Daz heard a set of voices as he approached the cathedral, voices he recognised as Shen Mu's and Lindsey Blanchard's.

"You really shouldn't be here," Mu said. "It's dangerous."

"Mister Shen, I can feel from your tone that you aren't very happy I'm here, correct? I'm sorry, but I can't actually hear you so forgive me if I'm wrong. I... understand the dangers but I wish to help," Lindsey countered to the best of her ability. "Just like Master Sorola here, despite my physical difficulties I am capable."

"It's not the same. He can see and is old enough to know what risking his life means," Mu countered.

'Mu has a point,' Daz thought as he got closer. 'I appreciate her desire to help but what can a deaf and blind person do against someone who can turn things to ash and potentially cancel out system changes? Also, what does she think she can do without at least an Ember? Her esper power can't even be used since she has no bloodline.'

"Daz wishes to protect you children. Putting yourself in danger like this helps no one," Mu claimed with a stern tone. "Wishful thinking like that only ends more lives than it saves."

"... Mister Shen, I too have Embers. I can be of help if things get out of hand. I may be young and lacking in two of the major senses, but I can be of use regardless of my disabilities. However, if you insist on being against my presence then I shall leave," Lindsey said in a positive and hopeful tone. "I don't want to be a burden... I just want to help."

Daz stopped in his tracks. 'What? She has Embers? Since when?'

He quickly rounded the corner and saw Mu smiling and nodding while Master Sorola exhaled in relief.

"I'm glad you understand. Your Embers are not suited for combat and you are an ideal hostage to take given your disabilities. I'll have Skull lead you away," Mu said before he spotted Daz and gave him a polite bow of the head and a short wave. "Hello, Brother."

Lindsey couldn't sense Daz's approach due to his Soundless Steps skill which even nullified the vibrations he made, but she did detect the ripples in the air from his body tearing through it as he walked.

She had recognised the pattern of the air tearing that he made as he moved so she smiled and said, "... High King Daz? Hello. It's very nice to meet you again."

Daz narrowed his eyes. He pulled a smooth wooden plank used for his crafting hobby out of his Industrial item Box. He then used his finger to carve a hand-written letter in it before handing it to Lindsey.

She immediately began reading it and then she fumbled with her words. "Uh, I, um. I never meant to hide it. Of course, I'll be happy to talk with you later, H-High King Daz."

Mu looked at the plank in her hand with interest.

"Mu, evacuate the area with her. Even with Embers, you could still be vulnerable to the priest's ability to turn things into ash. I'll handle this," Daz said coldly. "That goes for you too, Master Sorola. Though I am very happy you showed up to help if things went poorly."

The man in his forties shrugged and walked past Daz after patting him on the shoulder encouragingly.

Mu stayed for a moment and frowned as he turned to look at Daz. "... Permanence?"

Daz nodded. "I just came back. I'll be fine."

"Very well. If things become violent I'll be nearby to help as soon as possible," Mu replied before he moved to Lindsey's side and then picked her up in a princess carry as she held her walking cane.

"T-This is unexpected," Lindsey said as her face inadvertently flushed. "I understand your intent, Mister Shen, but please put me down. M-My legs work perfectly fine."

Mu ignored her as he sprinted away at full speed.

Daz smiled as he shook his head. "It's good to see she's a normal girl too... Still, she gained an Ember? When and how? I hope she explains fully when we talk after this."

He closed his eyes, took a breath then strode into the cathedral confidently, putting the matter of Lindsey behind him.

This was his first time inside of the massive religious structure for quite some time, Daz realised. Many new statues of unfamiliar gods lined the walls, each with their area for worship complemented by a row of pews, an altar and dedicated stained-glass murals.

He assumed these gods represented those of the champions in Taiwan, Korea, the one champion in Oregon and maybe a few others.

At the back of the cathedral could be seen a massive stained-glass masterpiece which Daz's Intelligence told him was exactly 75-squared-metres in size. Quite the large spectacle, he noted.

In its centre could be seen a stylised image of Rimmy's main body with his core body floated overhead, shovel in hand.

On Rimmy's left was a depiction of Pala - a hooded figure in a trenchcoat with his face hidden, and on his right could be seen a Zeus-like figure of Ordine.

'That looks beautiful. I should come here more often. I barely even pray anymore but this... it's kind of inspiring,' Daz thought.

He took an extra moment to properly look at the stained glass mural. 'Pala fits my mental image to a tee but I wonder what the artist was thinking when I told them to include the God of Order somehow as thanks for his Godly Universal Management skill? I never pictured him looking like that.'

"Lovely, isn't it? Religion, that is," a soft voice asked of Daz.

Peering down from the stained-glass to the central pews of the cathedral to the leading pew on the left, Daz spotting a figure peacefully sitting there appreciating the artwork in front of him.

Daz approached cautiously but confidently. Seeing the man choosing to not stand when he got close, Daz also placed himself in a pew - the front right one.

He inspected the priest and noticed he looked to be roughly in his thirties and he wore a pair of rounded glasses on his slightly bent nose - a sign of it being broken in the past.

He wore a long white robe with minimal detailing on it and he had long brown hair, reaching down to his shoulders. The man was relatively handsome but he was no supermodel.

He turned to smile at Daz. "It's nice to finally meet you, High King Daz. I'm Brother Velton, a Priest of Truth."

Daz smiled back. "It is nice, isn't it? This is a coincidence if ever I've seen one."

Brother Velton tilted his head slightly. "A coincidence?"

Daz nodded. "I had just returned from some out-of-kingdom business and I was actually intended on trying to set up a meeting with your leader, Mother Danielle. I just found it funny how on the very same day I considered starting up peace talks with the people of God's True Faith they, instead, came to me."

He leaned back in the pew to show he was relaxed as he asked, "It is God's True Faith, right? Let me know if you'd rather I refer to you as the Church of Truth instead. I've heard both before so forgive me if one is official and the other is not."

Brother Velton looked pleasantly surprised. "Oh, no, please, don't concern yourself with offending me. Truth shields me from all offence. Both are perfectly acceptable, Your Majesty. Truthians is also okay, though calling us cultists is a bit of a sore spot. I'm sure you understand."

"I'm glad," Daz replied, "and of course. I'd be disrespectful to call you that."

"Disrespectful... Disrespectful indeed," Brother Velton said a bit... pointedly.

Daz looked away from the priest to focus on the stained-glass artwork again as he said, "Well, I know you didn't come here for small talk, Brother Velton. I hate to admit this, but I'm a bit of a frank man. Dancing around subjects isn't something I enjoy."

"Oh, I understand entirely," Brother Velton expressed. "I have a few things I'd like to discuss with you first though, Your Majesty. If you'd be so kind as to lend my Lord and I an ear."

Daz motioned with his hand for him to speak and he then said, "Please."

"Thank you. I understand that New Earth is harbouring the remnants of New York City's resistance, yes?" Brother Velton asked.

'I wonder where this is going.' Daz nodded. "Yes, that's right."

Brother Velton smiled benignly. "I'm glad they are safe. Death is an unpleasant thing even if it's required at times. Just to be transparent, the church has no issues with you keeping these survivors under your rule. Just so long as they don't wish to do anything... foolish."

"That's reasonable enough," Daz replied. 'He isn't lying so he's either being honest or he believes he's being honest. Regardless, that's one less thing for me to worry about.'

"I'm glad you're an easy to talk to fellow. Some of the people I've been tasked with meeting have been less than receptive," Brother Velton claimed. "I have three more matters to bring to your attention."

Brother Velton lifted up his right hand and then raised a finger. "First, we of the church know how powerful our Lord's providence is. We recognise this but we are not cruel overlords bending the minds of the shepherdless sheep. You are free to continue expanding your kingdom. In fact, we would not be opposed to joining it, however, only if we are accepted as the primary religion."

'That's... hmm... It's not a bad condition, to be frank,' Daz thought. 'I need to deal with them one way or another if I want to unify the planet. Them falling under me would be perfect. Better than murdering them all, at least. Easier too. The brainwashing claims of Emma's are a concern though.'

He personally didn't care much for religion so he had no issues with that but the possibility of this all being a ploy to mass brainwash his citizens scared him a bit.

He needed more information before committing to anything today. He also wanted to meet Mother Danielle first.

Brother Velton raised his middle finger then said, "Second, we would require a certain number of faithful to be offered to the church as new initiates every month. I know it sounds scary, but we only accept those who are willing to... open their minds."

'Okay, that's one hell of a red flag. I can see it from their perspective but just try and tell me that doesn't sound like a 'give us people to brainwash as tribute so we don't turn you all into piles of ash' threat,' Daz thought coldly.

Finally, the priest raised his forefinger. "Lastly, you need to explain this to us, please."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He got up and approached Daz before passing it to him with a smile. He then returned to his own pew and patiently waited for Daz to inspect the parchment.

Looking at it in confusion, he started reading it mentally before he heard Brother Velton say, "Ah, read it aloud, please."

Daz glanced up at the man briefly before nodded and saying, "... Okay."

'I have a bad feeling about this,' he thought as he focused on the paper again but didn't entirely ignore the priest now that he was a bit on guard. "It says 'I and the leader of the state of New York had entered an alliance of sorts over a month ago. This alliance was to help each other in times of emergency and war. Now is one such time. New York City is nothing more than a ruin; it's people dead or lost. No more than a hundred still remain in the city's core, protected by... a power,'..."

Daz frowned as he stopped reading. 'I recognise this. This is my speech from almost two months ago.'

"I insist you continue, Your Majesty," Brother Velton requested with a kind look on his face.

Daz folded the paper up and shook his head. "No. I know what this is about. You want to question me about my sincerity for peace since I openly declared war on your faith to my people right? I assume you also weren't very fond of how I labelled the Church of Truth as a cult."

Brother Velton's expression fell sour. "That is correct. However, you need not fear. Mother Danielle has a virtuous soul and while the Lord has left your judgement in no one bar her own hands, she had chosen mercy. Hypocrisy is a sin, but as all sins are, it is forgivable. Change is not impossible for the wicked."

"And what does this mercy cost?" Daz asked sceptically. "What change would be demanded of me?"

"Please, do not use that tone with me. I understand that you are used to dealing with lesser people and those with nought but aggression in their blood, but I am not the same, nor is my faith," Brother Velton begged before he said, "All we demand of you is a public renouncement of your words that day and an apology. That is all."

Daz narrowed his eyes in thought. 'I could do that if he's truly telling the truth like he thinks he is. I need more time to confirm how their brainwashing works and, if possible, time to strengthen myself with my Embers and Stars of Eternity. I'd also like to learn the limitations of their ability to turn things to ash... I should accept this offer, even if only for the excuse to buy time.'

Daz got up from his pew and said, "Very well. Give me a few days to discuss things with my closest aides and then I'll contact your church myself to have further discussions."

"Ah, of course. I'm aware that these things take time. Please, know that I and the church are very happy you're so considerate." Brother Velton stood up and bowed his head at Daz. "It was a pleas-"

Just as he was about to say his farewells, a loud scream stopped him.

"You motherfuckers killed my wife and stole my kids! New Earth's people will never accept you murdering, kidnapping cultists!" the man yelled.

Both Daz and Brother Velton looked up only to see a man dropping down from the ceiling of the cathedral with a large fantasy-esqe knife dripping with a viscous green liquid in his hands. His target was clearly Brother Velton.

"I see. So this is the attitude of your people," Brother Velton said sadly as his eyes slowly started to turn purple.

The falling man's blade turned to ash immediately and his hands were next. He began flailing wildly and agony-filled screens echoed throughout the cathedral's main hall.

'Damn it. Fuck. This guy has put me in one hell of a situation,' Daz thought as he made a split-second decision. 'I just learned a lot about their power to turn things to ash and I doubt this attempted assassination will go down well. I can buy time by doing something a bit drastic though.'

He reached into his pocket and tossed out dozens of tiny diamond needles. He then controlled them and sent them flying into Brother Velton's eyes and then straight through his brain, killing him instantly.

The falling New Earthian landed on the corpse of Brother Velton and he continued to make a racket since his hands and wrists had fallen apart and scattered to dust.

Daz looked at him coldly. "Ha-ah... You have a lot of explaining to do. So does Mu for somehow letting you get in here."