Descender? What is that? Sylutia can't understand it. He can only guess that it is some kind of high-status status in Cult.
Seeing "Demon Pact-Maker" kneeling down, other believers in the team also looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.
About ten minutes later, the team came to a complete stop. Demon Pact-Maker led a dozen stronger second-level members to Sylutia.
"Master Descender, our action this time is to prepare the sacrifices needed for the ceremony for the sect." He directly stated the purpose of this action.
"Rituals, sacrifices." The girl rubbed her brows lightly, feeling that she was in trouble.
"First of all, please explain the identity of the sect you belong to and how you live and develop your life." She also wanted to know what Hundred-Eye Cult is all about.
Then the "Demon Pact-Maker" began to explain in detail the various internal structures of Hundred-Eye Cult and how it usually survives and develops.
In a sense, Hundred-Eye Cult is very similar to other extraordinary schools. They are all composed of people who focus on a certain path and profession. The earliest Hundred-Eye Cult was born in the Seventh Age. At that time, "Alien Star" came to the world, which also brought many Astral Realm lives. They had various shapes, and some of them included creatures like Beholder.
People who worshiped and envied these Astral Realm beings began to study and imitate them. In that era, various sects worshiping Astral Realm creatures were born, but not every Astral Realm life was created. Suitable for humans, some cannot be imitated at all, some cannot be controlled, some are too difficult to learn, some are too weak, etc. In the end, only a few types of creatures are left to be controlled by the sect, among which there is Hundred-Eye Cult who admires Beholder.
Hundred-Eye Cult worships the great life of the Astral Realm, whose name is "Lord of All-Seeing Truth". It is said that this great being has 740 million eyes and can see the birth and destruction of thousands of worlds at the same time. It is also an immortal existence.
In order to get closer to this great life, the members of Hundred-Eye Cult are proud of mastering various eye skills and having multiple pairs of eyes, which means they can see the world more clearly and grasp the truth.
Because they are good at pupil magic, members of Hundred-Eye Cult have strong investigative abilities. They can also use pupil magic to confuse ordinary people and provide various conveniences for their lives and actions, which greatly increases the ability of sect members to survive.
On weekdays, sects usually establish strongholds far away from cities, where only core believers can live, while the remaining ordinary believers and peripheral members are scattered among ordinary people's societies everywhere.
They will collect donations from believers as funds for activities, but these are often not enough. More often, they will collude with some nobles to provide them with special potions, help eliminate competitors, or do things that are inconvenient for the public. Compared with ordinary people, nobles are always much richer, and they also bring most of the income to the sect.
However, because most of the powerful nobles will have the "Castle" rank, it is difficult for their eye skills to be used on these nobles and control them. Therefore, it has been difficult for Hundred-Eye Cult throughout the ages to develop nobles into believers.
Unable to obtain the rights of the upper class, Hundred-Eye Cult could only linger in the middle and lower classes of society for a long time, absorbing some unsuccessful Transcendent, or recruiting some villagers who were easy to be coaxed into becoming members.
Those who can truly become the core of the sect are those who worship the power of "Alien Star" but are particularly clear about the nature of the sect. They master the inheritance of Hundred-Eye Cult and are good at various ritual secrets. They often serve as leaders of branches in various places, unifying scattered local believers and bringing new members and strength into the sect.
After listening to this "Demon Pact-Maker"'s story, Sylutia discovered that even among Cult, if you want to become a high-level executive, you often need a clear consciousness and learning ability. Most of those who are fanatical and unable to master knowledge can only become cannon fodder.
Reading is indeed the fastest way to change your life, she thought to herself.
After understanding the general situation of Hundred-Eye Cult, Sylutia asked about their current situation with Prince Jabs.
"His Royal Highness the Prince is staying in the valley stronghold with Cult Leader, preparing for the next ceremony. This time we also found enough people to serve as sacrifices to prepare for the ceremony."
"Prince Jabs, have you also become a believer in your sect?" Sylutia was slightly surprised.
"That one doesn't exist yet, but I and many people feel that he will become one of us sooner or later." Demon Pact-Maker said firmly.
"It seems that a lot of things happened during this period." Sylutia did not ask for the specific reason. Now it is time to rescue those who were detained and taken away.
At the request of Sylutia, this Demon Pact-Maker ordered the members to untie the escorts.
Although some believers are skeptical and confused, facing the powerful Demon Pact-Maker and this mysterious girl, they know they are outmatched, so they dare not disobey.
Half an hour later, the rescued miners thanked Sylutia again, even a little incoherently.
"If it weren't for Mr. Sylutia, I'm afraid we wouldn't have escaped bad luck this time."
Two consecutive encounters made these people seriously insecure. After thanking Sylutia, they eagerly wanted to gain the power to protect themselves.
"Don't worry, I have found several suitable teachers for you." Under Sylutia's wave and guidance, Karen rode over.
Not long after she originally chased Sylutia down the hillside, she saw this girl directly stopping the team and successfully subdued this group of strange cultists.
"Tia, what is this?" She was confused a lot.
"I will explain it to you later, sister Karen, help bring these people back first." Sylutia pulled Karen over and let her get to know the refugees who Scorched Stone City escaped.
Among these four hundred people, there happened to be a few people who had come into contact with Karen in Scorched Stone City. After some introduction, the two sides immediately became friendly.
Soon Karen gathered these people and prepared to return to the direction of Scorched Stone City.
After dealing with the refugees in the retreat, there were still many people captured from nearby villages. They were not far away, and most of them could find their own way. Sylutia let them go directly.
As for the small number of Anti Soldier and Sylutia, it is a bit of a headache.
They belong to different garrison teams, many of them don't know each other, and some don't even know how to get to where they were originally stationed.
"Who among you has the highest position?" Sylutia called out one of the leaders.
"Me." A second-level officer walked out holding the wound on his shoulder. His left arm was penetrated by Demon Pact-Maker's Beholder in the battle, and now he only has one arm.
"You should be familiar with Anti's garrison situation in Regas, take the soldiers here and leave." Sylutia ordered.
The other party looked at the girl for a few seconds, as if trying to remember her appearance.
"Thank you, foreign girl." He knelt down on one knee and saluted solemnly, then stood up and issued a loud order for the soldiers to gather around him.
After all, they were soldiers and had been trained to easily gather and obey orders. They also found a direction to leave under the leadership of this officer.
At this moment, except for a few people on the plain who have not yet returned, the rest are all members of Hundred-Eye Cult.
Sylutia came to these people who were standing still and asked why.
One of them, a tall and lanky boy, was standing there. He was about 11 years old, and there was a 7-year-old sister beside him.
"Why don't you leave?" Sylutia squatted down and asked.
"I want to learn powerful abilities from you and then protect my sister." He stared at the girl with particularly sharp eyes.
"Really?" Sylutia blinked his eyes and looked at the girl aside.
"What about you? Do you have any other family members?"
"I, I don't have any other family members." The girl said timidly.
"Dad was beaten to death by Anti people. Mom, mom was not here yesterday. I am with my brother now."
"That's it." Sylutia thought for a moment.
"How about you follow that big sister to a place to live first, and I will go there later to teach you some basic knowledge?" She pointed to Karen not far away.
The boy seemed a little reluctant. He stubbornly thought that Sylutia was coaxing him, but the girl beside him nodded.
"Okay, thank you sister."
Seeing his sister agreeing so easily, the boy was a little anxious and wanted to cover her mouth, but seeing Sylutia in front of him, he didn't dare to use violence.
"Don't be so anxious." Sylutia could see what he was thinking.
"You guys go over there first."
At this time, the boy also knew that he could no longer be willful, so he could only let go of his hand and took his sister slowly towards Karen in the distance.
However, he turned back halfway.
"Sister... No, sir, can you get rid of those bad guys?"
"Many people died in their hands, including mom, dad, the grandma next door, and the uncle who usually brought us fish."
"Who are the bad guys specifically?" Sylutia asked.
"It's the ones in red robes, the Anti people who got away, the nobles who usually bully us, the bandits who robbed our house, and..." He seemed to want to tell all the people who bullied them in his memory.
"I understand your mood and thoughts very well, but I'm afraid I can't teach these people you mentioned enough, and I don't even know who they are or where they are." Sylutia shook his head.
"If you want revenge, then train hard in the future. Besides, compared to revenge, my sister is also very important. The only one she can rely on now is you. You are also her last family."
After listening to Sylutia's words, the boy looked at his sister behind him, and his originally angry eyes finally showed some softness.
"Yes, you are right." He knelt down, picked up his sister, and held her in his arms, tears unknowingly welling up in his eyes.
"But it's so sad that I can never see those people again."
After hearing his words, the younger sister was a little overwhelmed and could only comfort her brother with a sweet voice.
Looking at their slowly leaving figures, Sylutia stood there, motionless for a long time.
She suddenly felt an inexplicable sadness. Whether it was the civilians who were innocently involved, the ordinary Anti Soldier, or the fanatical and ignorant low-level believers, although these people belonged to different forces, they were just the dirt crushed by the upper class in the conflict.
Anti Kingdom occupied Regas. Countless senior officers and nobles made a fortune and lived a luxurious and luxurious life. However, most of the ordinary Anti Soldier just changed places to stand guard. Regas civilians used to pay taxes to the local nobles, but now they pay taxes to Anti people. They also have to endure the pain of war caused by wars and invasions from all sides.
As for the lower-level believers of Hundred-Eye Cult, they will never realize their prayer wishes. Throughout their lives, they will be nothing more than consumables used by the higher-ups of the sect.
Even in such a magical and magnificent world, much of the history is still the same as what she learned and experienced on Earth, and what can she change? This is the nature of living things, to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and to worship power and power.
Forget it, it's better not to think about this. If you think about it any more, I'm afraid it will make you feel uncomfortable again. She is not the kind of person who loves power, and she doesn't want to get involved in the vortex of the disputes of the times.
Turning around, Sylutia looked at the sect members who were waiting for her orders.
"You..." She felt a little troubled at this moment and didn't know how to arrange these people.
Obviously, it is difficult for these Cultist to integrate into the normal social environment. If they are released, they will probably continue to recruit believers, search for resource sacrifices, pursue the powerful "Alien Star" power, etc. as in the past.
What if we kill them all here? This would be too cruel. After all, there are many low-level believers who have been deceived. Although they have done many bad things, they are not going to die.
How to solve the problem of whether these people should stay or go? Sylutia pressed his fingers lightly between his eyebrows, trying to find a better way.
"Sir Descender." At this moment, Demon Pact-Maker came to Sylutia again and knelt down on one knee.
"Please also follow me to Valley Headquarters. Cult Leader will be very happy for your arrival."
"And as long as you are here, the success rate of hosting the ceremony will be greatly improved." But now she has no idea what Hundred-Eye Cult's ceremony is like, and why the other party is so sure that she can host it.
"I know." She flapped her palms and asked Demon Pact-Maker to stand up and go aside to wait.
At this moment, she once again walked towards the only remaining middle-aged man who had not yet arranged his whereabouts.
"Why don't you leave?" Sylutia looked at this figure with numb eyes and a vicissitudes of life.
After hearing the girl's question, the other party slowly raised her head.
"I won't leave. I have no home, no relatives, and no idea of living."
"Let me follow these Cultist. I just want to see things in this world that I have never seen before." After saying that, his eyes darkened again.
Sylutia discovered that he was seriously ill and had been suffering for a long time. If he was not treated, he would only have one or two months to live.
Originally Sylutia wanted to say a few more words of comfort, but when she saw those sad eyes that had experienced vicissitudes of life, she could no longer say any frivolous words of comfort.
Sighing silently, Sylutia stopped trying to persuade me.
"Then follow me. I will also go and take a look to see what kind of ritual is brewing in Valley Headquarters."
Waving goodbye to Karen, Sylutia followed the team and set off in the direction they came from. Among the mountains, there was hidden the headquarters of Hundred-Eye Cult, as well as an unknown grand ceremony that was being held.