chsdbacks Chapter 81: Bootlicker
Chapter 81: Bootlicker
Three hundred years ago, Swirling Mire City was a bustling trade hub.
"Heh, you know about that, huh?"
Back then, the city was vibrant and lively on the surface, but beneath it, darkness lurked.
"At least it's not as dark as you."
Back then, there was a young Earthwalker. Due to his poor family conditions, he was frequently bullied. Every day, he worked hard, but barely got enough to eat and was never warm enough.
"Poor guy... Is that what you hope I say?"
...
No one pitied him. People thrived in the city's false prosperity, ignoring the filthy young earthwalker begging on the streets.
"Oh... So your hard work was begging?"
...
One day, the young earthwalker accidentally dirtied a merchant's trousers and was dragged into an alley, beaten mercilessly by the merchant's men. The young earthwalker thought he would die, but in his despair, he met a beautiful girl.
A beautiful outsider...
At that time, the young earthwalker didn't know that she was the oracle destined to lead the city to salvation.
"Salvation? Ha, like what you're doing now?"
She saved a young earthwalker! And just like how she saved him, she wanted to save this city!
And this world!
She foresaw a future calamity and urged the people here to plant the sacred tree in preparation for the future.
However, the people didn't understand or believe her. She was just an outsider; they dismissed her words.
Yet, the young earthwalker knew she spoke the truth...
...
I don't know what you are talking about, but you can't deceive me. She personally showed me the calamitous scenes in her prophecy. Cities crumbling, the earth breaking, people displaced, killing machines everywhere...
"Hm, sounds more like a reflection of a past event rather than a future vision."
No! She told us! That calamity will come to our homeland! If we don't act! We will all definitely die!
"I don't deny that. But it looks like what you did only hastened the process."
No! It's to save the world! She gave us the Sacred Tree! It grants our people eternal life! With enough time, I can cultivate endless soldiers!
"Endless cannon fodder, you mean? Ha, Sacred Tree? No, I remember what it is. Codename 'Sky Crow,' Sanctum of Arcane Arts Experiment 5894.
"Patricius's poor imitation of the Red Moon Demon King, Myza Noravis Quezac. He tried to replicate the spell for an endless army generator within a controllable range.
"But it's a failed imitation, a monstrous creation. The surface roots only consume, and puppet soldiers need to be baited, modified within the canopy's range—a complete failure. And you... Now I see, the Sanctum of Arcane Arts escaped here long ago. You were their little experiment against the Tyrant."
At this point, Nox stood up, gazing down at the priest with contempt.
"Your whole life has been a joke. You've spent it living a lie. And your people... they are dying because of your stupidity."
"No, no, no! It's not a lie!" the black-robed priest howled, blood dribbling out from his mouth and wound. "I don't know what you are talking about! All I know is that she chose me! We are going to save the world together!"
"Together? Ha!" Nox sneered. "Then, tell me, where is that old thing now?"
"She! She's..." the priest stuttered. "She said she would return... At that time, I must show her the best army..."
Nox sighed and muttered, "Truly pathetic..."
"No! No! Don't look at me like that!" the priest got worked up and cried out hoarsely. "At least she chose me! At least she chose me! Only... me..."
With these words, he used up his last bit of strength. His vision grew darker and darker.
In his final moments, just as he was about to enter the darkness, he saw a figure approaching. It was another priest. That gray-robed priest that stayed in Swirling Mire City.