Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 816: Chapter 815 Testimony Must Also Abide by Basic Law... (Part 2)

”What?”

Staring at the bishops in front of him, the Fortress Commander widened his eyes in surprise.

”You’re going to meet those creatures?”

”Exactly.”

Bishop Carl nodded.

”The intelligence we’ve gathered so far is insufficient, so we need more information. I believe the best approach is to meet and talk with them.”

”Talk... But they’re Demon Beasts!”

”Whether they are Demon Beasts or not is not for you to decide.”

Elf Bishop spoke calmly.

”At least from the intelligence we have gathered so far, it’s clear those creatures possess unusual intelligence, and perhaps we can communicate.”

”But... but...”

Upon hearing this, the Commander was at a loss for words. He stammered for a long time but couldn’t say anything. This was quite normal. The Kingdom of Flame had always regarded those creatures as Lesser Beasts, never considering that they might possess unusual intelligence. And now, according to these people... they are indeed capable of communication?

Are they kidding? If they can communicate, did our fifty thousand soldiers die for nothing?

But Bishop Carl and the others clearly didn’t care about the Fortress Commander’s thoughts. They simply informed him of their decision, turned around, and left, leaving the Fortress Commander feeling conflicted.

”What should we do, Master?”

Watching Bishop Carl and his group depart, the Commander’s attendant asked in a low voice.

”Shall we block the fortress, not letting them leave?”

”No, let them go. I want to see what kind of trick they’re up to... Have someone follow them closely, but not too closely.”

”Understood.”

Hearing the Commander’s response, the attendant nodded and then curiously asked.

”Um... Master, do you really believe those Demon Beasts can communicate?”

”How could they?”

Faced with the attendant’s question, the Commander snorted disdainfully.

”Though they’re a bit cunning, they’re still just creatures! Demon Beasts! How could they possibly understand communication? I bet those guys will be devoured by the Demon Beasts right away! Hmph, but it’s none of our business! Those people from the Kingdom of the Holy Church worship their gods so much that their minds are warped. How could these Lesser Beasts possess any intelligence? Remember, no matter how cunning they are, they’re just wild beasts!”

”Yes!”

Bishop Carl naturally understood what the people from the Kingdom of Flame were thinking, but he saw the situation as much more complicated.

”According to our investigation, this untamed land was previously shrouded in Chaos Mist, which aligns with the documents held by the Sanctuary.”

Orc Bishop looked ahead, his expression serious.

”However, a month ago, the mist suddenly dispersed, and then the citizens of the Kingdom of Flame began their exploration of the untamed land, encountering those... creatures.”

”I once asked the local residents, and before this, they had never seen similar Demon Beasts.”

Dwarf Bishop touched his carefully groomed beard and spoke.

”These creatures appeared after the Chaos Mist dissipated. What do you all think?”

”Currently, everything is mere speculation. As the Eyes of Order, we need evidence to speak.”

Elf Bishop took a deep breath and then lifted his head.

”In the name of Order, we hope for a smooth endeavor.”

At this moment, they had reached the top of the hill.

”Goddess above...”

Looking at the untamed land not far below, even the Human Bishop couldn’t help but widen his eyes and mutter. Although they had seen these creatures through the Crystal Ball before, witnessing them in person was still surprisingly shocking.

The endless swarm seemed like an ocean, continuously surging, making it appear from afar as if it truly were a sea of deep purple. Just looking at the densely packed bugs made hair stand on end. Not to mention... the Zerg’s appearance was truly...

Unimaginable.

”This is really too... too... too...”

Even Elf Bishop widened his eyes, muttering ”too” for a long time before finally saying, ”This is too unbelievable!”

”With such numbers, what do they eat?”

Orc Bishop started to wonder about another issue.

”Here, it seems there is no food other than them. How do they maintain their existence?”

”Perhaps the fifty thousand troops of the Kingdom of Flame were enough to feed them for a while?”

Dwarf Bishop touched his beard, chuckling as he speculated, while Bishop Carl shook his head.

”Just what we see here might be in the tens of thousands, and even distributing one per creature wouldn’t be enough to feed them... Hmm...”

At this point, the group exchanged glances, feeling subtly worried. As the Eyes of Order, their primary task was to ascertain whether the other party was an order-based species, and then assess the threat level. During their previous survey of the Kingdom of Flame, the bishops noticed these creatures didn’t exhibit typical Demon Beast behavior. Instead, it was clear they displayed characteristics of intelligent order-based species.

Their reason for coming here was to verify their speculation and assess the threat level. After all, Devils and Mind Flayers were also order-based species, yet the Sanctuary naturally couldn’t classify them as friendly.

”I must admit, if I hadn’t verified these creatures lack a Devil’s aura, I’d have thought this was a Devil army invading the surface.”

Human Bishop looked at the swarm with a complex expression, unsure what to say.

”I’ve been through bloody battles, believe me, Devils aren’t this unsightly.”

Orc Bishop laughed, patting Human Bishop’s shoulder, then strode down the hill towards the Zerg’s territory. The other four followed, gradually approaching.

”Hiss---!!”

Aware of the group’s approach, dozens of Jumping Bugs soon rushed forward, circling the fungal carpet, and issued growls as if to demonstrate. Witnessing this, the bishops instead felt relieved. Their initial worry was that these... creatures would attack without provocation, but now it seemed there was discernment.

”We bear no hostility!”

Elf Bishop stepped forward, spreading his hands to the sides and calling loudly.

”We wish to talk! We come with friendly intentions!”

”.........”

The Jumping Bugs glanced at them and then exchanged looks, appearing rather calm.

Of course, if Bishop Carl and the others understood the current dialogue happening within the Swarm Network, they might not think so.

”Tall?”

”Short?”

”Bipedal?”

”No modification value, lesser species.”

... Well, probably fortunate both sides couldn’t understand each other.

After a while, the group saw a King Worm slowly flying from the rear, and just as they expected to communicate, the King Worm approached overhead, stretching its tendrils towards them.

What’s this?!

Watching the tendrils encircling them, everyone was shocked, and Orc Bishop instinctively grasped his Spiked Hammer, tensely staring at the King Worm. However, it remained indifferent, simply wrapping its tentacles around Bishop Carl and the others. Then they saw the King Worm’s abdomen slowly opening...

”Hey hey, is this really going to eat us?”

At this moment, Dwarf Bishop was also uneasy.

”Calm down! If they intend to eat us, they wouldn’t be acting like this! Let’s wait and see!”

Bishop Carl hurriedly stopped his colleague’s actions, widening his eyes, staring at the open abdomen, and watching as the tendrils pulled them inside... directly throwing them into the cavity.

”What is this?”

The abdomen cavity was unusually vast, lined with layers of slime. The group, caught off guard, was covered in the sticky substance, causing Dwarf Bishop to shout, while Elf Bishop frowned. But he quickly cast a Divine Arts, appraised the situation, then relaxed.

”Thankfully, it’s non-toxic.”

”What do you think they intend to do with us?”

Looking at the fleshy walls around him, Orc Bishop also spoke nervously. Just then, they felt the King Worm move slightly, then began to advance.

”Do they plan to communicate... or take us as prisoners?”

”Anyway...”

Observing his surroundings, Bishop Carl sighed.

”All we can do now is pray for the Goddess’s protection.”