Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam
Chapter 143 - 142: The Scarlet Plague

Chapter 143: Chapter 142: The Scarlet Plague

"Find the magic book related to the Scarlet Plague."

On his second visit to the shop, Ethan was already familiar with the place, directly making the request to the meatball.

It turned out that Old Ba’s intelligence network was more informed than the Neseriel Sanctuary; news of him at the Haywood Mine and Gear City had already spread among the believers.

"As you wish."

The meatball reverently said, rolling towards one of the shelves. Before taking down the "Scarlet Plague," he suddenly remarked, "I guess you might want to know this news. A few days ago, another Chosen One came here, inquiring about books related to the Scarlet Plague, just like you."

"Another Chosen One?"

Ethan’s counter-question made the meatball bow his head fearfully, he defended himself humbly, "In my view, you are much stronger than her. You are bound to be the ultimate winner. But it’s the great Heavenly Father’s rules that until you complete your ascent, other Chosen Ones also have the right to undergo trials, and I must comply with every Chosen One’s request."

"What kind of person was she?"

"I’m sorry, I cannot disclose more specific information to you, after all, you and her are in a competitive relationship."

Ethan watched the trembling meatball without further putting him in a difficult position, saying, "Give me the book."

As before, the magic tome related to the "Scarlet Plague" was imprinted with Bazatous’s mark, and without resistance, those forbidden knowledge flooded into his mind.

It was still the second epoch, concerning the second trial bestowed by the Heavenly Father.

Only the protagonist in the magic book was no longer the Red King, but a devout follower of the God of Life. She meticulously spread the teachings of the Goddess of Life, traveling across the continent, seeking ways to resolve the Scarlet Plague.

It was three years after the descent of the Giant Divine Soldier when a bizarre plague swept the entire continent.

The initial symptoms were bleeding, mostly from the gums, nose, and eyes. The symptoms would persist for three days, then sharply worsen, with infected individuals showing signs like coughing up blood, bloody stool, and organ swift decay, dying painfully within three to five days.

The second trial was a test called wisdom.

Bloody Priestess Mary, a high-tier priest of the Life Church, received the Heavenly Father’s favor. She was the most resolute in her faith, the most sanctified existence. The church viewed Mary as the Goddess of Life’s messenger, and her presence seemed like Goxia walking among the earth.

How to curb the spread of the Scarlet Plague became a pressing issue for the church.

Mary witnessed too much suffering; wherever she went, she could only watch countless dying individuals await death’s arrival. The Goddess of Life’s grace couldn’t save them, and the souls of the dead couldn’t find peace.

Then it was people she was familiar with.

The priests following her soon contracted the plague; they began coughing up blood, one by one falling down, their skin started festering, eventually turning into indistinguishable pieces of meat soaked in blood.

Frustration engulfed Mary, bewilderment consumed her heart, making her feel as if she was walking in a purgatory where the goddess’s brilliance could not illuminate.

Until her sister, who had depended on her from a young age, also caught the plague.

When Mary received the news and hurried home, her sister’s symptoms had worsened to the point of coughing up blood and organ decay. The poor girl had already lost consciousness, only occasionally able to let out a few painful moans.

This plague, once contracted, had no cure, leaving death as the only outcome. Even in some regions where the stationed troops took extreme measures by isolating the infected in certain areas, shooting arrows at them, and then burning the bodies with a large fire, they could not prevent the plague’s spread.

The only thing Mary could do was watch her sister die, witnessing her close her eyes forever in helplessness and agony.

Perhaps the goddess had already abandoned this incurable world.

A thought emerged in Mary’s heart.

And in the abyss of despair, she heard a benevolent voice, guiding her, gifting her wisdom, allowing her to perceive the plague from another perspective, granting her the key to solve the plague.

Consider it as a gift from the gods, learn to accept it, embrace it.

Before her sister drew her last breath, Mary found the method to cure the plague—not needing potions, not needing blessings; all they needed was acceptance.

Mary sat beside her bed, tirelessly narrating the guidance she heard to her sister, teaching her to learn acceptance.

Then, the festering wounds sprouted new buds, the deteriorated organs received repair, and the bleeding symptoms ceased.

Not only that, those who embraced the blessing obtained healthier bodies, possessing more vigorous life force.

At that moment, Mary wept with joy.

She embraced the wriggling piece of flesh on the sickbed, witnessing the arrival of rebirth; she finally found the cure for the plague.

Thus unfolds the story of Bloody Priestess Mary.

"This book contains the answers you need."

The meatball, as always, humbly crouched on the ground, cautiously saying.

Embrace this plague, view it as a gift.

This later became Mary’s maxim; she continued to tirelessly travel to various places, curing all she could encounter who contracted the plague.

Only, regarding the standard of "healing," Ethan and Mary had a slight discrepancy; he couldn’t quite label those wriggling flesh pieces as cured—they had lost human contours, appeared even more bizarre than squid faces, they obviously lost all human capabilities.

Unable to speak, unable to think.

Only alive.

Old Ba was a lover of malice and decadence, step by step, transforming a saintly follower of the Goddess of Life into a Bloody Priestess spreading evil books. Amid grief and frustration, Mary’s soul was twisted into the form that He desired.

But this was already a few epochs ago.

The Red King and the Bloody Priestess had become history, only the Scarlet Plague suspiciously descended upon Ximu Town again, and the reference answers in this book told him, as long as the infected became followers of Bazatous, they could escape the plague.

Of course, that was just surviving at the lowest degree.

"Lord Chosen One, I believe you can pass the Heavenly Father’s trial again!"

The meatball looked up at Ethan; it wasn’t difficult; he just needed to preach for the Heavenly Father and could easily pass this trial.

And he eagerly anticipated witnessing the Scarlet Plague descend upon the world again, reverting this world filled with the stench of orthodox gods back to its original state.

He should sing the praises of the Chosen One, exalt the greatness of the Heavenly Father.

The meatball still wanted to say something, but suddenly saw red ice enveloping the shelves, sealing the entire store within; it was the purest color of blood, just as if the Heavenly Father descended here.

A book fell from the shelf, yet before it hit the ground, it melted, twisted, until it became a living, wriggling red tapeworm.

"Let’s start from here."

The meatball saw the wriggling red worm crawl towards him, growing larger in his vision until it obscured everything.

The thing drilled into his eyes, penetrating his body, he could feel the tapeworm flowing with his blood, reaching his organs.

"There’s no need to be nervous."

The Chosen One said truthfully, "This is the trial set by the Heavenly Father, and I will find a way to heal you."

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