Chapter 259

Chapter 259

Upon hearing that the disaster outside had ended, the residents still hiding in the shelter immediately grew agitated. It was Judith who stopped them from rushing out impulsively, suggesting they wait for the investigators to check the situation first.

The investigators were gone for about ten minutes before returning and nodding at Judith. "The earthquake has ended. However, there might be fires in other areas."

Upon their words, the other residents couldn't wait to return to the surface. Even though they had only spent a dozen hours in the shelter, it felt like the worst dozen hours of their lives.

Munee, leaning on his cane, took a deep breath once he was outside. The air didn't smell good, but he didn't care at the moment.

"God bless us! The disaster is over!" He declared loudly with his arms spread wide, looking provocatively towards Justice is Beauty's direction.

The other God believers also repeatedly said 'Thank God' while making the sign of the cross on their chests.

The players ignored their reactions, all with solemn expressions. They knew that the disaster wasn't over yet. They shouted at those who were eagerly rushing towards their homes, "Don't go too far! It's not over yet!"

However, no one listened to them. Even though the players had played a significant role in the shelter, such as purifying the water, their contribution wasn't enough to establish authority since they had only been trapped for a short time. Munee mocked, "Some people won't even credit the end of the calamity to God. Shouldn't you be thanking Him instead?"

Pink Bunny looked at the NPC as if he was an idiot. "Have you read the Bible?"

Munni, despite having had little formal education in his youth, stubbornly declared, "Of course!"

"The question is, can you guess how many trumpets sounded before this and how many remain?" Pink Bunny kindly prompted.

Munni appeared confused at first, but he soon found out.

An ethereal angel materialized above the clouds, precisely where the people of Orlandu could witness it. Under the watchful eyes of the residents, the angel descended to the ground and, with a wave of Its hand, conjured a deep well surrounded by chains. With the key in Its grasp, the angel unlocked the shackle.

The fifth trumpet sounded in everyone's minds, and those familiar with the Bible wore terrified expressions.

Regardless of their fear, the fifth trumpet had already sounded. To ensure global coverage, the angel opened numerous bottomless pits across the world. From these pits emerged thick, black smoke that spread across the globe with the wind, blocking out what little light remained, plunging the entire world into an moonless night.

And from within the dark smoke, countless bizarre locusts materialized.

Each of these locusts was over a meter long and possessed human faces, limbs that were a mishmash of various animals, and bodies resembling oversized regular locusts, as if they were failed experimental creations. They emerged with a clear objective, targeting all non-believers.

In an instant, the earth was stained with blood.

Desperate screams and mournful cries echoed in every corner of the world. Though Christianity was the largest religion, its followers had dwindled in modern times. Consequently, the enormous locusts still had countless targets to attack.

"Goodness gracious me," exclaimed Aesthetics of Justice as he stepped out, gasping for air. Sharing a glance with Judith, they both instantly perceived the gravity of the situation.

If the previous calamity was an unstoppable disaster that swiftly and silently claimed lives, leaving most unaware until their painless end, then the locusts could be described in one word: ruthless.

In the original biblical text, these locusts were not meant to kill, but to torment non-believers for five months without ending their lives. However, Barder was no true God, nor did It have the inclination to ensure the survival of each tormented soul. Thus, the command for massacre was issued.

Each enormous locust possessed strength surpassing that of an average human, coupled with their terrifying appearance, which sapped any courage to resist. Many were ripped apart limb from limb or had their organs exposed, only to be left to die slowly while the insects sought new victims.

A gruesome and savage scene unfolded across the land.

Amongst them, a Christian, terrified by the locusts, closed his eyes and repeatedly made the sign of the cross, praying for divine protection.

As the monstrous insects' wings stirred a putrid gale past him, the believer trembled, cautiously reopening his eyes. He then incredulously felt his body, finding not a single injury.

"God's grace, it's God's grace!" The believer, well-versed in the Bible, promptly recalled this passage and cried out emotionally, "Quickly offer your faith to God, pray to Him! No harm will come to those who believe in God!"

This was precisely why Barder was in such a hurry to sound the Fifth Trumpet and was confident in ascending to the throne of God.

Impatient for the subsequent trumpets and the so-called seven golden bowls, Barder would, of course, see the Day of Judgment through to the end. Yet, those who defied Him now would fall to the locusts, while only the faithful to God would be spared. The deity firmly believed that any rational human would comprehend the choice before them.

He shall now ascend to the apex, and as for the subsequent judgment, it would naturally resume once He becomes God, solidifying all that transpired in the dream into reality. Then, whether to continue guiding the fell gods to descend or return to the dream world to devour His beloved siblings - all would be according to His will.

In truth, when Baldur initially promoted the spread of the Bible and even guided that human named John to pen the Book of Revelation, He had already envisaged the ultimate fate for humanity.

The cries of the Christians were lost amidst the chaos, yet the sight of the locusts bypassing him was etched into many residents' eyes.

Those who were utterly terrified, or those who couldn't find their way back to sanctuary, were left with no choice but to desperately call upon God in their desperation.

But, in the face of such overwhelming fear, would true faith truly emerge so effortlessly?

A stocky man with a crew cut was under attack by the locusts. Despite his sturdy build, he fought desperately, but proved no match for the enormous insects. Terrified as the horrifying mandibles opened wide, the crew-cut man wept and cried "Hallelujah" in desperation, only to be slowly devoured, bite by bite, as the locusts feasted on his skull and sucked out his brain.

The rest were even more terrified, and those who had initially remained still no longer dared to test the sincerity of their faith. They frantically dashed toward the sanctuary. The Auditors also fought back with their weapons, but the locusts flew swiftly through the sky, and firing a single shot was hardly effective. It typically took at least five rounds to break through their defenses, making the rate of killing far too slow.

"Everyone, hurry this way!"

"Don't look back! Neither should you pause in your prayers!"

"Come here swiftly!"

Beauty is justice. Several players rushed out to rescue others, only to discover upon reaching the surface that there were still many people above ground. No wonder, the situation here in Orland City was different from the tsunami in New Harbor. The most that had happened here was an asteroid impact and earthquakes, so not everyone had fled to underground shelters. Many had been unable to seek refuge in time.

Killing a giant locust yielded considerable experience points, causing the players to go into a frenzy. However, these giant insects emerged relentlessly from the depths of the abyss, making it impossible to eliminate them all.

A believer's mother, cradling her little girl, was surrounded by several giant locusts. Her ankle was sprained, preventing her from running. The insects didn't harm her, for she was a follower of God, but they also didn't leave, as the daughter in her arms was not.

"Anne, my dear, pray to God quickly, haven't I taught you?" the woman urged incessantly. The little girl in her arms, perhaps around five years old, blinked her innocent, bewildered eyes, terrified by the corpses surrounding them. She cried uncontrollably, unable to comprehend her mother's words.

A giant locust with a human-like face stepped closer, its sharp appendages attempting to separate them. The woman screamed, backing away frantically. "Go away! Go away! I'm a believer, I've prayed to God! Please leave, she's my daughter, she'll believe in God when she grows up. Please, just go!"

The colossal locust grew impatient. It was forbidden by its deity to harm those who offered anchor points, but it was also instructed to torment those who did not. In the insect's multifaceted eyes, the threads extending from the woman seemed ephemeral, and the tiny figure in her arms was completely invisible.

The giant locust took a step back, and the woman sighed in relief. However, another locust, sneaking up from behind, suddenly spewed a corrosive saliva that landed precisely on the little girl in the woman's embrace.

Amidst the woman's piercing scream, the child's skull melted like snow in spring, its red and white contents spilling onto the ground.

At this moment, the colossal locust noticed that even the threads emanating from the woman had vanished.

"I curse you..." The woman glared venomously at the heavens, "I curse you! God!"

Her curses were brief. The sharp forelegs of a massive locust severed her head, which tumbled to the ground, eyes wide in death.