“Legion Commander… Milady?” Joe paused for a long while before realizing what the other party's identity represented, and finally understood where that inexplicable sense of familiarity came from when they first met, but—how was this possible?
“I… I can’t understand. You should have died heroically in a Defending Evil Moon battle…” Farina swallowed a mouthful of saliva, “And Divine Punishment Warriors are devout warriors who entrust their body and mind to the gods. They almost never—”
“Never speak, like a mute?” Zoe interrupted, “That has nothing to do with piety. They don’t speak simply because their brains have been washed. If they don’t do this, they can’t become a qualified shell for us to use.”
Shell? Use?
“What exactly are you talking about…”
“Let me ask you first, how exactly does the church promote the Divine Punishment Army?”
Joe answered preemptively, “Warriors who have obtained the power of the gods, the bane of evil witches, and the church’s greatest hope for saving the world. Only firm and fearless believers can possess this honor.” He paused slightly, “In the past, we thought that saving the world was to guard the Great Rift and prevent evil beasts from invading the hinterland, but from the legacy of Sir Toc Talt, we learned about the Battle of Divine Will and the existence of devils.”
“So, the Divine Punishment Army is actually a special force to fight against devils,” Farina continued, “Only the Hermes Secret Intelligence Office knows how the transformation ritual is carried out, but now all of this has been destroyed by Roland Wimbledon.”
“Sounds touching indeed, but not a word of it is true.” Zoe smiled contemptuously, “The only purpose for which your so-called Divine Punishment Army was created was to suppress witches and maintain the rule of usurpers. Although the source of all this was indeed to continue humanity, the planners were not the church at all, but the witches.”
Farina had an incredulous look on her face. If the other party wasn't the famous Einova, the idol in her heart, she would have loudly retorted.
Joe took a deep breath, “Can you… tell us about it in detail?”
“Very well, let me satisfy your curiosity, mortals.” Zoe raised the corner of her mouth.
……
When the other party stopped speaking, Farina felt a stabbing pain from her fingers—unbeknownst to her, she had clenched her fists, and the broken fingers were bleeding again.
She finally understood why the figures in historical biographies would appear so vividly in front of her. The Einova in front of her was not the commander of the Judgment Army, but an ancient witch who had continued from more than four hundred years ago.
If it were normal times, she would have shouted blasphemy and drawn her sword to fight the other party to the death. Even if she couldn’t win, she wouldn’t allow evil people to control the corpses of heroes.
But now, she felt that all the strength in her body was flowing away from her fingertips.
Too absurd.
This is just too absurd!
According to the other party, the witches themselves created all of this. The claws of devils? The embodiment of evil? What a joke, they are the ones who dedicate everything for humanity, the truly fearless heroes! The courage of Queen Single Starfall alone to sacrifice herself has surpassed most people in the world… Is there anything more ironic than this? The goal that she is proud of was set by the witches she opposes; the transformation ritual she yearns for is just a shell supplied to the witches; even the reason why the world has become what it is now is inseparable from the witches.
Quickly refute her, say that these are all false, fabricated!
Although a voice was shouting in her heart, Farina opened her mouth, but couldn’t say a word.
Because there were too many details that could correspond.
Such as the rumors about the disappearance of Divine Punishment Warriors.
Such as the female corpses that seemed to have been drained of something.
Such as the large-scale monastery in the Old Holy City.
Such as those Pure Ones who looked no different from witches…
If a lie could be so tightly fitted, it would have to be lurking in the church for at least decades and be able to touch the core secrets in the Secret Intelligence Office. Perhaps only the popes of the past can meet these
conditions.
What's more, there is also a decisive piece of evidence, which is "power".
Since the ultimate goal of the Divine Punishment Warriors is to fight against devils, then without a doubt, the stronger the better. And a sentient being is always much stronger than a non-sentient beast, which is beyond doubt—the fact that they easily conquered the Grand Duke Island castle guarded by the Divine Punishment Warriors with just two people is proof. If witches and Divine Punishment bodies are so well matched, why would the church want to kill them all instead of making good use of them? Even if wild witches are evil, Pure Ones should be suitable.
But the fact is that Hermes has never had a Divine Punishment Witch.
A conclusion had already been reached in her mind.
Pure Ones can be controlled with Divine Stones.
The church has no means to restrain a Divine Punishment Witch equivalent to a transcendent.
Therefore, even if the latter is stronger, it will not be considered.
If the one with the crown in the Holy City is truly wholeheartedly for humanity, she believes that there are many believers who are willing to dedicate themselves, and it is not surprising that there are a few witches among them.
However, from the beginning, the Holy City cut off this possibility.
Saving the world is not as important as they advertise.
... Just like the other party mocked, she thought weakly, the Divine Punishment Warrior is not the trump card against the devils, but a tool to suppress the witches, nothing more.
Joe obviously also realized this contradiction. He asked cautiously, "How many people like you are there in Neverwinter City?"
"Several hundred," Zoe shrugged, "Using the shells contributed by you. Don't be surprised if you meet familiar people in the future."
Farina vaguely guessed the reason why Joe asked this.
If one or two "sacrificed" Divine Punishment Warriors could still be impersonated by witches, hundreds would be absolutely impossible.
The fact that the other party could answer so frankly was in itself a piece of evidence.
Not even the last bit of luck was left.
Farina felt something in her heart gradually drifting away from her.
The feeling that she craved to be needed.
The church originally carried light and hope, and as a member of the church, she naturally shouldered these—behind her were the Four Kingdoms and all of humanity, but now, they were peeling off little by little, like mottled and weathered walls. And behind the walls… there was nothing, as empty as a dream.
She had to… do something.
"The church… the church can change this result… bring everything back on track…" Farina said with difficulty.
"What?" Zoe looked at her.
"The Divine Punishment Witch Project… needs shells, right? Only the church can provide them for you, such as me—" She took a deep breath, "I am willing to take the lead in the transformation."
"Oh?" Zoe showed a playful smile, "Even if it means losing your mind?"
"Farina!" Joe said loudly.
"If that can help humanity—"
In this way, light will reappear behind her, and she will still be needed—
"Interesting, mortal," but Zoe mercilessly shattered her fantasy, "But the Divine Punishment Witch Project has already been abolished."
"W-Why?"
"Because it's useless." Zoe spread her hands, "According to the situation four hundred years ago, it may have been a force to be reckoned with, but today's devils can no longer be defeated by Divine Punishment Witches alone, so we have all sided with the mortal king of Graycastle, it’s that simple.”
"..." Farina opened her mouth, but could only let out some hissing breaths.
"Even a living witch, no matter how weak her abilities, as long as she finds the right direction, her role is far greater than that of magic blood and a shell—although it was His Majesty Roland who discovered this, we are also very good at learning, and now it has basically become everyone's consensus." Zoe stood up and walked towards the door, "That is to say, even if you are willing to become a shell, there is no
witch who would offer blood, because it's not worth anything."
She stopped at the threshold, turned back and smiled.
"Let me be blunt, the appearance of the church was a mistake from the beginning."
In an instant, Farina heard a crisp cracking sound.
——From her heart.