The Baptism, a ritual in which to bless someone with the power of the God of Light, someone has to take a bath, be washed by virgin nuns who have known no evil and were literally raised within the church, knowing no one at all besides their fellow untainted nuns.
Yeah it sounded weird a fuck to say the least, but the church had alot of deep secret's and after I learned that priest that had been coveting Artoria, killed himself. Luxanna had told me that it wasn't the four kingdoms that were the strongest force of humanity.
No, it was the Church of Light, and their faith had its own power. A power that came directly from the absent god of light himself. A power that all four of the kingdoms couldn't contend with.
But why did the church not try to take direct power despite its cardinals and popes still being men of ambition? They were bound in their divine mission to eradicate all Grimm from the world. Their measures, including their holy warriors, nuns, inquisitors, and other forces, were bound in divine oaths that restricted their movements.
The Valian, Church of Light's true church, was massive... Even bigger than Beacon, which made sense as there were so many more people in commoners and civilians who were part of the church's operations.
But while Beacon was built atop a massive mountain with several dozen magic towers spaced out across the mountain's faces and such. The church's estate was built just outside of Vale's walls, and the church acted as an extra bulwark against the Grimm.
While also using their presence outside of the walls of Vale to help a massive population of farmers grow the food needed for Vale's survival.
"Hmm, the church here is quite different than Atlas's church, or even Mantle's," Weiss spoke with some thought, and that made me tilt my head to the side, and I asked curiously.
"What's the difference? I imagine Atlas's church area is just flying right?" I asked with some humor at the end.
To which Weiss rolled her eye's but she said calmly. "True in that Atlas's church is flying. It's a massive flying ship itself that's thirty miles long and five miles wide. But no, the building style and tone are different from Mantle's more utilitarian designs."
With Pyrrha then adding on with a hum of thought. "Mistral's central church is also different. It has a more... Temple style look with pillars of gleaming silver marble that radiate holy energy that will make any Grimm or Abomination being smoking. As they are cooked by the light."
'I wonder why they don't have such holy pillars elsewhere... Maybe it takes a lot of constant faith energy or something.' I mused to myself before I saw we were coming down for a landing as our bullhead began flying towards the largest cathedral.
"Are you still too tired, Jake? Will you be able to do this?" Prinz asked a bit concerned as we came in for the landing.
I shrugged before I said sheepishly. "Miss Goodwitch had me working on a project, and I was just dead tired afterwards. I should be fine."
Then, with a soft thud, our Bullhead came down for a landing. Our group of ten in my retainer's plus Pyrrha, Weiss, and Jingliu got up and began filtering out of the Bullhead.
And as we came out of the bullhead, we were greeted by a priest who was wearing an ornate robe while having a large golden staff embossed in gems... Normally I would think it was tacky as fuck.,
But I could feel each gem embedded in his robes, and the staff was filled with energy. Not to mention the priest himself was jacked as fuck with the staff having a holy book that was seemingly cast in metal that when closed would act to make the staff into a giant warhammer.
'He may be on the dual cultivation path as well... Physical might, and magic as well if that metal holy book is also used for magic or faith-based miracles.' I mused.
The priest placed a fist over his heart before giving a light bow in greeting, before he started speaking. "My name is Father Ezekiel, no last name as I gave up all mortal ties in truly giving my life to the God of Light, as you may know."
His eyes fell on Weiss and the rest of the foreigners from Vale, and he spoke again. "Just to clarify, to our fellow believers from outside of Vale. You will also be blessed with the baptism, just as each of your native fellows will be. There will be no distinction between all of you."
"Now, be welcome onto holy grounds. Oh, warriors of the Holy Light! Be blessed by the Light to continue your quest in slaying the darkness!" He spoke in clear prayer while clasping his hands together.
Then he opened his hands and then waved his hands over, and several lesser clergymen surrounded us with him, saying. "Now, please. Follow us, and do not split up. The Baptism is one of the Church's most holy rites and private affairs."
And so we began following Father Ezekiel into the utterly massive cathedral, and I could feel the likewise incredible amount of holy light energy that reminded me of Jeanne's faith-based spells. Or Ruby's silver eyes that ran off of Holy Light.
We were swiftly taken into a large ornate elevator with Father Ezekiel speaking regally but firmly. "Now, I am sure you all have many questions for the Baptism. But let me explain what will happen, and what you must do to receive the God of Light's blessing."
Father Ezekiel took a deep breath before he spoke while giving everyone a deep look as his words made me hold in a frown. "The Baptism is born of having five Abominations burned alive, with their accursed boiling blood filling the holy glyphs of the ritual chamber. In the middle of the ritual chamber will be a pool of holy water where you will be alongside your assigned Holy Maiden."
"When the holy glyphs are filled with the accursed blood of the Abominations. The power infusing the holy symbols will earn the wrath and power of the God of Light, who will purge the glyphs with his power. And in turn, with his power running through the glyph's it will supercharge the holy water as the glyphs are activated."
"While you are in the holy pool, your Holy Maiden will wash you both in body and spirit as she recites holy prayers... During the ritual, the Holy Maiden will act as the focal point for the God of Light's power, and she may very well die during the ritual, as being a conduit to the Holy Light is an enormous strain on the body and soul."
That last bit made me frown a bit, but I saw that everyone except for my shipgirls was nodding in understanding as they likewise seemingly expected this to be the case.
Well, Weiss and Pyrrha seemingly knew this to be exactly the case. But I could see Jeanne was frowning, and she asked in a soft, pious voice.
"Father Ezekiel, as a nun of the church. Is there any way, I can share in the Holy Light's gaze to make it easier for the Holy Maiden?" She asked with her hands clasped together.
Father Ezekiel sighed and said quietly. "No, my child. I apologize, but attempting to split the Holy Light's attention will just make him pour double the power into the holy pool... Killing both the champion and the Holy Maiden for sure. We have tried this and other methods to save lives, but it is for naught."
I took a breath before I asked quietly. "Should the Holy Maiden survive what is to happen with her... Or them in general? What happens to them after the Baptism?"
The father's grey eyes became cold before he spoke softly but firmly. "If their souls still bear identity, they reside in the common nunnery with their sisters as they continue to pray for the God of Light... But if their souls are burned away, then they are dealt with as they are just still living sacks of flesh at best."
'That's pretty Grimdark... Well, it is the church, and they are known for destroying entire towns to drag out an Abomination that's hiding in there.' I thought with a slight frown.
Father Ezekiel then clapped his hands together as the elevator that had taken us down a great way underground dinged as the doors opened again. "Good, now each of you, go down the hall and pick a door between 1 and ten, seeing as that's how many of you there are."
I gave Prinz and New Jersey a look, who nodded as they followed me, and I took the number two door as Prinz and New Jersey took the other doors and the rest of my friends filtered downwards.
Past the door, the ground turned from carpet to polished marble with a small carpet crossing the ground, and as I walked through the small tunnel. I reached the next room, which had the ritual room itself.
The room was... Large to say the least, probably the size and shape of a basketball court. With the back half having the holy water pool that glowed with silvery light, and all around the floor, there were dense grooves in the ground that made up a horrifically complicated magical glyph system.
As I approached the holy pool, I saw that next to the pool was a fairly large cubby in the ground, along with a metal plaque that had instructions upon it. Strip yourself of all belongings. Give unto your naked flesh to the God of Light, and let yourself be cleansed of body and spirit.]
'So... I just strip buck naked and get in?' I mused, and after a moment. I shrugged as what could go wrong... A Holy Maiden sees me naked a couple of minutes earlier than I am supposed to be nude?
I stripped myself completely nude, and I also put away my sword into the cubby hole before I took the plunge and carefully strode into the holy water pool.
And as I strode into the pool, I hissed as the silver glowing holy water roiled and bubbled as it burned my flesh with myself smiling wryly as I knew I wasn't exactly the most faithful person.
Then a female voice spoke over the intercom. "Jake Bariss, the holy water is purging the insuracies and taint from your body and soul. For a hunter who faces the Grimm, they can be shaded in the darkness they slay. What you are feeling is completely normal."
"Alright," I grunted with a grimace as the stinging but thankfully warm holy water came up all the way to my neck at chin at the deepest point of the pool. Making me wonder how Weiss was going to deal with it, with how she was so fun-sized.
"Jake, dunk your head under the holy water when you get ready. Do this several times for the first cleansing, then in five minutes. Your assigned Holy Maiden will join you in the Holy Pool, and she will wash the evil from your body and soul while the ritual begins."
I simply nodded, because I more focused as I could feel the inheritance of Nether Limitless absorbing the extremely rich spiritual energy within the holy water surrounding me.
'This is literally millions of Lien in high-grade holy water... Wouldn't it be funny if I absorbed all the energy in it before the ritual could even begin?' I mused before I cut off the majority of the absorption.
And just allowed the Holy Water to wash over my body before I took a breath and dunked my head under the Holy Water to allow it to fully wash over and cleanse my body.
A soft rumble rang out a few minutes later as the Holy Water did in fact mostly stop burning, as I mostly just floated in the liquid. I looked over to the side, and I blinked at the sight of my Holy Maiden.
Well, for one, she was completely naked and definitely well-formed. But seeing the only cloth she wore was a silk strap that went around her eyes. I knew something else was up as she silently strode into the room from a hidden door that was hidden in the wall.
'She is either blind or well used to being blind. Or she can see just fine through that silk band around her eyes.' I mused before the intercom crackled to life, and that same female voice spoke out.
"The ritual is beginning. Do not bother to speak to the Holy Maiden, she is both mute and deaf so that her holy spirit may not be tainted after hearing evil."
The intercom wasn't joking, as the Holy Light in the pool glowed a bit brighter. Making me wince at the rise in pain, and I watched as the blond Holy Maiden strode purposefully into the bath with her reaching into another cubby hole hidden in the silver pool's walls to pull out a silk cloth... Along with a thin knife of all things.
Then, as the holy maiden held her free hand up to the air, soft whispers filled my ears... Whispers that didn't belong here. Whispers that felt like spiders dancing and tripping over one another within my ears.
I held my head as the whispers became true voices. Like sitting within an overly busy food court and hundreds of conversations washing over your mind in a droning din, you could only make a single word out of a hundred different conversations.
Then the voices became a chorus of mad shouts that made my eyes snap shut, but the shouts became a din that couldn't be made out of with my eyes snapping open as red and black light filled my vision with the silver pool flaring with power as well.
Above the pool of Holy Water was a swirling dome of corruption. Evil incarnate, as the sacrificed Abomination's lifeblood was burned away to gain the God of Light's attention, and as I looked back at the holy maiden.
With the swirling light around me, I could barely make out how she had carved a gleaming rune of power. A glowing silver rune that was a circular sun with strings of light that glowed with holy light, that was carved into the woman's chest by her own hand.
'She is already a conduit... The god of light's power is flowing through her.' I thought as I was firmly reminded of the power of rituals in this world had, despite them not being so common or popular.
I knew she was already a conduit, as the wound she carved upon herself wasn't bleeding red. No, it was bleeding only light itself and silver tears of what was liquid divinity that merged into the pool of holy water.
The Holy Maiden, as though sensing my gaze... Stared back into my own eyes past that silk bandage, and without her stirring the holy water at all, somehow. She swam through the pool until she reached me.
And then with her free hand that she had apparently cut open while I was mentally overwhelmed by the chorus of whispers and voices. She laid a silver bleeding, bloody hand on my chest, and I gasped as I felt the spiritual energy within the pool, and especially in the silver blood on my chest, seep into me.
Automatically, I began operating the Myriad Water Sword Arts, with the energy flowing into myself. 'Houtian, the beginning, the birth of infinite Samsara... With the Jade Body Refining Seal, I am already at a stage of perfect body and energy refinement. I just needed the spark of energy for more!'
My eyes's closed, but with so much energy surrounding me that I was so in touch with it. I could feel the Holy Maiden tilting her head to the side thoughtfully. Then another hand fell on my side before drawing me upwards so that I was floating within the holy water, but also fully submerged.
Then, with the holy water fully surrounding me. I felt even more energy pushing into me, and with a loud crack! The holy water violently roiled as my body popped as I shed part of my humanity's mortal shell as I entered the Xiantian stage.
'The truth of a Xiantian lies in how a baby breathes in the womb. Completely free of impurities, untouched by corruption and mortal filth.
My freshly made dantian filled with the holy light of the God of Light, which seemed to gain more of the god's attention.
And with only my extended senses, I could tell the Holy Maiden's soul and body weren't going to make it with how my obviously very unique body was requiring the God of Light to very minimally actually pay attention to my form.
But still, the God of Light's power, despite being countless times more dense, was incomparably gentle with my body. Somehow... Literally, somehow, only requiring a single rotation of my cultivation method to turn the god's power into my own.
Which in turn allowed me to begin the process of cultivation of the Xiantian realm earnestly, as I began hurriedly, if not violently, opening my acupoints in my body. So that I may absorb the world's passive spiritual energy using the God of Light's divine power to open said acupoints.
As for using my own mana to do this? Opening my acupoints in this way would leave them hurt, crippled, or at best requiring months to heal their violent opening. But with the God of Light's power... There was literally not a single damned issue.
'Fuck... Maybe I should start praying to the God of Light. Getting any more blessings from the god directly is going to be damn near impossible without directly joining the church.' I thought incredulously before I realized I was no longer floating in the holy water anymore.
I released a heavy exhale of turbid air that was filled with hints of mortality. I shuddered with my evolution, and with a start that made me open my eye's I realized I was floating in the air under the power of the God of Light.
My form tilted over so that my feet hit the completely dry ground of the pool, and as I naturally looked towards the Holy Maiden. To see if I could like see the God of Light within her or something.
I froze as I saw her nude form had countless cracks across it that glowed weakly with silver light. Then as I looked up towards her face, an eldritch, too wide smile crossed her face, and the next thing I knew. I was screaming as I writhed on the ground as my eyes burning uncontrollably.
A hand fell on the back of my head, and before I could finally smack the hand away as I opened up my burning eyes. I saw the Holy Maiden's body breaking down into motes of gleaming ashes that fell into the ground in a soft thump.
There was a heavy silence as I just stared at the pile of gray ashes that had gleaming silver streaks running through it. And after a moment, I held up a hand where I conjured up a small mirror.
"Oh... Fuck, Ozpin's gonna force me into a breeding program." I cursed as I fucking saw how my blue eye's had turned into the gleaming, glowing silver eye's that was the vaunted Silver Eye's. Which was the clearest form of approval and blessing that the God of Light could give.
Not to mention how my dirty blond hair, now also had silvery blue streaks in it for some damned reason.
Still, I was rather worried because Vale only had the Rose Family bloodline that had any Silver Eye's and only Atlas had another small line of Silver Eyed Warriors as well.
But on the other end... As an Xiantian lifeform now. I had a lifespan of 300-400 years now! "Ugh... I want to sleep for a week now." I cursed as to say the least. I needed to digest all my gains.
I then dismissed the mirror in my hands before I sighed and looked down at the ashes that had silver streaks running through it. And after a moment, I conjured up a plastic bag that I carefully swept all the ashes into. Before putting the plastic bag into a nicer cloth bag, I could tie it up.
As this was MY Holy Maiden, the church could get fucked if they wanted her ashes. As she had lived a pitiful existence, and even her death was merely a tool to make my life a smoother path... Becoming a cultivator, I knew I needed to be careful of my mindset and the ties of karma I had with others.
As it's not like I had a system or whatever to wipe clean any heart demons or whatever that used the abundant spiritual energy within myself to form into a monster within myself using any accumulated negative emotions to come into being.
"Jake Bariss, please garb yourself. You took the longest out of your companions and... Please get ready when you can, my lord." The female voice in the intercom stuttered.
'Ah hell, they have cameras or something in here. They probably saw my silver eyes.' I thought with a sigh before I got myself dressed easily, as my form was completely dry already.
Then I came out of the ritual room once I was fully dressed. But as I came out, I was fully ready to teleport out of here to Glynda's tower in case I needed to beg the Sages of Beacon to help me get my friends out of the church.
Because, I had a sinking thought, that a male Silver Eye's holder was a eugenic's fucking wet dream, and something even the Church was willing to cause some issues for.
As I came out into the tunnel, I saw in real time as Father Ezekiel's eyes widened at seeing my Silver Eyes, along with my retainer's and friends' conversations dying instantly as they saw my new appearance.
"You have silver eyes!" Weiss literally shouted in surprise before she blushed for some reason.
I brushed a hand through my hair and said a bit sheepishly. "Yeah... I am a bit confused as well." I looked over at Father Ezekiel, and then I said formally. "Father Ezekiel, the Baptism is over now, correct?"
The priest's stunned expression was broken with him coughing into his fist and saying firmly. "Ah, yes, that is correct Jak- I mean my lord. If you all would. We have a small reception to get to now."
I took a breath, and then I said with an easy grin. "Good, I can't wait to call my Master and Mistress Goodwitch. I am sure they would be delighted to attend as well!"
And I saw how the priest's face tightened at my words, making me realize along with his change in address to lord to me specifically, that something indeed was up.
As he didn't even call Weiss, her ladyship or any other form of respectful address, despite her being a Royal.
So as he took a breath, I flexed my aura with a wooden door appearing beside me and after I opened it. We were all welcomed to the sight of my master, the Grandmaster Luxanna Crownsguard sitting beside the princess Ravel Phenex who looked over as my Backdoor formed in front of them.
"Oh Master, and hello, your highness!" I called out so cheerfully with the priest's face going pale as I continued. "Look! The God of Light gave me the Silver Eye's and the church wants to have a ceremony for me. Want to come with!?"
There was a pause with Luxanna's eyes becoming multicolored before she spoke in a soft but heavy voice. "Oh? Even when I had the Baptism, there was no such ceremony. I would be glad to come, and I am sure my own master and Lord Ozpin would be delighted to come as well."
Then I saw the priest literally swallow as Ravel's cold voice spoke more blandly. "Very good Jake Bariss, the Royal Family blesses your line to survive for the next ten millennia, and to celebrate I am sure the Lich Lord will be glad to also join in this... New ceremony."
The priest looked downright... Sick to the stomach, to say the least, and he said quietly. "I... We aren't ready for hosting such august persons so soon. For such a celebration, we will need a few days to ready a hall for such a meeting."
Then Lux said coldly. "That's a shame... A downright shame in fact. All of you come through the door now, I will be hosting a ceremony instead then, Father Ezekiel. YOU are also welcome to join." And there was a pause before Lux smiled. But through her smile.
The following words were nothing but a naked threat to the priest. "If you care to join us for this ceremony, then."
And as the priest was silent, I pulled Weiss and Jingliu through the Backdoor even as the rest of them followed me as they were already more used to my Backdoors... Though I noted Jeanne, being an ardent follower of the God of Light, was looking flustered as she looked at me.
'Is she looking hatefully at where I held Weiss and Jingliu's hands?' I thought with a wry smile as I dismissed the portal as we all passed through it.