Chapter 75: Sacrifice (3)
"There isn't any need anymore," Adam replied, raising the cane of bones using telekinesis. "They are too low-levelled for me, so they aren't valuable to me."
"But..."
"Our primary mission is to annihilate all followers of the Supreme God so that it may not cross over to this world," Adam said directly, attempting to use magic to coerce the cane. The cane shook violently, indicating that it wasn't strong enough to support magic.
Ophelia stepped forward and grabbed the cane from Adam's hand, crushing it.
Adam watched as Ophelia studied the crushed bone in her palm and asked, "What did you find?"
"This is a product of alchemy," she replied. "It's made of the bones of a young girl." Her voice was monotone, but everyone could hear the killing intent laced in her voice.
"This cane only has one function, which is turning the life forces of humans into energy," Ophelia concluded, brushing the powder off her.
"So, it isn't a medium used to summon the god?" Adam inquired.
"That can't be," the devil interjected. "I clearly felt that the priest was trying to commune with the god."
Adam agreed with the devil, since he concluded that a medium to channel the gods must exist. Otherwise, it would not be possible for the priests to obtain such powers. If that was the case, what was the reason, then?
Crystal recalled what the Black Mage said to her, and explained to everyone, "The Black Mage once said that in every world, creatures gain power. However, some native gods absorb power simply from belief, or the power of faith. Perhaps the Supreme God draws power from belief."
Adam nodded, but replied, "We don't have enough samples to jump to conclusions. We need to observe more."
The four of them followed the devil and flew towards the west, and soon, they encountered another cult.
This time, a different scene played before them.
The priest of the Supreme God Cult was a kind-hearted old man, wearing a white robe decorated with gold lace, suspended in the air.
"Do not cling onto your material possessions," the priest announced. "Greed and arrogance is human nature, and it is the human tendency to sin. However, when the Supreme God returns, he will wash away all our sins."
"He loves the world and cannot bear the suffering of this world. He said that whoever believes in him will be free from all pain, and he will wash away all of our sins."
The priest raised his arm, gently bringing a limbless man to the sky before him. The priest gently caressed his stumps, and the crowd watched as the man groaned in pain. To their surprise, his limbs started to grow again.
The village roared praises in unison, relieved that the Supreme God Cult was not as brutal as what was reported -- it was miraculous; kind; benevolent.
Adam's team hid behind the clouds, stunned at the scene before them. Perhaps a qualified mage could, but they have never heard of anyone who could heal and regenerate lost limbs. Otherwise, Frank wouldn't have to replace half his body with a mechanical body.
"Is this... real?" William muttered, thinking of his father.
"I don't know," Ophelia replied, confused.
The man looked at his body, whole again, and couldn't help but kneel in front of the priest. The priest gently placed his hand on his head and said loudly, "You used to be a heretic, but now your sins are washed away! The Supreme God is merciful, fraternal, and he has forgiven all of your sins and given you a new body!"
"I am your son, Supreme God," the man whispered, weeping.
"Good. If you trust the Supreme God, then he will never give up on you," the priest said, dropping the man.
The man fell to the ground, dying from the impact. The crowd immediately shrieked in fear, wondering why the priest did that.
The priest simply descended, hugging the corpse. The corpse was then enveloped in a red light.
As soon as the priest hugged the corpse, the man resurrected, and once again, he knelt before the priest, singing praises and kissing the priest's feet.
"Look at what the Supreme God is capable of," the priest trembled. "He will never give up on his believers. The dead shall rise, alive once more."
Boom!
The villagers were wildly convinced -- if regenerating broken limbs couldn't convince them, then resurrection would.
"Yes! I am willing to believe!"
"He is my god!"
"Please, heal my body!"
Every single villager willingly fell to their knees, believing in the Supreme God's power.
Adam's team couldn't help but doubt. This was incredibly different from the previous priest.