Nicole was the first to snap out of her shock. She hurriedly knelt down and pressed her robe against Emerie's wound in a futile attempt to stem the flow of blood.

Blood continued to gush like a fountain. Emerie's eyes widened in shock, and she made gurgling noises. Unable to speak with her throat cut, her condition was ghastly to witness.

Nicole exclaimed in a panic, "Stop talking, just wait! Where is that pill you mentioned? Can it save your life? Will it stop the bleeding?"

Emerie was unable to reply or even change her expression, feeling her life fading away.

At that moment, a profound regret filled Emerie. She belatedly knew she truly was on the brink of death. Could it be that she wasn't immortal after all? Had the chief been deceiving her all this time?

She struggled with the realization, but as she reached out a desperate hand toward the chief, the chief's eyes spoke volumes.

The panic in the chief's gaze confirmed Emerie's worst fears. She had been manipulated and lied to for years, never living for herself but always under the chief's command. And now, she was paying the ultimate price for that deception.

“Uh...uh..." With a weak, raspy voice, Emerie tried to point at the chief, her blood-soaked hand trembling before it began to fall.

Nicole, frantic, turned to the others and yelled, “Where's that miracle pill? Quick, get it! Can't you see she's dying?"

The chief alone possessed the pill, rumored to have miraculous properties. It couldn't resurrect the dead, but it could extend a life hanging by a thread. Given Emerie's condition, the pill could potentially extend her life for several more hours, enough time for a possible rescue.

However, when Emerie gestured with that intense look in her eyes, the chief realized she could not allow Emerie to survive. It was clear to her that Emerie had uncovered her secret, and therefore, Emerie had to be silenced.

Facing Emerie's condemning stare, the chief announced, “The holy witch has succumbed to injuries inflicted by an evil spirit's weapon. Take her away immediately for treatment."

Four witches stepped up, seizing Emerie from Nicole's grasp, and hurried her off.

Nicole, uncertain of their true intentions, felt an urge to follow but found herself blocked by the chief's firm command.

“Demoness, do you truly believe you can flee?" the chief taunted.

The chief then instructed the other witches, "Escort this demoness forward. I will call upon the Holy Spirit to cleanse this corrupted soul and expose the lurking evil!"

The witches began to drag Nicole toward the platform.

Nicole resisted, shouting at the witches, “Can't you see what's happening? Check on Emerie! Don't listen to your chief. She's deceiving you!"

However, her pleas fell on deaf ears, as the witches, steeped in unwavering loyalty, ignored her cries.

Nicole was forcefully positioned at the rear of the lotus altar, restrained with her back to Roscoe.