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Chapter 382: 382
"That won’t work," the book-holding priest said, his tone calm but firm. "Our past actions have already tarnished our reputation. The people trust us as little as the Chief does. If we are to undermine him, we need someone above reproach—someone respected, admired, and ambitious."
The first priest tilted his head, intrigued. "You have someone in mind?"
The book-holding priest fixed his gaze on him, his meaning clear without needing to say a word.
"Sknull," the first priest said slowly, his voice almost reverent. "Skag second-in-command."
The other priest nodded. "Sknull is perfect. He’s ambitious, He wasted no time laying his claim once it was confirmed that Skag was dead, a hero to the people, and he doesn’t hesitate to challenge the Chief’s authority. He’s always been at odds with the Chief’s leadership, and unlike the fear the people feel for the Chief, Sknull has earned their love."
The first priest waved the others away, signaling that only the book-holding priest should remain. As the others filed out, he turned his full attention to their new plan.
Sknull, the war hero, had a history of returning from battles with hybrid corpses in tow. On one occasion, he had even captured a hybrid alive, claiming he intended to keep it as a pet. His daring exploits and contributions to advancing the ratmen’s technology had cemented his place in their hearts. His use of resources to aid engineers in experimenting with hybrids, even against the Chief’s objections, had made him a symbol of progress and innovation.
The first priest smirked, the wheels of his plan turning. Sknull’s hunger for power and his discontent with the Chief’s rule made him the ideal candidate to tip the scales.
"We’ll approach him carefully," the first priest said, his tone measured. "Sknull is ambitious, but he’s also cunning. He won’t trust us easily."
"But we’ll offer him something irresistible," the book-holding priest replied, his voice filled with anticipation.
The first priest nodded, his chilling smile returning. "Yes, the Chief’s position and Life. His authority will be our gift to Sknull—packaged neatly as a divine mandate. In exchange, Sknull will serve our goddess’s purpose."
While the priests were talking, they seemed to forget that the walls had ears. Hidden in the shadows, a ratman watched them intently, his keen eyes fixed on their every movement as he listened to their conversation.
As soon as the priests departed, the hidden ratman carefully retreated, his movements slow and deliberate. Once he was far enough, he broke into a full sprint, racing to report what he had heard to his leader.
The cavernous chamber he entered was dimly lit by the eerie glow of bioluminescent fungi, their pale light casting flickering shadows on the twisted walls. At its center sat Sknull, a hulking figure of muscle and sinew, perched upon a throne fashioned from twisted metal and bones. His yellow eyes gleamed with a predatory intensity as he regarded the breathless messenger.
The ratman, panting and trembling with fear, knelt before him. "Sknull! You must hear this!" he stammered.
Sknull motioned for the ratman to approach, his voice low and commanding. "Speak, creature. What news do you bring?"
The ratman relayed the overheard conversation, his voice trembling as he spoke. "The priests... they claim to have contacted a goddess—a higher power. They say she has chosen us, destined us to rule."
Sknull’s eyes gleamed as a flicker of greed kindled within him. A goddess? A higher power? He thought to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. He had tasted power before—true power—and he hungered for more. The thought of standing above all others, even the goblin mages who had long looked down on his kind, was intoxicating.
But alongside the greed, a flicker of anger flared within him. Did those fools truly believe I was so predictable? So easily manipulated?
A guttural laugh rumbled from Sknull’s chest as he reached for a skull-shaped cup, crafted from the head of another ratman. Thick, purple liquid swirled inside. He downed it in one long gulp, savoring the taste as he prepared for the priests’ inevitable visit.
It didn’t take long for one of his servants to announce the arrival of the priests. n𝚘vp𝚞𝚋.com
The two priests approached the throne cautiously. The first priest, his demeanor friendly, greeted him. "It’s always a pleasure to see you, Sknull," he said, his voice smooth and disarming.
Sknull chuckled, his deep laugh echoing in the chamber. "Indeed. But knowing you, Priest, you never visit without an agenda."
The priest smiled faintly, accepting a skull-shaped cup handed to him by one of Sknull’s servants. He downed the drink casually, locking eyes with Sknull. "No need for pretense, my friend. I know you have ears everywhere, so I’ll get to the point. You’ve already heard why we’re here."
Sknull’s laugh was sharper this time, a sound laced with mockery. "Oh, I’ve heard. Whispers of divine purpose, a goddess’s grand design. Tell me, Priest, what does this so-called goddess want from me?"
The first priest hesitated for only a moment before responding, his tone serious. "A higher power has chosen us, Sknull. She promises to elevate us beyond imagination—to make us rulers, conquerors."
Sknull leaned forward, his mechanical legs creaking ominously. "And what does she demand in return?"
"Devotion," the priest said carefully. "Obedience. A willingness to sacrifice."
Sknull threw his head back and laughed, the sound booming through the chamber. "Sacrifice? I’ve already sacrificed. My body—" he gestured to his mechanical limbs, partially fused with grotesque hybrid flesh—"was given to the machine. My mind embraced what we now call the ’dark practices.’ And still, you ask for more?"
The priest pressed on, undeterred. "The goddess demands loyalty, Sknull. She promises you unimaginable power and glory in return."
Sknull’s expression darkened, his yellow eyes narrowing. "And what of the Chief? Does he know of this divine plan of yours?"
The priest hesitated, but the answer was inevitable. "The Chief is a hindrance, a relic of the past. He must be removed."
At this, Sknull’s lips curled into a predatory grin. "Removed?"
Before the priest could respond, Sknull stood, the full extent of his modified body revealed. His legs, grotesquely fused with hybrid flesh and mechanical parts, moved with an eerie fluidity. His hands, similarly altered, glinted with sharp, metallic claws.
The priests took an instinctive step back, but Sknull kept his gaze locked on them.
"You called my spies ’ears,’ so let’s go with that," Sknull said, his voice low and dangerous. "It didn’t escape my notice that you visited the Chief first. Now, when he doesn’t agree, you come to me. Tell me, Priest, if I’m so important to your goddess, why wasn’t I the one she visited first?"
The first priest, sensing the danger, spoke cautiously. "Sknull, we... we believe you are destined for greatness. You are the only one who can truly understand and carry out the goddess’s plan."
Sknull scoffed, taking a step closer to the priest. "Destiny? What nonsense. The only destiny I care for is one where I hold power in my hands and control over all I see."
He leaned forward, his mechanical hand flexing menacingly. "Now, Priest, let’s talk about this goddess of yours. What can she offer me that I can’t already take for myself?"
The priest, trembling with fear, stammered out a response, but Sknull wasn’t listening. His mind was already at work, crafting a plan to elevate himself to the pinnacle of ratman society.
"You’ll be useful to me, priest," Sknull said, his voice dripping with menace. "But remember, I’m the one pulling the strings here."
The priest nodded nervously, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Sknull took a step back, a cruel smile curling across his lips. "Now, as my first order—and the beginning of a new era for our people—you will spread the word that the goddess demands a change of leadership through combat."
He jabbed a clawed finger toward the priest, his voice thunderous. "It’s up to you to convince our people that this decree comes directly from her divine will. Make them believe."
The priest’s face turned ashen, but he nodded. "Yes, Sknull. It will be done."
Sknull’s smirk widened, a twisted expression of triumph. "Good. Now, get out of my sight."
As the priest hurried out of the chamber, Sknull turned his gaze to the shadows, his eyes glinting with cold calculation. He had just taken the first decisive step toward absolute power. Soon, the ratmen would bow to his will, and the so-called goddess would become nothing more than a tool for his ambition.
The priest’s mind raced as he left Sknull’s chamber. The plan was clear: incite chaos, sow discord, and claim dominance. But convincing the ratmen to embrace this radical upheaval would require cunning and zeal.
Summoning his fellow priests, he spoke with fervor. "The goddess has spoken!" he proclaimed, his eyes alight with fanaticism. "She demands a test of strength—a battle to determine the true leader of our people!"
The other priests exchanged uneasy glances. A battle? Why would the goddess demand such a thing?
