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Chapter 1728 - Discussing the Divine
🕑 Added 2025-12-04 01:00:03 +0000 UTCThere was something sacred to standing in the Dungeon. It was a place of infinite possibility, of rich mana and unending gifts. What purpose did it serve, for what reason did it put forward such bounty, if it wasn’t for the benefit of the Old Races who had lived upon Pangera before the Dungeon had made itself known to them?
War Bishop Graham Pearson rose to his feet, having completed his hour of prayer, feelings of praise and gratitude still resounding in his heart. After a lifetime as part of the Church, exposed to both the light and dark sides of it, he still felt, deep in his bones, the certainty of his faith.
The Dungeon existed to serve the worthy.
Every monster that spawned within it was an offering for those strong enough to claim it.
“I don’t need to be here,” Grand Priest Vinting stated from nearby, not for the first time.
Unbothered, Graham turned to the other man, his eyes as cold and blue as mana-infused ice.
“Your steps along the Path have led you to this place, to this moment,” the War Bishop chided him patiently. “You are where you are meant to be. It isn’t for you to refute or deny, but to pray and meditate on why.”
Alir’s face tightened with anger, but the War Bishop had no fear of him. If they were to be compared in the crude metric of Levels, Graham outstripped his contemporary several times over. In terms of experience and skill, the gap was significantly wider than that. Between the two men, the only way in which Alir could be considered superior was rank within the Church.
Not that Graham cared for such things.
“Are you at least willing to meet with the delegates from Green Mountain?” Alir asked acidly.
He was hoping to find a way to get himself out of the Dungeon, Graham could see that. If it wasn’t possible by demanding the War Bishop let him go, perhaps he could influence others to make it happen. The man was as slippery as a snake, and unworthy of the elevated position he held within the faith.
“Of course I am,” Graham replied. “You understand that prayer must come before other tasks, do you not?”
“Naturally,” Alir replied with a scowl.
“Then I fail to see the problem.”
Not far away from the two men, Graham could see the delegation waiting. Strong-looking soldiers, experienced professionals with decades of service in the Dungeon, fighting waves and purging monsters. People Graham could respect.
They understood the trade of what took place in the Dungeon, even if they didn’t grasp its purpose.
He pitied them for their ignorance. What satisfaction could they find in their work without fully grasping the divine meaning behind it? Blindly walking the Path was no different than not walking on it at all.
Of course, he did not allow the pity he felt to show on his face as he approached them.
“Greetings. I am Graham Pearson, War Bishop of the eleventh Judgement Battalion. Do I have the honour of addressing Marshal Williams and Marshal Selda?”
The two figures glanced towards each other before turning back to him and offering a short bow. Despite there being no significant difference between the armour worn by the Marshals and the officers around them, Graham always made it a point to know the faces of important figures he might encounter while in the Dungeon.
Williams, a short and stocky man, nevertheless carried an air of authority and quiet competence that made him seem much larger than his stature would normally allow. Bald, yet with overlarge and fierce eyebrows, he would be almost comical if not for the power he radiated.
Selda was similarly severe. Greying hair pulled back tight, she was thin to the point of being gaunt, yet even standing still, she exuded a lithe and deadly grace. Graham had no doubt the sabre sheathed at her hip could be placed at his neck faster than a man could blink.
Lesser officers stepped away as Graham approached, Alir following slightly behind. It was Marshal Williams who broke the silence.
“There’s no need for us to be coy with each other,” he said softly, his gaze steady and confident, “that’s for the politicians. Do you want our help hunting the monster? If so, we have been given authority to negotiate on parts.”
“What is Green Mountain prepared to offer?” the War Bishop asked simply.
“Two thousand soldiers for two parts in ten, or four thousand for five,” came the reply.
“You are mistaken if you believe that your soldiers are the equivalent of a Judgement Battalion,” Alir said stiffly. “It would be… an insult to the Church to insinuate such a thing.”
Always tiresome, arguing over the body parts of a monster before it had even been felled. However, when they were hunting the sort of prey that were chasing now, it was inevitable that these discussions would take place. Half of this monster’s corpse would be worth an incredible fortune. Enough to lift up the Green Mountain for decades to come.
“Four thousand for four parts in ten,” Graham said, then held up a hand to forestall the Marshals, “I will not negotiate.”
Williams and Selda exchanged glances once more, communicating with nothing but their eyes.
“In addition,” Graham went on, “all Soul Crystal that is gleaned will belong to the Church. On this point, I will also not negotiate.”
After a long moment of silence, Williams nodded.
“Aye,” he said. “We have a deal.”
Nine thousand soldiers to deal with one ant. It would be more than enough.
Comments
Pyronite_OD
I have 3 different theories! 1: I think the dungeon was made for the monsters, not the people. Kind of like in christianity where god made the universe and then made man to populate it, saying that it was all for them to live and prosper in. 2: I think the dungeon is a living organism. the monsters are the immunee system of a sort, keeping things out. "Gandalf" is the core. The brain. 3: The dungeon was made by the system, as a trial for the old races. Gandalf is not the system, he isn't all powerful evil. For those who've read Mark of the Fool, it could also be a Uldar-Ravener situation.
Jomel Mirafuentes
Ive read somewhere before during the fight in 5th stratum that a battalion consist of 10k ants. Idk if its changed or not.
Slapjack
We know Anthony has 2 battalions with him as well. Is that a similar number to the 9000 he's going up against?
Sean Bloodgood
Tyftc
LazyWizard
Beyn, this commander is a fanatic himself so I think it would be hard to turn him over to ant side, but maybe it is a second coming of Beyn 😂😂
Paul S.
I'm looking forward to Graham joining the church of Anthony. He will like that fanatic priest (Byon? I suck with names).
CentaureHeart
Welp, that's going to be harder to not kill them now.
Maximus
I do wonder whether this isn't grounds for significant reparations. Before it was delvers but this time Green Mountain sent their own people. Something that Merchant could certainly exploit.
Silent Consent
Maybe she can keep a few hearts contained for herself
Silent Consent
Oh man, I hope he disappears them and then has Merchant go and pretend they have no idea what green mountain is talking about when they try to buy them back! An army of 10k you say? Surely we would have noticed such a force. Are you sure there was such an army?
Jomel Mirafuentes
I want to see their reaction if they find out the sheer number of army they have on 5th stratum and the one they are seeing in a fight is just a scratch in the surface the colony want to show.
Jomel Mirafuentes
This is their greatest mistake that would lead to their downfall. Anthony is fighting at a disadvantage alone and still whooping their asses. Theyre forgetting that ants work well with numbers and just fighting one ant is giving them a hard time. I dont know where theyre getting their confidence from. You bring 9000 but u need power level over 9000! Just to get Anthony.
Sly Trickster
Off topic, what will the Mother Tree feed on once the fifth is cleansed? Can she eat the new purified mana pumping from the hearts? Does it taste minty?
Black Rose
Tftc
Aeseof
Ah... Optimism. Good luck with that!
Scott Faulkner
technically with snot nosed alir numerically they are 9001 but he's more of an anchor around the neck than a helping hand. Also I don't consider him a person so I'm not capitalizing his name.
Yanni
9000 elite soldiers vs Anthony and his crew. I’m guessing Crinis alone will be enough to put the fear of the Great One into them.
Yanni
I thought only Tiny got the Mythic evolution out of his pets.
Rahsheem Reid
One ant AND 2 T7 mythic pets a shadow force and 2 battalions oh they are so fucked. This is where the church goes all in and gets wiped by the colony.
alt31415
No they aren't. They're considered a sentient species by the FOLK. The Church has no such compunction and, if you'll recall, kidnapped and murdered one of Anthony's sisters in cold blood, while she mentally pleaded for Anthony to save her, and called it a great day. Why would he consider them? They haven't really been shown to him in any way. I'd be surprised he knows they exists.
Koala Man
He’s going to throw a fancy footed kilowatt boxing intent at them for sure , make em all flinch hard before the real one hits 😂
alt31415
“I will not negotiate.” - How antlike, refusing to haggle! "Nine thousand soldiers to deal with one ant. It would be more than enough." - Shoulda brought over nine-thousand, silly!
Phrance
I'm excited to see TINY put on an absolute display The Fancy Feet, the Ape Boxing, The kilowatts, and killing intent (punching intent)?
Anthony Romanov
Seriously the Dude is competent but so so blindly ignorant. Colony is considered a sentient race now. Which means an ARMY! Anthony brought a General, ant army and Humans for this fight. And he is treating like a fight against slightly smarter monster. That monster would either flee or blindly charge into them. Shouldn't he also consider Pets that Anthony has? How much research gone into them?
Igor Chmurski
Narrator voice: little did they know, it would not be enough.
KingGoomba
Ahh yes one Ant. Not his 20 protectors, 3 friends, battalion of other ants and priests. Everything will go according to plan
TheLostGolem
More than enough ransom money being paid out to keep Green Mountain in the red for decades to come maybe....
FluffyPrincess
Since Anthony has been hunting solo, they all thought he was the only one hunting so their info is out-of-date and also inadequate.
inkaral
“It would be more than enough.” It was not enough.
Gonvas
This smells of heresy 🤣
Brandon14754
Every monster that spawned within it was an offering for those strong enough to claim it. He's not wrong but he's arrogant to think the same doesn't apply to sapients in the dungeon or that other monsters can't also do the claiming
Bethany Bluebird
oh you sweet summer child...
Alessandro Mattioli
This will go one of two ways: either they are wiped out by Anthony, or they are converted by Beyn.
blucube 14
It will definitely not be enough! Thanks for the chapter!
Chimurry Al
"9,000 vrs One" 🥸 Yep, it seems they don't know math or at least do accounting
David Harshman
It might have been enough, if it was just one Anthony...
Im in Your walls
Its not gonna be enough
