Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Golden Resurrection

Carter opened his eyes to see he had returned to Eldritch Arms. He noticed the little people beneath his feet and the large stone replica sword that he’s holding.

"Where am I?" His voice echoed.

"Zen! Is that really you?" Piper shouted.

The large statue knelt down. "Yes, Piper. It is me."

Then it titled toward the little girl, "Hello, Emily."

Emily teared up then shared a big wide smile, "I know you aren’t dead yet! I’m so glad!"

"Yes... I’m not dead." His deep voice echoed.

’What happened? Why did I return to Eldritch Arms? Did I just instantly teleport back to this world?’

Carter was confused. But he must kept his lore consistent. The show must go on.

"I was... Somewhere else. The people there are like us. They’re suffering. They need me." Carter said.

Piper widened her eyes, "How did you get to another world, Zen?"

The statue shook its head, "I don’t know. It felt hazy... I forgot my name. But I remember it now."

Then Carter felt a sudden pull. He was being called back to Wild Earth.

"I must go. Those people need me."

"Will you return, Zen?" Piper asked.

"I will. This is my home."

The Raven Knight reached his hand out toward her in a gentle way. Then the statue froze.

The statue of the white swordsman changed into his form while wearing Eldritch Armor. The news spread among Hexilia quickly. People flooded to the place. Even government officials paid a visit.

They had acknowledged it as a divine miracle. The Raven Knight survived. And he was out there saving lives like he always did.

People prayed to him. The new religion that Oliphim created became even more popular. All those faith and belief flooded to Carter. Or more precisely, flooded to his Golden Skeleton in the Divine Shrine in Giyaku.

Seija squinted her eyes at the man in front of her, the former Grandmaster of Demonic Poison Sect, Murasaki Minato.

He came here a few days ago and acted as a second Guardian for the Shrine. Chiaki believes him immediately or rather, he had to believe him. Minato was a real Champion-Rank Fighter. He could massacre the entire place if he wanted to.

They spent the last few days together. And Seija was slowly warming up to the man. Still, she couldn’t help but feel guarded toward him. After all, he was the Cruel Demon of the East.

"Relax, Seija. I am not the man I once was." Minato said calmly. "Just like you are not the Yokai you once were."

"Maybe. But I didn’t slaughter hundreds of innocents before." Seija said.

Suddenly, the Shrine shook. Minato stood up while Seija turned her snake head over.

"The altar!" Seija said.

Minato nodded and bolted away. He was faster.

He landed at the alter and widened his eyes. The obsidian statue moved. Its arms mechanically opened up and a gold light shined to the entire place.

Chiaki and her Masuhara Clan saw the blinding light and rushed over with Seija.

"What’s happening?" Chiaki said.

"Don’t know." Seija said.

A golden ball of light formed within the palm of the statue. Then, an outline of a skeleton appeared inside the statue. With a pop, a man materialized and landed on the floor.

A black swordsman holding a black sleek sword. His body was still hot and exuded endless white smoke.

Carter stood up. The Golden Resurrection worked and it revived him at the spot of his Golden Skeleton. He shouldn’t have enough faith in Arashi to come back to life. But faith had found its path all the way from Hexilia to Arashi.

Carter cracked his neck and looked around. Numerous notifications flooded the Skin System.

[Zeneros Blackburn gains Divinity]

[Soul of Steel has mutated]

[Eldritch Force has mutated]

[Terror Corruption has mutated]

[Zeneros Blackburn gains Divine Property]

This skin changed. Even for a Champion he was different. There was a certain unexplainable aura around him. An aura that even made Minato, a Medium Champion felt weak in the core.

Minato was the first to react. He knelt down.

"I, Murasaki Minato, Second Guardian of the Shrine, present myself before the gods!"

Seija followed right after and placed her head down, "I, Seija, First Guardian of the Shrine, present myself before the gods!"

Chiaki and the other clan members did the same.

Carter nodded, "Is this where Mikoto setting up her new shrine?"

"Yes, Lord Divine!" Minato said.

"Please stand up, Master Murasaki. Everyone also. And don’t call me by that ridiculous name. Call me Zen."

Minato lifted his head up with surprise in his eyes. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Kazou the Land Spirit appeared right after. "Zen? Did you remember your name?"

"Nice to see you again, Kazou. And yes, my memory returned. I just come back from my home town."

Carter walked forward casually. "My true name is Zeneros Blackburn. I died once and came back to life somehow. Now I roam the multiverse to fulfill my vow."

"What is your vow may I ask?" Seija said.

"I vowed to protect the innocent, to strike down evil, and to vanquish the deceptor."

Carter walked out of the Shrine and looked around. "This fortress used to have evil in every corners. But I slain them all."

Minato heard about that too. He heard it from Kazou. He could also do the same thing... if he were given the chance to poison the entire city, not by brutally murdering all the Yokais directly.

He wouldn’t even have enough strength and stamina to do that.

’This god... His rank might show as Minor Champion now. But his power is on another level.’

Minato didn’t guess. He saw. Inside Carter was a beating heart of divinity. No Champion could win against him. Even the best of the best.

’Maybe the next rank can win. But they are a myth. And that is a huge maybe.’

The next rank after Champion. No one really knew what it was. Because no one got a clue. Minato in his prime didn’t know it. Ryuja also didn’t know it.

Carter turned toward Minato and smiled. That smile caused the Cruel Demon to feel shivers on his back.

"I heard Mikoto talked about you. She prayed to me. You are... an interesting person."