---

The old man narrowly avoided the attack and rolled back onto the ground.

The sound of a strong wind and a thunderclap brushed past my ears. My whole body reverberated as a 7.12g bullet broke through the sound barrier, piercing the desert.

A fierce downpour began. My feet, planted firmly on the ground, screamed against the assault.

From his pale hands, fire was born. A symbol of purity, passion, vitality, and creativity. The clean flames soared from his index and middle fingers, cutting through the air.

His shoes shuffled through the shifting sand. As the sand was swept away, the nature sprouted from the earth gently cradled the old man’s bent body.

– ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ !!!

The flames blazed on without extinguishing. Sparks danced up into the sky.

Amidst the foliage painted in dark red, a faint chuckle resounded.

“Heh, I suspected something unusual was afoot.”

Emerging from the flames and smoke, the old man spoke with a pure, shining smile.

“…Could it be that you are the ‘Hero’?”

Bright red flames once again engulfed nature. Perhaps thinking it wasn’t worth the answer, Camila manipulated the flames with a determined expression.

As if she had anticipated this. Her staff, with pronounced wrinkles, struck the ground.

The green leaves began to dance. A breeze sang through nature. The breath of life and the fragrance of fruits spread richly.

The thorny branches shielded him like a mother hedgehog protecting her young, wrapping the old man in softness and tenderness.

“To those who have not heard worthless and vile words, rewards await for their deeds; they shall dwell among the thornless cedars, amidst the fillai trees laden with blossoms and fruits.”

Though the old man stood in the midst of the thorn bushes, the trees did him no harm.

With a pure smile illuminating his face, he spread his arms wide at the center of nature.

“O wanderer without faith, one who has strayed onto the wrong path. Cast off the ignorance and bow before the Divine Tree in praise. Then you may enter the embrace of Mother, so come forth from the darkness and be reborn in the light.”

Just as the incomprehensible sermon began.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck, and a name surged to mind.

The group that fled to the necropolis after stealing the Saint’s blood and the angel-sleeping cedar coffin.

One of the many cult organizations that worshiped the ash tree as the Divine Tree.

Ultimately hunted down by the Order of the Holy Knights after a relentless pursuit.

The cult organization that had hoped for rebirth.

“…Al Kair.”

—

Episode 17 – The Tree That Drinks Blood

The sun sank slowly to the western horizon, casting deep shadows. The buildings stretched long with shadows, and tensions flared in the dim slum.

The serious-faced Camila extended her finger, aiming at a target when a small gasp was heard.

“Oh. You knew about our Holy Church?”

Her white eyebrows lifted slightly. Surprise filled her wrinkled face, as if she hadn’t expected to hear that name here.

The old man, like one who found joy in an unexpected place, seemed overjoyed.

As his staff touched the ground, the dense vegetation parted to clear a path. The old man stepped forward with a delighted expression.

“I never dreamed I would see someone enlightened in such a shabby place.”

“…….”

“To find one who knows Al-Kair sprouted from the seedbed. This cannot be mere coincidence. It must be a revelation from the divine.”

I couldn’t utter a word seeing the old man’s gentle smile. The words were too absurd for me to speak.

“But tell me, why are you with them?”

“…What?”

The absurd words continued. The old man, who had walked out excitedly, suddenly began to spew unexpected statements.

Standing still, I was bombarded with a worried question. The old man, with a bitter smile, continued in a low voice.

“In this ignorant world, if the ‘Hero’ is here, then the ‘Saint’ of the Holy See must be too. Since only one woman is called priest here, it must be that woman, Lucia, serving a false god.”

Like in any group, referring to another solely by their name is considered extremely rude. This type of casual address can only originate from a superior to a subordinate or between close colleagues. In that sense, the old man had committed a significant faux pas.

Yet, he appeared undisturbed, smiling nonchalantly.

“How tragic and pitiable it is for one who has dipped their feet into enlightenment to be among the unbelievers. Could there be a more lamentable fate in this world?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“The sins of humanity are profound. Nature, created by the Mother of All, is being defiled by greed.”

His wrinkled hand rested on his chest.

With a step forward, he continued with a tinge of sorrow in his voice.

“Long ago, a prophet scolded the ignorance of men and spread teachings, yet those blinded by desire distorted the prophet’s words, thus misinterpreting the Mother’s will. People lost their way and wandered, eventually becoming stained with sin.”

“…….”

“The only way to wash away this sin is through faith. Only by gaining enlightenment through sincere teachings can the path to salvation be opened.”

He stopped walking, and with a radiant smile, stood in his place.

“Just like you, Brother.”

His twig-like fingers pointed towards a dead police officer lying nearby.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

“Is stuffing plants into people’s guts what you call salvation, you idiot?”

A chilling outburst was directed at the old man.

With a nervous glare, I stared at the senile lunatic.

“Stuffing perfectly good people with plants! That tree over there that ate a person—was that your doing too?”

“You must pay close attention to your words. Would you dare insult those who have offered their spirits and bodies for the growth of the Divine Tree?”

Okay, I’m starting to get it now.

The Blood-drinking Tree, a plant that parasites on humans. Everything was connected to Al-Kair.

Having uncovered the connection, I saw no need to listen any further. I immediately readied my stance.

The muzzle, aged and dulled from the passage of time, remained perfectly tightened. The smell of gunpowder still lingering in the air in front of the old man, my finger hovered over the lukewarm trigger.

Federal soldiers from the government army rushed in sensing the situation. Armed with Kien Empire rifles, they surrounded the old man.

The atmosphere trembled. A faint spark ignited at my outstretched fingertip. Along with her, I unleashed an onslaught of attacks.

—

Countless raindrops poured in.

Bullets that shattered the sound barrier showed no discrimination against objects or targets. Tatatatata! Tadadada! Flames erupted one after another, and dust swirled up from the bricks and dirt ground.

-QUAAARRR!

The earth shook, and the vines and branches writhed. The plants adorned with moss and leaves dug their way through the quaking ground.

Nature, sprouting from its place of life, wilting in dozens of colors, wriggled like a wave.

The branches twisted and the trees embraced the soil. Roots crushed gravel and asphalt. Twisted and tangled trunks clustered together while fluttering leaves danced in the wind.

The grandeur of nature cradled the frail body.

Standing firm on its roots, the old man entwined in the vines continued to murmur.

“Tsk tsk… Just how can one be this dull!”

His head shook, revealing the deep sorrow that lingered within. He was genuinely lamenting.

“Have you not gained wisdom, even after witnessing the Mother’s blessing with your own eyes?”

Wisdom, my ass.

If that’s what enlightenment, wisdom, and salvation are, I’d rather live my life as an atheist.

Feeling the sting of rebuffed thoughts, the old man tried one last persuasion in a decidedly sorrowful tone, but my determination was more than clear; it was downright solidified.

“Unlock your heart and receive this. Do not reject it. Then, there shall be salvation.”

“Shut your trash talk!”

“I promise you a not-so-bad future personally.”

“Get lost!”

Bang bang bang bang bang-! The gunshots rang out unannounced. The booming sounds lit up the dim light alongside the flames.

Surely the old man was here, but enemies surrounded him from all sides. Those cursed plants were targeting not only me but also Lucia and Francesca.

“Hmm-”

A thick tree fell, and a blue streak severed its base. Francesca halted the advancing plants with her rune sword.

-BOOM!

Behind her, a brilliant white explosion erupted. In the thick smoke, someone soared into the air.

It was Lucia.

Soaring into the air, Lucia kicked at the massive vines. The branches that took her brunt fell helplessly, smashing the nearby shanties and terraces.

Lucia landed lightly, taking a step back.

“There’s quite a lot, isn’t there? I must hurry to assist over there.”

“Why not tend to yourself as much as you do for others?”

Francesca followed closely behind her, offering an awkward smile.

“Currently, no one is in greater danger than us, Saint.”

The overgrown vines were as tough as chains, and the tree’s strength was several times stronger. Threateningly toxic leaves bloomed on each entangled, coiled stem.

The two stood amidst a pit of poisonous plants.

They were isolated. Completely surrounded.

To make matters worse, skin that brushed against the leaves turned a dark blue. Francesca reached into her leather pocket, producing an antidote, uncorking it with her teeth, and pouring it over her wound.

Crash! The shattered glass splintered everywhere.

As the remedy began to take effect, her condition improved, but it was too early to relax. Checking her arm, Francesca spun her rune sword.

“Here we go.”

Francesca smiled brightly.

“Let’s see if we can make it out alive.”

“I think you’ll be fine.”

With a clenched fist and lowered stance, Lucia replied.

“So long as you don’t die, you’ll be able to survive.”

As poisonous plants closed in from all sides, beams of white light and blue threads started to shoot forth.

“……”

I glanced at the trapped two before quickly shifting my focus back to the front.

There was no way to help Lucia and Francesca right now. I, too, was likely to meet my end. Instead, I needed to capture the enemy commander before anyone got hurt.

I aimed for the sluggish plants and fired. The target was the old man.

Bullets rained down toward the old man’s form, which intermittently appeared through the leaves and branches. However, before the gunfire could reach, the tree swayed as if stirred, and the bullets merely scratched the innocent wood.

“Camila!”

As I yelled, I got a response.

Yet naturally, actions spoke louder than words. Instead of a reply, pillars of fire surged ahead.

-FA-ASHHH!

The forest was engulfed.

The plants were as chaotic and lush as the eastern regions of Nabuktu. Dense foliage and sporadically layered branches lined a tightly packed forest, resembling areas turned into slums due to overdevelopment and narrow roads.

And the flames—gobbled it all up in one swift motion.

The plants, which had easily absorbed the gunfire, found themselves utterly powerless before the great inferno.

-FLAARHK~

-FWOOOSH…!

In the wake of the wildfire, everything turned to shades of gray. In an instant, the flames consumed the trees, spreading and scorching everything in sight.

It was with pained observations that I gazed at the flaming vegetation.

“…Oh dear.”

With a sorrowful look, the old man raised his arms high. Then, crack!

“The Mother of All sends forth the wind, which stirs the clouds and brings life back to the dead earth; resurrection is akin to this.”

The charred leaves dropped, and new sprouts rose from the ash.

Greens, daisies, chickweed, plantain, and various herbs began to sprout, painting the earth green.

The scars of the flames disappeared, and nature regained its original hues. In sync with the flourishing ecosystem, the trees shed their charred skin, donning brown armor.

But of course, one must never miss an opportunity.

The best strategy to capture prey is not to panic when the chance presents itself, and a seasoned hunter never overlooks a weakness.

A thumb was freed after four fingers curled. A flick of the thumb revealed gems. Small, intricate flames hung from the tips of the fingers.

Of course, their power was far from tiny and intricate.

“Boom.”

As I flicked my fingers, four streams of flames shot forth. The explosive sound accompanied the flaming projectiles as they struck the tree.

KAKOW! It shook the heavens and earth, sending tremors throughout the desert. Tender sprouts, birthed from the womb of the Earth God, were crushed by the flames.

Camila, who had approached in search of an opening, had to retreat with her body transformed into a fiery blaze. The sound of her shoes grinding against the sand filled the air as she leapt back.

Three fingers bent.

The only extended finger was the index.

With the half-bent thumb and elongated index finger targeting the objective, Camila steadied her breathing and calmly said a word.

“Bang.”

A thick and powerful streak of flame soared like a raindrop.

The mere brush ignited the leaves. The fiery streak consumed the green leaves. Strain broke branches, leaving blackened marks on trunks. The jet of fire flew steadily, filling the old man’s vision.

“…!”

The wrinkled eyes widened, taut with tension.

The old man, bent at the knees, touched the nearby tree trunk with his staff. The branches swayed, tilting the ponderous tree. Camila’s flames smashed the leaning tree, creating a massive explosion.

“…Haha! Such sturdy and fierce magic. Truly skill befitting your reputation!”

The flaming arrows lodged deep.

Camila continuously unleashed fire upon the advancing plants, yet the old man remained hidden amidst the chaos.

-TATATATATA-!

-BOOM! Tada-tatata!

The federal army, who joined late, began unleashing bullets toward the old man.

While the commander and soldiers had no idea what was happening, they retaliated since this group had been attacked first. A flicker of thoughts passed about why Lucia and Francesca were among them, but it didn’t last. I noticed half of the federal soldiers had already been wiped out.

I didn’t wonder about the whereabouts of the remaining soldiers.

From a distance, the continuous explosions echoed, but we poured every effort into capturing the old man. Grenades rolled and exploded, and flaming beams surged as the forest trembled. Bullet explosions occasionally revealed silhouettes, but none were able to touch him.

-BOOM!

“…Damn it.”

I muttered weakly, slumped over as I tried to snipe the old man. How the hell was that old man capable of blocking bullets flying at the speed of sound?

By now, over twenty opportunities had come and gone. I hadn’t succeeded even once.

The bullet that should have pierced his heart was blocked by overlapping branches, and the bullet targeting his ankle was stopped by the sluggish roots.

I pulled my eyes away from the scope and assessed the battlefield. After a short moment, an estimate formed.

“This won’t work.”

There were too many plants. Why on earth were these cultists summoning trees, flowers, and grass? It was more like an environmental protection agency than a cult.

The issue was that the plants summoned by the old man were more than too many.

The slum, once covered in sand and gravel, now resembled a small forest. Yet, facing down the divided groups alone, the old man seemed monstrous.

“If you love nature, go tend to a farm! Damn it, go plant some trees out there in that sandy desert!”

Despite my verbal onslaught, all I received in return was laughter.

The old man, cradled by the shelter of nature in the little woods, burst into laughter and began his tirade.

“One or two trees cannot revive a damaged nature! That alone won’t bring joy to the Mother. Humanity’s greed has defiled nature; it is only by washing away this sin that the Mother shall truly smile.”

Mother of All. Nature. Earth. Creation…

These words felt oddly familiar. While Al-Kair was completely foreign to me, the terms flowing from the old man struck a chord.

I began to combine the keywords in my mind. Mother, creation, nature, earth.

…Wait a minute.

Isn’t this about the Earth God?

“The Earth God? Are you, a cultist, worshiping the Earth God right now?”

As I spat these incredulous words, a resounding boom erupted from the forest.

And then came the roar of a lion.

“How dare you compare our Holy Church to some mere cult—!”

From the heart of the trees and plants, the tempestuous voice roared like the winds. Calling Al-Kair a cult had struck a nerve.

The old man, seemingly losing his wits, unleashed a torrent of fury. Curses laid thick as sulfur and flames would doom his soul forever to suffering. Endless pain, and so on… I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d heard them all before, and now I realized they were all quotes from Al-Yabd’s scriptures.

Ah, so these folks weren’t merely a cult, but a sect originating from Al-Yabd.

After all, religion isn’t something that simply drops from the sky. It usually borrows from here and there. Like Christian heresies and…

Like Daesh (ISIL: Islamic State of Iraq and Levant). It seems that Al-Kair was also birthed as a heretical offshoot in a similar manner.

“Huh.”

It makes me laugh uncontrollably. It’s not for some other reason, but because those bastards happen to be heretics of the Al-Yabd faction.

Even the officially recognized mainstream sects often slander each other as heretics. To go a step further and fabricate an entirely new religion, and then claim it’s not heretical?

“What do you call it then, if a selective soteriology and a group practicing human sacrifice aren’t heretical?”

As I sarcastically throw that out, the attack comes immediately.

Thorns and branches come raining down. The sturdy stems rush in as if to tear me apart, plants starting to mercilessly smash the area while targeting me.

“Stop!”

The atmosphere distorts.

With a ferocious gust, a red waterfall falls from the sky. Flames push against the grotesquely twisted roots, stems, and branches, protecting me.

A familiar silhouette drops down with a thump.

Did Camila struggle to catch her breath after rushing over? Suddenly, she glances back sharply.

“Are you okay?!”

I nod.

“That’s a relief. For now, I’ll slip out briefly to rescue Lucia and Francesca— Tch…!”

As the shadow falls, a massive log comes flying towards us.

Freshly uprooted, chunks of dirt cling to the roots. Twigs flutter violently, and as the leaves rain down, the compressed flames between my hands greedily devour the falling tree.

Boom! A tree so heavy it would be hard to move even with a truck plummets from the sky.

Transformed into a fireball, the tree no longer even resembled a ‘tree’.

– Fwoosh.

While Camila gathers flames in preparation for the next attack, a light tap begins on her shoulder.

Turning around, Camila’s eyes question what’s wrong. I whisper softly.

“Wait a moment. A good idea just came to me.”

“What idea?”

“Listen closely….”

I lean in slightly. Camila’s expression strangely shifts as she concentrates on the whisper by her ear. Her eyes, as if realizing something, widen.

“…Hmm.”

“Do you think you can do it?”

“I don’t know if it’ll succeed, but….”

She beams at me and vigorously nods.

“I’ll give it a try.”

*

Amid the ongoing battle, a shout rings out.

“Camila!”

A soldier firing wildly looks back briefly before pulling the trigger again, his loud voice resounding over the clamor of gunfire.

“Quick, burn that tree that eats people!”

The shout was loud enough for everyone to hear.

The executive overseeing the battle began to look over here with a bewildered expression. His eyes seemed to ask what he should do without the magician.

However, when a vigorous response was heard, the executive’s gaze shifted elsewhere.

“Got it—!”

Camila replied. Shouting, she took off and leaped.

As flames fluttered chaotically from the roof, a person fell from the sky in the blink of an eye.

With a light thud, Camila landed softly and began to charge forward. Towards the tree in the distance.

And then—

– Rumble…!

A gigantic column woven from vines and branches appeared, blocking her way.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

The old man appeared alongside the column.

On top of countless intertwined plants, his distorted face contorted with anger.

“I won’t allow it. Anyone who hinders the growth of the Divine Tree shall not die peacefully!”

Nature’s wrath sings its fury. The column splits, and the plants stretch out and begin to rush at her.

Then, as Camila lifted her finger, the air around her rippled in an instant. Heat waves shimmered. In the flickering air, the heat waves swirled together and gathered into a point.

– Thump!

Her staff strikes the ground once.

The plants that were reaching out to tear into fragile flesh pulled back as if nothing happened, sticking to the old man instead.

Nature embraces the old man. He did not reject nature, and nature embraced humanity.

“……”

Watching the old man hide among the plants, Camila gazed at him with sharp eyes. Lowering her finger, she crouched down, and flames and smoke began to rise.

Right after that, before the old man, covered with plants, a person emerged.

Surrounded by swirling flames.

A straightened index finger aimed at the old man’s face.

“BOOM!”

*

The heat waves from her fingertips transformed into flames, ready to explode like a volcano at any moment.

Lush plants wrapped around Camila’s body, pushing her back. However, there was nothing to be done about that extended finger.

Just before the roots were completely covered.

A single stream of flame charged straight for the old man’s face.

A scream echoed.

From among the plants, a wailing sound broke through.

The scream felt like it was wringing the lungs and vocal cords, causing branches and leaves to tremble violently.

As if sharing the agony, the mountains and fields cried out loudly. The more the old man suffered, the more violently the plants convulsed.

– Bang-bang-bang-!

– Bang-bang-bang-bang-!

The assault continued.

It was a one-sided attack, driving the opponent into a corner.

What was once uniformly green nature had been thoroughly decimated.

Countless copper-colored bullets marched like soldiers, and the lightly dirt-coated leaves were riddled with holes.

“Fire! Don’t stop shooting!”

“Kill it quickly!”

The commander of the federal government forces was engrossed in directing. An executive with a drawn pistol snapped off instructions while gesturing intensely.

A soldier, grinding his teeth, scratched the sides with his rifle. Click, click. Empty magazines rolled on the ground as new ones were loaded. The machine gun on the truck raised its head and began to spew fire with fierce momentum.

The soldiers unleashed a barrage of bullets to subdue the plants.

– Ptdtdtdtdt!!!

The old trees and newly sprouted saplings sprayed brown flesh in succession. Where bits fell off, new shoots grew in their place.

A tug-of-war ensued as they opened and filled gaps, and the machine gun mowed down everything blocking its path. I cautiously estimated the situation.

“……”

The wildly twisting plants and screams from within. I had successfully drawn out the old man but it seemed the finishing blow had failed.

After all, considering he’s a cultist who has lived this long, it wouldn’t be so easy to take him down. Grunts likely dealt with common rabble like the interrogators and religious police.

But that’s not the issue.

“Ugh….”

Camila grimaced while clutching her side. Fresh blood trickled from the gap pressed against her left side, and a hole big enough for a finger had been punctured.

Checking with a fallen branch, I saw it stained with blood. Gently unveiled her hand, and I found an open wound.

“Looks like the pancreas and stomach were spared. Fortunately. It’s a bit lower, so the kidneys and spleen should be fine.”

The captain might have been injured. There’s a possibility of a perforation in the descending colon.

If there’s a perforation, surgery is necessary; that means cutting open the abdomen to pull out the intestines and sew them back up. Naturally, that’s a procedure I can’t perform here. We need to get to a hospital. A really big one.

“I’m… okay… um….”

Camila struggled to reassure me she was fine, though her expression clearly said otherwise.

In a rush, I dug into my backpack for a potion. Pouring it gently, smoke rose from the punctured flesh, and new skin slowly began to emerge, healing the wound.

Watching that, Camila silently grabbed my hand. I gazed into her blue eyes, then lowered the blood-stained hand and picked up the rifle.

“…….”

The soldiers on the roof leaped from building to building. In the path created by bullets fired upwards, I caught sight of the old man.

I wrapped the sling around my hand. Leaning against the wall, I secured the barrel to stabilize my aim.

For just a moment, I felt a heavy pressure.

A dull impact hit my shoulder, and a bullet whizzed past, piercing through my flesh as it passed through the leaves.

A few more gunshots followed. I kept pulling the trigger, aiming at the old man visible amid the sluggish plants.

From a distance, Camila stood up, gripping the railing.

With trembling hands, she aimed. Her left hand supported her right, and with all her might, she curled her index finger.

The air tore apart.

Her clothing fluttered, and her hair danced. A streak of flame shot out, distorting the air.

The flames, fueled by oxygen, ignited themselves. The tangled vines burned. Fallen leaves and splintered branches scattered, and in the sparks swirling in all directions.

The mad old man finally revealed himself.

“…The prophet said. You, who know the original creation but do not take it as a lesson. Have you not seen the seed sown into the ground?”

The flames obliterated the densely packed plants in one blow. They did not stop there, devouring the surroundings with embers and heat.

The gray-tinted branches crumbled weakly, and once-vibrant green leaves faded all at once.

Transparent and whitish sap bubbled from the severed trunks. Droplets of sap evaporated before moistening the ground, leaving behind only gray ashes.

The old man, who had stood at the center of the plants, was now gone.

As nature reached the end of its life, he stood no different from the ashes.

Yet, the old man displayed an infinite calm.

Where distorted skin had peeled away, brown skin emerged. What enveloped him was like bark—no, in fact, it was bark.

A tree-human.

To put it bluntly, the old man had become one with the tree.

Even in a form that could no longer be called human, he calmly walked out from amidst flames and smoke.

For those deeply immersed in faith, despair and suffering were merely parts of asceticism.

The madman confidently stepped over the ashes.

“Did you allow it to grow, or did Mother nurture it? It is our Mother who created the earth and sowed the seeds.”

He lifted his head. With maniacal eyes glistening, he gazed at the blue sky.

With his arms outstretched, the insane old man stood on the ashes, a smile stretching across his lips.

“If she wishes, she will shatter it to pieces, and then you shall lament and say everything was in vain.”

– Rumble!

The earth trembles.

From the shaking and heaving ground, plants emerge. Much larger and more bountiful than before, stems and leaves of green spring forth.

The struggle for life triggers earthquakes. As the violent fury of nature begins to erupt.

Clap! The madman clapped his hands.

“Some will be humiliated, and some will be praised. At that time, the earth will tremble deeply. The mountains will be crushed to little pieces and scattered like dust.

O you who mocked the words, who do not give thanks for bread and doubt. Even when your soul reaches your throat, Mother is close, yet you remain unaware.

Among you who rebel and roam aimlessly, you shall drink boiling water and be burned in the fires of hell.”

The tremors grew louder, to the point I could barely stand.

Humans maintain their balance on their legs. On land shaking like this, it’s impossible to keep one’s balance without falling.

Even without that, the moment I am hit by that enormous root, there will be no intact part left. Or I’ll be dragged underground, crumbling like a dried fig.

At this rate, it’s dangerous. The situation is truly precarious…

“- Wisdom enters the heart, and knowledge becomes the joy of the soul,

Discretion and discernment shall preserve and protect you,

It will rescue you from dark paths and the mire of falsehood.”

A light began to ripple from the palms we held together.

A cluster of white fireflies began to stretch out, flickering in all directions.

With hands clasped together in prayer, I could hear the soft sound of whispering prayers. As the pure light descended upon us, the furious wrath of nature calmed.

I could feel the shaking slowly cease.

…No. The earth still trembles.

What was steady was not the ground but the person.

My body floated up. Click, click. The familiar and pleasant sound pierced through the silence to my ears.

A cubic cube rotated by itself as it fitted the puzzle pieces.

Camila, now airborne, lifted the scattered federal soldiers and me. By her side, a white glow caressed her bloodstained side.

The light that had begun from our joined hands traveled up her tattered sleeves. It healed the poisoned injuries, softly caressing the saint’s eyelids.

A change occurred in her ocean-blue eyes. White energy seeped around her pupils.

Like the froth of shattered waves, a bright white energy appeared within her eyelids.

Lucia opened her closed eyes softly and began to speak.

“Heresy—!”

A dying, desperate cry burst from her cracked lips. The brown shell above her lips trembled with a rising anger.

The madman unleashed his fury.

However, disregarding this, Lucia’s prayers continued steadily.

“The Lord said. Behold, this one has taken the fruit and knows good and evil.”

Waves of brown and green rise. Nature’s fury begins to sing.

As nature breaks and shatters concrete, she stands at the end.

Just before the rushing waves touch her body, a blue line fills the space, directly meeting nature’s tide.

Like ingredients being chopped finely by a sharp knife, the waves of brown and green shattered into pieces.

The mad old man, looking around, soon discovered the culprit.

On a roof a little way off, Francesca sat perched on the railing, gazing down.

– Crash!

Sharp wooden pillars swept through her along with the railing.

The trees charging towards her seemed to fly straight but suddenly changed direction and fell away. Peculiar inscriptions on steel lodged into the fallen trees.

Francesca jumped lightly from the railing.

Landing softly, she opened her bag and handed over several vials. Even though she didn’t seem to be in the best state herself, Francesca smiled gently.

“Drink this. It might not be as effective as a military potion, but it’s pretty good.”

She fed it to Camila.

As Camila’s complexion started to regain vitality, she attempted to rise, but her follow-up was halted, forcing her to lie down again.

After stopping the patient who was trying to join the fight, the alchemist turned her head towards the source of the prayers.

“Fearing that he might raise his hand and eat the remaining threads to gain eternal life, He drove him out of paradise and made him till the ground he came from.”

Amid the quiet prayers, suddenly something dropped from the sky.

Even with the thunderous noise, the prayers didn’t cease.

“In this way, He cast him out, placing a sword in the east, to guard the way to paradise. This is indeed the rotating sword, the burning sword.”

From the object appearing with thunder, smoke billowed.

As Lucia cleared the smoke with her hand, she lifted the object. A long brass handle emerged, finally revealing multiple metal flanges at the end.

It was a mace.

A flanged mace.

The saint, gripping the mace, gently closed her eyes. Then, she carefully drew the sign of the cross.

“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

From her forehead to her heart.

From her left shoulder to her right.

The saint, having drawn the sign of the cross, concluded her prayer.

“Now shut your mouth and dig.”

 

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