SAINTESS [Chapter 40: Are you two related??]

"A kingdom gradually declines, when it becomes strong on the outside but weak within, people will slowly become depressed, placing their hopes on elusive gods. At that time, the two gods [Continuance] and [Eternity] each had numerous believers.

After rumors spread that 'one of these two gods is an evil god, causing the Mars Kingdom's slave uprisings to never cease and leading to continuous decline,' the believers of each god began cutting ties with another one, both claimed that the other's god was the evil god harming the nation.” Isatia spoke while continuously placing icons representing people and buildings onto the third image.

"Thus, the Mars Kingdom split into two due to religious differences. The formerly united Mars people began fighting violently against each other over faith, spilling the blood of their own kin across Mars lands. Religious war began, followed by incessant slave uprisings, causing the Mars Kingdom to become fragmented and disintegrated."

Combining what she had seen in the dungeon, clues provided by Aesphyra, and her own understanding of Mars civilization, Isatia pieced together a logical train of thought.

"The origin of these rumors, how they started or who spread them, has become impossible to verify. Most likely, it was the ruling class of Mars themselves who started these rumors, but their widespread propagation undoubtedly involved the ruling class's active encouragement and fueling." As she finished speaking, Isatia placed several slaves, seemingly conspiring in secret, into the corner of the third picture.

These slaves hid in the shadows, plotting while silently watching the Mars people openly quarreling and slaughtering each other over faith. At this point, the Mars people were already locked in fierce, chaotic combat, bloodied and unable to disengage.

Countless pilgrimages were burned down, thousands of palaces destroyed. Due to war, civilians became displaced and were then killed by opportunistic slave rebels. Just from the patterns Isatia assembled, one can see that the Mars Kingdom at the time resembled reeds swaying in a storm, could be uprooted or snapped in half.

Thus appeared the previous scene: the god enshrined in the Mars people's temple was destroyed, and the murals inside the temple depicting the suppression of slave uprisings were severely ruined.

Winnie only now realized the records in those murals might have been events after the Mars civil war. Since the temple was built by Mars people who worshiped the [Continuance], the legends of the [Continuance] god were unacceptable to Mars people who worshiped the [Eternity] god, so they destroyed the murals and shattered the god statues.

As for the statue of the ouroboros multi-legged serpent, the [Eternity] god standing outside the door, could it have been carried here by Mars people who worshiped the [Eternity] god?

But if Mars people who worshiped the [Eternity] god brought it here, how could they be so careless as to chip the corners and leave one of its claws behind in the palace?? That seemed too unreasonable??

Then, Winnie saw Isatia shift her attention to the fourth image and begin assembling it.

“Mars people who believe in [Eternity] and Mars people who believe in [Continuance] engaged in endless warfare.”

Then what?

Winnie didn't know. He vaguely felt that only Aesphyra and Isatia might know what happened afterwards, because they possessed much information he didn't, such as exactly how the ancient Carillian Empire was destroyed overnight?? What was inside the Spire Order, and what exactly destroyed the ancient Carillian Empire??~

“They each believed the other side had been corrupted by an evil god, making them the ones initiating war, while claiming themselves as true gods' emissaries. In this unprecedentedly prolonged war, their hatred for heretics even surpassed their hatred for foreign nations. Gradually, by the end, many Mars people themselves even forgot that the other side had once been their own kin.”

"The Mars people had deep foundations, and at the time, no surrounding civilizations could rival them. Therefore, this war must have lasted extremely long. According to my speculation, it lasted at least several decades." As Isatia spoke, she divided numerous Mars people into two factions, slaughtering each other amidst burning temples and towns, with many slaves mixed in.

Each side, to enhance their combat strength, pardoned many slaves and granted them equal status, making them fight on their behalf. But this inevitably led to more severe rebellions, after all, if high-status slaves plotted revolts, the consequences would be irreversible.

What followed, anyone could imagine. In such a prolonged battle, people's minds will be battered beyond recognition. Who would care whether you were a Mars person or from another tribe? All that mattered was whether you worshiped their god.

The chaos in the Mars lands at the time was probably ranked among the greatest wars in the entire history of the Terraria continent, so massive that even the ancient Carillian Empire, famous for its conquests across north and south, would have to stand up and toast in respect.

During this period, who knew how many more slaves rose up in rebellion, and how many slaves actually benefited, truly submitting to either the [Eternity] or [Continuance] god.

Anyway, who won or lost, unknown. But one thing was certain: the Terraria continent was undoubtedly bleeding continuously at the time.

Plague, illness, death, disorder, fear, infertility, war brings nothing but these things. In the end, the common people always suffer and bear the consequences.

Then what?

Relying solely on this still couldn't completely annihilate a civilization, at least not make it vanish without a trace, leaving no records. So what happened afterwards? What caused the Mars civilization to disappear completely??

Winnie fixed his gaze on Isatia, listening as she delivered the final conclusion.

“Whether Mars people who believe in [Eternity] or Mars people who believe in [Continuance], they all discovered a problem during the war, and coincidentally researched the same subject: that believing in gods still couldn't erase the short-life curse upon them.”

“War had already begun; it was too late to say anything. Sometimes, position truly matters more than right or wrong. The question became how to gain God's favor?”

“As time passed, the ruling classes on both sides ceased hoping for divine favor and developed a further idea, that was...”

“To steal the god's power and use it for themselves.” Isatia enunciated each word clearly.

Hearing this, Aesphyra showed no expression, only deep contemplation.

Meanwhile, Winnie stood behind Aesphyra, staring at her with a face full of shock and doubt.

By this point, he understood the implied meaning.

How the ancient Carillian Empire fell, the way Isatia had adjusted explained it. Combined with her earlier statement that 'the ancient empire touched something it absolutely shouldn't have,' it wasn't hard to guess that the Carillian family of that time had developed the same idea as the Mars rulers.

That was, attempting to obtain divine power and seize the god's [Divine Authority].

Winnie suddenly understood.

Then, what was sealed inside the Spire Order became obvious.

Why the Alchemy Demon Pillar Erunes attacked the Spire Order and was so interested in its contents also made sense.

Winnie boldly speculated that what was sealed within the Spire Order was a [Divine Authority], one that greatly interested the Alchemy Demon Pillar Erunes, something He either wanted to obtain or destroy.

And what destroyed the ancient Carillian Empire overnight was also a [Divine Authority]. The Carillian Empire, through unknown methods, mastered two [Divine Authorities]. They even possessed the technology and knowledge to materialize and seal [Divine Authority]. Then, likely while attempting to utilize and truly control it, an accident occurred, causing the destruction of most of the empire's provinces, including the capital.

And perhaps the Mars people also perished because they attempted to steal [Divine Authority]?

However, although the Mars civilization was prosperous, compared to the ancient Carillian Empire, there still seemed to be considerable gaps in research progress regarding soul armaments, magic, and divine blessings.

Could the Mars civilization truly achieve mastery over [Divine Authority] like the empire did? And could a Mars Kingdom fragmented like scattered sand really accomplish this??

Then came the most critical part.

Isatia continued arranging the final picture.

“Both sides were researching this subject, but due to relatively underdeveloped technical accumulation and immature experience, they didn't achieve much progress. However…”

Isatia shifted her tone.

“Having a certain foundation in [Divine Authority] research, they accidentally triggered some mechanisms of [Divine Authority].”

“In their long-standing perception, gods should look a certain way, and they had continuously destroyed the gods worshiped by the opposing side, their blood stained millions of temples. forever.”

“One race, two different god beliefs, both sides constantly destroying each other's god statues, coupled with decades of unceasing war, these factors trigger a certain 'chemical reaction.' The Divine Authority was truly separated.” As she spoke, Isatia's fingertips pinched the two glowing, shapeless, indescribable entities.

Winnie was astonished, his expression suddenly enlightened.

“The evidence is, if this were a complete Divine Authority, or even two Divine Authorities, the resulting power absolutely couldn't have been this small, only destroying a single Mars civilization.”

“[Eternity] and [Continuance], each had a small, incomplete portion of Divine Authority torn away. When combined and acting together, they produced a massive divine reaction, erasing every person in the Mars Kingdom, from slaves to rulers, from the Carillian continent.”

“Just like the ancient Carillian Empire.”

“However, because these were two very incomplete Divine Authorities, and from different sources, a problem occurred. [Eternity] and [Continuance] created a space with extremely slow time flow, sending all people on Mars lands, along with buildings, into it.”

Ah, that explained why the dungeon was so chaotic. These things were sucked in by the effect of Divine Authority and randomly placed, hence appearing so disordered.

“This is the entire story of the Mars civilization.” Isatia placed the final puzzle piece, drawing a definitive end to this reconstruction of history.

“There are many parts that still cannot be verified, but this is the most reasonable and closest-to-truth possibility I can conceive.”

Having said this, Isatia lowered her hands.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!!” A silence followed, with only the breathing of the three audible individuals. Suddenly, all the patterns in the stone chamber were instantly dyed crimson, like channels being filled with liquid.

“What is this??” Winnie stared in shock at his surroundings.

At the same time, the ground began to tremble. This ancient Contract Gate slowly cracked open at the center, gradually parting to both sides.

“Success?!”

“The mystery of the Mars civilization's demise, the truth, has emerged into the world.” Aesphyra solemnly stared at Isatia. “This piece of history, which should have long lost any living witnesses, now stands revealed.”

“This is... the buried dungeon??” Winnie stared strangely at the gradually opening gate, about to speak when Aesphyra beside him spoke first.

“Isatia, quickly retreat!” Aesphyra shouted to her.

Yet Isatia showed no reaction, as if she hadn't heard Aesphyra at all.

She turned around, calmly meeting Aesphyra's gaze. Their two purple eyes locked, as if making time pause for an instant.

“Aesphyra, I don't know exactly who you are,” Isatia suddenly spoke. “My intuition tells me that you know far more than I imagine, including certain matters about my family.”

After saying this meaningfully, Isatia voluntarily stepped into the opened Contract Gate.

Winnie and Aesphyra tried to rush forward but felt a strong resistance.

They felt as if thousands of hands were pulling them back, preventing them from advancing even a step.

The buried dungeon apparently did not welcome those unable to decipher it.

“If this were an ordinary buried dungeon, it might be controlled. But the Mars dungeon was created by Divine Authority. If you enter, your token will become invalid.” Aesphyra's tone became extremely serious. “At that point, no one can guarantee your personal safety.”

“Aesphyra, do you think I haven't made this decision with full awareness?” Isatia replied without turning back.

The two watched helplessly as Isatia's back grew increasingly distant.

Continuance and Eternity.

Could it be that Isatia wanted to use this to cure her strange illness?

But that didn't make sense? That was the terrifying thing that destroyed the Mars civilization, any slight mistake could erase a person completely. Isatia didn't seem like someone so reckless.

Could there be another reason??

Winnie couldn't help but wonder.

Then, right before their eyes, the opened gate slowly closed after Isatia entered.

Winnie and Aesphyra also noticed that on one stone brick that previously had no writing, a new name was carefully inscribed stroke by stroke.

Even though they didn't know Mars script, they understood exactly whose name had appeared on the stone brick.

Isatia Lantevillee.

“This is complete nonsense??” Winnie frowned and then shouted backward. “Hey, dude, stop damn pulling! The exit's completely closed, we can't get in even if we wanted to! Can you rest for a bit? You've been dead for years, why are you still so stubborn? Stop pulling!”

“...Winnie.”

“What?” Winnie wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt Aesphyra's tone had become even heavier.

That wasn't like Aesphyra's usual demeanor.

“The name on the stone brick, why is there another one?” Aesphyra hesitated.

“Another one??” Winnie looked at the stone brick and indeed found an additional name, feeling very strange.

Weird, wasn't only Isatia who entered? Why were there two names??

But neither of them knew Mars script, so they couldn't identify whose name it was.

Yet.

Winnie stared at the second line of the newly appeared text, feeling a certain degree of familiarity.

This made his spine chill, as it was a very strange thing.

He didn't know Mars script at all, how could he find a string of Mars text familiar??

Wasn't that eerie??

As goosebumps rose, Winnie's brain instantly raced, quickly figuring out what happened.

Wait!

Winnie broadened his eyes. “That... that should, unless something unexpected happened, it should be my name.”

“??” Aesphyra stared at Winnie with an odd and strange expression.

Feeling Aesphyra's gaze, Winnie swallowed, voicing his speculation. “Didn't Isatia mention earlier that these stone bricks are engraved by family units? Meaning, any slave, unless their entire family died leaving only them, would have their whole family engraved on a single stone brick. No one escapes.”

“? But what does that have to do with you?” Aesphyra looked strangely at Winnie.

“You, do you remember a certain thing?” Winnie pursed his lips. “I and Isatia, seems, perhaps, probably, have a marriage pact arranged by our ancestors!”

“...” Aesphyra suddenly fell silent.

“Moreover, that marriage pact was established by my great-grandmother, the last Radiant Saintess, and the Tyrell Emperor at the time. So strictly speaking, it's a marriage pact recognized by two powerful factions, valid beyond any doubt.”

“But that marriage pact is practically meaningless now? The Tyrell Empire won't acknowledge it. But the Mars people seem to take contracts very seriously? So they probably don't care about acknowledgement, only the contract itself.”

“If calculated this way, I seem to be indeed bound to Isatia?” Winnie said uncertainly.

“That marriage pact, now probably no one mentions it anymore.” Aesphyra fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said coldly.

“Yeah, that's true. But does that stop the already-dead Mars people from being stubborn about principles??” With the emergency situation, Winnie didn't notice the oddness in Aesphyra's tone, explained.

“But even so, it shouldn't make me...” Winnie wanted to say more, then suddenly his expression changed. He suddenly looked at his own body and found it gradually disappearing.

Damn it, what a jinx he had been?!

Winnie widened his eyes.

The worst fear had indeed come true!