Spreading the Witch's Faith Across the World

"So, this is the difference between an S-rank character card and character cards of other ranks?"

Kael pondered to himself.

As he recalled, Janna, the Storm's Fury, had originally seemed to be a deity formed from the power of faith.

Her name had once spread across the coasts of the entire continent of Shurima.

Before setting out to sea, countless Zaun residents would warmly greet and pray to Janna.

And Janna's strength would increase along with the number of her believers and the depth of their devotion.

"Could it be that Nami can also harvest faith and become a god in the pirate world?"

A bold idea slowly rose in Kael's mind.

But he quickly extinguished that spark himself.

"No, S-rank characters from the system probably don't have the ability to transcend the system's rules."

"There were so many S-rank characters in mobile games in my previous life. Characters stronger than Janna were everywhere. It's impossible for every card to have a means of growing stronger like hers."

"Nami should still only be able to gain power through leveling up, awakening forms, and such."

"The greater possibility is..."

"What's special isn't the S-rank character, but the character card behind Nami!"

"A deity condensed from the power of faith..."

Kael's mind raced.

In Janna's backstory, she had always protected her followers and answered their prayers. That was why her followers grew more numerous, and why she became more powerful.

If that was the case, then Nami, who also used the power of faith, might be able to replicate Janna's methods.

The power of faith should not only grant Nami the ability to create storms. It should also give her the ability to form connections with her believers.

And in this pirate world, how many people needed the protection of a storm deity?

If Nami could truly establish connections with all her believers...

Even if she could not absorb their faith to grow stronger, the mere ability to connect with every believer would be enough to create an intelligence network for the Dusk Pirates that stretched across the world!

"Good grief~"

"If this really works, just selling intelligence every day will make us filthy rich!"

At that moment, Kael seemed to see himself soaring to great heights in the future, sitting atop mountains of Beli.

A dazzling gleam shone in his dark eyes like bright stars in the night sky.

Kael unconsciously licked his lips, revealing a greedy expression.

Seven days quickly passed.

And Kael's guess was proven right once more.

Inside the temporary prison on the second underground level of the Tiga.

Krieg knelt devoutly before a portrait of Nami drawn by Coby, like an enlightened monk worshipping before Buddha.

No one knew what he had experienced over those seven days.

Slow slicing, dismemberment, crushed bones, gouged eyes, needle pricks...

Nearly every punishment Kael could think of had been inflicted upon Krieg.

Under Kael's Tsukuyomi skill, he had experienced countless deaths and countless torments worse than death...

After endless cycles and Kael's behind-the-scenes manipulation, Krieg had completely changed from before. He had become a devout believer of Nami, the Storm Witch.

That was right.

Storm Witch was the title Kael had established for Nami.

He chose the name witch because he did not want to shape Nami into a saint who did good across the world...

Saints rarely met good ends.

Just like Janna's ultimate fate.

Even after her followers had scattered and her temples had been destroyed, she still had to sacrifice herself for some insincere believers who only prayed to her in desperation,

Protecting others.

Kael was happy to see saints exist, and he sincerely respected them.

But that was only on the condition that the saint was not himself or someone close to him!

That was why he gave Nami the title of [Witch], and the doctrine he established was...

Exchange wealth for the divine protection of the Storm Witch!

This doctrine perfectly matched Nami's money-loving nature.

And Kael could use this doctrine to amass wealth along the way!

As for his earlier speculation about Nami and the power of faith, it was entirely correct.

After Krieg began believing in Nami, Nami had indeed formed a connection with her believer, Krieg.

But beyond that, she had not gained even the slightest trace of faith power from him.

Her strength still depended on the combat power granted by her level and aptitude!

Fortunately, Kael had already anticipated this, so he did not find it particularly regrettable.

"What a pity. I said I'd let you go, but I ended up turning you into this."

At the entrance to the Tiga's underground prison, Kael shamelessly put on a regretful expression as he spoke.

Across from him, Krieg, who had been praying to Nami, slowly opened his eyes.

There was no longer the slightest trace of brutality or arrogance in them. Instead, they were utterly calm, like a stagnant pool.

Having died countless times, Krieg seemed to have even gained some intelligence.

He looked at Kael and suddenly grinned.

"Don't joke around! You were never going to let me go!"

Perhaps recalling his memories of the Tsukuyomi space, the corner of his eye twitched painfully. But it was quickly suppressed by the devout faith in his heart.

Only when praying could he avoid remembering those miserable memories of torture.

"Oh?" Kael asked curiously. "You figured it out?"

"Heh..." Krieg chuckled. "With Lord Kael's way of doing things, there's no way you would let someone like me, someone who harbors resentment toward you and wishes you would go to hell, continue living, right?"

"From the very beginning, your target should have been Gin at my side!"

"That guy not only has talent far beyond ordinary people, but even though he is stronger than me, he is still willing to work tirelessly for me..."

"He truly is a loyal and promising talent!"

"..."

Kael suddenly fell silent for a moment.

"To be honest, talking to you like this feels strange."

"How about you go back to normal? I still prefer the old, unruly you."

"Hehe." Krieg chuckled again. "There's no going back."

"Fine." Kael shrugged, showing a trace of helplessness, yet he still said with some interest:

"Actually, if you had shown this attitude from the beginning, I wouldn't have used Tsukuyomi on you so many times."

"Hehe..."

Krieg smiled without showing his teeth and glanced up at Kael.

"It was all because of my countless evil deeds. I brought it upon myself."

"Death is not a bad thing to me now."

"But even if I die, I believe my hatred for you, my lord, will not fade in the slightest."

"My ending may have been decided long ago."

"After being drained of my last bit of value, being 'suicided' on some deserted island will be my best possible fate."

"..."

Kael fell silent again, surprise filling his eyes as he could not help asking:

"Could believing in Nami actually make people smarter!?"

This Krieg was practically a completely different person from before.

Even though Kael himself was the culprit behind all of this, he still found it incredibly astonishing!

Yet faced with his question, Krieg merely smiled calmly.

"It is only that I can view problems from another perspective."

"All right, then."

Feeling as though he was speaking with an uninteresting enlightened monk, Kael nodded slightly. After looking at Krieg and pondering for a long time...

He suddenly said:

"Actually, I don't intend to let you die after I'm done using you..."

"That only means I still have value to be used." Krieg directly cut Kael off.

"..."

"All right, you win."

Kael smiled faintly and looked at the meditative Krieg.

"In fact, the moment you regain your 'freedom,' I will have the Marines arrest you!"

"The Marines?"

Hearing this unexpected term, Krieg's expression finally changed slightly.

But Kael ignored him and continued:

"After the Marines arrest you, you will be sent to Enies Lobby for a just trial over the crimes you committed..."

"Then, based on your crimes and strength, you should be sent to Level 1 of Impel Down, the great prison beneath the sea."

"..."

"Why do you know so much about the Marines?"

For once, believer Krieg asked Kael a question.

Kael's lips curved upward. He looked at Krieg with an amused gaze and said:

"Because I'm one of the Marines."

"..."

"..."

Krieg suddenly fell silent, his pupils trembling slightly.

But soon, as though he had remembered some terrible experience, he hurriedly began reciting the doctrines of the Storm Witch Church in his heart.

"First, wealth is merely worldly possessions."

"Second, all wealth under heaven belongs to the Witch!"

"Third, believe in the Witch and gain eternal life!"

"Fourth..."

"Fifth..."

"..."

Under one strange doctrine after another, Krieg quickly regained his calm.

A gleam flashed through his eyes as his gaze met Kael's directly.

"So, Lord Kael, what do you want me to do?"

Kael smiled faintly.

"Very simple."

"Although those of us aboard the Tiga can sail freely across these seas."

"The world is vast, and there will always be places that my current strength cannot reach."

"After entering Impel Down, I need you to establish a church there devoted to [Nami, the Storm Witch]!"

"You know as well that this so-called faith is nothing but a curse I planted in you."

"But next, I want you to turn that curse into a doctrine that can truly convince people..."

"On Nami's side, I will have her cooperate with you."

"And you, criminal Krieg, will become the archbishop of this Storm Witch Church!"

"What do you say...?"

"Are you willing to enter Impel Down for Nami, the Storm Witch, and spread the Witch's faith!?"

"..."

As Kael's words fell, Krieg suddenly lowered his head.

Shadows covered his eyes, preventing Kael from seeing his expression.

But Kael could sense it...

The corners of Krieg's mouth seemed to be slowly stretching into a grin!

The next second, Krieg suddenly raised his head!

His face had once again returned to its former arrogance and madness.

Yet deep within his eyes burned an even more brilliant and fervent fire of faith!

Believer Krieg grinned and laughed loudly.

"That will be the only thing I do with the remaining embers of my life!!!"