Everyone born and raised in the Water World Apocalypse was intimately familiar with the three great epics and the prophecy of the Savior, thanks to the guidance of the Minstrels.
And the great battles once led by the Savior were likewise familiar to many.
Anyone could understand what those two holographic clips had shown. The first was the Savior leading the Super Giant War Armors into a great battle against the hordes of the World Beast.
The second was a scene of the Savior King leading the heroes of the Salvation Army, carrying stars called Super Giant Hydrogen Bombs, on their way to the World Beast's lair for a final, decisive battle.
These images were projected from the Holy Corpse of a Glorious, their authenticity beyond question.
Besides, only the legendary Savior could directly awaken a Holy Corpse and reactivate these Super Giant War Armors.
Everyone present was so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Many even suspected they were in a beautiful dream, just greedily staring, transfixed, at the youth standing on the palm of the Glorious.
It was as if lost lambs had finally found their shepherd, as if a wandering child had finally seen their father.
'If this is a beautiful dream, I hope I never wake up.'
Among them, the most emotional was Witch Tower.
The blonde girl was now a blubbering mess, one moment crying her eyes out, the next breaking into a wide grin, her whole body trembling, unsure of what to do.
Shen Feng finally moved. The War Armor's palm lowered, coming before Witch Tower, and he spoke to her in a gentle voice:
"I'm back."
Witch Tower immediately choked up again.
"By the Savior... It's really you... It's really you..."
Although she had always hoped that Shen Feng was the prophesied returning Savior, she subconsciously understood it was just a self-deceiving fantasy.
Even in the moment right before Shen Feng summoned the fingers of the Steel Glory, she still hadn't truly believed he was the Savior.
But now that it had all come true, how could she not be ecstatic!
No words could describe her feelings at this moment!
Shen Feng reached out and gently stroked the top of the sobbing Witch Tower's head, as if caressing a child who had been terribly wronged.
The gazes of everyone present instantly grew fiery again, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, desire, excitement, and other emotions.
'By the Savior! That's the Savior's hand, and it's stroking Witch Tower!'
They too yearned to be touched by the Savior's hand. It was something that everyone struggling to survive in the Water World Apocalypse wouldn't even dare to dream of.
To them, it was like a longing for a parent, a longing for their own human identity. To gain the Savior's approval was to gain the approval of human civilization itself.
It was a touch that transcended hundreds of years, that transcended all of human civilization.
To the side, Old Bill and the others were thrilled to the extreme. Chronologically speaking, they were the first ones to follow the Savior.
But then they thought of their initial disrespect toward the Savior, and a faint sense of fear crept in.
On the command platform of Glory Market, the five Minstrels led by Ivanka had mixed feelings.
They never would have imagined that the master of that steel battleship was actually the real Savior!
On one hand, there was the joy of the Savior's return, the joy for the hope of human civilization—especially since, as Minstrels, they were supposed to be the Savior's direct subordinates.
On the other hand, there was the terror of having offended the Savior. Although their recent actions could be explained away for the greater good of human civilization, much of what they did was purely out of greed and selfish nature.
This was already a betrayal of the Salvation Army's creed.
If before they could ignore their consciences, now they were like children caught stealing money by their parents, their inner terror and torment beyond measure.
More than that, it was shame—the shame of having failed the Savior's expectations as Minstrels.
They had disappointed the Savior.
Shen Feng now turned his head to look at them, saying nothing.
Ivanka immediately stood up, tears streaming down her face. Ashamed, she didn't dare to look Shen Feng in the eye as she declared loudly:
"I, Ivanka Brandt, for selfish reasons, have violated the creed of the Salvation Army and betrayed the faith of the Minstrels. According to the military regulations of the Salvation Army, I sentence myself to death, to be executed immediately!"
As soon as the words fell, she grabbed the barrel of the double-barreled shotgun with both hands, shoved it into her mouth, and instantly pulled the trigger!
With a muffled BANG, the head of Ivanka Brandt, leader of the five Minstrels of Glory Market, instantly exploded into a spray of blood!
Her headless body twitched slightly, her hands reaching out and waving a few times in Shen Feng's direction as if trying to grasp something, before collapsing with a thud.
Immediately after, Kris stepped forward and picked up the blood-soaked double-barreled shotgun from the pool of blood. With trembling hands, she took a rusty bullet from her pocket, loaded it into the chamber, then bowed her head and declared loudly:
"I, Kris Hilton, for selfish reasons, have violated the creed of the Salvation Army and betrayed the faith of the Minstrels. According to the military regulations of the Salvation Army, I sentence myself to death, to be executed... immediately!"
As she spoke, she raised the shotgun in her hands, turned the muzzle, and shoved it into her mouth.
At this moment, she was filled with immense remorse for everything she had done. She simply couldn't face the returned Savior and could only atone with her death, just like Ivanka. After all, she was an accomplice in this affair.
The three kneeling behind her, including Hezi, were also filled with boundless regret. They were ashamed for not stopping Ivanka and even colluding with her. After Kris killed herself, they too would sentence themselves to death.
"You are forgiven."
Just as Kris closed her eyes, ready to pull the trigger, the Savior's voice rang out softly.
Kris opened her eyes in confusion and looked at the youth in the distance. She saw the Savior, his face full of compassion, speak slowly:
"The ringleader has already paid with her life. The seeds of human civilization are few. You are forgiven... Atone for your sins through meritorious service."
Then he added another sentence:
"That is an order."
After spending some time in this world, Shen Feng had come to understand that these Minstrels, who had evolved from the Salvation Army, were arguably the last remaining seeds of civilization in this world. Each one was a living library of knowledge passed down through generations, making them incredibly precious.
Since Ivanka had already taken her own life, there was no need for the remaining four to die as well.
Besides, letting them live would mean their inner shame would continue to torment them.
"Yes, Commander! Thank you for your heart as vast as the sea, for your forgiveness as boundless as the myriad stars!" Kris pulled the gun barrel from her mouth, stood up straight with her chest out, and spoke in a trembling voice, tears streaming down her face.
It was the Commander's order.
Even though she was overwhelmed with shame, whatever she thought no longer mattered. All that mattered was following the Commander's order.
Beside her, Hezi and the other two Minstrels also lowered their heads and said in trembling voices:
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Commander. We... we are so ashamed we could die..."
Shen Feng had now turned his head to survey the crowd. Frowning slightly, he said:
"All of you, get up. What's with all this kneeling at the drop of a hat? ...There is nothing worthy of your kneeling except for the noble virtues of human civilization. A savior must first save themself!"
Witch Tower was the first to stand. She made a fist with her right hand and struck her chest hard, her body trembling as she declared loudly:
"Yes, Commander!"
The Salvation Army's chest-thump salute had been almost forgotten by this world, but fortunately, she still remembered it.
The others present also rose to their feet one by one, saluting Shen Feng and shouting in a jumble:
"Yes, Savior!"
"All hail the Savior!"
"Commander!"
Before they knelt, their faces were full of terror; now that they were standing, they were all smiling.
The one had returned. They had witnessed a moment of miracle. Human civilization finally had its backbone, its guiding light, its morning star.
This was truly a day of great miracles.
Looking at all these expectant eyes, Shen Feng smiled faintly and said:
"The flame of civilization burns unceasingly in your hearts. I am gratified... From now on, the Steel Glory is your home."
As his voice fell, the arm of the Super Giant War Armor, the Steel Glory, rose completely out of the sea, displacing a massive amount of water that cascaded outwards like countless waterfalls.
On its arm and shoulder, which were hundreds of meters wide, hatches suddenly opened one after another, revealing brightly lit chambers within. They were bright and warm, far superior to the living conditions in Glory Market.
Due to their immense size, every Super Giant War Armor possessed numerous internal compartments that could serve as maintenance rooms or, when necessary, as independent living quarters.
Although Shen Feng couldn't repair the Steel Glory's legs right now, opening some of the upper compartments was quite simple.
Powered by the Fusion Reactor, it could provide its inhabitants with electrified living conditions. To the survivors of the Water World Apocalypse, this was practically Heaven.
"Our Savior!"
"Praise be to the Savior, thank you!"
"Humanity is saved..."
"Thank you for your mercy!"
"..."
Filled with gratitude, the people swarmed toward those bright chambers. At this moment, they felt like abandoned children who had finally received affection, almost unable to believe it was real.
Places like these only existed in the legendary era of ancient civilization. Although they had heard rumors of treasures within the Holy Corpses, they had never truly seen one, let alone dared to imagine it.
And now, they could actually live inside a Holy Corpse!
Amidst the chorus of praise, Witch Tower respectfully asked Shen Feng:
"Savior, when will the War of Salvation resume? I will turn my bones into your sharp sword and soak your armor with my blood until those beasts are driven from our home, Earth."
Shen Feng smiled faintly and said:
"No need to be so serious. I am the Savior, and I am also Shen. There is no difference... Next, follow me to the Cordillera Islands. I need an aircraft."
Witch Tower's expression changed, and she was just about to say something to Shen Feng when she heard Old Bill shout loudly:
"A ship! A big ship is coming! By the Savior! It's the kind of ship we saw in the Fog Sea!"
Shen Feng turned his head to look and saw the silhouette of a large ship appear on the distant horizon, roaring toward Glory Market's location.
It was an aircraft carrier.