Looking at the empty ceremony venue before him, Bona visioned the spectacular scene when the day's ceremony began.
And now, everything was gone. Nearly 30,000 members of the ritual group had died in this ritual.
"I didn't expect to encounter such a situation."
The disappearance of an entire group was a significant loss to the church.
"What is the purpose of the ritual this time? Who is the target? For them to get wiped out like this."
In Bona's memories, it had been a long time since the complete annihilation of the ritual team was seen.
However, it was not a big deal. The rituals of the ritual group were not simple each time, and they were always accompanied by death.
Bona was already used to this.
The only thing that left him somewhat afraid was that no matter how many people were gone, the missing portion could always fill up in a short time.
"I wonder how long it will take for the higher-ups to complete the restructuring of the ritual group?"
"It's already done."
Robocco replied calmly as he petted his precious magical pet.
"Really?"
Bona looked at his companion in shock.
At this moment, Robocco turned to look at Bona. His gaze was strange, as if he was looking at prey or a dead person.
Bona did not sense anything wrong with his companion.
He asked the question in his mind, "Why haven't I heard of it before?"
Robocco's gaze swept across the lethal spots on Bona's body. He thought for a moment and finally chose to tell him what he knew.
"The higher-ups have long expected the outcome of this ritual. After all, the target is none other than our faith, the Goddess!"
Robocco said with a tinge of fanaticism.
The same expression appeared on Bona's face.
"It was such an important ritual?"
"Yes, indeed."
Now that he knew the truth about the ritual, Bona looked at the three beastfolks on the back of the dragon-shaped creature with a remorseful expression.
"Then aren't we sinners?"
Upon seeing this, Robocco's expression eased up, and his gaze softened.
He walked forward and patted Bona on the shoulder to comfort him.
"No, you can't say that. According to the instructions I received, these three are supposed to be the medium for the Goddess' Arrival."
"What's going on?" Bona looked up in confusion. He finally realized that something was wrong.
He seemed to be kept in the dark throughout the entire mission. What was happening?
Robocco patiently explained Bona's doubts.
"After the Goddess is summoned and the ceremony begins, we will be the first to send these three beastfolks to the Goddess."
"Then, who was the sacrifice in the original ritual?"
If what he thought was the sacrifice was not the sacrifice. Then, who was the real sacrifice?
At the thought of this, Bona looked at the empty square. An idea popped up in his mind. He looked at Robocco in disbelief and exclaimed,
"Could it be…"
"That's right. The members of the ritual group were the sacrifices this time. In the previous rituals, big and small, there was a secondary purpose—to increase their Ti."
Robocco nodded slowly while saying a word that was unfamiliar to Bona.
"Ti?"
The pronunciation of this word was very strange. When Bona repeated it for the first time, he could only imitate 80% of it.
"That's right. Every time a ritual is performed, one's Ti will increase. The more Ti a person has, the greater the value of him being a sacrifice.
"In that case, why would the members of the ritual group be so nosy as to attack Rockevas?"
Facing this question, Robocco went silent for a moment after talking frankly a moment ago. Then, he shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Robocco looked helpless as he met Bona's puzzled gaze.
He guessed, "Perhaps there's something about Rockevas that attracted them. After all, the person in charge of the merchant ritual group is a genuine lunatic."
At this point, Robocco's tone had a little anger that was difficult to detect.
"Apart from the overlord, nobody listens to anyone else. Who can guess the thoughts of a lunatic who is obsessed with rituals?
Indeed, who could guess the thoughts of a madman?
Bona nodded, believing that Robocco had a point.
Just as he was about to say something, Liveras, who had been placated and calmed down, suddenly growled.
Roar!
"What's wrong?"
At the sound of Liveras's voice, Bona and Robocco hurriedly looked over.
Unlike the last time, they seemed to sense something the moment Liverpool cried out.
"Roar!" It was another roar, this time more urgent than the last.
Liveras turned to look at its master and cried again.
Roar!
Robocco seemed to understand what Liveras meant and hurriedly said,
"It's getting restless. Something is coming. We can't stay here any longer. Let's get out of here."
At this moment, Robocco did not care why there was no reaction from Bona's barrier.
He quickly jumped onto Liveras's back himself.
"Squeak squeak!" An ear-piercing rat's cry suddenly reverberated through the entire ceremony venue.
As a result of this huge cave, the sound echoed in the cave, causing a considerable tremor.
"Down there!" Sensing the direction of the tremor, Bona looked in the direction of the source of the sound from the edge of the ritual platform.
Patches of red eyes with no difference between the pupil and the white reflected Bona's appearance.
"Why isn't my barrier reacting?" Bona was filled with doubts as he looked at the terrifying squirming shadow.
"Ignore it and run!"
Robocco was exasperated with Bona.
It is too late to think about anything else. Just run already. Why don't you make sure you're safe before thinking about those problems?
Upon hearing Robocco's urging, Bona came to his senses. He glanced at the black shadow and hurriedly ran towards Robocco.
"Squeak!" A sharp sound echoed in the cave, wave after wave, like a sonic attack.
The beastfolks on Liveras's back were hugging their heads at the moment, seeming in great pain.
"Hurry up!"
"Coming!"
Bona waved his bone staff as his body became lighter. He stomped his legs and flew towards Liveras.