The War of Absolution was commonly believed to be nothing of the sort. The world had become so agnostic and so overwhelmed with personal technology that most people could not comprehend a power higher than broadband Internet.

Yet here Father Kris was, steps from the breach into the underworld, on his forsworn mission to recover the Ark of the Covenant. His mighty throng of warriors, each bearing the holy emblem of the Pope himself burgeoned behind him. The boring machine had carved a hundred foot wide swath through the base of the mountain and the Pastoral Knights mustered in columns back nearly a mile.

“Here, now, we take our first step toward the final confrontation.” He started shouting down to his commanders. “This is the rite of passage for us all, to be tried by fire, at the foot of Satan himself and emerge victorious!” The rallying cries began, the din echoed through the tunnel and gave comfort to Father Kris. He turned away from their view, kissed his rosary and stepped through the opening.