"Good afternoon, and thank you all for turning up and tuning in to witness God perform a miracle," said Pope Urban IX as he stood upon his balcony. His voice carried across the square below, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers had gathered in preparation for their deployment to the United States of America. The soldiers stood in disciplined formations, waiting to hear the final words of the man who had ordered them to fight for their fellow Christians. Across the world, drones and broadcasting equipment transmitted the speech to governments, churches, and ordinary citizens who were watching the historic event unfold.
"Now, to our soldiers who are about to fight to protect our fellow brethren, I have something important to tell you," Urban continued. His expression became stern as he looked over the gathered troops. "The enemy you are going to face is what you know as corrupted humans. They are the spawn of evil, and any one of those corrupted humans is to be killed on sight." His voice carried an unmistakable sense of authority as he continued. "Anyone who attempts to prosecute you for carrying out that order is not merely opposing you, but fighting against God and the System itself."
The declaration caused a heavy silence to settle over the square. The soldiers had expected a speech about courage, faith, and duty, but Urban's words were far more direct than that. He was openly granting them permission to kill corrupted humans without waiting for a formal trial or approval from the American authorities. The Pope understood the seriousness of the statement, but he had no intention of softening it. In his eyes, the threat posed by the corrupted humans was too great to allow hesitation.
"During your deployment, you will face horrors beyond your wildest imagination," Urban said, his voice becoming darker. "These spawn of Satan himself are kidnapping Christians in an attempt to poison the Lord through the faith of those they capture." He allowed the words to linger for a moment so that everyone could understand the danger. "They are not simply attacking our people. They are attempting to destroy our god by corrupting the faith that sustains him."
Urban then shifted his attention toward the broader world, knowing that the broadcast was being watched by people of many different religions. "I also have a message for the faithful across the world. Not only my fellow believers in the Lord and Christ, but also Muslims, Buddhists, and followers of every other religion." His expression remained completely serious as he addressed them. "If there are people around you who believe in a religion and they mysteriously disappear, sound the alarm immediately. Do not stop until they are found."
"These spawns of evil want nothing more than to capture those people and poison your lord through their faith," Urban continued. "So make a loud noise if someone disappears. Raise the alarm, inform your neighbors, and make certain that everyone knows what is happening." He stared directly into the drone hovering in front of him, aware that his expression was being transmitted around the world. "A corrupted human might be nearby, waiting for an opportunity to strike."
His words were not simply aimed at protecting Christians. Urban understood that even people who worshipped different gods were still human beings, and according to his own beliefs, his god wanted him to be helpful toward his fellow humans. Warning other religious communities about the danger was therefore the least he could do. He also understood that cooperation from those communities could benefit the Church in the future, but that was not the only reason he had issued the warning. The danger was real, and allowing people to disappear without raising an alarm would only give the corrupted humans more opportunities.
"This is why our Lord is sending you to the United States of America," Urban said as he returned his attention to the soldiers. "The country has fallen into a dangerous decline, with violence spreading everywhere and corruption becoming more deeply rooted." He clenched one hand slightly as he spoke. "The corrupted humans have been given all the breeding ground they need to operate freely, and that is something we cannot allow to continue."
"So you have your work cut out for you," the Pope declared. "I pray for your safety." His voice softened slightly as he offered a short prayer for the soldiers who were about to march into a real war. Unlike the battles fought against monsters in controlled environments, this deployment would involve human enemies, unpredictable conditions, and the possibility of death at every turn. Even the most devoted soldiers understood that entering a real battlefield was frightening. They were not simply walking into a dangerous mission; they were marching toward a place where many of them might never return.
"But do not worry," Urban added, raising his voice again. "You are not being asked to enter those dangers blindly or face them alone." He turned slightly toward the side of the square, where another formation had been waiting in silence. "I am now introducing you all to the reformed Swiss Guard." His expression changed into one of pride. "They now go by the name of Paladins."
At his declaration, one hundred heavily armored knights marched into the square. Their armor was imposing, covering their bodies in polished metal that made them look more like legendary warriors than modern soldiers. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and the sound of their armored footsteps echoed across the square. As they entered the soldiers' view, a powerful cheer rose from the gathered ranks.
The reaction was immediate because the ordinary soldiers understood what the appearance of the paladins represented. They were not merely receiving additional troops. They were being given commanders who could personally lead charges into the most dangerous parts of the battlefield. The name "Paladin" also carried enormous weight, especially among the faithful. To the soldiers, it meant that the Church had brought out one of its most elite forces to stand beside them.
"We are sending a total of one hundred paladins with you on this deployment," Urban announced. "Leading your expedition will be the commander of the paladins, Meinrad Dünner." The name itself caused another wave of murmurs and excitement among the soldiers. Many had already heard stories about the old commander and his achievements. However, Urban was not finished introducing him.
"He is the only human in five hundred years to earn the rank of Grand Cross through his own achievements," Urban continued. "Therefore, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands." He paused, allowing the title to sink in. "You will learn the true definition of that rank later, but know this: by the authority granted to me by God, I designate that every future commander of the paladins must hold the rank of Grand Cross. Anyone who does not possess that rank will not be permitted to command the order."
Urban delivered the declaration with a serious expression, fully aware that news stations around the world were already desperately researching what the title meant. The term had not been used publicly in centuries, and its sudden appearance during such an important speech was guaranteed to attract attention. The Pope knew that the mystery surrounding the title would increase the public's interest in Meinrad and the paladins. It would also make the world understand that the Church was not handing command positions to ordinary soldiers.
The requirement had already been discussed with the paladins long before the speech. They had agreed to it without protest because they saw the rank as something to aspire toward. It gave them a standard that could not be reached through simple loyalty or religious devotion alone. To earn the title, they would have to prove themselves through real achievements, and that would allow the rest of the world to understand that the order was built on more than empty religious claims.
The paladins had already trained under Meinrad for nearly four years. During that time, they had learned an enormous amount from him, improving their combat abilities and discipline far beyond what they had possessed before. Yet even after all their training, they still could not defeat him in a fight involving twenty of them against him alone. Meinrad was simply that powerful. His skill, experience, and understanding of weapons placed him on an entirely different level from the other paladins.
That was precisely why they wanted to uphold the same standard for themselves. They were the Church's last line of defense, the soldiers who would be first into danger and the last to leave. If they failed, the consequences would be catastrophic. Their fanaticism made it impossible for them to accept that possibility, but their training also gave them the ability to understand just how much responsibility rested upon their shoulders. They did not want to merely carry the title of paladin. They wanted to be worthy of it.
"With all that in mind, I ask you one single question," said Pope Urban IX as he looked across the square. "Are you willing to give your lives to defend our brethren and our values? Are you willing to swear that you will always fight against the influence of evil?" His voice rang out across the gathered soldiers and paladins. The question was not presented as a suggestion or a symbolic gesture. It was a demand for a genuine oath.
The remaining paladins stood to the side of the square, raising their hands in the Schwurhand gesture and holding them over their hearts as a sign of respect. Their posture was solemn, and their expressions were filled with absolute determination. They had already made their decision long ago, but this public oath would bind them together in front of the entire world. The gesture also served as a visible reminder that they were not simply soldiers serving a government. They were an order dedicated to protecting their faith.
"Yes, we swear!" shouted the 250,000 soldiers in unison. Every soldier raised a hand and made the Schwurhand gesture as the sound of their voices spread throughout Rome. The sheer volume of the oath caused the surrounding buildings to seem almost silent by comparison. For a moment, the entire city appeared to be holding its breath as the soldiers pledged themselves to the mission.
Then, from the churches across Rome and throughout the rest of the world, bells began to ring. One church after another joined the sound until the bells merged into a tremendous, reverberating chorus. It was not an ordinary ringing meant to mark the time or announce a religious service. This was the victory bell, a sound intended to call upon people to pray for the soldiers who were going to war and ask for their success.
The ringing was also an essential part of the teleportation formation. The amount of mana and cultural energy required to teleport such a massive army was enormous, and Urban did not want to make the process more difficult than necessary. Gaia had already promised that the teleportation would succeed, but the Pope knew better than to waste energy simply because success had been guaranteed. The bells would help gather the attention and participation of the faithful, making the formation more efficient while also turning the event into a religious ceremony.
As Pope Urban IX began to sing in Latin, the rest of the clergy inside the Vatican joined him. Their voices blended together as the magic circle slowly began to appear in the sky above the square. At first, it was only a faint outline, but it quickly grew brighter and more defined. The air itself seemed to become heavier as the formation gathered the enormous amount of energy needed to activate.
Then everyone felt it.
Something warm and immense focused its attention upon their location. It was impossible to see, yet its presence could be felt by every person in the square. The sensation was not threatening, but it was overwhelming, like standing beneath the attention of something far greater than humanity. It almost felt as though the energy itself was smiling at them, even though no face or physical form could be seen.
The soldiers stood motionless as the formation reached its final stage. The bells continued ringing, the clergy continued singing, and the magic circle shone brightly above them. Then, in an instant, every soldier in the square was teleported away. The surrounding area became completely quiet, leaving behind only the fading echoes of the bells.
A moment later, a screen appeared in the middle of the square.