Book 17 Chapter 27
Chapter 117
The age range of those being taken to the underwater stairs in the harbor district of <Karsico> was diverse.
Young or old…
They seemed to have no common physical traits, but in fact, they were individuals selected by very strict criteria.
That was power!
Only those who were born with or honed their magic, divine power, or physical strength to exceed general standards were chosen!
"Senior Tubasa, even you…"
The blue witches shed tears as they looked at the old woman, who was covered in blood and dragged in.
The blue witch, Tubasa.
She, who was in charge of the 11th island, was originally a witch who had also served as a great witch in her youth, but in her old age, she had been living in seclusion on a small island, taking care of the people and raising successors.
"Senior, what will become of us now?"
The witches of the Black Rose Society, who had become nagas, were so powerful that even Tubasa couldn't contend with them.
The chanting assistance and omission performed by their snake-like hair made it impossible for witches who embodied supernatural powers by reciting words of power to even establish a fight.
While the shrine maiden Rubrianne was absent, the nagas of the Black Rose Society were led by the second-in-command, the great witch Pilsanna.
"Be honored. Know that the great Baoba has taken you as living sacrifices for himself."
"Not only have you abandoned the witch's vow to protect the order of this land, but you serve the abyss! You are a despicable wretch!"
"Shlurrp, shlurrp, babble on as you please. Under his blessing, we have been reborn, so our faith will not be shaken by your absurd ramblings."
Pilsanna flicked her snake-like tongue and spoke. All the sacrifices, except for the witches, trembled in fear.
However, that fear could hardly be called fear. Compared to the primal terror they faced half a day later, after descending all the underwater stairs…
It was madness.
Sitting on a grand throne, with a fist propped up, was the figure of the ruler who had bred all of humanity like beasts since ancient times!
When confronted with that figure, humans feel true fear arising from the instincts etched in their genes and go mad.
"Ha, ha, hahaha, hahahahahaha…"
"He, he, heheht, hehehehehe…"
Ordinary people, who had no resistance to ancient madness, thus lost their minds.
With unfocused eyes, they drooled and laughed, or dug at the ground while weeping, or screamed madly, tearing at their hair until their scalps showed.
Witches were no different; the only difference was that they maintained their sanity.
They too had to tremble in their souls at the touch of madness that swept coldly from their spines to their crowns.
"Baoba, great being who is the echo of madness and the gatekeeper of the ancient deep-sea kingdom──!"
"──Kuk!"
"We humbly offer the fresh blood of these living sacrifices, which you have commanded and desired of us lowly beings, before your altar──!"
"────Kuk!"
"Please understand our utmost loyalty, devotion, and love for you with your boundless generosity, wider than the sea itself──!"
"──────Kuk!"
"After awakening from your eternal slumber, you have made us your servants… What is all this commotion! At this sacred time of offering tribute to Him!"
What in the world was happening?!
Were those desperate screams not the death cries of those being offered as living sacrifices?
The screams, gradually growing closer and louder, finally erupted even from the nagas standing guard at the end of the line of living sacrifices.
"Kuk!"
"Kuk!"
"Kuk!"
What an electric shock!
Could a body be charred so black in such a short moment?!
"Who is it?"
The great witch Pilsanna narrowed her eyes at the overwhelming, powerful magic that felt like her entire body was being crushed.
Finally, the center and protagonist of all this commotion appeared…
Broom handling skills that were too amateurish for a great witch like Pilsanna!
The boy riding behind the pilot chuckled, making a gesture as if adjusting a non-existent conical hat.
"I am [The Strongest], who just happened to, quite by chance, come all the way down these stairs."