Hell Game: Starting from Metropolis

Liu Zheng said unhappily.

At least he was still human-sized, and didn't have as much fur as a fire beast.

In response to his rebuttal, the Flame Beast unleashed an even more ferocious claw strike.

"Damn it, if I could trigger the 'Burning Rage' state, I'd fight you to the death with my sword."

Liu Zheng cursed and swore, once again avoiding direct confrontation.

Unfortunately, he couldn't muster any anger towards such a beast, even though he had "irritability disorder".

This time he learned his lesson and dodged directly to the side and rear of the Flame Beast, even jumping twice.

However, flames suddenly erupted from the back of the beast's claws, which had already exhausted their momentum, propelling the claws forward once more.

"Holy crap, a jet-powered mechanical blade, huh? Is it really that cheap?"

Liu Zheng was taken aback. This BOSS had way too many skills!

Faced with the beast's claws accelerating a second time, he was unable to dodge this time and directly used his butcher's knife to block it.

Claws harder than steel clashed with the butcher's knife, producing a sickening metallic groan.

He was sent flying backward by the immense force, crashing heavily into the stone pillar.

Two cracking sounds rang out simultaneously, and the stone pillars that were strong enough to support the heavy ceiling were smashed open with spiderweb-like cracks.

Liu Zheng, who was the projectile, fared even worse; his entire spine was shattered, and his internal organs were damaged to varying degrees.

"puff!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, which bloomed into a blood flower on the ground.

The fire beast, which had originally intended to give chase, forcibly stopped and retreated upon seeing the blood.

"Filthy blood!"

Its voice was a mixture of fear and anger, followed by confusion.

"No, no, this is not filthy blood."

It stared at the bloodstains on the ground and muttered to itself, its voice growing clearer and clearer.

“The new blood, I felt a surging life force in it, a life force even more surging than that of the previous blood.”

The fire beast stretched out its claws, seemingly wanting to touch the bloodstains, but then withdrew them just before it touched them.

Its massive body moved again, but instead of attacking, it retreated, all the way back to the seat.

Its body curled up, returning to the posture it had when it first met.

"Who are you? How did you get here?"

The Flame Beast looked at Liu Zheng, its tone becoming calm.

“My name is Liu Zheng, and I’m a purchasing agent from outside. In order to complete my purchasing mission, I agreed to a deal with Amelia, the High Priestess of the Blood Healing Church, to enter this dream world and hunt you down.”

He said it concisely.

"Ah, Amelia."

Upon hearing this name, the flames on the surface of the fire beast flickered slightly.

"Is she still alive? That's wonderful."

There seemed to be some relief in the Flame Beast's tone.

"How is the church doing now?"

it asked.

“I don’t know, I just arrived too. Anyway, Atlantis has entered the ‘Pale Night’ again, and the church is still the ruler of Atlantis.”

Liu Zheng shrugged.

"How long has it been since the last Pale Night?"

"Forty years, I suppose."

Anko told him this.

"It seems that the church's research has stagnated for forty years, or perhaps it has progressed too quickly."

"It is a beast of fire," the fire beast said thoughtfully.

"By the way, shouldn't you introduce yourself?"

Liu Zheng said.

"Oh, how rude of me, it's been so long since I've spoken to anyone."

The Flame Beast said apologetically.

“I am Dickins, the first High Priest of the Healing Church, and Amelia’s mentor.”

it said.

"So that's who you are. No wonder she asked me to kill you to silence you."

Liu Zheng suddenly realized.

The fact that even the founders of the church had turned into beasts clearly demonstrates that "blood healing" is completely ineffective in treating the beast-like disease, which is undoubtedly a major blow to the Blood Healing Church's status in Atlantis.

Even within the Church of Blood Healing, it could cause a huge upheaval, potentially leading to the demise of the Church of Blood Healing, just like the Church of Pain.

"Yes, she made the right decision."

Dickins expressed his approval of Amelia's actions.

If it were it, it would make the same choice.

"Since you were the first Grand Master, you must have invented the 'blood therapy' technique, right?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"No, I only improved it. 'Blood therapy' was invented by the Tomel people. Or rather, they just learned the technique of 'blood therapy' through some channel."

Dickins shook his enormous head.

"Then you should know that the source of the beastification disease should be 'blood therapy'."

He said.

"No, the source of the beastification disease is not 'blood therapy'."

Dickins shook his head again.

"The beastification disease doesn't turn humans into beasts, it turns humans back into beasts."

"Humans are beasts."

Burning flames spewed from Dickins' mouth, yet his words carried a chilling undertone.

Chapter 280 "Quack! I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear it!" (Two chapters combined)

"Oh."

Liu Zheng nodded.

"Young man, aren't you surprised?"

Deakins did not expect this response.

"Don't be surprised. Humans evolved from apes and are now considered an animal."

He shrugged.

“Apes? No, according to our research, humans were originally wild beasts like wolves.”

Dickins shook his head.

"That works too. Wolves sound cooler."

Liu Zheng said.

"Don't you find it disgusting? Noble humans are actually lowly beasts."

"I ask you this in surprise," Dickins asked.

Do you believe in the existence of the soul?

He asked rhetorically.

"Of course I believe it. In fact, I have indeed seen vengeful spirits."

Dickins replied.

"So, do you think it's the body or the soul that's noble?"

"Of course, it's the soul. Just like my teacher, Master Albert, whose soul was as great as the stars in the sky."

Dickins said without hesitation.

Despite his betrayal of Master Albert, founding of the Blood Healing Church, and the resulting decline of the Calculus Academy, it did not diminish his respect for his teacher.

Albert's appearance was not outstanding; in fact, he was somewhat ugly.

"So, do you think the past or the present is more noble?"

Liu Zheng asked again.

"This"

Dickins hesitated.

"Suppose there is a person who was once kind and helpful, honest and trustworthy, but later he started pedophilia and abused many young boys and girls. Is he a noble person or a despicable person?"

"Of course, he is a despicable person."

This time, Dickins did not hesitate.

"So, humanity is humanity now, and that's enough. Besides, I don't think humanity itself is particularly noble; what's noble is the shining aspects of humanity."

He said.

"I didn't expect you to be so insightful at such a young age. It's truly admirable. If you can get into Calculus Academy, Master Albert will definitely be willing to teach you personally."

"I can't believe it," Dickins remarked.

"I am merely sitting on the shoulders of giants."

Liu Zheng said modestly.

"Are you saying you were once taught by a wise man?"

"No, what I mean is that your perspective is determined by your position. If we're talking about physical health, then I'm not even human anymore."

He raised his four tentacles as a gesture.

"Oh, this... Could you please tell me how you ended up like this?"

Deakins looked at his tentacles with a mixture of fear and longing.

"It's nothing, I ate some things I shouldn't have eaten and heard some gospel I shouldn't have heard."

Liu Zheng licked his lips, seemingly recalling the unpleasant taste of the black goat cub's eyeballs.

"Of course, otherwise I would have died long ago. There are gains and losses, that's all I can say."

He spread his tentacles.

"Gospel."

The flames on Dickins' body began to flow again, forming a network on his body like blood vessels.

"Yes, I heard it too. The sound flowing in the sacred blood, they long for reunion."

It whispered, its voice becoming muffled again.

"Did this trigger a keyword?"

Liu Zheng raised his serrated butcher knife once more.

“It is calling me. Young man, tell Amelia to be wary of the sacred blood.”

Dickins tore open his chest with his beast claws. No blood flowed out, only a handful of flames were pulled out and thrown to the ground, burning continuously.