Chapter 189 -189–The Shock of the Six Deities’ Arrival
Thomas continued his quiet discussion with Enke and the other elders for a short while, until Benjamin entered the side hall, followed by several temple guards. With a respectful bow, he announced:
"Missionary, the sacrificial ceremony in honor of Deus Initium is about to begin."
"Everyone, please follow me and observe the proceedings."
Without further delay, Thomas led Enke and his companions toward the expansive square in front of the temple.
What greeted them there was a sight so vast and dense, it seemed to stretch beyond the horizon.
An ocean of people had gathered—devotees from every corner of the region. They stood shoulder to shoulder across the endless plaza, yet there was no chaos. Some knelt on the ground in deep reverence, their foreheads bloodied from repeated kowtows, and still they did not stop. Not even for a moment.
Even casual observers and newcomers, who had merely come out of curiosity, were overwhelmed by the scene’s sheer intensity. The sacred solemnity and fervent devotion radiating from the crowd was powerful, deeply infectious. Few could witness it without being moved.
The five elders, too, found themselves taken aback by the scale of this congregation.
"So many... This many devotees? It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that nearly the entire population of this city follows Deus Initium," one of them muttered in awe.
"To inspire such devotion... This god must possess something truly special."
They had encountered their fair share of ascetics and fanatics in their time—zealots who devoted themselves blindly to higher powers. But those were outliers, rare cases that rarely commanded the masses. This was entirely different.