The ingredients in the Potion Formula all had different properties. Some were liquids, others solids. Some had unique effects of their own, while others were merely raw materials, but simply piling them together would produce no reaction.
For the Potion Formula to work, precise quantities of its ingredients had to be added in a specific order. There was no need to simmer them over a flame, heat them, or use any other method. They would transform on their own.
With the advantage of his divine status, Bruce handled the process with ease, even though this was his first attempt.
Under the control of his divine power, these unrelated Potion ingredients fused one after another, undergoing a transformation unlike any other in the world. In the end, only twelve crystal-clear droplets were extracted from them.
The Potion for the Believer status was complete.
Bruce controlled the twelve droplets, floating each one to the lips of one of the twelve favored followers.
"After taking them, recite my divine name: Eris, the Dark Lord."
Bruce's words fell directly into the ears of the twelve favored followers. No one else heard them.
Obtaining Believer status was different from acquiring an ordinary Extraordinary status. A Believer's abilities came from the deity they worshipped. The Potion ingredients were all the same; the only difference was whose divine name they recited after taking it.
Whose name they recited determined whose Believer they became.
If they recited the wrong divine name, the Potion ingredients would be wasted. The unfortunate might even become Fallen, descending into endless madness.
Overwhelmed with excitement, the twelve favored followers opened their mouths and swallowed the droplets hovering before them. A warm current surged through every limb and bone as boundless strength began to grow. Their entire bodies felt utterly clear and unimpeded, while a strange sensation stirred in their abdomens, as though something were taking shape within.
"Eris, the Dark Lord!"
When the twelve favored followers recited Eris's name, Bruce visibly shuddered on the divine throne. The gray mist coiling around his body churned and surged.
Bruce moved his fingers slightly. He had sensed their call-not merely heard it within the palace. It felt more as though the voices had reached his mind. No matter how far away they were, he seemed capable of hearing them and locating their source.
Perhaps this was how a god felt when someone called his name. No wonder gods could pinpoint those who recited their divine names.
Faintly, Bruce seemed to hear a cry of pain from somewhere, sounding like a woman's voice. He could not investigate; his perception was confined to Zambesi.
He tried to recall the details of that cry, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not remember them. A light breeze swept past, and pinpricks of starlight flickered in the gray mist surrounding him.
Had there been a sound just now?
Bruce had forgotten.
Enveloped in divine power, Bruce immersed himself in the subtle changes taking place within him. After gaining twelve Believers, this body seemed to have acquired a slightly greater range of movement. He could shift his backside a little on the divine throne.
The change was hardly obvious, but it was real.
A thought occurred to Bruce. If he expanded his number of Believers further, would he be able to control this divine body and move it freely?
Leave this palace and move freely through this world like a god?
It was possible. Worth a try.
In that case, he would not merely have stolen the Dark Lord's identity. He would also have gained a divine avatar of the Dark Lord, one capable of doing far more than his own body.
"Developing more Believers shouldn't cause any problems. I wonder whether the Southern Continent is safe. The Goddess of the Night's influence only extends to the Rune Kingdom."
"The power the Dark Lord's Believers receive is rather interesting. Unfortunately, Believers are ultimately only a god's favored followers. However strong they become, they can never surpass the deity they worship,
"nor can they betray him." Bruce could clearly sense his Believers' abilities, and he understood their limitations just as well.
Believers could rapidly acquire great power through a god's gifts, but that power was also constrained by the deity they worshipped.
"Good thing I didn't choose to join the Night Watchers back then. A Night Watcher is just a variant of Believer status. However strong they become, they can only be Demigods serving the Goddess of the Night, forever obeying her will. Still, that actually seems pretty good. Not everyone can smoothly become a Demigod and possess divine nature."
Bruce shook his head, clearing away those unrealistic thoughts.
A Believer's power originated from the abilities their god possessed-the rules within that deity's authority. Bruce knew little about Eris, the Dark Lord. All he had learned from Fawcett was that Eris had once been a Demigod serving the Goddess of the Night, and that she had later defeated him.
Bruce had no idea what divine authority Eris, the Dark Lord, possessed, or precisely what rules he commanded.
But Bruce did know what powers these Believers would gain and how high their limits were. He could sense traits in the twelve Believers that matched his own-traits of pure darkness-as well as their abilities.
What came next depended on their individual understanding. Whether they became strong or weak was entirely up to them.
"Show me your power."
Holding the Divine Scepter, Bruce lightly touched it to the floor, producing a clear chime.
"As you command!"
The twelve Believers all prostrated themselves. They had already felt the changes within their bodies: greater strength and greater agility. The U-shaped marks between their brows burned hot. Black mist poured from their bodies and enveloped them, then contracted.
They vanished from where they stood and reappeared elsewhere within the palace.
Turning into black mist to teleport within a certain range was an ability shared by all the Dark Lord's Believers.
Naturally, they also shared other abilities, though these varied somewhat.
Armor appeared on some Believers, while others sent black humanoid shadows flying with a wave of their hands, striking with tremendous force.
Their abilities were largely alike, with only minor differences.
Bruce gave a slight nod. They were adapting quickly. As they explored and demonstrated their abilities, he was also exploring the Dark Lord's powers.
Bruce had already known that Eris possessed an ability called Darkness Transformation, which could make an ordinary person immensely powerful, though they would have to pay a considerable price. Now that he occupied this body, Bruce could feel even more clearly that this innate ability was somewhat evil.
It bestowed the power of darkness upon worshippers, transforming them into apostles of darkness. But those apostles would descend into madness and chaos, crave blood above all else, and suffer drastically shortened lifespans.
If Zambesi faced annihilation, this ability could prove useful. But Zambesi would also pay a tremendous price, something Bruce could not bear to see. He still needed Zambesi to keep developing new Believers, so he would resolve its problems through the gentlest means possible.
Another option available to him was the magic within the Dark Bible.
Bruce had always believed that the Dark Bible and the Dark Lord shared the same origin. As a Dark God, Eris ought to be capable of performing the magic recorded in the Dark Bible.
How could a mighty god be incapable of casting a mere spell?
Ever since arriving in Zambesi, Bruce had been experimenting with magic. Without drawing attention, he had used divine power to construct ordinary magical runes for perception, reinforcement, and the like. Constructing them had been fairly easy, and the magical runes had indeed worked.
Divine power could be used to cast magic.
Then let these people experience the wonders of magic once more.
The scepter in Bruce's hand touched the floor again. After the clear chime rang out, the twelve Believers stopped exploring their abilities. Black mist surged as they vanished and reappeared, gathering together at the foot of the steps. They stood motionless, quietly awaiting their god's instructions.
They had gained a good grasp of their abilities as Believers.
Bruce nodded slightly and turned his gaze toward the six black-robed figures on the second tier of steps.
"Leaders of Zambesi, step forward. I shall bestow my blessing upon you."
At the god's words, the six leaders froze for a moment before becoming wildly overjoyed, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
They-they too could receive their god's blessing!