As Touko flicked her hand, the others instinctively stepped back to avoid getting Deinos blood on their clothes.
"I'm telling you, Touko…" Shiomi said helplessly. "You're way too careless. What if there's some kind of curse inside a Dead Apostle Deinos corpse?"
"But if I don't put my hand inside, how am I supposed to analyze what's going on internally?" Touko replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Besides, even though they're dinosaurs, the Deinos possess intelligence comparable to humans. Their brains are truly remarkable."
In short, judging from the brain alone, even though they had already lost their intelligence after becoming like this, it was still clear that before their transformation the Deinos possessed cognitive functions no less developed than humans of Proper Human History.
"So when you say external factors, you mean someone deliberately turned them into this?" Morgan continued the earlier topic.
"Yes. The principle is similar to how Dead Apostles are created in Proper Human History. It's not a natural occurrence. It requires a higher form of life capable of doing it," Touko said as she stood up. "In other words, someone in this Lostbelt has been hunting Deinos. After these dinosaur-humans were drained of blood, they were transformed into Dead Apostles."
"Bloodsucking…" Skadi murmured thoughtfully. "Hinako Akuta…"
When it came to bloodsucking, Hinako was technically also a blood-consuming being that had obtained a physical body.
However, although she could drink blood, she was not a vampire and did not suffer from any uncontrollable bloodlust.
In that regard, she was somewhat similar to Baobhan Sith.
So it was more appropriate to treat her as a fairy-like existence.
"Speaking of which, according to Proper Human History, the god Camazotz also drinks blood," Shiomi said with his arms crossed. "The problem is… even if a god drinks blood, that shouldn't create Dead Apostles. Unless the Camazotz of this Lostbelt is somehow different…"
"Either way, be careful. If we encounter an enemy that drinks blood, we should be extra cautious," Touko said.
As soon as she said that, everyone's eyes shifted toward her.
"Touko," Shiomi said slowly.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Touko asked.
"Your hand…" Morgan said, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Hm?"
Touko lowered her head and raised her hand.
The blood staining her hand was emitting a curse, slowly eroding her body.
It seemed the sensation in her hand had been numbed, preventing her from noticing it earlier.
"Sigh… just stay still," Skadi said as she patted Touko on the shoulder and extended her hand.
Touko obediently held out her hand while Skadi and Morgan cast purification magecraft from both sides, dispelling the curse attached to the blood. They then summoned water and washed her hands clean.
"Who would've thought even the blood could contaminate the body? That's definitely something to watch out for," Touko said while examining her restored hand. "Still, it's a useful experience."
"Just be more careful next time. What if you turned into a Dead Apostle? What would we even do?" Shiomi scratched his head. "Kill you first and then resurrect you?"
"Hm?" Touko's eyes lit up with interest. "Tenkei should have that kind of power. Now that you mention it, I kind of want to experience it."
Touko treated life and death with such indifference that the idea of experiencing death itself sounded appealing to her.
"I swear…" Shiomi sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
But that was simply Touko's personality. He had no intention of forcing her to change.
Just as he was about to remind everyone to continue toward Chichen Itza, a piercing chill suddenly swept through the air.
"Interesting. Truly interesting. I sensed something unusual, but I never expected this Authority could actually bring the dead back to life. Now I want it even more. Ha! Hahaha! Hahahahaha—!!!"
A deep, slightly hoarse voice echoed from above.
Scáthach immediately pulled Olga Marie behind her as the group quickly formed a defensive formation.
"Above!" Scáthach said as she looked up through the clearing between the trees. The enemy was there.
Something was hidden directly beneath the sun, making its shadow difficult to distinguish.
Then a black figure wrapped in the scent of death dove downward and landed directly in front of them. The ground trembled from the impact, and startled birds erupted from the depths of the forest.
"Camazotz," Shiomi said, recognizing him.
He wore exaggerated Mayan-style clothing. His dark skin was covered in ancient tattoo patterns, and a manic grin stretched across his face as he looked at them.
Or rather, he was staring at Shiomi, who stood at the center of their formation.
"Welcome, monkeys. You fools who dare challenge the journey into the underworld! Receive it! Bear witness! In this dull Mictlan, the blood of sacrifices bearing the name of a new god shall be offered!"
Morgan raised a hand, ready to unleash magecraft at any moment.
"The Authority is reacting… just like it did back at Tlatlauqui…"
"That which was split apart longs to return to the whole. Back then I planned to seize the opportunity and take it, but I never expected it would devour me instead." Camazotz's smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, indifferent expression. "However, I've changed my mind. Rather than taking it here, I'll wait until you retrieve the remaining portion… and then I'll claim everything at once."
"The last one who said something like that already disappeared in the First Netherworld." Scáthach pointed her spear at Camazotz.
"That witch was only dragged in to make up the numbers. You simply moved a little faster, Chaldea."
Faced with Camazotz's ambiguous words, Shiomi had no time to confirm Morgan's thoughts. He pressed forward immediately.
"From the way you act, you don't seem to be working with Tezcatlipoca. So why are you my enemy? Why did you take my Authority?"
"A living god is already an extraordinary existence. Let alone the Last God." Camazotz looked down at Shiomi with arrogant disdain. "I will take your Authority for myself, drink every drop of your blood, and replace you as the final god upon the throne of Proper Human History."
Shiomi frowned deeply.
"Another one who wants to become a god. Do you really think the seat of a god is something you can just climb onto?"
"Whether I'm qualified or not… we'll find out soon enough." Camazotz rose into the air. "Today I only came to greet you, hollow god of Chaldea. The one who took your final Authority is waiting beyond the next Netherworld line."
"If you want it back, you'd better hurry. But if you plan to waste time here… then I won't hold back."
The meaning was clear.
If Shiomi deliberately delayed reclaiming the final Authority, Camazotz would make his move.
"I can already feel the direction without you telling me," Shiomi replied calmly. "Whether I'm truly a hollow shell or not… we'll find out soon enough."
"Interesting. You're far more entertaining than that stingy Tezcatlipoca." Camazotz grinned. "I'll be watching with great interest. Hahahahaha!"
With that, the man burst into loud laughter before disappearing in a flash of black light.
Only the lingering aura of death he brought with him remained, refusing to fade from the air.