[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war":3,"chapter-apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-153":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Apostle of the Goddess of War",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},394387,657,"Chapter 153","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-153",153,"\u003Cp>Ch.153Apostle of the Goddess of War\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion approached the temple alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had prepared thoroughly for any emergency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud. Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he stepped inside, Sion steadied his breath and scanned his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heat radiated from deep within the temple. The air seethed with scorching intensity—as if invisible flames had enveloped the walls and floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hardly resembled a temple. Instead of serene sacredness, an ominous current—mingled fire and chaos—filled the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion clenched and unclenched his fist, sensing the alien heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat began to bead on the bridge of his nose. It wasn’t merely hot—it felt as though he’d been cast into a smelting furnace, his very soul boiling over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a gentle voice—like dew falling on a leaf—spoke to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s now certain.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What do you mean, my Goddess?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The energies of fire and chaos are overwhelming. A horrific entity, fused from both powers, has nested within this ancient temple.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion inhaled sharply. So it had come to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment the heavens fractured and the Goddesses turned against one another, this moment should have been anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Has the Fire Cult allied with the Evil God?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It seems so. There’s an undeniable connection, whatever its form. Denial is futile.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achille’s voice lacked its usual brightness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps no one felt the weight of betrayal more than she did herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Goddesses of heaven had stooped so low as to ally with an Evil God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For what purpose?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For whose sake?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achille had endlessly questioned Eru:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Eru… Why did you go that far? Was there truly no other way? If only you’d trusted your sisters a little more and asked for help…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Sovereign Goddess who once led them was gone. Now Achille had to find her own answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the trial to become the next Sovereign Goddess herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still… it’ll be all right, won’t it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achille gave a lonely smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Not this time. Their scheme—forged between an Evil God and the Fire Cult—lies beyond even my foresight. If we leave that thing unchecked, who knows what catastrophe it may unleash?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To comfort his Goddess, Sion quickly replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hm?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s my turn.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a confident grin, Sion drew his Yogeo. The Goddess smiled at his bold yet earnest demeanor—his loyalty pure and beautiful. How could she not love him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[My Sion.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion bowed his head, now attuned enough to her presence to respond with perfect timing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Speak, my Goddess.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[To purge impurity was always my original duty at the Round Table.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The strongest Goddess. I know.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I am not the strongest.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess quietly denied it—yet added with unwavering confidence, her expression like a knight announcing victory:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I was simply the bravest.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion chuckled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words stirred something deep in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I like that even more.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yes. My faith grows stronger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Sion, my child.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Speak.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[My divine power shows no sign of change?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion pressed his lips tightly together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ugh. Why?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His chest ached—but he shut down such thoughts at once, turning serious again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How strong is the enemy inside?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Powerful. Stronger than any apostle you’ve faced before.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion rolled his neck like a gladiator stepping into the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Stronger than my master?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even 0.1 seconds of hesitation, the Goddess replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[There is no such being in this world—save for you, Sion.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was already decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll win.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud. Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rugged-looking War Knight patrolled the temple, which burned like a volcano’s rim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their squad had split into three groups, each searching a different direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their standing orders: engage only Chaos Wraiths or lesser monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they encountered demons or apostle-class foes, they were to retreat immediately, call for aid, and notify an apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing in this room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The main hall’s empty too—but it’s even hotter deeper inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights operated under a clear hierarchy. Reports funneled upward through the chain of command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It fell to the squad leader to synthesize the intel and decide the next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka, leader of Squad Three—a former Black Banner Unit member under Kegan who’d earned his rank through merit—gathered his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, stay together. Form up in the tunnel-formation we practiced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights swiftly arranged themselves: two lines, each covering the other’s blind spots. The squad leader and deputy took the front and rear—the most critical positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squad Three advanced cautiously, as if crossing a bottomless river. The heat kept rising, soaking their armor in sweat and parching their throats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka halted abruptly, surveying their surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having entered through the north gate and ventured deeper, they found a modest hall—one that oddly resembled a reception area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dining table, framed portraits, statues, and a fireplace—its layout mimicked an ordinary noble’s manor, creating an unsettling illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this truly a temple?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its purpose was baffling; nothing about it felt sacred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka reached out and ran his hand over the dining table. Not a speck of dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only constant upkeep could produce such cleanliness. Not even a cobweb lingered in the corners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad’s tension eased slightly; the room seemed too mundane for danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alone, Karka slowly walked toward the fireplace, trailing his fingers along the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Strange indeed…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fresh logs and ash filled the hearth—recently used.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth and scent came not from the temple’s ambient heat, but from actual burning wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did someone just light a fire here?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment that thought crossed his mind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screeee!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka’s sword flashed like thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp blade thrust from between the fireplace bricks—aimed straight for his heart. Had Karka not reacted instantly, he’d have been impaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ambush!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka shouted the alert immediately. Simultaneously, assassins hidden throughout the temple revealed themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our lucky streak’s over. Draw your swords!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wha—what in blazes is this…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everyone froze, voices trailing off in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka was no different—his mind flooded with chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the figures blocking their path were none other than…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Ash Knights.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elite knights bred by the Fire Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why were Fire Cultists emerging from an Evil God’s temple?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did this place still bear signs of daily life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Questions and suspicions hammered Karka’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ash Knight emerged through the ruined fireplace—clearly a veteran, honed to a lethal edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad. You even parried my ambush? So the War Knights have truly been revived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka retreated a few steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally I wouldn’t say something like this on our first meeting—but have you finally lost your mind? I knew the Fire Cult was insane, but this… this is crossing a line.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ash Knight curled his lips into a grim smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doubt is a luxury we cannot afford. We merely follow Fire’s oracle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that oracle telling you to betray your fellow Goddess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karka assumed a fighting stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ash Knight answered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Purification.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then this is war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud-thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heat intensified. Sion and his Goddess pushed deeper into the temple, now resembling a blazing furnace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed combat erupting all around—but he had no time for distractions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mission: eliminate the enemy commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fastest path to victory in war was beheading the leader—minimizing casualties and time alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for Sion, time was gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sprinted through labyrinthine corridors, sweat pouring like floodwater, but dared not pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he stood before the door radiating the strongest Evil God aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its presence pierced through the wood—had it taken physical form, it would tower over the temple like a colossal mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion kicked the door open. Scorching air burst out, whipping his hair backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carved wooden dolls and martial arts training gear filled the space—more a training ground than a temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s him.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goddess Achille spoke. Sion saw the same figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center of the training hall sat not a man—but a demon, cross-legged in meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes closed, perfectly still, as if merged with the scenery itself—a state achievable only through supreme cultivation of body and mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Strong… just as you said.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Undoubtedly an Apostle of Chaos. Yet I sense Agnia’s power as well—her authority has clearly mingled with his.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achille analyzed the foe. With the Goddess of War’s insight, Sion grasped the enemy’s nature even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A demon—definitely at least an apostle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Stay vigilant. Now that I see him, their fusion of powers appears even more seamless.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Sion felt a burning sensation on his nose—blood began to drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The temple’s ancient miasma and his spiritual pressure are immense. Your mortal body struggles to endure it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achille spoke with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[We cannot drag this out. The ancient demonic aura here is too dense. Now I understand why they chose this temple—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[—It was once home to the child who wielded Death. The miasma here was so thick it could kill living beings by mere exposure.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion wiped his nose and nodded. Whatever the details, one thing was clear: this foe was dangerously powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Understood.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Show no mercy, my apostle.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yes. I wasn’t planning to.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screeee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion drew his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yogeo trembled violently, as if eager to drink deep of demonic power—wild and instinctive, like a hungry infant clamoring for food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…His hands ached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wielding both the Demon Blade and Yogeo simultaneously was taxing—only possible because he was Sion, and only bearable with Achille shielding his mind from corruption. Both blades were that formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far across the hall, the demon opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unexpected—you’re less aggressive than I thought, Apostle of the Goddess of War Goddess. I assumed you’d charge in recklessly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Chaos’s mocking voice echoed through the training hall, booming as if multiplied tenfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson eyes. Colossal frame. Muscles sculpted like statues. His pale, reddish skin truly evoked a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His looks are fearsome—but it’s the demonic aura within that matters.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion focused not on appearance, but on the sheer depth and volume of his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many years of training and battle would it take to cultivate such serene intensity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rising to his feet, the Apostle of Chaos spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time, we never properly introduced ourselves. I’ve been wanting to fight you ever since.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the Sacred Kingdom. I was one of the demons you shoved aside. Thanks to you, I barely escaped the Apostle of Light alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clutched the lingering wound on his chest—just below his left shoulder—still throbbing from Naru’s strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schedule: Every mon, wed, fri and sun\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Review at\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>NovelUpdate\u003C\u002Fp>",1747,"2026-05-30T06:48:22.319Z","2026-06-01T04:30:34.110Z",1,"novelbin.me","c3e2f869ce67391120c8a4f1a12655e08f0b8d37e33b2c152ea7c78687e97fd0","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-154","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-152",174,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-cover.jpg"]