"..."
Herbert silently savored the moment, nodded, then poured the prepared hot water and skillfully plucked the feathers.
Given the circumstances, let's eat first.
What's done is done, I can't let it go to waste.
Kunkun must not die in vain!
"All the cuts made for you, all the supplements arranged just for you~"
Herbert hummed a tune, moving with practiced ease as he prepared.
Since Valentina cannot wake up for now, he would have to enjoy it alone.
"A reunion in my stomach~"
.
.
"The food is far from enough..."
Steven looked at the fish head with bits of rotten flesh left on it, estimated, and shook his head heavily.
Even though he had resolved to sacrifice himself to the unknown deity, in the moment, he hesitated.
That's human nature; once there's hope, decisions made in despair become uncertain again.
Steven hoped to struggle once more in his last moments.
"No fresh water, given my current state, I can only last three days at most."
He tried collecting water, but the dispersing mist didn't leave any dewdrop residue.
As for that freshwater lake that devoured his companions, Steven didn't dare to consider it.
The food could only sustain him for three days, and being already very weak, he needed a lot of energy to heal.
Especially, though his wrist wound had been dealt with simply, cauterized with a heated blade to barely stop the bleeding,
but it was just a temporary fix, the wound still risked reopening anytime, even showing signs of beginning to rot subtly.
Perhaps his constitution was strong enough, he hadn't caught a fever yet, but if weakness brought on a fever...
Then he might not even last three days.
Death's emissary followed him closely, like a shadow.
He must find a way out.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any boat to escape with.
With his survival skills, he could actually build a wooden boat for escape.
But the trees here were too hard.
Steven had tried to chop them, but the trunks were as hard as metal, impossible for him to cut in his current state.
The previous kindling was picked up from the ground.
And trying to swim to the opposite bank was clearly unrealistic, with dangerous creatures in the sea that could easily devour him.
He gathered some fallen branches nearby, intending to build himself an extremely simple shelter near the stakes.
When he returned from the sea to the Pure Land of the altar area, he was stunned.
Because there was a new building!
A simple shelter exactly as he imagined.
!!!
"This, this..."
Steven stood dumbfounded, staring at the building.
He clearly remembered that when he left, no such building existed!
Moreover, the building was exactly as he had envisioned it.
Am I dreaming?
Is this a divine miracle?
Has that deity heard my call?
This...
Excitement and shock were accompanied by fear for Steven.
What kind of existence could know his innermost thoughts and manifest them in reality?
A deity.
Only a deity could achieve such a feat.
Steven was not a devout believer.
He did not hold much reverence for the gods, only nominally professing belief in the Sun God.
In his heart, he was not particularly moved by the Divine Spirit and felt that the miracles preached by the Divine Spirit Church were just tricks to deceive believers.
But now he had truly seen it with his own eyes.
A miracle.
A miracle of something appearing out of thin air!
He knelt in front of the shelter, endlessly expressing his admiration.
He desperately hoped the Divine Spirit would respond to his prayers at this moment and guide him.
No matter who He was.
No matter what He wanted him to do.
Please reveal yourself!
But until the sun set and the dark enveloped the misty mountains again, Steven received no instructions.
The unknown Divine Spirit ignored his prayers.
"..."
This did not discourage Steven.
Having witnessed the miracle, he now had an intense fanaticism towards the Divine Spirit.
It's not that the deity cannot reply but that He is unwilling to acknowledge him.
His faith is not devout enough!
To prove his devotion, he dragged his wounded body before the stakes, praying and giving thanks continuously.
What Steven didn't notice was that as he worshiped that stake fervently... in the darkness, a special presence watched him.
Deep, indifferent eyes penetrated the light that protected the Pure Land, observing Steven's every move silently.
A feminine, gray centaur form appeared, looking translucent and ethereal.
Her face was full of vigor, her upper body clad in ancient-styled leather armor, carrying a longbow on her back, while her lower horse body was covered with heavy battle armor.
Furthermore, her four hooves weren't on the ground, but floating above.
After a moment, her gaze fell onto the stakes, glaring at the blood stains left, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes.
What on earth was that...
Why does it emit His aura?
Has He returned?
Or is that His new devotee?
After all this time, has He not completely departed?
He's returned now, and so openly announced it, does He want us to submit voluntarily?
Now, is that possible?
"..."
The centaur reflected silently, suddenly sensing faint water vapor drifting behind her, and hearing echoes of past laughter.
"Tch, Wine of Oblivion... that fellow running around again."
She knew that the being hiding in the lake had also arrived, intruding her territory without reservation.
Feeling dissatisfied, she glanced back but said nothing, disappearing in an instance.
Fine, let's observe first.
The aura is currently noticed only by her and the Wine of Oblivion... don't act rashly for now.
Even though His messenger has entered her domain and fleetingly occupied a section, it doesn't bother much.
It's tolerable.
Decide after those lurking souls also notice Him.
She won't be the first to act!
And after the centaur left, the ground where she stood slowly parted to reveal a half-human-sized eggshell protruding.
The eggshell cautiously observed for a while, then hesitantly emerged from the ground.
The bottom of the eggshell had a small hole broken, from which a long-scaled tail extended, supporting the shell as it moved.
The eggshell gazed at the stakes stained with Herbert's blood and the worshiping Steven, swaying slightly as if quite pleased.