Chapter 446: Waiting

Ryan looked towards the crowd, and it turned out that the person who had been watching him was among them. This person's gaze was the most intense in the entire crowd. Ryan was very familiar with this kind of gaze; it was the look that only devout believers had.

What surprised him was that this person seemed to hold quite an important position, playing a significant role in this incident. 

At the same time, Hubble sensed the gaze of the young bishop in front of him and felt somewhat intimidated. Nevertheless, he silently took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Archbishop Ryan, this is Scholar Hubble, considered the most intelligent person in our Norwegian kingdom. His expertise spans geology, biology, and more. He was the first to hypothesize the presence of the giant monster..." Secretary-General Larook introduced.

Ryan finally understood why this person was brought up. He hadn't expected that a brilliant scientist would also be a devout believer. This reminded him of some archives. 

In the past, the church had also played an important role in advancing scientific development. It had provided financial assistance to many impoverished scientists. There was once a popular saying: "The end of science is theology." 

However, in this parallel world, scientists seemed unable to explain the extraordinary powers of the church. They couldn't explain or understand it, which indirectly proved the existence of God.

"Hmm." 

Various thoughts flashed through Ryan's mind as he looked at the somewhat nervous Hubble and said gently, "Hello, Scholar Hubble. Thank you for your help."

Hubble let out a quiet breath and nodded seriously, having prepared his notes in advance.

......

That afternoon, a series of evacuation operations began in the small towns throughout the Sognefjord. Both locals and tourists were involved. However, the large number of people made the Norwegian kingdom feel significant pressure. 

Even though there were only tens of thousands of people, organizing an orderly evacuation for such a large number was a challenging task. Norway had no experience with such large-scale evacuations. It had been hundreds of years since the country had undertaken such an effort. Fortunately, Ryan also enlisted the help of local clergy. 

As a joke, the local clergy had more influence over the residents than the Norwegian officials. Under their guidance, the initial confusion caused by unfamiliarity gradually subsided.

In addition to Ryan's efforts, the Norwegian diocese also contributed, borrowing more transportation tools like planes and yachts from neighboring countries.

At the port of Mirta town, a voice of complaint rose from the long queue.

"Didn't expect to encounter something like this on a rare trip out."

"Is there a terrorist attack in this place?" Chang Jinhua of the Chinese trio looked at Li Yuxuan behind her.

"Yuxuan, what do you think these terrorists' motives are? What are they after?"

This question made Fang Ling, another member of the trio, glance around. 

The whole town of Mirta, besides tourists like them, also had locals in line. This indicated that not only tourists but also locals were being evacuated. Moreover, the numerous soldiers around the port and on the ships made her uneasy. 

Overall, it didn't seem like a simple terrorist attack because this town had no factors that terrorists would target. Even if they aimed at tourists, Norway was not the best choice as such a peaceful country wouldn't attract much attention.

"So it probably isn't just a terrorist attack," Li Yuxuan said quietly in Mandarin.

"Even if it were a terrorist attack, it wouldn't warrant such a massive response. Look at the ships ahead."

Chang Jinhua and Fang Ling looked in the direction Li Yuxuan indicated.

"What do you see?" Chang Jinhua asked, confused.

Li Yuxuan felt speechless at her friend's obliviousness.

"Look at the flags on the ships."

She pointed out, "Ships from Finland, Sweden, and Denmark are here."

Chang Jinhua's eyes brightened upon noticing this: "Oh, you're right!"

"So I think it's something bigger than a terrorist attack," Li Yuxuan explained.

"Considering the previous commotion, I initially thought it was a natural disaster, but the surrounding situation disproved my guess, so I'm not sure what's happening."

Li Yuxuan turned to look in a certain direction.

"What's up?"

Chang Jinhua and Fang Ling quickly followed her gaze, eyes widening.

They saw trucks carrying warheads on distant roads, the sight of such heavy weaponry and the atmosphere of warfare alarmed everyone who noticed.

......

A helicopter carried Ryan and a yawning Alessa to a predetermined location. This wasn't something Irene and John could assist with. 

A battle between deities could devastate ordinary people just by the aftermath. Ultimately, Irene and John were still too weak. The King of Monsters, capable of fighting angels, wasn't an ordinary monster or wraith.

Recalling his first battle with the angel Dominic in the world of corruption, Ryan shook his head. Back then, Dominic's mere avatar caused apocalyptic destruction. The real body of the King of Monsters would be even more terrifying.

It hadn't appeared yet, likely still recovering its strength or hiding. The King of Monsters might think that Saint Olaf II Haraldson was still alive and would want to restore its strength to seek revenge.

Ryan didn't know where it was hiding. In Norse mythology, giants were formidable, unpredictable, and associated with a race of giants. Giants had another name: mountain trolls. They could use anything made of stone and were said to wield stone clubs and even transform into mountains.

Looking at the dark mountains below, Ryan thought this might explain why the King of Monsters hadn't been found. A creature that could become a mountain would be impossible to find.

So, Bishop Georgy gave him Saint Olaf's relic to lure the King of Monsters out to an uninhabited area.

"What does a mountain troll look like?" Ryan wondered.

As he imagined a giant made of layers of stone, a noise caught his attention.

"Archbishop Ryan, we're about to arrive!"

Ryan noticed the helicopter slowing down, preparing to land on a flat area below, with a few tents set up and several people waiting. He mainly focused on the warheads around the tents, roughly two hundred of them.

Ryan glanced at the surroundings, devoid of roads, making it impossible for vehicles to reach here.

"Norway worked hard," Ryan smiled, nudging the dozing Alessa.

"We're here, Alessa."

Alessa woke up, looking around curiously, clearly just pretending to sleep.

"Uncle Ryan, is this our battleground?" Alessa asked.

"Yes," Ryan replied gently.

"If things get too intense, draw the King of Monsters into your world, Alessa. We can't let it affect the climate and terrain here, as this will be my territory."

"Got it!" Alessa responded.

Ryan squinted, watching the helicopter land. A few weary-looking people approached, showing the effort they put into transporting the weapons.

"Archbishop Ryan!"

Ryan, carrying the seemingly delicate Alessa, nodded at them.

"Are all the supplies here?"

One soldier stepped forward: "Yes, Archbishop Ryan, they are all here."

Ryan acknowledged Norway's effort. Two hundred warheads were their maximum capacity, with others too far to retrieve quickly. Now it was a race against time before the King of Monsters fully recovered.

"Very good. You can take the helicopter back now," Ryan said nonchalantly.

The soldiers, following orders, would evacuate within a two hundred-mile radius.

"Yes, Archbishop Ryan!"

The soldiers saluted and boarded the helicopter, demonstrating their military discipline.

Taking Alessa farther, Ryan watched the helicopter leave.

"Let's go, Alessa."

"Okay."

Entering the largest tent, equipped with beds and tables, Ryan took out a luxuriously decorated box from his backpack. With a swipe of his hand, the layers of seals and his protective enchantment were lifted.

In an instant, the box radiated an intense light, brighter than the surrounding lamps.

In the silent helicopter, a voice spoke.

"Look."

Everyone, including the pilot, saw the expanding sphere of light, like a giant, non-blinding lamp.

"Uncle Ryan," Alessa said, feeling the sacred aura, "Will this lure the King of Monsters?"

Ryan nodded, catching a non-existent feather in the light.

"If it seeks its enemy, it will come."

At that moment, a distant thunderous noise echoed through a dark valley, causing rocks to tumble. Norway had already given up the search, so no one noticed the commotion.

......

At dawn, Ryan stood on a mountain peak, facing the abyss below. The wind that could blow an ordinary person into the abyss turned into a gentle breeze around him. He took out his vibrating phone.

"Hello?"

A voice replied, "Archbishop Ryan, the area within two hundred miles is now completely evacuated."

Ryan watched a small figure soaring in the wind and said gently, "I understand."

After hanging up, Ryan put away his phone and summoned a giant axe, dark gold and radiant, with an edge that seemed capable of cutting through anything.

It was his weapon, the Divine Judgment Axe—Olaf's Wrath.

"Go, show your power," Ryan said, tapping it.

"Draw out the King of Monsters!"

With a swoosh, the axe ascended, radiating a fierce aura that rippled through the air.

Ryan watched it, murmuring, "Now we wait for you, legendary King of Monsters."

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