Marquis Rodrik, upon hearing the news from the capital, began to dream of new ambitions. However, the one responsible for the upheaval had no time to dwell on political matters.
Lavier's Escape
The priest of the Salvation Order, Lavier, finally paused to catch his breath after reaching an isolated location far from the capital.
"Phew… I never thought I'd end up in this mess."
The exposure of various insurgent groups plotting rebellion during the civil war was none of his concern—it wasn't part of his mission.
What troubled him was the disruption caused by that damned Count of Fenris. His presence had not only exposed Lavier's existence but also destroyed his research and cost him all of his Holy Warriors.
"Count of Fenris… That bastard…"
Lavier muttered, his anger boiling.
The revelation of his and the Salvation Order's existence had brought them into the light. Worse, the incident had unfolded in front of Juana Church's knights and what appeared to be a bishop.
"How the hell did they know about me and the Order?"
His plans were far from complete, yet his true strength and the secrets of the Salvation Order had been laid bare—irrefutable evidence against them.
As Lavier continued his journey, his thoughts were a chaotic storm of confusion.
"If they knew about us, why didn't they act sooner?"
Fenris had clearly known his name and that of the Order. Yet, until now, there had been no signs of that knowledge being used.
It made no sense, and the unanswered questions gnawed at his sanity.
Pain shooting through his arm snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Ugh… What kind of wound is this…"
He glanced down at his injured arm. On the surface, it seemed healed, but inside, something was wreaking havoc. Even the slightest strain threatened to reopen the wound.
Calming the energy surging within would take time—a luxury he didn't have. Pursuers could appear at any moment. First, he needed to find a safe place.
"Heading straight to the southern territories is impossible in this state."
The southern region, where the Ducal House resided, would be the safest refuge, but the distance was too great. First, he needed to recover and heal his injuries.
After days of traversing remote paths heading south, Lavier finally decided on his destination.
"I'll head to the County of Albemarle."
The Albemarle estate was the closest pro-royalist territory. Although it was loyal to the royal faction, it also harbored hidden bases for the Ducal House. It would suffice as a temporary hideout.
An Unwelcome Encounter
As Lavier carefully navigated mountain paths, he suddenly stopped, his instincts screaming at him.
"They've found me already…"
The wind had stilled unnaturally, and not even the insects made a sound. The heavy air seemed to press down on him from all sides.
Whoosh!
As Lavier drew upon his strength, black energy enveloped him once more.
At the same time, masked figures in dark robes emerged from the surrounding forest.
Lean and sharp-eyed, there were about a dozen of them, their presence radiating deadly intent like finely honed daggers.
Scanning the group, Lavier sneered.
"Elves, is it?"
Many groups were after him, and one of them included elves. It seemed those nearest to his location had caught up.
Among the elves, the one who appeared to be their leader lowered his hood and spoke.
"You reek of the Salvation Order. You will be taken alive. Surrender now."
"You dare speak so arrogantly, you slave race."
The leader's eyes narrowed at the insult. The plight of their enslaved kin was a painful subject for all elves, but their mission took precedence over their pride.
"I'll make this brief. Tell us where the rest of your kind and your base are located."
Lavier chuckled, his shoulders shaking with amusement.
"Do I look like an ordinary follower to you?"
"What?"
"If you want to capture me, you should have sent someone far stronger than the likes of you."
Whoosh!
The black aura surrounding Lavier intensified, surging with violent energy.
Unlike his battle with the master-class Ghislain, he saw no need to fully unleash his demonic form.
The elves stiffened, their expressions hardening at the display of power.
"He's at a bishop's level. Stay on your guard!" the leader warned, summoning elemental spirits as the other elves followed suit.
Boom!
The two forces clashed with tremendous force. Though the elves numbered more than ten and were mid-tier spirit summoners, Lavier's strength rivaled that of a 7th-circle mage even without revealing his full power.
Boom! Crash! Boom!
The secluded battlefield became a chaotic storm as the two sides collided yet again in their endless struggle.
Neither Lavier nor the elves could have imagined that someone was watching them from afar.
Ghislain's Watchful Eye
"Master! He's fighting again! Look!"
Dark, the spiritual entity Ghislain had planted on Lavier, reported the situation in real-time.
Although Ghislain had returned to his estate after securing the Dragon Heart, he still received regular updates on Lavier's movements.
Hearing the report, Ghislain's curiosity was piqued.
"Fighting? Who's he fighting this time? A pursuit team from Marquis Branford?"
Branford had quickly dispatched trackers upon learning of Lavier's escape, but they had already lost his trail.
"No! It's elves! They're spirit summoners!" Dark exclaimed.
"Elves? Spirits?"
"Yeah, they're elves! But their spirits don't feel like the ones I'd call friends. They seem… different."
While Dark seemed more interested in the summoned spirits, Ghislain nodded in understanding and muttered to himself.
"Elves… I think I know who they are."
"You do? Wait, is this someone you knew in your past life?"
"Yes, there's someone I remember."
"Not like the dimwits we have in the estate, right?"
"Not at all."
In his past life, there were several individuals who had a deep-seated grudge against the Salvation Order. They had practically foamed at the mouth whenever the cult was mentioned.
Reflecting on this, Ghislain couldn't help but laugh.
"If only her restrictions were lifted, Lavier wouldn't stand a chance. He'd be reduced to a pulp in no time."
Ghislain recalled the elf known as the "Guardian of the World Tree," a being of overwhelming power. The Salvation Order was fortunate she remained bound by her limitations.
If she were to act directly, Lavier wouldn't have made it this far.
"How's the battle going?"
"It's fun to watch!"
"…I meant the situation."
"The elves are no match for him. Their spirits can't even penetrate his aura. Two of them are dead already. Oh, make that five now."
Dark continued narrating with enthusiasm.
Ghislain sighed, picturing the scene.
"Elves can't move freely in human lands. It's no surprise they're struggling."
If Lavier were a lesser member of the Order, the elves might have captured him easily. But as a high-ranking bishop, he required much stronger and more numerous opponents—something the elves couldn't manage without exposing themselves.
"How's Lavier doing?"
"He's on the move again."
"How long do you think he can keep this up?"
"I'm not sure. He hasn't had proper treatment, so he's holding on by sheer willpower. But it won't last."
Ghislain nodded thoughtfully.
"We need to extract every piece of information we can—even if it's just the location of another hideout."
Dark's energy was fading as the connection weakened with distance.
"Do your best to hold on."
"Got it."
While Ghislain couldn't act directly, learning that the Ducal House and the Salvation Order were already allied was a critical breakthrough. Preparing for both the Order and the impending Era of Calamity would now be possible.
Meanwhile, unaware that he was being watched, Lavier moved his battered body onward.
"Damn it… I didn't think things would get this bad…"
He needed to reach a hideout to heal and recover. The elves wouldn't be able to track him further, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
With his identity revealed, even the pro-royalist nobles would be after him.
Lavier moved with deliberate caution, leaving no traces behind. It took longer, but it was necessary.
No matter how strong he was, he couldn't keep fighting in his current state.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached his destination.
"I'm here."
Lavier, now disguised in the robe he had taken from the slain elves, stealthily entered the Castle of Albemarle.
This territory, though aligned with the royalist faction, harbored a secret group tied to the Duke's faction that had plans to incite rebellion during the civil war. Lavier intended to take refuge with them for the time being.
However, upon reaching the location where the disguised group was stationed, he was met with an unsettling sight.
"This… this is…"
The building was nearly destroyed, with debris scattered everywhere and blood staining the walls and floors.
There were no civilians in sight—only knights and soldiers were present, patrolling the area.
"What… what the hell happened here…?"
Lavier was at a loss. Unless there had been a traitor, there was no reason for this destruction. How could every hideout he approached end up annihilated?
The knights noticed his suspicious demeanor immediately. One of them pointed toward him.
"Who's that? This place is restricted. He looks suspicious—bring him in for questioning."
The royalist forces had been systematically targeting hidden factions of the Duke's supporters after receiving the fastest couriers carrying new orders. The exposure of monstrous beings had further fueled their efforts, with citizens evacuated from affected areas and widespread rumors heightening fear.
It was no surprise that Lavier, attempting to sneak closer, stood out like a sore thumb.
At the knight's command, several soldiers approached Lavier.
"Hey, come with us."
Lavier remained silent.
"What's wrong? Didn't you hear me? Come with us!"
One soldier grabbed Lavier's arm, only to find an empty sleeve.
Startled, the soldier turned pale and shouted, "H-he's one-armed! It matches the description from the warrant! He's the one-armed man!"
Crack!
The soldier's head exploded in an instant.
The knights immediately sounded an alarm, a sharp whistle piercing the air.
Peeeeeeeet!
In moments, all nearby knights and soldiers mobilized.
"Seize him!"
"It's the monster from the capital! Kill him if you have to!"
Lavier, now emanating dark energy, muttered under his breath.
"These pests…"
Whoosh!
Black energy surged from his body, piercing through the approaching soldiers. A handful of knights were taken down within seconds.@@novelbin@@
'I need to escape.'
He knew reinforcements would flood the area soon. While he could theoretically kill them all, doing so would draw even more dangerous foes his way.
'I can't afford to waste any more strength here.'
The number of individuals pursuing him was already unknown, and every battle increased the risk of being surrounded by stronger knights and larger forces.
Compounding his troubles, the elves were still tracking his movements. He needed to conserve as much energy as possible.
Turning away, Lavier fled once again.
As he ran, his pride boiled into anger.
"Damn it! Damn it all! How do they know everything?"
There was no doubt in his mind—the royalists knew precisely where their hideouts were and were systematically dismantling them.
On top of that, it seemed he was now officially a wanted man.
At this rate, reaching the southern territories was impossible. The paths were surely blocked. He needed someone to help him escape.
"It's that damned Count of Fenris. It has to be his doing."
The fact that Fenris knew his name and identity confirmed his suspicions.
"I'll kill him. I swear I'll kill him."
Grinding his teeth, Lavier continued to move toward desolate areas. Revenge could come later—for now, survival was paramount.
A Risky Decision
Lavier knew the paths to the southern territories were likely sealed, and the nearby hideouts were already compromised.
"If that's the case…"
There was another location—a place prepared by the Salvation Order independently of the Duke's faction. However, it was not somewhere he could visit lightly.
Drawing attention to it could have catastrophic consequences. Moreover, if it had already been discovered, going there would be meaningless.
As he chewed on his lip, contemplating his options, a thought struck him.
"No… it can't be. That place hasn't been exposed yet. The royalists are only attacking sites prepared by the Duke's faction for the civil war."
The opposing forces wouldn't even know of this place's existence, let alone what it housed.
If it had been discovered, the entire region would already be in chaos.
"I have no other choice."
To recover his strength and continue his plans, Lavier needed a safe haven. And this was the only viable option left.
Carefully altering his route, he headed east. Fully aware that Count Fenris likely knew some of their plans, Lavier moved with the utmost caution.
Eventually, he arrived at a small village situated along a path toward the eastern territories.
It was a tranquil place, filled with laughter and chatter, its inhabitants seemingly untouched by the turmoil elsewhere.
Observing the village from a hidden vantage point, Lavier allowed himself a rare smile.
"They didn't find this place."
The location was one of the Salvation Order's most carefully guarded secrets, a place prepared over decades with absolute discretion.
Not even Fenris, for all his insight, could have known about it.
Satisfied that no pursuers were nearby, Lavier began to approach the village.
Unbeknownst to him, his actions were being closely monitored.
Dark's Report
"Master! After running around aimlessly, he's entered some random little village!"
"A village? A fugitive hiding in a village?"
"Yup! Maybe he's planning to rest there. Or… maybe he'll just kill everyone and move on."
"What village is it?"
Unfolding a map, Ghislain listened carefully as Dark described the location.
When the exact position was identified, Ghislain's expression hardened.
"That place…"
He recognized it immediately. It was a location infamous in his past life.
A place that had become one of the most notorious sites during the Era of Calamity.
The gateway to the unknown—a site that endlessly spewed otherworldly monstrosities.
The place known as the Rift.