Teammates

Jiang Lin opened his eyes, the rising sun reflected in his golden gaze.

It was finally time.

He turned and walked back into the mansion, where the three elves were having breakfast.

Fenrir had a piece of roast bread stuffed in his mouth, his cheeks bulging like a hamster's.

Alicia sipped her porridge in small mouthfuls, her pale gold eyes half-lidded, clearly not fully awake yet.

Elune sat by the fireplace with a cup of flower tea. As Jiang Lin walked in, her gaze lingered on his face for a moment.

"Is the mission starting?"

"Yes." Jiang Lin sat down at the table. "I'm leaving within three days."

"What about us?" Fenrir swallowed his bread. "Are we coming along?"

"You can't." Jiang Lin shook his head. "Only an Apostle of God can enter the teleportation array for this mission. You stay at the mansion and look after the territory for me."

Fenrir's expression slumped.

"That's no fun."

"When I get back, we'll fix that teleportation array together." Jiang Lin picked up a slice of bread. "We'll see exactly where it leads then."

Fenrir thought about it and decided that was a fair compromise, so he stuffed another piece of bread into his mouth.

Elune didn't speak, simply continuing to drink her tea quietly.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup before quickly relaxing.

"I'll be back soon."

Jiang Lin finished his last sip of porridge, stood up, and walked toward the door.

He would go to the Temple in the Royal Capital today to confirm the specific teleportation procedures.

Departing tomorrow or the day after should leave plenty of time.

He reached the yard gate and looked back at the newly repaired mansion.

The pale yellow walls glowed warmly in the morning light, the dark gray roof tiles were neatly arranged, and the hollies in the yard swayed gently in the wind.

On the fireplace mantle, the first flower of the moonlight rose had bloomed, its pale silver petals shimmering with a soft halo in the dawn.

He turned and strode toward the Royal Capital.

Behind him, Elune stood at the gate, still holding her cup of tea.

Her lavender eyes watched the receding golden figure until it vanished into the morning mist of the hills.

...

Temple of the God of Holy Light, Statue Hall.

The Temple was quieter than usual in the early morning.

The stained-glass windows of the dome filtered the morning light into soft pale gold, casting it over the seven statues. The carved stone faces seemed to gain warmth in the light.

The air was filled with a faint scent of incense, mixed with the dry aroma characteristic of stone and old wood.

Jiang Lin stood before the statue of the God of Holy Light, looking up at the face carved with both mercy and majesty.

He didn't rush to teleport. Instead, he first sank his mind into his spatial ring to inventory his supplies.

Dry rations, fresh water, medicines, magic materials, changes of clothes, several spare magic crystals, Zoe's advanced notes, the ancient elven manuscripts brought back from Silver Moon City, and the sword token his master had left him.

The sword token lay quietly in the deepest part of the spatial ring, frost patterns flowing over its ice-blue surface, feeling warm to the touch.

Having this as a trump card made him feel much more secure.

He checked his equipment one last time.

Then, withdrawing his mind, he pressed his right hand against the base of the statue.

【Spark mission, teleportation node activated.】

【Currently available teleportation to: Mission Assembly Zone · Spark Outpost.】

【Please confirm teleportation.】

Jiang Lin opened his eyes and glanced around the hall.

The deacon on duty had retreated to the end of the corridor, his back turned as he seemed to be adjusting the candle holders on the wall.

A few other believers in morning prayer kept their heads bowed; no one noticed him.

He closed his eyes again and thought silently:

"Confirm."

The apostle park on his chest grew slightly warm, and that gentle yet vast intent enveloped him once more.

The runes on the statue's base began to light up one by one.

With a gentle, stable guidance, the power of holy light slowly wrapped around his body, lifting him and pulling him toward a distant destination.

The teleportation process was smoother than he had expected.

He felt as if he were standing in a river made of light, his body gently pushed by the current toward an unknown direction.

The light shifted from gold to silver-white, then to a flowing pale purple he had never seen before, like an aurora.

Stars appeared in his vision.

Those points of light streaked past him—some bright as diamonds, others dim as dust.

They were arranged, rotating, and flowing in patterns he couldn't comprehend, forming fleeting star maps.

When the light beneath his feet finally solidified, Jiang Lin found himself standing on unfamiliar ground.

Jiang Lin's feet landed on gray-white stone slabs, the sensation firm and cool.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings.

This was a circular hall with a dome about ten meters high, built from some pale gold stone and covered in dense holy light runes. A soft golden light flowed through the runes, illuminating the space like twilight.

In the center of the hall was a teleportation array about five meters in diameter; he was currently standing on the edge of the array disk.

There were eight arched doors on the surrounding walls, each leading in a different direction. Inlaid above the arches were crystals of different colors—gold, silver, pale blue, emerald green—clearly corresponding to different teleportation nodes.

There was a strange smell in the air, unlike any scent he knew. It was a slightly pungent mix of scorched earth, sulfur, and some kind of plant humus.

"I've arrived."

He muttered to himself, stepped off the teleportation array, and walked a few paces around the circular hall.

His Space Perception quietly expanded, the pale silver field penetrating the walls and floor, reaching outward.

Within several hundred meters, he could sense that this was a structure built inside a mountain.

It was quite large, with at least dozens of rooms and some areas whose functions he couldn't yet distinguish.

The outer perimeter of the building was rock and soil, and further out—his perception reached an open area.

Then, he felt the wind.

The wind carried the same mixed scent he had just smelled, blowing from afar and brushing over the mountain's surface.

At the same time, the apostle park grew warm.

A line of text condensed from holy light appeared before his eyes. It wasn't the brief system prompt from before, but a more detailed stream of information:

【Spark Mission · Planet Briefing】

【Planet Name】: Caeous (Local inhabitants call it the "Origin Land")

【Civilization Level】: Low-level magic civilization · City-state era

【Sapient Population】: Primarily concentrated on the southern hemisphere continent, estimated at approximately 200 million. The northern hemisphere consists of deserts and ice fields with a small number of nomadic tribes.

【Power Ceiling】: The current magic environment of this planet can support up to the 6th-rank. Power exceeding this level will be rejected by the world's will; a forced descent will lead to unpredictable spatial collapse.

【Current Status】: The planet's coordinates were captured by the God of Holy Light's observation system seven months ago. Prior to this, it was in a "blank period," unblessed by any god. The local inhabitants have no faith in gods, with only a small number of primitive totem worshipers.

【Abnormal Situation】: A spatial rift has appeared in the planet's northern hemisphere, with the other end connected to the "Abyss of Slaughter." The rift is currently in an unstable state and leaks "Chaos Pollutants" at regular intervals. These pollutants erode the minds of biological creatures, plunging them into an irreversible desire for slaughter.

【Hostile Forces】: The Demon God faction has dispatched apostles to Caeous, numbering approximately ten to fifteen, all at the 6th-rank. The Demon God Apostles' goal is to seize faith anchors and incorporate Caeous into the Demon God's faith system.

【Mission Objectives】:

Clear Chaos Pollutants and stabilize the area around the spatial rift.

Establish at least ten statues of the God of Holy Light as permanent faith anchors.

Spread the faith of Holy Light among the local inhabitants.

【Friendly Forces】: In addition to the host, seven other Apostles of God have assembled. All are between the 6th-rank mid-stage and 6th-rank peak.

(Note: The normal advancement path for an Apostle of God reaches 6th-rank upon the first advancement; the host's situation is unique and is an exception.)

【Time Limit】: Starting from today, a total of 150 calendar days.

【Warning】: The permeating substances from the Abyss of Slaughter will gradually strengthen over time. Please complete the main mission objectives before the rift expands.

Jiang Lin fell silent for a moment after reading the information.

A planet of 200 million people, a 6th-rank power ceiling, an invasion from the Abyss of Slaughter, and Demon God Apostles competing for faith.

And he was the only 4th-rank on this side, the lowest among them.

However, his mood wasn't bad.

At least it wasn't asking him to fight a 7th-rank peak opponent at the 2nd-rank peak.

It was only a two-rank difference—wasn't this a bonus round?

He turned and walked toward the nearest arched door. According to the information, there should be other apostles here; they might have already arrived or were on their way.

Through the archway was a long corridor.

A magic lamp was embedded every ten paces on both sides of the corridor, emitting a soft pale gold light.

The floor was paved with solid gray-white stone slabs, so clean that not a speck of dust could be seen.

At the end of the corridor was a half-open wooden door, with light and the faint sound of voices coming through the gap.

Jiang Lin pushed the door open and entered.

This was a larger room, about fifty square meters, looking like a meeting room or an assembly hall.

A long table stood in the center of the room, with a crystal lamp and a stack of parchment on it.

There were several chairs and a sofa along the walls.

Currently, one person was sitting on the sofa.

It was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties, wearing dark red light armor with the crest of the Holy Sword Knight Order engraved on his pauldrons.

He was looking down at the parchment on the table and raised his head at the sound of the door opening.

It was a sharp-featured face with thick eyebrows, deep brown eyes, and a shallow old scar on his chin. His entire being exuded the steady aura of someone long-accustomed to the battlefield.

The moment he saw Jiang Lin, his gaze lingered on Jiang Lin's face for a moment before landing on the gold badge on his chest.

"Are you... the new apostle?"

His voice was low, carrying the habitual tone of someone used to giving orders.

"Jiang Lin." Jiang Lin walked to the table. "Just arrived."

The man stood up, half a head taller than Jiang Lin, and extended his hand:

"Lothar Ironmountain, Seventh Captain of the Holy Sword Knight Order, 6th-rank peak."

Jiang Lin shook his hand.

Lothar's palm was rough and powerful, his knuckles broad—clearly the hand of someone who had held a sword for years.

He didn't release Jiang Lin's hand immediately, instead frowning slightly as if sensing something.

After a moment, he let go, a hint of unavoidable surprise flashing in his eyes.

"4th-rank mid-stage? You're a 4th-rank mid-stage?"

"That's right."

Lothar stared at him for a few breaths, his lips twitching, but he eventually just nodded and sat back down.

"The God of Holy Light's arrangements always have their reasons."

His tone was calm, but Jiang Lin noticed his fingers pause for a second as he flipped through the parchment.

The two didn't speak further, and the room fell silent, save for the faint hum of the magic lamps.

Before long, footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing clearer as they approached.

The door was pushed open, and a thin figure walked in.

It was a young man who looked to be under twenty, wearing a gray-white robe tied with a cloth belt of the same color.

His hair was pale gray and messy, sticking out like a patch of wind-blown withered grass.

A pair of round-framed glasses sat on his face, the eyes behind the lenses a pale brown. His gaze was somewhat vacant, as if he were spacing out or perhaps contemplating some profound problem.

"Ah, I've arrived."

He looked up, scanned the room, and his gaze landed on Jiang Lin and Lothar.

"This is the Spark Outpost, right?"

"Correct," Lothar replied.

The gray-haired youth nodded and sat down across from Jiang Lin without saying anything more.

The scene became a bit livelier when the third person arrived.

It was a woman with a curvaceous figure, wearing fire-red leather armor. Her long hair was a deep wine-red, draped over her shoulders in large waves.

Her features were striking, with full lips and slightly upturned corners of her eyes; she seemed like a walking ball of fire.

She shouted loudly as soon as she entered:

"Oh my, I'm not the last one, am I?"

Her voice was loud enough to make Lothar frown.

"No, four more haven't arrived."

"Good, good." The red-haired woman plopped onto the sofa and crossed her legs, her gaze circling the three people in the room. "I'm Mavis, 6th-rank peak, fire specialist. And you?"

"Lothar, 6th-rank peak, Holy Sword Knight Order."

"Cyrus," the gray-haired youth said. "6th-rank mid-stage, proficient in runes and arrays."

All three gazes landed on Jiang Lin simultaneously.

"Jiang Lin, 4th-rank mid-stage. Proficient in swordsmanship, a bit of spatial magic."

The room fell silent for a heartbeat.

Mavis uncrossed her legs and looked Jiang Lin up and down several times, her upturned eyes wide with surprise.

"4th-rank mid-stage? Are you serious?"

"Serious."

Mavis opened her mouth, then turned to Lothar. Lothar nodded expressionlessly.

She then looked at Cyrus, who remained silent, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

"Fine then." She leaned back into the sofa and recrossed her legs. "Since the Great God let you participate in this mission, it means you must have the strength for it."

Jiang Lin noticed that when she said this, her tone was exactly like Lothar's—a sort of compliance that said, "I don't understand, but I don't intend to question it."

The fourth to arrive was a taciturn middle-aged man.

He wore deep gray chainmail with a plain black short robe over it, and a short sword hung at his waist.

His hair was graying and his face deeply wrinkled; he looked like a weather-beaten veteran.

He simply nodded to everyone upon entering, then leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, not saying a word.

"Dorian."

He only gave his name, offering neither his rank nor his specialty.

Lothar glanced at him but didn't press for more.

...