"Indeed, such weaklings now provide hardly any good rewards! The system's reward criteria are getting stricter and stricter..."
After casually assigning the few Attribute Points to the panel, Chu Feng's attention shifted back to the battlefield where everyone was fighting.
"Hm? It's over already?"
Looking at the people on the battlefield not far away, Chu Feng raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Seeing Chu Feng appear, an Exorcist hurriedly explained, "Mr. Chu Feng, they... they just suddenly burst into flames! Just like how the Bizarre die!"
Pointing at the piles of ash on the ground, everyone's faces showed a trace of puzzlement. Their long knives hadn't even pierced the enemies' flanks, so how had they spontaneously combusted? These cultists didn't look Bizarre, yet they died in the same manner as the Bizarre!
At the Exorcism squad members' words, Chu Feng involuntarily glanced back to where he had executed the rotund monster.
Huh, interesting! The difference in development paths between the Holy Advent Society's branch in Pennsylvania and the one in Oregon State is astounding! I'd already encountered the Blood Demon, but what was this creature today? It does bear some resemblance to that Yeti in Fairbanks, except this time I didn't give it the chance to merge.
Hearing the sounds from the direction of the factory, Chu Feng waved his hand, sending everyone present over there.
"It's fine. If they're dead, they're dead! Go check on Bob and the others; they haven't finished yet!"
Everyone looked at each other. Though they were reluctant to get involved in Bob's fight, they had to obey Mr. Chu Feng's orders. Even if Bob was dissatisfied, he likely wouldn't dare to seek confirmation from Mr. Chu Feng.
After responding in unison, all of them wore mischievous smiles and hurried towards the factory.
"Mr. Chu Feng, the New York police have been alerted and are on their way here!"
The voice from the communicator in his ear made Chu Feng, who had remained in place, shake his head slightly. By the time they get here, the battle will have long been over!
"Don't mind them. Tell the combat teams to speed up and evacuate quickly once they're done."
"Yes!"
Putting down his communicator, Chu Feng glanced at the completely wrecked luxury RV not far away, his brow furrowed slightly.
Sirio, Oregon State? And that leader of the Holy Advent Society whose specific appearance and information are unknown... I wonder if the plane incident has anything to do with them? As for the Stigma they mentioned... Though I haven't witnessed it firsthand, I do know a bit about the existence of Stigmata. Stigmata, also known as Holy Wounds, are similar to the wounds of Jesus on the crucifix. However, most are deceptive tricks, with very few recognized by The Holy See. Before the Bizarre revival, human experts generally classified it as a rare skin disease. I just don't know what kind of major event that Sirio fellow intends to orchestrate using the bearer of the Stigmata. And is what they found even real?
...
"Lord Sirio... Lord Sirio!"
In an underground base on the outskirts of Portland, a cultist with a joyful expression rushed toward Sirio's room.
The urgent footsteps and shouting instantly awakened Sirio, who was meditating with his eyes closed. A trace of crimson flashed through his suddenly opened eyes. As he heard the voices drawing closer, his expression abruptly darkened.
These damn fools are becoming more and more brazen! Once my plan is complete, I'll devour all of you useless trash.
With a flash of crimson, the door to the room burst open. Sirio, his expression frosty, looked toward the approaching figure.
"Uh... Lord Sirio..."
The cultist, brimming with joy, had just run over when he caught sight of the coldness on the Priest's face. His heart trembled, his expression froze, and his rushing footsteps gradually slowed.
"Speak!"
Sirio uttered one icy word, frightening the cultist so much that his legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.
"Lord Sirio, the Stigma girl... that Stigma girl named Rachel, the Array on her back has matured!"
As the trembling cultist finished speaking, Sirio's expression instantly changed, a flicker of ecstasy in his eyes. Ignoring the kneeling cultist, his crimson figure flashed and vanished from the doorway.
After a long while without a response, and with no sight of the Priest's dark robe, the kneeling cultist dared to slowly raise his head. Seeing that the Priest had already left, his expression soured.
"FUCK! So that's why those bastards gave me this task!"
He slammed his right hand on the ground, then quickly and cautiously looked around. Only after confirming no one else was present did he let out a long sigh of relief.
「Elsewhere,」 Sirio's figure had already appeared in a heavily guarded room.
He casually dismissed the cultist closely guarding the young girl. Gazing at the fully scarred Array on her back, an extremely excited smile spread across his face.
"You... don't come over here!"
Rachel never imagined she would once again see this Demon who had brought her such unbearable pain. She could no longer sense the Spiritual Power within her body; she didn't know if it was sealed or destroyed. Though not bound now, she no longer had the ability to resist. Terrified, she could only retreat helplessly, trying desperately to put distance between herself and the Demon before her.
"Don't be afraid, my dear! I'm not going to harm you..."
With a disarmingly friendly smile, Sirio waved his hand. A surge of Bloody Energy lifted Rachel's body and slowly brought her before him. His palm gently caressed her smooth cheek.
It seemed his foolish subordinates had taken good care of her during this time.
With a slight twitch of his fingers, Rachel's floating body turned, presenting her smooth back directly to Sirio.
Gazing at the Array he had personally etched onto the girl's back, his fingers trembled slightly. As if handling a priceless treasure, his fingers delicately traced the Array's contours. In resonance, wherever his fingers touched, the scars forming the Array pulsed with a faint red light. At that moment, Sirio's eyes saw only the scars on the girl's back, oblivious to the rest of her flawless skin.
"So beautiful!"
With rapturous admiration, he couldn't help but lean in, his crimson tongue darting out to lightly lick the raised scars.
"Get away! Get far away from me!"
Feeling the moist sensation on her back, Rachel's complexion turned deathly pale. She struggled with all her might but could not escape the restraint of the Bloody Energy.
"Don't be afraid, Ms. Rachel! I told you, you're very safe now. No one is going to hurt you!"
Smiling, Sirio raised his hands and stepped back a few paces. With a twitch of his fingers, the Bloody Energy instantly vanished without a trace.
Rachel's body fell with a THUD onto the soft bed.