novelraw Chapter 271: High-Dimensional Problem Solving
Chapter 271: High-Dimensional Problem Solving
Thus, a day later, a message emerged from a small, autonomous town in northern Kachin State—one that did not originally belong to the Kachin Army.
"Transcendents! Either you come to us, or we die together with the thirty thousand people in this town!"
Accompanying the message was an earth-shattering explosion, as well as the sudden disappearance of warlords from various regions!
Everyone immediately realized this was the warlords' desperate last stand. This town housed twenty thousand Christian believers, along with a significant number of Buddhists. It was an undeniable, overt trap!
They intended to use the lives of these people to force the two Transcendents into falling into a trap!
Nations across the globe paid close attention to this incident, for it was effectively a declaration of war by Transcendents against a force rivaling an entire nation's military strength!
After all, these state armies frequently battered the military junta until they fled in disarray. Their combat prowess was on par with the standing armies of some smaller countries!
Yet, when confronted by the two Transcendents, the warlords suffered a crushing, terrifying defeat that sent shivers down the spines of many world leaders.
They wanted to see if this alliance of warlords, pushed to their absolute limits in a desperate last stand, could actually manage to injure the two Transcendents.
Indeed, many had already guessed that this desperate last stand might not even be the warlords' own idea, but rather the will of external powers.Someone had forcibly cut off their escape routes, compelling them to gather here and fight the two Transcendents to the bitter end!
The weapons they wielded were merely experimental tools brought out for field testing.
It was absurd, but it perfectly aligned with the nature of superpowers. Even America, despite its increasingly close ties with The Church, was highly likely involved.
After all, Transcendent power did not belong to them. Human nature drove them to actively probe and study it. Unless they were struck down painfully or driven to total despair, they would absolutely never give up.
The two Transcendents, of course, harbored no hesitation and headed straight toward the small town.
George drove his own vehicle, while Min Aung rode in a car driven by a devoted believer who had hurried over.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire world, the two met outside the town and began to converse with complete composure.
"Master Min Aung, how many regions have you successfully brought under control?" George asked as they walked.
"Not many, just the entirety of Shan State!" Min Aung replied with a smile, then asked in return, "And what about you, Bishop George?"
"Not many, just the entire Kachin Independence Army!" George replied.
Their accomplishments seemed roughly equal, stirring a subtle sense of competition in their hearts.
As Transcendents who could not actually fight fiercely against one another, comparing such achievements was naturally a point of pride they could discuss.
With that, they shifted their focus back to the town standing before them.
Through their enhanced vision, they could clearly see just how perilous the situation inside was.
"Utterly deranged!" Min Aung lamented. "Just how twisted must a person's mind be to commit such atrocities?"
His eyes pierced the distance, spotting the crowds of people bound in the town center, the gasoline drenched over their bodies, and the stockpiles of white phosphorus munitions surrounding them!
This was a suicidal tactic aimed purely at mutual destruction. It was exceptionally cruel; even if the warlords lost this time, they intended to drag thousands of innocent lives into the afterlife with them.
George frowned deeply. "They truly believe the faithful are our weak spot!"
Dakan's earlier livestream had set a terrible precedent. It showed the world that when faced with large crowds and live cameras, these Transcendents would be hesitant to act for fear of collateral damage!
Astoundingly, the media had broadcasted this perceived vulnerability everywhere!
Yet, they never stopped to consider the actual reason behind this hesitation.
Was it merely for the reputation of The Church and Buddhism? Perhaps partly, but wasn't the most vital factor the lives of the ordinary people themselves?
The lives of these mortal men and women were the true priority! The two Transcendents held back purely to protect them, so how could this compassion be twisted into a flaw to exploit?
"Compassionate Mercy is the way of the Buddha, but we cannot allow such depravity to fester!" Min Aung declared, seating himself cross-legged right where he stood. "I shall call upon the Venerable to resolve this crisis and castigate those who believe they can outsmart the divine!"
"Since you put it that way, I shall join you!" George dropped to one knee. Invoking an Angelic Descent right now was perfectly justified, for this was a righteous cause!
The Transcendent religions were doing everything possible to avoid harming mortals, yet these warlords dared to use those very mortals as a hostage. This was acting against the natural order to an extreme degree!
Thus, under the intense scrutiny of the outside world—watched by countless cameras, satellites, and high-altitude drones—the two Transcendents simultaneously began to pray!
Min Aung was the first. He knelt on the bare earth, staring at the empty ground before him, yet a transcendent silhouette slowly began to manifest in his presence!
"Venerable Ananda! Venerable of Compassionate Mercy! Child of the World-Honored One, the Dharma-holder Foremost in Hearing!
You once served by the Buddha's side, personally bearing witness to every syllable of Compassionate Mercy. You once pleaded with the World-Honored One on behalf of the nuns and all sentient beings, opening the path of grace. Your heart is like a boundless ocean, vast enough to hold all suffering and doubt!
Your disciple Min Aung is shallow in wisdom and lacking in merit. Amidst this great terror, I am like a blind man who has lost his cane, a child bereft of his mother. These people are innocent, their lives flickering like candlelight in the wind. I am powerless to reverse fate; my remedies are beyond cure! Venerable! I do not pray for you to defy karma with your Divine Abilities. I only beg you to descend upon this realm for but a moment! Use the gentle words you heard directly from the World-Honored One to soothe these trembling souls. Use the peaceful eyes that have witnessed the endless cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death to pierce through this desperate darkness. Through your Immeasurable Treasury of Dharma of Right Attention, guide us toward a glimmer of hope!"
Finishing his plea, Min Aung pressed his forehead firmly against the earth, leaving a deep imprint in the dirt, allowing the brilliant Buddha's Light within him to fully erupt into the world!
An Arhat Phantom materialized before his eyes. The true manifestation of a Bald Arhat descended upon the mortal plane, accompanied by echoing Sanskrit Chants and a profound, ethereal fragrance.
"Good Man, gather your heart just as you would carefully hold the alms bowl of the World-Honored One—steady and mindful." The clear, serene voice echoed through the air. At that precise moment, everyone observing the event suddenly felt as though an omniscient gaze was peering directly into their souls!
The watchers recoiled in shock. This Buddhist monk was staring right at them! Since when? How was this even possible?
This was the Dharma-holder Foremost in Hearing, the Venerable disciple of the World-Honored One—Ananda!
Beside him, George knelt while gripping his sword. He sliced his palm open, letting his blood drip to the soil, using it to draw forth a magnificent, holy radiance:
"Divine warriors above the stars!
Hear the weeping from within this prison!
Michael, cleave the iron bars with your holy sword!
Gabriel, shatter these shackles with your horn!
Raphael, bring forth your ointment to heal my wounds!
I offer myself as the key to plunge into Hell's lock!
If paving with flesh and blood is needed—
Then take my ribs to construct the prisoner's ladder!
Oh candlelight, ignite into the golden wings of an angel!
At this moment, sweep away all suffering!"
As a Saint, George naturally possessed the divine right to invoke angels. Yet this time, he dared to directly call upon three Archangels simultaneously!
In that instant, a deluge of endless white radiance plummeted from the heavens. It was an overwhelming cascade of Light that seared the vision of every single onlooker, rendering them temporarily blind!
Yet, this was not the end. It was merely the prelude to the Angelic Descent!
As if answering the presence of the Buddhist Venerable, the angel did not physically manifest this time, nor did they resort to a Possession-Based Descent. Instead, a colossal, ethereal phantom slowly began to solidify in the sky above!
A gargantuan silhouette of pure white light unfurled its power—the unmistakable form of a Six-Winged Seraphim dominating the heavens. The blinding explosion of divine brilliance struck the eyes of everyone watching!
"Believer of The Lord, I have heard your prayer!"
The manifestation of the celestial being filled George with overwhelming joy. "You are... Crown Gabriel!"
Just like that, an Arhat and an Angel manifested right outside the town borders, leaving the warlords and troops inside drenched in cold sweat!
Never in their wildest dreams did they expect these two Transcendents to completely flip the script. Instead of recklessly charging in, they stayed safely outside and directly summoned beings of a far higher dimension!
'What the hell was this?! If you can't solve it, just call your parents for backup? How was this even allowed?!'
The warlords mentally collapsed, completely at a loss for what to do.
Simultaneously, the foreign powers observing the spectacle scrambled in sheer panic, furiously issuing urgent commands:
"Hurry! Immediately sever all our connections with northern Myanmar! Abandon everyone there, and clean up and destroy all human and physical evidence!"
"I don't care how you do it, just get it done! We need to completely wash our hands of them! Leave no trace!"
"Yes, just like that! Execute these orders immediately and drop everything else! I repeat, everything!"
The leaders of the major superpowers were in a state of unprecedented terror. They desperately needed to sever their ties to avoid facing the wrath and divine retribution of these Transcendent entities!
This was the sheer terror of having a divine Backing's Influence. This was High-Dimensional Problem Solving!