Shrouded Seascape

Devoid of light pollution at sea, the seemingly boundless starry sky was visible to everyone. The sea breeze swept across the dark skies overhead, but there was not a single cloud in sight.

The stunning array of stars glimmered like scattered diamonds across the black canvas.

The moon, the largest sphere visible from Earth, hung like a silver searchlight in the middle of the sky. Its silvery sheen bathing everything in the waters below, including the Narwhale in its glow.

On the deck, the Fhtagnists were clad in black robes as they gathered in a circle around a group of terrified pirates, whose faces were painted with expressions of pure dread.

"Followers of Fhtagn!" Anna's voice rang out in the air, and her blood-red cloak billowed around her as she stood at the ship's bow. Facing the crowd, she raised her golden dagger into the air. "Last night, the Great One delivered a divine message to me!"

Due to her action, her sleeve had fallen back to reveal the gruesome, sickly green wound on her right arm. Looking similar to a burn scar, it showed no signs of healing despite the passing days. In fact, it was now riddled with swollen, oozing blisters and looked ghastly.

However, the scar was sacred in the eyes of the followers. It represented the blessing of Fhtagn and also His authority in the form of Anna.

"Tonight! He will bestow His blessings upon all of us. Those chosen will earn His attention, and when they pass from this world, their spirits will not fade into oblivion. They shall be granted entrance into Fhtagn's divine kingdom!" Anna proclaimed.

"And this is only the beginning!" Anna's words continued. "If we remain steadfast, our Almighty God Fhtagn will hear your desires and make them come to pass!"

The promise ignited the souls of those present as a wave of fervent cries erupted from the crowd as they lifted their weapons high.

Under the feverish influence, everyone seemed to have entered a state of collective unconsciousness, like a herd of sheep mindlessly following their shepherd.

"Now, let the ceremony begin!" Anna declared as she lowered her golden dagger and pointed it directly at the group of pirates bound tightly at the center of the deck.

Sensing the amiss atmosphere, the captured pirates thrashed against their restraints. One of them desperately shouted, "Waxaan!! Kaa baryayaa, runtii waxaan ogahay inay—"

The pirate's language was foreign to everyone aboard. However, his fear was evident from the raw panic and pleading in his tone.

Schlunk, schlunk.

The sickening sound of flesh being pierced echoed across the deck, and the deck rapidly descended into silence.

When the agonizing screams finally ceased, the devotees followed Anna's precise instructions and began to arrange the severed parts of the bodies across the blood-slicked planks of the deck.

Holding a femur and carefully placing it atop a heart, Roy couldn't help but let his thoughts run.

I remember this ritual. But this time, it's bigger and more refined.

No matter what's the purpose of this ritual, it's definitely not some divine message as per her claims. She had certainly used this ritual on Li Lu before.

Anna's lips parted, and the previous alien, jarring language filled the air. Eight followers prostrated themselves around the circle; their arms outstretched as if embracing some unseen force.

Under the envious gazes of the crowd, the first batch of chosen devotees stepped forward and moved into the heart of the circle.

The scene that had once unfolded with Li Lu was now being repeated on them. As Anna's voice reached a crescendo, a sudden unnerving, viscous aura slithered up from the depths of the ocean.

Everyone present felt it. Instinct compelled them to drop to their knees and press their foreheads desperately to the bloodstained deck.

This ritual was unlike any that the High Priestess had performed before. For the first time, they could feel the sheer magnitude of their god's power and how insignificant humans were in His presence.

A strange, collective sense of auditory and visual hallucinations swept over the congregation. They could feel the Great One standing beside the ship, watching them with cold indifference.

Even Anna herself shivered uncontrollably at the sensation. However, her heart was also pumping with joy. She had made the right choice to sail into the Indian Ocean. The location had a great influence on the ritual's effectiveness. Ɍå₦ȎΒƐ§

Just as suddenly as it came, the suffocating presence dissipated. Everyone on the deck gradually lifted their heads and turned to look at the dozen people in the heart of the ritual circle.

Clink.

Anna raised the sacred Fhtagn pendants high above her head. One by one, she handed them out, her eyes glittering with anticipation for what was to follow.

Suddenly, in unison, those who received the pendants fell to their knees. Holding the silver pendant in their hands, they showered them with fervent kisses.

"My God, I'm willing to sacrifice my all for You!"

"Praise to the Great One! The Great One is omnipotent! All shall wither and fade, but the Great One shall persist!

"Oh God, we beseech You to save Your people! Our bodies are so feeble and weak!

Seeing the pure, untainted fervor in their wild eyes, a smile played upon Anna's lips. Her goal had been achieved. Belief in Fhtagn equated to belief in Her—Fhtagn's human representative. By this simple equation, she would soon command a horde of fervent followers, a force of unshakeable loyalty.

Anna crouched down beside a young male follower and patted his shoulder. "For God Fhtagn, speak now. Reveal the deepest secret you've kept buried in your heart."

Holding the silver pendant in his hands, the young man froze for a split moment. Shame flushed his face as he said, "High Priestess, actually, I've been dishonoring you in my thoughts every single night. I'm a sinner, and I deserve death."

Instead of anger, Anna nodded in satisfaction. The problem of the hidden traitor among her ranks had practically solved itself.

Once someone had devoted their entire soul to God Fhtagn and sees Him as their only purpose in life, any prior allegiance could be cast aside without hesitation.

One after another, Anna gave the same command to each believer. Every single one of them divulged the secret that they kept in their hearts.

Some opportunists among them even wept as they confessed that their previous faith was a disguise.

They had long harbored thoughts of escape when they realized they had joined a cult that demanded human sacrifice, but they stayed out of fear and the fact that there were no escape routes.

"There's no need to apologize to me, my brothers and sisters. You now bear the mark of Fhtagn. The Great One has forgiven you."

While Anna continued to speak to those devotees, Roy remained on his knees in the crowd; his mind swirled with shock and disbelief.

It was only now that he realized how foolish the IMF had been to send only himself and Agent 8 for this infiltration mission.

The headquarters had made a grave mistake in their assessment of Anna.

She was definitely not just a cult leader who performed all sorts of rituals and sacrifices. She was like a deadly virus that had infiltrated human society, and if they, the white blood cells meant to protect humanity, didn't act soon, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Everything could come crashing down.

Roy made a firm decision in his heart. His mission to observe and record her activities would cease from this very second. Gathering intelligence about her or finding her origins and motives was now meaningless.

Be it the terrifying aura that she had summoned moments ago or these people spilling their most personal confessions without hesitation, they were all indications that Anna was a deadly threat that was no less dangerous than an Alpha-class Uncontrollable Anomaly.

His new mission was clear—he had to get this information to the headquarters. The IMF needed to deploy its most elite task force to eliminate her.

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