Chosen One's Archpriestess Veronica/Story

## Veronica

* Front
* Back
* Sideways

**Archpriestess Veronica** is the founder of the infamous "The Chosen One" cult. Her central objective revolves around discovering the prophesied "Chosen One" a heroic figure destined to rescue the world from an impending doom. Driven by fervent faith, she exhibits fanatical determination, willing to defy moral boundaries in her unwavering pursuit of these goals.

Externally, Veronica projects an image of kindness and naivety, serving as a leader who guides people towards faith and devotion through her unwavering religious convictions. Her innocence extends to the point where she would approach even a foe of overwhelming size to share her preachings. However, when faced with nonbelievers who reject the idea of the Chosen One, Veronica's demeanor takes a drastic turn. Witnesses claim that her eyes emit an eerie glint as she compels dissenters to kneel and repent. Another occasion that triggers a similar sparkle in her eyes is when she encounters a potential Chosen One candidate.

## Biography

### Early life

"A lone woman" which is speculated to be Veronica believed that the world's end was approaching. She didn't have any evidence backing up her claims and at the same time nobody could change her mind. That's why she was condemned by everyone. But in the end her strong faith was paid off because "she was chosen" by the entity called "great will". That was the exact moment when she first heard about the "prophecy", which later becomes the core teaching of the cult. She ran away from her home barefoot that day and completely abandoned her past.

### Creation of the cult

Following the initial onslaught from the Invaders, Veronica emerged as the leader of The Chosen One, a newly established cult. Swiftly, she propagated the cult through missionary activities. In her role as archpriestess, Veronica authored the Book of Prophecies, drawing inspiration from a prophecy she had heard. Simultaneously, she led expeditions alongside cult disciples to locate the Chosen One's traces, focusing on the quest for Saintess Clara, the hero's key ally. Despite two unsuccessful attempts, the third expedition proved successful. Despite the success, this particular mission posed a grave risk to the cult's existence. Veronica awakened Saintess Clara from her hypersleep pod. As a result, a massive explosion occured at the site, leaving Veronica and her female disciple as the only survivors. After that, Veronica subjected Saintess Clara to brainwashing and torture, utilizing the sharp edge of the Demon God's fragment to extract her Holy Power. The ordeal left Clara significantly diminished in mass and bound to a wheelchair, earning her the title of "The Bound Child". The Holy Power was employed to enhance the followers of The Chosen One, transforming them into monstrous creatures. Additionally, it might have played a role in bestowing divine powers upon Veronica.

### Expedition

Veronica's subsequent objectives involved the pursuit of the actual Chosen One, and to achieve this, she devised trials set in Dungeon Kingdom, Shen City, Mount Shivering, and the Desert of Madness. These trials, however, were not arbitrary occurrences; Veronica directed the cult to meticulously orchestrate them. The cult, under Veronica's orders, instigated the explosions in Dungeon Kingdom, creating cracks that allowed abyssal demons to breach and attack the citizens. Similarly, they were responsible for the manifestation of arachnoid monsters and the enigmatic Calamity Egg at the center of Shen City. The intricacies of Veronica's orchestration remain shrouded in mystery, but according to Eva, they have waited for suitable time to enact their plans.

Following The Knight's destruction of the Calamity Egg, Veronica engages in a discussion about their remarkable achievement with Dolores. Her next appearance in the narrative occurs when The Knight triumphs over the Dragon on Mount Shivering. At this juncture, Veronica expresses eager anticipation for their inevitable encounter.

When The Knight finally confronts Veronica within The Chosen One's church, she extends an invitation for them to accept a blue crystal that has absorbed the souls of two cult followers, right before their eyes. Veronica asserts that this crystal holds the power to significantly enhance The Knight's abilities, a crucial asset in their shared quest to save the world. However, upon The Knight's refusal of the offer, and an inappropriate comment from Eva regarding Veronica's faith, she labels The Knight as a "false Chosen One." In response, she commands Clara to eliminate The Knight, while Veronica herself makes a hasty escape.

Later, The Knight finds her and Dolores in the Chosen One Sanctum. Veronica expresses her desire to get rid of the Knight because she considers them a “false Chosen One”. Dolores was hesitant to accept this outcome, but Veronica hastened to remind her of her place. Dolores was about to leave, but then she noticed the Knight, who accidentally overheard entire conversation. Veronica tells Dolores to back off, starting a fight which she loses. But lucky for her, as The Knight was about to deliver the final blow, she is saved by Dolores, and Veronica escapes once again. Currently her whereabouts are unknown.

## References

1. ↑ Veil of Servitude Curio
2. ↑ Paimon's Fragment I Curio
3. ↑ District Chief's Diary Curio