The twelve statues of the gods are highly consistent and evenly distributed in the church, showing a sense of equality.
However, Sean discovered that on the podium of the United Church, there was a space that was significantly higher than the gods below.
The seemingly inconspicuous platform seems to symbolize the empty throne that governs these modern gods.
"There are many gods joining the Utopia..." Sean found an inconspicuous seat for himself and Olivia to sit down in the crowd, "So, who is the leader of these gods, the king of the gods?"
Is there any belief in a god in the world?
He didn't believe it.
What's more... He looked at the inconspicuous, empty throne - the church itself contained such a metaphor.
In an ideal country, there must be a main god!
"Temporarily vacant?" Sean frowned, "After the union of the modern gods, the main god is temporarily vacant?"
Sean was inexplicably reminded of Rabbi Lins’ “Path to God.”
Is this the position that Rabbi Lins is eyeing?
"Sure enough, everything is connected..."
His thoughts, like a fountain, were interrupted by the sound of a huge pipe organ.
Clergymen wearing robes of different colors lined up in front of the statues of gods of their respective faiths.
The bustling crowd of ordinary believers have already taken their seats.
On the podium, the high priest began an impassioned speech.
The content of his speech was similar to what Sean had heard at the Melinas service.
The union and coexistence of the gods.
However, here's the interesting thing: "They never mentioned the word 'Utopia' again, but called it 'The United Church.'"
Sean smiled: "It seems that the name Utopia has attracted the attention of the Holy Court, and they can no longer use this name openly."
A trip to the United Church made Sean understand a lot of his previous doubts, and he felt suddenly enlightened.
Utopia, Judas Circle, Salvationism, Modern Gods...
After stepping into the realm of truth, although it is still full of fog.
But now he has clearly felt that the whole truth will be revealed in front of him soon.
Hundreds of clergy, with thousands of believers, performed worship in a mighty manner.
Sean still felt the overly enthusiastic and excited feeling in the crowd.
In his opinion, there is definitely a problem with the belief in the Utopia.
Sean sat quietly in his seat, blending in with the crowd and observing the surroundings carefully.
He remembered that after he lit up the divine root during the worship service in Melinas, he saw a metaphorical sight...a church sinking into the deep sea.
"While the truth may shock my soul... I must see it."
Sean closed his eyes decisively and lit up his divine roots slightly.
In the lair of the Utopia, at the source of pollution...
Sean didn't know what he would see.
In order to ensure his mental stability, he tried to keep his consciousness close to the "candlestick", close to the candlestick that had already taken a more mature form.
Taking a deep breath, Sean slowly opened his eyes.
What he saw made him temporarily hold his breath.
If it were not for the existence of divine roots, his soul would most likely fall into an unstable state due to shock.
In Sean's field of vision, the sea water isolated by the glass curtain wall has filled the entire interior of the church.
In this deep-sea church, both the clergy and the residents of Ocean City listening to the sermons around them have all turned into stone sculptures that have been soaked in seawater for an unknown period of time and are covered with seaweed and barnacles.
Twelve modern gods, these giant statues nearly five meters high, are tied to the reliefs by stone chains.
These giants are no longer made of marble and steel.
They became living, flesh-and-blood people.
Like tied up drowning people, they were struggling and wailing.
The giant body was rotting in the seawater, like a severely injured marine creature, exposing its pale internal organs and bones.
The sea water is as poisonous as strong acid to them, and it is causing them to undergo terrible torture.
Under the tightly bound stone chains, the skin and muscles were peeled off inch by inch. Even though the skeleton on the face was exposed, it was still wailing silently.
There is something in the deep sea in the distance.
Sean didn't dare to stare, and stopped staring before disturbing the thing.
Closing his eyes again, cold sweat soaked the inside of his shirt.
"This..." If it weren't for the sudden departure from the table, Sean would have already stood up and left the place, "The little gods have been forcibly restrained and used by something!
"A more powerful and ancient being!
"The mysterious existence served by the Judas Ring used the concept of the Republic to bind and control these minor gods..."
"I have to tell this to Arthur!"
The fervent believers were immersed in impassioned sermons, and the sweaty Sean did not attract much attention.
After minutes and seconds of suffering, the service was finally over.
The crowd gradually broke away from the frenzy and began to leave in an orderly manner under the organization of the clergy.
Sean breathed a sigh of relief.
As the crowd moved slowly, Sean's hidden gaze locked on a man wearing dark green robes standing under the statue of Melinas.
My eyes stayed there at first just because I felt a little familiar.
Looking carefully, Sean's heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
That was the young reporter whose personality changed drastically after he believed in Melinas...
"Lucky Jimmy!"
Sean knew before that he had been reused and promoted within the Melinas Cult.
"Unexpectedly, he actually left the New Testament, came to Ocean City, and even became a priest in the Utopia!"
Unable to get closer, Sean could only stare at him from a distance.
Jimmy's temperament has changed again.
If I say that when I saw him for the second time, he was a little arrogant and domineering.
Nowadays, he has become restrained, but not out of modesty, but to hide the evil and madness.
Jimmy's face was thin, and his eyes were bright, as if burning with evil flames.
Hidden among the crowd slowly leaving the church, Sean saw Jimmy follow other clergy into a small room in the church.
Due to the bonus of soul and function, Sean has excellent eyesight. He could see a haggard old man standing in that room.
It seemed that he was very ill and his life was like a candle in the wind.
The old man was wearing a white robe, with a calm smile on his face, standing on a huge silver plate.
In his hand, he held a croissant knife whose blade reflected the cold light...
After the clergyman entered the room, the door was closed.
Sean followed the flow of people and walked out of this church where great evil was surging.
…
Shortly after the believers left the United Church, the secret door of the small room was opened again.
Robes of various colors lined up silently.
The huge silver plate in the room was filled with dark red blood.
The stone sculpture of the old man stood in the center of the silver plate, still holding the claw knife in his drooping hand, his ankles covered in blood.
A horrific wound opened on the stone sculpture's neck.
The part below the neck is moist with blood, as if it is covered with scarlet paint...
The door gradually closed. The light converged into a line until it disappeared completely, leaving this evil stone sculpture standing alone in the darkness.
