Powerless

The atmosphere grew increasingly lively as groups of Miken People sang and danced.

Then the Wild Boar was carried down, and two broad-shouldered, thick-waisted butchers picked up their cleavers.

Then others brought over a grill, piled up charcoal, and lit a fire.

Wait, this was clearly a sacrifice for the gods. Why did it look like they were about to slaughter it on the spot and eat the meat themselves?

Fuck, what an irreverent bunch! Wild Boar cursed inwardly. He had originally planned to slowly probe what the God Statues and priests were capable of, but now he was about to be eaten.

They might even dig out his heart and grill it.

But Miken People were wasteful. They only ate the fattest, tastiest cuts of pork and threw away all the other organs...

Should he endure a little longer? Wild Boar thought to himself. If he could bear the pain, he dared pull the God Statue from its pedestal.

The higher-ups had said that those with merits could enter the New World first and claim a good spot.

That was a Fragment World, said to possess the miraculous effect of being Unaffected by Myriad Tribulations.

To put it bluntly, it was just a deep rat hole. No one else could find its location, so no tribulations could come knocking.

Thinking of the future, Wild Boar decided to endure it! After all, these two statues truly were extraordinary, and the priests were capable too—not like the swindlers found all over the streets.

But when the first cut came down, Wild Boar could not help crying out in pain.

Puppets could feel pain as well, because pain was an indispensable part of combat instincts.

Without pain, a puppet might suffer grave injuries in battle without realizing it needed to retreat, and