The villain's way to tame the protagonist

Hercules, who should have been a hero and extremely shining, would always be robbed of the most eye-catching glory, the most praise and admiration by Sitana due to various coincidences... At first it was just one or two coincidences that people didn't take seriously, but as time went on, Sitana would almost always appear just when Hercules was about to show his skills.

The sin of jealousy made Xin believe that Anther's trip to the north was to change Xitana. If this was arranged by Anther, then what was the point? Why did he want to take the initiative now?

If it wasn't Ansel's arrangement, then how can this coincidence be explained?

As for the creepy brain and spine that seemed to be still active, as well as the researchers' blasphemous attitude towards gods and divine arts, Xin selectively ignored them.

She doesn't need to care about these things, because God doesn't care either, because... this is what Mr. Devil told her, it is a test from God.

……test.

Xin fell into a slight trance again.

God's test...Why did she always feel that this word was familiar?

"Oh...wait, you may have misunderstood something, Mr. Hercules."

Miller, the person in charge, was somewhat rational. Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, he quickly explained, "We did not deliberately kill the church's priests for human experiments, and the principal does not approve of such behavior. After all, if we wanted to do so, then sample number seven would not be a precious sample."

Although this explanation was given, no matter how you look at it, these people had no objection to conducting forced human experiments.

"Sample No. 7 volunteered to be a test subject. The village he was protecting was attacked by the Iron Blade Grand Duke. In order to save the village, he was willing to sacrifice himself in exchange for the principal's assistance."

"But what's a little subtle is..." Miller turned his head to look at the nutrient tank that was deliberately blurred so that it was unclear what was stored inside. "Not long after we made him into a living specimen, the principal formed an alliance with Raylan Iron Blade again."

It was neither a mockery nor an exclamation, but just a simple statement. However, such a calm statement was more chilling than either a mockery or an exclamation.

It was as if the priest's heroic act and sacrifice were just an insignificant paragraph in a sample statement report.

But Hercules did not put down the sword in his hand. His slightly hoarse voice even made Hitana doubt that he was really emotional:

"You said that a living specimen, that looks like... still alive?"

"Yes, didn't I just tell you? We used very advanced spells - Professor Monet did it himself - to preserve his vitality. Strictly speaking, Sample No. 7 is still alive and can still use divine magic. He has a high level of attainment in divine magic, so in order to prevent any accidents during the research process, we set up some isolation spells."

His eloquent talk made Hitana unable to suppress the rage that was surging in her heart, and a red-black aura began to emanate from her tall and slender body.

"Don't take human life lightly! Old man, you just want to show off to us how perverted your men are, right?"

This time, before the Grand Duke of the Grey Tower could answer, Miller spoke first. However, unlike the fanaticism he had just felt because of Hercules's uniqueness, his conditioned reflex at this moment was one of fear.

“What…what is this! What kind of aura and power is this! Why is it automatically shattering the flow of ether! Stop…stop it! You’re going to destroy the entire workshop!”

"……oh?"

The wolf, whose ferocity was gradually increasing, heard this and the smile on her face became more and more excited. She recklessly expanded her murderous breath once again amid the screams of the warlocks.

"You said I could do whatever I wanted, right?"

She was like a ferocious beast that was torturing and playing with its prey under its sharp claws. Her undisguised brutality and cruelty even shattered the abnormality of these researchers, making them beg for mercy and compassion from the King of Beasts in their hearts.

But even so, the Grand Duke of Gray Tower, who should have attached great importance to this area, still smiled calmly and said: "If you feel comfortable destroying this place, please do so."

"Principal's Pavilion——"

Before Miller could finish his words, he fell straight to the ground, his eyes dull.

"I originally wanted Miller to explain the details of this phase of research to you two...but he has been engaged in research for too long and doesn't understand the art of hospitality. This is my oversight. I'm really sorry."

The old man nodded his cane calmly, and Miller, who was lying on the ground, was swallowed by the gray-white light and sent to an unknown place.

"Don't worry, I just want him to take a rest... Miller is a good scholar. The teachers and students here are all good scholars. It is a bit forced to ask scholars to understand those worldly things. I think you should understand, Lord Lance."

After all, Hitana only knew a pure scholar whose personality was the worst possible.

But Miss Wolf obviously didn't buy it. She narrowed her eyes slightly, sneered and said, "Do you think these scumbags under your command can be compared with Ming Fuluo?"

"There is only one Mingflora Zeg in the world. It is really too much to compare her with that lady."

The old man smiled nonchalantly, but he managed to temporarily stabilize Xitana, who could destroy the entire research area at any time.

"Before you destroy everything here, why not listen to me explain the direction of Miller's research... And Mr. Hercules, you should also want to know more about the power bestowed on you by the Saint, right?"

Hercules remained silent while Sin observed the situation.

Why did Miss Wolf become the core again without anyone noticing? Mr. Devil wanted to take over the leadership, but failed?

And at this moment, Hercules, who had been silent all the time, did something that no one expected.

bah—

The sudden surge of light in his hand turned into sword energy and instantly blasted towards the nutrient tank not far away. With a crisp shattering sound, light green liquid gushed out, and a complete brain and the spine connected to the brain also slid out of the nutrient tank.

Xin didn't know why Ansel was going to do this, but she almost instinctively cooperated with Mr. Devil. When the poor priest's brain and spine were exposed, the saint realized that she had subconsciously followed the devil's thoughts and intentions.

In the dead silence, the one who was recognized by the saint, which was equivalent to being recognized as a righteous man by the supreme God, held the glorious sword upside down and walked step by step towards the brain lying in a pool of nutrient solution, which was still contracting and squirming from time to time.

...The priest is indeed still alive.

Living in this world in the most miserable way, more desperate than death, becoming a specimen, a tool, a... puppet.

What kind of mentality did he have when he made such a choice? Did he regret his decision when he survived in this way? Did he hate the God who tortured and tested him?

Have you ever hated yourself for obeying God's will?

Anser stood expressionlessly in front of the brain that seemed to be still breathing. He raised the greatsword in his hand and stabbed it down without any hesitation. The scorching light burned the brain in an instant without causing any pain.

[Mr. Devil...]

【Um? What's wrong? 】

The voice that answered Xin was gentle and relaxed, and that handsome and moving smiling face seemed to appear directly in the saint's mind, which was completely different from the solemn and indifferent face she had seen.

This is natural. Anther is Anther, Hercules is Hercules, and the devil is very good at acting and lying. Xin certainly knows this.

He might have done it to gain control, or to implement the role setting of Hercules. But at this moment, when Anser stabbed the glorious sword, Xin felt that perhaps from the moment he saw this priest, the devil's hatred... was real.

Just as she was moved by Hercules's declaration to Murphy -

[Can a fool like me be a hero?]

She was not moved by the words of Hercules, the false character, but because, even if Ansel thought he was acting and that he was deceiving Sin, Sin did not think so.

To her, that was Anser's true feelings, something he had never told anyone.

That was the first time that the devil confessed to her his deepest pain and torment without reservation - even if the devil himself did not think so.

But Xin still felt that her Mr. Devil was always in pain.

Chapter 5: Strange Spiral (K)

Anser raised his head and glanced around indifferently: "I never thought I could get the same preferential treatment as Lord Lance. What are you going to do?"

With the precedent of Miller's method, the researchers dared not say much. What's more, this righteous man was more valuable than that sample. Maybe the principal brought him here for a very useful purpose.

After a brief silence, it was the Grand Duke of Gray Tower who spoke first:

"I didn't expect... Mr. Hercules would care so much about a priest."

He looked at Hercules meaningfully: "If I remember correctly, you told me not long ago that you didn't feel a sense of belonging to the church."

"It's just that your actions are disgusting. No matter who is in that jar, I will do the same thing. Besides..."

"I was just doing this for Lord Lance in advance." He said expressionlessly.

"……Um?"

Xitana was stunned for half a second, then quickly reacted, raised her chin and put one hand on her waist:

"Yeah, what this guy said is right. Do you think I will watch you guys continue to torture that priest? Oh, by the way, even if that's the case, don't think you can do whatever you want in my name!"

Considering that even though the two of them were on the same side on this matter, they were not close friends after all, Miss Wolf still showed some dissatisfaction to prevent the Grand Duke of Grey Tower from discovering anything.

Sitana, very smart!

Hercules bowed his head slightly and honestly apologized to the clever Sitana. Since Lord Lance, who had the most say, had said this, the Grand Duke of the Grey Tower naturally had nothing more to say.

However, he still let Xitana do whatever she wanted, not getting angry at all: "Then, let me continue to show you the progress of the research on divine arts."

What a… terrible side effect.

Anser suppressed the endless hatred and anger in his heart, and after answering Xin's question impeccably with his normal mentality, he sighed secretly.

The irresistible erosion of the abyss made him more and more emotional. If it were him in the past, even if he would be furious at the poor priest in the jar, he would not do so many such things.

He made this choice even though he was clearly aware that it was too emotional to do so.

Even though they knew it was wrong and that it was not themselves, they were unable to control their increasingly muddled consciousness and arbitrarily manipulated their bodies, until in the years that followed, even their last bit of rationality was erased, and they completely and wholeheartedly submitted to the erosion that infected their souls beyond recognition... This was the despair that the Old Gods faced.

The erosion that Anser has to face is more terrifying than any generation of Hydra. It is not only the side effects of the Abyss Preaching, but also the enemy that has never given him a moment of rest since his awakening.

The purpose of fate doing this is to make Xin... No, she won't think so much.

Is it... Xier? Let Xier and A'Luo realize that it is urgent to alleviate my erosion?

Xitana didn't have the skills of telepathic communication, and the moment Ansher came to his senses, he had already caught her worried look.

According to Hitana's character, after leaving the Skyfrost Tower, she would definitely contact Ming Furo immediately to discuss how to force Ansher to transfer the erosion of the abyss to them.

The future that Anser wants to create is one that fate does not want to happen, and fate is naturally doing things that Anser will never allow to happen.

He couldn't let the erosion of the abyss be transferred to the two girls, at least not now.

There is still time... After Xin becomes the head of the soul, erosion will not be a problem.

A dark undertone would occasionally surge in his ocean-blue eyes, a color that used to only burn when using Abyss Sermon, but now seemed to have become the norm.

And... my counterattack never lags behind, you should know this better than anyone else.

The corners of Hydra's mouth unconsciously rose slightly. When he realized that he could not control that emotion, he almost instantly thought of a way to maximize the benefits of this "out of control".

Grand Duke Grey Tower took the two of them out of the workshop and went straight to the core of the entire research area. It seemed that Domer Grey Tower originally wanted to slowly show Hitana the analysis of divine arts, but for some reason he changed his mind.

Ansher knew very well what the reason was - it was Hercules, no, it was Ansher Hydra's gaffe, which was magnified by him and could be easily captured by him.

Anser has his own way of making Xin's god collapse and be destroyed, and it does not require the intervention of the old man who has lived for more than a hundred years.

"Welcome to... my Ether Workshop."

Dormer brought Anser and Xitana into the central workshop and introduced them to the two with a smile:

"All the progress and speculations about the divine arts analysis research will be summarized and simulated by me personally. I spend about three to four hours a day on this."

The core of this research area with at least dozens of large workshops is the Grey Tower Grand Duke's own Ether Workshop. There are no busy researchers inside, nor any strange samples. It looks like a very ordinary research room. The most numerous objects are... books.

"After all that, what exactly do you want us to see?"

Xitana looked unhappy: "You have wasted enough time."

The Grand Duke of the Gray Tower smiled and said, "I will show you right now... Please observe this ball of ether carefully, Lord Lance."

A ball of pure grey ether condensed on the gem on the top of his staff, with stable fluctuations and extremely high concentration. This was a basic trick for a warlock, but he actually showed some of the master's style.

"According to the promotion route of the Path to Heaven, in order to avoid being corroded by the abyss, we must unite our soul and body and use this body as a protective layer to contact the elements. In contrast... both the number of elements that can be contacted and the degree of control over the elements are far inferior to those of the extraordinary people who touch the abyss."

"The use of dual elements is already very difficult in practice, and the success rate of triple elements is shockingly low. The use of compound elements above that only exists in theory, and this also requires considering the compatibility between the elements and the compatibility of the caster himself..."

The ether ball condensed by the Grand Duke of the Grey Tower contains the two elements of [cold] and [wind]. He controls this power perfectly, but there is only regret in his old eyes.

"It's too difficult, Lord Lance."

The old man sighed softly, "The pioneer disappeared from this world before he could perfect the prospect of the road to heaven. More than 800 years have passed, and there is still no second pioneer. The road to heaven has a theoretical [Supreme], but it is always only theoretical."

"but……"

His tone suddenly changed from regret to an unprecedented eagerness, and the ball of ether on the cane was gradually changing color.

From the mottled gray, it began to transform into a lighter...offwhite.

"However, divine arts have opened up a completely different path."

Dormer Gray Tower first stared at the gray-white halo for a while, then looked up at Hercules: "Mr. Hercules, in your impression, no matter what kind of magic, in the end... is it all manifested in the form of 'light'?"

"...Yes, what do you want to say?"

"I would say that it is not light, but a manifestation of absolutely pure ether operating in a special way."

The Grand Duke of the Grey Tower pointed his cane at a pendant on the table. Grayish-white ether flowed away, and the pendant made a slight buzzing sound, but that was all.

But when he touched the pendant with his own grey ether, the pendant did not react at all.

"This is an alchemical tool I got from a priest... Oh, they call it a holy tool. Its function is very simple, it can protect and heal. But... our ether has no way to activate it."

Letting the ether ball on the cane switch back and forth between gray and gray, Dormer murmured in a low voice:

"Because the ether of the Path to Heaven...is not pure."