Chapter 277: The Traitor

That was a forest of blood and flesh.

Pieces of "flesh" hung on sharp pillars, some already cut open and waiting to be used, some struggling and wailing, others already numb with despair.

They were either failed transformations, those born weak, or those who resisted resolutely.

But within the hierarchy of the Beast Cult, they shared a more obvious unifying trait.

They were the "weak," the "stragglers" of the beast pack. A beast pack mixed with humanity loved "the strong devouring the weak" far more than pure beasts did.

"Delicious."

"What a pity, we can't touch those beautiful females; this one will have to do."

"Don't get it dirty; I still have to eat it later."

The "half-beasts" wandered through the forest of flesh, enjoying the pleasure of evolving into "other species."

The same thing happened constantly in this "city" pieced together from ruined buildings.

This was a branch of the Beast Cult; the forest of flesh and the pool of blood were clearly not newly established, and the massive piles of skeletons beside the pool were the clearest proof.

Around chains, various "beastmen" were tied up, most of them half-beast, half-human children, because adults found it harder to control their "beastly desires," their failed transformations came faster and more violently, and if they failed, they either became cannon fodder or were directly turned into food.

But "children" still held the possibility of further advancement; they could even be cultivated into priests and gladiators.

Yet in their feeding bowls were also various "chunks of meat" and "bones." They, I fear, were even more hopeless than those adults.

"Look, this is the Beast Cult. Is this the power you expect? Is this the immortality you desire?"

Inside a temporary tent, the assembled great nobles, archbishops, and archmages watched this scene, some angry, others shocked.

Princess Dai Niya pointed at the scene in the mirror and asked them so bluntly.

Is this the future you crave?

Her gaze swept one by one over the "big shots" here; those able to stand here at this time were basically the big shots of the various factions in Radiant City.

"I know some of you have already established some contact with them."

Dai Niya raised her hand, stopping these nobles from making excuses.

Heh, without the backing of people like you, they would never have developed to this extent.

I know you have been in contact with them all along, and even many of your children have thrown themselves into it, but how many of you have truly made up your minds to take this step personally?

The better one lives, the smaller one's courage often is.

"The promises of cultists will only ever show you the good parts; I do not expect some of you to completely change your stance right now. I just want to ask those people: is this future truly what you expect? Have you really prepared for a life of scraping by like wild beasts, only to be eaten by the strong one day?"

The promises the Beast Cult can offer are probably higher positions (if the revolution succeeds, we will make you dukes!), greater power, better bodies, and longer lives; the Beast Cult can indeed deliver these things.

But will they tell these big shots who lack for nothing that they will obtain everything in the state of "stray dogs"?

Once one truly steps onto this path, accepting beast blood and beast power, with values twisted and all retreat cut off, one naturally cannot stop anymore.

But these high-ranking, powerful old rogues, with their excessively luxurious lives, how could they easily take this step?

Most who have dealings with the Beast Cult probably only remain at the stage of waiting and watching.

"After our people begin the attack, can you broadcast this scene to the public Great Mirror Demon?" Dai Niya directly ordered the small Mirror Demon beside her, preparing to reveal this scene.

The "public live broadcast" has been stopped now because combat is imminent, and we worry that spies might see it and directly contact the underground cultists; although such cross-labyrinth communication methods seem very difficult, they are not entirely impossible.

"Your Highness... I support it." The old city lord stroked his beard, understood the Princess's decision, and although a bit uneasy, directly expressed his firm support.

Revealing the true form of the Beasts to ordinary citizens would, to a certain extent, cause the spread of Beast-related knowledge, and could even cause a certain range of "Beast Contamination." But this also gave the citizens some understanding of them, knowing exactly what kind of creatures they are.

Leaving aside the distant future, just seeing these man-eating monsters right underground, merely by conquering the underground ruins, completely eradicating the Beast Cult, and reinforcing the seal of the Evil God, would gain widespread approval from the citizens.