Chapter 239: The Eighth Evil God
This was an unexpected bonus.
Qin Chu glanced at his updated stats. Level 80, his attributes doubled, reaching astonishing heights.
Level 80 was a milestone.
Having passed this hurdle, even without Rage Explosion, he could now hold his own against Saint Monique, Augustus, and the others.
He still felt a bit strange about it, like winning the lottery. If it weren’t for the sapling stealing his experience, his level would be even higher.
Within his body, the sapling swayed its leaves. A third leaf had sprouted.
As Qin Chu had suspected, it was stealing his experience… but it felt wronged. It’s not just me! it thought. What about the others? Can’t you see them?
Heloise was also shocked by Qin Chu’s bizarre ability.
His earlier casualness had made her forget that he was a powerful Hero. Now she realized that if it weren’t for her beauty and figure, she might have met the same fate as Bilbo and the other Demon Beast.
What kind of ability was this? To be able to devour a Demon Beast’s power and convert it into his own?
She could sense that Qin Chu’s strength had increased dramatically.
Of course, she didn’t know that he could also devour the power of humans, even gods.
Qin Chu, pleased with his unexpected gains, stretched lazily and walked towards the temple.
Heloise, biting her lip, followed. She was his servant now.
At first, it had been because of the ring, the compulsion to obey. Then, it was because of his kindness, the comfort she felt in his presence, unlike with Diabolique.
And now, it was because of his overwhelming power.
Diabolique had no idea who he had messed with… although it was Qin Chu who had provoked him.
“Be careful…”
Shaye appeared behind Qin Chu. Heloise had always been curious about this woman who seemed to appear and disappear at will, but she had learned one thing from Diabolique: don’t ask questions you shouldn’t.
Shaye’s gaze was fixed on the temple in the distance. “I sense the Flame Witch’s aura within,” she said.
“The Divine Authority should also be there.”
Qin Chu nodded silently.
The Flame Witch was dangerous, capable of destroying an entire mountain range.
And she was mad, beyond reason.
Soon, they reached the temple.
It was a tall structure, once magnificent, now a crumbling ruin like the Temple of Storms, its entrance collapsed, the walls scarred by ancient battles, the ground covered in a thick layer of ash.
The vast temple, hundreds of meters tall and dozens of meters wide, seemed strangely empty.
Qin Chu unleashed his Holy Light, dispelling the gloom. He saw several wooden doors along the sides and at the far end of the temple, and he had no doubt that they would crumble to dust at the slightest touch.
Rows of chairs were arranged in the center, seemingly for believers attending some kind of gathering.
And on each chair sat a figure… formed from solidified lava.
Their lifeless, unmoving faces were a chilling sight. Even Heloise, a Demon Beast, felt a shiver of fear in this eerie environment, and she instinctively clutched Qin Chu’s sleeve, moving closer to him. Qin Chu glanced at her, thinking that this beautiful monster girl didn’t seem to realize how effective this small gesture was on men.
Perhaps it was the being who resided here, trying to recreate the former glory of the Flame Temple.
Qin Chu didn’t disturb the silent figures. His gaze swept over the surroundings, noting the faded emblems and carvings of the Fire God on the decaying walls.
At the far end of the hall, he saw a large table in the same style as the carvings and emblems.
He didn’t search here, unwilling to disturb this silent world.
Although she was mad, this scene must hold precious memories for her.
And there was probably nothing of value here anyway.
He continued forward, reaching a heavy stone door at the end of the hall.
It clearly wasn’t part of the original temple.
There were even traces of flowing lava on its surface… It was heavy, but that was nothing to Qin Chu. A grating sound echoed through the temple as he pushed it open.
Dust billowed, momentarily obscuring his vision.
A wave of heat washed over him, carrying ash and dust, making him sneeze.
The dust gradually settled.
He saw a long corridor, the floor seemingly scorched stone, lined with thick, red stone pillars, each topped with a large, unlit torch, their surfaces scarred by ancient battles, some even toppled.
The corridor was longer than he had expected. After walking for at least a hundred meters, he finally saw a different structure.
It was a tall tower, its steps leading upwards to an altar, seemingly where the Fire God was once worshipped. A single flame flickered on the altar.
Like everything else here, it was grand and imposing.
Qin Chu took a deep breath.
After a moment of hesitation, he began to ascend the steps, one by one, not flying directly upwards.
It took a long time, but he finally reached the top.
He smiled, bowing slightly, his body radiating a hazy Holy Light:
“Greetings, former Saintess of the Flame Temple, from a thousand years past…”
Before him, on the altar, was a graceful figure formed from dancing flames.
Within the flickering flames, he could see a pair of crimson eyes.
The flames above her head seemed like flowing hair.
And behind her was the Divine Authority that Diabolique had almost claimed.
This was the Flame Temple, the ancient temple dedicated to the Fire God. The Flame Witch’s identity was now clear. Like Violet, she was also a Saintess from a thousand years ago.
The Flame Witch didn’t respond, but she seemed less frantic than before, as if the separation from the Divine Authority had calmed her chaotic mind.
This was good news for Qin Chu.
She just stared at him, seemingly sensing the Holy Light emanating from him.
The Flame Witch was different from Violet. Violet had become a true ghost, while the Flame Witch existed as a fire spirit… another type of spirit. She wasn’t afraid of his Holy Light.
On the contrary, the gentle light seemed to soothe her.
Her raging heart calmed slightly.
It had been a long time since she had felt this… peace… the constant violence and madness within her subsiding.
The fiery figure moved towards Qin Chu.
Anthea frowned, wanting to stop her, but Qin Chu shook his head, signaling her not to worry, only telling Heloise and Anthea to stay back.
He could sense that the Flame Witch was very weak.
Having just caused the collapse of a mountain, her power was almost completely depleted. She couldn’t harm him now.
A wave of heat washed over him.
The Flame Witch lunged, her fiery form dissolving as she merged with Qin Chu.
And a deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind:
They are coming!
Who were “they”?
The beings from the Void?
Qin Chu felt his consciousness shift, entering a strange state.
Images flashed through his mind.
Figures, their faces blurred, argued fiercely in the starry sky.
The deep voice echoed again.
“They are coming… bringing destruction.”
“A bloody slaughter that will consume all, a madness that will shatter all sanity.”
“Their whispers are a declaration of war.”
“They will plunge our world into eternal darkness.”
“Should we fight, or flee? The will of the gods is divided. Resistance, or escape?”
Qin Chu understood. This was the oracle, delivered by the Fire God when he bestowed his Divine Authority upon the Flame Witch.
Then, the tone of the oracle suddenly shifted:
“Damn it, this way of speaking is terrible. Although the Water God said it’s more stylish, it doesn’t suit me…”
“My inheritor, listen carefully. Terrifying monsters from the Void have invaded this world.”
“The gods are divided. One faction wants to fight, to destroy those damned Evil Gods. The other faction wants to flee. Those eight Evil Gods are too powerful…”
“As they argued, that rambling woman stepped forward. She said she had seen Fate, that escape offered no hope.”
“That woman, she’s a charlatan. I never trusted her…”
Qin Chu was speechless.
Wasn’t he the Fire God? Calling another goddess a charlatan, was that really appropriate?
And wait, eight Evil Gods?
Weren’t there only seven in the Void?
Who was the eighth?
Leave a Reply