Chapter 136: Persuading Captain America (Second Update)

The answer, naturally, was a resounding yes.

In humanity’s darkest hour, five heroes stepped forward. They appeared to be priests, clad in white robes trimmed with gold that radiated a profound sense of piety. A faint golden glow emanated from them; even as a mere observer, Stephen felt a wave of warmth and light.

It was evident that under the guidance of an elder dressed as a bishop, these five young priests had embarked on a different path. They believed that at a time when humanity faced total extinction, the people needed heroes to lead them to victory on the battlefield, not priests confined to the rear, preaching and tending to the wounded.

Though the words spoken by the six men were inaudible, a single term transcended language, branding itself deep into the soul of the young Steve Rogers:

"Paladin!"

Such warriors, fueled by the conviction of justice within their hearts, transformed their faith into an invincible Holy Light to crush their brutal alien enemies. Yet, could a group of priests who had spent their lives reciting prayers and relying on simple devotion suddenly take to the battlefield?

Unexpectedly, they were formidable, shattering wave after wave of powerful foes with the strength of the Holy Light.

The vision accelerated. Soon, on a vast plain, humanity and a horde of green-skinned monsters were poised for a confrontation that would decide the fate of mankind.

On one side, ranks of knights in silver armor emerged from the morning mist, their raised lances forming a dense forest. Yet, the cold glint covering the entire plain could not overshadow the dazzling golden light in their midst.

A small but undeniably brilliant group of golden figures!

That radiance did not come from their golden armor, but from the purity of their will—it was the power of the spirit, the power of the soul.

A man wielding a warhammer rode out before the soldiers. The golden light upon him was the most radiant of all, and with a voice like a god’s, he shouted to the human army.

Steve understood him perfectly.

"Soldiers of humanity! Knights of the Silver Hand! There are a million orcs before us. Are you afraid?"

Opposite them was a tide of green-skinned monsters. Their numbers were so vast they could not even stand side-by-side on the field; the overlapping mass seemed to fill half the world with that alien shade of green.

No one answered, but the man answered for them.

"Afraid? Of course I am! I am afraid too! But if humanity does not win this battle, we will be extinguished! Behind us lie our families, our friends, and the future of our descendants! So, I shall lead the charge! Even if my end is death, I will die on the path of the charge."

Without another word, he raised his glowing hammer high, spurred his horse, and charged at the enemy.

Behind him followed four equally majestic golden figures, and behind them, a larger host glowing with sacred light.

They were few in number!
They were prepared to die!
They were fearless!
Regardless of their inner feelings as they stepped onto a battlefield that would drive any mortal to despair... in this moment, they were heroes!

The dazzling golden Holy Light tore through the center of the battlefield, crashing into the green tide. They were not swallowed; instead, they exploded with ferocious intensity. The sacred light burned like a wildfire, a flare brighter than the sun, so blinding that the light of the entire battlefield dimmed, as if the entire green horde had been stained in gold for a fleeting moment.

Their persistence bought the victory. Their desperate counter-charge secured the precious time needed for the main force to strike from the flank.

Watching those five shimmering figures standing amidst the sea of blood and corpses, Steve felt his heart tremble. Who were they? What was the answer to that question?

Even across the endless reaches of time, that singular answer lingered in Steve’s ears like a ghostly whisper:

"The First Paladins—The Five Saints of the Silver Hand!"

Just as Steve yearned to see the faces of those sacred heroes more clearly, his consciousness was ruthlessly pulled from the illusion. The scene shifted too quickly, leaving him dazed.

He was back in the alley, still facing the mysterious, black-haired man.

However, Steve no longer dared to view him as a mere con artist trying to recruit followers. He hesitated, "What was that just now..."

"That was the will of the great sages who followed the path of the Holy Light, left behind in this world."

At these words, Steve felt a surge of reverence.

"I... I admire them." Thinking of his own frail body and dismal circumstances, he was overcome with sorrow. "But what is the use of showing me this? I am nothing but a failure abandoned by the world!"

Steve’s voice choked with emotion. He longed to serve his country and fight against tyranny; even dying on the battlefield would have been a fulfilled wish. Yet, he was cursed with the frailest of bodies.

The man, who had just moments ago appeared kind and mystical, suddenly turned cold. "The world has not abandoned you. Because the world has no need of you, how can you speak of abandonment?"

Steve was stunned. The words were brutally honest, piercing his heart like a knife.

The man grabbed Steve’s shoulders, his strengthened arms exerting a powerful grip that immobilized him.

"Steve Rogers! I do not know you well, but just now at the recruitment office, amidst countless lost souls, I saw the unyielding will within you erupt with the most brilliant golden light! That is why I sought you out. If even that unyielding will fades, then you truly are a failure."

"Then..."

The man’s eyes grew intense, the power of his conviction lending weight to his words. They were the eyes of one who had endured the cruelty of dark lords hundreds of times without yielding. They were the eyes of a warrior who had survived the cycles of life, death, and suffering. They were the eyes of one who had traversed time, searching for like-minded souls.

His gaze was so pure that Steve found himself drawn into his rhythm.

"On the contrary, as long as you hold justice in your heart and believe in the Holy Light, your opportunity will come! I have already seen it on the path of your destiny; a great opportunity is approaching. Without the Holy Light, you will be like any other mortal lacking willpower, destined for death. But if you embrace the Holy Light, you will stand out, shed your frail shell, and become a true warrior."