Evergreen's expression turned grim.
He snapped the Sacred Codex of Reincarnation shut and called urgently to the Water God, "Stop! Stop your divine art!"
"Huh?"
The Water God was still basking in the pleasure of being worshipped by thousands. He stared at Evergreen in confusion.
"Stop what? Isn't this going well? Look how devoted they are."
"Their faith is wrong!"
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Evergreen's forehead as he stared at the tribespeople kneeling below, their eyes feverish.
"This isn't simple faith. There's too much mixed into it! Despair, greed, and a kind of parasitic dependence I can't even describe!"
The old priest who had led the worship suddenly began to convulse.
Beneath his withered skin, countless tiny things seemed to writhe. Black lines spread from his heart and swiftly covered his body.
His eyes turned entirely black, his pupils vanishing. A strange, satisfied smile spread across his face.
"God... more... We need more blessings..."
He whispered in a rasp that sounded inhuman.
One after another, the kneeling tribespeople behind him underwent the same change.
Black lines spread across their bodies. Their eyes grew vacant and greedy, and they repeated the word "more" without thinking.
A black mist stinking of rot rose from their bodies. It gathered into a single stream and coiled toward the Water God and Evergreen in midair.
"What the hell is that?!"
The Water God's smugness vanished, replaced by a deep chill.
He could feel the black mist trying to burrow into his Divine Body and taint his divine power.
It was unlike any corruption he had ever purified.
It sprang from faith, yet twisted faith itself.
It was like the vilest curse. Once it touched someone, there was no escaping it.
"It's Faith Backlash!"
Evergreen's face hardened. He immediately channeled his divine power, wrapping