Chapter 345: Pantheon (4) |
As mentioned repeatedly, Pantheon, with its diverse membership and their varying doctrines and beliefs, wasn’t a tightly knit organization.
The only thing connecting them was the fact that they were all clerics, serving their respective gods.
It was like a professional association, a gathering of individuals from the same industry, who agreed to respect each other and resolve any conflicts peacefully.
But naturally, not all religions could accept such a conciliatory approach.
Sects that demanded absolute faith, rejecting all other deities as heretics.
Cults that practiced inhumane rituals like human sacrifice, making it impossible for them to integrate into modern society.
And those who served malevolent deities, plotting the end of the world.
There were countless clerics who, for various reasons, operated outside of Pantheon.
Of course, if it had just been that, they could have simply kept an eye on them…
And naturally, their intentions weren’t benevolent.
For example—.
Scribe, the head of Heaven’s Turn Society’s North America branch.
“So, Brother Heinrich, you’re saying…”
Priest Jason stroked his beard thoughtfully, a serious expression on his face.
“…that there are followers of an evil god, members of this… Heaven’s Turn Society, operating within Pantheon? And in high positions, no less?”
He nodded slowly, his face grim, his previous skepticism towards Heinrich’s claims gone.
“Indeed. They are the very embodiment of evil, responsible for the destruction of countless dimensions. Their roots run deep… And I doubt Pantheon is their only target.”
Heinrich’s voice, filled with conviction, echoed through the room, and the others’ faces hardened.
His words carried a weight they hadn’t felt before.
And it was all thanks to…
“Ahem.”
…the blond boy, sitting in the corner with his arms crossed, his expression unusually serious, his gaze sweeping across the room with an almost arrogant air.
He looked about six or seven years old.
But most of the people here weren’t foolish enough to judge him based on his appearance.
‘I can’t believe it. But this immense magic power…’
‘A dragon… Even in my world, they were just legends. To think I’d see one on Earth… What a strange world.’
‘Such overwhelming energy. He’s definitely not a young dragon, to have accumulated this much power. Is that appearance a disguise? Or just his personal preference?’
Undeniable proof of an otherworldly being’s arrival on Earth.
They had not only witnessed the unprecedented event firsthand, but the being itself was right there before them.
Naturally, the words of the one who had summoned it carried a significant weight.
And Heinrich was a Saint, a wielder of divine power.
‘So, my words aren’t just my own. I speak with the authority of God.’
Heinrich nodded slowly, observing the others as they whispered among themselves.
He had successfully planted the seed of doubt.
‘I’ll continue with this approach. It’s the best option for now.’
This was their chance, while Heaven’s Turn Society was still passive.
Their hesitant response to his claims was because they hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet.
But it wouldn't last long.
‘They won’t stay quiet. But this will buy us some time.’
Heaven’s Turn Society was a massive, interdimensional organization, its influence extending far beyond Earth.
Even with his various connections and the support of numerous factions, he couldn't defeat them in the shadows.
That’s why he had prioritized exposing them, bringing their existence into the light.
‘And Heinrich’s role is to draw their attention and serve as a… distraction.’
A fitting role for a paladin!
Of course, he wasn't planning to just fight them openly.
He had other avatars operating in the shadows.
‘I don’t know if the Master is on Earth or in another world…’
Fortunately, having acquired a significant level of godhood, the Master couldn’t act freely on Earth.
Even if he was here, he would be hiding somewhere, receiving information through his subordinates.
‘…I’ll destroy everything you’ve built. One by one. Until you can’t even think about other worlds.’
Heinrich’s eyes gleamed, a bright light flickering within their golden depths.
Horus, standing next to him, nodded firmly, his small head bobbing up and down.
And so, after the unexpected interruption, the meeting between the otherworldly Saint and the various observers proceeded smoothly.
____________________
<Breaking News! Dragon Appears in Seoul!>
<Illusion Magic? Transformation Ability? Returnee Association: “No, it’s real!”>
<Traffic paralyzed, property damage and injuries reported after sudden dragon appearance. White Knight to compensate for damages…>
Naturally, the commotion caused by the dragon’s appearance didn’t subside easily.
Horus, having returned to Ganghwange after enjoying his brief outing in human form, was no longer present… but the incident, which had garnered global attention, was just beginning.
-Wow;; I saw a real dragon for the first time lol.
└Who hasn’t? Even among high-level returnees, there are many who haven’t seen one.
└Yeah, I’m a returnee, and I haven’t seen one. It’s not that I’m weak, they just didn’t exist in my world.
└I saw one, but… it was so different from what I remember. It was only about 5 meters long, like a pterodactyl.
└That’s a wyvern, not a dragon.
└I don’t know, the system translated it as ‘dragon’.
Whether they were ordinary people or awakened individuals, everything related to the dragon was a hot topic.
After all, a massive dragon, dozens of meters long, had appeared in the sky above Seoul.
It was a newsworthy event.
-I’m curious, do dragons usually carry around orbs like that? Or is that one special?
└Yeah, I was wondering about that too.
└Is that really a Dragon Orb? Maybe it just looks similar?
-FYI, even similar species can have different characteristics in different worlds. We can only assume that’s how dragons are in his world.
-It’s kind of funny lol. A dragon with a Dragon Orb? What a strange combination lol.
Horus’s Dragon Orb also attracted some attention, but it didn’t last long.
The dragons of Auterica were on the verge of extinction, having gone into hiding long ago, and there weren’t many people on Earth who knew much about them.
The real problem was that the incident, due to its nature, had quickly spread across the globe.
It had been his intention, but…
-Oh my god! What is that? A dragon? A real dragon?
-Which country is this from? China? Is it fake? I don’t trust their news.
└Korea. The home of those dark heroes, Korean Smile Face and Phantom. And it’s a live recording from a streaming platform.
-I never thought I’d see a real dragon, even on video! God has answered my prayers. I wish I could see it with my own eyes.
Countless people expressed their awe and wonder.
But not all reactions were positive.
<Carlos, a Mexican superhuman, declares, “I will be the world’s first dragon slayer!”>
<How much are dragon byproducts worth? Let’s take a look at Korea’s Gold Dragon.>
<Foreign powerhouses flock to Korea for ‘sightseeing’. Government concerned about increased illegal immigration and potential security risks.>
…He had attracted too much attention. The focus had shifted from the circumstances of Horus’s appearance to the dragon itself, which was a bit of a problem.
Well, a massive Gold Dragon was practically a walking treasure trove, the best material one could find on Earth…
‘Of course, I’m not going to let them have it.’
Korea was his territory.
He couldn't let those greedy foreigners run amok.
He had to take drastic measures to maintain order.
Crack—
“Gah!”
A powerful hand tightened around his neck.
The Western man, lifted into the air, his feet dangling uselessly, struggled and thrashed… but the grip on his neck was like a vise, unyielding.
“…Tsk, I thought you were someone special, with all that arrogance.”
The man’s struggles ceased as his face paled, his body going limp.
A cold voice echoed through the alley.
Heinz the Second casually tossed the lifeless body into a corner, where several other corpses were piled up, and turned away.
-“It’s me, Jin So-ran.”
-“Yes, Lord!”
-“Send a cleanup crew. I’ll give you the location.”
-“Understood! I’m glad you’re here, Lord. There’s been an increase in illegal immigration lately, and those foreigners seem to underestimate us. They think we’re just frogs in a well.”
-“How amusing. Do they really think they’re any different?”
-“Well, the rumors of troublemakers disappearing without a trace should deter them. It’ll make things easier.”
-“Perhaps.”
Heinz the Second, the Divine Blood vampire, shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips.
He was busy managing his forces in two different worlds.
These weren't the type to be deterred by logic or reason.
There would be plenty of fools, driven by their unfounded confidence, who would continue to cause trouble.
-“I’ll keep an eye on the situation. Report any unusual activity.”
-“Yes, Lord! I’ll check on Heterosis and the Blood Alliance. To make sure they don’t cause any unnecessary friction.”
-“Yes, please.”
The communication with Jin So-ran ended.
He took a step forward,
And his location shifted from the back alley to the rooftop of a nearby skyscraper.
He looked down at the cityscape below, the bustling streets and the endless flow of traffic.
But his gaze was focused on something else.
“…This energy… It’s not natural.”
He muttered softly, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings.
He could sense the threads of causality twisting and intertwining, their movements unnatural and erratic.
The dragon’s sudden appearance, the influx of powerful outsiders…
It was all part of the natural flow of events… but…
…there was something else.
A subtle interference, a faint trace of someone’s presence, too faint for him to identify… but it was there.
‘Heaven’s Turn Society.’
It was obvious.
They would see this as an opportunity to further their influence in Korea, using the current chaos as a cover.
‘…Hmm, I expected as much.’
The world’s attention was focused on Korea.
Every organization… including Heaven’s Turn Society.
‘Let’s begin.’
And as they focused on Korea,
…Someone else was making his move, halfway across the world.
____________________
San Francisco, California.
“…Hmm, this is it…”
A figure, cloaked in a suspicious robe, its hood pulled low, emerged from the shadows, its movements slow and deliberate, like a participant in a secret meeting.
Its gaze was fixed on a large, temple-like building.
Pantheon headquarters.
The figure’s eyes, like distant stars, gleamed with a cold light.