Chapter 59: My Lord, Why Are You a Giant Toad?

Chapter 59: My Lord, Why Are You a Giant Toad?

The bonfire blazed as over thirty people formed a circle, offering their humble wishes to the lord they devoutly worshipped.

The first part of the ritual proceeded without interference from Hastur and Maric, but it was the second and final parts that required vigilance.

Tonight marked the ultimate ceremony, which, in addition to the usual three parts, included an extra segment for blessings.

Each believer would receive a blessing from their lord in turn, completing the thirteen-night ritual only after this benediction.

With the first part concluded, it was Count Richard who oversaw the second part.

This time, Hastur focused his observation on the crystal ball said to bridge the living world and the realm of the dead.

Count Richard claimed he had obtained the crystal ball under the guidance of their lord, initiating the thirteen-night blessing ceremony.

In mysticism, crystal balls often serve as mediums, connecting and communicating between two different worlds.

They can also enhance the spirituality of the user, especially for those diviners whose skills are lacking and who rely on external aids to successfully complete their divinations.

Should any mishap occur later, shattering the crystal ball might disrupt the ceremony's progress.

Count Richard's every action mirrored those of the previous night, with no additional peculiar behavior. The giant toad-like spirit reappeared, and as the brass whistle sounded, messengers from the spirit world once again lowered the surrounding temperature.

Hastur struggled to maintain his composure each time he witnessed this scene.

He pitied the spirit messengers, roused from their slumber each night without any messages to deliver, forced to wait idly until the ceremony concluded.

As Count Richard declared the end of the third part, the dance offering, Hastur excused himself from participating, instead remaining vigilant for any unexpected changes.

All proceeded as usual, with no issues during the third part.

Standing before everyone, Count Richard, brimming with excitement and emotion, proclaimed, "We are all disciples of the lord, having offered our most devout faith. Now, the lord will respond to us, blessing us for the life that lies ahead."

"God loves all, and all love God!"

With this rousing slogan, Count Richard incited a frenzy among the believers, who chanted in unison, "God loves all, and all love God."

Hastur inwardly praised, "What a talent, to apply learning so swiftly."

As the atmosphere reached its climax, Count Richard, the organizer of the ceremony, decided to be the first to receive the lord's blessing.

He wanted all followers to witness what a true miracle looked like.

Hastur, gripping a large wooden club, silently approached Count Richard, while Maric kept a watchful eye on the spirit creature.

When Count Richard stood at the center, arms spread wide and eyes closed in an embracing posture, the spirit creature finally stirred.

It shifted its massive body, opened its toothless maw, and slowly moved toward Count Richard's head.

Sensing something amiss before the blessing arrived, Count Richard felt an itch on his scalp and a chill throughout his body.

Peeking through slightly opened eyes, he recoiled in horror at the sight of the gaping mouth poised to devour his head.

"Devout follower, the time has come for you to offer your life to the lord."

A familiar voice echoed in Count Richard's mind—the voice of the lord from his dreams!

Count Richard exclaimed in shock, "My lord, why are you a giant toad?"

In his dreams, the lord wore a gray robe adorned with countless spirits of the dead, his face shrouded in mist, making it indiscernible. His slender arms held a great sword for judging the dead in one hand and a blue crystal ball in the other.

Countless spirits sang praises of his mercy and majesty.

The River Styx, flowing through the entire realm of the dead, lay at his feet.

He enjoyed instructing each faithful disciple, his imposing exterior concealing a kind heart that guided them forward.

His image was grand and majestic, certainly not the toad before him!

This was merely his messenger, traversing between worlds to convey messages.

It was not the true lord! It must be attempting to usurp the lord's place!

Thud! A dull sound of something cutting through the air resounded overhead.

Count Richard watched in a daze as a large wooden club swung over his head, striking the brain of his lord.

The head was smashed to pieces! "What are you waiting for? Take these people away!"

Hastur pulled the bewildered Count Richard back with him.

The club had indeed struck the spirit creature's head, but it was like hitting a cloud, without force.

The shattered head dissipated like mist before reforming, whole once again.

It was a spirit, a phantom traversing both worlds, a creature without a true body.

Physical harm was useless against it.

This was also why Maric's attempts had no effect.

The toad, enraged by the theft of its impending meal, spread layers of black fog from its body, dropping the temperature further and frosting the ground with a thin layer of white.

This was a display of its control over negative forces.

"It can't cross over yet; destroy the ceremony now!"

Maric made a clear judgment, and Hastur swung his club at the crystal ball at the center of the ceremony.

Rolling black fog formed a wall in front of the crystal ball, aware of its importance.

Meanwhile, the spreading fog quickly enveloped the unsuspecting believers, rendering their eyes lifeless and their bodies unsteady, like walking corpses.

Zombification? Maric knew how to handle such situations. Transforming into a werewolf, he dashed through the crowd, knocking each person unconscious with a swipe of his paw.

Even those unaffected by the fog were incapacitated by Maric to prevent interference.

Seeing this, Hastur channeled his spirituality, whispering, "Banish spirits from this place!"

A golden light seemed to flow along his spine as the rule took effect.

The void rippled like water, swallowing the black fog-shrouded toad in one gulp.

The fog dissipated, the dying bonfire reignited with crackling sounds, and everything appeared to return to normal.

Snap! Hastur slapped the still-dazed Count Richard, jolting him awake.

"You've worshipped the wrong lord!"

"No, the lord is not mistaken; it's the filthy toad daring to steal the lord's place that's wrong!"

Count Richard, regaining his senses, was filled with uncontrollable rage.

Especially now, as the familiar voice of the lord still spoke in his mind.

It urged him to become a bridge to the spirit world, heralding the true return of the lord.

Count Richard scoffed. The true lord was the master of the dead, the sovereign of darkness, omnipotent. Why would he need anyone to usher in his return?

Fake is fake!

No deity would beg for help from its followers. This must be the vile toad's temptation!

Its existence insulted the lord's majesty!

At that moment, Maric sensed a wave from the spirit world approaching. He urged Hastur to move away from their current location.

Hastur didn't leave; instead, he stepped forward and shattered the unprotected crystal ball, scattering the three candles.

The wave from the spirit world weakened instantly.

Was it over?

Maric sensed carefully, scanning the surroundings several times to confirm there were no other anomalies.

Yet the temperature remained icy, far from normal.

He quickly activated his spiritual vision, scanning the area once more.

Count Richard was undergoing a transformation. Behind him, the toad-like spirit creature clung to his back, its huge belly pulsating as if brewing something.

This must have been the spirit creature's contingency left on Count Richard.

"Activate spiritual vision! It's on Count Richard!"

Following Maric's shout, Hastur opened his spiritual vision and slapped Count Richard again, urging, "Stay rational if you don't want to die!"

Count Richard, hearing Maric's call and after being slapped by Hastur, took deep breaths to suppress his anger.

Though not well-versed in mysticism, he knew that evil spirits fed on negative emotions to accelerate their growth.

His recent anger was the nourishment it needed.

"Your existence defiles the lord; I shall deliver the lord's deathly judgment in his stead!"

Count Richard's voice was cold, his expression stern, as he slowly closed his eyes.

He was an extraordinary individual. Although he rarely fought, he was well aware of his abilities within his order.

A medium's role wasn't limited to facilitating communication with the dead; subduing disobedient spirits and passing judgment was also part of their power.

"Spirits in this place shall suffer double the harm!"

As Count Richard confronted the spirit creature, Hastur silently set a second rule.

With both rules in effect, he felt his spiritual energy nearly drained, his body staggering, almost falling.

Fortunately, the impact was significant. With Hastur's help and his own extraordinary abilities, Count Richard burst the spirit creature's belly, annihilating its avatar.

"This is the fate of those who blaspheme!"

Count Richard stood tall, his face a mix of disdain and scorn.

(End of Chapter)