Witch’s Night: Chapter 26 Familiar Weaponry
“The Church of the End Gods is retreating…”
In the Oak Council Chamber, the Elders were surprised to find that almost all the Calamities were disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
And the seemingly endless stream of cultists that kept appearing was also gradually decreasing.
This crisis… seemed to be coming to an end.
Only Norian’s expression remained serious, because Granny Zoya had sent him a private message, saying that not only did these cultists possess combat power above “Destruction” level, but she was also no match for them.
Norian was naturally grateful to this Granny who had protected Lannister for many years.
But he also knew very well that Granny Zoya was just a straggler among “Destruction” level ability users… Basically, whenever she encountered a “Destruction” level opponent, she would be defeated.
Besides Granny Zoya, Lannister still had many trump cards they hadn’t used, but since everything was improving, there seemed to be no need to use them anymore.
But… a “Destruction” level cultist, the thought itself was terrifying. How could Norian relax like the other Elders?
“Magistrate Norian,” Madam Susan Moira said, “Since the crisis has been resolved, please lift the lockdown on the Oak Council Chamber.”
Norian turned and looked deeply at the gray-haired, elderly noblewoman, making Susan Moira feel a little uneasy, before looking away.
“No, maintain the lockdown.”
“Norian!” As soon as he finished speaking, Kenya slammed the table and stood up, his face full of anger. “I don’t know where your baseless suspicions of the Elders came from. Even if the Ember Formation was invaded, it can’t be concluded that it was the Elders’ doing!
“But now you are repeatedly and deliberately locking down the Council of Elders. Even though the situation in Lannister has been resolved, you still insist on doing this. I have to suspect whether you are colluding with the cult, intending to dismantle the Lannister Council of Elders!”
Norian glanced at Kenya. “Do I need a lockdown to dismantle it?”
“…”
Kenya was momentarily speechless. He wanted to retort, but he also knew very well that with Norian’s methods, if he wanted to purge dissidents from the Council of Elders, he wouldn’t need such means.
The Constantine rebellion, which had been suppressed decades ago, and the decades of obedience and non-interference in political affairs by the noble families, weren’t achieved through mere words.
Norian didn’t reveal the news of Zoya’s defeat, because he still suspected there was a mole among these Elders, so he just said indifferently,
“Maintain the lockdown and let the younger generation resolve it. Haven’t you always said that the new generation of Lannister is a lost generation? You can see how much potential these young people have.”
He always believed in Lannister’s future; it was just that they hadn’t reached that point in time yet.
……
“Norian Hartstead, as expected of the ruthless man who didn’t hesitate to purge his own family during the reforms, he could actually make such a bold decision…”
Hamid Surian’s eyes sharpened slightly as he saw the report sent by his subordinate.
“It seems our fellow traveler in the Council of Elders won’t be able to help us for a while. It’s even more unfortunate that he missed the precious opportunity to hear the oracle.”
“But… Bishop, many of our fellow travelers have died at the hands of the adventurers summoned by Lannister,” the subordinate said with a serious expression. “Even without the support of the Ember Formation, Lannister’s combat power is still not to be underestimated.”
“Don’t worry, everything is under control. The sacrificed fellow travelers have merely returned to the Gods before us.” Hamid Surian said indifferently. “When we strive to fulfill our mission, the Gods will protect us, protect the future of this world.”
He looked into the distance, the starry sky on the horizon dazzling as ever.
A faint melody seemed to be swirling around his ears, and Hamid Surian couldn’t help but close his eyes, carefully feeling the stirrings brought by this melody.
“Listen, Eli, listen to this beautiful melody, it’s the call of the Gods,” Hamid Surian whispered, each word seemingly reciting something. “Our Gods, the ten guardians of the world, Their path still extends, the fleeting years of mortals are but a moment, but the world needs eternity.”
“I… I hear it! Bishop, is this the voice of the Gods?”
Eli’s body trembled slightly, not only with excitement, but also with a hint of fear.
The followers of the Church of the End Gods were also mortals, and once mortals came into contact with such incomprehensible existences… they would feel uncontrollable fear.
“No, this is our most esteemed guest showcasing her singing voice.” Hamid Surian looked towards the building not far away, the dilapidated residential building where he had lived for decades, his eyes shining with unusual brilliance. “How pleasant… I can’t wait any longer, what oracle have the Gods brought us?”
He started walking, and his subordinate, Eli, followed closely, his expression inevitably nervous.
Eli was just an ordinary follower. Being brought by Hamid to listen to the oracle was purely coincidental.
Many followers were active in this area; their duty was to relay information to other followers when communication through the Ember Formation was impossible.
Eli encountering Hamid was just good luck. Since they had met, Hamid didn’t hesitate to invite Eli to participate in this historic moment.
However, within the Church of the End Gods, there wasn’t actually any hierarchy. Even the Bishop was also called a fellow traveler.
Because in a world destined for destruction, identity and status were meaningless.
The reason Hamid was called Bishop was because he could provide more help for the Gods’ mission, and the same was true for the other Bishops.
The title of “Bishop” was more like a responsibility they bore.
Their steps seemed slow, but in just a few strides, they reached the residential building.
Hamid didn’t rush to the second floor where Luo Yan was. Although his yearning for the oracle was hard to contain, he wasn’t in a hurry.
The hopeless wait had lasted for hundreds of years, so what was a little while longer?
One had to be pious, not only for the Gods, but also for oneself.
But when Hamid and Eli arrived at the doorway with a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and forced calmness, they were dumbfounded.
“This… Bishop?”
Eli looked at the empty doorway, stunned.
When the Bishop had gathered the followers to discuss the operation, he had also been to this inconspicuous residential building in the bustling city.
But at that time, there was a door…
“Our guest seems… a bit rough.”
Hamid, as expected of a knowledgeable, centuries-old man, quickly regained his composure despite the unexpected situation.
Just a demolished door, no need to panic.
Although the demolition was a bit… uh… peculiar?
The door, severed by a spatial rift, formed a perfectly round hole, even taking out a corner of the wall next to it.
If only the guest had been willing to turn the doorknob. Because of the barrier, the door of the residential building had never been locked… Hamid thought so, stepping into the residential building with an indifferent expression.
Eli hurriedly followed, still looking back at the large hole in the wall with lingering fear.
Destroying a door wasn’t difficult, but the question was, what kind of power was needed to destroy it to this extent…
“There are traces of the barrier being triggered, but this barrier isn’t a threat to our guest.” Hamid observed the surroundings and said with a hint of appreciation. “She’s very smart, she didn’t touch the truly dangerous parts of the barrier.”
“Bishop, what barrier?”
Eli asked, puzzled.
“The fact that Cecilia possesses divine power… shouldn’t be a secret.” Hamid exhaled, his mood complicated when he mentioned the name. “This barrier is constructed using the divine power emanating from her, and this entire residential building is enveloped in her power.”
Using the method of enhancing demonic power to counteract its erosion, this approach, whether in theory or in practice, was quite insane.
Especially on a young child. A single mistake could lead to instant death, and even the Gods couldn’t save her.
The best way to maintain balance was… to use external objects.
Hamid had infiltrated this residential building decades ago and turned it into the Lannister base of the Church of the End Gods, carrying out large-scale modifications.
Although it looked ordinary from the outside, the inside had completely changed.
The sturdy walls could withstand “Peril” level attacks, and the entire building was filled with the Gods’ runic circuits, capable of self-healing when damaged.
This was no longer a house, but a refined artifact.
Cecilia was now connected to this artifact in some way. The artifact was filled with the raging power emanating from her, bearing the cost of the imbalance for her.
And this overflowing divine power was collected and utilized by Hamid. The barrier on the first floor was just a part of it.
“In short, Cecilia is very important to me, in every sense… it’s true.”
Hamid’s eyes dimmed slightly. At the same time, they had arrived at the staircase.
The melody in their ears had faded away at some point, but the stirrings brought by the aura of the Gods lingered.
Hamid collected his thoughts, straightened his clothes, and his expression became solemn.
He lifted his foot and walked up the stairs step by step, each step filled with piety and faith, like a pilgrimage to the second floor.
Eli, walking behind him, couldn’t help but feel reverence as he looked at the Bishop’s aged yet grand figure.
Yes, this was their Bishop, the one who revealed the truth, leading the followers and human civilization towards their destined destruction, one of the three Bishops of the Church of the End Gods, Hamid Surian.
Just looking at this figure, one could feel the Bishop’s greatness.
As Eli was still immersed in this pious atmosphere, still gazing at Hamid’s back, he suddenly saw a sack fall from the sky and land directly on Hamid’s head.
Accompanied by several light and pleasant voices, these voices were clearly saying…
“Hey! Miss Luo Yan, I caught him!”
“Mm.”
“Um, Grandpa Bishop…”
……
Time rewound to a short while ago.
“Are you saying… human experimentation?” Chris’s eyes widened, staring at the timid Cecilia. “She’s an experimental subject?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Luo Yan nodded. “She is indeed a God’s Chosen, but not a normal one.”
“Grandpa Bishop seems to have said that Cecilia is a God’s Chosen or something…”
Cecilia cautiously peeked out and said weakly, “But, God of Hope, aren’t all God’s Chosen bestowed by you?”
“First of all, I am not the God of Hope, and secondly, your God of Hope can’t bestow this kind of power. It’s innate, completely belonging to you.”
Luo Yan squatted down and carefully explained to Cecilia.
“But Grandpa Bishop said…”
“Let’s put aside your Grandpa Bishop for now; we’re talking about your situation.”
Luo Yan had a headache. This little girl named Cecilia mentioned Grandpa Bishop in every other sentence. It seemed the cult’s brainwashing was quite effective.
“Oh.”
Cecilia nodded seriously, becoming obedient.
Mainly because Grandpa Bishop had said to listen to the Gods.
The God of Hope was also a God, so Cecilia would be obedient.
“You said she’s not normal…”
Chris looked at the sickly girl who kept shrinking back. “What’s not normal?”
Luo Yan didn’t answer immediately. She hesitated for a moment, blocked Cecilia’s hearing, and then said,
“A normal God’s Chosen, in her situation, should already be dead.”
“Hmm?”
Chris was about to make a surprised expression, but quickly controlled herself.
“Why?”
She whispered, her gaze falling on the trembling Cecilia.
“The demonic power she possesses is probably… at ‘Peril’ level.”
Before Chris could show a shocked expression, Luo Yan continued,
“But her body simply can’t withstand demonic power of that intensity. If she were a normal God’s Chosen, she would already be dead in this situation.”
“So… she’s still alive now because of that Bishop?” Chris pondered for a moment and said, “Although it seems inappropriate for me to say this given my identity, but from the looks of it, this Bishop is actually a good person… at least to her.”
“No, think about it, how could a girl of this age possess ‘Peril’ level power?” Luo Yan said in a deep voice. “The only explanation is that the reason her power is so strong is because of the Bishop’s deliberate actions.
“Powerful, unstable power, suppressed in some way from acting up, and once the restriction is lifted, it will completely lose control… Doesn’t that sound familiar?”
“Ice, Ice Coffin Weapon?”
Chris murmured in disbelief.
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