Gospel of Blood

Chapter 404: Charlotte's Guidance

The blood divine power surged, and Charlotte looked down at the believers gathered around the altar.

She saw the believers prostrate on the ground in excitement and heard them fervently chanting praises to her. The collective worship of thousands of people created a thunderous sound.

At that moment, Charlotte felt as if she had become the ruler of the world.

Power is intoxicating, even for Gods.

With the support of the blood divine power and the faith network, Charlotte felt a clear connection with these thousands of believers.

If she wished, she could, at any moment, “consume” the bloodline power of these believers through the faith network.

If she wished, she could, at any moment, use the blood divine power either to cut off distant mountains or to flatten vast forests.

This was no illusion…

Because, at this moment, Charlotte had entered the state of True Ancestor’s Liberation!

With the divine flame burning, her control over the blood divine power had never been smoother. It no longer felt like a formidable force beyond reach but like obedient and easily manipulated magic.

To make an analogy, her battle against the Flame Demon Valaroka two years ago with True Ancestor’s Liberation was like an ordinary person fighting with a gun. Now, she felt like a professional soldier.

With the same power and divine might, if she faced Valaroka now, Charlotte felt she could directly defeat it instead of allowing it to escape back to its seal.

This was the change brought about by the “divine flame.”

A true “Demigod” could perfectly harness divine power, not just control it crudely through the Gospel of Blood!

However, Charlotte could also feel the rapid consumption of divine power.

Although the rate had slowed significantly compared to her past crude usage, it was still not negligible.

But Charlotte did not stop the True Ancestor’s Liberation.

Sometimes, personally displaying “divine miracles” is necessary for a God.

With a slight thought, Charlotte’s blood divine power surged. She spoke softly, her majestic and ethereal voice resonating in the hearts of the believers. ＲαΝȎ𐌱ΕS̈

“My believers…”

“The Gods stir from their slumber, heralding the end of peace.”

“In the boundless shadow soon to engulf all, embrace the darkness… and become one with it.”

“Place thy trust in me, and together… we shall forge a new order.”

…

Charlotte’s voice was ethereal and otherworldly.

With the support of the blood divine power, her words carried a mysterious force, an advanced version of the bloodborne’s innate charm magic and majesty spell.

Charlotte was not good at speeches or emotional appeals, but in a world with extraordinary power, mental strength could change everything.

She did not say much more, but she infused her will into her voice.

Every word she spoke contained more information, reflecting her recent thoughts on her religious doctrine.

The core was darkness and order.

These messages would enter the believers’ hearts as they listened, leaving an indelible mark.

At the same time, they would draw out the believers’ deepest memories and merge with them, using their faith in her to shape logically coherent beliefs and wills around “darkness” and “order.”

In simpler terms, what Charlotte was doing now was essentially imprinting a “thought seal” in the believers’ minds, which could be considered “brainwashing.”

However, this “thought seal” or “brainwashing” was not forced but subtly deepened and reinforced their faith in her.

It was more of a guided “indoctrination.”

And the content of this “indoctrination” was Charlotte’s core doctrine.

In essence, Charlotte was planting seeds centered on “darkness” and “order”, then using divine power to catalyze and guide them, letting deeper doctrines and creeds grow from the believers’ hearts…

As for what would grow, Charlotte did not know. She could only guide the general direction around “darkness” and “order”, ensuring the core principles were maintained.

After all, the Gods and faith in this world were different from the fantasy worlds of her previous life, with fewer restrictions. She could do things her way, as long as the results weren’t too extreme.

Around the altar, the praying believers entered a rather peculiar state as Charlotte’s ethereal voice resonated.

With Charlotte’s words, they felt a powerful will and a vast amount of information flooding into their hearts.

Their eyes gradually glazed over as they recalled various experiences from their lives.

At the forefront, the werewolf Luff experienced the same.

He “saw” scenes…

His dark past of being enslaved after his tribe was destroyed by professional mercenaries due to insufficient strength…

The memories of awakening extraordinary power, rebelling with his tribe, killing the slave traders, and reclaiming freedom in blood and tears…

Being hunted, hiding with his tribe, witnessing the darkness and brutality of the extraordinary world, feeling the helplessness of weakness and the desire for power…

Being saved by Sebastian, becoming a member of the Rose Society, bringing order to Borde’s underground world, and successfully protecting more and more of his kin…

Various memories floated in Luff’s mind, strange and colorful.

Gradually, under Charlotte’s mental guidance through the blood divine power, his understanding of “darkness” and “order” deepened…

Luff was not the only one, the other believers were similarly affected.

Even Sebastian, Charlotte’s contracted blood servant, fell into contemplation under her divine power.

Due to the numerous believers and the continuous manipulation of divine power, Charlotte didn’t know what the believers saw or thought during her “guidance”, but she noticed that under the spread of divine power, the believers all fell into contemplation, followed by sudden realization and determined expressions.

As the power in her words gradually dissipated, the expressions of the believers around the altar became even more fervent.

“Darkness… order… Great One, I understand! We will follow you! Embrace the darkness, become the darkness, master the darkness!”

“We will follow you! In the coming chaotic era, we will overthrow the old order and reshape a new one!”

In front of the altar, the werewolf Luff shouted excitedly, his face full of fervor.

“Embrace the darkness, become the darkness, master the darkness!”

“Overthrow the old order, reshape the new order!”

Further away, thousands of believers knelt down, their voices deafening.

Seeing the believers like this, Charlotte knew she had succeeded.

Though she didn’t know exactly what her believers had imagined under her “guidance”, it was certain that the doctrine centered on “darkness” and “order” had been planted.

As for what kind of doctrine would grow, that depended on what the believers had imagined.

Charlotte, though not deeply probing, could guess roughly. After all, the core was still the seed she had planted in the believers’ hearts.

However…

Sebastian, what’s your situation?

Charlotte’s gaze subtly shifted to a certain flame elf beside the werewolf Luff, who was also kneeling on the ground, his expression extremely fervent, his voice trembling with excitement.

“I see… I see… So this is your true will…”

“Sebastian has understood, Sebastian will not disappoint your expectations, and will follow you to the ends of the world!”

Charlotte: …

Goodness…

This guidance was meant for the believers, but even Sebastian, who had never truly believed, was affected?

Charlotte knew Sebastian had never truly worshipped her. He merely saw her as his master and offered his loyalty without reservation.

But at this moment, it seemed that the divine power Charlotte used for guidance was too strong, and even this “fake believer” was influenced, showing a look of sudden realization and deep understanding.

Tidal waves of praise and prayers came, as the believers bowed down to Charlotte in unison.

Charlotte felt the connection between herself and them growing stronger.

The tone of faith was set, and Charlotte felt it was about time.

After a moment’s thought, she manipulated the divine power again and spoke majestically.

“From now on, the name of the True Ancestor shall be hidden. My name shall be Nyx.”

Upon hearing Charlotte’s words, the believers bowed down again and fervently prayed under Luff’s lead.

“Praise you! Great God Nyx!”

“Ruler of Darkness, Incarnation of Order!”

Listening to the fervent chants of the believers, Charlotte felt a bit subtle.

How to put it… though the believers were fervent and moved under the influence of divine power, the initiator of all this couldn’t help but feel a bit ashamed hearing such cheers and titles.

Taking a deep breath, Charlotte suppressed her shame and manipulated the blood divine power again.

This time, she gently waved her hand, bestowing the 『Divine Blessing』 upon the believers most closely connected to her faith network at the front of the altar.

Crimson divine power enveloped these believers, radiating brilliant light.

The next moment, these believers felt a mysterious and vast power entering their bodies, accompanied by corresponding spells.

No, more accurately, divine spells.

The myth that Gods can grant divine spells to believers, turning them into their clergy, held true for Charlotte, now a Demigod.

After becoming a Demigod, the ability of 『Divine Blessing』 had changed, allowing her to establish a deeper connection with believers through blessings.

These were the clergy.

Essentially, this was a variant of the weakened version of blood servant contracts, allowing them to borrow her power to some extent.

Of course, Charlotte’s divine power was limited, and through Divine Blessing, she could currently grant these “priests” only two divine spells, both derived from the bloodborne’s innate magic.

One was Dark Healing, capable of healing injuries.

The other was Mental Soothe, able to calm the soul and mind.