A Meeting with the Pontifex

After several weeks for roaming in these deep waters, I finally reach my limit and start to head up towards the surface for some air. Seems like the limit I can stay under is for three and a half weeks until I need to return to the surface for air. Since I used to live in shallower areas I never really noticed just how long I could stay underwater for. As the sunlight once again starts to peak through the water I find myself another ship sailing through, one on a much larger scale than the last. The last ship seemed unusually large for a fishing boat, but I could still wrap myself around it if I really wanted to. However, this one is far larger than I am. Moreover, this ship seems like it has been fitted with cannons, although there doesn't appear to be many of them at least from what I can see from under the water. The hull is coated with some kind of golden metal, but something about it gives me a bad feeling. I tried using my acid on it but the metal showed no signs of damage.

Poking my head up behind the ship I begin to hear loud voices coming from a porthole. I notice this that last time I came into contact with a ship but I put it off since I was distracted fighting, but even back then I could understand what the people were saying. That solved the communication problem for trying to learn about this world, but then comes the problem of why can I understand what they are saying? They are clearly talking in a language unfamiliar to me, yet I can understand every word as if it was a completely natural thing. Without the means to figure out the answer myself and with the System remaining silent, I turn my attention towards a more pressing matter, eavesdropping. I just hope no one is able to detect my like before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~Aboard the Ship of Virtue (Pontifex Halor Gillian)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Pontifex Gillian, I know that I shouldn't question your decisions, but I and many others feel it better to engage in war against those scoundrels who worship false gods! Even our church's less educated followers know just how unruly those people are, and it is no secret that they have been getting worse since the schism. I diplomatic mission like this is pointless."

"I understand your concerns but do keep your voice down Mathias. Since you are so concerned about this matter that you even came to yell at the Pontifex himself, I shall share some history with those who are here. This is normally information you have a chance to receive upon by opting to take an oath of secrecy when being promoted to an Archbishop, I, however, was already privy to this information so I took no such oath back when I was promoted. Although we call them the Church of Nature, they are not a singular organisation, rather they're a diverse set of people who worship the various Nature Gods."

"But that's common knowledge, we only call refer to them as a singular entity as it is easier to say and due to the fact that all worshipers of the Nature Gods left the Unified Church at roughly the same time. Hardly secret information your holiness."

His voice has lost the last bit of respect he once had for my position as the Pontifex but that's fine. Given his own stance, it is understandable. I just hope I can make this zealot understand the severity of the situation.

"Why not let an old man finish his story before interrupting. For you see, the whole schism that supposedly happened is nothing more than ancient propaganda, created by the first Pontifex. There never existed a so-called Unified Church. The Church of Wisdom and the worshipers of the Nature Gods have never been together as a singular organisation. We have been enemies since time immemorial. They were never once believers of the Gods of the Church of Wisdom. And those false gods they believe in are very real entities much like our own."

"How can I possibly believe that! Is everything I was taught! Everything that we teach! A lie! That's just too unbelievable. And on top of that, you also tell me, an inquisitor, that the false gods those raiders believe in are true forces of nature. We have pushed them to the fringes of the world, if their Gods are real then why have they let their worshippers live in such hard conditions."

"Correct. Everything was a carefully crafted lie since the formation of the Church thousands of years ago. Have you never stopped to think why the fleets of the nature worshipers have no need of an orichalcum coating and why the waters are calm in their approach but in retreat they leave dangerous waters stopping any chance of pursuit. Or like you had just mentioned, their lives in the fringes and most dangerous places to settle. Have you ever taken a moment to think about why they can live in such inhospitable environments yet we still can't safely settle those areas despite our more advanced society and technology?"

"Are they not living on the brink of extinction? I once led an expedition to settle the frozen waste that some of those nature loving freaks call home but we had to abandon the settlement within just a single month due to the harsh environment. No amount of magic we used was able to sufficiently heat the settlement to a point where life could be sustained. No crops can possibly be grown in the areas those people live in. Those poor conditions are the reason they raid the nearby civilised nations. Or will you try and tell me otherwise again."

"Of course I will. The reason why they can survive in the blazing desert, the frozen waste, and the high mountains is due to the blessing of the major Gods of Nature. The Lord of Maelstroms, The Lord of Storms, and the Lady of Conflagration. Unfortunately, it would take too long to list them all and their full honorific titles but those three are the most important ones. And the power that each of them commands is on par with our Lord of War, Bellum. The only reason we have been able to remove them from the more hospitable land is that the Nature Gods care less about sentient life compared to the Gods of our church. It's only natural after all since their power comes from the land and elements rather than worshippers. I wish to see an end to this conflict, for I received a revelation. To face an upcoming threat the people of Grauntia must forget national boundaries, racial differences, and even religious ones. All for the preservation of life. In the revelation, the lands had been ravaged beyond repair, mankind was on the brink of extinction, our planet's flora fauna was bitten and shredded, and the sun itself was coming losing its light."

"Preposterous, your claims will are blasphemy and heresy. Do not think that because you are the Pontifex that it makes you immune to trial. The other Archbishops and Cardinals were previously dissatisfied with this diplomatic mission. They the inquisition to investigate you under the guise of participation in your expedition. I have recorded this entire conversation on a history stone."

Mayhaps it would have been a better idea to not share this information with him. I was already fully aware of why he was here though, It's not like I haven't learned the secrets of espionage over my long life. Next time I shouldn't push my luck and try to bring a zealot inquisitor to my side. Regardless...

"I have no fear over the squabbling of children."

"You dare to call the Archbishops and Cardinals children!"

"Zealots like you have truly always been the most difficult to reason with. Why would I not dare, in my eyes, everyone in the church is a child. As a devout follower of the Observer, I am blessed with longevity. This manifests not as a single life span but as many. Time and time again I have climbed the ranks of the church from its very beginnings. When my time came to an end as the second Pontifex I have received the same evaluation time and time again. And at long last, the revelation from four thousand years ago is coming to closure. In every life, I tried to unify the peoples of Grauntia and each time national or religious politics. This is the last chance I have before, should I die again, there might not be a world left to revive in."

"I've met followers of the Observer before and they certainly have longer than normal life spans but none have ever spoken about multiple lives and reincarnation as a blessing. You have clearly gone mad, by the Gods I shall strike you down here!"

There truly is no reasoning with those blinded to the truth. Just because I'm old doesn't mean I'm defenceless.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hearing the argument end I move my head up more to look through the porthole and watch the seen playout. A well-built man, probably the one who called himself an inquisitor, took up his sword and began to attack who I presume to be the Pontifex. Without any worry, he just stood there as the blade drew to his neck. But the instant the sword reached his neck, a golden light appeared around the Pontifex and the inquisitors head was sliced off, exactly at the point where he should have hit the Pontifex. All this within three seconds. They were so fast I didn't even get the chance to use Investigate on the inquisitor, but as I try and use it on the Pontifex...

"Passive Skill: 'Guidance of the Observer' is blocking the use of Investigate."

"Now then, you there, the intelligent monster that has been eavesdropping for the past half hour. If I feed you this body will you leave this ship alone? Or will you too try your luck against me? I only ignored you since I figured things would turn out this way, but I tried my luck anyway. I'm sure you can see the result for yourself. So will you assist me in removing the body before someone else shows up or not?"

He knew I was here this whole time!? And he even left me alone just to get rid of the body for him.

"Oh and make sure to break through the porthole to receive the body. I need it to look like a monster attacked during our discussion and killed Mathias. Now do it quickly or I'll deal with you personally."

What a demanding old man! But watching him dispatch his assailant, I have no doubt that he is stronger than me, even if I can't see his status. Not wanting to deal with another powerhouse I let out a hiss and nod. Seeing the old man move to the back of the room, I charge right through the porthole with a bang as I hear the footsteps of everyone else on the ship begin to move faster and faster.

"Quickly take the body and scram."

Both annoyed with the demands and afraid of this old dudes prowess I swiftly swallow the body and run so as to not deal with the crazy powerful old man any longer. To think all because I need to come up for air, I got bossed around by some old man in shiny clothing. On the bright side I learned a lot about this world and its Gods, although for me they will be my stepping stones towards the little big guy at the end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Pontifex Halor Gillian~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow, that actually worked. I can't believe my bluff actually worked. If I could have killed that menace I would have. Using my Analysis I found that it had some unusual titles and it's stats were strangely high, even for an Elite Monster. But those titles are not something I want to see. If only I had combat power and any offensive ability at all.

Name: Halor Gillian

Race: Human

Titles: Pontifex, Man of Many Paths, One from History, Eternal Echo

Class: Oracle of the Observer (Legendary)

Level: 94

EXP: 5,324/1,101,800

HP: 843/843 MP: 252,900/252,900 SP: 562/562

STR: 7

VIT: 11

DEX: 7

INT: 407,450

WIS: 368,110

MND: 429,368

CHA: 80

LUCK: 50

Skills: Analysis (7), Scry (5)

Passive Skills: Guidance of the Observer, Revelation, Reflection of the Observer, First Blessed of the Observer

Magic: Holy Barrier, Revitalise, Holy Breath, Resurrection

I'm truly incapable of picking fights!