Chapter 491: Partners

Previously, no one knew how the evil gods in human minds came into being.

But now, Miraki, standing on high, had rationalized everything and told them the terrifying truth:

"I gave birth to them all! I forcibly bred with those evil gods, then cast them into your minds, where they were born!"

Everyone was sick to their stomachs. Long ago, the birth of half-orcs had already shattered everyone's worldview, causing widespread horror, scandal, and controversy across the land. At that time, some human nobles with peculiar tastes were even able to breed with tall, three-to-four-meter-tall green-skinned female orc captives, giving birth to half-orcs—a groundbreaking mixed-blood species.

Moreover, according to some whispers, the creation of half-orcs was by no means accidental! Some human nobles, seeking novelty, had previously even engaged in acts with magical beasts... But now, this high school boy standing before them, how could he possibly have gone so far!?

Everyone trembled, their spines chilled, utterly shocked.

Those were evil gods! Evil gods!!! They were not living creatures, not even orcs or magical beasts! Their disgusting tentacles, monstrous slimy eyeballs were terrifyingly repulsive, yet this boy had managed to lay hands on even *them*! Just how twisted were his aesthetics and tastes!?

Everyone in the entire district was nauseated, their expressions blank, chests heaving violently. Just thinking about it made some vomit profusely. Most outrageously, had this resulted in a half-human, half-evil hybrid species?!

"How could such a twisted person exist in the world? History has truly been made!"

"The Great Demon King! It's all because of him that our town of Cade suffered such a horrifying great riot!"

"Evil gods are mostly spiritual entities. Is this a soul interaction? Can new life be generated from souls?"

Many even felt their legs go weak. Falling into the hands of such a Great Demon King, like the dozen or so demons earlier, would be incredibly difficult. It was hard to imagine what fate awaited them!

"Hahahaha..." Miraki burst into laughter, looking down from his elevated position at the panicked, terrified townspeople. "Here's a riddle for you: guess who among you also has seeds I've sown in your minds?"

"Go on, be paranoid! Wonder if this unlucky fate will befall you! If you too will give birth to an evil god!"

He strode away resolutely, turning and disappearing into the shadows.

Thump, thump, thump....

He left the crowd that feared him, walking alone through the blood-soaked alley.

"I feel fear, solidifying in my blood." Miraki swallowed, his voice hoarse. He felt the fear of the entire town transfer from those dozen or so people onto him. He had plundered it, making them his believers. And he, too, seemed to undergo a qualitative change as that fear gathered.

The Dream God grew stronger. Its irresistible characteristic grew even more potent. Even people nearby became more susceptible to infection just by approaching. This was a powerful passive ability, causing those in the vicinity to shed their darkness and inner demons, transforming into the weakest evil gods.

He didn't know how wide its range was. But he sensed it had already begun to spread among large groups in the town. Ten? A hundred? A thousand? New evil gods would still be born in the town; new enemies might even increase...

"But I am the only companion left; I can only face this alone."

"Wait!" A voice came from behind him.

It was Xia and her group of companions, running quickly, panting heavily, their faces flushed from the strenuous exercise. "This style is indeed like you! Our hero has truly returned in triumph—though it's a pity he's a pervert."

Miraki stared blankly, turning his head. "How are you...?"

The girl class monitor smiled, "To not let others bear the hatred and suffering, but to shoulder all the pain and infamy yourself, in exchange for the fear of others... This is indeed the best, and also the most foolish, method. But it's truly like you, Miraki."

The alluring senior girl pursed her lips and comforted him, "Which teenage boy isn't lustful? Who doesn't make loudly rebellious, explosively shameful statements in public? Who doesn't challenge the authority of adults? This... this is youth!"

"You guys..." Miraki was stunned into a daze.

Xia pursed her lips, hesitated, and then her face suddenly flushed. "We're already used to it. For example, when you boldly led us to secretly look at those books—that was truly explosively shameful!"

Comforting voices chimed in one after another.

Everyone fell silent for a moment, clutching the wrinkled books in their hands. "If doing this—being insulted and scorned by everyone—is for gaining power and becoming a hero to save the world, then it doesn't matter. After all, becoming a hero and a strong person is our dream..."

"So, what's our next step?"

"Get stronger and find Adrian, who is committing evil everywhere!"

"So, how about we go to the next city and blow up public toilets?"

"Good idea."

The group pulled Miraki along. "Whose youth isn't rebellious? Let's sing loudly together on the path of perversion!"

Elsewhere in a mountain forest, a group of girls were having a hot pot meal indoors, surrounded by a world of ice and snow. Pan Xuexian, while in deep sleep, seemed to twitch her brow, saw some images, and a smile touched the corners of her lips as she opened her eyes.

"What wonderful dream did you have?" asked Lin Hongfeng.

"I had a vague premonition that an organization similar to ours has emerged, filled with faith, following a single will!" Pan Xuexian suddenly laughed. "Sisters! Let's continue our warm-up with ten thousand push-ups!"

"Good idea!"

"Whose youth isn't passionate? Let's surge forward together on the path of muscle!"

Xu Zhi's lips curved into a smile, tinged with a hint of oddity. But it must be said, Miraki truly possessed great potential. The Dream God was able to choose this seemingly weak boy, who could devise such a strategy and turn the tide completely.

"It seems the panic outbreak has been suppressed," Moemei said, a smile touching her lips.

Xu Zhi shook his head, as if seeing through the sky itself. "However, it's merely suppressed. What's meant to come, will still come... The longer you suppress something, the longer it accumulates, the stronger the rebound. There are no eternal dynasties or eras; everything is flowing with the great tide of history."

Moemei fell silent, a little choked up. "Perhaps... it wouldn't have rebounded normally, but the winter in the demon realm, and the widespread fear, made them follow the current of the times, completely igniting the panic."

Xu Zhi smiled. Indeed, it was a matter of timing, location, and people. Mainly, winter had arrived at the orchard, and widespread fear was inevitable. Even he, a farmer, was helpless, just as fruit farmers find it hard to resist natural disasters like severe winters and hailstorms that can lead to total loss.

What made Xu Zhi most certain of the evil gods' rise was having just checked the weather forecast: a cold wave, mixed with rain, was about to descend upon Dongcheng. In such weather, it seemed destined to become a complete disaster.