Chapter 490 - 460: [Believers: 2314]

Chapter 490: Chapter 460: [Believers: 2314]

He stammered, trying to express the overwhelming gratitude surging within him, but felt that any words would be utterly inadequate at this moment.

"But... this... this favor... We..."

Looking at the powerful "Veil Breaker" before him, who was unexpectedly true to his word and not greedy for more, Hom felt a scalding emotion fill his chest.

In the end, all he could do was bow his head low, channeling his purest gratitude and respect into the silent gesture.

All the human survivors gathered behind Hom had heard the exchange between the two men clearly.

When Roland’s words, "We’re even now," faded, the last trace of wary fear born from the unknown vanished from the crowd like morning mist dispelled by the sun.

In its place was a mixture of endless gratitude, the ecstasy of surviving a hopeless situation, and a deeper emotion that bordered on faith.

It is unclear who bowed first, but what followed was like a wheat field rippling in the wind. Led by Hom, all the survivors—men and women, young and old, nearly a thousand gaunt, ragged figures—bowed in unison toward Roland, deeply and with immense piety. Many even dropped to their knees, prostrating themselves in the dust.

The massive crowd fell utterly silent. Only their deeply bowed backs remained, forming a breathtakingly moving scene.

It was a silent expression of thanks, and the highest form of tribute.

Seeing this, Roland was at a complete loss.

This was vastly different from when he had been cheered and surrounded by soldiers in Golden Valley City after defeating the Demon.

Back then, the soldiers’ eyes had held the joy of victory, admiration for a hero, and awe of great Power—emotions he could understand and readily accept.

But now, the way these survivors looked at him...

Burning in their sunken eye sockets was the utter relief of a drowning man clutching a piece of driftwood, the feverish piety of one witnessing a divine miracle.

Nearly a thousand gazes, all so intensely focused, felt as if they might scorch him, or perhaps deify him on the spot.

The sheer weight and purity of this "faith" sent an unnerving chill down Roland’s spine.

Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he then clapped his hands sharply. CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! The crisp sound was jarring in the silent clearing, a deliberate attempt to shatter the heavy and fanatical atmosphere.

"I hope you all make good use of everything in Sui Cang Hall."

Roland raised his voice.

"Live on and live well. Perhaps one day, this land, the ’Breath of the Morning Wind,’ will know life again."

After hastily saying these few words of encouragement, he gave Hom and the others no more time to react.

He immediately turned, almost in a rush, and strode quickly up the gangway to the Shell Ship.

A moment later, as the rough, powerful shouts of the Gray Dwarf captain, Duraga, echoed across the deck, the colossal Shell Ship let out a low rumble and slowly began to rise into the air.

Finally, amid a spatial distortion and a low hum, it tore open a dark rift. The massive vessel slipped silently through, vanishing beneath the lead-gray sky of the Aiselon Continent.

Staring in the direction the Shell Ship had vanished, the gaunt young man named Kane, standing beside Hom, hesitated for a moment before he couldn’t stop himself from asking a question.

"Mr. Hom, didn’t that... that Lord Veil Breaker, invite us to leave this place with him on that marvelous ship?"

As he mentioned Roland now, the initial hostility was long gone from his face, replaced by pure reverence.

"Wherever they’re headed, it has to be better than staying in this... this land of despair, right?"

Hom slowly lowered his gaze from the horizon. His eyes swept over the desolate, ruined, yet incredibly familiar land around them as he spoke in a low voice.

"It’s hard to leave your homeland, Kane."

He let out a soft sigh, one that seemed to carry an immense weight.

"Besides, when I announced the decision to everyone, didn’t all of you agree to stay?"

His gaze softened, growing complex as he looked at Kane and a few other young faces in the crowd.

"Honestly, Kane, and you too, Lily, Matt... You’re all still so young. You shouldn’t be trapped on this forgotten land with us old bones."

Kane immediately and vehemently refuted him.

"You were the one who found us in the ruins, who taught us how to survive in this Hell! If you’re choosing to stay, then we will never leave!"

His words were decisive, and the other young people around him nodded in agreement, their eyes firm.

Hom looked at these defiant young people. A flicker of pride shone in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by a heavy sense of resignation.

He reached out and clapped Kane firmly on his thin but steady shoulder.

"Good kids... You’re all good kids..."

He raised his head again, surveying the desolate land that had borne so much suffering and so many memories. As if having made a decision, he spoke in a voice that, though quiet, reached every ear.

"If that’s the case... then let’s all work together. Just as the Veil... just as Roland hoped we would. Let’s strive to bring life back to this land!"

"Rebuild our home!"

"We’ll follow Mr. Hom!"

"That’s right! Stay! Rebuild!"

His words were like a stone tossed into a still lake, instantly creating a massive Echo.

The survivors were impassioned, waving their thin arms and shouting in hoarse yet resolute voices. Their gaunt faces, once devoid of life, now seemed to be filled with a long-lost radiance and Hope.

Amidst this fervent atmosphere, Hom raised his voice, cutting through the clamor.

"Kane!"

"Here!"

"Take a few people and find some solid, intact blocks of stone."

Hom’s gaze shifted to the broken statue of the "Watcher" in the center of the square, his tone solemn.

"Just as our ancestors erected a statue to the Watcher, we will do the same for Roland..."

"For our new benefactor, we will carve a statue to stand here, to be revered day and night, so that we may never forget his kindness!"

This proposal met with no opposition; on the contrary, it made everyone’s eyes shine even brighter.

Erecting a statue for a benefactor was, according to their traditions, the highest and most solemn expression of gratitude.

"Yes, sir!"

Kane replied loudly, his voice clear and strong.

He immediately called out a few names and, leading a team of young people, turned without hesitation and ran into the depths of the ruins to find suitable stone.

Meanwhile, Roland was staring blankly at the golden text materializing before his eyes.

[Regional Reputation System updating...]

[Aiselon Continent (Lost Lands) - (Sui Cang Hall Human Survivors): Worshipped]

[Analysis in progress...]

[Host Faith (Self) Resonance detected: 54%...]

[Compiling relevant data...]

He stared at these lines of golden text, which seemed to carry a heavy weight, feeling momentarily bewildered.

Before he could even begin to process this sudden information, the brilliant golden light swirled once more.

At the very bottom of the Reputation section, a new line of text slowly took form, coalescing from countless motes of light.

[Current Believer Count: 2314]