[{"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-57":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},394415,657,"Chapter 57","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>Ch.57 Apostle of the Goddess of War\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We were chasing that one who killed people and experimented with dark arts, and that’s how we ended up here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rakian stroked his long jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you not seen her? A woman with a pale face. Her pupils have lost all color, turned completely white.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just hearing the description was chilling. Anyone who saw her in person would have nightmares. Sion shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I haven’t seen her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s fortunate. She’s dangerous. You’d best keep yourself safe until we’ve dealt with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She must be skilled at hiding her presence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. She’s one who worships death. She’s no different from the dead themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion felt a twinge of unease. If she couldn’t be detected even by divine power, countermeasures would be difficult. It was an ability perfectly suited for ambushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If such a person were moving around without my knowledge…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s thoughts raced. He grew worried about the War Knight Brigade who had gone to find the goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were somehow connected to the Priestess of Death, they needed to retreat immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did the Priestess of Death sneak into this area?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rakian turned and asked. The woman with a chain scythe wrapped around her shoulder answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About a month ago. Was this even her main base to begin with? She just came out briefly to cause some mischief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s expression darkened. If this swamp was the lair of a monster, then the goblins were undoubtedly under that monster’s influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It can’t be an ordinary goblin nest. It’s dangerous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion bowed his head slightly in respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In that case, I should be going now. My knights are waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rakian stopped Sion. He gestured with his chin toward the priestess holding the Holy Scripture of Fire. The female acolyte stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rakian nodded, and the woman began casting a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flame bloomed in her hand, glowing with a mysterious radiance. For a moment, it looked like a red rose flickering like fire. The flame’s undulating movements resembled a mesmerizing dance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion let out a gasp of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a fragment of Sacred Flame. When you clench and open your fist, the flame will reignite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A fragment of Sacred… Flame?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Priestess of Death cannot be killed. Only the Sacred Flame of the Goddess Agnia can burn her away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that really true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rakian confirmed it and added further explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They are beings united with death. Only the fire we’ve researched for so long within our Cult can erase their existence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion stared at the sacred flame blooming in the priestess’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was miraculous—beyond any ordinary description. An energy so intricate and complex that it defied understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even begin to fathom how divine power had been woven into such an intricate, supernatural form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s beyond comprehension.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion had deciphered and countered even the most advanced blood magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how difficult or complex a spell was, he could usually grasp its structure after seeing it just once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this Sacred Flame was different. Even Sion struggled to interpret it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which means that these people had fought fiercely against the death-worshipping heretics and studied them deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the essence of their long history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now was not the time to analyze it, but to be grateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. Are you sure you can give this to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s single-use. If you happen to meet the Priestess of Death, smear it on your blade. If you strike her surrounded by flame, she’ll feel threatened and flee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s a kind of self-defense tool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. But I pray you don’t meet her. It’s safer and more certain if we handle her ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time Sion had encountered such a considerate foreign Cult. He was touched by Rakian’s warm and thoughtful gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why on earth did my master say the Church of Fire was the craziest of all?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was incomprehensible. To Sion, these people were the first truly genuine religious figures he had ever met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open your hand. I’ll share the ember of Sacred Flame with you. Receive the grace of fire. If you wish to convert and receive our blessings, you are always welcome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion did as Rakian instructed. He opened his palm upward, and the priestess with the Holy Scripture approached and handed him the ember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion clenched and opened his fist. As described, the flame vanished and then reignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. I’ll remember this kindness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May fortune favor the Order of the War Knight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rakian gave a small bow. The followers of Fire behind him lightly bowed their heads as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion had heard that the worshippers of the Goddess of Fire were reclusive. But in reality, they seemed more open-minded than anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could it be that rumors about these people have spread strangely?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt no hostility or prejudice toward the War Cult. In fact, they seemed to barely acknowledge the War Cult’s existence at all, as if they simply didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rakian slung his spear over his shoulder again. Sion returned the gesture with a blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May the Goddess Agnia’s protection be with you on your path to burning down monsters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Sion offered the formal greeting, they all answered simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sins shall burn, and we shall be reborn from the ashes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to be their own motto. When spoken by many at once, it felt slightly eerie. Yet Sion found it impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe our Cult should come up with a phrase like that…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Knights turned without further delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their red robes vanished like mist slipping through damp underbrush. Gradually, their presence faded into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left alone, Sion looked down at the ember of Sacred Flame remaining in his palm. The rose-like flame flickered strangely, giving off no warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmmmm.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice thick with dissatisfaction. It was the Goddess of War, Achille.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[To give something as trivial as a firefly’s glow and call it a blessing… Agnia, just as petty in power as she is in personality. Still the same, still just the same.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agnia, listening from her roundtable seat, nearly burst into laughter but barely held it in. Achille’s blatant jealousy felt childish, yet somehow endearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And what’s this? Conversion? How dare those fire-stick freaks think they can recruit anyone! I’d rather attack the Roundtable myself than see my Apostle wearing those red rags and spouting nonsense like ‘Sins shall burn—’!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her rage was so intense it seemed the throne itself would tremble. It was the kind of outrageous rant that would shock any other Goddess on the lofty Roundtable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agnia, struggling to suppress her bubbling laughter, pretended not to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm… My Sion. Do not fall for the seductive words of those snake-like creatures. Soon, this Goddess shall bestow upon you even greater and more useful powers!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess’s fury burned endlessly. Though she knew it was impossible, she feared—just in case—betrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, hadn’t she already once lost a candidate Apostle to the Cult of Wisdom? That trauma tugged at Achille’s nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware of any of this, Sion quietly clenched his fist. The Sacred Flame in his palm vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve been away too long.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion lightly leapt onto the trees. He avoided the muddy ground to maintain speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body cut through the damp air, advancing like a black panther, leaping from branch to branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he ran, his mind was chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Priestess of Death.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The death-worshipping heretic the Church of Fire was pursuing. And she had chosen to hide right here in this swamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They might even meet. And if the War Knight Brigade happened to encounter the Priestess of Death…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Something terrible will happen.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but a dark premonition gnawed at him. He silently prayed that the Church of Fire would eliminate her first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many variables had emerged. He needed to rejoin the knight order quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s heart grew restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The War Knight Brigade was having a miserable time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, my foot’s stuck!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful! Something just twitched over there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sticky marsh clung to their ankles, and unidentifiable sounds from all around gnawed at their sanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The initial tension of their first battle had long since turned into fear of the swamp itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep formation! Don’t get separated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier shouted with a hoarse voice. He, too, was covered head to toe in sweat and mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was their commander. In the midst of chaos, he couldn’t afford to lose sight of the path forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What would Sir Sion do in this situation?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, he thought of Sion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion would have easily broken through such a swamp. But Tier wasn’t like that. Every step was agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that, he had to look after his men. He was trapped in an impossible situation. He wanted to give up and run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Set, holding his shield, shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander! Ahead—there’s a clearer path! The ground looks solid!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Alt, the scout. Sure enough, far ahead, they could see a densely wooded area where the land seemed to rise and solidify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! Move as fast as possible toward that spot! Just a little more effort!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inspired by Tier’s encouragement, the knights squeezed out their last strength. They barely reached the solid ground and caught their breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feels like we’re alive again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought I’d die stuck in the swamp.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firm sensation of earth, instead of squelching mud, spread through the soles of their feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few collapsed right there, using their muddy hands to gasp for breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked awful. Their expensive armor was coated in mud, and their faces were smeared with exhaustion and the swamp’s foul stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get up. We can’t rest here. This is exactly the kind of terrain goblins love.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier snapped the men out of their momentary relaxation. He wanted to find a safer place to rest, no matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was at that very moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Set, who had been on alert scanning the surroundings, pressed a finger to his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone reacted as trained. When Set or Alt gave a signal, they immediately fell silent and prepared for combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the silence, Set’s finger pointed to a spot. All eyes turned that way. Their heightened nerves grew as sharp as blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the underbrush, a small, hunched silhouette moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smaller than a human, larger than a monkey. There was no mistaking it—this was a goblin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is it just one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier whispered quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblin was dragging what looked like the corpse of an animal. Oblivious to the knights’ presence, it trudged along the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier saw an opportunity. He recalled his own words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Next time, don’t confront them. Sneak up and follow them to find their main base.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier made his decision. He pointed to the two most agile members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Set, Alt. Follow quietly from behind. The main force will follow right after.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier’s eyes sparkled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send a signal as soon as you find the base. Just like we trained.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Set nodded, crouched low like a cat. Alt followed, carefully securing his weapon to prevent any noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance to the goblin was about 100 meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not too close, not too far. Set and Alt used rocks and bushes as cover, silently trailing the goblin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the swamp, the solid ground made footsteps easier to hear, but the trained knights expertly masked their presence like wild animals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblin walked steadily along, completely unsuspecting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much time passed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblin stopped at the entrance to a clearing surrounded by massive rocks standing like a screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the rocks came a foul, metallic stench and the smell of something burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low, crude laughter and incomprehensible goblin gibberish buzzed like language.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Set and Alt hid in the cracks between rocks and cautiously peered inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they swallowed their breath in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clear main base of the goblin horde, complete with a roughly built wooden fence and watchtowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had barely survived a struggle to eliminate three scouts. The number of goblins visible in the base numbered in the dozens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight before them felt like overwhelming despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the base, in front of the largest bonfire, a hobgoblin—one head taller than the others—was drinking blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its feet, wolf-like beasts crouched, baring their fangs, displaying their master’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On a crudely built altar made of black stones and animal bones, dark red smoke rose like a haze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s much bigger than I thought. Could they have settled here much earlier than we were told?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Set and Alt exchanged glances. Without needing words, both were pale with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Do we really have to defeat these monsters on our own…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Set, who had been acting brave until now, felt his spirit break. Naturally, his mind turned to the strongest person he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Brother Sion.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schedule: Every mon, wed, fri and sun\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Review at\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>NovelUpdate\u003C\u002Fp>",2170,"2026-05-30T06:48:22.319Z","2026-06-01T04:30:34.110Z",1,"novelbin.me","b96e73e65570c5df63eed9e425d119ec5caee723ce0ff3067acad718015e6145","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-58","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-56",174,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-cover.jpg"]