Chapter 439: The Divine War and the Relic, Olaf's Wrath

Despite the famous ancient scenic highway and numerous landscapes, the actual scale of Mirta town is quite small, with the larger areas being expanded scenic regions.

Escorted by local clergy, York walked among them as if he were walking through vast, white snow, surrounded by high mountains, akin to wandering through a snow-covered small town.

"Bishop York, because the magic array automatically shields the existence of the church, separating it from ordinary people, we usually take this path," explained one of the clergy.

York looked up and saw the huge magic array that enveloped the entire sky, nodding for Father Bonhard to continue leading the way.

Eventually, under the local guidance of Father Bonhard, they ventured along a winding path next to the town, flanked by snow-covered forests. As the view expanded over a broad valley, York saw Borgon Wood Church.

"Bishop York, this is Borgon Wood Church," whispered Father Bonhard at his side.

"This church is quite unique," commented Hannah in the group.

"It's all made of wood, the first time I've seen such."

Father Bonhard glanced at Hannah, unsure of her relationship with Bishop York, as she casually addressed him as father.

But seeing that Bishop York showed no reaction but instead nodded in agreement with the lady's remarks, Father Bonhard refrained from commenting further, merely continuing, "Bishop York, Borgon Wood Church is mainly composed of wooden structures, so it is entirely made of vertical wooden boards or wooden columns. The four corner columns are connected to the threshold. The entire church is based on a single stone, with the rest of the wooden columns emerging from the ground forming windowsills, avoiding cuts and grooving along the sides to lock them into a plane, thus forming a solid wall..."

Listening to Father Bonhard's description, York lifted the restrictions on his 3D diagram, taking in the surroundings unobstructed.

Outside Borgon Wood Church, the ground was covered with one grave marker after another, only bearing names without deeds, looking remarkably striking under the blanket of snow.

Yet, York felt a sense of ancient conflict and war from these dense grave markers, as if he were witnessing that period of history.

"Are these all colleagues who fell in that divine war?" York turned to ask Father Bonhard.

According to the records from headquarters, summarized in a passage, Saint Olaf II Haraldson, in his mission to spread the church's faith to every corner of Scandinavia to replace the long-standing mythological beliefs, began an aggressive expansion of his territory as king of Norway. Leading his brave army and many followers, including clergy and knights, he embarked on a divine war, conquering far and wide with remarkable courage and wisdom. He skillfully defeated the armies of Norse mythological believers time and again.

Finally, in a decisive battle of the divine war, he personally led everyone to break through the defenders' lines, capturing and slaying their gods one by one.

On that day, all gods of Norse mythology wailed in pain, shedding divine blood and falling continuously, turning the sky red.

With the capture and fall of these gods and the defeat of the Norse mythological believers, along with Saint Olaf II's deliberate suppression, the mythological faith gradually came to an end.

During this time, Saint Olaf II seized the opportunity to vigorously promote the church, converting more people to the faith, gradually turning Scandinavia into church territory...

York did not know if such a person existed in his past life, but he knew that in this parallel world, there truly was such a person, Saint Olaf II Haraldson.

The records were simple, but York could feel the bloodiness of that era from them, seeing the wars of that time with just a glance.

This parallel world possessed extraordinary powers and beings, including gods.

Without mentioning others, Arethusa was a living example. Had it not been for her frequent talks about the Native American situation, he might have almost forgotten that Arethusa also had an identity as a deity worshipped by the ancient Native Americans.

In that era, in Scandinavia, the Norse mythological faith was actually much stronger than the church, composed of various Norse myths.

Just like the fairy tales heard on the train, they were also part of Norse mythology.

In that era, many deities like Arethusa inhabited the lands of Scandinavia.

But eventually, they were all slain by Saint Olaf II Haraldson himself, employing a policy of complete eradication.

Thus, the church gained its current scale in this vast land.

Father Bonhard fell silent for a moment, nodding respectfully, "Yes, Bishop York."

Hearing this, York sighed inwardly, unsure what to feel.

"Let's go, I want to see the relic of Saint Olaf II Haraldson, the divine axe of the church, Wrath of Olaf."

Father Bonhard nodded slightly, respectfully affirming and leading the way.

The group walked along the path surrounded by grave markers, finally reaching Borgon Wood Church.

As the church loomed close, due to the atmosphere, Erin and the others realized just how large Borgon Wood Church truly was.

For York, this was no surprise; after all, the records mentioned Saint Olaf II Haraldson's towering stature of over three meters, necessitating a church built from giant trees he personally felled to accommodate his size.

Indeed, this place was a battleground of the divine war, according to records, the 204 kilometers long and 1,308 meters deep Sognefjord was a result of that divine war.

York looked up at the entire Borgon Wood Church, envisioning a figure as imposing as a mountain standing on the earth.

Rugged and resolute, his beard raggedly covering his face, adding a touch of wildness and dominance, his eyes deep and bright, revealing determination and bravery as if he could see through all truths.

He held a massive battle axe, looking skyward with a fierce expression.

"Roar!"

In the next second, a roar echoed, buzzing in York's ears, and the figure was slowly covered by a holy white light, vanishing from sight.

"Uncle York?"

Just then, while everyone was still observing their surroundings, Arethusa suddenly spoke up.

At her words, York blinked, looking down.

Arethusa was tugging at his robe, "What's wrong?"

With her words, everyone turned to look.

York patted Arethusa's head, shaking his head with a smile, "I'm fine."

Just now, he had sensed the essence left by the church from this building.

As to whether this essence was from the legendary divine axe held by Saint Olaf II Haraldson, the Wrath of Olaf, he did not know.

But this holy weapon was not only a symbol of Saint Olaf II but also his weapon, accompanying him through countless victories over evil, maintaining peace and tranquility in the world.

Seeing the puzzled looks from everyone, York looked towards the church layout, calmly stating, "Let's continue."

With that, despite everyone's curiosity, they nodded in agreement.

The group resumed their walk.

Borgon Wood Church comprised a nave, passageways, an altar, and a sacristy, with a protruding central European-style nave divided into four sides.

As they walked through the path, they finally arrived at the front of the church's great hall.

Upon reaching it, Hannah's muttering followed, "Seeing the protruding part, it looks like a cross."

York replied, "It was indeed created as a cross structure."

From the 3D diagram, York had already noted this; if described with a flat map, a cross structure would emerge, with the nave at the center and the four protruding sides forming a standard cross.

Father Bonhard nodded slightly, "Bishop York, you are correct. Saint Olaf II Harald indeed created this temporary church in the form of a cross, as recorded in the documents."

"Mm," nodded York, looking ahead.

The main door was in the middle of the church, and through the 3D diagram, he knew it led to the altar and sacristy.

"Continue."

Father Bonhard nodded and led the way.

Once again, they walked in the great hall.

In the center of this platform, entering through this door led directly to the great hall, and finally to the altar and its sacristy.

The great hall was unremarkable, even devoid of decorations, but it had an atmosphere that unconsciously calmed visitors, to the point where their footsteps became faint, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility.

Finally, passing through the great hall under the watchful eyes of the stationed knights, the group arrived at the central altar. The altar was just like any ordinary cathedral, only much more austere than any other church.

There were no modern amenities or decorations, even the windows were simply hollowed out of wood.

If it weren't for the rows of benches, if it weren't for the high platform in the depths, one might think they had entered a mere ordinary wooden hut.

As for the protruding sides outside, they merely expanded the ground space.

This left those who had been hopeful, like Hannah, Erin, Hili, and John Wick, unconsciously showing a hint of disappointment.

Because this legendary church created by the church's saint was just too plain, utterly unremarkable, the only noteworthy aspect was its calming atmosphere, indeed more impactful than other churches.

As for Arethusa, with an innocent expression, she didn't care what it looked like or anything else; she just occasionally looked at her Uncle York.

She truly had no interest.

And York was even less interested, though he seriously observed and sensed for a moment, then slightly shook his head internally; he was sure that the source affecting him was not here, but from the sacristy inside.

"Bishop York?" Father

 Bonhard glanced at the people around this bishop, whispering.

York understood his meaning, instructing Erin, Hili, John Wick, Hannah, and Arethusa, "Wait here for me."

The location of the church's holy relic was indeed not something everyone was qualified to enter; only he was York. Otherwise, even ordinary bishops would not have the right to see it, some qualified bishops even had to apply to the Norwegian diocese, requesting permission, not just merely saying they wanted to see it and the Norwegian diocese arranging it immediately.

After all, Saint Olaf II Harald was born and created in the Norwegian diocese, so his weapon, the divine axe Wrath of Olaf, naturally belonged to the Norwegian diocese.

However, thinking of this, York remembered Bishop Georg's arrangement, his eyebrows slightly raised.

If the Norwegian diocese were transferred to his name, would he have the right to use this legendary holy weapon, the divine axe Wrath of Olaf?

Before he could think further, Erin and the others interrupted him with their response, "Yes!"

York snapped back to reality, looking at them, ignoring Father Bonhard's hesitant expression, and smiled, "If you get bored, you can also go out and look around, just don't touch the magic array outside."

Aside from Erin, John Wick, and Arethusa, only Hannah and Hili's eyes lit up.

One out of boredom, one with a scholarly attitude.

York shook his head, looking at Father Bonhard calmly, "Let's go, don't worry about them, they know what they're doing."

With that, even if Father Bonhard had any objections, he could only bow slightly, lower his head in affirmation, and continue his role as the leader.

Under everyone's gaze, York continued following Father Bonhard towards the sacristy at the back, the vertical part of the cross.

But in reality, York already knew what the sacristy looked like through his 3D diagram.

The entire floor had been hollowed out, forming a staircase leading downward.

Walking down about twenty meters, a massive stone door appeared, flanked by six knights who looked strong and vigorous in holy power.

However, compared to the earlier knights, there was one here he recognized, a captain in status.

He hadn't expected to encounter him here, serving as a doorkeeper, a role typically reserved for those guarding holy relics, not something ordinary people could undertake.

The expansion of the 3D diagram stopped here, no further, because the stone door had its own layering magic array, and some other powers, preventing his 3D diagram from probing further.

Of course, York felt he could forcibly probe, but that would inevitably trigger some kind of chain reaction, so he also stopped, meaning he didn't know what was beyond the stone door.

When everything extended just like the 3D diagram, York had already followed Father Bonhard to the front of the stone door.

Under York's gaze, the six knights guarding the stone door bowed slightly, greeting, "Bishop York, Father Bonhard."

York nodded in acknowledgment, looking at the knight on the right rear middle whose heart rate barely fluctuated, maintaining a certain stage, and smiled slightly, "Long time no see, Brother Hashem."

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