Chapter 438: Collapse of Faith I
Nine days later.
Even with the food Grimm and Fred provided in the form of “rental payment”, it was insufficient for Nyo and her family. They still lived frugally with the scarce food supply, resulting in frail and weak conditions due to the famine.
However, they managed to retain uplifted and spirited emotions, pertaining to their dignity.
They greeted their acquaintances passionately, they spent a lot of time persistently praying to the Dark Destroyer Infernal God, they carried themselves well in front of outsiders like Grimm and Claudia.
After the wedding, Fred was more composed and resolute than the way he had behaved the first time he saw Claudia.
Grimm could see that all that remained in his eyes were love and compassion.
Although the material civilization of the Acraepoids had been greatly destroyed, their spiritual world was plentitude and enriched with infinite expectations for the future, looking forward to a miracle by the almighty Infernal God. This turned out to be the opposite of what the Demon-Hunters desired—the complete destruction of their material and spiritual civilizations.
Such a fulfilling and headstrong spiritual life in the face of suffering, the sorcerers did not expect this to happen, and was definitely not something they wanted to see!
The sorcerers’ main purpose was to witness the fall and extinction of the Acraepoid civilization in the endless world and become a part of history!
One day, Grimm came back from work in the evening and heard a loud wail before he entered the house.
“Wah…”
It was Nyo, Naya and their mother crying.
Fred stood at the side silently, his head downcast, looking very depressed. He nodded silently when he saw Grimm walk in.
“What happened?” Grimm walked to Claudia’s side and asked in an undertone.
Claudia replied flatly, “It’s the news of their father’s death.”
“Oh.”
Grimm was not the least shocked. It was just a matter of time till his death came. Grimm nodded silently at Fred and walked towards Nyo and Naya. He squatted down by their sides and offered a word of comfort. “It’s the cycle of life and death, your father’s soul has returned to the embrace of the great Infernal God, may he rest in peace.”
Nyo, Naya and their mother still crouching and hugging each other, wailed sorrowfully.
Despite their faith in embracing the beauty of the endless cycle of life and death, no Acraepoid wished for death to happen to themselves and their loved ones, no one wished to experience the despair of life and death.
Ten days later.
“Those evil sorcerers attacked our great World Guardians in Hibiscus City! We, Fort Santalum, must give them our support! We must give these sorcerers a fatal blow! We must let them know, who this world really belongs to!” The Dark Destroyer God Temple abbot shouted and roared in the center of the temple square.
Ever since the sacred temple had lost its holy light, none of the abbots, the emissaries, and the messengers were able to summon the Dark Destroyer divine power. Although the clergymen were still respected by the believers, the powerful few were no longer controlled by any effective restrictions at an apocalyptic time like this.
This speech was the result of a negotiation stalemate between the temple clergymen and the three Acraepoid leaders.
“The Infernal Spirit World belongs to the great Acraepoids! It belongs to us!”
“The damned sorcerers…”
“Roar!”
A series of loud roars resonated across the square. The young Acraepoids screamed and growled as the abbot provoked them, and among them was a spirited Fred.
He held the strongest faith in the Dark Destroyer Infernal God. He believed that by the divine power of the Infernal God, they could defeat evil with justice, they could defeat darkness with light, they could protect their future and restore a serene and peaceful Infernal Spirit World.
One of the leaders who stood in a distance hesitated. Eventually, he gritted his teeth and walked away, deciding not to participate in this operation.
The other two leaders were absent.
As the Acraepoids advanced in their levels, they had a clearer understanding of their purposes. They clearly comprehended that by practicing the Infernal Swordsmanship, they could, one day, transcend and become a god. Therefore, motivated by their ambitions, they practiced throughout the day and night.
In the apocalyptic times, these leaders had regarded their isolated cities as their own homes, their own personal properties.
All they wanted was to protect themselves, they no longer thought about defeating the sorcerers with their own power, simply because…
The sorcerers were too powerful, so powerful that even the rumors carried the weight of hopelessness.
They intended only to protect themselves in this hard time and survive through the war. This was the most basic and smartest choice for intelligent creatures in society.
A small army of Acraepoids marched out the city gate as the city residents watched and praised them along the way.
Nyo waved at Fred frantically while bursting into tears.
Although she did not want Fred to go, this was the call from the almighty Dark Destroyer Infernal God, Nyo could not say no to that.
“I’ll kill all the evil sorcerers and return with the glorious will of the World Guardian! Wait for me!” Fred shouted over the loud crowd.
“Okay! I’ll wait for you!”
With tears flowing down her cheeks, Nyo pasted the best smile she could muster on her face, shouting farewell to her lover.
One month later.
The news of Fred’s death was brought back by the remaining Acraepoids who had survived and escaped from the operation a month ago.
The rumors about the sorcerers’ extraordinary strength, their incredible power, and their brutality spread across the city. Along with the rumors was endless fear.
As the rumors spread from one Acraepoid to another, the sorcerers transformed into a figure of horror and evil like a mythical demon.
Grimm was still doing his mundane job, guarding the so-called order of the Fort Santalum. Secretly, he studied the Infernal Spirit Power and prepared for the reorganization of the mental strength framework of the Dark Devourer Infernal Spirit Giant.
Grimm returned to the Flame Burrow at night.
He saw the very ill Naya praying with her mother as he entered the house, he did not join their prayers but entered his room instead.
Nowadays, many Acraepoids had begun to question their faith because of the lack of miracles and appearance of the Dark Destroyer Infernal God. These residents had started to wonder if they were walking into a bleak future.
“Hey, guess what? Nyo is working at the Flower Street.” Claudia whispered deviously as soon as Grimm entered the room. Deep in her eyes were an indescribable devilish pleasure.
Grimm accepted the news in an indifferent manner as if everything had happened in due course.
“Even with our food, it’s not enough for them without the food supply from Fred,” Grimm said as he glanced at Naya, his experimental subject that he had carefully observed for a long time.
“Perhaps, soon, there’ll be only two left…”
Claudia grinned viciously and continued, “Oh yes, I caught a big fish today. We need to collaborate in a few days’ time, maybe we can lend our hands to the Demon-Hunter who has been lurking in this city.”
Claudia was laying comfortably on the hammock. She rocked the hammock as her slender and delicate fingers fidgeted the luxurious amber necklace, her eyes shone like a vicious scorpion, paired with her grin, she had a perfect femme fatale figure.
“Now, I am convinced that there is a Demon-Hunter lurking in the city. He’s the one behind all of this, your speculation is right.”
Apparently, the sorcerer was very sophisticated and skilled in hiding his tracks. Even Grimm could not sense him without close contact.
Grimm glanced at Claudia blankly. He was already familiar with her femme fatale style since their sorcerer-apprentice orientation.
He closed his eyes in a meditative state, waiting for tomorrow to come.