However, the black mist didn't give up. Instead, it merged with Allen's innate power, allowing his perception to radiate across the entire island.
The next moment, the villagers' conversations entered Allen's ears.
"What should we do? The ominous moon has descended. Are we all going to die?"
"Don't worry, the High Priestess said she would sacrifice that demon to the gods to appease their wrath."
"That monster who pries into people's hearts? It's good that it's dead. A monster that can see through people's hearts shouldn't exist in this world."
"But... Allen helped us a lot with his ability..."
"That's easy to say, but would you dare to live with a monster like that?"
"Ahem, by the way, is the sacrifice really useful? Why have I never heard of it?"
"Who knows, but the High Priestess wouldn't lie to us, right?"
Allen's expression remained unchanged. Although it hadn't been said to his face, he had always known the villagers' opinions of him.
His perception continued to extend, and the next moment, the conversation from the upper level of the temple was projected before Allen's eyes.
"Allen... what a pity. With his talent, I originally intended to train him to be the strongest warrior in the clan!"
"Clan Leader, you and I both know that the clan's power is no longer enough to resist the increasingly rampant pirates. We simply can't wait until he grows up. Even if he possesses the power known as Observation Haki by the outside world, what's the point if it can't be used by us?"
"What a pity. Such talent, even after I've traveled the seas for many years, I've never heard of it. What's even more commendable is that even though he was ostracized and suspected by others because he could see through people's hearts, he never changed his original intention to help everyone!"
"Hmph! This can only be blamed on the unfairness of fate. Why, after our clan has protected the world for thousands of years, do we still face the doom of extinction? Rather than let the Seven Star Sword fall into the hands of those pirates, it's better to sacrifice Allen to the Seven Star Sword. Perhaps then we can completely control its power and rise on the high seas!"
"High Priestess, I've thought about it, and perhaps we shouldn't? The Seven Star Sword is a demonic artifact, a power that humans cannot control. Coveting darkness can bring disaster and ill fortune!"
"Clan Leader, do you think we can still turn back? Leaving everything else aside, if that brat Allen finds out we sold his sister to a slave ship, no matter how kind he is, he'll surely want to kill us!"
"Slave... slave ship?" At this moment, Allen's soul was like a candle in a strong wind, its flame surging and dimming, flickering unsteadily.
And the conversation in the temple continued.
"This... sigh! I was also blinded by greed at the time to do such a thing. Perhaps if we apologize, Allen, that good child, will still forgive us?"
"Heh heh, Clan Leader, you are truly hypocritical! However, I will not stand before that monster again. If I hadn't forced myself into a trance the day before yesterday, the matter of the slave ship might have been exposed already. I don't want to experience that heart-pounding feeling a second time..."
"Slave ship... slave ship... Hahaha! How ridiculous! I hate it so much, I hate my own foolishness, I hate my own incompetence..." Blood tears seeped from Allen's eyes as he painfully knelt on the ground, his fingers leaving claw marks on the hard rock.
"Go... take that sword from the stone coffin. It will grant you the power of revenge!" The ethereal voice of the black mist sounded again.
Allen walked like a zombie to the stone coffin and pulled out the Seven Star Sword.
A terrifying soul storm instantly shattered Allen's soul consciousness, but the unwavering belief in his heart prevented the Seven Star Sword from crossing the threshold.
At this moment, a soul from another world transcended space and time, merging into him, vying with Allen's remnant soul for control of the body.
The seeds of hatred and the desire for survival are the forces in this world that can unleash infinite potential. The two souls intertwined and gnawed at each other, in a stalemate.
Ultimately, they merged into a brand new soul.
...
Boom!
The temple's main door was violently broken open. The Clan Leader and High Priestess stared blankly at Allen, who emerged from the lower level holding a long sword. His eyes, filled with the desire for slaughter and destruction, almost froze their souls.
"That... that's the Seven Star Sword! Allen, you actually pulled it out. That's great, quickly hand the Seven Star Sword to me!" Greed finally overcame his inner fear. The Clan Leader's eyes glowed green as he walked step by step towards Allen.
"Gulp!" The High Priestess, against her will, looked away, not daring to meet his gaze. The cold sweat seeping from her back brought her a slight clarity; it seemed the situation wasn't developing as they had imagined.
"I heard it, the slave ship!" Allen's steps were slow and heavy, the tip of his sword dragging on the ground, not making a crisp sound or sending sparks flying, but effortlessly cutting through the ground.
The Clan Leader's eyes widened. He remembered the High Priestess's previous warning, and cold sweat streamed down uncontrollably: "Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding! Allen, you have to believe me, I originally intended to train you to be the strongest warrior in the clan... Ah!"
An arm fell, and the Clan Leader, with only his left hand remaining, clutched his head and wailed miserably, a shrill, agonizing sound, as if he was enduring unspeakable pain.
The High Priestess felt a chill in her heart, but also confusion. Was the Clan Leader insane? Why was he clutching his head after losing an arm?
Soon, the High Priestess understood the Clan Leader's pain. It was a stinging sensation deep in his soul, as if countless snakes, insects, rats, and ants were crawling over him, gnawing away. The pain of his severed arm was nothing in comparison.
The most terrifying thing was that Allen didn't seem to intend to let them die quickly; instead, he wanted them to suffer a slow, agonizing death!
"Is this... the voices of the High Priestess and the Clan Leader?"
"What's happening in the temple? Hurry and go inside!"
Allen raised the Seven Star Sword, a cruel smile on his lips.
Soon, blood flowed out of the temple, spreading around the village and eventually covering the entire island.
The slaughter continued!
The night was still long!
...
Three days later, more than a dozen pirate ships docked at the shore.
"Boss, is the legend about the cursed holy sword true?"
"Hahahahaha! Idiot, of course it's fake. You believe that kind of childish talk? If such a thing really existed, the pirates who visited this island would have already gotten rich. Why would it be our turn to pick up the scraps?"
"Ah ha? Then what are we doing here?"
"Of course, to pick up some overlooked treasures. In a village with such a long history, there might be something good hidden. Moreover, the villagers here have fought pirates for many years, and most of them are quite strong. Let's see if we can recruit some cannon fodder!"
"Heh, Boss is really smart... Ugh! What is this smell?"
"Gulp!" The pirate captain's Adam's apple bobbed up and down. He mustered his courage and stepped forward, "This should be the smell of blood, but... such a strong smell, could it be that all the creatures on this island are dead?"
"Cap... Captain, maybe we shouldn't go in?"
"Idiot, we are vicious pirates! How can we retreat here?"
Half an hour later, all the pirates fled back in a panic, almost all suffering from hemophobia, and many even went insane, never daring to mention being pirates again.
Soon, the news of the mass extinction on Aska Island spread, causing a stir across the seas. It was defined by the World Government as a malicious pirate massacre, leading to strong resistance against pirates in various sea areas.