Kneel and Call Me Dad

The prayer ended.

Krista shouted, drawing everyone's attention: "People of God, it is time to offer sacrifices to the deity once more."

Instantly, the entire venue fell silent.

Sacrifice meant death.

Though they were followers of an evil god, it didn't mean they weren't afraid of death.

Every sacrificial ritual, they worried about becoming the unlucky offering themselves.

"Everyone, do not be afraid. This time, we have two new offerings for the deity, so there's no need to choose a sacrifice from among us."

Upon hearing this, the crowd couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Glances were cast towards the bound Bruce and Oliver, their eyes revealing unconcealed schadenfreude.

As long as it wasn't them dying, it didn't matter who died.

"Bruce, what should we do?"

"Oliver, we can only leave it to fate."

They were tied up round and round, their limbs numb from lack of blood circulation, making escape impossible.

Their only hope was for Allen to descend from the heavens and save them.

Now, it seemed that was merely a fantasy.

At this moment, Krista walked over gracefully, casually pointing The Blade of Redemption and asking, "I'll give you a chance. Who will be sacrificed first? The remaining person can live five more years."

The two lowered their heads in silence.

Neither could decide the other's fate; at least, their moral compasses wouldn't allow it.

And self-sacrifice required immense courage.

"Kill me first."

After a long silence, Bruce slowly raised his head and said, "Oliver, if possible, please take my remains back to Wayne Manor and bury me next to my parents."

"Why should you be the hero?"

Oliver roared, "Kill me first if you're going to kill anyone. I was supposed to die at sea with my father anyway, so let me return to that original ending now."

"No, listen to me. As long as you're alive, there's hope. Your family is waiting for you, while I'm just an orphan."

"Nonsense! Just because you're an orphan makes you great, makes you a hero?"

The two argued heatedly, their faces flushed, each willing to die for the other.

This scene caused the followers present to remain silent, no one daring to interrupt. They couldn't help but marvel at their noble character, thinking that if it were them, they would only be thinking of surviving.

"Shut up."

Krista said impatiently, "You're going to die either way, so why argue? I'll make the choice for you."

"You die first."

She resolutely walked up to Bruce, whose face had already turned ashen.

"I hope you'll make it quick," Bruce calmly pleaded.

"I'm very sorry, but the sacrificial ritual requires you to die in agony."

The reason the followers feared the sacrificial offering was that the entire process was worse than death.

If they were given a quick death, perhaps they wouldn't fear it so much.

Several follower guards moved Bruce to the front of the fragments, where Krista was to perform the inhumane torture.

"You should feel honored to ascend into the embrace of the deity."

Krista raised The Blade of Redemption high, her expression solemn and reverent, as if performing a grand ceremony.

"The only honor I feel is reuniting with my family."

Bruce's words were dismissive, his expression one of facing death bravely, already prepared to die generously.

There was no need for further conversation when their words didn't align. Krista stopped wasting time and slowly brought The Blade of Redemption closer to Bruce's face.

The first step: skinning.

This would leave the offering bloody and bruised, as if undergoing a baptism of fire and blood.

Just as the blade was about to touch his cheek, Krista frowned deeply.

Bruce opened his eyes in confusion, only to see her struggling to press the blade down, yet it still failed to touch his skin.

"What's going on? Is the deity displeased with the offering?"

Krista was very confused, as if an invisible wall of air was preventing The Blade of Redemption from falling.

The next second, a powerful force suddenly struck her from her waist.

Before she could even react, she was involuntarily sent flying sideways.

At the same moment, Bruce's eyes widened.

This was because Allen had appeared out of nowhere without any warning.

"Hee hee hee, didn't expect me to be invisible, did you?"

How could a normal person possibly think you could be invisible?

Even abnormal people probably wouldn't think of it.

"Kill him and take back The Blade of Redemption."

Krista, having regained her senses, furiously ordered her followers. She had just discovered that The Blade of Redemption was already in the other person's hands.

Allen turned and snatched another fragment. He tapped it with The Blade of Redemption, producing a crisp sound, and said playfully, "I find squares more fun. I hate circles the most."

"Don't be afraid, the fragments won't be damaged again. Attack together to reclaim the holy relic and artifact," Krista urged anxiously.

However, Allen took out another fragment, and the two merged into one, recreating the complete Floros Emblem.

Silence fell instantly. No one dared to make a move.

Now, their vital point was in someone else's grasp.

Allen threatened, "Let Green Arrow go, or I'll split the Emblem into eight pieces."

"If you destroy the Emblem, Alessa won't let you off either," Krista warned coldly.

"She sent me."

"..."

Well, so they were accomplices.

Krista was speechless. A sudden idea struck her, and she proposed, "Exchange him for the Emblem."

Allen looked at the golden Emblem, then at Oliver, and said decisively, "Kill him. I won't hand over what I've already obtained."

Before Krista could panic, Oliver, who had just regained hope, couldn't sit still and shouted, "Allen, I'm the heir to the Queen Group. If you save me, I'll transfer a hundred million US dollars to your account later."

"What are you implying? Am I the kind of person who would abandon a friend for money?"

Allen said sternly, "Release him immediately, right now. Otherwise, I'll have to invite the female protagonist to make her appearance."

The Blade of Redemption struck the golden Emblem with increased force, each blow resonating in everyone's hearts.

Under the invisible pressure, Krista finally nodded in agreement.

Oliver regained his freedom and was the first to untie Bruce.

"What else do you want?"

Being held by the scruff of the neck was an unbearable feeling, and Krista could only yield.

Allen's sly smile signaled that he was about to do something against all common sense.

"Kneel down and call me Dad."

As soon as these words were spoken, Bruce and Oliver turned to look at him, wondering if he had to go that far.

Judging by her appearance, she looked old enough to be their grandmother, and her actual age was likely that of a great-great-great-grandmother, a seasoned older woman.

The followers couldn't help but marvel at Allen's unique taste.

Krista gritted her teeth in anger, "I'd rather die than let you humiliate me."

If you don't want to maintain your dignity, someone will help you do it.

The followers didn't care much. Since it wasn't them acknowledging a father, they started to persuade her.

"Leader, just say it. It's no big deal."

"Leader, your humiliation in exchange for everyone's lives is great and holy."

"Leader, don't force me to kneel and beg you. What's the harm in saying it once?"

"Yeah, yeah, if you say it, at worst we'll all call you Mom."

"Leader, you might be willing to die, but we aren't."

The words of moral blackmail caused Krista's anger and indignation to flare up in her eyes as if they were about to turn into flames.

Especially the guards holding electric batons, who were inching closer while trying to persuade her.

Suddenly, she felt a sense of betrayal and humiliation.