Gospel of Blood

Yurst was clearly not expecting the Elder to suddenly mention him.

Under those piercing crimson gazes, even though he had mentally prepared himself, he couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

Awkwardly squeezing out a smile, Yurst swallowed hard and then, trying to appear as relaxed as possible, cautiously asked.

“Well… what does everyone want to know?”

“Everything!”

Duke Yorok cast a cold glance at him and said,

“We want to know everything!”

“When did you betray the clan, and when did you submit to the True Ancestor? And… what exactly does the True Ancestor intend to do?”

“Yurst, if you still consider yourself a proud Nez bloodborne, if you still acknowledge me as your elder, then confess everything you know!”

Yurst’s expression became complicated after hearing Duke Yorok’s words.

He sighed and said,

“Lord Yorok, you have always been a respected elder to me, before and now, and will continue to be in the future.”

“Becoming a follower of the True Ancestor was initially an accident. I must admit, even I was forced to submit to the True Ancestor at first.”

“However, as Lord Bardock mentioned, the current True Ancestor is indeed different from the one in our memories.”

“If I were to choose now, I believe I would willingly serve Her.”

“The reason is simple: because the current True Ancestor is truly a benevolent one. For the Nez Clan, which has lost divine protection, there is no better way to face the crisis brought by the Divinity Descent Day than to pledge loyalty to the current True Ancestor…”

As he spoke, Yurst paused and carefully looked at the Nez Clan members.

Seeing everyone seriously listening to him, Yurst felt slightly relieved.

He took a deep breath and continued.

“Everything… starts with the initial Returning Star Plan…”

…

It was evident that Yurst had thoroughly prepared for how to explain his allegiance to the True Ancestor to the clan.

No, to be more accurate, from the moment he realized the differences between Charlotte and the True Ancestor in his memory and decided to bring the clan over to the True Ancestor’s side, he had already planned how to persuade them.

Yurst did not hide many of his experiences after becoming the True Ancestor’s follower.

He shared everything: what he did for the True Ancestor, the True Ancestor’s current state, and the True Ancestor’s attitude towards the bloodborne.

Of course, he didn’t reveal that the True Ancestor was actually Charlotte de Castell.

He merely described the True Ancestor’s previous aid, the True Ancestor’s benevolent attitude toward the bloodborne during their interactions, and even attributed some events and actions of Charlotte to the True Ancestor.

Naturally, this included why the True Ancestor was different now.

“Hmm? Are you saying that… the True Ancestor has… lost Her memory?”

Upon hearing Yurst’s explanation, the Nez bloodbornes quickly grasped certain key points in his words.

They exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of doubt and wonder.

“Is that true?”

“Can Gods… also lose their memories?”

It was clear that even though the bloodborne possessed near-immortal lifespans, not all of them had a deep understanding of the divine.

Only those like Nice and Sebastian were exceptions.

At least… the fact that Gods could lose their memories was something many bloodbornes were hearing for the first time.

This did not include the dukes who had lived long enough, though.

Upon hearing Yurst’s words, several Nez Clan dukes were deep in thought.

“Lost… memories? Could it be… the rumors are true? The True Ancestor didn’t disappear but fell into eternal slumber after being besieged by Lord Casey and others?”

“If awakening from eternal slumber, then… perhaps it is indeed possible for the True Ancestor to be different now.”

The dukes whispered among themselves.

“Lord Robin, Lord Charles, do Gods… really lose their memories?”

Seeing their changing expressions, some mid and low-level bloodbornes couldn’t help but ask.

The Elder glanced at them and nodded.

“If a God awakens from ‘falling,’ they indeed lose their memories.”

“Then… then doesn’t that mean the True Ancestor could indeed be different from before?”

A clan member asked.

Elder Charles shook his head.

“It cannot be said entirely. The process of a God’s awakening is also a process of regaining their memories. As the God’s power recovers, so will their memories.”

With that, Elder Charles turned to Yurst again.

“Yurst, even if the True Ancestor has lost Her memories, she should have recovered quite a bit of power and memory by now, right?”

Yurst nodded.

“Indeed, since I submitted to the True Ancestor, she has undergone several periods of sleep, each time emerging stronger, with more memories restored.”

“But what excites me the most is that even after regaining part of Her memories, the True Ancestor has not reverted to the terrifying figure of the past.”

“Furthermore, when I cautiously broached the topic, she even expressed confusion about Her past brutal actions.”

“Elders, respected ones, brothers, and sisters, the True Ancestor is indeed different now. If it is the current True Ancestor, I believe She can once again lead us to glory, just as She did fifteen hundred years ago!”

“Let us not forget, the True Ancestor is our progenitor. Even though we no longer face the horrors of devouring, our overall strength as a bloodborne has stagnated in Her absence.”

“Since the True Ancestor’s disappearance… we have not seen a true blood prince!”

“Our power comes from the True Ancestor. Although we have found ways to enhance our strength, ultimately, only the presence of the True Ancestor and Her bestowed bloodline can take us further!”

“The True Ancestor is no longer the ruthless God of the past. From this perspective, becoming the True Ancestor’s followers is an excellent opportunity!”

“Everyone, think about it! Our Nez Clan may have declined, but if we successfully follow the True Ancestor, we can rise again, surpass other clans, and perhaps even become the new royal bloodline!”

“Imagine! Imagine us becoming the existence that the Shedite look up to, and those arrogant Vadallat showing us respect!”

Yurst spoke earnestly and temptingly in a low voice.

Hearing his words, the Nez bloodbornes whispered among themselves, seemingly deep in thought.

The legends and memories left by the Blood True Ancestor are so terrifying that they can make any bloodborne shudder in fear.

However, the era when the True Ancestor of Blood, before Her “madness.” led the bloodborne to the pinnacle of the continent, also stirs up intense emotions for those who experienced that time and longing for those who did not.

One must admit that Yurst’s speech indeed caused quite a bit of wavering among the Nez Clan members who had been terrified by the True Ancestor’s pressure.

However…

“Yurst, is what you’re saying really true? How can we be sure you’re not deceiving us?”

“Yeah, this is all just your side of the story. What if this is a trap?”

Some Nez Clan members couldn’t help but question.

Yurst sighed.

“Everyone has witnessed the power of the True Ancestor. In the face of absolute power, what reason would I have to deceive you?”

The Nez Clan members fell silent.

Yes, after witnessing the power of the True Ancestor, what reason would there be to deceive them?

With a mere wave of Her hand, she easily suppressed almost all the Nez bloodbornes. Such bloodline suppression, such terrifying power… was beyond the current Nez Clan’s capacity to resist.

Reflecting on the recent soul and bloodline tremors, the clan members couldn’t help but show fear and dread again.

Of course, they would never guess that the large-scale divine power release that had enveloped the entire Nez stronghold was an astonishing and unsustainable effort, even for Charlotte at present.

After some mental struggle, more Nez Clan members wavered.

But even so, there were still quite a few clan members who looked worried.

“But… how can we ensure that the True Ancestor won’t become that terrifying True Ancestor again?”

“Yeah, she is our progenitor. Our lives are all in Her hands. Who knows if She plans to ‘raise’ us again…”

Naturally, where there was hesitation and opposition, there was also wavering and support.

“You’re right, but right now… do we have any other choice?”

“True, our lives are in the hands of the True Ancestor, but is there anyone in this world who can truly escape the control of the Gods?”

“What about Lord Casey? Have you all forgotten about Lord Casey? If we submit to the True Ancestor, isn’t that a betrayal of Lord Casey?”

“No, no… if we talk about betrayal, it should be Lord Casey and us who betrayed the True Ancestor, right?”

“Is that betrayal? That was a rebellion!”

“To the True Ancestor, it must have been a betrayal.”

“…”

The Nez Clan members debated endlessly, with differing opinions. For a moment, it even seemed like an argument would break out.

Seeing the noisy square, duke Robin frowned slightly.

“Silence!”

The pressure of a Legendary Bloodborne swept around, and feeling the bloodline suppression from the high-ranking bloodborne, the Nez Clan members quieted down.

Duke Robin looked around and finally fixed his gaze on Duke Yorok, who seemed to be deep in thought and hesitant to speak.

The Elder’s heart moved slightly, and he asked.

“Yorok, you seem to have something to say. Have you thought of something?”

Duke Yorok hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

“Elder, I indeed thought of something, or rather, I suddenly felt a bit confused.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

Elder Robin gestured.

Duke Yorok nodded and said,

“We’ve been arguing here for so long, even doubting our faith, but even so, none of us has sensed Lord Casey’s faith…”

The Elder’s eyes became sharp instantly.

“What are you trying to say?”

Duke Yorok paused and continued.

“I’m just wondering… is it possible that Lord Casey has truly fallen?”

Silence.

At that moment, the clan members suddenly fell into collective silence again.

Seeing the increasingly shaken expressions of the clan members, Elder Robin frowned.

He looked at Duke Yorok with dissatisfaction, his voice turning cold.

“Yorok, do you know what you’re talking about?”

Duke Yorok sighed.

“Of course, but… Elder, haven’t you ever doubted? As a divine chosen of Lord Casey, when was the last time you received His vision?”

The Elder fell silent.

Duke Yorok continued.

“It’s normal for the clan members to have differing opinions. Honestly, even I am still doubtful. But even so, I have to admit that if what Yurst said is true, then for our Nez Clan, it might indeed be a new opportunity…”

“Elder, I suggest that since we can’t reach a decision, why not use the oldest and most effective method of our Nez Clan?”

Duke Robin frowned slightly.

“You want to use… divination? Yorok, forgive me for being blunt, but even with the wisdom artifact Adast bestowed by Lord Casey, you cannot divine the Gods.”

Duke Yorok nodded.

“I know I can’t divine the Gods, but we don’t need to divine the Gods. We just need to divine the future of the Nez Clan.”

Elder Robin shook his head.

“Our future is already intertwined with the Gods, and… one of the most powerful Gods in this world. The power of the Gods far surpasses mortal imagination. The fate of the Nez Clan is already inseparable from the True Ancestor. Your divination won’t yield results.”

Duke Yorok didn’t deny this.

“You’re right. With my power alone, I can’t conduct a true divination. But… what if we let someone who can perform a true divination do it?”

Hearing his words, the Elder’s gaze shifted slightly.

“What… exactly are you suggesting?”

Duke Yorok said meaningfully.

“Elder, you should already know what I’m suggesting.”

“There is indeed someone in our Nez Clan who can divine the Gods, and… I believe her past blasphemous divination might indeed be true…”

“Lord Casey… is likely in dire straits, possibly in eternal slumber.”

“If that’s the case… at this special time, I believe it’s time to lift her unjust punishment, release her, and let her divine our clan’s future once more.”