novelraw Chapter 213: When Prayers Are Answered, the Heavenly Kingdom Is Born
Chapter 213: When Prayers Are Answered, the Heavenly Kingdom Is Born
Uproar erupted almost instantly throughout the funeral scene, and in that very moment, it spread across the world through the broadcast screens!
Although no shadow of a soul could be seen on the screens, the collective gaze of the crowd gathered at the scene could not be faked!
Moreover, the excited voice of the host echoed out, "God! What am I seeing? I see the soul of this Cardinal, reverting to his youth right before our eyes!"
"He has transformed from an old man into a young man in his prime!"
At the scene, even Pope Mario appeared somewhat surprised. Seeing his old friend's youthful face made him feel as though he had returned to the jungles of South America, back to the era of conflict he so deeply missed...
Countless viewers fell to their knees in front of their televisions and computers. Although they could not see the soul on the screen, the Divine Faith in their minds granted them a deeper, more profound perception and understanding.
The resounding hymns echoed in their ears, and a special radiance was displayed on the screen, with every detail clearly visible!
The broadcast could not capture the soul, but the completion of their Divine Faith made it seem as if they could truly see the spirit's form!
If the audiences around the world were experiencing this, the people present at the scene felt it even more intensely. With Rasinger's appearance, the funeral itself came to a halt. They stared unblinkingly at the Cardinal's phantom, the expectation and longing in their eyes almost turning into a tangible force!
It could not be helped. Ordinary Mortals could only see the soul, reacting with pure astonishment. However, these powerful figures, High Officials, and heads of state from around the world saw the hope of Eternal Life!After all, if a soul truly existed and could ascend to the Heavenly Kingdom, didn't that mean Eternal Life was real?
Just as they entertained this thought, the white radiance continued to expand, transforming into a tangible stairway to Heaven that materialized before Rasinger and everyone else present.
Cardinal Rasinger finally turned back to look at the crowd. He nodded at Mario, then stepped onto the stairway, one step at a time.
Holy light illuminated his surroundings, and hymns were chanted throughout the area. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the Cardinal steadily walked the path toward Heaven!
No one doubted that this was the path to Heaven. Many merely sighed in regret, wondering why they were not the ones walking upon it.
They raised their heads, watching the soul's ascent as the stairway pierced the clouds, seemingly leading to an infinite Heavenly Kingdom. The boundless longing in their hearts expanded infinitely!
So there really were people who could enter the Heavenly Kingdom. There really were people who could be gathered to The Lord's side and become residents of the heavenly realm?
Was he truly heading to the Heaven flowing with milk and honey, having been absolved of all Sin to become a true Righteous person?
Had he already stepped into Eternal Life, forever free from Mortal troubles, standing beside The Lord as a member of Heaven?
If Cardinal Rasinger could go, couldn't they go as well?
Many of them were blindly confident. They automatically forgot the memories of their own sins, believing themselves to be devout believers, noble royals, or rulers of the masses. Since a Cardinal could ascend to Heaven, they reasoned they should be able to as well.
They even began to fantasize about their future prospects, never realizing that the sheer ugliness of their Wish Power had already been noticed by Mario and Bennett Angus.
Regardless, the Wish Power generated by this incredibly real scene practically condensed into a tangible substance in the sky, allowing Bai Yang, watching from the sidelines, to quietly count down the moments!
"Almost! Almost! Just a little more!" Looking at the door gradually taking shape in the sky, he felt that the story he had painstakingly woven for so long was not only correct but also highly effective!
Alvin and The Core stood behind him, watching the door form together with him, their hearts brimming with expectation!
After all, the manifestation of the Aesir God's Divine Kingdom originated from Luowa's Demigod Wish Power, while the emergence of the Divine Kingdom of Death was purely Bai Yang's independent creation combined with the Wish Power directed at Pluto!
These constructs required a foundational anchor; he could not just create them at will. Therefore, this event served as a special experiment for Bai Yang.
He wanted to know if guiding the manifestation of this Heavenly Kingdom's Divine Miracle could force the world's consciousness to acknowledge the shaping of this Divine Kingdom.
Now, it seemed to be working. As more and more people offered their Divine Faith due to this funeral, Bai Yang could clearly feel the Divine Kingdom known as Heaven being perfected little by little!
The gates of Heaven were the best external representation of this perfection. However, it still lacked a tiny push, so Bai Yang decided to add fuel to the fire! With a slight raise of his hand, the heavenly hymns in the world below suddenly grew even louder, snapping Pope Mario out of his reverie to continue his Ritual!
"Dear brothers and sisters, our beloved brother, Cardinal Rasinger Leo, has completed his earthly journey. Today, with sorrow and certain hope, we entrust his soul into the infinitely merciful hands of our Heavenly Father."
"Throughout his life as a Cardinal, dressed in Red Robes, he served the gospel of Christ and His church until his last drop of blood was shed. Now, we firmly believe that the resurrected Savior has clothed him in white garments, guiding him into the realm of eternal light to attend the wedding feast of the Lamb alongside all the Saints."
"Rasinger Leo, dear brother! We bid you farewell in Divine Faith and fraternal love. Your earthly journey has ended, and your faithful duties are complete. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Peter the prince of the apostles, and all the Saints intercede for you. May the merciful Father let you behold His face and grant you eternal peace and joy."
"May The Lord be with you and lead you into the eternal Jerusalem. Rest in peace! (In pace, requiescat!)"
This was the eulogy, signifying their final farewell to Rasinger. What naturally followed was the offering of incense.
Deacons sprinkled holy water, symbolizing the grace of Baptism and the hope of Eternal Life, while Pope Mario offered incense, hoping that the church's prayers and reverence would ascend like a letter to the presence of The Lord.
The Ritual itself did not hold much practical significance, but its Sacred atmosphere made the audience believe in the event without a shadow of a doubt.
Then, the choir's voices began to rise. The ancient and beautiful hymn "In Paradisum" (May Angels Lead You) echoed in everyone's ears:
"May the Angels lead you into Heaven, May the martyrs welcome you upon your arrival, And guide you into the holy city of Jerusalem.
May a choir of Angels welcome you, And, like poor Lazarus, May you enjoy eternal rest."
This was merely the normal procedure. The only anomaly was that, as the hymn spread, a resounding chant suddenly echoed from the horizon!
Everyone looked up. They saw the stairway to the Heavenly Kingdom at the edge of the sky, they saw Rasinger at its end, and they saw the Angels slowly appearing by his side!
These Angels clustered around Rasinger, the wings on their backs flapping continuously as they welcomed him, walking step by step toward a distant door of light.
This scene was small, distant and far off on the horizon, yet in the eyes of every believer of The Faithful, it loomed so large it felt as if it were right in front of them.
"Is that... the gate of Heaven?" a few old men murmured with trembling voices. The shock they experienced this single day was likely greater than all the surprises they had encountered in their entire lives combined!
A lifetime of Divine Faith and prayers was laid bare before their eyes. Behind that door lay the Heaven they had dreamed of!
Some individuals even moved beyond the Fanaticism of faith, their rationality swallowed by terrifying desires as they shoved through the crowd and threw themselves toward the stairway above the casket!
At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded. Barely anyone moved to stop this fanatic. In fact, many watched intently on purpose; if this person could step onto the stairway, even just a single step, they would follow without hesitation!
This was the stairway to the Heavenly Kingdom, the ultimate goal of all The Faithful. Even if there was only the slimmest possibility, they had to try!
Then, the person simply lunged into thin air. Despite aiming directly for the stairs, they could not touch a single bit of physical substance and crashed face-first onto the ground.
Sighs of regret sounded from every corner, extinguishing the thoughts of those who wanted to follow, yet simultaneously adding another layer of Fanaticism to the atmosphere.
After all, an eager buyer won't get a good deal, and a faith that was easily exploitable was no true faith. This infinitely distant, infinitely sublime status only made them believe more deeply!
Only the noblest individuals could enter the Heavenly Kingdom. This was exactly what was stated in The Bible, wasn't it?
Thus, under the reverent and admiring gazes of these people, Cardinal Rasinger, the center of everyone's attention, gently reached forward and pushed open the massive doors composed of light!
Instantly, boundless Light burst forth, forcing everyone to shut their eyes. By the time they regained their vision, the stairway to Heaven, the gates of the Heavenly Kingdom, Rasinger, the Angels, and even the hymns had all vanished.
However, the emptiness in their hearts told them that everything they had just witnessed was no illusion; it had been entirely real!
Even Mario could feel that he had seemingly formed a slight connection with a certain special world. 'Is this... an invitation from the Heavenly Kingdom?'
He could feel that with the conclusion of this Ritual, the Heavenly Kingdom had truly been opened!