novelraw Chapter 384: A Despairing Gap
Chapter 384: A Despairing Gap
Seemingly feeling that his words could not convince everyone, Kuchamama stood in the sky and looked down at Carl. "Do not think I am trying to frighten you. Why don't you try summoning your deities? Let's see if they have the time to save you right now."
Carl frowned. He knew, of course, that the gods of the Americas had no time.
They prayed to their own deities at regular intervals, so they understood better than anyone that the gods did not solely watch over this world. Or rather, compared to the other worlds belonging to the gods, their world was utterly inconsequential.
Their "brother worlds" belonged entirely to the pantheons of the Americas. Those realms were the gods' true Core Support, whereas their current world was merely a playground for casual observation.
Recently, the gods had even been responding to their prayers less frequently. Something must have gone wrong; otherwise, they would not be met with such silence.
Seeing his silent expression, the surrounding Transcendent Beings also revealed looks of profound trepidation.
Did it mean Kuchamama was right? Did the gods of the Americas truly have no chance of descending? A collective sharp intake of breath echoed through the crowd!
Everyone fell into an inexplicable Despair. Just what kind of terrifying monstrosity had they unleashed? This entity seemed to belong to the chaotic and evil alignment, forcefully demanding their Divine Faith, with the only alternative being outright destruction!
The Radiance emitted by this Altar and its energy signals were already flashing across the monitors of various nations, bringing them definitive news:
"Great Leader, the energy just released is equivalent to the detonation of ten Hiroshima atomic bombs..."Hearing such grim news, Golden Hair gasped sharply. How could such a terrifying entity appear right on their doorstep!
Right now, his Expectation was solely fixed on Carl, the High Priest of the gods of the Americas, hoping he would stand tall and engage the enemy in a genuine battle!
Carl had been so unyielding before, even willing to wage a Divine War against America. How could he suddenly wither away now?
Hurry up and fight back! Obliterate them, gods of the Americas! What are you doing?
"Stop calling out in your hearts. Your world is not particularly important; otherwise, they wouldn't be unable to dispose of even me!" Kuchamama declared with utter indifference. "This world has unexpectedly gained the favor of so many Divine Pantheons, yet that very fact makes it impossible for any single Divine Pantheon to completely occupy it!"
"Since it cannot be completely occupied, no true deity will invest resources here. Those hypocritical True Gods are too stingy to send down even a single avatar, so why would they choose to rescue you at a critical moment like this?"
Hearing this, Carl seized upon the flaw in the entity's words. "Even if the gods cannot bestow their grace right now, you will never escape the gods' Reckoning in the future!"
"Heh heh! I finally managed to break free this once, and I have no intention of staying here To Passively Await Defeat! Once I finish harvesting your world, I will leave this realm and head for the Sea of All Worlds!" Kuchamama chuckled. "Let the Eagle God cross the Sea of All Worlds to hunt me down! I would love to see if these miserly deities are willing to pay such a massive Price just to avenge you Faithful!"
Those words were spoken with absolute, unbridled arrogance!
He never planned to stay in this world for long anyway, which made his actions here all the more unscrupulous and reckless!
"Go, my apostles. Go and scatter terror and Divine Faith across this world. Let everyone know the name of Kuchamama!" The massive, Crystal-like monster commanded the people who had taken his Supernatural Items, causing the crowd that had been helplessly struggling in the air to plummet violently downward!
At this moment, far away in California, Nuland still harbored a sliver of hope. As long as her Nephew was unharmed and could be rescued, perhaps this could even be considered a Transcendent experience.
However, when she saw Elton's pitch-black eyes and his incredibly stiff expression, she knew such an outcome was impossible.
Just a few days ago, this group of Transcendent Beings had been the true darlings of the world. In the mouths of the global Media, they shared a common title: the "Pirate Chosen by Heaven"!
The biggest difference between these people and the previous Transcendent Beings was that they had obtained their Transcendence with absurd ease.
Obtaining such unrivaled Transcendent Power so effortlessly triggered a wave of Fanaticism, shock, and sheer madness among the masses!
It was precisely because they didn't have to endure immense pain or rigorous training like the world's original Transcendent Beings—instead directly gaining power Reaching Heaven and Earth—that they earned the title of "Chosen by Heaven."
But now, everything was clear. The Boons of fate had been marked with a Price from the very beginning.
Their power was an illusion; Kuchamama's scheme was the only truth. They had been lured here through deception, forced to sacrifice their lives and everything they had to complete the resurrection of this Evil God!
The moment they crashed onto the island, their very essence was thoroughly corrupted. The presence of that Transcendent Power was never meant to help them; it was a sinister form of erosion!
These people who had acquired Transcendent Power had long since been completely eroded by it without even realizing it.
Their corruption and mutation did not happen instantly. It was the result of a drawn-out process—a process during which they had countless opportunities to turn back, yet not a single one chose to give up. The mutation accelerated. Bathed in the black Radiance of the Altar, these "people" who had already experienced Transcendent Power began to undergo terrifying transformations within the dark Light.
Their bodies gradually began to crystallize. Their original clothes shattered and vanished, while their flesh took on a hue resembling Crystal. These individuals were mutating in the image of Kuchamama, seemingly transforming into creatures just like him.
The visual impact of such a drastic alteration in life form was utterly staggering. And when one of the "Crystal men" fully completed his transformation and picked up a Sword on the island, everyone made a horrifying discovery regarding their Combat Power!
The moment the Sword was grasped, it emitted a peculiar hum and immediately crystallized, transforming into a weapon uniquely theirs. The instant this weapon materialized, it unleashed a massive crescent of sword aura, slicing an unmanned yacht on the sea perfectly in half.
In that moment, everyone truly understood their Combat Power, and the trepidation and Fear in their hearts naturally intensified!
But it was still not over. Kuchamama waved his hand again. This time, columns of people surged out from beneath the surface of the sea!
Many recognized them at a single glance. Weren't these the exact same people who had abandoned ship earlier?
They had missed out on the first wave of "Transcendence," and everyone assumed they had drowned. Now, however, the crowd realized they were not dead. Instead, they too were bathed in the black Radiance, slowly crystallizing bit by bit just like the group of those "Chosen by Heaven."
It was just that their crystallization appeared far less pure, still bearing traces of visceral flesh and blood.
Even so, they were no longer "one of us"; they had mutated into an entirely different species altogether.
Their mouths repeatedly mumbled a single, haunting phrase: "Do you hold Divine Faith in our god, Kuchamama?"
"I do not!" Carl's voice rang out. As a Divine Priest of the Eagle God, it was naturally impossible for him to tolerate such blasphemy. "Disguising yourself as our deity and trying to steal our Divine Faith? Unforgivable!"
"Whoosh!" In what felt like the blink of an eye, three crystallized Monsters had already closed the distance to Carl, reaching out to snap his neck.
Carl raised his hands, using the Scepter in his grasp to block their assault. However, the strikes from these crystallized beings were not simple physical attacks. That crystallizing power immediately turned Carl's Scepter, along with his hands, into a transparent crystal structure that slowly began to shatter!
Carl was stunned. He immediately waved his remaining hand, channeling Divine Thunder to crash down and strike the area right in front of him.
Following that, he once again transformed into an eagle, flapping his wings to soar high into the sky and escape the area!
From his disheveled appearance and his unsteady, faltering flight path, it was obvious that he had suffered a tremendous loss in just that single exchange!
A second later, the gazes of these "people" shifted toward the only three remaining ships on the sea. They were vessels from the Nordic region, Japan, and France, respectively representing Āsathrú, Ghosts and Onmyojis, and The Church!
Yet, remaining entirely expressionless, they directed their soul-piercing interrogation at the three Supernatural Factions: "Do you hold Divine Faith in our god, Kuchamama?"
Now, upon hearing that chilling phrase, absolute terror seized everyone present!
Even a veteran Transcendent Being like Carl had fallen in just a few exchanges, forced into a desperate retreat. How long could the rest of them possibly hold out?
If even the Transcendent Beings could not withstand this, then how long could the American Continent behind them—and indeed, the entire world—survive?