As Touko flicked her hand, the others instinctively stepped back to avoid getting Deinos blood on their clothes.
"I'm telling you, Touko…" Shiomi said helplessly. "You're way too careless. What if there's so kind of curse inside a Dead Apostle Deinos corpse?"
"But if I don't put my hand inside, how am I supposed to analyze what's going on internally?" Touko replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Besides, even though they're dinosaurs, the Deinos possess intelligence comparable to humans. Their brains are truly remarkable."
In short, judging from the brain alone, even though they had already lost their intelligence after becoming like this, it was still clear that before their transformation the Deinos possessed cognitive functions no less developed than humans of Proper Human History.
"So when you say external factors, you an soone deliberately turned them into this?" Morgan continued the earlier topic.
"Yes. The principle is similar to how Dead Apostles are created in Proper Human History. It's not a natural occurrence. It requires a higher form of life capable of doing it," Touko said as she stood up. "In other words, soone in this Lostbelt has been hunting Deinos. After these dinosaur-humans were drained of blood, they were transford into Dead Apostles."
"Bloodsucking…" Skadi murmured thoughtfully. "Hinako Akuta…"
When it ca to bloodsucking, Hinako was technically also a blood-consuming being that had obtained a physical body.
However, although she could drink blood, she was not a vampire and did not suffer from any uncontrollable bloodlust.
In that regard, she was sowhat similar to Baobhan Sith.
So it was more appropriate to treat her as a fairy-like existence.
"Speaking of which, according to Proper Human History, the god Camazotz also drinks blood," Shiomi said with his arms crossed. "The problem is… even if a god drinks blood, that shouldn't create Dead Apostles. Unless the Camazotz of this Lostbelt is sohow different…"
"Either way, be careful. If we encounter an enemy that drinks blood, we should be extra cautious," Touko said.
As soon as she said that, everyone's eyes shifted toward her.
"Touko," Shiomi said slowly.
"Why are you looking at like that?" Touko asked.
"Your hand…" Morgan said, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Hm?"
Touko lowered her head and raised her hand.
The blood staining her hand was emitting a curse, slowly eroding her body.
It seed the sensation in her hand had been numbed, preventing her from noticing it earlier.
"Sigh… just stay still," Skadi said as she patted Touko on the shoulder and extended her hand.
Touko obediently held out her hand while Skadi and Morgan cast purification magecraft from both sides, dispelling the curse attached to the blood. They then summoned water and washed her hands clean.
"Who would've thought even the blood could contaminate the body? That's definitely sothing to watch out for," Touko said while examining her restored hand. "Still, it's a useful experience."
"Just be more careful next ti. What if you turned into a Dead Apostle? What would we even do?" Shiomi scratched his head. "Kill you first and then resurrect you?"
"Hm?" Touko's eyes lit up with interest. "Tenkei should have that kind of power. Now that you ntion it, I kind of want to experience it."
Touko treated life and death with such indifference that the idea of experiencing death itself sounded appealing to her.
"I swear…" Shiomi sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
But that was simply Touko's personality. He had no intention of forcing her to change.
Just as he was about to remind everyone to continue toward Chichen Itza, a piercing chill suddenly swept through the air.
"Interesting. Truly interesting. I sensed sothing unusual, but I never expected this Authority could actually bring the dead back to life. Now I want it even more. Ha! Hahaha! Hahahahaha—!!!"
A deep, slightly hoarse voice echoed from above.
Scáthach imdiately pulled Olga Marie behind her as the group quickly ford a defensive formation.
"Above!" Scáthach said as she looked up through the clearing between the trees. The enemy was there.
Sothing was hidden directly beneath the sun, making its shadow difficult to distinguish.
Then a black figure wrapped in the scent of death dove downward and landed directly in front of them. The ground trembled from the impact, and startled birds erupted from the depths of the forest.
"Camazotz," Shiomi said, recognizing him.
He wore exaggerated Mayan-style clothing. His dark skin was covered in ancient tattoo patterns, and a manic grin stretched across his face as he looked at them.
Or rather, he was staring at Shiomi, who stood at the center of their formation.
"Welco, monkeys. You fools who dare challenge the journey into the underworld! Receive it! Bear witness! In this dull Mictlan, the blood of sacrifices bearing the na of a new god shall be offered!"
Morgan raised a hand, ready to unleash magecraft at any mont.
"The Authority is reacting… just like it did back at Tlatlauqui…"
"That which was split apart longs to return to the whole. Back then I planned to seize the opportunity and take it, but I never expected it would devour instead." Camazotz's smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, indifferent expression. "However, I've changed my mind. Rather than taking it here, I'll wait until you retrieve the remaining portion… and then I'll claim everything at once."
"The last one who said sothing like that already disappeared in the First Netherworld." Scáthach pointed her spear at Camazotz.
"That witch was only dragged in to make up the numbers. You simply moved a little faster, Chaldea."
Faced with Camazotz's ambiguous words, Shiomi had no ti to confirm Morgan's thoughts. He pressed forward imdiately.
"From the way you act, you don't seem to be working with Tezcatlipoca. So why are you my enemy? Why did you take my Authority?"
"A living god is already an extraordinary existence. Let alone the Last God." Camazotz looked down at Shiomi with arrogant disdain. "I will take your Authority for myself, drink every drop of your blood, and replace you as the final god upon the throne of Proper Human History."
Shiomi frowned deeply.
"Another one who wants to beco a god. Do you really think the seat of a god is sothing you can just climb onto?"
"Whether I'm qualified or not… we'll find out soon enough." Camazotz rose into the air. "Today I only ca to greet you, hollow god of Chaldea. The one who took your final Authority is waiting beyond the next Netherworld line."
"If you want it back, you'd better hurry. But if you plan to waste ti here… then I won't hold back."
The aning was clear.
If Shiomi deliberately delayed reclaiming the final Authority, Camazotz would make his move.
"I can already feel the direction without you telling ," Shiomi replied calmly. "Whether I'm truly a hollow shell or not… we'll find out soon enough."
"Interesting. You're far more entertaining than that stingy Tezcatlipoca." Camazotz grinned. "I'll be watching with great interest. Hahahahaha!"
With that, the man burst into loud laughter before disappearing in a flash of black light.
Only the lingering aura of death he brought with him remained, refusing to fade from the air.
User Comments
0 comments from readers