Chapter 182

Chapter 182

Indeed, that series of bizarre actions and words were all part of God on Earth's strategy to buy time.

After all, casting spells also required a casting period.

Dr. Fors, standing behind him, was utterly perplexed, as were the players in the live stream.

"What happened? I don't understand why they just believed them like that?"

"?? What did I miss?"

God on Earth casually posted the system notification he had received earlier, which only added to the confusion of the players.

"???? Why, big shot?"

"Hypnosis? When did you learn that, big shot?"

"Black Cat: Was it a spell?"

"God Among Us: Indeed, that Cardinal taught me after I rendered service to the Church ^-^"

"It's not uncommon for cultists to have magical abilities; players encountered this when they fought against them before. It's no surprise that God Among Us, having been promoted by the Cardinal, learned a spell or two."

"Druid: Ah, I thought we were the first to become a Wizard qwq"

"God Among Us: You indeed are. To become a Wizard, you need to learn three spells, right? In the game, I only learned this Hypnosis spell. The old fellow said he'd teach me the other two once the school stabilizes."

"Crazy Not: ...Such a familiar skill of dangled promises."

"Well, it's not surprising, considering the great deeds the big shot has done before."

"Black Cat: But wait, how can you use a spell with this character card? This card doesn't seem to have that skill, does it?"

Indeed! Many players realized that while God Among Us might have had the ability in their original character card, in this instance, all players were using predefined cards, which should make them more or less ordinary.

"God Among Us: Actually, it's quite simple. I memorized the incantation for the spell... Though, I didn't expect it to work. I had no choice but to take a chance."

Back then, God Among Us, driven by some unspoken intention, attempted to cast the spell in reality. During the Cardinal's lesson on Hypnosis, they carefully noted and memorized the pronunciation, though, as expected, it didn't yield any results in reality.

Earlier, when he cast it, he had adopted a desperate mindset, hoping that if the game was truly that free, it might work. Then he saw the system notifications for Intelligence and Willpower checks, both of which he passed with difficulty, resulting in the successful casting of the spell.

After sharing this process in the live stream, the players suddenly understood.

"Damn, there's actually such a trick?"

"Well, if I knew all the spell incantations, wouldn't I be able to cast them freely?"

"Black Cat: I do know about this. Professor Alders mentioned that ordinary people can indeed learn spells, but the success rate is very low, and the cost is quite high. He advises everyone to proceed with caution."

Despite Black Cat's warning, the allure of spells remained strong among the players, especially since a big shot had just demonstrated how to use them to turn a crisis around.

The Hypnosis spell's effect ensured that the targets would not feel anything amiss for the next few minutes and would follow the deity's instructions. Thus, God on Earth had the leisure to respond to the chat questions. However, to Fors standing behind him, everything seemed surreal.

"F-fella, you..." Fors stared in disbelief at the scene before him, glancing at the hypnotized cultists and then at God on Earth's back. "What have you done to them?"

God on Earth turned his head and saw the look of shattered worldview on Fors' face. He smiled slightly. "Just a little trick."

"Hold on, wait a minute," Fors stepped forward, grabbed the cultist by the collar, and slapped him. Yet, the cultist remained unbothered by Fors' actions, only looking blankly in the direction of God on Earth, like a soulless puppet. This made the military doctor, who didn't believe in gods, doubt himself for the first time. "Did you drug them? Don't tell me... magic actually exists in this world?"

God Among Men evaded the topic with a subtle air: "Doctor Fors, let's part ways soon. I might have to return to the church."

Fors's brow furrowed deeply. "Didn't you say your beliefs differ?"

He thought that God Among Men was regretting leaving the church.

"Yes, that's why I need to go back and inform the others. Besides, it would be more convenient to search for your daughter through the church's intelligence network."

What God Among Men didn't mention was that the system had just issued another prompt.

As a heretic role card, his mission was to attend the 'Subordinate Feast' that the two believers had mentioned earlier.

Even if the system hadn't given him a task, God Among Men still wanted to return to the church to gather more information. The Salvation Congregation clearly had major issues, and while following Fors could save lives, the church's clues would no longer involve God Among Men.

Upon hearing this, Fors's expression became rather complicated. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but God Among Men gently released his grip on the believers' collars. "Also, Doctor Fors, regardless of whether magic exists in this world or not, it is not a panacea for saving the people... A doctor like you is what truly saves them."

"Well, well, what a man."

"Big shot, you sure know how to speak."

"Oh dear, who could resist such persuasion?"

Fors was genuinely taken aback now, his eyelids twitching as the muscles in his face visibly lifted, a sign of his mood easing. Then, he straightened the corners of his mouth. "Your church really has a rebellious faction within its ranks?"

He had initially thought it was just a casual bluff from God on Earth.

"Yes," God on Earth responded, his eyes on the live chat. "There may be others who approach you later. They're all opponents of the Church, like me, hoping to find alternative ways to save the people here. If they mention my name, you can trust them for the time being."

It was clear that God on Earth had no intention of monopolizing this NPC. The New Harbor dungeon was too vast for one player to explore alone. Collaboration among players was key, just as the Tax Collector had shared the intelligence he gathered about the Church with the livestream viewers.

"Hehe, thanks, big shot!"

"Such generosity, thank you!"

"Everyone, if you want to continue with Dr. Fors' storyline, remember to coordinate your dialogue so as not to arouse his suspicion. Let's cooperate and overcome this challenge together."

"Got it, got it. We've got experience, it's just acting, hahaha."

Unaware of how many cultists would seek him out in the future, Fors casually agreed. "Sure, since you're recommending them."

Recalling the divine being's actions in the past, a strange expression flickered across his face. He glanced at the two controlled cultists again. "How long can this last?"

"Not for too long, so I must be on my way."

...

Three hours earlier.

As players logged into the Rerun instance, Lane also arrived in the correct era. However, the location of his landing seemed peculiar.

Lane gazed at the little boy sitting in the center of the room, deep in thought.

There was no doubt that the boy was still Amos, but this Amos appeared to be around four or five years older than the one Lane had seen in the illusion, roughly ten years old, engrossed in drawing on the floor with great interest.

The white puppy reappeared by Lane's side, its mouth opening to urge, "Lord Lane, you could eliminate this 'me' right now. We're already approaching the Day of Chaos. If you act now, it might not even occur."

Lane looked at Amos with a half-smile. "Have you forgotten that I cannot drastically alter the past?"

Amos suddenly understood. "You're right. In that case, please kill me after the final Sacred Feast concludes. I believe that would be an opportune moment."

Lane shot Amos a sidelong glance. "You really aren't afraid of death, huh? You should know that if you die in the Gap of Dreams and I alter history, you'll die too, with no future beyond the age of ten."

Amos smiled. "Of course I know. As you said, but if my death can propel you to greater heights, then this life isn't worth holding onto."

Lane couldn't help glancing at him again, confirming that Amos wasn't lying.

This was what puzzled Lane. Despite Amos's current behavior as a devout follower, pure and unadulterated, Lane hadn't received his true belief. It was as if the man had lost that ability long ago.

"Lord Lane, if you have no intention of killing 'me' right now, may I make a small request?" Amos asked. "Consider it the final wish of this wicked one, on the brink of death."

Lane replied, "Go ahead and tell me."

"&*%$ Anu, set... &^%$" Ten-year-old Amos recited the last line of the summoning incantation, opened his eyes, and stared intently at the summoning circle on the ground. "I offer all that I am. Please, descend into reality."

One second passed, then two.

"Sigh, I guessed wrong again," the young Amos muttered, angrily erasing the summoning circle on the floor. He sighed, looked up, and his eyes narrowed abruptly.

Before him stood a full-length mirror. Normally, it would only reflect Amos's own image, but today, it showed an unfamiliar figure.

A figure clad in attire reminiscent of a western court stood silently in the mirror, facing him. Its snow-white hair was adorned with coiled ram horns, its face veiled with white cloth, and beneath it lay the body of a sheep: "Did you summon me?"

Amos, the child, gazed at the figure in awe.

Having delivered that line, Lane felt an urge to dig a hole on the spot from embarrassment, regretting his decision to comply with Amos's request, to play the part of a summoned deity or something. No, he couldn't do it at all.

However, he watched helplessly as the boy's eyes lit up with excitement, springing to his feet to hug the hem of Lane's robe: "You answered my call. Are you a demon?"

"Indeed, I am... Hmm?" Lane instinctively looked down at the white puppy by his feet. Wasn't it supposed to be a god?

The little white dog shifted its gaze guiltily.

Now, Lane understood, and his eyelids couldn't help twitching. So, this Church Saint was trying to summon devils in his room when he was a child?

But now that he had made his appearance, Lane couldn't back out. Mustering his courage, he admitted, "I am."

(Just as when Lann last entered the Myrdal replica as the red-haired youth, the chosen identity couldn't be easily discarded. The 'demon' Amos summoned theoretically didn't exist, but with Lann's enhanced ability to control dreams, he could now descend in his dreams as a 'fantasy identity'.)

"You summoned me. What is your desire?" Lane attempted to inquire with a pair of archaic phrases he occasionally recalled, but only met with the child's puzzled gaze. He then resorted to simpler words and asked again.

"Oh," Amos said cheerfully, "I want to destroy this church and plunge the people of this city into a hellish torment."

"Cough, cough, cough!" Lane gave a sharp look at the puppy at his feet, who responded with a puzzled gaze, for now, he was just a dog.

"Will you grant my wish?"

"Probably not."

"Why, aren't you a demon?" The child asked innocently yet malevolently, "Isn't that what demons do?"

Lane replied helplessly, "Because you haven't offered me a suitable sacrifice."

The child paused, "Not me?"

"How could the soul and body of a single person compare to the price of plunging an entire city into hell?" Lane's words flowed smoothly, and he began to slip comfortably into the role of the devil, "Demons never engage in unprofitable transactions."

"You have a point, but I have nothing now," the child sighed in frustration, "Then there's nothing to be done."

Hmm? Will he abandon this wish?

"I'll change my wish, then. Mr. Demon, please stay by my side," the child looked up at Lane with an obedient smile. "I'll personally lead this church and city to hell, and I'd like you to witness that moment."

Lane: "..."

He bent down and stared at the white puppy at his feet. What on earth did you do? No, what kind of childhood did you have to be so ruthless?

Amos blinked, implying that Lane would soon find out.

Sure enough, just a minute later, a nun knocked on the door. "Divine Son, it's time for the ceremony."