"Ahhh!"
The Hidden Sage's charm took effect. Ma'am M rolled and wailed on the ground, her beautiful face now filled with absolute agony.
Her body showed signs of collapse.
Deep cuts appeared across her fair, smooth arms. The wounds were extremely deep, with only minimal flesh still connecting the pieces, struggling to maintain the body's integrity.
"Hehe..."
Watching all this, Silas felt no pity.
Instead, satisfaction surged in his heart. This satisfaction even surpassed the pain from his abdominal wound, making him laugh out loud.
Serves you right. Who told you to mess with me?
There was no time for sentiment. He forced his injured body to support itself and stood up unsteadily.
Then he drew his revolver from its holster and aimed it at Ma'am M's head.
"Bang! Bang!"
Demon-hunting bullets shrieked as they entered Ma'am M's skull.
One shot, two shots!
Ma'am M quickly stopped struggling and screaming.
The next moment, her body began to shrivel and shrink, finally transforming into a paper cutout figure.
The surface of the paper figure was covered in rust-like red, wrinkled as if weathered for years.
Damn it, Shepherds really aren't this easy to kill!
Silas had anticipated this. He raised his gun, scanning the room, and easily spotted Ma'am M standing in the ritual array.
The wounds on her body had healed somewhat, but were still quite visible.
Though her expression had regained calm, pain and madness still lingered in her eyes. Her mental state had become extremely poor.
"The Hidden Sage! It was actually the Hidden Sage... You've defied the Lord's will. This is blasphemy," Ma'am M's voice became hoarse and shrill.
Her golden eyes were like the hottest coals in a furnace, her body nearly falling apart completely.
"Oh, and then what?" Silas met her gaze fearlessly.
As if she hadn't given up hope, Ma'am M looked at Silas and said, "One last chance. Cooperate with me obediently. Don't forget about your sister..."
You still dare threaten me with Cecilia?
"Bang!"
Silas answered with his revolver.
After practicing so long at work, his aim had greatly improved. From several meters away, this shot hit Ma'am M's body, making her sway as if struck by a hammer.
"Very well," Ma'am M muttered viciously. "Remember, your sister died because of you!"
She raised her right hand as if grasping something invisible, then squeezed hard, crushing it.
Next, she tilted her head with a cruel smile, as if waiting for the sound of Cecilia's body exploding in the distance. But moments later, her expression grew even uglier.
"What's wrong? Didn't turn out as you imagined? What a shame. Is there something wrong with your Lord? Hahahaha!"
Silas looked at Ma'am M's twisted face and laughed unrestrained, his satisfaction overflowing.
You think all my efforts were for nothing? It was all for this moment!
"Very well," Ma'am M took a deep breath.
She picked up the bottle filled with liquid.
"Splash..."
The blood-red liquid poured entirely onto the ground.
The liquid spread along the patterns, and the entire ritual array began emitting a strange glow.
Seeing this scene, Silas's heart jolted.
Could it be that even if I don't drink this thing, pouring it on the array still works?
Ma'am M paid no attention to his thoughts. She lowered her head and devoutly, tenderly kissed the bright red rose ring.
"Praise the Lord," she said.
Silas noticed that after kissing the ring, the wounds on Ma'am M's body seemed to heal faster. Before long, only shallow scars remained.
She's getting serious!
Silas didn't hesitate.
His right hand formed a fist and struck the Clockwork Clown at his chest like a hammer blow.
"Ahahahaha!"
Piercing laughter immediately filled the entire room. He gained 3 minutes of high-speed movement and body control.
Almost simultaneously, he saw Ma'am M raise her hand toward him, forming a gun gesture with her fingers.
"Bang," she said.
Silas's hair stood on end. His body moved before his brain, dodging left with all his strength.
He heard a strong gust of wind whistle past his ear. The invisible bullet hit the floor where he'd been standing, leaving a bullet dent in the boards.
"Bang."
He'd just landed and hadn't yet stabilized when Ma'am M sent another air bullet. He could only keep dodging.
No good. This is too passive!
Silas seized a breathing opportunity, took a deep breath, and shouted at Ma'am M in ancient Hermes: "Die!"
The gift he received upon becoming a "Listener": Profane Words!
"Ah!"
Ma'am M stopped accordingly. She showed a pained expression, furrowing her beautiful brows, her hands involuntarily strangling her own neck.
The effect is better than before... Well, yes, her mind was just tormented by the Hidden Sage.
Hearing Profane Words now must be especially delightful...
Silas understood.
Seeing the weakness, he naturally didn't hold back. Seizing the opportunity, he shouted again:
"The Lord's gaze shall ever remain in the mortal realm, bringing the grace of corruption to His believers. Thus blessed are those who believe in Him..."
This time, he didn't just shout brief words.
Instead, following the prayers from the human-skin scripture, he recited to Ma'am M in ancient Hermes using the authority of "Profane Words"!
Blasphemous and frenzied sounds immediately filled the entire room!
"Ahhh!"
Black veins appeared on Ma'am M's body surface. These veins kept swelling, as if about to burst out at any moment.
She screamed, her form becoming flat, finally transforming into a paper figure again.
Another substitute!
But her substitutes can't be infinite, just like that witch!
Silas thought, also encouraging himself.
Just then, he suddenly foresaw this scene: Ma'am M flashing out from flames, appearing right in front of him.
Danger!
He immediately retreated, raising his gun. Sure enough, a burst of flames erupted before his eyes.
If he'd still been standing there, he would've been immediately consumed by fire.
"Bang!"
Silas fired another shot, hitting Ma'am M in the flames. His revolver had used four demon-hunting bullets.
Only two rounds remained in the cylinder now. Given the current situation, he had no chance to reload.
How much longer until Cecilia arrives?
Silas swiftly retreated several steps, widening the distance from Ma'am M while thinking.
With both sides suffering losses, Cecilia counted as a powerful fresh force.
Moreover, she held a Beyonder item from the Witch pathway. If used properly, it might have a good effect on Ma'am M.
"Cough, cough!"
Just then, Silas suddenly covered his mouth without warning, coughing aloud. His forehead quickly became burning hot.
He'd fallen ill!
Ma'am M stood in place, watching him, a cold arc forming at her lips.
At her feet, liquid had filled the ritual array. The entire array began radiating a glimmering light.
۞۞۞۞
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