Chapter 81: Believer Cinderella [First Watch]

In front of the girl stood a wooden sculpture with horns on its head, wings spread on its back, a Demon-shaped figure.

No matter how you look at it, it somewhat resembles one's own form after turning into a Demon.

Strangely, the face in Demon form actually bears a few resemblances to one's human form.

What is going on! Fulade, who had taken the form of a bat and was spying on everything happening inside, felt a bit bewildered.

He quickly recovered, realizing that the scene of his battle with the Forest Giant must have been discovered and spread.

Meanwhile, the murmuring voice in his mind grew clearer as the girl kept praying.

"God of Blood and Fire, please protect my family from harm; I will pray for you day and night, serve you all my life, only asking that my family be spared from Demon attacks."

The words from the girl's mouth matched exactly the voice echoing in his mind.

Fulade now understood that he was being worshipped as a deity.

But the problem was, he knew he was no god, and at that thought Fulade's body trembled.

If he wasn't a god, how could he hear the girl's prayers?

Realizing this, Fulade hurriedly inspected his own mental space.

When Fulade discovered that the faint prayer voice in his mind actually came from the rhombic crystal of the Underworld Fire Demon King, he was momentarily stunned.

"Could it really be a Divine Spark!?"

But the problem was, that Divine Spark wasn't his, so how did it become linked to him?

Of course Fulade had never been a god before, so he naturally didn't understand its workings.

Now Fulade could only guess that he had unintentionally seized control of this Divine Spark.

In fact, the cause lay in the Underworld Fire Demon King's arrogance and hubris.

It was then that the Underworld Fire Demon King used the Divine Spark to actively merge with Fulade.

By reshaping Fulade's body with the Divine Spark, the Underworld Fire Demon King, after disappearing, was easily taken over by Fulade.

One could say the Underworld Fire Demon King unintentionally gave Fulade a great gift.

However, Fulade still could not wield or develop the power of this Divine Spark.

Although the energy and Faith Power within had long been drained by the Mysterious Light Orb, the core law of the Divine Spark, the Underworld Fire Law, still persisted.

The Underworld Fire Law, one of the higher fire laws, possesses dual attacks that scorch both flesh and spirit, with properties of disintegration and devouring.

This explains why a lingering remnant of the Underworld Fire Demon King could endure so long after its death.

When Fulade's consciousness actively merged with the Divine Spark, an unprecedented sense of greatness surged into his mind.

It felt as if he were the ruler above all beings.

Of course, it was merely a fleeting illusion, since he could not command the vast law power within the Divine Spark.

This snapped Fulade out of the momentary swelling.

Seeing his mind against the Divine Spark's immense law power felt like watching a pony trying to pull a carriage—utterly futile.

Realizing he only possessed the treasury without the key to open it, Fulade turned his awareness toward the source of the prayer.

Suddenly, hundreds of faint, barely perceptible translucent white threads appeared in Fulade's consciousness.

"This," Fulade said, his expression slightly surprised as he gazed at everything before him.

When Fulade subconsciously touched these threads, faint prayers suddenly rang out.

"God of Blood and Fire, please hear my prayer." "Born of blood and flame, deity, please unleash divine punishment and strike down those damned Demons."

"Great God of Blood and Fire, I am Cinderella, please guide this lost lamb of yours; after my father's death, the wicked stepmother and sister constantly bully me."

"Honored God of Blood and Fire, please listen to me."

Huh, that's not right; the previous one sounds familiar.

Fulade's bat body blinked its slightly puzzled eyes, instantly reconnecting to the previous believer's prayer.

"They… whimper~ always bully me, make me wash clothes, mop floors, wash dishes, clean, whimper~ they don't even give me food."

Why does it sound so familiar, Cinderella~? Hiss~~ isn't that the name of Cinderella!

"I never expected such an extraordinary little girl to slip into my believers," Fulade exclaimed, opening his bat mouth wide, revealing two shining teeth.

Curious, Fulade completely forgot that an Eight-Foot Girl was earnestly praying to him right in front of him.

Following the thread of faith, Fulade saw a small, dilapidated attic.

A charming girl with golden hair, a white cotton hair tie, wore a look of grievance as she prayed to Fulade's statue.

The girl, only sixteen or seventeen, knelt before the statue; even with a slightly dirty face, her beauty shone through.

She wore a tattered blue dress that highlighted the delicate whiteness of her chest, making it appear especially full.

Beside her were a few fearless little mice, nibbling on sweets the girl fed them.

Seeing this scene, Fulade confirmed the girl's identity.

When the girl finished her silent prayer and lifted her chin, a shocked expression appeared on her dirty little face.

"It's… it's glowing, the statue is glowing!"

Hearing Cinderella's exclamation, Fulade switched to a god‑view, and a strand of his consciousness instantly slipped free from the faith threads wound around the statue.

Realizing the possessed statue was emitting a faint red glow, he immediately understood it was a normal reaction after his arrival.

Fulade thought for a moment, then spoke: "Girl, I am the God of Blood and Fire; are you calling upon me with your prayer?"

A solemn, dignified voice resonated from the wooden sculpture.

Caught off guard, Cinderella was stunned for a long time, feeling her head spin and her heart pound.

The only thought in her mind was that the statue was speaking! When the solemn voice sounded again, Cinderella finally snapped back, her expression dazzling as she said:

"You, you truly are the great God of Blood and Fire; I am so thrilled—so the stories were true, there really are gods in this world."

Seeing the girl's expression shift from disbelief to nervous excitement, Fulade replied:

"Girl, you need not doubt my existence; I am the deity you worship. Serve me sincerely, spread my faith, and I will grant you—everything you desire."

"When your faith is devout enough, I will respond to you again, Cinderella, right, girl."

It was only a brief period, and Fulade discovered that this feeble thread of spiritual belief could no longer sustain the manifestation of his own spiritual will.

So Fulade hurriedly ended this conversation in which he was acting as a charlatan.

"Oh my, you actually know my name," the girl exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise.

When she noticed the statue beginning to dim and the light fading away.

Realizing the deity had already departed, Cinderella finally couldn't help but start dancing with exuberance.

And it was from this day that a fervent, loyal follower of Fulade was born!

(End of chapter)