Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Rumble, rumble—

Thunder resounded in bursts, as if the heavens were trembling in anger.

In the distance, the lapping of the Nile River was faintly audible. Within the dwelling place of the Hebrews, only the most central area was seldom trodden upon.

This was the root system of a great tree and also the place where Messe prayed. At this time every day, Messe would silently pray to God, sharing the voice of his heart each time he made a decision.

"...this is my choice."

"Many do not understand me, even Aaron does not understand my choice. Yet Almighty and Eternal Lord, when I gave up everlasting life before You, I had already seen clearly into my own soul."

"Despite having been forced to flee Egypt for forty years, from the day I left, not a day has passed that I haven't regretted my impotence."

"So I ultimately returned here... Only wish that Your radiance is cast upon the earth, as it is in the sky, allowing every devout believer to find salvation."

No one would disturb Messe during his prayers, whether they believed in God or not.

The mystery and nobility of a priest were ingrained in the bones of people of this era, and without this, Messe, as an outsider who had left for forty years, would not have easily gained the trust of his tribespeople.

The one who can communicate with God is the most revered existence in this era, and people revere this specialness just like they revere God, whether they are Egyptians or Hebrews.

...

The sacrifices lasted a long time, and beneath the tree transformed from the Serpent Staff, Messe spoke at length.

Each time, he anticipated that the Sacred Fire would spark before him, thus receiving divine revelation once more. Yet until the moment he stood up, nothing happened.

God did not respond to him as if the divine revelation of the past had already said enough.

Messe was willing to trade his own immortality and everything else for the redemption of others, and God had already given His answer early on.

For one thing, He does not need to speak a second time.

"...Perhaps this is destiny."

"My choice is also within God's expectations; perhaps when God saw me, He knew I was destined not to choose everlasting life. For the past and the future are before His eyes."

Quietly rising, Messe sighed.

The great tree he had planted with his own hands was right before him; it could not only shelter from the rain above but also dispel most severe weathers, such as storms and heavy snow, and even stabilize the land, as its roots prevented fissures and molten lava.

With it, the strength of gods of Egypt ceased to work, and he too could calmly proceed with the casting of the city, waiting for the Pharaoh to release them after the covenant was fulfilled.

This is the sacred artifact bestowed by God; even though it has already grown so tall, it continues to draw nutrients, growing taller and taller...

"...Growing taller and taller?"

His expression shifted, and Messe seemed to realize something.

He gazed at the great tree, which seemed indeed to have grown slightly taller than before.

But how could this great tree, formed by the strength of the Fountain and the Serpent Staff, grow taller out of nowhere? Is it that the strength of the Fountain has increased, or has the strength of the Serpent Staff become stronger?

"What's happening, has another disaster come? Aaron should have dealt with it, but why hasn't he come to tell me—"

Boom—

Before he could finish, the earth trembled, and the massive tree shuddered violently, nearly causing Messe to lose his balance. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

Sounds of impact came from the canopy, and little rain seeped through the cracks, spattering mud on the ground.

Messe looked up, but the dense foliage blocked his view, and for a moment, he could not discern what had struck the tree.

But through the connection with the Serpent Staff, Messe knew that this attack came from The Sky.

"But the attack from The Sky just happened, why does it continue to grow... What's happening outside, isn't Aaron out there protecting the people?"

The change in anything comes from a source of strength; at this moment, Messe realized, although the great tree was under attack, it was still growing taller.

A strange sense of joy in being replenished inexplicably rose from the bottom of his heart; however, Messe's heart was filled with only anxiety at this time.

He was not clear about what happened outside, but now it seemed they were simultaneously under attack from The Sky and the ground.

This world, still unwilling to let him go.

"God has manifested my destiny... Among those devout believers, of the able-bodied, one-third shall perish; of the women and children, half shall perish; of the elderly and the sick, seven in ten shall perish... Is this destiny then, what significance does my doing have?"

"No, it is meaningful. At least, I will make more people become 'devout believers'."

Confusion flashed and disappeared, as Messe's eyes regained their resolve.

Gazing at the increasingly gigantic tree, he stretched out his hand, attempting to control its branches.

Countless branches immediately began to whip about, some reaching upwards as if to slap at meteors, others stretching outward as if trying to attack enemies.

Messe issued a command to it, to destroy all approaching threats.

The marvel of creation began to stir, moving like mountains shifting their shells... and at the same moment, outside of the protective embrace of the great tree.

People around Memphis could see the dense clouds in The Sky torn apart, creating large holes.

Meteors were falling, heading towards the sinners on Earth.

······

"Ah—"

"Spare me, I will convert, spare me!"

Hiss—

"La is the god of all gods, the source of everything; you shall all receive divine punishment. Stop your futile resistance, we are born with the original sin, and the suffering we endure is merely the process of atonement. Once cleansed of the disaster—"

Hiss—

"Where is the Great Prophet, where is Messe, spare me, don't you always say that all Hebrews are brothers and sisters who should love and protect one another? Lies, liar!"