23
Chapter 23
The paintings and writings on the walls were likely all Karon's work.
"I'll check if there are any books."
Nyx and the warriors approached the bookshelves. I took a look at the murals.
Perhaps because of my possession perk, I could read everything written there, even though it was clearly in a different language.
[Only after everyone in the Autumn Fallen Leaf Tribe had died and my children's breath had stopped did I realize. The Loa never had any intention of saving us from the start.
Did the Loa ever even answer? No. They never once responded. They only bestowed upon us wretched tricks in the name of blessings.
We were merely playing the fool for them, clinging to a faith that would never be rewarded.
Do those things know how fast a heart beats when falling in love at first sight, or how soft a newborn child's hand is? No, they couldn't. Being non-human, they could never understand.
O human, O fragile being. They do not love us.
Realize the truth. Only humans can understand and love other humans.]
Why did this mister write all this on a wall instead of in a diary?
The jagged, scribbled handwriting clearly showed how broken the writer's mental state had been.
No wonder he ended up starting something like a zombie apocalypse.
I shifted my gaze and read another section.
[I encountered ancient knowledge and made it my own.
A spell to control the bodies of the dead: Necromancy.
The spell that the Loa supposedly forbade... I think I understand why they fear it.
This is a spell that encroaches upon the divine realm. If mastered, one can wield transcendental power.
I might even be able to peek beyond this earth I belong to, into the world beyond the Material Plane.
No one has ever reached that realm, but I am Karon, the greatest High Priest on earth. If anyone can do it, it's me.]
What on earth was this man trying to do?
[I opened a small rift and peered into the World Beyond the Starlight. It was a world where only spiritual beings could wander.
As I gazed aimlessly, the beings wandering there whispered to me.
Their name was the Watchers. They were those who had abandoned their bodies in the Material Plane through a certain method to be reborn as spiritual beings.
They told me they had a way to steal the souls of those living in the Material Plane and had done many things with it. They are terrifying beings.
They tried to seize me and turn me into one of them, so I hurriedly closed the rift and fled.
I didn't just run away. Amidst the whispers, I grasped the principle of the 'method' they used.
Information that polluted the mind just by hearing it... I suspect it will take a long time to fully master.
If I can learn it, I will have the power to stand against divine beings.
Unfortunately, I do not have much time left. Ishtania, who claims to be the guardian deity of the civilized persons, has noticed me and dispatched her minions.
[Now I have no choice but to act. Rama, Radan, Ratu... my children, give me the courage and strength to face them.]
The World Beyond the Starlight... is he talking about space? Or maybe some kind of fourth dimension?
At this point, it's practically cosmic horror.
My head hurts from all this information, whether it's magic or some kind of scientific knowledge.
[The gods neither understand nor love us.
There is no consideration or respect in their actions.
We are their toys. Toys to be played with and then abandoned once they are broken.
They probably enjoy watching us suffer here on earth.
Karon, the High Priest of the Autumn Fallen Leaf Tribe and father of three, dies here.
I shall become chaos.
I will become a being who rules over death and be reborn through the death of the gods.
I will end their reign. I do not care if humanity perishes in the process.
I will not stop until I have killed every single god.]
This was the final message left by Karon, who seemed to have suffered a severe case of adolescent delusions in his old age.
Honestly, it was a bit creepy to read.
It's basically a story about the greatest genius of mankind falling from grace and trying to destroy the world.
I underestimated it because it was a zombie apocalypse, but it might have been just as horrific as a demonic one.
This is all thanks to zombie dramas and movies.
They start by saying zombies are dangerous, but then the survivors start fighting each other, which gives you the preconception that zombies are weak.
"Ah, I found it!"
Nyx pointed to the Book of the Dead.
- Place me upon the Book of the Dead.
There's no telling what would happen if the barbarians touched the book. Maybe the soldiers we killed earlier became zombies because they touched it.
Now is the time for Lord Mallak, the Loa who lacks a physical body, to step in. If it feels too dangerous, he can just return to his main body.
"I will do as Lord Mallak wishes."
After a moment of hesitation, Nyx used the shaft of the scythe to move the Book of the Dead and placed me on top of it.
The book glowed upon contact with me and then vanished with a pop.
[Ssh—-------- Control—-------]
What is this?
[You have learned the blessing 'Zombie Control (Low).']
...Did the skill get converted into a blessing?
I checked the status window.
[Name: Mallak]
- Available Blessings: Totem of Healing (High), Divine Descent, Binding Totem, Zombie Control (Low),
- Available Points: 55
- Vassals: Paya, Rake, Muri, Nyx
- Enter Community
There were no issues.
- I've achieved my goal. Let's leave quickly.
"Understood."
No, wait.
- This tomb is dangerous. Can you hide it so others cannot find it?
This is the right call. Now that the skills are gone, this place is just an ominous spot that spews status ailments.
I can't seal it completely, but it's only right to take some precautions before leaving.
"I'll try to hide it with the brush."
Nyx nodded and moved toward the sole entrance and exit with the warriors.
***
After finishing the adventure, I returned to the Tribe Alliance's totem. For convenience, I'll call it Totem No. 1.
"You returned quite quickly. I've been guarding this totem."
Rake, who was leaning against Totem No. 1, greeted me. Thanks to her, I felt a human warmth as soon as I arrived.
It seemed like she was just resting rather than guarding the totem, but I'll let it slide.
- I've learned a new blessing.
"Oh, that's wonderful."
But is it right to call this a blessing?
According to Karon's writing, it was a spell the Loa had forbidden, and here I am bringing it back to use. It's a bit ironic.
Well, everything comes full circle. As long as I use it well, it's fine.
I asked Rake to find the carcass of a dead animal.
"I brought it from the House of Feathers."
A chicken with a snapped neck was placed before me. Its tongue hung limp, and its eyes were rolled back.
...I think it was just killed.
- Chief Rake, I asked for an animal carcass, not for you to kill one.
"It was old and sick. It would have died of natural causes anyway."
That's just cruel. She's a woman without a shred of pity.
I can't bring it back to life anyway, so I'll just have to use this.
I activated the Zombie Control (Low) skill. But how does this work?
For now, let's try doing it like I do with Divine Descent.
If I look at the chicken and imagine possessing it... there!
Cluck...
I can now control the chicken's body. Not remote control, but direct manipulation.
I propped up the limp body of the Old Hen (my nickname for the zombie chicken). I suppose this could be called a corpse descent.
"How fascinating... may I touch it?"
- Be my guest.
My voice didn't flow from the Old Hen's vocal cords.
It was a resonating voice like when I used the totem, sounding like a noise produced by magical means.
Rake stroked the Old Hen's body.
Since it was a sensationless corpse, I couldn't feel her touch.
That's actually a relief.
If I could feel things, I might scream if I got stabbed by a sword during battle.
Anyway, using the blessing was a success. Now it's time to start a new project.
Before that, thinking I'd take a quick break, I lightly clicked on the community.
[Abraham: I'm exhausted now.
I thought if I just kept gaining experience, things would eventually change.
I had hope that I might be able to return to Earth. Not anymore.
Now that I'm level 7, no matter how many low-tier demons I kill nearby, I can't gain any more experience.
But if I go after mid-tier demons, the dark clouds might come, which is too dangerous...
The max level is 10, and the level I barely managed to hit is 7. How the hell am I supposed to kill high-tier demons? Is it even possible to beat them alone?
I'm sick of this community, this hiding, and this fucking world.
What's the point of a life like this? Rather than wasting away, I'd rather die fighting gloriously.
Actually, when I was a kid, my dream was to be a hero. I want to go out in style.
Before I go, I just want to see the face of that bastard George and that dark cloud prick who destroyed the raid party.
Tomorrow, I'm going to hunt a mid-tier demon. I'll keep fighting until that thing brings the dark clouds.
Holy Knights in the Tivera region, leave now if you don't want to get dragged into this.
If you're curious how far a level 7 Holy Knight can fight, feel free to come and watch.]
Something extraordinary was happening in the community.