Chapter 29: Lunar

COLISEUMFive minutes had passed in the real world since Marlon began his breakthrough trial.

The coliseum was still loud and restless, waves of discussion rippling through the crowd as spectators argued over his choice. Many of them called him reckless—an arrogant youth blinded by pride and thirst for fame. To them, his decision was nothing short of suicide.

Only a handful, barely a dozen, believed he might actually pull it off. Among them was a curvaceous young lady with long, fiery red hair seated gracefully in the VIP section.

A soft, elegant aura surrounded her as if the air itself bowed to her presence. Her golden eyes sparkled with brilliance, and the faint, knowing smile on her lips carried both calmness and confidence. Dressed in a flowing white gown and a wide sun hat, she radiated a beauty that few could rival.

"To think he has grown this much in just a few days since awakening," she murmured with a cheeky smile. "I was right to tag him as an anomaly."

She slowly tilted her head toward another VIP area where the Vice President of the Heartland Hunter Association was seated, and her smile widened.

A faint glow shimmered in her eyes. The walls separating the VIP areas turned translucent beneath her gaze, allowing her to see every guest’s reaction — especially that of her brother, Norian Sterling.

---

The three moons remained hanging in the night sky, casting their pale glow over the monster-crowded streets.

At that moment, two figures could be seen sprinting through the waves of monsters, untouched and unharmed.

Marlon carried Daniel on his back as he dashed through the swarming creatures, weaving skillfully between them while heading toward the Church of Light. He let out a small sigh.

He glanced at the monsters around him. Though they were countless, it wouldn’t take him up to an hour to slay them all.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t do as he pleased—not with the constant reminder from the young priest that these monsters were humans who would revert to their normal selves by morning. Besides, time was running fast, and he couldn’t waste it on unnecessary fights.

Soon, they arrived at the gate of a grand building standing tall in the middle of the monster-flooded district. The structure was as large as four buildings combined, with a long, pointed roof crowned by a bright cross that illuminated the surroundings.

Tall fences enclosed the grand structure, keeping the monsters at bay.

Daniel brought out a key, unlocked the gate, and the two of them quickly stepped inside just as two growling humanoid monsters lunged toward them. They locked the gate behind them, shutting the creatures out.

Daniel turned to the frustrated monsters pounding against the iron bars and sighed softly, his eyes darkening as a painful memory crossed his mind.

"Apprentice Daniel! You’re back!"

Two beautiful middle-aged women dressed in the usual black and white nun attire rushed out of the church and ran toward him.

"We thought you’d been cursed with the Dark King’s hex! Thank the Light you’re safe!"

They hugged him tightly, their voices trembling with relief. Only after confirming he was unhurt did they notice Marlon standing beside him.

They quickly released Daniel and turned to Marlon with surprised expressions.

"Sisters," Daniel said, noticing their looks, "this is Marlon. He is the one spoken of in the Prophecy of Salvation."

The two women frowned slightly as their eyes scanned Marlon from head to toe. Aside from his above-average looks and the cracked armor on his body, he appeared ordinary. How could this be the chosen one?

"Junior apprentice, are you joking about something so serious?" one of them asked sternly.

Daniel shook his head, then quickly narrated everything beginning with Marlon’s resurrection to his encounter with the glowing figure and his incredible speed.

Hearing all that, the nuns’ expressions changed. They turned to Marlon, their eyes glowing with reverence and awe. He no longer looked like an ordinary youth to them, but a knight blessed by divine light.

"You came at the right time, Chosen One," one of them said softly, taking Marlon’s hand with a trembling smile.

"What do you mean, sister?" Marlon asked calmly.

"This isn’t something we should discuss outside," she replied. "Please, come with us."

Marlon nodded and followed the nuns and the young priest inside. They passed through the vast but empty congregation hall and entered another chamber.

Inside, he saw dozens of nuns and priests, both young and old, though three figures stood out among them.

They were elderly men seated apart from the others, deep in discussion. On their heads were tall mitres, a clear sign of their senior rank within the Church.

"Senior priests, the Chosen One has arrived just as prophesied," Daniel called out respectfully.

Like the nuns before them, the senior priests frowned, thinking Daniel was making light of something sacred. But after hearing his detailed explanation, their expressions gradually softened.

They didn’t fully believe him but neither could they deny what they’d just heard.

"You said you possess supernatural powers?" one of them asked. After Daniel nodded, he turned to Marlon. "We would like to see those powers before we agree and reveal what you seek to you."

Marlon nodded. He understood why they were so cautious. The dark king could easily send one of his darklings in disguise as a chosen one just to get his hands on the treasure that could bring his end.

"What test would you like me to do? I have super strength and super speed," Marlon said.

The priest chose strength since the space was too limited to test his speed.

Marlon’s eyes scanned the room and landed on a big, heavy chest lying in the corner. He walked up to it and lifted it with one hand.

Everyone stared at him in awe.

With that simple gesture, he thought he had confirmed his position as the chosen one.

"That is great, but the darklings also possess such strength," one of the priests said. "You must take the Holy Water test."

Following his words, a young priest stepped out with a golden cup and poured the liquid inside it on Marlon.

There was no reaction meaning he was human.

Everyone finally let out sighs of relief after seeing this.

"We are sorry for doubting your identity," one of them said. "But we had to be sure it wasn’t the dark king in disguise."

"Sure, I understand. You did the right thing," Marlon replied with a nod.

The priests smiled, and then one of them left the room and returned with a large scroll, which Marlon immediately understood to be the map to the location of the Treasures of Fate. The priest handed it to him carefully.

Marlon unfolded the map. The linings of it glowed faintly, and the locations of the three treasures were marked in bright green. Miraculously, his own position was also marked with the same color.

’With this, it would be even easier to track the marked locations,’ he thought, smiling before folding the map and turning back to the priests who were ready to address him.

"Please be very careful, young one. The dark king already knows the location of two of the three Treasures of Fate. Unfortunately for him— and to our greatest advantage — those who dabble in darkness cannot touch or make use of such holy treasures. Nonetheless, we have received reports that some of his darklings have stationed themselves there and laid traps for whoever dares to retrieve them," the priest warned.

Marlon listened attentively.

"Also, we would like one of our sisters to accompany you," another priest added.

At his words, a beautiful young lady with flowing white hair and hazel eyes, dressed in a nun’s outfit, walked out. She looked around twenty and stood about six feet tall. She could rival models on Earth with her beauty, but that wasn’t what mattered now.

"This is Lunar, a divine one with the special blessing of healing and enchantment. She will be your guide," the priest introduced her.

"Hi, Lunar," Marlon said, stretching out his hand for a handshake.

Lunar received the handshake and gave a faint smile without speaking.

"Her blessings came at a very young age and overpowered her underdeveloped body, causing her to lose the ability to speak. But she’s a kind soul," Daniel whispered in his ear.

Hearing this, Marlon finally understood her character and flashed her a gentle smile. Then he turned back to the priests.

"Thank you for trusting me. I promise everyone in this room that I, Marlon Ashleigh, hero of the Goddess of Light, will return brightness to this dark world."

"May the Goddess of Light be with you!"

"Please defeat the dark king for us!"

"Good luck, hero!"

Everyone in the room responded to his salute, causing him to smile.

Lunar walked gently beside him and waved at the others with a kind smile on her face. Daniel escorted the two of them out and bid them farewell before returning to the church.

At the church gate, many humanoid monsters staggered around, a few of them banging on the gate. Their snarls and moans filled the dark night with noise.

Marlon suggested to Lunar that he carry her so they could travel faster and avoid getting hurt by monsters, and she agreed.

She climbed on his back, and together they made their way through the horde of monsters.

...

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