Only God
Chapter 286 - 246: Justice in My Blood!

Chapter 286: Chapter 246: Justice in My Blood!

Daniel was captured.

First, those Stone Slaves who had partially fled back were captured by the Royal City Guards, and then some, unable to withstand severe torture, betrayed many others.

Among these many, Daniel was included.

Daniel had intended to flee the city under the cover of night or find some place to hide, but the speed of the Royal City Guards today far exceeded his predictions. He had only just escaped, when he was caught by the guards.

Upon learning of this, King Anuket’s face twisted into a sinister grin.

Of course, the King knew that Daniel was a disciple of Xilan. Precisely because of this, he found it all the more necessary to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, thereby diverting the wrath of his ministers dissatisfied with him.

"Kagawus, indeed it is through failure that you warn us!" King Anuket muttered fanatically.

The King ordered his guards to thoroughly search for those Stone Slaves who had fled back to Ajia Land.

On the very night of Daniel’s capture, King Anuket hastily sentenced him to death by hanging.

There was no trial, no chance for defense; the untouchable laws were easily trampled upon, and King Anuket’s actions went unchecked. Those nobles and ministers who were already disgruntled with the True Religion now wholly supported the King’s decision.

The execution by hanging was to be carried out immediately the following morning, giving the Church no time to react.

Those to be executed alongside Daniel were other Stone Slave True Believers, who were accused of treason, disrespecting Kagawus, desecrating Divine Statues... charges personally drafted by King Anuket.

King Anuket abhorred these True Believers; in his view, had it not been for their rebellion, he would have been on the verge of the greatest victory.

But there are no ifs in life.

As King, Anuket naturally did not want to pay a price, so this cost, the ministers’ rage, only the True Believers had to bear.

The King’s Guards brought Daniel up to the square, and thousands of townsfolk, stirred by the morning spectacle, swarmed the square until it was bursting at the seams, staring in shock as the first batch of Stone Slaves was led to the execution ground.

Daniel, face covered in dust and hair unkempt, knew at this moment, looking at the gallows not far away, what his end would be.

The Stone Slaves beside him screamed in terror, struggling, trying to escape from the Guards, only to be repeatedly subdued and dragged to the instruments of torture.

In the square, there was a stone platform for beheading, pillars for burning at the stake, and spikes for piercing through the neck...

Amongst such a multitude of instruments, the most eye-catching was the towering gallows.

Daniel showed not a hint of fear, instead calmly accepting the instrument that would strangle him to death, accepting his ultimate fate.

Looking at the gallows, he did not fall unconscious like the other prisoners; instead, he sighed and said,

"It seems that will be my necklace."

Even the Guard watching over him could not help but feel a flicker of panic at Daniel’s composure.

Mo’er, who was being held beside him, was now crying hysterically and trembling all over with fear.

Daniel and Mo’er were led by the Guards to the sides of their respective execution instruments.

"I’m going to die! I’m going to die!"

Mo’er screamed in a quivering voice.

Then, he suddenly turned his head and said to Daniel in incoherence,

"Daniel... I’m sorry, I lied to you in the name of God!

Not only have I caused my own death, but I’m also causing yours! Oh God, punish me!"

Daniel, upon hearing Mo’er’s words, silently looked at the gallows.

The rope was thick and long; at first, when placed around the neck, it would not seem too painful.

But as the body weight bore down and the rope tightened around the neck, compressing the throat, the suffocating sensation would gradually spread throughout the body. First, the limbs would grow cold, then the head would throb with a hot rush of blood, and from the mouth, blood would incessantly drip down.

That blood would stain the gallows red until at last, one would die, unable to utter even a single cry of anguish.

"Daniel, may God punish me! After my death, I’ll be damned forever!"

Mo’er cursed himself, his tears mingled with fear and guilt.

"Don’t speak, Mo’er."

Daniel murmured,

"You’ve suffered persecution by the King just as I have."

Following that,

Daniel suddenly knelt on the ground, praying loudly:

"God, forgive him,

do not count this sin against my brother,

I am willing to receive this necklace of death."

The agony on the scaffold, the piercing cries from the square, in an instant, were overshadowed by Daniel’s prayers.

People looked at the True Believer who was praying aloud.

Everyone was trembling, even those who were there to execute him.

After the prayer, Daniel slowly stood up and, to the stunned crowd, walked face-forward toward the gallows.

Then, he turned around, with his back facing the executioner, and said,

"Hang me!"

"Justice lies in my blood!"

......................

Antion was trapped in the study room by the Priests.

When he found out about the King’s edict, he tried to rush to the Palace but was blocked inside the Great Temple by the High Priest Hetep and other Priests.

"What are you doing? Do you realize what the King is doing?!"

Antion shouted angrily.

Hetep looked at Antion with a cold sneer,

"Of course, we know. His Majesty is defending the honor of Kagawus, making those filthy True Believers pay their due price."

Antion’s eyes were bloodshot as he tried to break through the Priests’ encirclement, but with a lift of Hetep’s hand, the Priests who were blocking him pushed him away without mercy.

Antion had tried all he could to defend the New Rule Garden, even going so far as to threaten King Anuket with torn relations. Now it was all in vain.

"Why?! Why are you people doing this?!"

Antion was desperate to find a way out but was powerless,

"Not only do you stand idly by watching the King commit a grave sin,

you are aiding and abetting the tyrant; why would you do this?!"

Hetep looked coldly at Antion,

"Because His Majesty is our King, the one protected by Kagawus.

Look at yourself, Antion.

You threatened His Majesty for your selfish interests."

Antion stopped, then burst into hysterical laughter.

Even the usually reserved man had completely exploded.

Antion said bitterly,

"Is what he believes in really Kagawus?

He only worships the Prophetic God in his heart!

You are unimaginably vile, just wait! Just you wait!"