Bruce searched bit by bit until he finally found a suitable innate ability. It was labeled Divine Vision, and its function was to observe the spirituality and abnormalities within a body.
With this innate ability, he could see who qualified to become his Believers. Luckily, it appeared fairly early in the list. Otherwise, who knew how long he would have had to search?
"Divine Vision!"
A black gleam flashed in Bruce's eyes. This black was distinct from darkness itself, discernible even in the dead of night.
Divine Vision was a remarkable ability, as though it had granted him a god's-eye view. Bruce could see far more than what lay before his eyes.
Every corner and crevice of Zambesi's underground city was visible to him.
The people of Zambesi had already heard of the god's arrival and flocked outside the palace. Unfortunately, the palace gates had been closed. Unable to enter, they could only kneel outside and pray.
Bruce could see everything within their bodies at a glance, both normal and abnormal.
Those with sufficient spirituality could become his Believers and qualify to become Extraordinaries.
It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced.
The visual experience stimulated Bruce intensely. Strange light flickered over him, and his body began to fade in and out of sight. Gray mist continually formed around him, clinging to him like tiny hands and stabilizing his body.
The scepter in Bruce's hand also began to shimmer faintly. A cool sensation, like spring water from an icy mountain, spread through him, and he calmed down.
He looked at the scepter in his hand.
Under Divine Vision, information about the scepter flooded into Bruce's mind.
The Divine Scepter absorbed all negative forces, such as sin and fear, and forcibly induced calm.
Forced calm... It seemed I nearly descended into madness again just now. This must be the inevitable consequence of wielding power beyond my capacity. My will is still only that of an ordinary person, yet I'm using power that belongs to a god. Losing control is unavoidable.
Bruce looked at the throne beneath him and the gray mist.
Even with Divine Vision, he could only see that the gray mist possessed extraordinary qualities. Exactly what those qualities were remained unclear. All he could make out were countless points of starlight flickering within it, carrying an indescribably vast aura.
This gray mist must be of an incredibly high order.
Bruce turned his attention back to the people of Zambesi.
There were nearly two thousand people in Zambesi's underground city, but Bruce saw only twelve with sufficient spirituality.
A little too few.
Bruce grumbled inwardly.
If there were enough Believers, Zambesi could form an army of Extraordinaries to protect its kingdom. It could even invade other lands with ease. Unfortunately, only twelve people in Zambesi qualified to become Extraordinaries.
Far too few.
Even if those mere twelve became Extraordinaries, protecting Zambesi through their strength alone would still be difficult.
There were Extraordinaries among the invaders as well.
Still, having some was better than having none. At least it would give the people of Zambesi a little more hope of survival.
Twelve streams of black mist surged from Bruce's body, shimmering with a strange luster. Three descended upon people inside the palace, while the other nine flew outside.
The three people inside the palace stared in astonishment at the mist circling them. It seeped into their bodies, moved beneath their skin, and finally settled between their eyebrows, manifesting as a mark.
It was the unique mark of Eris, the Dark Lord: a curved, symmetrical U with two equally sized black dots arranged vertically inside it.
"Among you, twelve qualify to receive my divine favor."
"I shall grant them extraordinary power."
"Find them, and have them bathe for purification."
"In one week, invoke my honored name again, and I shall bestow my blessing!"
Bruce spoke in a deep voice. His mighty voice filled the palace, penetrated every corner of the underground city, and reached everyone's ears.
The chosen people were ecstatic. They had noticed the black mist flying toward them and the changes to their foreheads. One after another, they fell to the ground and kowtowed in gratitude for the Dark Lord's gift.
The people around them looked on with boundless envy. Chosen by a god, they would become recipients of his divine favor. What an immense honor!
Their relatives, in particular, wept with joy.
Inside the palace, everyone gazed enviously at the three who had been chosen. The three were overjoyed as well, dropping to their knees and kowtowing in thanks for the Dark Lord's gift while loudly proclaiming their praises.
While receiving their praise, Bruce pondered a problem. Although he wanted to grant those twelve people the Extraordinary status of Believer, he did not seem to have the Believer Potion Formula.
I wonder if Fawcett has it. If they summon me in a week and I still don't know the Believer Potion Formula, things will get rather awkward.
Still, I never said exactly what kind of blessing I would give them.
The Dark Bible seems to contain some enhancement spells. Once I return and study them, I could try using them on the people of Zambesi in place of a blessing that makes them Believers.
I wonder whether I can use the Dark Bible's magic as the Dark Lord. In theory, they should share the same origin. Even without the Extraordinary status of Wizard, surely a god can manage a mere spell?
I can also spend this time studying the Dark Lord's innate abilities. There should be some pleasant surprises.
The identity of Eris, the Dark Lord, was far too useful for Bruce not to make full use of it. It would undoubtedly be an enormous help. Although the god was trapped on the Western Continent, as long as they were in the same world, there would surely be tremendous benefits.
Bruce looked at the Divine Scepter in his hand. It continually absorbed the madness and impulses arising within him, allowing him to think calmly. It was a fine treasure. Had he not found this scepter, he might already have fallen into evil.
Could I take this scepter to Wayne Manor?
He would definitely be studying the Dark Bible next, and he might continue to be affected by it. With this scepter, he would have a safeguard.
But no sooner had the thought arisen than Bruce rejected it.
Even if he could take it, he must not.
Because of the incident involving Jessica, the Goddess of the Night Church had increased the number of Night Watchers in Lane Village. Bringing it there might attract attention. After all, this was a divine artifact, and it most likely belonged to the forces of evil.
Better not invite unnecessary trouble.
The Dark Lord's Divine Vision was still active. Bruce continued scanning the underground city, and suddenly noticed a locked room within it.
A woman was being held in that room. She, too, possessed abundant spirituality, but something seemed to be suppressing it. Had he not scanned the city a second time, he might have overlooked her.
Bruce observed what appeared to be a ruby hanging around the woman's neck. With the extraordinary perception he now possessed as a god, he instinctively sensed that the ruby was an extraordinary item.
But it was too far away for Bruce to discern the ruby's true nature.
"Bring that imprisoned girl here," Bruce said.
Many of those present in the palace were bewildered by the god's words. Zambesi's underground city had always been a refuge for its people. Were prisoners being held here as well?
Only the few black-robed figures at the front understood whom the god meant.
They were Zambesi's leaders and knew more than ordinary people did. A god truly was a god. Nothing could be hidden from him.
"Yes, great Dark Lord. We shall obey your command."