Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 173: Thousands of God Corpses
Dragon’s Lair, in a certain cave.
Prophet Lilith leaned against the rough walls, squinting in the sunlight.
Dorothy said she was going to attend a dragon conference, leaving Lilith alone in the room again. Truth be told, she had spent most of her time alone since arriving in this world—first in a dark cage, then in a sealed tent.
She was surprised to find that she wasn’t even accustomed to the morning breeze blowing in her face.
Regarding “going to Paradise”, she still felt uneasy. Maybe after this conference, they could get an explanation of Paradise… Maybe, though she wasn’t very hopeful about it.
The feeling of being controlled and losing her memory was too terrifying. She didn’t remember anything, only the crushing discomfort upon waking. Just when she thought she could live normally again, waves of terrifying unknowns hit her.
When alone, the terror of the unknown felt like lead water. Lilith breathed in the fresh air, trying to calm her nerves.
It’s funny, she thought. This time last year, she was worried about her exam results, upset because she had a fallout with her desk mate, and her biggest wish was for her family to get a better phone. Now, all she wanted was to survive, and if she could suffer less, that would be even better.
Such a significant downgrade in wishes.
Lilith’s fingertips glided over her cold scales, smooth and hard, yet they conveyed a subtle warmth. Did she even remember how to walk on two legs normally?
A shaft of golden-red sunlight filtered through a crack, illuminating the yellow-brown rocks.
Lilith stared at it wordlessly, suddenly feeling a very strange impulse—if back on Earth, given her recent streak of bad luck, she’d visit a temple to pray. In this world, should she pray?
The system quests only mentioned “God”, not specifying which one. She was unclear about the true names of the Goddess of Life and the Eternal Son; she only knew of one god.
The ancient god worshiped by the Priest Serpent Clan, the God of Fate, Perradat.
It seemed she was nearly fully influenced by this world, Lilith mused with a bitter smile. She rummaged through her pack, taking out a piece of cheese she hadn’t finished eating and placing it ceremoniously in the light.
As if seeking some luck, she suddenly understood those with deep-rooted customs of worship.
“Perradat, I call upon you.”
She prayed formally. “Please protect me and my family, keep us healthy and safe, and allow us to reunite soon…”
A discordant sound of spatial distortion rang out, as if something was struggling inside a leather bag. Seconds later, the egg-sized piece of cheese began to emit bursts of black light.
[My prophet.] A cold, ethereal voice of a young girl spoke. [Why do you call upon me now?]
Whoa!
Lilith was dumbfounded; in a way, she indeed managed to cast aside her troubles and fears. What’s going on? Is calling upon a god this easy? Even a mouse trap doesn’t work this fast!
“Are you Perradat?” Lilith asked in shock.
God of Fate: [What you ask for…]
“Do you only need a piece of cheese?” Lilith hadn’t quite recovered. “Uh, should I offer more sacrifices. You’re not going to take my soul, right…”
God of Destiny: [Listen to me first…]
However, as an atheist high school student, she didn’t have much faith to begin with. Lilith felt like she had accidentally bumped into the principal while running in the hallway. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I’ll prepare better next time. Are you really Perradat? I’ve heard demons might disguise themselves—”
[Can you be quiet for a moment? I am Perradat!]
The girl’s voice couldn’t stay cold; she sounded like she wanted to hit someone. [This is the Dragon’s Lair. Even if you are my high priest and have called upon me willingly, I… haa, can’t hold on for too long…]
Lilith immediately clamped her mouth shut.
[I can reunite you with your family,] Perradat said weakly. [In exchange, I need you to do something for me.]
“Anything!” Upon hearing she could see her family, Lilith’s heart felt like it had been hammered, almost leaping out of her chest.
[My kin. I want you to become my Chosen One, my voice.]
The girl’s voice tensed up again. [I will guide you to a nearby battlefield, where a fragment of my divine body lies. Swallow it, and I can communicate with you.]
Lilith was silent for a few seconds. “You mean the battlefield where I lost my memory before?”
This “communication” made her wary. If reuniting meant losing herself, the deal seemed too sinister.
[That was the vile one using your spirit, descending forcefully through magic.]
The girl’s voice turned disdainful. [The serpentmen are a race I created. I wouldn’t do such a disrespectful thing to my own kin—you will automatically acquire the skill “Invoke God”, and I can only use your voice with your permission. When necessary, I will whisper in your ear. That’s all.]
There was no guarantee though. Lilith stared at the glowing piece of cheese.
She knew little about this world. Establishing a vow or contract with a god was like an electronics novice stepping into a computer mall—whether she’d get cheated depended on the other party’s conscience.
But a god who could communicate through cheese seemed a bit less malicious.
Should she discuss it with Paradise? What if Paradise disagreed?
Would Dorothy agree? If Dorothy disagreed, could she really give up this chance?
According to the Priest Serpent Clan’s internal mythology, Perradat seemed more like a neutral god. Not an evil god, so it shouldn’t be too bad, right…
“Tell me the location,” Lilith said, biting her lip.
[Very well.] The girl sounded pleased.
Using wind magic, Lilith soon arrived at the remnants of the battlefield. Though called a battlefield, the situation was actually not too bad. There was only one, uh, undead dragon napping under the sun. The strong sunlight seemed to sap its energy.
Telistam, supposedly, wasn’t an enemy.
Lilith tiptoed around the skeletal giant dragon. The further she got from the Dragon’s Lair, the more restless the cheese in her pocket became. Initially, the voice was full of abundant and ethereal divinity, but later, she sounded like Lilith’s cousin screaming at a game console.
[Left! Right! Three steps forward! Ah, how can you even walk off course like this!]
[Turn left again… No, no, you turned your head to the right. Yes, yes, just like that, keep going forward!]
[Off course again. God, it’s so hard to describe distance to a serpentman—]
Such a noisy guy.
Lilith had a headache from the noise and couldn’t help but interrupt. “You said we need to find your divine remains, so you’re dead?”
[Half-dead,] the God of Fate murmured miserably. [In your terms, it’s like being paraplegic and also missing a heart.]
“In our case, that usually means certain death. Without a heart, how are you still alive?” Lilith spoke irreverently.
Perradat: [My old nemesis thought they took all my power, but I kept a bit. It’s that simple. Unfortunately, this little power is very limited, basically only enough to speak.]
Lilith: “I can tell.”
[Mind your manners, little girl. Your prophetic power comes from me. Be careful or I might turn it off.] The cheese god complained in Lilith’s pocket.
“Actually, up until now, I was quite worried about this deal. Now, I’m not worried anymore,” Lilith said.
[That’s good you understand my leniency.]
[……]
[Are you scolding me?]
Amidst the quarrel between a serpent and a piece of cheese, Lilith finally arrived at the indicated location.
She saw several drops of strangely colored blood. Oddly, they were right there, emanating an eerie power. But she needed the God of Fate to point them out before she could notice their presence.
[That brat brought out my body. At least he did something humane.]
Perradat sighed at the drops of blood, which rose from the soil and formed into a pearl-like small orb.
[Swallow them. They will grant you strength.] The God of Fate Perradat became serious. [I promise, by today, you will be reunited with your loved ones.]
Lilith took a deep breath, caught the drops of blood with her fingertips, and swallowed them with her eyes closed.
The black glow on the cheese suddenly disappeared. A few seconds later, Lilith opened her four eyes, revealing eyes that had turned dark.
She felt power and joy filling her body, the cheers from her Priest Serpent Clan lineage. There seemed to be a rumor among her clan that over two hundred years ago, their clan had a descendant of the God of Fate. They were powerful, majestic, and invincible.
Although she really couldn’t understand how a cheese god could be majestic.
The system turned her newly acquired power into a skill named [Whisper of Fate] which she could toggle between active and passive modes. In active mode, she allows the “God of Fate” to temporarily control her body. In passive mode, she can hear the God of Fate’s whispers in her mind.
‘Unfortunately, there’s no off switch,’ Lilith thought. ‘That’s probably the cost.’
“You… okay, you didn’t lie to me.” Lilith looked at her hands. “What do I do now?”
[Wait here. Fate has its plans.]
This time, Perradat’s voice came directly into her mind, light and clear.
[The decision you’ve made is more important than you think, child.]
……
In the Dragon’s Lair, the leader’s cave.
“So, your request is for me to stabilize Nolerwin’s power so you can invade his mind.”
The voice of White Dragon Subelbot carried a hint of mockery. “What does this have to do with our God?”
“This is the Dragon’s Lair. I wouldn’t be foolish enough to renege here.”
Teest waved his hand, his gaze stuck on Nol. “Explaining isn’t my style. I could offer our Lord Painter as collateral. If I’m lying, you can kill him.”
Painter grimaced and raised his hands. “Fine. In this matter, I don’t doubt your honesty. But you have better options.”
“This is the choice that makes me happiest,” Teest said.
Nol was just watching Subelbot up close, and despite the inappropriate context, he was still amazed by his beauty. The white dragon noticed his gaze and turned his head away, somewhat displeased. Upon seeing Nol’s gaze, a hint of surprise and hesitation appeared in his large dragon eyes.
It was a very strange look, distant yet affectionate.
A Dracolich, a corrupted being, shouldn’t have such a gaze. It made Subelbot slightly uneasy yet also felt a subtle impulse to get closer, as if encountering a long-lost relative.
“I promise,” he heard Nol say.
It was hard to tell whether that was a promise or a command, Subelbot thought. He could sense something very special, but as he tried to discern it, the feeling gradually faded.
But he didn’t smell of corruption.
It seemed he had underestimated Paradise. The White Dragon silently turned his head, narrowing his eyes, and after half a minute of deep thought, said, “I will lend my power, come with me.”
He led them to his nest.
Nol secretly breathed a sigh of relief and telepathically messaged Teest, [The defensive magic here is very comprehensive, and there are many items that resist strong magical bursts. I’ll point them out to you later.]
“Why did you follow?” Teest turned to Painter with dissatisfaction.
Painter: “In case Lord Subelbot needs to bite me and I’m not around, that would be impolite.”
After saying that, he paused meaningfully. “And now, someone is not absolutely rational. Considering the relationship between Paradise and the Dragon’s Lair, I feel it’s necessary for me to be here.”
Teest clicked his tongue lightly and said no more.
“Let’s start.”
Nol found a piece of adamantite slate and lay down on it cautiously.
Before closing his eyes, he cast hundreds of isolation and binding spells on his limbs, akin to a magical straitjacket. Just a few seconds after lying down, he suddenly sat up like a measuring worm and cast a spell on everyone present to immunize them against mental disturbances.
This time, Subelbot took over Painter’s role. Just as it found its position—
Mr. Nol struggled to get up and threw a terrifyingly powerful magical shield on everyone present, then lay down again with difficulty.
“That’s enough, Sir,” Painter said subtly. “If you make another move, we’ll all be sealed here.”
Nol chuckled dryly. Looking at the top of Subelbot’s nest, he suddenly had a strange illusion. It was like a life-and-death operation, and he didn’t know if he would wake up once his eyes were closed. Even if he did wake up, he was unsure if he could remain the same.
Luckily, he didn’t have to face this alone.
Unfortunately, they had to face this together.
He hoped the past events he remembered wouldn’t drastically change his personality. He somewhat wanted to pray to someone. Funnily enough, he was theoretically the supreme god of this land.
Throughout the process, the system remained silent.
“Let’s start,” Nol said again.
The magic aura of the White Dragon was cold and heavy, like an avalanche. Painter’s expression stiffened, and his eyes were filled with a trace of melancholy. Teest, unusually, took several deep breaths before diving into Nol’s consciousness again.
The familiar pure white space, the familiar faint stench of decay.
And that familiar figure.
The deformed Nol, with black hair and eyes, was still sitting on that strange swivel chair. Different from last time, there were several thin, semi-transparent chains around his wrists and ankles.
He lifted his head towards Teest, his features flickering, misaligned, and moving. Even for someone as skilled as Teest, it was hard to discern any emotions. Behind “Nol”, that weird machine box with its screen still pitch black.
It perfectly backed the black-eyed Nol’s head, like a rectangular piece of black divine light.
Referencing Kando’s memories, that was probably Nol’s sealed memory—not scattered like Kando’s memories, but closely pressed together, guarded by this bizarre “Nol”.
“It’s you again,” said the strange Nol, his voice weirdly stuttering. “And the power of a dragon.”
He raised his hand, his flowing features gathering at the wrist chains.
“And you, honey.”
Teest bowed. “You are the embodiment of the knowledge seal, I guess?”
“You do not have—”
“I don’t have the permission, I know.”
Teest interrupted directly. “If you didn’t keep unsettling Nol every now and then, I wouldn’t want to disturb your peace. Now, for his safety, I have to verify this knowledge.”
He stepped forward, moving towards that strange figure.
The stench of decay grew stronger, containing odors that shouldn’t belong to humans, as well as a damp, rotten smell more akin to decaying vegetation.
Nol tilted his head stiffly—not in a charming way, more like the head of a car crash victim being straightened—and opened his mouth, which contained nothing but teeth and hollow blackness.
“Do not approach. Do not approach,” he murmured. “Forbidden, forbidden, forbidden.”
“I wouldn’t want to approach either. If you could chat with me more cordially, I’d rather never come here again. We both have no choice. What a pity.”
The strange Nol fell silent.
After a long time, as if he thought of something, he began to unbutton his shirt.
Teest immediately jumped back two steps. “Wait, wait, honey. I didn’t mean that…”
His words were cut off, suddenly stuck in his throat.
The clothes of the black-eyed Nol were as bizarre as he was. Taking them off was like peeling off a layer of skin. Now, the strange Nol stood naked in front of Test, quietly observing him.
Behind him, the screen remained pitch black, looking like an even larger, hollower eye socket.
“You know, this is the first time I’m proud of my profession.”
Teest murmured to the figure in front of him. “It ensures that I remain conscious, so I don’t faint on the spot.”
While at the Eternal Church, he received similar education—to understand human anatomy, their instructors would have them chop up corpses, sew them together, chop them finer, sew them tighter.
During this time, naturally, some had a perverse interest in creating something new. For instance, sewing different species together or creating a “new species” with an excessive number of limbs. Teest didn’t need to develop any gruesome imaginations; he just had to look around.
However, the most exaggerated “creation” he saw was nothing compared to the existence before him.
Beneath the clothes, countless dizzying chunks of flesh were visible. They were of various colors, protruding strange limbs beyond human comprehension, entwined and adhered to each other, barely forming a human shape.
Semi-transparent, fruit-like tissues, hard shells with dense compound eyes, and tumor-like growths glowing blue-green… At the position of Nol’s heart, a piece of white scale lay quietly.
Looking at each part, Teest could feel the discomfort of staring directly at a “God”. What’s more, each chunk of flesh responded differently.
They came from different individuals.
They came from hundreds and thousands of different gods.
The author has something to say:
Nol: Bad news, I’ve been working overtime alone.
Nol: Good news, it seems I’m not working overtime alone anymore.
…sorry for the hell (.
Honestly, they are a perfect match… Normal people probably couldn’t handle this wave of sc*…
*Sensitive/shocking content.
Kinky Thoughts:
Wouldn’t be a Nian Zhong novel without a little horror and gore.
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