“You didn’t see the layer of dirt I scrubbed off just now.”
Ashe shrugged. “Last night, I was rolling around in the rain, fighting with the Sanctuary. I was filthy and exhausted. Even if the Four Pillars Cult barged in, or if the gods themselves ca after , I’m still having this bath!”
Though Igor was also enjoying the bath, he couldn’t help but say, “If we could use this ti to find an escape route…”
“Escape? How?” Harvey put down his plate, belching contentedly. “Don’t be fooled by the emptiness here; there are thirteen sorcerers on guard outside, one of them a Sanctuary Sorcerer. Even if you wanted to pee, they’d send soone to hold it for you. Where’s your chance to escape?”
“I’m a ntal sorcerer skilled in the Dominance Sect,” Igor said coldly. “I never need soone to leave gaps, and a Con Artist never counts on soone not guarding their wallet.”
“But how many can you control?” Harvey replied nonchalantly. “And can you control a Sanctuary? Besides, the Four Pillars Cult has likely surrounded the Tribulation Fire Chapel. Any escape route has surely been blocked. Ashe’s suggestion is correct-rather than racking our brains for a strategy, it’s better to relax in a bath, recharge, and wait for fate to serve us a feast.”
“Interesting. Usually, I’m the one who bathes the most often; you usually use embalming as cleaning. Now you’re aware of the benefits of a bath?” Igor laughed in exasperation. “Ashe, as the First Gospel, will undoubtedly attract the highest level of attention, but you won’t. You clearly have the ability and opportunity to find a way out instead of countering my suggestion with nebulous values!”
“You’re too scared of dying,” Harvey shook his head. “You weren’t ntally prepared, so why did you co along? Regret is a blemish on your profession as a Con Artist, isn’t it?”
“And you’re too eager to die. But as a necromancer, I can understand that-who wouldn’t want to soak in embalming fluid?” Igor’s voice was full of sarcasm. “I didn’t intend to co; I just got dragged into this while trying to save Anfel.”
“…I’m sorry,” Ashe almost sank into the water. “It’s my fault for getting you involved this ti.”
The two were taken aback, ignoring Ashe’s words.
“…Just consider it was for Anfel,” Harvey said. “But instead of fantasizing about us making a clean getaway, think about how we’re going to fight our way out.”
“Combat is necessary, but it’s not the goal-it’s a ans, a bargaining chip,” Igor stated. “If the Four Pillars Cult can truly annihilate the Tribulation Fire Chapel, chances are we won’t be able to escape. But we can surrender.”
“Surrender?”
“If the Gospel thinks I can build a new Four Pillars Cult from nothing, why can’t I integrate into the existing Four Pillars Cult here, and even seize power when the opportunity arises?” Igor was already shifting his mindset. “If you can’t beat them, join them. It’s very reasonable. So even if we have to break through head-on, we need to show our value. Think of it as a job interview in a foreign land.”
“…Whatever,” Harvey lowered his eyes. “As long as you and Ashe agree.”
Tension.
Panic.
Confusion.
None of them would admit it, but Harvey and Igor were indeed affected by these negative emotions. Even though they were a necromancer and a ntal sorcerer skilled at emotional adjustnt, they couldn’t be immune to the influence of an unfamiliar environnt. Especially after finally getting accustod to the Gospel Kingdom, being suddenly thrown into this strange land would make anyone irritable. Even cats have stress responses.
In this light, Annan forcing them into a car filled with anesthetic spray right after capturing them seed rather considerate-they were too exhausted to even have the capacity to worry about negative emotions.
Harvey and Igor didn’t really have issues with each other, or rather, their mutual disdain wasn’t anything new. They were just using a familiar person to relieve their ntal stress, hence the explosive conversations. Blaming and deflecting anger is indeed a quick way for humans to reduce stress.
But as a Rust Crow and a Ghost King, they were both quick to adjust their psychological states. In comparison, the person who seed completely unworried about the current situation was quite strange.
“Ashe, why do you seem completely unconcerned?” Igor asked. “Do you have a way out of here? Perhaps so trump card prepared by Gosdeya?”
“No, no,” Ashe waved his hand with a bitter smile. “If I had sothing like that, I’d have taken you guys out of here already. No way I’d be staying here. But I’m really not that worried.”
“To put it diplomatically, I’ve weathered a lot of storms. To put it bluntly, I’ve been beaten down by fate to the point where I don’t even bother grumbling anymore.” He shrugged. “Prison, the Blood Moon Tribunal, prison break, escaping the Blood Moon, being sold by Annan, working for Annan, becoming a clansman of Senhaeser, being Belldate’s dog, attempting to assassinate the Princess, becoming the First Gospel… and that’s only half of it.”
“Though our current predicant seems hopeless, which of my past experiences was any easier? Even if I were a Lala Fatty, by now I’d have grown into a Blade Fish Dragon. Besides…”
“Besides what?”
Ashe stood up from the bath, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around himself. Looking at them, he said, “Although I feel a bit guilty saying this, I sincerely think it’s great to have dragged you two into this ss.”
“A necromancer who desecrates corpses and a Con Artist who plays with people’s hearts. Embarking on an unknown journey with you two…” The Cult Leader couldn’t help but laugh. “(* ▽*) It’s truly reassuring.”
“To put it nicely, it’s about eliminating harm for the people. To put it bluntly, even if we all die, at least I’ll have company.”
At this mont, Igor suddenly reached out and grabbed Ashe by the ankle, dragging him back into the bath, causing a splash. Ashe’s curses were drowned in water. As soon as he resurfaced, Harvey pushed him back down. Now the Cult Leader was enraged too; he was also proficient in the Water Sect. How dare these two ss with him?
Ashe, like a Blade Fish Dragon, dived underwater and pulled the other two down with him. The three Sanctuary Sorcerers fought in the bath as if it were a cosmic battle, until the very essence of the universe was at stake. When half the water in the bath was gone, the three of them reluctantly wrapped themselves in towels and walked away.
But Igor and Harvey seed to have been assimilated by Ashe. The worries and confusion in their expressions had significantly lessened, replaced by a newfound confidence.
Just then, Ashe revealed an encouraging speculation: “You don’t need to be so tense. The Tribulation Fire Chapel probably has a trump card against the Four Pillars Cult.”
Igor asked, “Why do you think that?”
“Because the First Gospel’s power is in intelligence, not combat ability,” Ashe explained. “When you’re being chased by a vicious dog, do you need a long staff or a handbook on ‘How to Beat a Vicious Dog with a Staff’? The fact that the Tribulation Fire Chapel is thrilled about summoning the latter ans…”
Igor suddenly understood, “They have the staff to beat the dog, but they just can’t wield it effectively!”
Indeed, things were exactly as Ashe had predicted.
When they changed clothes and walked out of the palace, a red-robed priest was already waiting for them. “First Gospel, the Divine Hosting Ritual is ready. The beings of Tribulation Fire Chapel long for your blessings, and the heretic scoundrels fear your thunder.”
Harvey took the initiative to ask, “What is the Divine Hosting Ritual?”
“It’s a ceremony to draw upon the power of the Divine Spirit Demi-God,” explained the red-robed priest. “The power of the Tribulation Fire Chapel’s Divine Spirit will join forces with the First Gospel.”
“Hosting a Divine Spirit?!” Igor was taken aback. “So you actually possess a Divine Spirit?”
The red-robed priest glanced at Ashe to see if he had any intention of explaining, and upon confirming that he didn’t, the priest elaborated, “It’s not a true Divine Spirit, but a power that is just one step away from becoming a true Divine Spirit.”
“In our Land of Senlo, everyone possesses a form of divinity, and anyone can beco a Demi-God. During the Gods’ Dawn period a century ago, Senlo had a grand scene with eight hundred Demi-Gods coexisting!”
“But not everyone can use the power of a Demi-God. Ordinary sorcerers can only borrow the brilliance of a Demi-God. To counter the Four Pillars’ heretics, we must fully unleash the power of the Demi-God!” The red-robed priest looked at Ashe with fervent eyes, “It’s said that the First Gospel can command any Divine Spirit Demi-God. Please join
in the Divine Hosting Ritual, and then you shall wield the overwhelming divine power of the Tribulation Fire Chapel!”
Ashe blinked, and soon after his freshly bathed back started sweating again.
He had not expected that after finally escaping the First Gospel’s divine corruption, he would still face the fate of being hosted by a Divine Spirit.
Moreover, the devotees were crowding tightly around, the subtle sounds of battle echoed from outside, and the urgency in the red-robed priest’s eyes was unmistakable. He had no chance whatsoever to delay or hesitate!
There was truly no choice but to comply!
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