“The candidate list is almost set. Afterwards, I’ll bring some subordinates to handle miscellaneous tasks and serve as a facade. If there are no other formal reports, we’ll move on to casual conversation and mutual assistance,” the Pope said.
“I still have something to discuss, and it’s what we talked about earlier,” the Old Scholar said, looking up at me. “Don’t mind an old man’s nagging, but I’m still worried about the Saintess. Are you really alright?”
“I’ve already said I can handle that Jester. It’s not a problem. Why bring it up again?” I asked the Old Scholar, puzzled. Hadn’t this topic already been discussed?
“Talking about the Seven Great Demon Kings earlier reminded me of something. The Changer of Ways’s church is not alone; they have three friendly sects,” the Old Scholar said.
Everyone’s expression changed instantly. Such an important matter had been overlooked. Just like the Seven Great Demon Kings, the Changer of Ways also had a group, but their relationship wasn’t even as good as that of bad acquaintances. They were more like friends who would stab each other in the back at crucial moments.
“Are you referring to the Four Gods of Chaos? But their relationships with each other are terrible, and they often wage war among themselves. It’s unlikely they would join forces to deal with the Saintess?” Lavias asked.
The Four Gods of Chaos: Khorne, the Blood God, symbolizing war and slaughter; Nurgle, the Plague Father, symbolizing plague and despair; Tzeentch, the God of Sorcery, symbolizing trickery and wisdom; and Slaanesh, the God of Pleasure, symbolizing joy and indulgence.
However, it was said that they had never reached a consensus, and their believers were always at war with each other. A few bold or perhaps ignorant individuals who attempted to believe in all four Chaos Gods simultaneously mostly ended up unable to control their mutations and madness, turning into unspeakable monsters.
The discord among the churches of the Four Gods of Chaos was notorious. Even the believers under the same god were organized into various tribes or secret societies, with no unified leadership, and they often engaged in infighting without common goals.
The Old Scholar said in a low voice, “I know, but historical records show that although the Four Gods were at odds, they had issued divine revelations urging their followers to work towards a common goal, and their churches occasionally cooperated. Most importantly, the Saintess has provoked another one.”
“Another one? Ah! It’s Father Nurgle’s,” everyone hesitated for a moment before immediately recalling the filthy human skin the Saintess had once produced. It not only contained some spells of the savage type but also the faith of Nurgle.
“That was just an accident, wasn’t it? A lone wild beast Shrieking Shaman is not enough to attract Father Nurgle’s attention. So many Christians die every year, but we don’t see God settling scores with their enemies one by one,” a cultist said dismissively.
Although his words were somewhat sensational, they were very practical. Humans were like insects to gods. With so many believers, would any god punish another ant for the death of one of their own ants? They wouldn’t know or care.
But there were exceptions. If two people were competing in cricket fighting, it would be different. Perhaps a god would expect their followers to kill their opponent’s followers to gain some prestige, and would even issue a divine revelation, offering substantial rewards for victory.
“I’m just a bit worried. After all, consecutively provoking the believers of two Chaos Gods feels a bit too coincidental. I hope she hasn’t provoked any other gods. May it be that I’m overthinking things,” the Old Scholar said.
“No, you haven’t overthought it. Actually, I’ve already provoked the other two gods. So, in reality, I’ve provoked all four of the Chaos Gods,” I said with a wry smile.
I didn’t want to say it, but the Old Scholar had a point. Provoking the Four Gods of Chaos one after another felt too coincidental and eerie. What if I was actually being targeted?
It was better to bring it up during the meeting when there were more knowledgeable people present, so they could help me figure out what was going on.
“What did you say? You’ve provoked all four? When and where? Did they do anything to you?” The Old Scholar’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. He asked five questions in a row, and everyone else looked shocked.
Being targeted by a Chaos God was no trivial matter. Everyone knew that their followers were a bunch of lunatics, and the most troublesome thing was that these lunatics were also powerful and would often infiltrate their own ranks inexplicably. Subordinates would suddenly betray them, and it was impossible to guard against.
Normally, provoking one Chaos God was bad enough. Provoking two meant you were basically doomed. Provoking three meant writing your will, and provoking four meant dying with your body in pieces.
Now, the Saintess claimed she had provoked all of them. The most crucial point was her special and sensitive identity. If the Saintess was truly targeted by the Chaos Gods, would they protect her or not? And if they did, would it directly lead to a declaration of war against the churches of the Four Gods?
These were all things they had to consider, and even the Pope frowned in distress.
“It’s fine. There’s a saying in the East, ‘The more lice, the less itching; the more debts, the less worry.’ Anyway, it’s the same whether I provoke one or four. I’m not afraid of them. I’ve already annihilated all those who opposed me before.”
Seeing their grim faces, showing signs of defeatism, I felt we couldn’t afford to show fear before the battle. I needed to encourage them a little.
“What? Annihilated them all?!” Everyone’s expression became even more astonished than before.
“Yes, it was just a Slaanesh believer hiding in a village preaching, and a mutated Minotaur whose mind was corrupted by Khorne’s divine power,” I said, throwing out two items.
One was a purple staff. The entire body of the staff was seamless, and the head was carved with a symbol that looked like a mixture of ♂ and ♀. Just looking at it made them feel hot all over, and their desires surged.
The other was a piece of oxhide, on which a vague abstract skull face could be seen. It was a divine seal, but because its completeness had been compromised, it was no longer usable, leaving only a residual aura of the desire to destroy everything and wreak havoc.
“This is? It’s correct, it’s the Holy Seal of the Blood God and the God of Desire! Such terrifying power. They were definitely powerful believers in life,” a cultist exclaimed in terror.
Everyone could feel the immense residual spiritual power. Their owners must have been legendary powerhouses, but their weapons and hides were here now, and their fates were clear.
“Saintess, it seems you need to explain. What happened with these two?” the Pope asked, his eyes flickering. He realized that even though he had sent two familiar acquaintances to protect the Saintess, he still knew very little about her experiences, seeing through a fog.
“This is a long story. The maid who was with the Minotaur experienced it too. You can ask her. As for the Slaanesh sect, I encountered it completely by accident. That day, our group encountered a village in the wilderness…” I began to slowly narrate these two experiences.
