Chapter 395 Reason and Excuses (1/2)

”Have to say, such awe-inspiring talent.”

Rising from his seat, Igor studied the warrior with his real eyes. The pope was not in the best of health, that much was clear as he stood up. However, anyone could clearly sense a tremendous power lying within the thin and frail body, as grand and majestic as the forces of nature.

”I know that there are existences that possess heaven-gifted abilities,” he said, his tone grave and gruff. ”Since their birth, they have displayed all sorts of natural talents—such as elemental control, communication with beasts or the ability to see the flow of energy in all things.”

Igor spread his left fingers and looked down carefully at the holy light that whirls at his palm. ”Such beings include me, Emperor Israel and Vahina, Sage of the Eastern Sea. As the saying goes—give 'The Chosen' a chance and their ability would grow by leaps and bounds.”

The old man's tone soon became doubtful and curious.

”Joshua, I've heard about your past,” he said, leveling his golden gaze to the warrior's crimson. ”In the past twenty years, you've stayed largely anonymous, living like a typical heir of nobles. Even in the army, you've relied on family connections to get a plain position without making any eye-catching achievements.

”Thus your first twenty years ended like a grain of sand in the beach. But two years after your father's passing, you rose like a meteor. Before this, I've said that was due to your sage inheritance, but now I think that was inaccurate.”

”Then, does Your Holiness believe that I'm a Chosen?”

Although Joshua knew that his body was as ordinary as any other that flowed with plain human blood, he did not feel weirded out by Igor's attitude. Anyone would be shocked to see the extent of his improvement. Most of them would believe that he was naturally gifted, but those who knew more would naturally find all sorts of reasons and excuses for him.

Be it 'Sage's Legacy' or 'Chosen', all are reasons and excuses. In the end, Joshua did not have to say a thing and there would be those who would write a detailed explanation. The people of this world never were the suspicious kind—they were more used to connect anything special with things they were familiar with as well as their knowledge scope.

But what does that have to do with divinity?

”That's right.” Igor did not hold back on his hypothesis. ”I believe that you have awakened your innate talent as a Chosen after the passing of the last Moldavian count. Hidden powers awakened by intense emotions were not rare throughout history—but more importantly, you should know what your innate gifts are.”

The elder nodded, as if assuring himself of the validity of his own speculation. ”Now, it looks like it could be 'plunder'. You will attain what you defeat, which in turn accelerates your improvement—it's a common trait in powerful demons of the Abyss.”

After hearing the last part, Joshua's expression twitched. He was not thinking about the pope's guesses, but was remembering that voice he heard in the Bloodmoon Abyss.

It was the moment he triumphed against Mandagar that a majestic, mysterious and androgynous voice echoed in his mind. It wanted Joshua to stay there, and become its liege.

That probably was what was known as the 'Will of the Abyss'. Like the Steel Python Joshua encountered at Karlis and Illgner, the incarnation of a world's mind.

Its purposeful invitation was undoubtedly an acknowledgment of the warrior's depth—and along with Igor's reasoning, he could not help start suspecting he had such an aspect. After all, his power of the Glorious Light collects the soul shards of the defeated to increase its own power. To describe it as plunder was perfectly apt.

Noticing his change in expression, Igor shook his head and smile. ”Don't worry, Joshua. Even if it is an Abyssal demon trait, it isn't rare for humans to possess it. To grab power from the loser, after all, is a common thing.”

”According to the texts, during the ancient era where the first sages discovered aura along with breathing skills, that sort of skill has already been observed. It was exactly because they could rob daemons off their lifeforce and mana that they could put in a cornerstone for the human forces.”