Gospel of Blood

‘The One’ They’re talking about has no gender reveal, or we don’t even know whether They have gender in the first place.

So I’m using gender-neutral They/Them/Their pronouns.

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“They’re… here.”

The solemn voice echoed in the temple, filled with an aura of majesty, yet tinged with strong unease and apprehension.

“They?”

The crimson statue flickered with light, their authoritative voice puzzled.

Seeing that the other God did not understand his meaning, Alador, the God of Abomination and Deformity, took a deep breath and said gravely.

“Yes, They.”

“Kul’kan, I recently encountered a mysterious God, appearing as a silver-haired, red-eyed human woman.”

“I sensed a familiar aura from Her, one that instilled fear and made me tremble, yet alongside the terror was a spine-chilling sense of intimacy.”

“That incredible feeling was almost identical to what I experienced in the distant past and during the recent Cataclysm Day…”

As soon as Alador finished speaking, a vast pressure erupted, as immense as his own, with crimson light rapidly gathering within the temple.

Soon, a towering figure with a serpent head and human body appeared in the temple.

Bathed in crimson light, its appearance was identical to the statue enshrined within the temple, revealing it to be another God.

“Fear… and intimacy? Cataclysm Day? Alador, do you know what you’re saying?”

The Serpent God known as Kul’kan looked at Alador with uncertainty.

“I know exactly what I’m saying. Firstly, I can confirm that it’s not Helios, that fool. Though Helios also reincarnated in the Eastern Continent, those elves have yet to find his reincarnated form. He should still be dormant in some mortal shell… Moreover, Helios, despite integrating that one’s power, could never evoke such fear in us.”

“The only one who can make us feel such fear… is that one, Themself!”

Hearing Alador’s words, Kul’kan frowned slightly.

“You mean to say that that one has awakened from the Cataclysm?”

Alador was silent for a long time before sighing deeply.

“I’m afraid so.”

“I had a brief confrontation with that God. During our clash, my divine power collided and clashed with Hers…”

“Just like in our memories, in the clash of divine powers, my divine power… was devoured by Her.”

“It’s Them, She is definitely They who has returned! They destroyed the Western Continent, severely wounded the Elven Gods, and now… it’s our turn!”

By the end, Alador could hardly control the trembling in his voice, his yellow eyes filled with fear.

Until the voice of the Serpent God Kul’kan resounded again.

“Calm down, Alador! They’re dead! Killed by the combined efforts of the Elven Gods! Their residual consciousness has been sealed! They cannot wake up again! Their power…has long been scattered!” Ȓâ

The crimson divine power exploded within the temple, carrying a certain calming force.

Gradually, Alador, the God of Abomination and Deformation, calmed down.

With a long sigh, he said.

“Sorry, Kul’kan, I was a bit too emotional.”

“You’re right, Their power has long been scattered, Their residual consciousness sealed. The one I encountered…probably isn’t Them returned.”

“When I spoke with that God, She mentioned the ‘Creator God.’ At that time, I thought She was the ‘Mad One’, but now looking back… She indeed wasn’t that one.”

“No, the fact that I survived our encounter probably explains a lot.”

The serpent God Kul’kan nodded.

“It’s good that you’ve realized this. However, the news you brought still needs attention. The power of devouring… it’s probably another ‘lucky’ individual who, like those two mortals in the Free City-States, received Their ‘gift.'”

“As long as the extraordinary power persists, Their will won’t vanish. Even if Their consciousness was destroyed and Their remnant spirit sealed, there’s always a possibility of Their return.”

“Regardless, we should be grateful to the Elven Gods. If not for their disregard for Their warnings and Their covetousness for Their creation power, Their madness wouldn’t have been awakened, Their rational side wouldn’t have slumbered… the devouring process would not have been interrupted, and we wouldn’t have gained our freedom…”

“However, since Their chosen ones have begun to appear, it may not be a bad thing for us.”

Hearing Kul’kan’s words, Alador was intrigued.

“Kul’kan, you are the wisest among us. Do you have any ideas?”

Kul’kan nodded.

“Of course.”

“Since there is the power of ‘devouring’, then the God you encountered must be Their surrogate. The only question is whether She also inherited Their other powers.”

“Their residual consciousness is sealed, and Their gathered power scattered. It seems They have chosen a surrogate to help Them recover Their power.”

“It appears… those two mortals in the Free City-States weren’t sufficient to satisfy Them.”

“However, this presents a great opportunity for us!”

Kul’kan said this while looking at Alador meaningfully.

“Alador, we were once losers, but being a loser… doesn’t mean we will always be losers!”

Alador, the God of Abomination and Deformity, felt a jolt.

“Do you mean…”

“To seize it, of course. To continue with our original plan of seizing! No… it should be about reclaiming our power!”

Kul’kan said.

“Reclaim our power? Do you mean… we continue with our original plan, attack the Free City-States, control those two mortals, and seize Their power? Shouldn’t we inform the others?”

Alador asked.

Kul’kan did not immediately answer but instead countered.

“Alador, you’ve faced Their surrogate. Putting aside the suppression of divine power, what do you think of Her actual strength?”

Alador hesitated before responding.

“I couldn’t discern it accurately. Judging by the feeling, she seemed like a Demigod who had just ignited the divine flame, but the intensity of Her divine power was unexpectedly strong, even stronger than mine…”

“However, aside from ‘devouring’, She did not exhibit the ‘God-Killer’ ability. I had never seen Her before, so She must be a surrogate forcibly elevated in power, whose true strength is likely not great.”

Kul’kan smiled slightly.

“Then there’s no problem. We will proceed as planned.”

“Such a forcibly elevated God is at most a ‘false God.’ With our combined power, plus the divine rituals specially prepared against true Gods, we should easily be able to defeat Her together.”

“Even if we can’t win, we can retreat safely with those rituals. Then we can seek help from the others.”

“Continue the preparations as planned. We need to act before the other myths react, destroy the Free City-States, and seize Her power!”