the end of the street and the towering city walls beyond it. One tall, slender figure after another had already appeared atop them.

They were the guards responsible for the city’s defense.

Shifting his gaze upward, Cypher looked at the sky.

By now the pale golden defense barrier was slowly operating.

He followed the flow of its light in the direction of the temple. There, a pillar of radiance shot straight into the heavens from the city’s tallest tower.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the light was not originating from the temple itself, but from the holy statue perched atop that tower.

Inside the temple, there were many similar, albeit smaller, statues, but that massive statue was clearly the primary core, holding the greatest concentration of faith power that sustained the entire holy barrier.

Cypher narrowed his eyes slightly.

“The primary core statue… as long as I can make contact with it, I’ll be able to borrow the Goddess’s power of faith and take control of the entire holy barrier,” he muttered under his breath.

He slowly clenched his fist.

In truth, the city’s divine barrier was capable of more than just defense; it could also be used for offense.

Yet during the previous Black Tide, he had not seen the barrier perform any function other than protecting the city. At the time, he did not understand why, but after speaking with Estelle, the reason became clear to him.

According to the game’s lore, a holy barrier could only function at full capacity when sustained by the blessing of a true god.

Right now, however, the one maintaining it was Aurora alone. Alas, she was not a true god, so at best, she could keep it barely operational as a defensive shield.

Only when the blessing of the Goddess descended would the barrier, which was forged from the collective faith of the Frost Elves, be able to unleash its true power.

And now… Cypher himself was the one capable of bringing that blessing.

Fortunately, an opportunity presented itself.

Under normal circumstances, Aurora—who had long harbored reservations toward him—would never have allowed him anywhere near their core statue.

But now, with the Black Tide bearing down on the city once again, she was completely absorbed in maintaining and controlling the barrier. Therefore, her focus was entirely on keeping the defenses active for the time being, leaving her no time to monitor him.

This was the perfect moment.

Cypher tightened his fists, determination hardening his expression, and started walking steadily toward the temple.

He opened the system settings and went to the background music option. With a few taps, he set the ambient track, “For the Glory of the Goddess,” to play.

The music began, rising steadily as Cypher felt his blood pump faster. His pace gradually quickened, shifting from a brisk walk into a full sprint.

Around him, lights flickered along the buildings on both sides of the street, as numerous pairs of eyes peered from behind windows, wide with astonishment as they all watched him sprint past.

“W-What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind? Get back inside your house!”

Shouts echoed from the buildings on either side, but Cypher did not slow down or respond. If anything, he ran even faster.

The houses on both sides of the street blurred as he passed. The wind whipped sharply against his ears, and the miasma hanging low in the streets thickened, curling around his legs as he pressed forward.

In the distance, he could faintly hear the clash of battle—the sharp ring of weapons and the guttural roars of monsters as the fight raged on.

The background music in the system swelled, its rhythm growing more intense and impassioned, perfectly in sync with the pounding of his footsteps.

Each note seemed to drive him forward, fueling his determination.

As he neared the temple district, a soft, golden radiance began to bloom around him, as if resonating to the barrier itself.

The golden light intensified, enveloping his body and making him appear like a sun piercing the darkness.

His eyes then caught the golden buff icon flickering like burning flames in his field of vision.

Cypher drew in a deep breath and silently uttered,

“Transform.”

In an instant, his black eyes turned crimson, and massive bat-like wings unfurled from his back.

However, they were not the usual black bat wings, but rather made of brilliant gold, resembling wings formed from pure light.

Then he leapt upward, soaring toward the tallest point of the tower.

The music in his ears reached its climax as the buildings beneath him shrank further and further away.

Cypher beat his wings and flew ever higher, like a moth rushing toward the flame.

The radiant core statue drew closer and closer, and the surge of emotion within his heart intensified.

“W-What—It’s you, Infidel! What are you doing?!”

A sharp, angry voice rang out from below. Cypher glanced downward and saw Gando, his face twisted in shock and fury, shouting up at him.

Cypher offered a brief, apologetic look, said nothing, and continued his ascent.

Finally, he reached the highest point in the city: the elven tower.

The Goddess’s core statue stood before him, radiating with dazzling brilliance.

“Cypher, come down.”

Another voice rang out, calm and gentle, yet carrying an authority that brooked no argument.

Cypher looked over.

It was Aurora.

She stood within the temple below, a soft light swirling around her as she gazed up at him with a cold, unreadable expression.

Cypher had already come to a halt atop the tower. He met her gaze, offered a brief, apologetic smile, and shouted up toward her.

“Lady Aurora, I am sorry!”

“After this, I will submit myself to whatever punishment you deem fit.”

“But for now… please watch carefully. Please look at the blessing I bring. See the power it holds!”

“The Goddess you’ve been waiting for all along has already awakened. She is waiting for you to return home.”

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and placed it directly on the core statue.

In the next instant, a blinding light erupted from his body, spilling outward in all directions.

The entire barrier flared to life, bathing the city in brilliant golden radiance, as a profound and sacred presence manifested above the city.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep