Mathew slowly walked toward the altar.
From the outside, he appeared calm and composed, his expression unreadable as countless eyes followed his every step.
But beneath that calm exterior, his thoughts were in turmoil.
Please let this work…
I don’t need anything special.
I just need enough strength to protect Miss Irene… enough strength to protect the orphanage.
His gaze briefly shifted toward Anika.
She gave up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity just to stay with everyone.
I can’t disappoint them now.
I just need an Awakened core… that’s enough.
Standing atop the altar, the Pope observed him carefully.
For some reason, the boy felt… different.
Not in the way nobles carried themselves with arrogance, nor in the way talented children radiated confidence.
No.
Mathew possessed a strange kind of presence—one that felt unnaturally refined.
The Pope narrowed his eyes slightly.
This child… he doesn’t resemble someone raised in the slums at all.
If anything… he carries himself more like an Imperial.
One of the saintesses leaned closer, whispering softly to her sister.
“I’ll admit, he’s rather handsome.”
Her sister nodded faintly.
“True.
But appearances alone mean little.
Let’s see whether he can actually form a core.”
The Pope raised his voice.
“Come forward, child.
Place your hand upon the obsidian sphere and begin the formation of your soul core.”
Mathew inhaled deeply.
Then placed his hand against the obsidian ball.
And the world changed.
A blinding golden radiance exploded across the cathedral.
The light was so overwhelming that even Anika’s Sacred awakening seemed dim in comparison.
Golden waves surged outward endlessly, illuminating every inch of the grand hall.
Then suddenly—
The world trembled.
Not just the cathedral.
Not just the capital.
The entire world itself seemed to recoil.
The skies darkened.
Winds became violent hurricanes.
The oceans erupted into monstrous storms.
Mountains cracked and collapsed as if crushed beneath invisible pressure.
And deep within the shadows of the world, ancient Night Creatures awakened one after another.
Not in rage.
Not in hunger.
But in fear.
Pure, instinctive fear.
When Anika awakened, nature itself had embraced her like a beloved queen.
But Mathew’s awakening was different.
Nature did not kneel before him out of love.
It submitted out of terror.
Like prey standing before an incomprehensible predator.
Within the golden radiance, Mathew stared in astonishment at countless fragments of golden and faint purple light flowing into his chest.
They drifted directly into his soul, slowly forming the structure of a core.
So this is how it feels…
But… shouldn’t this hurt?
Instead of pain, he felt warmth.
Comfort.
Relief.
As though his soul had finally found something it had been missing.
The moment that thought crossed his mind—
The radiance intensified.
Children cried out in pain as the pressure from the light became unbearable.
Several nuns were forced to shield their eyes as the sheer density of the energy scorched the air itself.
Outside the cathedral, the chaos escalated.
Night Creatures descended upon nearby villages, slaughtering anything in their path while searching desperately for the source of the terrifying presence they had sensed.
Back inside the cathedral, no one could understand what was happening.
Lady Godspell struggled to keep her footing.
“Could this really be Mathew’s doing?”
“I… don’t know,” Sir Auro admitted.
“But if it truly is him… then could he also be Sacred rank?”
The Pope immediately shook his head.
“Impossible.
Two Sacred beings cannot be born within the same Quadrant unless one dies first.”
Yet even as he said the words, doubt filled his voice.
Because deep down—
Even he no longer believed the rules applied here.
Within the sea of golden light, Mathew silently watched the fragments continue entering his soul.
Then suddenly—
Everything stopped.
The radiance vanished instantly, condensing back into his body as though it had never existed at all.
The storms ceased.
The mountains stopped trembling.
The corrupted creatures of the night retreated into silence.
It was as though the world itself had exhaled in relief.
Mathew blinked.
Then a voice echoed faintly beside his ear.
“You have successfully formed a Light Core.”
Mathew immediately turned around.
But no one was there.
“…Strange.”
He slowly stepped down from the altar.
The moment he did, he noticed everyone staring at him.
Not with admiration.
With shock.
Pure shock.
Did something go wrong?
The Pope suddenly staggered forward, his hands trembling.
“T-This…”
His voice shook violently.
“This cannot be real…”
He looked at Mathew as though he were witnessing something forbidden.
“In five thousand years… never…”
The Pope took a deep breath before raising his voice throughout the cathedral.
“Today is truly a miraculous day.”
His eyes remained locked onto Mathew.
“I hereby announce that this child… has achieved the Divine rank.”
Silence.
Then chaos exploded throughout the cathedral.
“DIVINE?!”
Sir Auro nearly lost his balance.
“First a Supreme core… then a Sacred core… and now a Divine core?!”
“This nation has been blessed beyond imagination today!”
Even he looked utterly stunned.
“To be honest,” Auro admitted, “I expected maybe a Transcended core at best.
But Divine…?”
He shook his head slowly.
“This world truly is full of surprises.”
Nearby, the two saintesses stared at Mathew in fascination.
“Sister…” one whispered quietly.
“Do you think he could eventually rival a constellation?”
Her sister remained silent for a moment.
“…Maybe.”
Then her expression darkened slightly.
“But one thing is certain.”
“There’s going to be trouble soon.”
Meanwhile, Mathew himself stood quietly, uncertain how to feel.
He had succeeded.
But the higher the rank, the greater the burden attached to it.
And Divine rank…
That wasn’t a blessing.
It was practically a prison sentence.
The Pope finally regained enough composure to speak.
“Child… you will immediately be escorted to the Imperial Palace in order to meet the Imperial of our nation and begin—”
“I decline.”
The Pope froze mid-sentence.
Mathew looked directly at him.
“I appreciate the offer,” he said calmly, “but I don’t want to become an Imperial candidate.”
The entire hall became silent again.
Mathew continued.
“I want to remain at the orphanage and continue helping everyone there.
That’s enough for me.”
The Pope’s smile twitched faintly.
For a brief moment, disappointment flashed through his eyes.
But it disappeared instantly.
“Of course,” he replied smoothly.
“The Church would never force your hand.
Whatever decision you make shall be respected.”
Mathew released a quiet sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Your Holiness.”
He then walked toward Anika, who stared at him with wide eyes.
“Well, well,” she said finally.
“If it isn’t the biggest show-off in the cathedral.”
Mathew sighed.
“Please spare me.
I honestly didn’t expect this either.”
“Liar.”
Anika folded her arms dramatically.
“But…” her expression softened slightly, “I’m glad you decided to stay too.”
Mathew sat beside her quietly.
“Yeah,” he murmured.
“Me too.”
Elsewhere within the cathedral, Kane bit down so hard on his lip that blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Why…
Why is he always ahead of me?!
One of the orphaned children noticed him leaving.
“Kane?
Where are you going?”
Kane turned with fury burning in his eyes.
“Mind your own damn business.”
And with that, he stormed away.
The cathedral remained filled with excited chatter.
“A Supreme core, a Sacred core, and now a Divine core…”
“What are the chances of all three appearing in one day?”
“And even after all that, they still chose to remain at the orphanage…”
“Unbelievable.”
Lady Godspell clapped her hands gently.
“Alright, children.
Gather together.
It’s time to head home.”
The Pope stepped forward one last time.
“May the constellations guide your journey safely.”
“Thank you, Your Holiness,” the children replied together.
Moments later, Sir Auro activated his ability and transported everyone back to the orphanage.
⸻
Deep beneath the cathedral…
The Pope walked through a dimly lit corridor before entering a hidden chamber.
Without hesitation, he placed a square-shaped artifact onto the floor.
Runes spread across the room instantly.
A portal opened.
From within it stepped an elderly man with gray hair, a weathered face, and a long black leather coat.
A sword rested across his back.
“Good evening, Pope,” the man said casually.
“I trust things have been peaceful lately?”
The Pope’s expression darkened.
“We have a problem, Arwen.”
The man’s relaxed demeanor vanished instantly.
“What happened?”
“A human child has formed a Divine soul core.”
Silence.
Then Arwen’s eyes sharpened dangerously.
“…When?”
“Today.
During the slum orphan appraisal.”
Arwen exhaled slowly.
“Does he know?”
“I already informed him,” the Pope replied coldly.
“The order has been given.”
Arwen closed his eyes briefly.
“Elimination.”
“Yes.”
The Pope’s voice turned icy.
“That child cannot be allowed to live.”
He then paused before continuing.
“There is also a girl.
Sacred rank.
Bring her back alive.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“She will make an excellent future Imperial.”
Arwen nodded calmly.
“And the others?”
The Pope looked away dismissively.
“Do as you wish.”
Then his gaze sharpened once more.
“You understand what happens if you fail.”
Arwen stretched his neck lazily before stepping toward the portal again.
“Don’t worry,” he said lightly.
“Unlike most people, I value my life greatly.”
He glanced back one final time.
“I’ll handle it.”
Then he disappeared into the portal.
The room became silent once more.
The Pope stood alone in the darkness, his face filled with cold unease.
“We absolutely cannot allow that boy to survive.”