Chapter 1539 - 874: Saints Do Not Die

Saints, are immortal.

This has been recorded in the history of the Empire.

Georgette is certainly not the first Living Saint in the history of the Empire.

Or rather, there have been quite a few Saints in the history of the Empire.

The only thing is, the vast majority of ’Saints’ are posthumously canonized. They are generally Popes of the National Church or highly esteemed Red Archbishops, or other very well-known, eminently contributive high-ranking figures in the Empire — often with the hidden requirement of having a very good relationship with the National Church.

There’s not much to say about these, they’re just posthumous honors, mainly for reputation, nothing particularly unusual.

But ’Living Saints’, as the name suggests, are ’Saints’ who are alive. The difficulty level of being canonized as a Saint before death by the National Church is extraordinarily high.

Generally, the National Church wouldn’t do something that would greatly share its religious authority with others. Even canonizing one’s own while alive, even if it’s the Pope, would often face significant resistance.

And what would make the National Church have to do this?

That’s usually when someone with unwavering faith achieves feats that no one can ignore. If the National Church does not confer the title of ’Saint’ upon them, it not only doesn’t affect their authority one bit but could actually diminish the Church’s own authority.

In this sense, the standard is rather subjective. What counts as unwavering faith? What counts as achievements that cannot be ignored? Isn’t that just up to someone’s say?

The National Church naturally prefers not to canonize when possible.

Or, conversely, when it encounters situations particularly in line with its own interests, it will try to canonize as much as possible, even raising those who don’t quite meet the standard.

These situations do exist.

However, there’s only one situation where the National Church is obliged to act — the resurrection of someone with monumental achievements.

Similar cases in the past tens of thousands of years have only occurred with a handful of Battle Nuns. Their life stories varied, usually dying in a desperate battle and then returning resurrected, leading human armies to victory.

Resurrection! This event itself is a huge symbol!

Who can resurrect? It must be that after gloriously dying in battle, they walk past the Golden Throne, earn the Emperor’s permission, and have unfinished business before returning to the mortal realm.

As for Black Magic? Demonic conspiracies? Zombies resurrecting?

Come on, just look at their resurrection scenes and see them wield the Emperor’s Holy Fire; who dares speak of witchcraft?

It is clearly the unblemished blessing of the Emperor!

Of course, the National Church and Tribunal always have suspicions about such supernatural situations, plus they usually prefer not to canonize someone as a Saint, so they inherently conduct the strictest investigations into whether the ’resurrection’ is truly a conspiracy.

Just that might not be enough; there’s also the matter of achievements.

But these resurrected Battle Nuns often return with immense mission-driven force. They not only win the war right after their resurrection, but over a long future, they continue to appear on key battlefields, making pivotal actions and guiding humanity to victory.

Some victories are even won at the cost of their own sacrifice. Yet often, they once again stage the return act.

In short, these key victories, coupled with the scene of resurrection, make them deserving of the title ’Saint’.

Strictly speaking, does Georgette qualify as a Living Saint?

No.

A Saint has to be canonized by the National Church.

But that’s not key. The essence of a Living Saint lies in their power, faith, and achievements.

From this perspective, Georgette still does not qualify as a Living Saint.

She hasn’t proven that she possesses these attributes of a Living Saint.

But why was she immediately recognized as a Living Saint?

That halo behind her head, those pure white Angel wings that emerged from her back, are classic images of Living Saints. Every Living Saint in the past looked like this.

She resembles them, her combat style is similar, and her fellow nun sisters immediately recognized her.

And now, with her resurrection, she has filled in what was lacking.

In such a manner, she makes a glorious reappearance, undoubtedly proving her faith.

Only those acknowledged by the Emperor and with unfinished missions can return.

...

As she opened her eyes, Georgette’s sharp gaze locked onto the Bone Shards below.

White wings soared, the long halberd stirred up overwhelming golden flames and thunder!

The green waagh force field suddenly appeared, isolating the golden flames and thunder, Bone Shards roared in anger, raising his war axe high in a solid clash with the resurrected Saint.

But he must pay the price.

The three chosen champions, over twenty living Battle Group Champions, numerous psychics, constantly in various ways, aimed bullets, psychic spells, blades at him.

But unfortunately, he can no longer handle these attacks as sharply and effectively as before, or exchange wounds for the humans’ death.

It’s all because of the female Angel in front of him.

Resurrected Georgette’s fighting style is even more reckless and fierce than before she ’died’.

With the might of resurrection, her strength and momentum have further strengthened.

But the wounded Bone Shards aren’t as strong as at the beginning.

He can no longer swiftly kill Georgette like he could initially. Even if he could, he still worries whether a nun who can revive once could revive a second time.

Nor can he turn his head, recklessly kill the other three chosen champions; if he does, giving Georgette the kind of opportunity akin to what Youwin encountered earlier, then Georgette would undoubtedly attack without hesitation. Even if it means exchanging her life for his grievous injury, it would be entirely worthwhile, given that Georgette might just return again.

In this confrontation, for the first time, Bone Shards had the thought in his mind, wondering if he could lose.

And this thought, like a curse, upon appearing, spread in his mind.

For someone like him with such waagh green skin, these unwaagh thoughts are more deadly than any poison — his momentum is suppressed, causing his flesh to weaken.

He started to fall into a disadvantage, became more conservative in battle, but ironically, the more he did, the more his wounds appeared faster than before, and his healing slowed.

He is about to lose.

...

"Roar!"

Gu Hang’s ears were pained by the angry roars of the two Green-skinned Gods.

He knew they were extremely angry.

Just like he could observe the battle on the ground, Mr. Mao certainly could as well.

They too could discern that Bone Shards might lose.

Would they willingly accept defeat?

They wouldn’t.

A powerful green-skin force seemed poised to tear apart Subspace, channeling to Bone Shards.

The green-skinned gods sought to augment their favored one’s power.

They were actually quite displeased with Bone Shards’ current indecisiveness, that was unbecoming of waagh, shouldn’t appear in their chosen one’s mind.

But they had no choice now.

This war was too crucial; they didn’t want to lose.

If they lost, while it couldn’t wipe out the Green Skins, to cultivate another universally renowned great leader capable of uniting the Beastmen, who knows how many more years it would take.

Yet...

"How can I let you have your way?"

"You wouldn’t let me step in earlier, and now you want to cheat?"

"Dream on!"

A Thunder Giant Bear emerged from the Storm God Kingdom, conspicuously amid the shapeless and boundless Subspace waves.

That power about to descend upon reality was swallowed whole by the bear.