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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 8: Praise Prayer
Suggested BGM: Up and fight against the devil
After the Catholic Church added the New Testament to the Old Testament faith of Judaism, the branches of the Church split into countless factions.
Among these, the largest faction is Protestantism, which is also divided into various denominations, most notably the Methodist, Baptist, and Anglican Churches.
But the most dominant and widespread faction, especially across Asia, is the Pentecostal Church.
With only a century of history, its emphasis on the fullness of the Holy Spirit has captivated many believers.
True to its young history, Pentecostalism doesn't bind itself to rigid forms or traditions.
The sermons are flexible and secular, and even the format of prayer is often left unstructured.
One distinctive feature is the corporate prayer, where the congregation raises their voices together in a kind of synchronized prayer.
The Praise Prayer is the most famous example of this.
Hanging on the walls are 4K TVs with intense bass from subwoofers, and the whole congregation joins in unison, following the pastor's rhythm.
The atmosphere is electric, and the Holy Spirit fills the room with fervor as the group sings with passion.
"Joy to the world! The Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!"
"All the saints, rise up! Praise Him!"
"Praise Him! Praise Him with all your might!"
"The Lord, full of grace and truth, rules over all!"
"All nations, bow before Him, Sol Invictus!"
"Bow before Him! Bow before Him!"
"Fight the demons, brothers freed from sin!"
"We'll fight boldly against the evil army!"
"The day of judgment and the day of destruction stands before you!"
"It's coming soon!"
"Glory! Glory to Sol Invictus!"
"Glory! Glory to Sol Invictus!"
"Glory! Glory to Sol Invictus!"
"Victory is ours!"
In pastoral work, the Praise Prayer is essential. It's a miracle of efficiency, turning an hour and a half long service into 45 minutes of just hymns.
The priests observing were completely astonished.
It made sense.
In this era, prayers were traditionally whispered reverently within churches, reciting carefully composed prayers.
Though some devout believers might occasionally raise their voices, no one ever shouted their prayers aloud.
And a Praise Prayer mixed with hymns? That was unheard of.
There were choirs that sang hymns before sermons, but this was something entirely new.
The Solar Theocracy clergy were not only surprised by the new hymns but also by the intensity of the worship.
"I've never heard these hymns before… Where on earth did these come from?"
"Could it be... did Deacon Ray write these?"
The new hymns were unlike anything they had heard.
"’Joy to the World! The Lord Has Come’ is truly astonishing. It speaks about how Sol Invictus descended to Earth, to be welcomed and worshipped."
"What about Fighting the Demons? It speaks about those who fight the evil in the world, about the unwavering will to fight for righteousness. There's an unshakable faith in that hymn!"
Hymns have a history of over two thousand years.
Among them, the best of the best have been collected into a modern Hymnal of 645 Songs.
Ray, however, had taken those hymns and adapted them into his own style, so to the unknowing, it seemed shocking.
[...!!]
And it wasn't just the people who were stunned by this strange, new form of prayer.
A strange figure mumbling in a foreign tongue, and then suddenly a glorious praise song?
The Holy Spirit, who had come to find Ray, was moved by the never-ending hymns of Sol Invictus and the energetic praise.
It couldn't help but dance in rhythm, caught in the joyous flow of the prayer.
Even the Holy Spirit, in sync with the rhythm, danced to the ancient melodies of over two thousand years of history!
After four hours of continuous Praise Prayer, the Holy Spirit, glowing with joy, released its radiant Holy power before Ray.
"What's happening?!"
For a moment, Ray was startled by the Holy Spirit's actions.
But soon, he let himself relax into the warm, soothing energy that enveloped him.
The hymn gradually paused as the brilliant Holy power filled Ray's body, and he radiated light.
"It's the blessing of the Holy Spirit!"
"I can't believe it! We're witnessing the moment the Holy Spirit blesses him!"
The priests and nuns were stunned by the sight.
The sacred, holy scene of the Holy Spirit bestowing a blessing, mixed with the unheard-of Praise Prayer, was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.
Some were moved to tears, while others quietly knelt in reverence, eyes closed.
As the Holy Spirit's blessing ended, and everyone realized that the Spirit had left, Ray understood the true nature of the blessing that had come over him.
'The Ability of Hymns?!'
It was an unexpected second manifestation of ability!
***
After the long eleven-hour prayer ended, Ray collapsed into his seat, as though all the energy had drained out of his body.
Ray's blessing worked even at night, but he had just prayed aloud for eleven hours without drinking a single drop of water.
A severe case of dehydration hit him all at once, worse than any hunger.
"Brother!"
"Brother!!"
At that moment, the priests and onlookers rushed towards him from all directions.
When everyone looked at Ray with worried expressions, a water bottle was suddenly handed to him.
"Drink slowly."
It was a priest who offered the water.
"Oh, thank you."
Ray thanked them in a cracked voice, the result of dehydration.
He drank the water slowly, careful not to choke.
Afterward, Ivella handed him some bread.
"Chew carefully. You might get a stomachache."
"Ah, thank you, Abbess."
"The Holy Spirit has blessed you, Brother. Do you feel any changes?"
"Ah, that..."
Ray recalled the moment when the Holy Spirit had bestowed its blessing upon him.
Immense holy power had flowed into his body, and it had manifested as a power of its own.
It felt different from when he absorbed evil karma and raised good karma. It was a new sensation entirely.
"I believe... if I sing hymns, it seems I can boost the energy around me."
At Ray's response, the priests and nuns around him were astonished.
"My goodness!"
"An ability! And it's a hymnal ability!"
"It wouldn't be strange if you joined the Solaryon Choir right away!"
The Solaryon Choir, led by Abbess Ivella, was a symbol of success in its own right.
It was a choir with the ability to purify heretics, strengthen soldiers, and bless the surroundings.
A power only bestowed on the leaders of the choir.
Regular choir members merely acted as amplifiers for the powers of the higher-ranking members.
In other words, if Ray joined the Solaryon Choir, he would instantly rise to the leader level.
"Brother Ray, are you considering joining the choir?"
Abbess Ivella immediately offered him the position.
Ray instinctively sensed that it was a very prestigious offer, but it conflicted with his goals.
'If I join the choir, I'd only be able to work within the church. That would make gathering evil karma harder.'
Ray's goal in joining Eclipse was due to its role as an inquisition faction.
He had gained an ability after killing a single warlock.
Hunting heretics who accumulated evil karma was the only way to rid himself of the restless spirits haunting him.
On top of that, Ray was not truly a devout member of the Solar Theocracy, so gathering Holy power was already difficult.
Still, outright rejection might hurt the pride of his superiors, so he thought of a more tactful response.
"My hometown was destroyed by the evil schemes of a warlock. Ever since that moment, I vowed to fight to purify the evil of this world."
Even if that path led through a thorny and dark road, he would continue to walk it.
"Such resolve!"
"Such steadfast faith!"
"Your will is so strong, Brother, I can no longer insist. Brother Ray Anderson, I will pray for your path of faith."
As Abbess Ivella began her prayer, the priests around her joined in.
Their prayers, filled with misunderstandings, were filled with blessings for Ray's journey on the difficult path he had chosen.
'They're praying for me again… Can I just go home and sleep already?'
He was just eager to get some rest, but it seemed like the prayers weren't going to stop anytime soon.
***
The announcement of the entrance exam results was swift.
Thanks to the absence of any disagreement, the top spot was easily determined.
The successful candidates were announced starting from the top, with the first through tenth positions listed.
Except for the top ten, everyone else would begin as low-ranking pilgrims of the institution.
"10th, Mackenzie of the Rose Monastery.
9th, Rona of Male Church."
The voice of Archbishop Dunwell rang out across the auditorium.
At over sixty years old, Dunwell's voice remained strong and clear.
"2nd, Aaron Graham of the Central Diocese."
Aaron stepped up onto the stage.
Though he had ranked 2nd out of just over a hundred successful candidates, his expression was anything but satisfied.
It was because he, who had believed he would be the top candidate, had been utterly defeated by a mere local deacon he had never even heard of.
'What in the world happened? What could have occurred during the prayer session to make him act so strange?'
Aaron, who had been eliminated seven hours before Ray, had no idea what had transpired during the prayer session.
"First, Deacon Ray Anderson of Obello church."
When Ray's name was called, the young man slowly made his way up to the stage.
As Ray received the first-place admission certificate from Archbishop Dunwell, he lowered his head.
"Now, I will award gifts to the excellent candidates, using the authority of this institution's leader."
At that moment, four guards brought forward a large chest.
The chest, so heavy that it required four sturdy men to carry it, was covered with silk.
"What's this?"
"This is a 'holy relic' given to the most outstanding candidates."
"A holy relic?"
"A holy relic?!"
A murmur spread among the successful candidates.
Even the top candidates were surprised.
To give holy relics to newly admitted members?
Holy relics refer to objects imbued with holy power.
From the brass stars given to each theocracy member, to the brass star necklaces given to priests, to holy books, and even weapons once used by saints and holy figures.
The types of holy relics vary, but they are universally considered precious.
For members of Eclipse, a militant organization, the importance of holy relics is even more significant.
"How enviable..."
"To start with holy relics, how lucky they are!"
"You can't even buy holy relics in the black market..."
All eyes were on the top candidates, who stood before the massive chest, receiving all the envy of their peers.
When the silk covering was lifted, astonished gasps filled the room.
"Are these all...?"
"Are these really holy relics?"
"My goodness! They're really holy relics! I can feel their energy!"
"Are they really giving these precious items without conditions?"
Inside the chest were dozens of holy relics, neatly arranged and secured.
Swords, spears, shields, whips, axes... and specially processed brass star necklaces, and boots that made walking feel light, as if stepping on a breeze.
These were the miraculous products only possible to create in the blessed, divine land of the Solar Theocracy.
Seeing the members of the theocracy in awe of the relics, the priests smiled with satisfaction.
Even though they were devoted to the theocracy, it was impossible for them to completely dismiss worldly desires.
Just showing these relics was enough to motivate.
The true purpose of the ceremony was to inspire others to one day aspire to hold such relics as well.
"Of course, there is also significant support for the excellent candidates."
"Now, it's time for selection.
First, Brother Ray Anderson, the top candidate, will choose."
"Ugh..."
Aaron, who had been the first to step forward, hid his frustration as Ray approached to choose his holy relic.
He had already decided what he would take from the ceremony.
If Ray knew and chose the same item, Aaron would be thoroughly defeated.
'Please don't choose the sword. Don't choose the sword.'
The Holy Sword Ashrad.
The replica of the legendary sword used by Saint Jonathan to slay a dragon.
It was a masterpiece created by the Solar Theocracy using the latest technology, a reimagining of the original.
Although it wasn't quite the same as the original, even armed priests could not easily obtain such a sword.
Among all the holy relics being offered, it was an item of a completely different tier.
Aaron silently hoped that Ray wouldn't recognize its value.
"Hmm... All of these are excellent items."
"Have you made up your mind? Brother Ray."
At the Archbishop's question, Ray answered without hesitation.
"Yes, there is only one holy relic I wish to choose."
Ray's finger slowly rose.
All eyes turned to the finger of the top candidate.
"Hmm?"
"Wait, where is he pointing?"
A moment of confusion followed.
Ray smiled confidently.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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