The Cult

Since discovering this survivor camp, Alan had almost abandoned everything in his territory and entered dreams daily, focusing all his attention on observing everything.

On this day, he witnessed the shelter's biggest feud.

The argument seemed to originate from the evolution of the monsters and the shortage of food.

"We can't keep going on like this!"

A man with golden hair screamed fiercely, waving his arms wildly as if to be more persuasive. Several times, he waved them through Alan's body.

"The monsters are getting stronger, and the food we can get is getting less and less. If this continues, everyone in this shelter... will die!"

He spoke a cruel truth.

"Soren, what do you plan to do?" Shu asked calmly, pulling two children behind him.

"Relocate! Move to the north. I heard there is a larger gathering point there. They possess extraordinary powers! It's very safe, and there's plenty of food!"

Soren answered without hesitation.

"The people from the north?" The shelter's people seemed agitated, as if they had heard this news before.

"Yes, among them, there are even supermen who can fight dangerous species barehanded!" Soren replied, "If we join them, we can gain the same strength!"

"The cultists who call themselves the 'Black Sun Cult'?" Shu sneered, "I heard they burn people alive as sacrifices!"

"So what? To survive, we have to give up something." Soren suddenly grinned, "He is right there, He is in the sky, He is watching us... don't tell me you've never heard those... divine revelations!"

Alan was taken aback. He had only heard some ramblings when the Black Sun and those terrifying entities were first born. He hadn't received any other information since.

But judging by the expressions of the other survivors, they seemed to hear them occasionally?

"Yes, the Black Sun is above us, but I have not heard any 'calling'. All I've heard is chaotic roars and the ravings of madmen... When I resisted it, I never heard it again."

Shu sneered, "Are you sure you want to worship those crazy things? I bet that the black sun in the sky doesn't even know there's a Black Sun Cult on the ground..."

"You are right, the Black Sun doesn't need us, but that doesn't stop us from worshipping Him."

"Just as the sun does not intend to nurture all things, it simply shines. The deities do not seek to summon believers, they simply radiate power naturally, and we seek His path, His light, and pray for protection."

A solemn voice suddenly sounded outside the shelter.

Alan looked over to see three robed figures standing outside the shelter, all gaunt and skeletal as if resurrected skeletons.

The voice just now came from the leader of the three, an old man with many strange tattoos etched on his bald head.

"People of the Black Sun Cult? How did they find this place? Soren! Did you betray us?"

Shu had a flintlock gun in her hand pointed at the speaking elder.

"My child, put down your weapon, the Black Sun will forgive you."

The old man had a gentle smile on his face, "You are right, the Lord of the Eclipse does not care about the faith of ants. But such an existence merely radiates light and heat naturally, which is enough to protect us. We are all just... pitiful people trying to survive in this cruel world."

"Sophistry!"

Shu moved towards the window, seemingly trying to escape.

But the elder did not draw any weapon, he just smiled and stared at the crowd, "The Black Sun needs offerings, the Black Sun needs sacrifices! Only through enduring hardships can great deeds be accomplished! Ignorant lambs, one day you will understand the Black Sun is the ultimate savior of all!"

"The glory is gone, it won't return, the Black Sun descends, the bells toll, everything perishes, and I linger!"

Behind the elder, the two robed figures raised their arms and began chanting strange incantations.

Their language seemed otherworldly, mixed with strange words. It was the supernatural language from the Black Sun's ramblings, which Alan could fully understand.

At this moment, this language seemed to contain a strange power.

A black wind blew towards the shelter.

This wind seemed alive, binding Shu and preventing her from pulling the trigger.

Shu's expression turned extremely painful, her eyes bloodshot, and veins writhing at the edges of her ears as if she was enduring some torturous pain.

As for Ike and Lin, they fainted instantly.

"Is this... sorcery?"

Alan felt nothing, watching the scene, his eyes becoming extremely complex, "True supernatural power, extraordinary force that can be mastered! These cults... are interesting!"

Although it seemed these mysterious cults were spontaneously formed by divine inspirations, there was no doubt that on the path of approaching those terrifying existences, they indeed achieved some successes.

When the incantations stopped, no one in the shelter was left standing.

Even the traitor Soren was also knocked out.

The elder's gentle gaze swept over, but for some reason, this empty shelter gave him a strange feeling.

It seemed that someone or 'something' still existed, casting their gaze.

He did not stay long, commanding, "Take everyone away. We will have more brothers and sisters in our cult."

Soon, many robed cultists appeared from all directions. Their expressions solemn as they carried the unconscious survivors and supplies. Occasionally, one would reveal burned scars on their arms or necks...

A fully loaded convoy set off immediately. Even the high priest did not notice an invisible ghost following the convoy.

In reality.

Alan woke up, his expression playful.

Suddenly, he opened his mouth and uttered a string of strange syllables: "The glory is gone, it won't return, the Black Sun descends, the bells toll, everything perishes, and I linger!"

This was a spell he memorized. Some pronunciations challenged the limits of human ability.

But under the effect of 'Total Recall', it was recorded.

"Lord?"

The door opened, and the maid, Daili, rubbed her eyes, looking confusedly at Alan.

"Nothing! You can leave now!"

After sending away the maid, Alan sighed, "Even if I learn it, it's useless? Could it be... this world is really without magic?"

He felt a bit frustrated.

Perhaps, achieving immortality in this world was an impossible task.

(End of this chapter)