Chapter 591: Forty-Five Truth
All Wildfire Sect believers are hounds of Senluo.
When arriving at this conclusion, even Ivana could hardly believe it herself, because it was so insane that the moment she spoke it aloud, she couldn’t help but question whether she might be mistaken.
…No, it can’t be wrong.
Ivana reaffirmed her conviction.
After a brief silence, Ivana heard Nick chuckle softly.
“Interesting.” Nick looked at Ivana and asked with a smile, “Is there more? What else have you thought of?”
…Was that an admission?
Ivana pressed her lips tightly together.
This meant that the Wildfire Sect believer standing before her was indeed not human, but a hound, a real hound.
But then what? Why would they do such things?
This was the most crucial point, but Ivana already had an inkling of the answer, so as she organized her thoughts, she murmured, “You possess some kind of ability, or rather, a certain ritual, that allows you to transform into a human after claiming their flesh and blood, not just in appearance, but also their memories and… emotions.”
As she spoke these words, Ivana’s mind replayed the events of the previous night—grandmother telling her “to do the right thing.”
Strictly speaking, the person who said this wasn’t her grandmother, but the figure standing before her.
Connecting this to what this figure said to the dead Church Leader afterward, “Her obsession is too strong, I couldn’t entirely suppress it,” a conclusion could be drawn.
“But you need time to digest these memories and emotions,” Ivana said. “Am I not right?”
Nick couldn’t help applauding Ivana, still resembling so closely the way grandmother used to praise Ivana many years ago.
“As expected of my granddaughter.” Nick’s voice retained a kindly tone, though now tinged with a mix of mockery and cruelty. “But is it just my illusion? It seems like you’ve been avoiding addressing one question. Do you truly not know what our replacement ritual involves, or is it… that you don’t want to think about it?”
Ivana’s face turned pale instantly.
What the ritual involved—now that it had all come to this, how could she possibly not know?
A pack of hounds, in need of human flesh and blood, what else could they do?
Ivana knew the answer, but she still dared not think about it, dared not ponder over what these figures had done to her grandmother’s body.
“Quite delicious,” Nick suddenly remarked.
Ivana froze where she stood.
“I mean, your grandmother.” Nick licked his chapped lips with a crimson tongue, displaying a cruel, bloodthirsty grin. “She tasted really quite good.”
“…Shut up.” Ivana’s voice trembled.
“Hm? Why would you want me to shut up?” Nick said with a smile. “Wasn’t it you who brought that flesh and blood to me? Did you really not think about what would happen?”
“Oh, it really is interesting, you know? Watching a little girl bring her grandmother’s flesh and blood before me, pleading for my help to save her grandmother…”
“Shut up, you!” Unable to control herself any longer, Ivana hurled her last weapon—a hunter’s hatchet—toward Nick’s head.
But in the end, she was not a hunter, even with Nick standing there unmoving, she still failed to hit him.
The axe embedded itself in a large tree beside Nick, without interrupting his speech.
“…Your hope is the best seasoning, it makes my meal all the more savory.”
Nick’s smile grew brighter, while on the other side, Ivana was on the verge of breaking down.
“Why…” she cried out desperately at Nick, “Why would you do such things?! Aren’t you the hounds of the God of Senluo?! Why betray the God of Senluo?!”
Another thunderous roar echoed as if the heavens were howling, and the rain fell harder still.
Upon hearing the words “God of Senluo,” Nick’s smile began to fade.
“Why betray the God of Senluo,” Nick spoke slowly, “What a good question.”
Because the voice coming from Nick’s mouth was not that of her grandmother, nor the Nick Church Leader from her memories.
It was a voice of greater authority, more chaotic, as if awakening from a long slumber.
“Simple, because He is mad. He wants everyone dead,” Nick said, “And I would be the first to die.”
“…I don’t understand what you mean!” Ivana said, “Why would the God of Senluo want you dead?”
“I said, it’s not just me He wants dead, He wants everyone dead,” Nick replied. “His goal has always been insane, but He cannot accomplish it alone. He needs extra power, needs many willing to sacrifice their lives for this goal. Whether they are hunters or hounds, they are all tools for achieving this aim, or… Weapons, yes, weapons. If possible, He’d prefer everyone to become His weapons, without feelings, without thoughts, discarded when worn out. But we are not, which is why He emphasizes other things, like trust and courage, especially… after I betrayed Him.”
Nick rarely spoke at such length.
And Ivana stood there, mouth slightly agape, suddenly realizing exactly who was speaking with her at this moment.
“You are…” Ivana trembled as she spoke.