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Chapter 1709 - Judgement
🕑 Added 2025-10-31 01:00:20 +0000 UTCOf all the organisations separate from the free cities, kingdoms, empires, trade federations and territorial associations in the Dungeon, the most well-known and impactful is the Abyssal Legion.
Almost as ubiquitous is the Church of the Path. Its origins are lost to time, though the Church itself claims to have arisen during the Rending. To some, it seems absurd that a faith based around the Dungeon as a proving ground and test of spirit could arise while that same Dungeon was tearing the world apart, but to others, it makes perfect sense.
Why not seek out meaning in the destruction? Better to think that the death and suffering were for a purpose rather than random and pointless.
Although not tied to any other authority, the Church of the Path makes its headquarters within the Grand Cathedral in the Golden City. Preaching that the Dungeon exists to serve and uplift the old races of Pangera, it has spread to almost every quarter of the world.
- Excerpt from ‘Societies and Organisations of the Dungeon’ by Allus
“We are here to execute the will of the Church.”
Silent and unmoving, rank upon rank of soldiers, dressed in armour gleaming with pure silver and draped in robes of white listened intently, their discipline never wavering.
“Do not waver in your faith, do not stray from your purpose. If there are doubts in your heart, crush them without mercy. Even the slightest crack in our armour will render it ineffective. Dismissed.”
Feet stomped on the deck as, rank by rank, the Judgement Battalion began to file down the gangway and onto the dock. The people of Green Mountain showed proper deference as they gave way, allowing the flawless lines of soldiers to enter the city. From the deck of the ship, War Bishop Pearson watched as the men and women who served under his leadership marched, heads high and souls afire, eager to serve the commands of the Church.
Eyes hard, he waited until the last rank had disembarked before doing so himself. Trusting that the auxiliaries would see to the care of their weapons and shields, he followed the last of his troops, eyes and ears open to the happenings on the mountain.
It had been years since Pearson had been home, but not much had changed since his last visit. A martial people, living in the shadow of one of the largest monsters the Dungeon had ever seen, locals were expected to live and act a certain way in regards to the Dungeon. It was the ever-present enemy, a shadow that lay over the brightest of days.
Of course, they welcomed the arrival of the Soldiers of the Path. Cheers rained down on the Battalion, along with flowers hurriedly cut from gardens, while others laid down their cloaks in the soldiers’ path. Though, along with the celebrations, Pearson detected an air of tension and anxiety, like a worm burrowing within an apple. Of course, that was to be expected to some extent; a Judgement Battalion wasn’t dispatched for nothing, there had to be a target, which meant danger was nearby.
Yet he was certain it went deeper than that. Something was going wrong here.
After seeing that the troops were billeted comfortably and the captains were assured of their duties, War Bishop Pearson strode away, heading to his first appointment.
High on the Mountain, almost to the highest inhabited levels, he found a residence carved from gleaming white stone. Dripping with luxuries and sparkling in the mana-enhanced light of the fourth, it was fit for a king, or a noble lord at the very least. Cringing attendants took his name at the entrance before checking he was allowed entrance. When he was granted permission, they apologetically asked if he could remove his armoured boots before stepping inside.
Pearson ignored them.
Shouldering past those who timidly tried to step in his way, the War Bishop marched within, not caring if he stepped a little harder onto the dappled marble floor than was strictly necessary. On the wide balcony, and under an arch of perfectly formed stone that extended a dozen metres away from the edge of the manor, he found who he was here to see.
“Grand Priest Alir Vinting,” he said.
The man in question rose from his couch, placed his hand on his heart, and bowed in welcome.
War Bishop Graham Pearson was disgusted.
“It is most wonderful to see you here, War Bishop,” Alir said, smiling. “I am gratified the Church saw fit to act so expeditiously in regards to my report.”
Pale blue eyes as cold as glacier ice stared unblinking at the Grand Priest.
“How much is the Church paying to keep you in this residence, Grand Priest Vinting?” he asked.
Alir blinked, then restrained himself from rolling his eyes. He hadn’t met this particular War Bishop many times, but Pearson’s reputation was well-known within the ranks of the higher-ups in the Church. With his shining gold hair severely pulled back and tied at the nape of his neck, there was neither a hair out of place nor a single smudge upon his armour. Everything about him spoke of rigid control and uncompromising standards.
“On a mission of such importance, I deemed it necessary that I take up a residence that did not besmirch the prestige and authority of the Church,” Alir said, his smile tightening.
Pearson said nothing for a moment, merely looking around him. Paintings, cloth woven with shimmering golden thread, the rug formed from the hide of a powerful monster. Then there was the view. From this high, the waters of the fourth twinkled like a jewel, distant mountains rising like titans to hold up the sky above.
“I deem it to be excessive. You will cut short your stay and be billetted with my troops.”
War Bishop Pearson’s tone brooked no argument, the matter was final. Alir smothered his reflexive wince and maintained the smile on his face, while suppressing the spark of anger in his chest.
“You do not have that authority.”
“In the field, I outrank you.”
Alir looked about himself, brows raised.
“Do you consider this the field? Is there a danger present I am unaware of?”
Pearson finally allowed himself the slightest of smiles.
“Men and women of the Judgement Battalions are expected to maintain battle readiness at all times outside of the cathedrals. The moment we step beyond the cathedral gate, we are in the field. If you don’t agree, feel free to take the matter up with the Arch Bishop upon your return.”
They both knew Alir was in no position to directly refuse. If he didn’t want to move, Pearson could pick him up like a child and roll him down the mountain like a ball.
“Rejoice,” the War Bishop said. “I will personally see to it that the funds saved are distributed to the widows and orphans who have lost their family members to the monsters. In this way, we light the Path.”
Grand Priest Alir Vinting swallowed the anger now threatening to rise up and choke him.
“We light the Path,” he echoed, bowing to hide his expression.
Pearson didn’t look as if he was taking any pleasure in the other man’s suffering, and Alir was certain that he wasn’t.
“Now,” the War Bishop said, “tell me about this creature I am here to kill.”
Comments
StarSeeds ProtocolDao
Beyns too much of a talker to be a war bishop
alt31415
It'll take more than the bare minimum effort but like, what precisely would stop him from just flattening them until their blood oozes out?
Sean
I’ve been saying for a while that I’m pretty sure they refuse to pay and Anthony extracts a price from them by force, leading to the sacking of silver city. Seeing as this is the last time Anthony is supposed to go this high, it lines up in my head.
Slapjack
War Bishop is such a cool class, need to get Beyn on that ASAP
Cypha
I feel like this could be a real serious fight for Anthony. These dudes don't seem like pushovers. On the other hand even a legion says no can't do alone.
Kris Piskorski
I hope before they sell them back they'll fight a bit in the fifth
Ozzy
It would be fun if the whole army gets captured but the church refuses to pay to get them back. In order to pay off there debt they are sent to the 5th to work it off fighting for the Colony. It would be hilarious to have both prime monster hating organizations having armies in the field helping out the Colony instead of fighting them.
carson
Hope Anthony doesn't rough this guy up too bad. He ticked off Alir which has made me like him already.
blucube 14
Thanks for the chapter! Oh? Is this gonna be a chance for Anthony to stretch his legs?
Sly Trickster
He too will fall all too easily. For none sans a deep legionnaire or an ancient can stand before the all powerful might of the Dark One and his industrial complex!!! Gwehehehehe Mwahahahagagm……*cough cough * down Dark One. Sorry about that. But ye buddy boy is gonna get got easy peasy.
Koala Man
Oooh a Bishop isn’t some trifle that’s going to go down too easily. This will be fun :)
Collector of Stories
I wonder who is underestimating the other most? Anthony or the Church? Obviously I want Anthony to crush these new arrivals but I wonder if it’ll take more than the minimum bare effort required for the delvers
Dan K
Dang. Kind of liking this war bishop guy. Shame he is going to be captured, treated kindly, and then sold back to the church for an exorbitant price.
Shaitan
lol. Time for the crusaders to face a crusade
Wensber
Thanks for the chapter!
alt31415
Doubtful. What kind of person do you think ends up in the military branch of the Church of Monsters Are Only Fuel?
TheLostGolem
Probably really low. He seems to be the kind of person who fights monsters because they typically eat people though, so I think that the chance is non-zero.
alt31415
It's not a cliffhanger, it's just 'the story isn't over yet and is still being written'.,
alt31415
No.
alt31415
Up into the sky the War Bishop will fly. Hopefully no carvers have filled the ceiling with stalactites.
crusaderstar
Fun chapter! Always love enemies with some redeeming aspects. And the image of rolling Alir down the mountain was excellent
Moonspike
Lol Pearson would fit right in with the ants if he wasn't a zealot of the path. What are the odds Beyn converts him?
Anthony Romanov
Oh Look Shiny Armor. Thank you for your deliver, now let's unload your soldiers of their cargo. Of course Colony will provide much more comfortable clothing for you as you enjoy cakes and tea. Ps I like this War Bishop!
Tommy Gallery
I like this guy, I hope Anthony keeps him as a pet.
Buck
Should have known the Church of the Path has a military branch. Can’t wait to see how the Church of the Great One reacts to this development.
Tsunami
Merchant is going to be a busy little ant.
Codered999
It is interesting to finally explore more facets of the church of the path
Gabus Deux
I almost wonder if the war priest is more likely to see reason. I imagine they get captured and anthony talks to em like "yeah no if these assholes werent trying to torture specifically my family to death we wouldnt be holding them for ransom."
Codered999
He's a tightass, but he does seem to be one of the virtuous members of the church purely trying to lay low a deadly threat to the Sapients in the area. He definitely hasn't been given a fully accurate report and his encounter with Anthony is going to probably shake his faith after seeing that Anthony has not killed anyone from Green Mountain.
Gabus Deux
Casual zealot vs Competitive zealot
Brandon14754
Please take alir to hand yourselves over to anthony
kev mil
Cliffy strikes again
Hayden Leech
War bishop? Oooh. I’m always glad to see more of the other factions of the setting.
