Witch, Fireball and Steam Evil God

Chapter 474 The Opposite of God
"madman!"

Mary was furious; she really wanted to skip the trial and just smash Carlo to death with a hammer.

As death approached, she decided to leave her grudges to the Third Age a thousand years ago, but that did not mean she would forget the immense catastrophe that the Crimson King brought to the world when he led his army of flesh and blood.

People were trapped in the city, while outside the city were flesh and blood creatures transformed from corpses. Even so, people could not stop the spread of the plague. They watched as familiar people around them were infected one by one, their bodies grew thinner and thinner, their skin turned pale and bloodless. After a few days, the infected would start coughing up blood and eventually die in painful struggle.

The corpses would mutate that very night, crawling out of their coffins in distorted forms, losing their memories and consciousness, and lunging at anyone who tried to approach them, including their own relatives. As a result, in the early stages of the plague, the lords of various cities issued laws that any infected person would be sent to quarantine zones outside the city as soon as possible.

In reality, this approach was completely ineffective. As the number of deaths increased, the quarantine zone had long since spiraled out of control, becoming a dead zone overrun by monsters. All the guards did was drive the sick out to die, ensuring they didn't die too close to the city, lest they transform into monsters and attack the town, or become a source of plague transmission.

Those who, out of kinship, love, or friendship, cannot bear to drive the sick out of the city to die and instead hide them in cellars or other places, will bring disaster to the entire city.

Mary traveled from city to city in search of a way to ward off the plague, witnessing too many tragedies along the way.

It wasn't until her encounter with Ethan across time that she found a way to purify the plague that the situation began to improve.

Once you see that hellish scene, you'll never forget it, not even Mary, who had long since developed an iron will.

She took her obsession to her grave, yet she could not tolerate that, a thousand years later, someone would attempt to bring the Scarlet Plague back into the world.

Mary scrutinized Carlo sternly. Throughout the entire ordeal, the madman offered no defense or rebuttal to Ethan's accusations. Carlo's inner secrets were exposed, and his expression shifted between anger and uncertainty.

People living in this era simply cannot imagine the terror brought by the Crimson King, which is why they made such a foolish decision.

If Carlo had been born in the Third Age, he would have had no opportunity to exercise his political skills. He would have been infected with the Scarlet Plague before reaching adulthood, driven out of town, and died in some unknown place, just like most people.

"From a technical standpoint, his plan is feasible."

Ethan offered an objective assessment, admitting that Carlo was the closest person to the truth he had ever met. Although he didn't know where Carlo got these secrets from, it had truly led him to the ladder to godhood.

This is a successful experimental case that exists in the archives of the God of Truth.

In this respect, Carlo indeed surpasses Julius, Turzan, and even the imposter god of trickery, Kadra.

"He can succeed as long as he doesn't care how many people die or what the world will become."

Ethan gradually came to understand Carlo's prophecy of salvation.

He wasn't even lying.

If he can successfully implement his plan, the rightful God will indeed return to this land, and ultimately 144000 people may indeed survive and witness the day of redemption described by Carlo.

"Moriko!"

Mary tapped the table with her hammer, somewhat bewildered by Ethan's words. They didn't sound like he was listing Carlo's crimes, but rather acknowledging the feasibility of his plan. Compared to the previous condemnations, the sect leaders who were jurors were clearly more interested in Ethan's presence.

The room fell silent, everyone deep in thought, as if these words had brought them different perspectives to consider.

"So, you also realized this was a paradox a long time ago, didn't you, Mr. Carlo?"

Ethan looked directly at Carlo. "How can someone who is completely indifferent to death and the future of the world become the rightful god in people's hearts?"

"The reason why the rightful gods are still remembered by people six ages after their fall is not only because of their extraordinary power, but more importantly because of the way they maintain faith."

"This is the meaning of the path. When every knight picks up his sword and shield, and every priest casts a healing spell, the face of the god they believe in is reflected in their image."

In Ethan's view, this is the biggest difference between Carlo and the God of Truth.

He never possessed the power of the God of Truth from the beginning. He couldn't, like the latter, send down a few meteorites to kill hundreds of thousands of people after sneaking into the "other world," and then rebuild His path after collecting enough souls—which is why the royal family and nobles are so important to Him.

He only needs to share His power with a small number of people, and let these beneficiaries manage the entire kingdom for Him, establish a state religion, and spread the faith. In reality, those later believers received nothing, yet they still fervently believed that the light of the God of Truth would shine upon each of them.

This is a rather "modern" way of managing the faith, which shows that the God of Truth has learned a lot from mankind over the past thousands of years. He has adopted a simpler and more efficient way to turn the faith into a political game on earth.

In pursuit of greater power and benefits, people ignore the true source of all this and blindly engage in infighting. Even if someone eventually overthrows the vested interests, they are merely another group of chosen people of the God of Truth.

"You can't let anyone understand your plans, so you can only smear the empire and disguise it all as a struggle between papal and royal power. Oh, since we're on the topic, I guess that's why you miss Julius. 'If Julius were still alive, he would understand me,' that's probably what you're thinking, isn't it?"

Carlo's face was ashen, and even his struggle against the vines had stopped for a long time.

"In this regard, you should be glad that Julius died early enough to leave you with some beautiful memories."

"He was the better choice."

Finally, Carlo spoke, glaring fiercely at Ethan, but his expression was mixed with more complex emotions than hatred.

Ethan personally executed Julius and Turzan during the coup, destroying everything with his own hands. Yet, at the same time, Ethan was the only person Carlo encountered who could "see the future" like him.

Carlo even had a vague feeling that Ethan had glimpsed a more distant future than Julius, Turzan, or even himself.

"I didn't expect you to be so dedicated."

Ethan had to admit that Carlo's response was unexpected. He had thought that if Julius were still alive, the two would eventually fight each other to the point of killing each other over "who should become the new god".

"So, you admit to the crimes you committed."

Mary said sternly.

If Ethan's charges are upheld, the trial can be considered closed.

Next, they will not only execute Carlo using the most severe methods according to the Vatican's precepts, but also nail this evil name to the pillar of historical shame, so that even a hundred or a thousand years from now, people will remember the numerous crimes he committed.

Just like how humanity still views the Scarlet King.

The most vicious and cruel tyrant.

A sinner who attempts to bring the Crimson Age back to life, even if he has not yet succeeded, is worthy of being tied to the stake and burned to ashes in front of the residents of the Holy City.

"Crime? What crime have I committed!"

Carlo grinned maliciously, "I've merely repeated the actions of Bazarian and those self-proclaimed legitimate gods! If you judge me, you're negating the legitimacy of all legitimate gods!"

These words caused an uproar among the sect leaders.

They never imagined that even as Carlo faced death, he would still be thinking of dragging all the rightful gods down with him.

Even the most fanatical followers of the evil god couldn't utter such words. "You don't know yet, do you? Bazalian is the name of the goddess of life!"

"What nonsense!"

Solaris could no longer bear to watch. He raised his staff, chanted a spell, and the vines binding Carlo immediately sprouted rows of barbs that pierced his flesh, turning Carlo into a "bloody man" in an instant.

However, Carlo remained completely unaffected. The red mist surging beneath his skin continuously repaired his wounds, achieving a delicate balance with Solaris's magic.

"How foolish! A bunch of pathetic creatures living in a lie woven by a true God without even realizing it!"

When facing Solaris and even Mary, Carlo once again displayed an arrogant attitude.

In his view, these pathetic creatures living in lies had no right to speak with him as equals. Those ignorant people who could not see the more distant future were destined to become nourishment for the new god. If they were lucky enough, they might live to see the day of salvation.

At that time, the timeline will restart.

The old gods will slumber once more, and humanity will return to the origins of the First Age, where he will become a new god to be remembered by the people.

"Do you consider this proof that I have betrayed the Holy See?"

The red mist within Carlo's body surged, and the vines binding him became increasingly weak under its influence. Their skin began to rot, and the barbs piercing Carlo's flesh softened and eventually disintegrated under the influence of the red mist. An ominous red color climbed up the eerie green vines, slowly but steadily consuming them.

Then, new flesh and blood gradually grew from the rotten part.

It looked just like human muscle tissue, eerily exposed to the air.

"Can you feel it, Mary! This is the evil force you hate, yet it feels familiar to you..."

"Carlo asked loudly."

Mary's heart skipped a beat; for a moment she forgot about reinforcing the birdcage woven from the vegetation.

because……

Before this trial, she had "examined" Bazatos's body, expecting it to be a light and enjoyable academic study, until she discovered a terrible secret in the Seven-Eyed Woman's body structure. She tried not to think about it, but Carlo's actions at this moment made her realize that the secret she had discovered in Bazatos's body was no coincidence.

"This is the power that Bazalian concealed, the part that the true gods painstakingly removed from their bodies!"

Carlo's voice lingered in everyone's hearts for a long time.

When the sect leaders noticed Mary's expression, they realized that this might not be the ravings of a dying man. "That's why they fell one after another, isn't it?"

This question made the sect leaders hold their breath; they couldn't even imagine the consequences if the matter were confirmed.

The ominous red mist and the ability to regenerate severed limbs were clearly the powers of the evil god Bazartos.

They suddenly realized that the name "Bazalian" sounded somewhat related to Bazatos.

They could hear the sound of their hearts pounding.

—Is the rightful god an apostle of the evil god?

Or perhaps it actually originated from the power of an evil god?

They could imagine the devastating impact these messages would have on every path, and how doubt about the rightful God would shake the very foundation of their faith.

Carlo naturally noticed the change in Mary's expression, and a sense of comfort arose in his frantic heart.

Finally, apart from Ethan, his mortal enemy, there was at least one more person who could understand him.

"You wouldn't be thinking, 'Giving up the power of immortality for humanity is undoubtedly the noblest act,' would you?"

Carlo questioned loudly.

He could understand Mary's feelings because he had gone through the same process.

As believers in the goddess of life, it has become instinctive for them to glorify any decision she makes.

From the day they joined the Papacy, they were tasked with ensuring the purity and innocence of the image of the goddess of life.

"Calling Moriko, calling Moriko! Should we shut him up?"

Ethan heard Xiao An's question.

Xiao An considers herself the planner of this trial, and she bears the heavy responsibility of guiding its direction.

She could strangle Carlo, or forcibly invade Carlo's brain and control his speech.

If Ethan agrees, the trial will become much easier. Carlo will confess to all his crimes, and if necessary, she can make him put on a tearful confession or kneel down and beg for forgiveness in public.

"Let him continue."

"But……"

"Some truths are better left to him to say."

Ethan responded that he left the "stage" to Carlo, giving the latter ample time to improvise.

As a heretic, if these words came out of his mouth, they would inevitably be attributed to a conspiracy between the empire and evil gods.

"Wait a minute, you did this on purpose!"

Xiao An suddenly realized that Ethan's actions were manipulating Carlo and forcing him to confront his own inner self!
Carlo's questions were unfolding exactly as Ethan had predicted.

"My God, you're absolutely wicked!"

Xiao An immediately felt a deep respect for Ethan, realizing that she still had much to learn from him on her path to becoming a great villain.

"Let me tell you the truth! They did this simply to distance themselves from the evil god!"

Meanwhile, Carlo's every word still resonated deeply: "To cover up the truth that the evil gods were originally brought to this world by them!"

(End of this chapter)