Chapter 39: Joining Forces
After listening to Su Xiao's account, the expression beneath Dwarf Zis's mask froze. He felt his mental circuits were no longer sufficient.
"Why should I believe what you say?"
"Did I ever ask you to believe?"
"This..."
Dwarf Zis was at a loss for words. The fact was indeed true; from start to finish, Su Xiao had never asked him to believe.
"You can continue waiting here. Azaz will come sooner or later. Calculating the time, he should already be in Emperor Okaz's tomb, expected to arrive at Doom Town within five days."
Su Xiao stood up from the eye socket of the giant skeleton, leaped, and landed on the high wall.
The Ancient God of this world was dead. Su Xiao was now certain of this. Previously, he had wondered why, with such a powerful Ancient God in Doom Town, this world was still seventh rank, and why this god had distributed its power to so many people.
Now it seemed this Ancient God was already dead. Although it wasn't completely dead yet, it couldn't be considered alive either. This Ancient God hadn't been unwilling to suckle this world; rather, it had just started suckling when it went cold. It must have been severely injured and arrived at this world on the verge of death.
The result was that this Ancient God died in Doom Town. Its brief suckling, combined with the spread of its divine power after death, caused Doom Town's misfortune.
The Resentful Orphan was this Ancient God's last resort. The god had tried to reincarnate, but the newborn body died in the womb, giving rise to the current Resentful Orphan.
The newborn's death in the womb was definitely related to the Archbishop. The Archbishop must have once resisted the Ancient God's power, but while studying it, he became seduced by it. Since Doom Town had already become like this and was beyond salvation, why shouldn't he become the new Ancient God?
This thought planted a seed in the Archbishop's heart. Now the seed had sprouted, waiting only for Azaz's arrival.
Furthermore, the Archbishop had already prepared to save the old councilman and send Azaz away. In the end, he would smile and "die," then become the new Ancient God without anyone knowing.
The Archbishop wasn't deceiving others face-to-face; he had been laying the groundwork for years, waiting for people to walk into the trap willingly. He had all the time in the world. Who would suspect something from a thousand years ago? Time and his long life were his strongest weapons.
Azaz indeed wouldn't suspect something from a thousand years ago. He was a native of this world. Legends about Emperor Okaz and such were unquestionable to him.
Su Xiao would be suspicious. He had been in this world for less than half a month and wouldn't fully believe its legends. Even if it were a legend from a hundred thousand years ago, he would still doubt it.
"According to your reasoning, the Archbishop wants to seize power from the Resentful Orphan? That's impossible. That thing has existed in Doom Town for too long. If it could be done, why wouldn't the Archbishop do it himself? He's far stronger than you or me."
Although Dwarf Zis was still full of doubts, the expression beneath his mask was no longer as resolute as before.
"The fact that the Archbishop didn't die in the early stages of the Ancient God's descent surprises me."
Su Xiao had connected all the clues, from the moment he boarded the steam train entering this world until he met Dwarf Zis.
If a seventh-rank contractor arrived in Doom Town and couldn't see through the Archbishop's plan, they would kill in the following order:
Immortal Man → Dwarf Zis → Resentful Orphan → Blacksmith (in a rage, very strong) → Saintess (in despair, very weak).
After enduring countless dangers and finally reaping great rewards, even if they weren't hammered to death by the Blacksmith, they would be in terrible shape. Then... they would be casually crushed by the Archbishop, who had become an Ancient God.
"You... want to go kill the Archbishop?"
Dwarf Zis's staff-sword was enveloped in black mist and then disappeared. He no longer intended to continue fighting. It was meaningless.
"Based on known intelligence analysis, you, plus me, plus my three followers, aren't enough for the Archbishop to kill."
"The Archbishop isn't as powerful as you say. If everything you've said is true, the Blacksmith will assist us."
Dwarf Zis wasn't ready to fully believe Su Xiao. He planned to observe first. Continuing to sleep here was meaningless. Being eroded by Ancient God's power was only a matter of time.
"The Blacksmith won't assist us."
"Our friendship is more than..."
"The Blacksmith has been in the Redemption Church for too long. He can't even get close to the Archbishop."
Dwarf Zis was left speechless by Su Xiao's words. Under Zis's control, the giant skeleton lowered its arm, and he leaped onto its palm.
"Let me be clear upfront. If I find you suspicious, I'll stab you in the back. Of course, if I'm the suspicious one, you can cut off my head."
Dwarf Zis manipulated the giant skeleton to climb out of the high wall, landing with a thunderous crash outside.
"I'm bored staying here. Five days. I'll try with you for five days. If nothing changes, I'll go back to sleep. Death is nothing. I, Ziselman, have never been afraid of it."
Dwarf Zis sat cross-legged on the giant skeleton's palm and tilted his head toward Su Xiao.
"Where to? Since you, an outsider, haven't left Doom Town, it means you have a way to deal with the Archbishop."
"To find the Resentful Orphan."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Dwarf Zis, a seventh-rank boss, was stunned for a moment.
"Has your mind been corroded by the alien god's power? That thing is insane. It even eats the town's residents. Last time we met, it bit me."
Dwarf Zis manipulated the giant skeleton, using its thick finger to point at its skull, where there was a sizable hole.
Dwarf Zis's giant skeleton was quite useful. As long as it wasn't destroyed by energy of the same origin, it could be repaired using the town residents' bones.
"Who told you that thing is insane?"
"You mean..."
Dwarf Zis's expression turned serious. If the Resentful Orphan wasn't insane, then the joke would be huge.
"Where is it?"
"Come up. It's on the west side of town. It's as quiet as a haunted house there."
Dwarf Zis manipulated the giant skeleton to raise its other hand. Su Xiao leaped onto it, followed by Bubu Wang and Amu, while Baha scouted from above.
The Resentful Orphan was different from Dwarf Zis. There were only two possibilities: 1. The Resentful Orphan was indeed insane, attacking all living things in sight. If so, that would be fine.