Chapter 141: The Gemini Cloth and the Sanctuary of the Apocalypse Knights

The Inquisition was severely understaffed. While Link was recruiting personnel, he also issued a royal decree summoning Uther and the others back from outside. With the Rift disaster in the Crimson Moon Province largely resolved, the expeditionary forces no longer had urgent duties—it was time to bring them home.

However, due to the turmoil in the capital, the central government and the southern three provinces had completely fallen into opposition. Though rebellion had not yet been openly declared, Barnazar's son, Varimasus Starbreaker, had publicly vowed to seek justice from Sylvanas, questioning her legitimacy as queen and calling on the lords to rise against her. Indeed, some were already growing restless.

Count Losa was one of the few lords still willing to serve Sylvanas faithfully. Link did not complicate matters by bringing up Losa’s past conflicts with the queen. Thus, when the kingdom faced upheaval, the Bast family would undoubtedly serve Sylvanas loyally. Should any province nearby rebel, they would be the first to quell it.

In this situation, even after fully resolving the Rift disaster, the Bast family could not rest easy, and the Crimson Moon Province was bound to erupt into chaos. In fact, it was precisely because of the capital’s turmoil that many within the Crimson Moon Province began to stir. The attack on the Father God Church’s branch cathedral was almost certainly orchestrated by those seizing the opportunity while the lords were distracted.

The entire Star Kingdom now resembled a powder keg on a furnace, ready to explode at any moment. It would not be surprising if some fool rose up shouting rebellion. The kingdom’s affairs had become extraordinarily complex after a series of chaotic events, with intertwined interests of various factions greatly weakening central authority. Even Sylvanas, with her unparalleled grace and vast resources, would require considerable time to suppress the internal strife.

Furthermore, this was without considering foreign powers. If other nations intervened, the situation would become even more difficult. Yet, the Rift disaster had not afflicted only the Star Kingdom; other countries were also suffering. Even those wishing to invade the Star Kingdom would have to consider whether their own lands might fall into chaos first.

Unnoticed, several days passed until December 10 arrived—the annual Winter Veil Festival.

Winter Veil was the most important of the kingdom’s four seasonal festivals, akin to the Spring Festival in the Celestial Empire—a day of nationwide celebration. However, due to the prevailing disasters, most regions lacked festive spirit. Even those who wished to celebrate did so only perfunctorily.

As a city still under reconstruction, Divine Grace City naturally had little festive atmosphere, though it observed a modest celebration. The Father God Church, consumed by hatred over the branch cathedral attack, spent every day hunting monstrous beasts and honing their powers, leaving no room for festivity.

Link himself felt little about the festival. What he desired most was the opportunity to participate in the seasonal lottery, eagerly anticipating the chance to win something extraordinary on this great day.

As the clock struck midnight, the system’s voice rang out.

“Ding! The annual Winter Veil Festival has arrived. The host has been granted one routine lottery chance.”

“Excellent. Let’s begin…” Link prepared to draw when the system’s voice sounded again.

“Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the achievement: Inquisition Established. You have founded the Inquisition of the Father God Church. For the glory of the divine, all heresy shall be judged. You have earned a lottery reward enhancement. Detected a scheduled lottery opportunity in five days. Do you wish to merge the festival lottery, the scheduled lottery, and the achievement reward? Merging will grant two advanced lottery chances.”

“Two advanced lotteries? Hell, no need to think twice!” Link was thrilled and immediately confirmed the merge, eagerly selecting the lottery draw.

Seconds later, the first advanced lottery was used, and a dazzling golden piece of equipment appeared before him: the Gemini Gold Cloth. Its design resembled a large chess piece—a two-faced, four-armed figure like conjoined twins, exuding neither deformity nor strangeness but instead radiating majesty and beauty.

This armor undoubtedly belonged to Saga. Link worried whether the Gemini Cloth might carry the same curse as in the original legend, where its wearer developed a split personality. However, after reviewing the armor’s pinnacle data, he was reassured; the system’s Saint Cloths bore no such risks. They only enhanced the wearer’s strength.

The Gemini Cloth was more proud than the Virgo Cloth. To don it required unshakable faith and mastery of the Seventh Sense—a cosmic energy. Reports from the front indicated that Saga was only in the late Sixth Sense stage, his overall strength barely reaching mid-Sixth Order. The Seventh Sense was still far off. Even if the armor were given to him, he would not be able to wield it anytime soon.

“Such a pity. Looks like seeing Saga become a Gold Saint will take some time. The barrier between Sixth and Seventh Sense is no small hurdle,” Link lamented, carefully storing away the Gemini Cloth before proceeding to the second advanced lottery.

This time, the reward was a building. Unlike previous ones symbolizing light, hope, or vitality, this represented destruction and disaster—the architectural stone of the Apocalypse Knights’ Hall.

The Apocalypse Knights’ Hall cultivated knights embodying the end times. All who became Apocalypse Knights strove toward the four great titles representing War, Pestilence, Famine, and Death. Ultimately, four would be chosen to inherit these titles, becoming the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Link knew of the Four Horsemen—they were the harbingers of the end times from the Christian Bible, signaling the world’s final judgment.

Though the Apocalypse Knights here were not as terrifying, they were certainly close. Any knight inheriting one of the four titles would possess strength at least in the late Ninth Order, with chances of surpassing it. These knights owed absolute loyalty to Link, willing to do anything he commanded. They were embodiments of darkness, destruction, and death’s toll. The Four Horsemen especially symbolized doom—wherever the oracles pointed, they brought the call of apocalypse.

The Apocalypse Knights’ Hall was tailor-made for the Inquisition, and it would solve the problem of uneven training within the Judgment Legion.

Though the legion had been formed, its lack of an effective training method meant it would take a long time to become an effective force. Most frontline units had no interest in a legion requiring the erasure of conscience, forcing Darian to start from scratch.

With the Apocalypse Knights’ Hall, the problem was instantly solved. Although the training standards for Apocalypse Knights were high, those who passed would immediately become pillars of the Judgment Legion, significantly shortening the time to build the force. Their power was considerable—they wielded dark forces, capable of attack, defense, and healing skills. Though their power conflicted with that of the Paladins, they did not need to cooperate with them. They formed a self-sufficient army fully capable of fulfilling the legion’s demands.

Most importantly, passing the Apocalypse Knights’ Hall’s trials signified a fearless heart. These knights did not care about standing in darkness or failing to become heroes of light. Their sole concern was faith—a fanatic among fanatics.

This perfectly matched Link’s original intent. Members of the Judgment Legion had to be absolute zealots, incapable of questioning orders. Otherwise, how could they commit acts that required wiping away conscience? The merciful could never become competent inquisitors.

“Good. We’ll simply use the Apocalypse Knights’ Hall as the standard for selecting Judgment Legion soldiers. Otherwise, if people join with enthusiasm but hesitate to act when the time comes, they’ll only bring harm to themselves and others,” Link thought.

At that moment, he led over three hundred people to the other end of the forest behind the monastery, a remote area surrounded by mountains—easy to defend and hard to assault, secluded and rarely visited, perfect for a fortress.

Looking at the gathered crowd, Link adopted an impassioned, solemn tone, expressionless, and said, “Children, just last night, the Father God granted me a new revelation. The great deity told me that the founding of the Inquisition is inevitable. But to become a qualified soldier of the Judgment Legion, one must pass the trials bestowed by Him. Only those who pass will become worthy soldiers and receive the Father God’s blessing—gaining the powerful strength He grants, much like the noble Paladins!”

The over three hundred listeners were shocked. Darian, at the forefront, asked, “Archbishop, do you mean that the Father God will grant the Judgment Legion a trial hall, just as He bestowed the Paladins with their hall?”

Link nodded, arms outstretched, eyes closed. “I have heard the holy whispers of the Father God. Children, watch closely—the Father God’s miracle descends once more, and this time, the miracle belongs to you!”

As his words fell, Link quietly activated the architectural stone. The Apocalypse Knights’ Hall materialized out of thin air. Unlike the radiant Paladin Hall, this one arrived shrouded in pure darkness—so pure it did not corrupt the heart. Its dark power exceeded any dark matter in the Solaq World, containing no impurities or emotions.

Accompanied by that perfect darkness, the Apocalypse Knights’ Hall descended. It lacked the Paladin Hall’s solemnity and sanctity but radiated unparalleled oppression and dark majesty. The entire hall was like a fortress, as large as a football field—towering, magnificent, austere, and cold—embodying all that the Judgment Legion should represent.

In front of the hall stood four massive pillars, each topped with a masked knight statue inscribed with the words “War,” “Famine,” “Pestilence,” and “Death.” These were the symbols of the Four Horsemen and the ultimate goal of the Apocalypse Knights’ Hall.