Chapter 78 An Su! The Chosen One! (Thanks to the leader of Sue's Inch of Land!)
The believers cooperated actively, reporting their itineraries daily, releasing in designated areas, and strictly adhering to the schedule of procedures.
Effective governance was achieved.
The worried hearts of the cultists slowly settled.
The esteem for Nether among the people rose increasingly high—or rather, Sharp, the soldiers\' commander, grew even more convinced that An Su Moningsta was the chosen one of pain, the guide who would lead them on their path;
likewise, they believed that bound by the ties of kinship and friendship, they would ultimately overcome the terrible curse and usher in a new future.
For a moment, the prestige of Nether and his two companions reached a peak among the believers.
By the fourth day, very few cultists were disappearing,
but as the saying goes, "extremes breed reversals," and many proud cultists had grievances against Nether:
"Who is he to lead us?"
"It\'s just good luck, that\'s all,"
and so on.
On the fifth day, Nether, Lister, and Arthur took the initiative to resign.
He expressed that he did not wish to control everyone\'s actions, nor did he wish to control the thoughts of his companions; he simply wanted to be a common believer—Nether seemed very sincere.
Just at this time, seeing that the situation was gradually improving, some cultists who did not wish to be controlled by Nether conveniently abolished the collective control plan. For the first few days after the cancellation, things were fine, but by the third day, the situation suddenly retaliated.
[Killings (40/60)]
[Killings (39/60)]
...
In just two days, a total of five cultists disappeared.
The cultists fell back into days of constant fear, creeping timidly in every move, often fearing to go out, only daring to deal with their affairs within the campus, even breaking school rules and being dismembered...
At this time, the believers began to recall Nether\'s goodness again.
The believers who saw the error of their ways begged Nether to come out of retirement once more. Those from the Opposition knelt at the doorstep of their three chambers, beseeching their return in the snow.
"Master Nether, we respect no one but you!"
The fervent followers of the three major factions had by this time swept through more than half of the dry campus: the Painful Pleasure Alphabet Sect, the Exhilarating Southern Banyan Nude Running Sect, and the Humiliated Shy Blushing Sect, all cheering in the floors of the building.
"General Arthur, we adore you!"
"Your Majesty Lister, please lead us one more time!"
Nether kept refusing, only then indicating that he would listen to the voice of the people.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
It was then that Nether made his famous "Declaration of Liberty."
On a crowded platform, in just fifteen minutes, Nether, wearing a military uniform, ascended the stage. His back was ramrod straight, and his pale-blue eyes seemed to flicker with light; every move he made was inherently captivating. The surrounding cultists fell into total silence, holding their breath, not daring to speak loudly.
"In fourteen days, we have lost fifteen brothers," Nether said in a low, magnetic voice, "and in the last two days alone, the number has reached five, surpassing the total of the previous week—this is a startling figure."
"Clearly, we have failed in this battle against the enemy."
For a moment, all the believers on the grounds fell silent.
The hardships they had endured over these two weeks were well known only to themselves.
The esoteric religion\'s high-ranking officials looked down on them, not treating them as human, even hoping they\'d suffer more the better;
No one could understand them.
"Regrettably,"
Nether spoke slowly, his voice low but filled with profound sadness, his eyes appearing to shimmer with tears,
"We do not know who the enemy is, nor where he comes from. He might be a curse, possibly an undercover agent from the Orthodox Church...he is despicable and cunning,"
But Nether\'s gaze swept over each believer, making eye contact with each one. He paused, his pitiful eyes gradually becoming resolute,
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"Despite this, we shall never surrender, never submit,"
"We shall release to the very end!"
An Su\'s tone became instantly impassioned, his voice increasingly choppy, and his body\'s movements more vigorous as he waved his left hand,
"We must release with soaring urgency and surging strength!"
"We must release in the mountains and forests!"
"We must release upon Seden!"
"We must release in the fields and streets, we must release in the mountains, we shall never surrender!"
The cultists below listened to An Su\'s spirited speech, and although the content was bizarre, they were moved by the emotion and shouted along in a frenzy, raising their arms high and letting the primal impulses sweep through their brains.
"When necessary, we wage a war of attrition," An Su strode quickly to the front of the podium and continued his passionate oratory, "When necessary, we fight alone!"
When necessary, wage a war of attrition—hold on with all your might.
When necessary, fight alone—one person holding on with all their might.
"I have a dream that all of us, whether first-order believers or second-order,"
An Su\'s intonation even shifted toward the lyrical, tears glistening in his eyes, "All children of the Painful Mother Goddess, can release together like brothers and sisters under the sunshine of Nether!"
To be sacrificed together like brothers and sisters!
After An Su\'s final words, he spoke no more,
He lowered his head, falling into a long, deep silence, only the ethereal sound of a bell ringing—this was the bell signaling the end of free time, at which every believer would return to their dormitory, back to the endless torment.
And that was the reality.
Their sad and heart-wrenching reality.
A deadly silence enveloped the playground, and everyone fell into a long, deep silence.
[You, damn it, have caught the attention of the Painful Mother Goddess again]
An Su suddenly heard the stretched voice of the Celestial Messenger in his ear,
Everyone could feel that great and vast gaze descending, filled with indescribable terror and even a touch of fond remembrance, landing on An Su\'s silent and serene silhouette.
A sudden burst of applause arose.
At first, it was just a smattering of claps, but it grew louder and louder, eventually converging into thunderous acclaim, with the cultists cheering madly and shouting in unison, "For freedom, we shall never surrender! We shall release to the very end!"
"An Su, the Chosen One!"
"An Su, the Chosen One!"
"An Su, the Chosen One!"
Never surrender!
The future described by An Su was so beautiful that it led them to fly into the flame like moths.
Coupled with the gaze of the Painful Mother Goddess,
It was as if they were brainwashed with the back of a hand.
Backstage, Lister and Arthur were teary-eyed with emotion, unable to believe how magnificent An Su was, their blood boiling with passion, even thinking of contributing their strength to the great cause of the Painful Esoteric Sect.
An Su stepped quickly off the stage, first taking off his hat and instructing Lister and Arthur,
"Increase the intensity!"
"Organize the personal guard."
"Now, anyone who opposes us has fallen into being a righteous believer of the Orthodox Church,"
An Su said with a calm smile on his lips, "Anyone with objections, label them as spies sent by the Church, and then drag them to the back mountain for me to dispose of!"
"There are really too many followers of the esoteric religion," the young man\'s smile was clean and innocent.
Arthur and Lister: "?"
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