Chapter 1204 - 96: Invasion of Ferren, Sword Pointed at the God of Gods

Chapter 1204: Chapter 96: Invasion of Ferren, Sword Pointed at the God of Gods

Hall of Justice.

This not-so-grand divine hall appears somewhat dilapidated on the outside. Even if it’s swept very clean, the signs of its age and disrepair are hard to conceal.

Justice is not wealthy; on the contrary, justice can sometimes be quite poor.

Because justice requires assisting the poor and helping the weak.

Aiding those in distress.

That also costs money.

The meager rewards the Paladins earn from eradicating evil and completing missions must be partly kept for their own expenses, maintaining their weapons and armor. A part must be contributed to the church to keep it running, and a final part must be regularly used to aid the poor and refugees.

Therefore, a true Paladin might adventurer for decades, going through life-and-death struggle, and when they finally retire, they live a life of hardship. Of course, they never regret it.

The cost of carrying out justice has never been one that ordinary people can bear.

The sound of horse hooves echoed.

With the ringing of the Hall of Justice’s bell, the surrounding apprentice Paladins curiously looked up. Paladins can’t be casually sent out because they harbor an intense hatred for evil. If those who haven’t passed the trials are sent out, they either get exploited into becoming a weapon or die inexplicably. The older instructors have to be accountable for these young idealists.

Paladins’ movements are somewhat restricted because evil lurks everywhere in this realm.

"Has an important figure arrived?"

"Hiss!"

"Even the Archbishop has come out to welcome them." The young Paladin, Tate, looked off into the distance.

He saw a team of extraordinarily splendid gold-armored knights.

With golden helmets and armor, riding white horses, holding silver frost-iron lances, bearing gold-plated shields imprinted with marks of wealth, this opulent equipment made many Paladins envious, as it was not something an average person could afford.

Archbishop Barman actively appeared to welcome them. Before the Saint’s Calamity, the church of the God of Justice, Tyr, did not have dedicated Priests—it was only recently that church reform occurred.

The Forest Goddess Melikai’s church also underwent reform; to prevent her divine power from waning, she incorporated the Druids into the priestly system.

"Welcome Lord Duncan to the Hall of Justice."

With Archbishop Barman taking the initiative to greet him, the golden-armored knights in front separated, revealing an extraordinarily heroic young man who dismounted, showing a friendly smile and nodding towards the Archbishop of the God of Suffering, Ilmater, with whom he had collaborated once during the Battle of the Bottomless Abyss.

Apart from Tom’s Bishop, two Archbishops from the church of the three gods of justice were present—the representation was substantial.

"Please follow me." Archbishop Barman led the way in front.

Meanwhile, Duncan signaled to an attendant on the side, and soon, an old Silver Coin under the command of Sharella nodded towards a nearby person. He didn’t like the Paladin territory much because he was a crafty and deceitful thief.

Nearby, the attendant silently unloaded a few heavy chests. The weight shocked the assisting Paladins.

One didn’t handle it lightly and was surprised when the chest, weighing over a tonne, dropped, producing a crisp sound of metal clashing inside.

The sound of gold.

A Priest’s face changed slightly. Justice doesn’t need money, but carrying out justice requires it.

This gift was a bit too lavish.

"To thank you for the help you extended last time, Lord Duncan sent us with some gifts."

"You may handle these gifts as you wish."

"Whether for aiding the poor or helping the weak, we have no additional requirements; this is merely gratitude," an old Silver Coin softly said to the nearby Bishop.

Duncan wouldn’t bother with these minor matters.

After following Archbishop Barman into the Hall of Justice, he looked up to see the holy image of the God of Suffering, Ilmater, a visage of a bound sufferer, and two of the three gods of justice being maimed.

Justice in this realm is so arduous.

Not just for Paladins, even the divine spirits must be maimed, with justice going ’blind’.

Tyr.

Poor Tyr.

Duncan saw the holy image of the God of Justice ahead, both eyes completely blind—this is the cost of ’justice’.

Ayo, that old dog’s handiwork. ℯℯ𝑙.

People were invited into the pantheon of Ferren by Him, and the eyes were gouged by Him.

Then the Goddess of Magic was assassinated, leading to the collapse of the magic network.

To protect his followers, Tyr injected all his divine power into the "Holy Temple of Justice", falling into a state akin to dormancy. His divine format dropped from mighty divine power to weak divine power, and the holy image in the temple lost its radiance, though followers could still feel faint divine guidance.

But this wasn’t the end.

Because ultimately, Tyr’s faith gradually faded away, the weary Tyr relinquishing his divine guise over Ferren, with Tom taking over most of the ’justice’ divine positions.

The God of Suffering, Ilmater, quietly safeguarded the remaining churches of Tyr.

In the plot line of Baldur’s Gate 3, one can still find the broken holy relic of Tyr—’cold as ever, but occasionally trembling.’

Justice has merely withdrawn, not vanished completely.

Some blind old Paladins can occasionally hear the faint vibrating of Tyr’s sword.

Duncan slowly stepped within.

All the Paladins retreated, including the guiding Archbishop. Unbeknownst to anyone, the holy image of the maimed Tyr, the God of Justice with completely blind eyes, emitted a faint glow, and eventually, a sigh-like whisper rang out, tinged with respect: "Your Majesty..."

A fearless middle-aged warrior appeared, clad in chain armor, blinded, with his right arm severed, holding a longsword.

—The God of Justice, Tyr (Incarnation) (Mighty Divine Power) (Friendly) (Golden Skull Mark).