[{"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-75":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},394433,657,"Chapter 75","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-75",75,"\u003Cp>Ch.75 Apostle of the Goddess of War\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Banner unit’s camp was bustling from dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horses flared their nostrils while chewing feed, and soldiers adjusted their armor, brushing off dust and dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The members who had kept watch overnight clearly showed signs of fatigue, yet their military discipline remained intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Black Banner unit generally had a relaxed atmosphere, they appeared highly organized and exceptionally skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Departure in one hour! Finish breakfast and double-check your personal weapons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kegan’s voice rang sharply through the morning air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Commander!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Commander seems unusually cheerful today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe because of yesterday’s sparring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He seems to have already warmed up to that little guy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that’s unusual. Kegan, our Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unit members began moving with practiced ease—preparing food, checking personal weapons, and stretching bodies stiff from sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion sat beside the extinguished campfire, chewing dry bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday’s sparring match had drawn more attention than he expected. Initially, the Black Banner unit had been wary of the unfamiliar Sion, but since last night, their attitude had slightly shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That kid can actually fight, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander probably went easy on him, but still… there was something sharp about him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At that age, showing that kind of skill? Makes you look forward to what he’ll become.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad at all. Is the Commander thinking of recruiting him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We might have a new youngest member soon. Hehe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispers swelled and then quieted. Sion knew they were talking about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t intentionally strain to listen, but he felt eyes lingering on him, an itchy sensation that wouldn’t go away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when it happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hi there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion looked up at the cheerful voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A female unit member stood before him, holding a piece of bread. She wasn’t tall, but her frame was lean and muscular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair was cut short like a man’s, and her skin was rather dark, typical of a commoner woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If her chest hadn’t protruded, one might have naturally assumed she was male.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite that, her features were delicate and refined. Many men unfamiliar with her likely experienced occasional confusion about her gender identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want more? I don’t usually eat much for breakfast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion awkwardly smiled and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No thanks. I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Your sparring yesterday was impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion looked at her with mild surprise. The woman chuckled, placing her fingertip on her chest to indicate herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Jena. Scout division of the Black Banner unit. Looks like we’ll be heading to the main base together from today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, yes. Nice to meet you. I’m Sion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena sat cross-legged, tearing off a piece of bread, and studied Sion for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a knight, right? The War Cult?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The War Cult, huh. Interesting. I heard the Commander was briefly part of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He doesn’t seem to talk much about himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. He’s such a boring person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena chuckled and crouched down in front of Sion. Despite camping, she didn’t have an unpleasant body odor—probably because she had washed first thing in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena tilted her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, Sion… how should I put it? You don’t really seem like a knight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that a compliment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was this woman suddenly acting like she knew him? He had planned to do more mental cultivation practice before departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although slightly annoyed, Sion answered earnestly. This woman would soon become a fellow war knight, after all. Reputation management was turning out to be such a tiresome task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it’s a compliment. Most knights are so full of themselves they don’t even see people when they talk. But you, Sion—how should I say it? Yeah, you seem more… human.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling someone ‘human’ as if it’s special. An interesting expression. Strangely, Sion liked that remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. You, Jena, seem surprisingly refined for someone in a mercenary unit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena was visibly startled by the completely sincere comment, dropping her piece of bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a remark that could never come from men who dismissed her as an easy target or harassed her with mean jokes. For a brief moment, her heart skipped a beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha. Maybe because I’m always surrounded by gruff men. It’s been so long since I’ve heard a kind word—it tickles my ears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They shared a brief laugh before parting ways and returning to their respective duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion spent the remaining time observing his inner mental world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A suitable amount of time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kegan mounted his horse and gestured toward Sion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time to go, kid. From now on, there’s no turning back. This is your last chance to run away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion smiled faintly and slung his demon blade over his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t run until I’ve brought you back, Senior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, you’re jinxing me this early in the morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The march was long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after leaving the forest, the mountain path continued, dry winds blowing across parched earth. Cracks appeared across the ground here and there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to reflect the continent’s deteriorating situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a day and a half of travel, rocky terrain and cliffs appeared over a distant hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the horizon’s edge, a protruding rocky mountain came into view, like a melon’s navel sticking out from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finally, Kashibelli Rock is in sight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll reach the main base soon!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unit members cried out in excitement. Faces worn from the harsh terrain began to brighten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That peace was soon shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander! We’ve found something strange!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scout who had gone ahead rushed back in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Jena, the one who had spoken with Sion earlier. Her face showed a mix of fear and confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kegan’s expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evaphil’s condition is abnormal. The entire village looks like a pile of rotting corpses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the formation came to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Decay…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kegan ordered with a grim face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scouts, continue monitoring the situation. Everyone else, prepare for combat. We’re entering Evaphil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go with the scouts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion stepped forward and spoke to Kegan. The situation was dangerous and urgent. Having a capable fighter with the scouts would provide peace of mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kegan nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion followed Jena as she ran, leaving the forest and climbing up the hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he saw it for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A village rotting and decaying on a massive scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roofs had collapsed, wooden pillars rotted and broken. The village entrance was covered in black mud, unrecognizable in form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long to realize the mud was made of human remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp, foul stench hit Sion’s nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is… blood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Corpses. The stench of decomposing bodies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena said tersely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at the ground. People rotted here, lying face down. Some who went inside were found stuck to the walls, dead. As if they’d tried to escape but failed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion activated his divine power, pushing back the stench and miasma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did a hidden presence become clearly perceptible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s still someone alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it a villager?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion shook his head. His eyes glinted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. A demon worshipper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena signaled to the scout team—spread out and find the demon worshipper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t let a single one escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll go too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, let’s go. Good to have you with us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena gave a slight smile and led the way. Sion followed, drawing his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the village, it was deathly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion and Jena cautiously crossed the ruined alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a breath of wind, not even dust dared disturb the stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within that silence, a faint, alien presence could be sensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Can you feel it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He heightened his sense of awareness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tangled energies like noise—among them, a faint trace of a living presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re nearby. Hiding and doing something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They circled a collapsed wall and approached the end of the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood a dilapidated mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part of the roof had collapsed, windows were shattered, but the door remained tightly shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thin smoke seeped from beneath the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pale, yellowish smoke. Faint voices came from within—multiple people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flesh rots and returns to the earth… blood flows into the purest Goddess’s mouth…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion and Jena exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voices were low, but clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone was praying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a ritual of decay. I’ve heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena whispered quietly. Sion and Jena exchanged looks again. They silently agreed on a surprise attack. Without speaking, their rhythm matched perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One, two.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena folded her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On three, they synchronized their breath—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And simultaneously kicked the door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door shattered inward, crashing to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s there?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figures inside jerked their heads around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before a shabby altar, five men and women knelt in prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, stacked corpses. The bodies of the mansion’s inhabitants, chopped into pieces and piled up. Some were still in the process of decomposition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The followers of decay, wrapped in blood-soaked cloth, raised their eyes wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An attack? The Black Banner unit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Defilement! Don’t let them interrupt the ritual!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon worshippers rushed forward simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion kicked the nearest man in the abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The decaying follower flew back violently the moment he charged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s kick carried no hesitation. The War knight’s gaze was chillingly cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To do such things…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion gripped his demon blade. Now wielding a blade in each hand, black mist coiled around the blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And not even feel guilt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enraged, Sion swung both arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades of energy erupted from his demon blade, tearing apart the charging followers of decay from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jena, who had wisely retreated to safety, widened her eyes in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom! Boom! Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire mansion collapsed. Wooden pillars, not yet rotted, were blown apart by Sion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where the war goddess’s divine power had swept through, purification occurred. Even the curse of decay was eradicated by the intense divine force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surviving followers of decay trembled. They weren’t just afraid—they were shocked by Sion’s ability to suppress the power of decay itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-such power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He uses unholy strength! That one must be killed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One fanatic blew a whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion focused on the divine power he had spread. One by one, presences began registering in his awareness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Good.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This saved him the trouble of having to hunt them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion dashed forward. The scouts and Jena, arriving slightly later, joined the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scouts fought back-to-back. Rather than fighting individually, they formed well-trained formations and counterattacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their roles in defense and offense were clearly defined, allowing the battle to flow smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was proof of how well Kegan had trained his unit. This was why the Black Banner unit had earned its reputation in the region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resistance from the decay worshippers was fierce. They had secretly gathered their strength. Each individual was remarkably skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they lacked the ability to withstand Sion’s dual blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion didn’t fight alongside the Black Banner unit but moved independently, operating like a special detachment centered around the scouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He blocked every threatening movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever Sion passed, the power of decay was purified, and the decay worshippers fell dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle ended quickly. Before Sion’s overwhelming force, everything was equal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fallen disciples of decay prayed as they died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O Goddess of Decay, please let my flesh and bones rot and return to the cycle…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their corpses did not rot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine presence of the Goddess of War would not allow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schedule: Every mon, wed, fri and sun\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Review at\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>NovelUpdate\u003C\u002Fp>",1908,"2026-05-30T06:48:22.319Z","2026-06-01T04:30:34.110Z",1,"novelbin.me","04b4d8f936ddbc424544f16ad823f79a38ee35adcdf0d89a80e45520cae15f1d","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-76","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-74",174,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-cover.jpg"]