The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]
Chapter 416 – The Building Blocks of Divinity

There are many theories which are told around Divinity. How many am I fond of? The fact I struggle to think of even one should demonstrates the issue. The most ‘optimistic’ is Anassa’s and Irinika’s. And even then, when phrased by those two, those theories are specifically designed to be as exclusionary and elitist as possible. Anassa stipulates that one knows a Divine when they see it, and that any sort of categorizing is redundant. Irinika stipulates that a Divine is a Divine because they are beholden to no one. Still, Anassa and Irinika did not possess much reach in Divine circles even before the Great War. Now that both have been defeated yet both are still very obviously Divine simply demonstrates that those thoughts were not actual critical thinking but rather just demonstrations of ego.

Nevertheless, I do not necessarily reject their thoughts. Anassa is correct to some level, it is that she just phrases her words in her own notorious fashion. When one looks upon a Divine, there really should be no question in one’s mind about whether they are looking at a Divine or not. Some Divines are self-evident, not even my greatest enemy will look upon me and call me anything but a Goddess. Likewise, Irinika is correct to some fashion. A Divine is powerful enough that they are beholden to no mortal. Irinika simply discredits her own point by stating that hierarchy amongst Divinity somehow makes those lower on the hierarchy no longer Divine. It is a parody of an argument. Olephia is the strongest of us all, does that mean everyone who is not Olephia is suddenly mortal?

Yet at least those theories, whereas extreme, do not inherently offend me. Maybe it is because they are declarations one can sweep aside and then tailor to themselves, maybe because any sort of intellectual interrogation with them will result in the reader immediately realising that they stem from delusions of narcissism. Maisara’s Foundational Theory is less negative, yet far more cynical and pessimistic than Anassa or Irinika. Why is quite simple, Maisara is smart enough to create something which makes sense. The way in which she has categorized Divinity needs evidence to be rejected and yet evidence against her is hard to find.

That is why I hate Foundational Theory so much, because I emotionally disagree with it but yet I am unable to intellectually defeat it. And yet Foundational Theory is not even the worst one. The credit for the absolutely worst theory surrounding Divinity lies at the feet of the grand Archivist of Arda, the woman who seeks knowledge and nothing else, Elassa, Goddess of Magic.

The Theory of Perpetual Decline.

- Excerpt from Goddess Allasaria’s, Of Light’s, Private Diary.

Maisara raised her axe as she sidestepped yet another body. The so-called heroes that had first come out to investigate what the Goddess of Order was doing near the city that they occupied had been dealt with. The last of their gaggle were now retreating only due to the fact Maisara didn’t care anymore. Anarchia was managing to close the distance at quick yet leisurely pace. She wasn’t running but the march was obviously faster than a jog.

Maisara didn’t know if the woman was wanting to scare her, or throw her off, or what, but whatever she was doing, it was working. Only either utter fools or those completely confident in themselves kept a pace like that. It reminded Maisara of Fer’s approach through the battle. Combined with the fact Anarchia had sorcery… Well, Maisara would simply rather not risk anything, would she? Who knew how quickly the woman could close the distance? Who knew if she would suddenly pull out a spear or an axe that the few moments it would take for Maisara to recall her axe could prove fatal.

Maisara kept her eyes focused entirely on the Goddess of Anarchy approaching her. Anarchia came in a black skirt and a red shirt. And that was it. With long black hair that framed darker eyes, she looked… Well, the lack of armour was suitable for modern Goddesses, but the woman could have been a Great War veteran. Maisara swung her axe to the side, ready to bring it up in case the other Divine initiated a sudden strike.

No sudden strike came though. Anarchia simply came to a stop some distance from Maisara. Arascus had explained what they knew of Anarchia’s leeching through emotion, and Kassandora had reiterated her father’s word with her own analytical spin on things. Kassandora had said to remain calm no matter what happens and that if Anarchia was to start draining power, to call for an immediate retreat. Arascus had said that Maisara should be immune because she didn’t have character flaws for others to latch onto. Whatever that meant. Maisara didn’t particularly care.

Anarchia closed half the distance again as Maisara readied her axe. She wasn’t going to charge in against someone who had apparently stolen Fer’s strength and Anassa’s sorcery. The woman’s capabilities had to be tested first. Was her strength equal to Beasthood’s? Was her skill equal to Sorcery’s? “Maisara!” Anarchia shouted.

And Maisara’s mood immediately dropped. This was a woman who was still playfighting in combat. Who wanted to come in and talk. Both Kassandora and Arascus had warned her against talking with Anarchia. Who knew whether the woman needed a judge of one’s character or not. Arascus had said that Maisara shouldn’t even allow herself to form an opinion on Anarchia. That giving Anarchia any sort of emotional significance could put Maisara at risk.

Maisara did not know what that meant, nor did she care too specifically. The woman ahead of her was a threat to global order in the same way that a cockroach was a threat to cleanliness. Apart from the factual annoyance they brought, what sort of opinion did Maisara have on cockroaches. She clicked the earpiece again. “What is the timing like?”

Kassandora replied immediately. “The support ships are approaching now. Elassa is minutes away. She should be crossing the horizon soon.”

So it was up to Maisara only to delay then. “Then I’ll hold. Tell me when you’re ready to strike.”

“Air support is available if you need it.” Kassandora added.

“Not yet. Maisara out.” Maisara turned the earpiece off. Anarchia kept on closing the distance. Maisara stood her ground. Even if the woman had access to sorcery, she would not know the intricacies, there would still be the need for confidence as with any sorcerer. In theory, even Anassa needed to believe in herself for her powers to work.

Maisara swung her axe from side to side as Anarchia shouted. “Maisara!!” And again Maisara stood there in silence. “Can you not speak?” Anarchia asked. Maisara felt the chill the moment Anarchia started to raise her arm. A single long finger pointed at the Goddess of Order.

And Maisara felt it.

Maisara was not the first Divine and Maisara would not be the last one. As had been done to Fer, so shall be done to Maisara. Fer had been slow at first because Anarchia thought the way into the woman’s heart would have been through her bloodlust or her anger. Instead, it had been through her loyalty.

Frankly, it didn’t matter what Maisara was planning by standing there. Did she think that Anarchia needed to stay close to leech? No, forging this lie had been why she had stayed so close to Fer when that Goddess had been stolen of vigour. The range was huge in actuality. It would be good if Maisara said something or if Anarchia knew who had been coming so she could prefer. Maisara was the Goddess of Order? What would be a hook into her heart? Justice?

Maisara felt an icy chill slide down her spine as if a claw was tracing her back. She shivered and she stood there, as still as a statue. Kassandora had said that she would know immediately if her strength was being sapped and that she would start shrinking. The axe was still the same weight it ever was. She couldn’t be getting weaker. Maisara forced her way through that feeling and stared at Anarchia. The woman was still pointing at her. What exactly was she doing? Making her cold? Was that it?

Anarchia felt a wave of energy suddenly hit her. It wasn’t Maisara’s strength though, it was Anarchia’s own power that had bounced off the Goddess of Order and rebounded into the Goddess of Anarchy. Anarchia almost stumbled backwards by the sheer force of her own power hitting her back. It was as if a cannonball had been shot into her stomach.

Maisara still stood there, untouched, still waiting for something. Anarchia didn’t know what but if the woman didn’t want to talk and if she wasn’t going to attack, then Anarchia would try and try again. Still though, the fact that justice had completely been thrown off? Maisara was the Goddess of Order? How could she not have a sense of justice? What was that?

Maisara saw Anarchia raise her finger stretch, point and once again felt that wave come over her. It was harder this time. The woman was obviously putting more energy into it. And that wave of ice ran down Maisara’s spine once again. It was as if a giant claw was dragging its sharp tip, trying to split Maisara in half from the back. And again, Maisara stood there, gripping her axe and waiting for Anarchia to make a move so that she could parry a blow and counterattack.

Anarchia once again felt the feedback hit her. This time she almost did stumble back as she had pressed deeper into the woman’s character. If justice hadn’t worked, then honesty needed to. The woman was the Goddess of Order after all! Almost every book in the whole world had said that Maisara had never told a fib! Not once in the woman’s entire existence had she lied! Shouldn’t honesty be a way into her heart?!

Maisara touched her earpiece to speak to Kassandora as another wave of ice fell upon her. It travelled from the top of her head to her feet and then out of her. “What am I supposed to be doing?” Maisara asked.

Kassandora replied instantly. There wasn’t even a moment’s pause. “She’s not draining you?” Even Kassandora sounded surprise.

“Is she supposed to?” Maisara asked. Anarchia waved her hand, stretched, and then pointed both arms at Maisara.

Anarchia scowled as she sent yet more hooks into Maisara. What was that!? The woman had never lied! If she never lied, then how could she reject honesty!? Was that even possible!? Before, she had always needed to simply find a sliver of an opening in a person’s soul. Any sort of vulnerability that could cause emotional scarring was an entrance. Fer had been filled to the brim with loyalty. The sorcerers had plenty of love between them and plenty of fear. But Maisara?

The Goddess of Order rejected honesty and rejected justice! Shouldn’t that be her moral code? Did she not care about such things?! Then Anarchia would try something else! Lies and deceitfulness! She had seen what these old Divines were composed of during this terrible war! Of course! She had been too idealistic! Here Anarchia thought that the woman ahead of her would have some positivity in her!

“Shouldn’t she be hitting you right now?” Kassandora asked calmly over the earpiece.

“I’m getting chills so I think she’s doing something.” Maisara replied as she tested her axe’s weight. It still moved confidently, still she could heft it off the ground. Not once did she take her eyes off Anarchia. Creatures in the past had also played fools and then exploited the overconfidence from vanity. “It’s just shivers though.”

“Are you actually immune?” Kassandora asked.

Anarchia stared in sheer awe as she felt her strength envelop and slide off Maisara. The Goddess of Order had no friction on her whatsoever. There wasn’t even a single latch on her character that could be considered a vulnerability. When Anarchia tried to grab her, the woman may as well have turned into slime that fell through her fingers.

The woman did not have a single shred of honesty in her. She didn’t have a single shred of deceitfulness either. It was as if she didn’t care about one or the other. Certainly she wasn’t a liar but… But how could someone be so extreme and not even bother? How could the woman have a reputation for not lying once and then be… be so apathetic towards it? Anarchia tried to envelop Maisara’s pride.

Maisara let out a sigh. She clicked her earpiece again as another massive wave of ice came down her spine. As if a swimming pool worth’s of freezing water had suddenly been thrown over her, and then evaporated a moment later. Her natural temperature returned. And Anarchia shouted a curse from ahead. Maisara raised an eyebrow. Crass. She clicked her earpiece again: “Should I just move in?”

And Kassandora answered. “Do you think you can cut her down?”

“I can try.” Immunity to power was one thing. Anarchia still possessed the strength of Fer and Anassa. Just because her magic proved ineffectual did not mean that her fighting abilities would. Overconfidence was a great killer after all. Maisara took a testing step forward. Anarchia did not seem to notice or react.

Anarchia readied herself this time and felt her energies back off Maisara and back into her. She saw the Goddess of Order take a step towards her: a cold statue in silver armour that held the executioner’s axe by its side. And Anarchia’s eyes widened in horror, she had to blink a tear away when she thought of what went on inside the woman’s mind.

How could one be Divine and not have a shred of pride? Not a single piece of Maisara felt good about itself. And again Anarchia tried, this time with sadness and depression. And again she felt the rebound. Not a single piece of Maisara felt bad about herself either. What was she? How could…

How could a person just be a walking void?