Chapter 123 Holy Avenger
The gray morning was extremely cold.
Balerius stood in front of the closed door of the Salamander tavern, a lonely figure.
He stared at the horizon in the distance. The world outside the walls of Mokou Town looked so empty, as if there would never be a place for him to stand.
But he knew that lingering here would not help, and he had to leave here.
"Maybe they are right to worry." Balerius sighed softly and murmured to himself.
Because he is also worried that one day he will suddenly be unable to control his anger and bring violent judgment to the entire town.
He subconsciously looked at the Rock Bunker in Mokou Town. Flags depicting black iron fists clenching the green light were fluttering in the wind.
He still vividly remembers that it used to be the castle of the lord of Mokou Town, with a purple dragon flag fluttering in the wind, and a legion of purple dragon knights and war mages stationed inside to protect the town.
Now it is a settlement of the Zhenlin Towers, inhabited by brutal armies and evil worshipers of Bane, the god of tyranny.
He couldn't help but think that if Mokou Town was completely ruled by Angus, the heron knight of the Sanlin Tower Society, and then funded by the richest man Graal, it would become even stronger
One after another made him uneasy. The visions began to haunt him, making him afraid to continue thinking about them.
For a moment.
Balerith seemed to see a group of dark knights led by the heron knight Angus, holding a battle flag with the holy symbol of Bane, the god of tyranny, and singing praises to their god's victory. Song.
Wherever the majestic black war horses' iron hooves went, the unbelievers' army collapsed immediately. Dead bodies were everywhere, and the dying groaned and cried on the blood-soaked battlefield.
This scene brought out the good side in him.
“Never!” Balerius whispered categorically: “I will never let something like this happen again in Mokou Town.”
Because he has already allowed this kind of disaster. It happened once, he thought bitterly.
Ten years ago, he led his adventure team to slaughter an adult evil red dragon by listening to the false news spread by Sanlin Tower.
No one can resist the temptation of the dragon slayer's glory, not even him and several of his companions.
However, when they broke into the dragon's lair, they discovered that this was not an adult dragon at all, but an ancient red dragon that had lived for thousands of years.
The anger brought by an angry ancient red dragon is undoubtedly quite terrifying.
On that day, his brothers who were with him through life and death and his lover who guided him on the path of the paladin were all killed, leaving only him and another warlock companion.
In a panic, they fled to Mokou Town.
A terrible disaster happened.
Mokou Town, a territory that originally belonged to the Kingdom of Cormyr, was under the governance of a cleric lord who believed in Ogma, the god of knowledge. It was in dire straits and was already developing into the most prosperous town in the Enook Desert. , but the ancient red dragon they attracted was destroyed.
More than half of the population of the entire town was killed or injured in the dragon flames. Although the cleric lord of Mokou Town led the purple dragon knights and war mages to seriously injure the red dragon, they all died as a result.
The crazy dragon was taken advantage of by the Sanlin Pagoda Society and the Dragon Worship Cult who came later.
It was as if they had already discussed it. The Dragon Worship Cult got the body of the dragon, while the Sanlin Pagoda got the right to rule the town.
In that tragic battle, he saved many innocent civilians from the blazing flames, but for him, he could never make up for the sins he had committed.
He is a paladin who has sworn an oath of devotion, which means the most noble ideals of justice, virtue, and order. Paladins who follow this oath are all dedicated to law and good, and their creeds regarded as a standard of devotion.
But what he did trampled on the oath he had made, just like a house swept by the flames of the red dragon, completely destroyed.
Thus, he lost the sacred vows of the priesthood and the service that he personally recognized as an ideal that transcended himself.
It was this painful memory that caused him to lose the power of the Paladin and the Sword Master at the same time, turning him into an old man after suffering a double blow to his body and soul.
Now, he has nothing, and even his own ground is about to be lost.
"I can't leave, I have to stay." Balerius kept whispering, emphasizing: "I belong here originally, and no one can drive me away."
After saying this, he did not hesitate. He turned around and pushed the door open.
"Why are you still here?" The moment he entered the tavern, a cold voice came from the darkness that he had not yet adapted to.
This cold voice made the hair on the back of Balerius' neck stand up. Without thinking, he reached for his waist, only to find that there was nothing there, and there was no sword at all.
It seemed like he had just realized today that his sword and right leg had been broken during the Red Dragon Rebellion ten years ago, which became the last straw that crushed him and plunged him into a deep trap. In despair and self-blame.
"I belong here, even if I die, I will die here!" Balerius replied firmly.
He didn’t know who the speaker was. Although he could clearly see the appearance of this uninvited guest just by raising his head, but for some reason, listening to his cold questioning words, He subconsciously wanted to escape and did not dare to confront him.
"I just want to stay here and do something within my ability." He added unwillingly: "Isn't even this possible?"
"What is within my ability?"
The door of the tavern closed automatically with a bang, and the figure in the darkness smiled contemptuously.
"What do you mean by what you can do, is fix the leaky ceiling, repair the squeaky hinges on the door, or unblock the drain in the kitchen?" , What can I do?" The sarcastic words hit the deepest pain point in Balerius's heart.
Yeah, what can he do?
He lost the power of the Paladin and the Juggernaut, and also lost his last will to fight.
What else is going on in his mind now?
His hair was half white. It used to be shiny and black due to the divine radiance. Now it has no luster. It has lost its vitality and looks messy. His bloodless face is covered with wrinkles of the years, and his body has become emaciated as a result.
All he has is collapse and despair, humiliation and discouragement.
"You really can't do anything, because this is the way the world is." Heiying's tone seemed to feel his mood at the moment, and he relaxed a lot, and said leisurely:
"Anyone who travels frequently can see all kinds of interesting things, such as two farmers fighting to the death for a field. The next day, the field was razed by the men of two counts, and these retinues The fighting continues.
People are hung from trees on the roadside, robbers slit the throats of businessmen, and in the town, you can stumble over corpses from the slums every step of the way. In the grand palace, wherever the blade is pointed, someone may fall under the table with a blue face every minute at the banquet. Can you protect anything unfortunate? ”
"It's true that I can't do it." Balerius still didn't raise his head and answered truthfully, and said solemnly and firmly, "But as long as the paladin does not die, justice will last forever."
He also didn't know that he Why did he suddenly say these words that he was once proud of but gradually despised.
He suddenly felt that when he said these words, a certain string in his heart was touched, and his skinny body seemed to have gained strange power, as if a confused man saw a glimmer of hope.
This is what is called longing for redemption, he thought to himself.
Not all souls can be saved. Lemric's terrible words burned like poison in his mind.
"Indeed, no one can protect them all, and if you allow disasters to happen in front of you and are helpless, it is because you are not strong enough. Only by gaining the power to crush everything can you keep the justice in your heart."< br>
The tone of the shadow's words was surprisingly calm, making Balerius feel a soothing power, and he listened quietly.
“So I only believe in my own strength and powerful power. This is a world ruled by gods, and it is also a world of great power. Only we have the power to crush everything. In the face of any evil organization, evil race, even the demons of the Abyss and the demons of Baator Hell, there will not be such a hopeless and helpless disaster."
"You are too weak to face it. You have no ability to destroy an ancient red dragon, but you overestimate your ability to provoke a war between justice and evil. It is precisely because of your ignorant actions that you have brought carnage and death to Mokou Town. Many innocent people.”
When the past was mentioned, Balerius recalled scenes of tragic scenes again, and a deep sense of powerlessness and despair surged towards him at an extremely fast speed. It spread throughout his body.
Only with the power to crush everything can you keep the justice in your heart, defend Mokou Town, and complete your own redemption.
The old man, struggling in pain, trembled all over and suddenly realized some ideas.
“If you don’t have the power to destroy evil, your so-called justice is just a joke. Do you think that as long as you believe in justice, you can save the world? In my opinion, only idiots will believe it!”
"Really strong people dare to face the bleak life and face the dripping blood, but you? You don't even dare to face this difficulty, so you are simply not qualified!"
"You You are just a soulless body and a walking corpse. As a paladin, you have not understood what true justice is and what the purest justice is, so your depravity is not worthy of sympathy and mercy."< br>
"If not, why would the gods create sheep so that the wolves would not starve, and the weak to fool the strong."
"The true paladin will protect the weak and guard the good." Gradually it became clear. The enlightened Balerius felt that these words were like a sharp knife piercing his heart. He gritted his teeth in pain and argued with a firm tone.
“Real paladins and gods seem to exist, but they never exist.” The figure in the darkness said scornfully:
“If a person cannot defend himself, he is dead. One must make way for others, don’t you understand? Even under the gaze of the gods, this world is still ruled by swords and power.”
“Your remarks are too terrifying.” Leris said with a trembling voice.
"It's not me that's scary, but this world. It's just because it's so real that it makes people scared. So, the most terrifying thing about a world is not the rampant evil, but the silence of good people. Are you saying that, Ba Balerius? "
Balerius felt these words roaring in his eardrums, as if he had lost his ability to think, but they were clearly and deeply imprinted on his consciousness. His expression Startled, he suddenly raised his head, looked at the figure in the darkness, and asked in a trembling voice:
"Who are you?" As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling light erupted in the dark tavern.
He saw Brian, an adventurer who had a chance encounter with him, appear in front of him.
This stern-faced half-elf wizard exuded a majestic and confident temperament.
His eyes are deep and bright, his black hair is faintly shining, and the inconspicuous black cloak he wears is windless and dazzling like an obsidian statue under the scorching sun.
What made him unbelievable the most was that the source of all this light actually came from a gleaming hot lightsaber.
"Remember, any soul can be redeemed."
Brian threw the legendary weapon 'Dawnbringer' in his hand and thrust it in front of Balerius, coldly Said:
"There are shadows in the brightest light, and there are always fearless people in the darkest shadows who have the courage to dispel the darkness. It depends on whether you are willing to get this kind of salvation. If you have made up your mind, pick up this gun. Sword, follow me to bring light and hope to Mokou Town."
"Buzz!"
As Brian's words fell, the lightsaber was inserted in front of Balerius. A dazzling light suddenly appeared, making a trembling sound.
Balerius stared at the lightsaber, looking at it like a fascination. For a moment, it seemed that everything he loved was eclipsed by it.
Looking at the dazzling and bright light, he discovered deeply that this was not a complete weapon. This weapon seemed to have been forgotten in the darkness for countless years, leaving behind Erosion damage.
Even so, this sword can still bloom as a symbol of hope after seeing the light of day again.
"A sword can even know how to redeem itself, how can I let myself down?"
He sighed softly, stretched out his trembling right hand, withered On the palm of the hand, scars and scars are crisscrossed, and they look so eye-catching and profound under the light.
When he was about to grasp the gold-plated hilt of the weapon tightly, he suddenly paused again.
He couldn't help but think back on his decades of life.
He thought of the killings he had been driven to by the whip, and in order to make amends and redemption, he accepted the call of the divine mission and became a paladin of the Lord of the Dawn.
When the red dragon ravaged Mokou Town ten years ago, he lost the power from the paladin, the oath of the sword master, and the goal of life
The oath of dedication means justice, The noblest part of the ideas of virtue and order.
They are representatives of the holy warriors wearing shining armor, practicing the doctrine of justice and pursuing a noble mission.
Balerius recalled the sacred moment when he took the oath of devotion, and again recalled the killings he made while practicing the sword master's way, the raging flames of the red dragon, and the tragic deaths of countless innocent people.
He closed his eyes subconsciously, silently savoring the pain caused by the unbearable memories.
The shining sword light seemed to reflect the darkness deep in his heart, making him suddenly enlightened.
“From now on, I only believe in my own strength and powerful power. Only we have the power to crush everything. In the face of any evil organization, evil race, or even the abyss, The devils and the devils of Baator Hell would not have such a desperate and helpless disaster."
Balerius's cloudy eyes gradually became bright and sharp, and his tone was like a heavy blow from a rock, "This is it. It’s the justice I pursue! The purest justice!”
He took out the dim and dull Holy Emblem of the Lord of the Dawn, which he regarded as a precious symbol. , coldly threw it into a dark corner, then knelt on his knees, tightly grasped the gilded hilt of the 'Dawnbringer', and said firmly:
"Since the oath of dedication no longer suits me, then I will become a holy avenger: looking for powerful enemies with no distractions! No mercy for evil! For justice, I will do whatever it takes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, The bright light emitted by the shining 'Dawn Messenger' gradually dissipated, and some strange aura emerged together with the holder.
Balerius stood up slowly, his sharp eyes facing the darkness of nothingness, and a mysterious dark energy suddenly burst out from his body.
The last faint light of the 'Dawn Messenger' completely dissipated, condensing into a sharp blade that exuded dark energy.
Seeing the changes in this legendary weapon, Brian also had a hint of surprise in his eyes.
What he didn't expect was that after Balerius regained his fighting consciousness, the energy he erupted actually resonated with the 'Dawnbringer' that had been stored in the darkness for thousands of years.
The light attribute of this weapon is completely swallowed up by darkness, turning it into a dark attribute weapon that is truly suitable for the Holy Avenger.
Holy Avenger!
A group of paladins of lawful neutral and absolute neutral alignments.
In order to maintain the justice in his heart, the Holy Avenger will do anything at all costs.
This is a kind of paladin who masters the power of darkness, but the paladin who masters this power is most likely to degenerate into the evil Dark Guard.
What they protect is the justice in their hearts, not the faith of the gods.
For them, this is a battle of their own beliefs and will.
Winning or losing is only a matter of one thought.
The sacred oath of the Holy Avenger is: Revenge!
This is a solemn promise to punish serious crimes.
When the evil forces slaughter the helpless residents, when all the people betray their will, when a certain thieves' union becomes too overbearing, that's when the paladin of the Oath of Vengeance takes action.
They are called the Holy Avengers, sometimes called the Black Knights. They will do whatever it takes for justice, even if they sacrifice their own purity, they must do justice.
Darkness can no longer restrain the power and restraint of the Holy Avenger to bring justice.
On the contrary, the power of darkness can not only ignite and incite the light in their hearts, but also make it boil and explode with powerful power.
"Congratulations, Balerius." Brian nodded slightly and congratulated him, "Finally found your own path. I wish you can complete your self-salvation as soon as possible."
In his impression, this saint The old warrior only awakened three years later.
After three years of accumulation, he broke through the bottleneck in one fell swoop. The Holy Avenger and Sword Master professions all reached the legendary realm, becoming the sharpest sword under the command of the Grand Duke of Arabel City.
Although he had forced it three years ahead of schedule, resulting in the bow not being sufficiently relaxed to unleash its strongest power, his belief became stronger under his deliberate guidance and stimulation.
Brian knew very well that what this powerful man who had reached the peak of the fourth level paragon lacked to break through to the legendary realm was a mental vacancy.
The day he completes his self-salvation is the moment he steps into the realm of legend.
“Thank you, sir, for your guidance, which allowed me to find the path of self-salvation again.”
The purest gratitude appeared in Balerius’s sharp and bright eyes, and he knelt down without hesitation. In front of Brian, he said solemnly and righteously:
"I, Balerius, in the name of the oath of revenge and the ideals of the Juggernaut, hereby swear that from now on, I will I will be loyal to the master of Mokou Town, dedicate my life and strength to you, please treat everyone fairly and equally, and I will always follow you!"
When Balerius finished these words! At that moment, he suddenly felt that the heavy burden on his heart suddenly disappeared, as if he had thrown off a pair of heavy armor.
The feeling of fatigue disappeared, replaced by a sudden burst of energy and an extremely clear consciousness.
Various strategies and ideas were flying in his mind, each of which heralded great success, each of which was enough to promote mutual understanding between different ethnic groups and ensure lasting peace in the world. Benefit every living thing in the world.
Not only his consciousness, but also his body seemed to have suddenly been surprisingly strengthened. His strength, agility and self-control all rose to a new level in an instant.
Balerius felt that he could not only climb treacherous peaks... he could also move them. He can end wars and guide justice into every dark corner.
He has perfect and complete calmness, full of confidence in his heart, and knows exactly how to lead this torrent of energy - no, a powerful tsunami.
Even the holy power has never affected him like this... This feeling is indeed similar to the holy power, but it does not act more on the body like the holy warrior's holy power, but on his mind.
He knew that this was the return of the power that belonged exclusively to the Juggernaut, a power of belief in an ideal existence that he recognized as transcending himself.
He finally found the path that suited him.
Brian looked at the paladin kneeling in front of him, and naturally felt the power that Balerius exploded in an instant.
He knew everything about this situation.
This is the power of faith from the Juggernaut.
The Juggernaut profession is actually slightly similar to the Paladin.
First of all, if you want to advance to the level of Sword Master, your camp, whether evil, good or neutral, must be a lawful camp or absolutely neutral.
Afterwards, a vow of service to the lord or ideal incarnation must be taken.
Similarly, when sword masters or paladins betray the oath they originally swore, or their alignment shifts, their strength will stagnate until atonement is successful.
Brian was silent for a moment, staring at the paladin in front of him, raised his hand, and said to him in the same tone:
"May the long night of darkness in my territory disappear, and may the day be bright and prosperous. May the darkness of the night disappear in my territory. You clearly see the essence of the world, the truth surrounds you, and everything is clear at a glance. Please rise, Balerius, I am Brian, the lord of Mokou Town."
(End of this chapter)