Chapter 531 - 540: Fanaticism
Chapter 531: Chapter 540: Fanaticism
And just like that, Sanctyr Base was gone.
Its end was so sudden.
The crowd found it hard to believe. Just the day before, Sanctyr Base had been like a god in this region—majestic and unshakeable.
But in less than a day, Sanctyr Base had been reduced to a pile of rubble, a fact that left everyone lamenting.
As for Miles Sanctus, no one had seen any sign of him. They didn’t know if he had escaped or was buried beneath the rubble as well.
The survivors of the cataclysm were all silent.
What was once a massive party now consisted of only a few survivors. They were all silent.
The surviving members from Sanctyr Base were especially quiet.
The day’s events had far exceeded their expectations.
The fall of Sanctyr Base was unbelievable, yet they had no choice but to accept it as reality.
But they knew that even without the earthquake, Sanctyr Base would have been wiped off the map today. Because...
At this thought, many of them instinctively turned to look at Stella Sterling.
’Sanctyr Base offended a being like her. If it wasn’t destined for destruction, what was?’
Recalling the power she had just displayed, everyone’s eyes burned with fervor.
When Stella Sterling stopped, she noticed the situation behind her.
She had only intended to lead her own people from Caeluna Base to safety, but she hadn’t expected so many others to follow.
And she finally understood the source of the faith power that had suddenly surged into her body earlier.
’They must have seen some of the abilities I used before, so...’
Stella Sterling’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
She stood up, about to speak.
However, the moment they saw her rise, they all knelt down in her direction in unison. "Thank you! Thank you for saving us!"
"A god! You must be a god!"
They cried out, their voices filled with excitement, their gazes fixed on Stella Sterling with fervent adoration.
Among them were even some people from Caeluna Base.
They had long known their leader was formidable, but they never imagined Sterling was *this* powerful.
The realization that they served under Sterling sent a thrill through their hearts, filling them with pride.
Stella Sterling surveyed the group. Besides the people from Caeluna Base, several dozen others who had escaped with them were still alive. A few were leaders of the smaller factions from before, though not many of them remained.
As for the rest, some wore Sanctyr Base uniforms, while others were in plain clothes. Stella Sterling guessed they were probably former residents of Aethel Base.
She considered getting rid of them all.
’After all, they saw my unusual powers.’
But feeling the faith power surging into her from them, she suddenly changed her mind.
Sarah Sterling looked at them, her expression impassive. "Are you willing to follow me?"
Upon hearing her words, the people before her, including the few faction leaders, didn’t hesitate for a second. They knelt again in Sarah Sterling’s direction. "We are! We are willing!"
Their excited tones and frenzied expressions made it seem as if they had just received the greatest blessing imaginable.
Even though it meant submitting to another’s rule, they showed no reluctance whatsoever.
They saw it as a gift from the heavens—a chance to follow a god.
Among them were former members of Aethel Base. But even they offered no resistance, their faces equally alight with excitement.
What Stella Sterling didn’t know was that these few had already witnessed her power when she had previously wreaked havoc on Sanctyr Base. Even back then, they had thought her a god.
They had even regretted not leaving with her then.
They never thought they would get another chance. Thus, far from resisting, they were more ecstatic than anyone.
The people from Caeluna Base watched this scene, their eyes flashing with excitement.
’That’s Sterling for you. No matter where she goes, she has this charm that makes people follow her willingly.’
A few Caeluna Base members exchanged a look. If they weren’t already Sterling’s people, they too would have wanted to kneel with the others and excitedly declare their willingness.
Feeling the faith power continuously surging into her, Stella Sterling could sense their sincerity and passion.
She nodded, then looked at the crowd and raised her voice. "Who among you has eaten human flesh?"
The crowd was now utterly fanatical in their devotion to Stella Sterling, so even for a question like this, no one hid the truth.
Several people stood up and admitted to it.
These people were members of Sanctyr Base and some of its residents.
’Just as I thought. Most of the people from Sanctyr Base, including their residents, have consumed that meat.’
Stella Sterling’s eyes narrowed.
’They worship me so fervently. I was going to take them in, but they’ve already eaten that meat...’
And so, Stella Sterling looked at them and said languidly, "Those who have consumed this flesh are sinful. They are not worthy to follow me."
At her words, the fanatical light in their eyes dimmed.
They were filled with remorse and confusion, but their adoration for Stella Sterling remained unchanged.
’Are we sinful?’
’If even a god says we are sinful, then we must atone.’
And so, at that moment, several people pulled knives from their clothes and plunged them into their own bodies.
Seeing this, many others followed suit.
Their expressions were frenzied and ecstatic. There was no reluctance, only a look of release.
The others stared, stunned by the sight.
Stella Sterling’s eyes flickered. She, too, was somewhat surprised by their actions.
But she quickly composed herself.
’These people have eaten that meat. I could never take them in. And since they’ve seen my powers, I couldn’t let them go, either.’
’Besides, even if I didn’t act, they wouldn’t have lived much longer after consuming that meat. What lay ahead for them was only suffering.’
’This way is a release for them.’
Stella Sterling closed her eyes for a moment.
She looked at the remaining people. "Did anyone else hide the truth?"
The dozen or so people who remained all shook their heads.
There was no fear in their eyes as they looked at Stella Sterling, only the same adoration.
Stella Sterling looked at the remaining dozen or so people. Among them were former members of Sanctyr Base. She questioned them one by one.
She learned that they too had long ago realized something was wrong with the meat. Unable to accept it, they had never eaten it, instead throwing it away. They usually only ate vegetarian meals.