The sun slowly sank into the mountains, and night fell over the western border.
The delegation found a clearing not far from the road and set up a tent.
A bonfire soon rose in the center of the tent. The warriors removed their armor, stretched their weary bodies, and gathered around the fire to boil water and cook porridge.
Ariehia carried a basin of hot water into the tent. "Lord God, please wash your face." "Thank you," Mira replied with a smile, dipping the towel into the water. "We'll reach Border Town tomorrow. Thank you for the journey." "This is nothing compared to battling evil beasts," she retorted. "But your horsemanship truly impressed me. I thought Lord God wasn't one for long journeys." "Ha ha, I'm not a born Lord God. When I was a merchant, riding horses was second nature." Mira wiped the dust and sweat from her face with the towel and handed the basin to the warrior. "You should wash too. How does it feel now?" "What?" Ariehia froze in surprise.
"God's punishment of the army," God Officer said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "Your face says it all—it's because of Abrams' words." "..." She took the basin without a word.
"We will face numerous trials and challenges. If we fail to overcome these obstacles, not only the Church but the entire world will suffer. To repel those formidable adversaries, sacrifices may sometimes be necessary," Mira said. "It's a difficult choice, but remember the Church's maxim: 'When faced with two evils, choose the lesser.' " Alishia murmured softly.
"Indeed, the worthiness of the cost depends on the purpose. Above all, the God's Army's conversion ceremony is entirely voluntary. When Abraham's brother chose to become a God's Army member, he was already prepared to dedicate himself to the Church. This is a noble ideal—one that will have his name inscribed on the monument of glory, enduring alongside the Church's splendor." "Thank you for your guidance," Alishia said, her right hand resting on her chest. "I feel much better now." Lord God was right—they all chose to follow God's glory, regardless of the outcome. At least the God's Army adhered to their beliefs. With this thought, the weight on her chest lifted considerably.
"Any help is welcome," Mira said with a light laugh. "Let's go out for dinner—they must have prepared it. Honestly, I've been drinking porridge nonstop lately, and my tongue can barely distinguish flavors." "Thank goodness today's the last day," Aelisha added with a smile. "Tomorrow we'll finally enjoy the Lord's personal hospitality and a lavish banquet." After the bland dinner, the Judge chose tonight's Night Watchman. The trial warriors without assigned duties retreated to their tents and went to bed early. Aelisha followed suit, returning with the God Officer to extinguish the oil lamp and tuck in.
After an indeterminate period, while she was in a drowsy state, a faint dull thud suddenly rang in her ears—as if an object had collapsed to the ground. Shortly thereafter, a second sound was heard.
This time, she also heard the faint sound of armor striking the ground—unobvious, yet unmistakably real.
Her eyes opened wide.
Airexia scrambled to her feet, swiftly grabbing the twin swords at her side. As she edged toward the tent, just as she was about to lift the flap to survey the situation, the Chief Judge's thunderous command erupted from the opposite end:' Enemy attack! Warriors, engage! 'The roar shattered the night's silence, and the camp erupted in a sudden frenzy.
Then there was a loud bang!
The presiding judge's voice was abruptly cut off.
Without hesitation, she rolled out of the tent. The judge's massive sword was cleaved in two, and... not just his blade, but the judge himself was split open. Blood gushed upward, and under the glow of the bonfire, he collapsed weakly, his body splitting apart as he slowly lay at the feet of a woman.
The woman wielding an unusual giant sword was the attacker, her entire body cloaked in a black robe with a hood obscuring her face. Under the shadow of the hood, Aelisia could only see a pair of golden pupils gleaming.
Two more members of the Inquisition Army charged forward, but their resistance proved futile against the terrifying weapon. The enemy would decapitate a warrior with a single strike, severing both body and blade. The moment the weapons clashed, a deafening boom erupted, sending sparks and debris flying, followed by the grating sound of blades scraping flesh and bones. The nightmare-like noise nearly froze the warrior's blood.
"Is Witch!" someone exclaimed.
She is the only one left... Only a fallen soul with Devil's power could dare to attack the Inquisition Army alone!
"Take the God officer with you!" A calm voice suddenly rang in Ailixia's ears.
She turned around and saw it was Abrams.
"You actually want me to abandon my companions and leave first?" Aelisia's eyes widened in shock.
"Otherwise you'll die here in vain! Don't you get it?" He growled, frowning. "Only the Extraordinary possess the God's Stone of Punishment. I'll hold her off. Take the God's Officer and head toward the Long Song Fortress! Remember to stay on the main road. If you spot a camped caravan, call for help immediately!" With that, he charged at the enemy brandishing his sword.
The Extraordinary One drew a sharp breath. Legend had it that only God's Punished Army could stand against them, and encountering an Extraordinary Witch meant immediately seeking help from the local church. Alishia knew she was right—staying here would only lead to their futile sacrifice.
Five teammates had already fallen on the battlefield. The remaining trial warriors shifted tactics, using tents and the terrain to engage in a guerrilla-style fight, hoping to buy more time. Yet she knew full well that against the Superhuman, who far surpassed them in strength and speed, their downfall was only a matter of time.
She gritted her teeth, dashed into the tent, and pulled Mira—already dressed in her shoes and waiting for news—toward the horses.
"What happened?" God asked in a grave tone.
"The Supernatural attacked the camp! I must take you away!" She sprang onto the horse, "Hurry!" But at night, the road was too rough to see clearly. Running wildly over the uneven terrain would easily break the horse's legs. If she jogged, she wouldn't last long before the enemies caught up.
Alyxia decided to let the horses gallop down the road while she and God Guan slipped into the woods by the roadside. Without any light, finding them was no easy task.
The clatter of metal receding into the distance, she held Mila's hand, her eyes scanning the dim moonlight as they ventured deeper into the wilderness. Though wild beasts or venomous snakes might lurk ahead, it was still better than facing a Witch.
When the two finally stumbled to the edge of the Desolate Mountains, Aelisha breathed a sigh of relief. The pursuer had apparently stopped chasing them, leaving only the irritating bird calls overhead and the eerie silence of the surroundings.
"What do we do next?" Mira asked.
In such a tense moment, she remained remarkably composed, a calm that earned Airexia's deep respect. "Sir, we should find shelter here for the night. We can return to the Long Song Fortress for reinforcements at dawn." "Why not head to Border Town? It would take at least a day and a night to get back." "No need," Airexia shook her head. "The Supernatural's arrival was too coincidental. I suspect Lord has already conspired with the Witch. It's too dangerous to go to the town now." "You're right—" Her voice faltered as she stared intently behind the female warrior.
Ariehia's heart sank. She turned around and saw the woman in black robes slowly emerge from the shadowy trees, her eyes like shining stars. An owl circled down and landed on her shoulder.