Second-tier Tishili, they are the military aristocracy and administrative nobility of Divpo City, managing the city's daily operations, hunting, warring, exploring, and maintaining order. Equally, they are the people favored by the Triad God, possessing relatively fair skin but lacking Crystal Pearls. Intermarriage is possible between the Chief Gate and the Tishili.
The third tier is the Sheren, belonging to the ordinary Divpo people—farrs, hunters, rchants, craftsn. They have grey skin and are the second most populous.
The fourth tier is the Roto, the lowest in Divpo City. Born with dark skin, which is the mark of a sinner, they might be considered not human. Engaged in all heavy and dangerous labor, they have no rights. Roto need to willingly endure tornt and pain to atone, obtaining redemption in the next life. Roto is also the most nurous population in Divpo City.
The Lightkeeper is the profession among Rotowhich is the closest to redemption. Although dangerous, countless Roto still hope to gain such an opportunity because even in death, the Triad God offers them a chance for reincarnation. When sin is cleansed, they can beco Sheren, the only path.
Batty doesn't know how he beca so lucky to have been given the opportunity to beco a Lightkeeper among the many Roto. He is extrely grateful, as it is a ray of redemption in his humble, lowly life. Because of his selection, his sister will also be changed to a better living environnt, with the chance to beco an excellent servant.
In Divpo City, only strong male Roto have the chance to beco Lightkeepers, while female Roto with delicate skin and beautiful appearance have the opportunity to beco servants to serve the nobles. It shows that they have already redeed part of their sins in their past lives and so retain so excellence. In this life, if they strive, they can most likely be liberated in the next.
Only Roto between ages 12 to 18 have the chance to beco Lightkeepers. Too young ans unable to withstand the harsh outside environnt; too old, unable to resist the invasion of Abyssal whispers. Tishili would select those physically strong from a young age for brutal training to beco Lightkeepers and Servant Soldiers.
Servant Soldiers are a lower-ranking troop mainly used for deep fog exploration, blocking the invasion of Abyssal Creatures as vanguards. They belong to Lightkeeper reserves or those eliminated from Lightkeeper selection.
All present Roto are physically strong with faintly robust Spiritual Abilities, each having a bald head. As a reincarnation of sin, they are shaved of all hair from birth.
Facing Abyssal invasion, only the steadfast and pure Roto can guard their souls. Once an evil thought arises, serpentine hair erupts atop their head, biting the host, fiercely attacking surroundings, and possessing infectiousness.
Batty and his sister Aisha are orphans, depending on each other for survival, which is already luckier than most Roto. His skin isn't particularly dark, and Aisha's is even better, indicating their sins aren't very heavy or perhaps so redemption was achieved in the reincarnation of past lives. With continued effort, he will soon beco an innocent person.
"As a Lightkeeper, only a clear death allows the accumulation of rits. Once fallen or insane, it only adds to the sin. Your opportunity is hard-won; you must rember this, keep your soul pure, and do not weigh the sins further!"
Over three hundred Roto, about 16 years old, are gathered in the Great Hall. All Roto respectfully and sowhat excitedly prostrate themselves on the ground, striving to curl their bodies so that their filthy bodies do not contaminate the sacred Divine Hall. This is their first and only chance to enter the Divine Hall in life.
Before them is a Chief Gate, a true Chief Gate. Even a glance would make them feel ashad—a noble Priest, with a glossy sheen representing sanctity, living salvation, and hope.
Around the Chief Gate are the Tishili nobles. The Priest spoke and then left. Next, the "baptism" is conducted under Tishili charge. Being chosen as a Lightkeeper doesn't guarantee eligibility; baptism is necessary. It is said that many heavily sinful people face baptism and die directly.
Batch after batch follow the Tishili into the back hall, occasionally hearing cries, which only make other Roto sneer. This is undoubtedly an extrely cowardly act, and no one thinks they cannot endure through it; rather, they believe those crying are unworthy.
Batty is among them, slowly following at the end of the line, daring only to touch the ground with his toes. His filthy body must not desecrate the Great Hall. All others act similarly, not knowing how long it took, it finally was his turn.
Batty entered into a dimly lit room. At the front of the room is an altar, on which sits a black box. From the box co faint sounds, as if sothing is inside. The room carries a scent of blood; the ground seemingly wiped clean.
As a Roto aspiring to be a Lightkeeper, Batty has undergone various combat training since childhood. They need to face Abyssal Creatures' attacks, guard the lighthouse; death is salvation. If they complete the Lightkeeper tasks, they can find redemption alive and beco Sheren—difficult, but so Roto have achieved it. It is also the unspoken desire of each Roto.
Several people in grey robes quietly observe Batty. Batty respectfully lowers his head; he is fearless of anything he faces.
"Is it him?"
"Yes, he is the most gifted among this batch of Roto."
"Appearance is quite decent; let him try. Hope it works."
Under instruction, Batty stands at the altar center. It is said that the baptism involves placing a sin object inside the body, purifying the sin object by will, completing atonent. That supposed sin object must be in the cauldron.
But a Tishili appeared with a black Long Saber, "As this year's reserve Lightkeeper, your scores are in the top ten, so you receive a special opportunity. Draw it."
Batty gripped the Long Saber; at first touch, he felt a blood-kin connection, even feeling a heartbeat, entirely different from weapons used in usual training. Imdiately, overwhelming killing intent assailed him; countless bloody scents seed to engulf him. Instantly, Batty's pupils turned blood red, his muscles swelled. He tightly controlled his emotions, gritting his teeth, as the Long Saber felt like it would burst his body, yet he did not relent, not even making a sound.
The grey-robed people nodded in approval. Ordinary training allowed mastery of Red Eye proficiently—such talent is rare. Furthermore, his resilience is considerable, and it appears the Sheren responsible for training had not exaggerated.
Yet this isn't enough—the Divine Relic has entered a chaotic self-destructive phase, exceedingly harmful to the host. Their upper managent held a trial-and-error attitude toward this.
Batty fought the saber for a long ti, his body starting to crack, blood splattering. The grey-robed people rely watched as if inspecting rchandise—if success, great, failure doesn't matter. When the Divine Relic enters the disordered phase, its collapse nears. Even forced maintenance only delays the process. Trying with Roto is better than nothing.
Batty felt boundless killing intent. Amid endless darkness, he seed to see a giant demon with serpentine hair wielding an opening Black Saber, back turned to him. One look could make him explode, yet Batty's grip remained firm and tight—physical pain could not conquer his steadfast soul. He wants to live, completing redemption, allowing himself and his sister a normal life.
Long-term training gave him muscle mory; relentless effort made his Spiritual Ability incomparably solid and pure. After a frantic depletion, a constant flow of Spiritual Ability erged; decline was not notable, even sowhat competitive. At this mont, Batty stood bloodied but unmoved, silently stable.
Finally, the saber's vibrations weakened, gradually settled. As the floor's Rune Array lit up, the Long Saber seem as if it lted into Batty's body.
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