I am the Light. I am the Love.

The last rays of the sun filtered through the slightly dust-covered windows of a dimly lit tent, casting warm golden hues on the canvas walls. The faint sounds of footsteps echoed inside.

"You're already awake?" The question came from a young girl, who, in her intriguing appearance, bore the semblance of both a scholar with her robes and a priestess with her serene aura.

Sitting up gingerly on the creaky bed, I replied, rubbing sleep from my eyes, "Yes, thank you for your help."

"Any discomfort?" she inquired, her voice tinged with genuine concern.

Testing the mobility of my shoulder and the rest of my body, I responded, "No, I feel fine." Fragments of memories from the accident flashed before my eyes – the crushing pain from a few broken ribs, which surprisingly felt perfectly okay now.

"Can I get your information? I need to make a record," she remarked. Retrieving a card from the side table next to my bed, she poised herself to write. "Name?"

"Jaime," I responded.

"Where are you from?"

Dea, my AI companion, immediately chimed in my mind, "Master, given the ongoing bias against people from Rouge Haven, it might be wiser to use the name of the territory of Radiant Vale. It was the first place attacked by zombies and vampires, and it's said there were no survivors. Using that as your point of origin might deter further questions."

With a slight nod, acknowledging Dea's suggestion, I replied, "I'm from Radiant Vale."

The girl paused for a moment, her pen hovering over the card. She peered at me, her eyes seeking an unsaid truth. A blush of crimson colored her cheeks. "Are you the sole survivor from Radiant Vale?"

"I believe so," I murmured, the gravity of that reality settling in.

She jotted down a note before tearing a sheet from her notebook, then turned and exited, her robes whispering against the tent floor.

"Master," Dea's voice echoed softly in my ear, "during your healing, there were remarks about your looks. A rather bold individual even risked a kiss while you were insensible."

My cheeks warmed at the notion, yet before I could ponder further, the tent flaps stirred. Two men in lustrous armor that caught the fading light strode in. Their steps were deliberate, their gazes intent. I noted the girl, Mia, murmuring briefly with them before her finger discretely directed them to me.

The men advanced, their towering forms casting extended shadows. "You're the survivor from Radiant Vale?" one of them asked in a deep tone.

With a knot of anxiety in my throat, I confirmed, "Yes, that's me." A swift appraisal revealed their high levels, 35 and 37, markedly above my own.

"Would you come with us? There's someone of importance you should meet," the other stated, his tone softer than his partner's.

Guided by the two guards, I navigated through the bustling camp, the scene shifting from scattered tents to the orderly military quarter. The night had already cloaked the surroundings in its dark mantle by the time we arrived at the central command tent. Inside, a stone radiating a soft luminescence cast its light, revealing an elderly man reclined on a makeshift cot.

"Leave us," he commanded with a rasp, yet his tone carried unmistakable authority.

The guards responded with a prompt "Yes, sir," and withdrew.

The air inside the tent was saturated with a medicinal fragrance, notes of soothing lavender intertwined with the faintest hint of aromatic herbs. "Who might you be?" the old man inquired, scrutinizing me with his sharp gaze.

"Jaime," I replied.

"And from whence do you come?"

"Radiant Vale," I said, my voice little more than a hushed tone.

His gaze intensified. "Do not take me for a fool. Radiant Vale left no survivors." As he spoke, a fit of coughing seized him, betraying his frailty. Death seemed to be a silent shadow, ever-present at his bedside.

With a renewed sense of defiance, I insisted, "Perhaps one did survive. Me."

His eyes, crinkled with age, fixed on me, a glimmer of curiosity or perhaps amusement flickering within. "Do you know who I am, lad?"

"No, sir."

"I am Duke Lightweaver, the lord of Radiant Vale!"

Attempting to alleviate the tension, I flashed a self-deprecating smile. "I must apologize; it appears I am not actually from Radiant Vale."

His laughter emerged, punctuated by bouts of coughing. "It's of no consequence," he responded with a matching grin, "Had it not been for the marks that testify to your vampire kills, I might have sentenced you to death for your deceit." He paused, a cough rattling through him, before posing the question, "Who are you, truly?"

Shafts of moonlight pierced the fabric of the tent, spilling silver light across the interior. A gentle breeze played with the tent flaps, lending a soft harmony to the otherwise charged silence.

"My name is Jaime, and I hail from Earth," I started, my voice laced with caution, "To be more precise, from the island of Isolade."

"Rouge Haven, you mean? You're a criminal then?" The Duke's gaze was as sharp and discerning as a bird of prey's.

With a straightening of my back, I called upon my inner strength, "I am no criminal. Indeed, I am the reigning monarch of Isolade."

A laugh rumbled from the Duke, his face creasing with deeper lines. "Your wit is entertaining. Do you consider me to be a doddering old man? Prove your royalty then. And if you cannot, be ready to face imprisonment until we ascertain who you are."

With the swell of nerves in my throat barely contained, I asked, maintaining a faint smile, "Might I inquire as to how I might validate my title? I confess, I am not a native of these lands, and much is yet strange to me."

The Duke exhaled, weariness etching his features. "The years weigh heavily upon me, yet I have energy enough for one final intrigue." He brought his right hand to his chest with solemnity and declared, "I am a duke; let this truth be known."

Above his brow materialized glowing words, proclaiming him 

[Duke of Lightweaver. 

City of Radiant Vale Population: 15,936.

Total of Lighweaver Dukedom 4.451.768 ] 

His eyes brimmed with sorrow, reflecting the grim reality of a once flourishing city of 25,000 souls now reduced to these surviving warriors.

"Now, your turn to reveal your truth."

Inhaling deeply, I emulated his action, my hand upon my heart. "I am a king; let this truth be known."

Above me, two lines of light unfurled:

[President of the Earth. Population: 8,435,758,381.]

[King of Isolade. Population: 1,856.]

Amazement flickered across the Duke's countenance, transforming his disbelief into astonishment. He massaged his eyes, attributing the unclear sight to the burden of years. Peering intently once more at the ethereal script, he repeated the motion several times, each attempt steeped in astonishment.

"I accept. You are the sovereign of Isolade," he acknowledged hoarsely. "But how came you to rule nearly 8 billion? Where is Earth?" His inquiry was cut short by a wracking cough.

With a sense of urgency, I scanned for his vitals. Around us, the tent's rich tapestries danced in the soft breeze as a spectral display of the Duke's status appeared:

[Duke Lightweaver. Level 52.

Condition: Terminal. Afflicted with Dark Energy.

Purification possible.]

Without hesitation, I uttered, "Purify." A cascade of light enveloped the Duke, but it only managed to cleanse a fraction of the malevolent energy. I repeated the incantation, each chant intensifying the light's force. After the tenth time, the sinister energy began to wane.

***

Outside, the serene ambiance of the camp was shattered by a high-pitched alarm. "Attack! Vampires, zombies, and ghouls are approaching! To your positions!" The once placid encampment transformed into a vortex of terror. An army of 5,000 dark entities was closing in on the 1,500 ill-prepared soldiers. Gripping their weapons with white-knuckled determination, they fought fiercely to preserve their lives against the overwhelming onslaught.

With just a weapon in hand and hope for a better life, not to die in pain.

***

In the midst of this chaos, a notification materialized before me:

[Congratulations, your "Purify" skill has leveled up to E. You can now use "Heal F".]

"Heal," I declared, channelling a cascade of restorative energy towards the Duke. After the glow subsided, I checked his status once more:

[Duke Lightweaver Level 52.

Status: Healthy.]

The Duke's gaze bore into mine, gratitude mingled with a profound awe. His voice trembled, "Can you show me your GOD?"

Chuckling softly, I replied, "Ah, that. Yes, I know just the way." Taking a deep breath, I began my invocation, "Our Praise and Gratefulness to the True Source, The GOD of Infinite Light and Everlasting Love."

A radiant scroll of light unfurled above me: it is an shinning orb.

🕊️[Don't forget your daily check-in. Recite this prayer...]🕊️

With renewed vigor, I continued,

"I am the Light. I am the Love. I am what the True Source wants me to be."

My dedication was rewarded: 

🕊️Reward: "Super Purify" with a radius of 1 mile - usable once. 🕊️

Embracing this newfound power, my very being became a beacon of blinding light. The bleakness of the night was replaced with a radiant dawn. Within a kilometer's radius, all dark creatures were cleansed of their malevolence, and those plagued by dark energy's poison found relief. The very essence of the atmosphere shifted from dread to tranquility, soothing wounded hearts and granting solace in the midst of chaos.

Nearby, in the thick of the warzone, the purifying light shone over the 5,000 strong horde of zombies, ghouls, and vampires. As if they were caught in a divine net, they slowed, their dark energies unraveling. Many began to fade, dissolving like shadows at dawn. The radiant wave of light enveloped and embraced each one, casting away the darkness within them.

***

The Duke approached, his steps heavy with emotion. His hands reached out, clasping mine with a grip that conveyed his profound gratitude and relief. Tears streamed down his face. "Thank the GOD," he sobbed "We've awaited you for millennia. The Apostle of the True Light from another realm. We need your salvation. It is just like the prophecy."

Drawing a deep breath, he continued, "From this moment, let the GOD of Infinite Light and Everlasting Love be my sole deity. For we, my people and I, have longed for this day." As he spoke, a divine glow enveloped him, and the title "Archbishop" shimmered above his head. "By my authority as Duke of Lightweaver, I declare the True Source as the one and only GOD for all my subjects, for our children and their descendants, until we all reunite with our True Source in His eternal kingdom."

***

Each soldier of Lightweaver from Radiant Vale was greeted by a luminous status window floating before them. It posed a question: "The time has come for the followers of light to embrace the True Source Of Light. Will you accept the True Source, the God of Infinite Light and Everlasting Love, as your singular deity and offer prayers from your heart?"

Pain etched on their faces – pain from losing loved ones, their families torn apart by war – many soldiers responded in the affirmative. 

"Yes," one soldier whispered, his voice laden with sorrow and hope. From the depths of his heart, he cried, "Oh God, we are fragile, and we need your guidance now more than ever."

***

Before I knew it, the number of followers surged past a thousand. My system kept me updated:

🕊️ [A Temporary Sanctuary has been established. As long as 1,000 followers pray to the True Source simultaneously from their hearts, this sanctuary will exist for one hour. This protection can be invoked repeatedly.] 🕊️

***

In the midst of battle, a radiant sanctuary materialized, its borders enveloping the soldiers. The malevolent creatures that ventured too close were instantly reduced to ash. 

When the dark comes, then comes the light, for the light will cleanse all the dark.

The light and love will never let anyone remain in darkness, pain, or harm.

The True Source will never leave you, even if you leave Him. Although the True Source can do all things, True Source cannot stop loving you.

Be the light; be the love.

For light and love will prevail in the end.

The soldiers erupted in tears of joy, their long wait finally at an end. Their True God had come.