Estrada, the hand of miracles, the strongest paladin, the ground walker of the Holy Light, each honorable name represents countless merits and achievements, and he can often be seen in the heroic epics that are always sung in the tavern If he insists on using a single title to summarize the first half of his legendary life, "The Living Epic" is probably the most appropriate.
"He is the most pious, brave, humble, and powerful Paladin." This is not only Roland's understanding of him, but also the world's consistent view of him.
Religious, for thousands of years, he has never abandoned his faith in the Holy Light. He restricts himself every moment with the justice and discipline in his heart, and prays devoutly every day, with water and brown bread to keep himself away from greed, even for him. No one dared to question his beliefs among the deeply dreaded popes of all dynasties.
Brave, in countless wars, as long as someone lends a helping hand to him, as long as it is in line with the justice in his heart, Estrada has never refused, and as long as he participates in the war, he will always be at the forefront , The scars on his body that even the Holy Light can't heal, but there are no scars on the deserters' vests.
"... Holy Light will never refuse mortals' requests for help. As long as there is still a glimmer of hope, we will fight for Holy Light and justice to the last moment."
Simple words, but never a slogan of nothingness. Even in a desperate situation where there is no hope, as long as there is a need for a savior behind him, he will never leave.
Humble, unlike other high-ranking people who live extravagantly, he has never had the self-consciousness of the top of the church. He lives in the collective dormitory equipped by the church. Anyone can go to him directly. The old paladin has countless disciples, and he likes young people. He is a warrior and takes cultivating talents as the pleasure of life. There are countless heroes and heroes in the long list of disciples, and one of them gave him a headache.
"... Roland, if you can be a little more serious, you can definitely become one of the most powerful Paladins in history. No, no, this is not the reason for you to skip school. In order to be worthy of your talent, I will give you a special make-up class. , Holy Light magic can't beat you, how about swordsmanship? What, you are already a swordsman? Or, let's talk about philosophy? What, philosophy and theology debates still have a lot of glory? Okay, if you lose, then Return the wallet to those senior brothers. Oh, I will lose? Just a joke."
Estrada still remembers that on that sunny afternoon, the boy with a sunny smile on his face, carrying the wallet of his senior brother who had just won the gambling game, used an inexplicable conspiracy to win his own half a year. salary.
"In order to satisfy your own utilitarian beliefs? Just a pure belief that recognizes its justice? Little Roland, you must not say to others, no, it's not that I don't approve of your ideas, otherwise you won't be counted as winning. But Some guys are more stubborn than an old stubborn like me. They directly destroy the body of the opponent they can't defeat in the debate. I don't care, but you are still young, don't make trouble for yourself. "
Perhaps what Esotrada regrets the most is that he didn't get to the bottom of it, and he didn't reverse Roland's extreme ideas at the time. It was gradually corrected, but he didn't expect that the little differences would gradually become bigger and bigger, and he would step by step to the point of no return.
Powerful, long years let him know that justice without strength is meaningless, and the strongest paladin... No, maybe he is the strongest human being, and no one will object, although it has been since his last shot. More than a hundred years.
"... Roland, the hatred of the past has driven you into madness. I made you, but I didn't let you save you from your despairing fate, it's all my fault. Roland, face me! Face your unqualified Mentor. Today, I am here to right the wrongs of the past, even at the cost of my life."
In the eternal catastrophe, the dazzling figure who was rushing towards the countless undead natural disasters alone is still engraved in the eyes of the world. After the annihilation of the entire Sanctuary coalition, he still challenged the great emperor of the eternal night and his legion alone, which has become the ceiling of the cathedral. The most dazzling relief.
Piety, brave, humble, and powerful. As a paladin, Estrada is perfect, and if you want to find any shortcomings in him, probably it can only be too perfect and too dazzling.
Popes of all dynasties have regarded it as a useful knife, but that’s all. When personal prestige is above the pope, when those “personal remarks” conflict with doctrine and church authority from time to time, the top leaders of the church will naturally I find him annoying.
Over the years, he has also been used to being idle, being jealous and being excluded, and his position has been up and down countless times, but his belief has not been shaken at all, and he is just doing his job well.
"…Children, justice is actually not difficult to understand, it is just a kindness from the bottom of the heart, and faith is the process of discovering and expanding one's kindness. We pursue the faith of the Holy Light, just believe that he can keep the kindness in people's hearts. When you need to make a choice, ask your heart and you will be able to make your own choice - early spring AD226."
Although his beliefs are somewhat different from those at the top of the church, and the phrase "does not lead people to goodness are cults" has caused him countless troubles, this teaching about beliefs still spread throughout the continent, and countless young people Therefore, he chose the glorious profession of paladin, and the way of the holy light of paladin is also subtly different from that of other priests. The "kindness in the heart" is not only the motto of young knights outside the city, but also the most important Strong Paladins are always vulnerable to attack.
"If the oracle of the God of Light conflicts with your justice, what choice will you make?"
Someone once questioned him, and his answer caused countless controversy. He thought he was grabbing his pigtails, but he laughed in public, and that thunderous answer still reverberated over the entire church.
"The Holy Light is above. If my beliefs will conflict with the most basic morality and justice, then there is no need for such beliefs to exist."
That year, as evidenced by the powerful holy light that fell from the sky, he thought so and did so.
In this year, when the gods representing beliefs descended from the sky, when they decided to slaughter the infidels, when the so-called will of the gods conflicted with the most basic moral justice, when the pure struggle of ideas turned into reality When life and death conflict, what choices will he make
Two days ago, he also received a letter from his disciple, which started with the exact same question.
"Teacher, let me ask you again, when the will of the God of Light and the righteousness extended from the good thoughts from the bottom of your heart conflict, what will you choose?"
Originally, Estrada was still very puzzled, but now, he could only hold the letter in his chest and smiled helplessly.
"Really? Have you seen it all? Then, Roland, let me tell you, my thoughts have never changed. If the belief in the Holy Light really disappears even the most basic kindness, then this kind of belief is still There is no need for it."
The silver hammer of holy light fell heavily on the ground, and the fully-armed old paladins rode old horses to block the road, and in front of them was the endless army of holy war.
The old knight shook his head helplessly. Over the years, he has been hailed as the spokesman of the Holy Light on earth. He never imagined that one day he would face the battle flag representing the Holy Light and justice, but his arm did not shake at all. , that boiling fighting spirit has explained everything.
"Holy Light will never refuse mortals' calls for help. As long as there is still a glimmer of hope, we will fight for Holy Light and justice to the last moment."
Behind the pagan city-state, the old knight's roar that was indistinguishable from the past echoed across the entire battlefield, but at this time, in front of the weak old knight, the glorious frontman of the holy war army inexplicably retreated.
No, not everyone retreated, but someone suddenly stepped forward and stepped out from under the glorious banner of the Holy Light.
"Ken? I didn't expect that the first person to confront me was you, my disciple."
Some nostalgic, some surprised, but without the slightest hesitation, after making such a choice, the old paladin is mentally prepared to face any opponent, even if he is his most proud disciple.
"Old antique, your disciples can't be counted at all. What's so strange about me?"
It was a middle-aged knight with a dark face. When Kane, the paladin who was also a demigod, walked in front of Estrada, he drew his long sword, but suddenly turned back and shouted at the place he had just come from.
"Hey, I was preempted by Old Antique again. How long are you going to wait? Are you still slower than me, an incompetent guy."
One by one, the Paladins walked out silently from the camp, pulled out their blades and faced the friendly army in the past, while their companions who stayed where they were, could only sit and watch all this happen with shame on their faces.
"The Holy Light is on..."
This time, it is not only the Paladins who came out. Those once pious priests of the Holy Light have also made their own choices, even if this will make them lose all status and honor, even if this will make them become their past The most shameless apostate and depraved priest.
“…if the beliefs of the gods conflict with the most basic of morality and justice…”
The knights of the kingdom who participated in the holy war also came out of the queue, their knightly virtues did not slaughter civilians, and the red-faced knights made a decision not to shame their children and grandchildren, even if it caused them to suffer from lords and kings. anger.
"... Killing civilians? Damn it, there are more than two million people. What's the need for such a belief!"
Everyone read Estrada's famous words together, and the resonance of faith led him to make the same choice. In the next ten minutes, during the hesitation of the frontline commander and the time to ask for instructions from the superior, Zero The scattered warriors have made their own choices.
Although Estrada's side was still not as good as 1% of the other side in the end, even if they would be crushed into pieces by the army in the next moment, he still smiled contentedly.
Yes, what is he not satisfied with, as a paladin and believer, he can let his beliefs be recognized from the bottom of his heart by so many people, and even martyrdom for it, even if he will die in the next moment, what else is there? not satisfied.
Suddenly, an old bishop in a red robe walked out of the crowd tremblingly. With a wrinkled face, he was holding a cane and panting heavily. The surrounding attendants and knights hurriedly surrounded him.
"… Bishop Stephen."
Yes, this is the current leader of the coalition army, the filthy and despicable Archbishop Stephen. Now, he has finally reached the pinnacle of his life, but it seems that he will not live long.
And if Estrada betrayed the Church of the Holy Church here, if the expedition of the Church of the Holy Church split here, I am afraid that the crown he just got will also lose its glory, and he will definitely stop all this from happening.
"...Stephen, needless to say, I have made a decision."
Even though many people in the church are not ashamed of what Stephen did, but looking at the dying old man and remembering what he did, Estrada felt a little regretful inexplicably. In his memory, Stephen in the past was still A stubborn orphan who was bullied by his classmates without complaining, but secretly hid and cried for the helpless parishioners.
While everyone was watching, the old bishop, who had finally passed his breath, finally spoke up.
"Ace... Trada, I... I'm not here to stop you, I know that since you've made up your mind, words mean nothing to you, I... I... ahem..."
A violent cough made the old man bend over, and there was blood on the ground, but he stubbornly leaned on a cane and stood up with gritted teeth.
Seeing the scene in front of him, even Estrada couldn't bear it. He wanted to help, but was knocked out by the old bishop.
"Snapped!"
Old Stephen finally stood up straight, but the old eyes were full of flame-like will, and the old man's roar echoed throughout the world.
"I know that you look down on me as a 'dirty bastard who robs war merits' and a 'black-hearted bastard who steps on his bones', but I am also an involved Holy Light believer. In order to bring us hope and the Holy Light of light, I sacrificed What is my personal honor... You say, as a bishop, as a communicator of the Holy Light and a pastor of the believers, have I done anything wrong... "
The old man's blood-red pupils glanced back and forth, and heard the roar from the bottom of his heart. Although he has been in power these days, he has more eyes full of contempt. The relatives and friends who once shared life and death have drawn a clear line with him. Who can I tell, now, under the watchful eyes of everyone, it burst out all of a sudden.
Those paladins who looked down on him in the past have changed a bit. Maybe they were too harsh on the old man in the past, but this is not the reason for them to change their current practices, and the next scene made everyone unbelievable.
"And now he... The belief in the Holy Light that I have sacrificed everything to maintain is not even the most fundamental justice. I still sacrifice everything to protect him. Mentor, I am not the leader of this coalition army, I will meet with you. For the future, even if it is doomed to death, even if it is not possible to ascend to heaven later... ahem."
A violent cough made him bend down again, but this time, the old bishop asked his tutor to help him up.
At this time, even those warriors who were still in the Holy Light camp cast respectful glances at the old man whose reputation had already been disgraced.
And when the leaders of the supreme coalition all betrayed, this time, the entire jihad coalition was in an uproar, and the soldiers who had just made a choice hesitated again. Some naive people were guessing, perhaps, if there were more people who chose to betray, this Holy Church Church There would be no civil war, which would be a pivotal turning point in history.
And at this moment, the dazzling flames cut through the sky...
"… what!"
The flaming giant sword fell from the sky, and before the old Stephen could even scream, he was nailed to the ground by the flaming holy sword. The old bishop who had just made the decision from the bottom of his heart just fell.
"This is holy...I don't...regret..."
The unwilling old man finally reached out his hand to the sky, took a last look at this beautiful world, and turned into gray-black ashes in the hands of his mentor, and the blood that had just spit out on the ground became its last trace.
The sun-winged angel who descended from the sky stood in mid-air, and the Archangel Arkas silently watched the mortals below. Even at this moment, he still had no emotional fluctuations.
In the mid-air behind him, the powerful angel legion had already assembled, and the angels under heavy armor just looked at this side silently, the white wings and the hot holy flame on the holy sword had already indicated their choice.
"Respect the Holy Order of Holy Light, apostate, kill without mercy."
On the other hand, it was the Holy Hammer of the old knight.