Mont, with the scarlet dagger re-blessed by the Angel tucked into his waist, walked somewhat dejectedly along the streets of the settlement.
The mutant residents around him stopped one after another, nodding in greeting to Mont.
Their bodies were either covered in tumors, festering sores, or had parasites wriggling beneath their flesh; without exception, they had all received the blessings of the Plague Angel.
Mont returned each greeting, and as he saw the residents receiving more and more blessings, the gloom in his heart eased slightly.
Recently, the activities of the Four-Armed God-Emperor Cult had become increasingly bizarre.
On the surface, they fanatically recruited people into their church, but secretly, they used various deformed monsters to capture residents of the Bottom Nest.
He had no idea what they intended to do by gathering so many people.
Last time, he ventured into the Lower Nest and retrieved that ancient triangular sword from the abandoned Old Eight District.
Back then, the Corpse Guild had spread plague throughout an entire district, sacrificing the sick. Although the ritual was interrupted, the triangular sword had accumulated powerful energy.
Under the guidance of the Angel, Mont, Marquite, and all the mutants in the settlement received more blessings.
But Mont knew that the triangular sword was merely a key.
A key alone could not bring true blessings into reality.
They still needed to find that "door."
However, the mutants under Mont and Marquite had searched all the areas they controlled, and even fought with Green-skinned Orcs lost in the pipes, but they simply couldn't find the location of the door.
Therefore, the door could only be in the territory of the Four-Armed God-Emperor Cult.
This was very troublesome.
If he really had to confront them, Mont knew his chances of winning were slim.
Those guys didn't just have the strength that was visible on the surface; hidden deeper in the shadows of the Bottom Nest were even more grotesque and bizarre evil creatures that truly worried Mont.
But the Angels were also growing more urgent.
They constantly reminded Mont and Marquite:
"It's coming, the soulless beast that devours all life is coming soon."
Every time Mont recalled the fragmented visions he had seen, he felt a chill down his spine.
Bio-warships that blotted out the sky, endless tides of insect swarms, terrifying Tyranid Behemoths, and capillary spires that reached into the clouds.
"If Leman… er… if Russ…"
Mont paused, thinking that calling that guy either Leman or Russ felt very strange.
"If Leman Russ were here, it would be great."
Mont couldn't help but sigh, recalling the strange man who called himself Leman Russ.
He had very strong infiltration abilities, was quite powerful, and also possessed some ability to transport large objects.
If Leman Russ could come to the Lower Nest, it would greatly assist Mont and Marquite's plan.
Mont had considered going to the Lower Nest to search for Leman Russ.
But that guy probably used a fake name, and his face might even be fake, so searching would be futile.
He originally thought that given Leman Russ' level of heresy, he wouldn't last long in the Lower Nest and would eventually come to the Bottom Nest.
He hadn't expected that after so long, he still hadn't seen a trace of him.
"That guy wouldn't have been burned at the stake for being too heretical, would he?"
Mont couldn't help but shake his head and say.
"Envoy Mont!"
A mutant with a parasite growing on his head hurried from the entrance of the settlement:
"Three-Eyes and the others were coerced by a terrifying-looking outsider, who brought them to our settlement's entrance."
"Our people tried to control him first, but he unexpectedly punched a controlled plague zombie into a pile of dust."
"Someone causing trouble? Punched a plague zombie into dust?"
Mont was surprised. plague zombies had all received the blessings of the Plague God and possessed tenacious vitality; to be shattered with a single punch was extraordinary.
This was definitely not power a mortal could possess. A mutated monster from the Four-Armed Emperor?
"He's currently waiting outside the gate, insisting on seeing you and Envoy Marquite, but he refuses to come in."
"..Envoy Mont, you absolutely must not go out, otherwise, if this guy suddenly attacks——"
"Wait, you said he refuses to come in? He's just waiting outside the gate for me to go out?"
Mont blinked, a guess popping into his mind.
"Did he say who he was?" Mont asked.
The mutant with the parasite on his head paused.
"He did say, but the name sounds like a joke."
"Ha!" Mont couldn't help but smile: "He's finally here."
Outside the mutant settlement,
The three-eyed mutant stood trembling beside Alexander.
The other mutants brought tables, chairs, and food for Alexander and Joan.
Alexander didn't eat the food; he just sat leisurely in the chair, waiting for Mont and Marquite to come out.
The surrounding mutants all watched Alexander and the wall beside him, trembling.
The wall was smeared with a splattered mess of flesh, shattered like fireworks blooming on the surface.
That was the plague zombie Alexander had single-handedly punched into dust.
The three-eyed mutant gritted his teeth, gathered his courage, and approached.
Alexander glanced at him, watching him take a deep breath, straighten his back, and say:
"..Dad! It's windy outside, why don't you old man come inside?"
The three-eyed mutant pointed to the settlement's main gate.
"Do you also want to be on the wall as a two-dimensional?" Alexander asked, pointing to the splattered mess on the wall.
The three-eyed mutant's expression stiffened, and he quickly stepped back: "Dad, your son is retreating."
Alexander shook his head, looking speechless.
Joan's hazy, deer-like eyes swept over the surrounding mutants, filled with apprehension, dislike, and disgust.
She suppressed her nausea and moved closer to Alexander, seemingly seeking some sense of security from him.
"Don't be afraid, they wouldn't dare bother you." Alexander patted her head, comforting her.
"..No, it's not fear."
Joan shook her head, whispering:
"It's just that when I see mutants, I feel sick and want them all to die."
Alexander's hand paused in mid-air.
Joan's tone was like a child who disliked vegetables, wishing all vegetables in the world would disappear.
Who taught her this aversion to mutants? Such a young child, yet so extreme.
Could it be Old Huang? You've taught such a good child to be extreme; you're truly skilled at parenting.
Although mutants are indeed not good people...
Alexander shook his head.
Just then, the settlement gate was pushed open.
A mutant with twisted black horns and draped in a black and red robe emerged from behind the door.
The moment he saw Alexander, his eyes lit up.
"Leman Russ! You're finally here!"
"Couldn't make it in the Lower Nest anymore?"
Mont laughed twice and walked towards Alexander.
Joan, beside Alexander, blinked, looking at Alexander in confusion, and couldn't help but ask:
"Leman what?"
"What Russ?"
"What Leman Russ?"