Alright, it's another fellow who thinks everything is going according to his plan, so he is fearless and enjoys the show.
Aaron gave Luo Jia a glance and found a chair from around the area and brought it over.
"If you have your own plans, I won't fuss. I'll tell you a story about your father."
Luo Jia didn't deny much this time; she just nodded.
Aaron coughed twice and moistened his throat:
"Firstly, it's crucial to recognize that he is an absolute scumbag. On the very first day you meet, you must beat him up!"
"You must promise me this! Kiriman seems too steady and might back down. So, I can only hope you'll take revenge for me."
Luo Jia frowned: "Revenge? You have mentioned this more than once. What did your father do to you?"
Speaking of which, Aaron began to talk confidently:
"When I was a child, he would throw me into the river to bathe, and I would be gone for half a day without him knowing where I went downstream to look for me."
"He would argue with his mother every day. When he couldn't win his mother in the argument, she would pull his hair and drag him into the room to beat him up. After losing, he would have a tired-out look on his face and kick me when he came out."
Luo Jia hurried to stop him, saying, "That's just ordinary family squabbles; that's enough."
He thought that the father had done something even more drastic.
Such as the sacrifice ceremony, or to exchange his son with the demon in order to make his fate inevitably tragic.
These kinds of things have happened frequently in the dark territories of many of the Korchis.
The father would offer his son for temporary pleasure or to cure a disease.
"I have no emotions. When Korchis raised me, he was teaching me to believe in the one true God who can do anything."
Luo Jia didn't even notice that her tone had a hint of... admiration?
"However, I promise you, if I meet your father, I will beat him up."
Aaron gripped his fists, jumping down from his chair!
"Hooray! I'm really glad to see us standing on the same side, my brother."
He doesn't care if Luo Jia admits it or not.
Aaron took his seat again and heard the Aribas holding the ritual outside the tent.
That was a litany to comfort the departed, farewells for the comrades who had died in today's battle.
"Luo Jia, I think you should lead the ritual. Otherwise, many of the believers will only remember Aribas."
Luo Jia regained composure and began to pray in her own seat:
"May the one true God comfort the departed and protect their souls, so that they may witness the eternal peace, untroubled."
Later, he raised his head:
"This is a test for Aribas. I said I have my own plans."
Aaron sighed and joined in the prayer:
"May you bless them. I don't know if I am a god, but I also want to bless."
Luo Jia ignored Aaron's disrespect and closed her eyes.
Outside the tent, the ritual reached its most solemn moment.
Aribas was already considering whether to contact Kalus to create some light and shadow effects.
The clouds in the sky scattered, and beams of light descended to match.
To show that the response of the one true God was his own initiative in leading the ritual.
It was not the kind of response Luo Jia could receive.
However, prudent Aribas still chose to play it safe, as Luo Jia was just a short distance away in the tent.
The fluctuations of the demon could draw his attention.
Aribas was a bit disappointed, but he felt satisfied when he saw the believers following his prayer and praising the god they believed in.
At least the purpose was achieved.
Aribas shouted aloud:
"One True God! You will protect these souls!"
HUMMING
Odd sounds echoed around, and the anxious voice of Kalus resounded in Aribas's mind:
"Something is wrong. A demon of pleasure has coveted these souls, and I cannot stop it."
Aribas cursed angrily:
"What are you doing, Kalus! Didn't we agree that you wouldn't disturb us!"
Kalus's voice was tinged with schadenfreude:
"This is an unexpected situation that I had no desire for. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so happy to inform you and come give you a heads-up. You need to make a decision quickly and end the ritual! After all, the reverberations of your jumbled one true god's call are really starting to ripple."
"Or—"
Kalus's voice abruptly stops, but his desire is already clear.
Aribas gritted his teeth:
"Either let your people make an appearance and act as the response of the one true god, devour these souls, isn't that it?"
Aribas' legs trembled, and he fell to his knees. The believers mistook his actions for being moved by deep emotion.
He truly felt the proximity of the messenger of the Master of Pleasure.
"Enough, let's go your way. I don't want to face the messenger of the Master of Pleasure again; that feeling is something I don't want to repeat again."
Kalus appeared courteous: "I will comply with your order, Aribas. Kalus is at your service."
This mutate lord was recalling various templates of miracles from his memories, determined to elevate Aribas to a position close to that of an apostle in one breath.
DONG!
Sacred bells rang out.
The sacrificing companions were gradually manifesting their souls, their eyes shifting from confusion to clarity, realizing their form of existence.
They bid farewell to their companions and waited for their entrance into the afterlife.
Seeing this miracle, people fell to their knees in awe, even ordinary followers who were not disciples were moved by the miracle and converted.
Aribas felt the eyes of the crowd upon him, which held a sense of reverence.
Although it was risky, it seemed to be working wonders.
Aribas alertly glanced in the direction of Luo Jia's tent, where there was no sign of movement.
"Kalus, keep going. Be prepared. Don't let these souls show signs of pain when you consume them; we can't let anyone suspect our plan."
"Kalus, Kalus?"
Aribas called out to his partner but received no response.
In reality, the souls completed their farewells and final prayers without ascending into the sky.
Instead, they walked towards Luo Jia's tent, as if it was the land of the afterlife.
"Kalus, damn it, put away your tricks and stop playing! Don't let me handle these situations that go beyond our plan every time!"
"Kalus! You scoundrel, what are you doing!"
Aribas cursed, even considering a possible better explanation in his heart.
Because of his loyalty to Luo Jia, these souls were liberated by following the prayer of his saintly identity.
And it would also avoid Luo Jia's suspicion, and the believers would trust him.
Ah, my wisdom is always so easy to find the aspect that is most advantageous to myself in chaotic situations.
As for Kalus, I must pluck its feathers!
One by one, the souls at peace walked into the tent, heading towards Luo Jia.
Luo Jia, who was originally meditating, was stunned and suspicious at this scene. Was this an illusion from the dark gods or a revelation from the one true god?
The moment the first soul touched Luo Jia, she realized that her vision, no, all of her senses, were transcending the constraints of her physical body.
She arrived in a golden void, surrounded by blazing anger flames, yet they didn't hurt her at all.
A shadow, a shadow of a high throne of gold, filled in every direction of the void, omnipresent.
He gazed upon her:
"My child, Luo Jia Aorilian, your eldest brother has found the timeline before the chaos."
"You have the right to decide who you want to be, rather than the mission imposed on you by me. Perhaps this will change the future full of ruins."
"Go back, go back. The perfect city you dream of will be realized."
In that moment of being enveloped by the golden sun, Luo Jia believed that she was the offspring of the one true god.
Aaron, was her eldest brother.
Then she remembered her promise to her brother and threw a punch!
"You are all-powerful, why not directly create a beautiful world? Why should life be tormented in pain, and be subjected to those dark false gods?"
"Answer me, father!"
The punch struck the throne, and the golden sun shattered, revealing a skeleton that was weak to the extreme.
"Because I am not all-powerful or all-knowing, and I am not capable of facing my mistakes. Luo Jia, you are the root of all things, holding human civilization together in the darkness for a millennium. Therefore, this story begins with you."
"I, apologize to you."
Luo Jia was gradually pulled away and could not hear—
At the end of time, another ancient and smiling voice asked the golden sun:
"Is this your genuine feelings or another means to control your son? Cursed one. You are heartless and unforgiving, and you will ultimately destroy everything. You are the most evil and filthy among us!"
"Oh oh, this time you've resorted to the 'trading hearts for hearts' routine? I truly pity your sons."
The sun remained silent, just burning quietly.
All was quiet, and Luo Jia kept her posture of punching.
