CHAPTER 70 #9
Napatingin sa kaniya ang isang lalaki.
"Nakita ko ang anak mo. May kalaro siya noong gabi, ilang araw na ang nakalipas."
Napakunot-noo ang ama.
"N-Nakita mo ba kung sino ang kasama niya?"
"Hindi ko alam. Pero..." Bahagyang bumaba ang tinig ng lalaki. "Balita ko, marami nang babae ang nawawala nitong mga nakaraang araw. Baka nabiktima rin ang anak mo."
Napalunok ang ama at mariing napahawak sa kaniyang damit.
"S-Sana ay hindi..."
Napabuntong-hininga ang lalaki.
"Nawa'y gabayan ka ng Dakilang Diyosa at sana ay matagpuan mo na ang anak mo..."
Unti-unting nagsimulang maghanap ang mga mamamayan sa mga babaeng miyembro ng kanilang mga pamilya na matagal nang nawawala. Parents searched the streets, husbands asked their neighbors, and relatives went from one house to another, hoping to find even the smallest clue.
Habang lumilipas ang mga oras, mas maraming pamilya ang nakumpirmang may nawawalang babae sakanilang tahanan.
Half of the people began asking for help from the Imperial Palace, hoping that the Emperor and his officials would finally address the disappearances. The other half gathered in the streets, continuing their protests against the Holy Cathedral and demanding answers.
For the first time, the authorities were forced to face two problems at once.
The missing women and the growing anger of the people.
Somewhere in the world of Arcadeya, inside an Abandoned Cathedral...
Hidden far from the kingdoms and major cities stood an ancient cathedral that had been forgotten for centuries. Its once-grand halls were now covered in dust, while broken statues and shattered stained-glass windows remained scattered throughout the silent building.
Wala ng pumupunta roon.
At least, that was what the people of Arcadeya believed.
Deep beneath the abandoned cathedral was a hidden chamber where several figures secretly gathered. The place was completely isolated from the outside world, making it the perfect location for those who wished to remain unseen.
And tonight, someone was waiting for them.
"We... we apologize," one of them stammered. "We could not bring any more women tonight."
The woman slowly raised her head.
"And why is that, Baal?"
"T-The villages are being watched. T-There are cloaked f-figures lurking in the streets e-every night. T-they guard the houses and f-follow anyone who a-aproaches."
Another figure quickly lowered his head.
"S-Sinubukan naming lapitan ang mga kababaihan, n-ngunit may mga naka-itim na cloak na agad lumilitaw sa kanilang l-likuran. T-They might discover us..."
For several seconds, the woman said nothing. The silence alone was enough to make the figures tremble.
Then a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"You disappoint me, you useless idiots."
The figures immediately lowered their heads even further, too frightened to meet her gaze.
Baal swallowed hard.
"P-Please... give us another chance... We will find a way. We won't return empty-handed agai-"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Baal nang marinig niya ang mabibigat na kalabog ng mga ulo ng kaniyang kasamahan na humandusay sa lamig ng sahig.
Mas lalo siyang nanginig nang makitang ang iba sa kanila ay pugot na ang ulo, ang mga leeg ay tila winasak at patuloy na naglalabas ng malapot at itim na dugo.
?The abandoned cathedral's floor became a pool of blood, thick with the stench of copper and decaying flesh.
?Sa gitna ng nakatutulim na dilim, tanging bente na lamang sa kanila ang natira.
Napalunok silang lahat nang tumayo ang kanilang pinuno. Bawat mabigat nitong hakbang patungo sa mga duguang bangkay ng nilalang na kaniyang pinaslang ay nag-iiwan ng isang nakatatakot na katahimikan sa paligid.
Nanatili silang nakayuko at walang sinumang nangahas na mag-angat ng tingin nang magsimula nilang marinig ang pagpunit sa mga laman at ang tunog na binabali na buto.
She began eating them with terrifying deliberation, tearing away raw meat as blood dripped down her chin.
The sound of flesh being ripped echoed in the abandoned cathedral.
?No one dared to breathe, terrified that making a single sound would make them her next meal.
"If you cannot offer a tribute... then it's you I shall devour instead. You should be grateful you're still strong and useful enough... because if you weren't, you'd be part of this feast right now. These fools deserved their fate. I blessed them with my blood, turned them into my own kind,
and yet they remained completely worthless. It's only right that I reclaim what is mine..."
Nang matapos ito sa pagkain, dahan-dahan siyang tumayo. Blood was everywhere on her body, dripping from her mouth down to her neck.
?"Argh, this blood tastes like trash... women taste so much better... but still... my body and my power are finally back. I just need to devour more humans to fully restore my true form..."
Tumingin ang kanilang pinuno kay Baal, her expression remaining cold and unreadable.
"Baal, bring more men here. I will turn them into beings like us immediately. Hurry, and don't fucking disappoint me, you bastard."