Bright flowers bloomed around the altar.
The elegant middle-aged man stood up and gently extended his hand. The flowering stems swayed, reaching toward him of their own accord. The flowers seemed alive, deliberately pushing their companions aside to receive his caress.
A smile appeared on the man's lips. He was handsome; although already middle-aged, the years had only stored a rich mellowness in him, without leaving any conspicuous traces.
He had just completed his routine outward probing for the day. As he stepped down from the altar, the flowers he had drawn toward him all withered and died in an instant.
The military tents in the Life Order God Church's camp were little houses constructed from vines. The man pushed open a door and walked inside. Two women lay naked on the bamboo bed within.
He had won a great victory in last night's campaign, and his two defeated opponents still lacked the strength to get up.
He poured himself a glass of red wine, admiring yesterday's battlefield and his newly acquired "captives."
Just then, footsteps sounded outside.
The man immediately waved his hand. Vines peeled away from the walls, wrapped around the two women, and plunged into their bodies. They woke with a start, but before they could even scream, they were drained into mummies. Their bodies were rapidly shredded, and the bamboo bed split open from within, "swallowing" them. When it flipped back over, the bed was utterly clean.
The visitor entered. He was a middle-aged man with half-gray hair, leaning on a black vine cane, his gaze carrying an air of authority.
The man immediately bowed respectfully to him. "Big brother, you're here."
The visitor sniffed and closed his eyes, saying helplessly, "Gleehar, you know where we are, don't you?"
"Big brother..."
"Address me differently."
"Yes, Legion