As mentioned before, Divine Soul Holy Land abandoned their people when the war reached Soul World.
At the start, they locked their doors and boarded up their windows. None of their disciples left the sect, and no news from them spread anywhere.
At this point, it was only assumed that they were cowards.
They lost their status almost instantly, but that was the end of it.
For the most part, everyone was too preoccupied to condemn them directly, only sullying their reputation with time.
However, the progression of war led to the release of more information, through which people learned the truth.
Not only was Divine Soul Holy Land refusing to aid their people, they'd completely turned their backs on them.
Perhaps they were choosing a stance of neutrality and disassociation outwardly, but their people were actively working against their fellows.
It was mostly in the vein of information. As the rulers of this Sector, they had a greatly detailed record of every force present within it and their layouts.
On top of that, they hoarded the domain's resources for so many years, only to openly offer their coffers to the enemy when they appeared.
It was as if this moment had been planned for years.
"Father, why?!"
A voice boomed through the throne room of Divine Soul Holy Land's main building.
"You are smarter than this. The father I know would have never made such a decision. Do you think this is a means for survival? You are only leading our people to death!"
The one speaking was a man who looked roughly 25. His body was semi-transparent, but his form had a physical presence that only powerful Spirits possessed.
He was Pontius Alhara, the Young Master of Divine Soul Holy Land, and unlike the majority of its members, he only became aware of their actions when the rest of the universe did.
He had been hiding his thoughts for so long, trying to rationalize the choices of his seniors, but he just couldn't do it.
So today, he had to confront his father.
That man, Selicus Alhara, was a cold leader. He rarely ever showed expression, but the version of him Pontius knew had always been the kind father who was more intelligent than anyone else.
However, that demeanor no longer existed.
"Why, you ask?" He responded, gazing down at his son from his throne.
"For survival. There is no other reason."
"Survival?!"
Pontius practically roared at the outrageous words.
"What survival is there?! After this war when we lose value, those beasts will immediately eliminate us! They do not care for us, only for destruction!"
"That is where you are wrong," Selicus said, shaking his head.
"They are a distasteful race, but to say they only live for destruction is a lie. Yes, perhaps if we truly subordinate ourselves to them, the only end we will face is death. However, have we done so? We may be accessories to this sin, but we are not contributors."
Pontius couldn't even respond.
What was he supposed to say to such stupid reasoning?!
Where was the father he respected?!
"Haa…"
Selicus sighed seeing his son's expression.
"The universe is doomed. This is the prediction your ancestors made long before you were born. If the universe has no chance of survival, our Divine Soul Holy Land can only make plans for the future."
"For now, it may look like we are following the Nox, but that is not the truth."
"Instead, we are creating a place for ourselves in the Abyss."
Selicus' eyes flashed with blackness.
He wouldn't say he wasn't a traitor to his homeland, but he was not a dog for those scum.
He was just using them for his own purposes.
"We have incorporated their bloodline, but we have not become monsters like the rest. This is only because our Spirit Race possesses special bodies that are only partially involved in the physical plane. It is impossible for them to control us."
"However, with their bloodline, we will be granted a lifeline in the Abyss. Its deathly currents will not consume us, but instead will become food for our growth."
He stood up, his full gait exerting pressure on his only child.
"Tell me, Pontius, is my decision wrong?"
Pontius gritted his teeth.
Logically speaking, his judgement was far less flawed than the rest of those who betrayed the universe, but he still couldn't accept it.
To build a force in the Abyss? Instead of fighting for their home, he wanted to abandon it for a new one?
Did he think of the consequences?
No, even disregarding that, what made him so confident the Abyss would accept them?!
'We know nothing of that place. Even if we survive, wouldn't our lives be hell?'
Pontius glared at his father, but refused to answer the question.
Yet, his disdain was evident in his expression.
He turned around and stormed out of the throne room, unable to entertain this conversation any longer.
'Father might not realize it, but he is already corrupted by their idiocy. I cannot allow the legacy of Divine Soul Holy Land to be tarnished by his incompetence.'
Even though he said it, he didn't believe it could be accomplished.
There were too many traitors. The entire older generation already followed his father without hesitation, and the younger generation and regular disciples were slowly being brainwashed with every passing day.
"I cannot do this on my own."
His position as Young Master would amount to nothing if he didn't adhere to their beliefs.
So his only option was to seek outside help.
'But…where?'
Where would he find someone willing to help him, to trust him despite his identity?
'I heard there is a new force…the Judgement Order, was it?'
His eyes narrowed as he reached his quarters and collapsed onto his bed.
'Do I have to abandon them…?'
Regardless of the high position his father held in his heart, Pontius didn't ignore Selicus' flaws.
'Father is too stubborn. Since he believes he is absolutely correct, and the ancestors seemed to hold the same thought, he will move without hesitation and his ears will not accept criticism.'
Perhaps he saw betrayal as a necessary evil for survival.
'But…I am alive.'
Despite rejecting the Nox lineage his father offered him and constantly voicing his opposition to their current direction, he was alive.
'Either father still cares for me, or…'
…he still had plans to use him.
'I have to find out what it is.'
If it was the former, he could still try to save their sect.
And if it was the latter…
'…I will bring this rotten place down with my own hands and rebuild it.'
To bring back the Divine Soul Holy Land he knew and loved, he was willing to risk everything.
'I should find a way to contact them.'
If those people on the outside could provide him backing…
He frowned as he snapped out of his thoughts.
' information comes first. Even if they are trustworthy, I cannot assume they will entertain my hopes.'
For his own sake, for the universe's sake, and for the sake of his father, who was blinded and misguided, he needed to find out the truth and fight.
Pontius was only one man in an influence of hundreds of thousands, but he was a seed of light in the darkness.
Not everyone was inherently bad.
For the most part, those who followed Selicus' treacherous path were just confused. Like the rest of the common traitors, they were crushed by circumstance and unable to properly understand their choices.
But if there was a light to guide them out of the darkness in their minds, there was still hope.
At least, that's what Pontius told himself.
Because without that hope, he would be crushed as well.
