Chapter 269 : People of the Church

People ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍of the Church

A total of fifteen griffin riders maneuvered their griffins to encircle Serea and her companions. After surveying the two masked girls for a moment, the lead griffin rider's gaze fell on Bone Yan "Chips."

Nether Undead!

And not just any, but the infamous Bone Yan, said to ignore attribute suppression and dominate griffins.

"Sha!"

Seeing their gaze, chips let out a warning sound.

Ignoring the warning, the Holy Knight once again took in the looming Shadow Drakehawks, each one an evil Undead creature.

"Are you an undead mage?"

Having reached this conclusion, the knight loudly questioned Serea. Faced with the threat of drawn blades, Serea remained unflustered.

"Before questioning others, shouldn't you first state your name?"

It seemed Serea's arrogance enraged them. A female knight rode her griffin closer.

"You wretch who controls the Undead, you—"

"Return."

But before she could finish, she was rebuked by the commanding knight. Though visibly disgruntled, she fell back.

"I am Winter Martin, Holy Knight of the Church."

"I am Serea Darkmoon, elf of the Darkmoon clan."

"Elves from the jungle..."

Winter sized up Serea. Originally, they came to the jungle following the Holy Maiden's intel, seeking the core area of the Undead eruption, but found nothing there. So now, they aimed to trace the source of the death magic outburst from before.

And just then, they happened upon Serea, who could control the Undead—leading anyone to suspect the worst.

Sensing Winter's suspicion, Serea unhurriedly retrieved a parchment proof from her spatial ring.

"If you doubt me, this should clear things up."

She tossed Lilith's letter of proof to Winter, who, after reading it carefully, relaxed visibly.

"So that's how it is. My apologies, elf Miss."

Returning the proof, winter no longer displayed hostility toward Serea as before.

"Looks like not all clerics of the Church are as dogmatic and hate-filled as rumors claim."

Serea mused internally, and next, winter inquired,

"But since you are a friend and elf in the jungle, may I ask, what lies thirty kilometers in that direction?"

Winter pointed into the distant jungle. That direction was—

Maregof's sub-camp!

"That's the camp of the Silver Ear tribe of goblins."

"And have you noticed anything unusual recently?"

"Oh, plenty. A large number of Undead abruptly migrated into the jungle, and a powerful surge of magic emanated not long ago from the direction you mentioned."

"As expected..."

Winter pondered, then said,

"Thank you for your answer, miss. We are on a mission and will take our leave."

With that, winter's troops flew toward the Silver Ear tribe camp. Witnessing this, Celia asked,

"Are you trying to redirect trouble?"

"Mm."

"Then why not tell them the full truth?"

"Knowing too much might arouse suspicion, so it's better to say less. Besides, these clues are enough—the Church will soon notice Maregof, without me needing to say a word."

After a brief reply, Serea continued flying toward Eriwin dwarf tribe's camp.

A dozen minutes later...

"We've arrived."

Looking down, they saw the Eriwin dwarves' front outpost blocking a horde of Undead. The dwarves and warriors of several tribes joined forces to resist the Undead tide. Making use of the mountain path's narrow terrain, the sheer number of Undead became a hindrance; piling up their own casualties, the battle approached its end.

"Eat them! Eat them!"

The joint force had punched through the main defense line, forcing giant Abominations and high-level Undead to join the fray, giving the allied tribes much difficulty.

Boom!

A stone giant clashed with an Abomination, the two evenly matched.

Wild Call!

Jaguar, chief of the bearfolk, grew in size and led his people straight into the zombie horde, reaping dozens at once. Supported by beastmen's charge and naga's magic cover, the enemy formation collapsed.

Things looked up, but there were surprises: underestimating the Abomination, the dwarves had sent only a single stone giant, which was promptly knocked down. Before the Abomination now stood nothing but the dwarves' shield wall.

"Die~now~!"

Lumbering forward, the Abomination led the zombies in a reckless charge. The dwarves counted on their shields to fend off the zombie onslaught, but a single crack could prove disastrous.

"Damn it!"

Vandock cursed, seeing the Abomination about to tear the shield wall. He rushed toward the frontlines, the only one who could now stand against the big brute.

Golden Warhammer!

Vandock charged ahead and swung his hammer down just as the Abomination tore open the shield wall.

Boom!

Rocks pierced up from the earth, pinning the Abomination in place, but the zombies had already burst through the shields.

"Quick, plug the gap!"

Vandock shouted, but the dwarves, panicked, failed to hold back the zombies streaming in. Not fatal yet, but a great loss loomed.

Just then, two gigantic figures descended from above.

"Block the enemy!" x2

Gargoyles landed, plugging the breach with their bodies. The zombies were helpless against the stony defenders, while the gargoyles' polearms swept down swathes of foes.

With the breach sealed and dozens of infiltrated zombies slain, the front stabilized. Looking skyward—

"Screech!"

Shadow Drakehawks swept out, felling the zombie beasts that had tormented the dwarves. Elemental magic bombs rained from above, easing pressure on battles below.

"I'm not late, am I?"

Riding Chips to Vandock's side, Serea and Celia dismounted.

"Not at all—you're just in time!"

Vandock exclaimed, while Chips dove excitedly into the zombie horde, rolling and crushing zombies. With the gargoyles' advance, the situation steadied.

The battle was nearly done. With gargoyles and dragonhawks' assistance, cleanup went swiftly. Serea claimed a small windfall, absorbing the death energy of over two thousand Undead.

With the fight over, the dwarves treated the wounded and cleaned up. The various tribe chiefs gathered.

"Queen Serea, as you said—you were right. I apologize again for doubting you before."

"It doesn't matter. Now that things are clear, I'd like to hear your opinions."

"And yours, queen Serea? What's your view?"

Jaguar walked over, stretching.

"My warriors are assembled at Lake Nos, jawfang tribe's camp, ready at any time to join the crusade against Maregof."

Jaguar looked a bit surprised at Serea's speed.

"My father has already written—the Whirlpool Tide clan will soon arrive to join you, Your Majesty."

Dibek added. Jaguar and Oleg exchanged looks, seemingly communicating silently, while Vandock was more forthright.

"We're a bit delayed, but we'll hurry there right away. Hope we're not late."

"So it's decided—war is unavoidable..."

Jaguar looked at Serea.

"As you said in your letter, maregof seeks to use a ritual to either control or destroy the entire forest. As inhabitants of the western jungle, we are duty-bound to defend our home. But Queen Serea, you know well the danger of the Undead toxin. Could I ask your tribe's help?"

"Of course. During this campaign, spring of Life will be supplied unconditionally to heal wounded of all tribes."

"In that case, nothing more to say—for the jungle, let's go to war."

Jaguar agreed, oleg voicing support too.

"I promised the enemies would pay—and I'll be there."

"Thank you, all of you."

"No time to lose—let's move."

"Agreed."

With the tribes' resolution settled and Serea having harvested enough Death Crystals, the plan of attack was finalized. Maregof, as the largest lord in the jungle, controlled an immense territory; merging allied forces would be difficult due to terrain.

So it was decided: the Darkmoon clan, whirlpool Tide clan, and Eriwin clan would attack from the north; the Blood Eye clan and Brand clan from the south. Their ultimate target—Maregof's sub-camp at the edge of Lake Nos.

Word sent out, the beastman and bearfolk reinforcement units, originally meant for the Eriwin dwarves, redirected to join the southern advance. The dwarves departed for the Jawfang tribe camp.

During this, Serea did not linger—mounted on Chips, she raced to the Jawfang tribe's camp.

...

Within dozens of minutes, chips landed at the camp. Lola and the others hurried out to greet them.

"Queen Serea, the camp is under control, and all surrounding Undead have been purged."

"Good. Any word on Maregof's movements?"

"No clear info."

"What do you mean?"

"Maregof's territory is shrouded in mist, and no intel can be gleaned from inside. Scouts or Ravens venturing in have all been attacked by roaming Undead and zombie beasts, so for now, we have no information."

"I see..."

Serea felt a headache at the lack of intel. As she fretted, a golden light shot skyward—from the direction of Lake Nos!

"That's holy light magic—likely Church people."

Celia commented. Serea gazed at the light, then, riding Chips, took to the sky. Even from afar, she saw the mist around the holy light forcefully cleared into an open space.

Landing back on the ground, Serea gave orders:

"Dread Warriors and blood slave troops, follow me into the jungle to investigate. The rest remain here and wait for Eriwin dwarves' support."

Hearing this, Camilla looked pleadingly at her. After a moment's thought—

"You come too."

"Yes!"

The blood slaves mounted Bone Yan and followed. Dread Warriors advanced behind them, and they all plunged into the mists.

Whether it was an illusion or not, the mist slightly thinned as they advanced. Using Appraise, Serea obtained information about the fog:

Lost One Barrier (Purple): Centered on death energy, this fog, constructed with Death Curse, fills a defined area. The closer a unit is to the core, the more heavily it is cursed.

Serea wasn't the only one to notice.

"Careful, these mists are dangerous."

Celia warned, using Holy Light to disperse the fog for the group.

For Bone Yan and Dread Warriors, the curse was harmless—they're Undead. Serea herself was also special; according to Betimia, descendants of Bloodstorm could resist the death energy's erosion—a fact proven in the ancient tomb of Addis.

They pressed toward the center of the recent holy light eruption, encountering many Undead, but nothing else. The misty woods were dead silent!

On the way, they passed an outpost—one of Maregof's camps. Serea and company prepared for battle, but—

"Queen Serea, no living people inside. Only corpses."

Hearing this, Serea approached the pile of bodies—ogres and goblins, stacked in a mound, all members of Maregof's clan.

"They've been dead for six hours. But why were Maregof's people slaughtered in their own camp?"

Puzzled, Serea soon discovered something new.

"Holy light, very faint."

Dogsius spoke.

"Direction?"

"Southeast, one kilometer."

"Go!"

At her command, they dashed southeast. Bone Yan was so swift that, within minutes, the glowing light loomed near.

There, two men and one woman in gold and silver knight armor: the griffin riders Serea had seen before.

Now, however, their majestic griffins were gone, their armor splattered with blood, two lightly wounded, while a male Holy Knight was gravely wounded.

Winter gripped a page radiating holy light. The holy light's power burst forth from that tattered sheet.

Behind them, undead gave chase. But any Undead that tried to approach was purified by the page's holy light, maintaining a buffer.

Yet even in this state, panic was etched across their faces. They ran desperately, and, spotting Serea, winter's face lit up as if he'd found a life-saving straw.

"Elf Miss!"

Winter sprinted over like a drowning man clinging to hope, while Serea stood unmoving.

Reaching her, winter pushed the gravely wounded Holy Knight and the female Holy Knight toward Serea.

"Please, elf Miss, help bring my comrades and this holy page out! If you can deliver it to the Church, you will be greatly rewarded!"

Though Serea was a mere acquaintance, winter had no choice but to trust this "Church-certified undead mage," for the matter concerned the survival of the entire Corrupted Jungle's west—and even the Otto Kingdom's southern front!

(To be continued...)