Inside the grand estate of the Phils family, Jason Kin sat calmly upon a magnificent throne. His expression was serene, but the pressure he exuded filled the room like a storm about to break.
At his feet knelt a striking woman with flowing green hair. She trembled uncontrollably, her face pale as she looked up at Jason. This was Viper, one of Hydra's divisional leaders, a woman who had commanded fear and respect in countless bloody scenes. Yet before Jason Kin, her iron will crumbled to dust.
She felt small, insignificant, like an insect that could be crushed without a second thought.
"Viper, we finally meet," Jason said, his tone sharp with mockery. "I imagine you have been waiting for this day for quite some time."
Hearing his words, Viper collapsed further to the ground, pressing her forehead against the cold floor.
"I would not dare. It was my blindness that caused me to offend you before. I know my mistake. Please, grant me mercy. I am willing to become your most loyal servant, to obey your every command."
Jason chuckled, his voice icy. "So quick to beg? Where was this attitude earlier? Weren't you just about to take your own life?"
"I… I was wrong," Viper stammered, her body quivering. "Please, give me another chance. It was all Pierce's plan, not mine. I never truly intended to oppose you. If you do not believe me, I can prove my loyalty by assassinating Pierce and bringing you his head."
Viper was not afraid of death. What she feared was Jason Kin's methods, which she imagined would be far worse than dying.
Having witnessed Bismarck's terrifying power firsthand, Viper was completely shaken. Now, all that remained in her heart was fear and reverence.
There is an old saying that a bird chooses the right tree to roost, and a man chooses the right master to serve. In this world, however, Viper knew the saying needed to be rewritten. In a world of gods and monsters, people serve only the strongest.
And compared to Jason Kin, Hydra was nothing but dust. Anyone with even half a brain could see where true power lay.
Jason stroked his chin, his eyes narrowing in amusement. "Bringing me Pierce's head, you say? That does sound interesting."
Viper's heart leapt with hope at his words. She pressed her advantage quickly. "Pierce is nothing but a fool. He completely failed to understand the situation. He does not see your power, and still dares to oppose you. It is sheer stupidity. He incited me to disrespect you, but I quickly realized your might cannot be challenged. So I am willing to act for you, to destroy Hydra itself, to prove my devotion."
Truly, her name fit her nature. Viper was as cunning and venomous as a serpent. Seeing that the tide had turned against her, she betrayed her old master without hesitation in a bid to survive.
It might have worked on someone else, but Jason Kin only found her words disgusting.
"Recognizing the times is wise," Jason said coldly, "but there is nothing I despise more than a traitor. If you can betray your previous master so easily, then one day you will betray me as well. In your world, loyalty means nothing. You think too highly of yourself. Hydra is nothing to me. Even my subordinates could erase your entire organization with a flick of their hand. Do you think I need your pitiful services? Ridiculous."
He turned his head slightly toward Bismarck. "Since we now know who was pulling the strings, I will leave her fate to you."
"Yes, Commander," Bismarck replied firmly with a nod.
Viper panicked. She began to shout desperately. "I was wrong, I was wrong! Please, let me enter the Church of Life. I will devote myself to the Lord of Life as his most faithful servant. I will sacrifice everything to him. Just give me one chance!"
She bowed again and again, her forehead slamming into the floor until blood trickled down. She looked utterly devout, her voice shaking with terror and sincerity.
Before Jason could speak, a mechanical tone rang in his mind.
[Log]: Your follower Viper has offered a sacrifice of Tier 4 Elite-level Poison Immunity.
[Log]: You have gained 103 Faith Points.
[System]: Your sacrifice has triggered a critical reward. Its quality has been amplified one thousand times.
[System]: You have obtained Tier 8 Legendary-level Rotting Poison.
[Rotting Poison]: The supreme of all venoms, said to corrode all things in existence.
Jason raised his brows, surprise flashing across his face. He had not expected this woman to truly establish a faith connection with him.
Since she had, he did not hold back. He accepted her sacrifice.
Viper felt it immediately. A crushing spiritual pressure surged through the faith channel she had just opened, slamming into her consciousness. Her mind shattered like fragile glass.
She had thought offering a sacrifice would grant her a way out. What she had not known was that ordinary mortals could not casually perform such rites. If Jason had ignored her offering, nothing might have happened. But the moment he accepted it, his divine will descended upon her.
And no ordinary mind could withstand that weight. At best, she would go insane. At worst, as in her case, her spirit would be utterly obliterated.
This was why sacrifices always required numbers. At least fifty people together could spread the crushing burden of divine will.
But Viper's ignorance sealed her fate.
Jason had never intended to let her live anyway. With her death, he was spared the trouble of striking the final blow himself.
Her body slumped lifeless on the floor, her green hair spread out like a pool of venomous ivy. The hall fell silent once more.
Jason leaned back in his throne, his gaze distant. The legendary Rotting Poison now coursed through his divine arsenal, a gift born from betrayal and desperation.
For Hydra, another pillar had fallen. For Jason, his power had only grown stronger.
(If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting with power stone, or join my Patreon for new chapters ahead of the webnovel. Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations)