Thorne never meddled much in the growth of the Ghost Thorn Tree and Magic Dragon Gecko. He knew nothing of cultivating magic beasts or plants, and as mutant species, his interference might backfire. Better to let them decide their own paths.
He simply offered as much help as possible and provided advice at key moments.
Seeing the thriving life along the lake's shores, Thorne felt he'd finally found his footing in this world.
Once Tylen returned with magic beast training methods, the next step was large-scale, covert breeding and training.
Food for so many beasts was another issue—conflicts with elf-affiliated magic beasts were inevitable. Thorne needed to distance himself, diverting the elves' attention.
In idle moments, Thorne enjoyed watching the lake's fish, shore grasses, and magic beasts through the wind-rippled waves.
It was a vibrant, diverse world—at least on the surface. Yet these bottom-tier creatures couldn't fathom they were mere slaves to gods harvesting faith, reaped crop after crop in divine struggles.
As Thorne emptied his mind and pondered, he sensed an uninvited guest approaching.
Unhurried, he knew those he could detect early posed no threat to his concealment.
The newcomer wore a red robe and held an odd compass. Spotting the vast lake, he seemed surprised. He scanned around, following the compass, and approached the Huang Tribe playing with magic beasts.
"Young man, what's your name?" The red-robed man exuded a peculiar affinity, disarming even strangers with a sense of closeness.
"I'm Connie. What do you want, uncle?" Connie asked, perched on a magic beast.
The man smiled warmly. "I'd like to find your master. Can you tell me where he is?"
Connie shook his head. Tylen had strictly forbidden revealing anything about the Lake God. Though young, Connie wasn't naive—his reverence for Thorne made him wary of such questions.
The red-robed man, rebuffed by a mere thirteen- or fourteen-year-old, patted his head and asked others. After three or four gave no answers about Thorne, the Huang Tribe grew alert. Despite an instinctive trust in the man, they clammed up, refusing further talk.
The man's smile stiffened. Rubbing his hands, he muttered to Connie, "Since you won't tell me, I'll just see for myself."
A blinding white light burst from him. Connie's eyes glazed over, and he leapt off the beast, walking toward the man.
Others shouted to stop him but couldn't breach the light, left panicking outside as the beasts roared.
Thorne heard the Huang Tribe's inner prayers—he'd seen it all.
This confirmed the red-robed man targeted him. Thorne had planned to observe covertly, but the man's direct move on Connie—likely a spell to probe his memories—forced his hand.
A sharp blast rang in Connie's mind, snapping him awake. Seeing the man's smile, a chill gripped him, and he bolted back.
Expelled from Connie's soul, the man sent a light blade slashing at the fleeing boy.
As it neared splitting Connie in two, Thorne's water arrow collided with it, shattering the blade.
The man turned to Thorne's water-formed figure, his smile widening. "You've finally shown yourself, you rat in the shadows."
Thorne ignored the taunt, curious only about one thing. "Who are you, and why seek me?"
The man sauntered toward Thorne, chuckling. "No harm in telling you. I'm Kristy, from the Light Temple's Divine Judgment Squad. You've spread a heretic god's faith. Today, in the name of the God of Light, I judge you guilty—sentenced to death. Your followers will undergo forced faith conversion."
Despite his smile, Kristy's self-righteous air and chilling words sent shivers down the spine.
"How does this 'forced faith conversion' work?" Thorne asked.
"Simple: those who can be reformed will be; those who can't will vanish under the light," Kristy replied, glancing at his compass with interest. "I'm curious—how do you, or your god, temporarily block faith power? My faith compass led me here, yet I sense no trace of faith. Is your god dead?"
Thorne eyed the compass, reminiscent of a feng shui tool from his past world, marveling at its ability to track faith.
"There's no god here, no faith. You've got the wrong place."
"Impossible. This is the Judgment Chief's order, and the faith compass never errs. Even if it did, blame your bad luck. Under the light, no darkness can exist. Prepare for judgment, you heretic believers."
As Kristy finished, a scroll appeared in his hand. He tore it, summoning a radiant holy sword.
Thorne's water figure didn't resist, dissolving under the strike.
Staring at the puddle, Kristy's smile faded.
Thousands of ice arrows erupted from the lake, a scalp-tingling sight.
Kristy, sensing danger, tried to flee, but a massive aura froze him. When it lifted, four water ropes bound his limbs.
His once-calm, smiling face twisted in terror.
He chanted, a light ring forming ahead. But Thorne wouldn't let him finish.
Thousands of ice arrows shot forth, shattering the half-formed ring instantly.
When the clamor ceased, Kristy's body was riddled with holes, torn apart.