Vohler knew that it must be because of the fear, or caution they must feel in regards to the Grand Inheritance. A stronger force than them had been turned back due to that object, and that had even been when the ruler of the continent was not actively supported by an overwhelming majority of the continent.
History was meant to teach one, so that they wouldn't make the mistakes of their forebearers. Here, the Church was obviously learning, so while feeling thankful, he took in a deep breath and began to speak.
"I'll be honest with you all. The King is probably expecting us. Why wouldn't he? After all, he has shown the sort of intelligence which rivals that of our smartest brethren. Still, I deemed this to be the best moment to attack. If you ask me why, then this…is the reason."
As Vohler took out an object from the innermost pocket of the loose robes he was wearing, eyes began to widen in the large crowd of Heroes.
"Th-that…"
"Impossible!"
"The Church…gave it to you?"
"Hahaha, he's dead!"
That last reaction was the most different of them all, and straining his eyes, Vohler saw that it was from the same person who had responded to his call in the cavern by saying that they wouldn't move unless the Church sent the order.
Now, that person strode forward and said, "Please allow me to lead the charge with you. With that object…he stands no chance. I would like to see the fear in his eyes when we use it."
Hearing this, the corner of Vohler's lips rose, and it looked like he would let bygones be bygone.
"No…that pleasure shall only be mine."
Yet, saying so while moving his hand swiftly, he completely exposed the golden, shining figure of St. Rectitude, before crushing it and turning it into dust that sparkled like the stars in the sky, as the sun shone down onto it.
The dust first flew harmlessly in the air, invisible to all save those who were allowed to see it by Vohler, and as it began to drift to its destination, it passed a patch in the sky which seemed empty, but also wasn't.
There, the Head had a very, very uncomfortable expression on his face as he kept turning around to the Heroes behind him.
"Too few. Far too few! Why don't they listen?!"
Not for the first time, he remarked in this way in his mind, while frantically keeping watch over the entire area.
He had been told by the King that a large group of Heroes from the Church would be attacking today.
However, when asked if he needed help, the King had only said that the Order would get in his way.
Rather, he had requested at least a small group of Heroes to stand guard in front of the millions of Angarians who had arrived to witness the event, and when the Head had said that he could mobilize the entire Order, if needed, the King…had merely scoffed.
Now, the Head realized that the King understood more about the Order than he ever could. When commanded to move to protect the citizens, not many had responded.
Although the Head could force them to move, that would make things seem too similar to when the Overseer had taken command, so he had hesitated.
Finally, after getting another message from the King that the small group who had responded were enough, he had let it go, for the time being.
Things still needed to change. But after so much had happened, if they were still the same, then what could they do?
They had even shown their fate to them! But even then, it had not been enough!
"Wait…what's that?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, the Head looked in the direction where one of the Heroes behind him was pointing at.
There, he could see a few shining particles which blinked, as if they were hiding, but were being exposed due to the formations that were placed all over the area.
Narrowing his eyes, the Head used his elementary vision to study them.
Instantly, alarm surged through his mind as he saw that each particles, somehow, held so much Energy that it defied all laws of Energy storage known to him.
Along with the Energy, there were also extremely complicated formations mapped out that would have needed large surfaces if they were the ones drawing them, so right away, he could tell that the Church was behind this.
They were here!
Raising his hand, he prepared to give the alarm, but alas…even before he could do so, each particle began to expand at a terrifying pace.
More of them also began to blink into existence, and not even a second later, they had all swelled to become golden bubbles so large that they could fit a 2-story building within them.
Moving with purpose, the golden bubbles all congregated around their target…the Heavenly City.
As the Head raced into the sky above him to get a better view of whatever the heck was going on, he suddenly saw something he would remember for the rest of his life.
Heroes. More than a hundred of them, all bunched together within the golden bubbles that had joined together to form one, large one, and they were all led…by Vohler.
As one of the strongest Heroes on the continent, Vohler was even said to have won in a one-on-one contest against the woman now being tortured for her sins.
And he…was the one the King was up against?
In front of them all, at the lip of the Heavenly City, a man had just strode forward with his hands behind his back.
As everything was still happening in a hidden manner, the crowd below were still gathering in groups while being directed by the staff of the King, so it was only him and those he had come with who could see the horror that had begun to unfold above.
Even those he had come with could only watch, agape, as they had never thought that such a large force was actually under the Church.
No one could oppose them on the continent alone. No one.
Yet, the King stood fearless.
Everything was happening so quickly that the Head couldn't keep track of his emotions, but when he saw the King open his mouth, he hoped that the man had a plan, like he always seemed to, no matter who he was up against.
Only…when he read the lips of the King to understand what he was saying, shock raced through the Head's heart.
"Well…f*ck. I expected to flush a few rats out, but it turns out that a damn lion was waiting in the mousehole. Huh…did I bite off more than I can chew? Only one way to find out…"