Fjord, Sea Dragon Bay.
The Church's followers scaled the wall and hurled crossbow bolts at the witches, but their efforts were largely thwarted by Shava's invisible barrier and Moril's Magic Power servants. The arrows either fell from the air or were swallowed by the servants. They only posed a threat when the witches fired magic-embedded arrows studded with God's Stone of Punishment.
The number of God's punishment stones is ultimately limited. Any Witch hit by one is immediately dragged to the rear for treatment. As long as the bleeding is stopped promptly, her life is not in danger. After two or three rounds of firing, over twenty Witches had advanced to the edge of the wall. Ashes leaped straight onto the top of the wall, clearing away any followers who dared to show their faces.
After days of pre-battle reconnaissance, they had pinpointed the wall's weak points. The sky echoed with the rhythmic calls of pigeons—Macy's signal that they'd reached the right spot.
Lian, with her combat experience, unleashed her power without hesitation. The ground shook violently as the Church followers attempted to intervene, only to be cut down by the ashes. The wall, unprotected by God's Stone of Punishment, crumbled instantly. The witches surged in, unleashing their powers on the believers. Most fell instantly without the Stone's protection, while the survivors were swiftly devoured by the ashes.
This marked the first direct assault on the church since its founding, launched by the Church's arch-enemies. The priests stationed here knew the final hour was near, so they urged the remaining faithful to take the pill and dedicate themselves to God. Over a dozen fanatical devotees wrapped their flesh in ashes, while the rest charged at Lian and her companions.
The Lotus, having prepared itself in advance, rose from the ground to form an earthen wall, temporarily deterring the enemy. Yet the God's Stone could not undo the completed Magic Power effect. When they circled around the wall, they found it utterly empty.
The frenzied worshippers retreated to besiege the ashes, only to find the Witch's forces suddenly reappearing from behind, striking down their unprepared foes. Each assault dealt devastating blows, and after half an hour of relentless combat, the church lay strewn with the bodies of the faithful, leaving only the priest standing alone.
He trembled as he brought the pill to his lips, but before he could swallow it, Ash stepped forward and severed his arm with a sword.
"You damned evil one! A monster cursed by the Devil!" He clutched his severed hand, his eyes blazing with terror as he roared hysterically.
"Are you afraid? When you torture and slaughter the innocent, have you ever considered their feelings?" Ash said coldly. "You're more like the Devil's henchmen than witches—vile scum who commit every conceivable evil. So go to hell and report your crimes." With that, he swung his massive sword, cutting off his own curses mid-throat.
"We won?" Morrel walked over to her, still in disbelief.
"Exactly," Ash exhaled, "This is the last church in the fjord. From now on, there will be no more the Church's stronghold on these islands—we've won!" Though the Church's influence in the fjord remained weak, with each church holding no more than a hundred followers and no Inquisition Army stationed there, this marked the first time the Witches had directly confronted the Church. From being driven into a panic at the slightest whisper to now capturing churches and bringing down the once-mighty Church, even a fraction of it was enough to fuel the Witches' triumph.
As she had foreseen, when the long-awaited victory was confirmed, everyone erupted in loud cheers. The Church had been a heavy burden on their hearts, but now they had finally pushed through the foothills, letting a glimmer of hope shine through. From that moment on, the fjord would become their true home.
"We have won!" "Long live Lord Tilly!" "Goo-goo!"
After returning to Sleeping Island by boat, Ash rushed back to Tilly's quarters to share the news of the Witch's decisive victory. Tilly, meanwhile, tucked her gray hair behind her ear and beamed with joy: "Macy told me you're all safe and sound. That's wonderful." Indeed, she could glide through the air like a seagull far faster than a sailboat. Ash scanned the surroundings but found no trace of the familiar figure. "Where's Macy?" "She left right after delivering the victory report," Tilly said, shaking her head in resignation.
Ashes stood frozen in shock. "She... returned to the West?" "Hmm," Tilly chuckled, "She must have made some very close friends there. Within just a few days, she's already eager to return. If it weren't for helping us defeat the Church, she'd have gone back to Border Town the same day she delivered the letter... I'm growing increasingly curious about that place." Ashes hesitated before speaking. "Should I have kept her there?" "No, that's actually a good thing," the Fifth Princess replied firmly. "Because you kept Maxi in Border Town, we could easily contact the other side. I even had her deliver Roland Wimbledon's reply." She made a face. "Guess how I responded?" "Of course I refused. Crossing the sea is inherently risky. How could we possibly send another Witch to the West?" "No, I agreed to his request," Tilly said with a smirk. "I briefly explained the abilities of non-combat Witches to him, and in the letter, I mentioned that if he could protect the Witches 'safety, I might consider sending some to Border Town—uh, what did he say? Oh, right—examine and learn, strengthen our friendship, and progress together." She paused. "If necessary, I could even visit the town myself." "Your Highness!" Ashes couldn't help but call out the formal greeting she used when serving as a court guard.
"I know what you're worried about, but the Witch's greatest enemy right now is the Church. Every ally we gain strengthens our position. The Fjord Islands are a matter of mutual interest, and the Border Town Alliance is a natural ally. If we're friends, why not show more goodwill?" Tilly smiled. "Plus, Maxi mentioned the Witch can evolve her abilities through knowledge. Aren't you curious? If the sent witches could learn this skill too, the Sleeping Island would benefit immensely." "But if you go yourself, what if the other side..." Tilly cut Ash off. "Don't worry, I'm not saying we should leave immediately. I won't risk going to dangerous places until the situation is clear. Remember, Sylvie can see through any disguise—whether it's elaborate makeup or Magic Power illusions. If she joins the first group to the town, she can help me uncover the truth about the Fourth Prince. Besides, even if we encounter danger, you're still with me, right?" Ash stared at her for a long time before finally nodding.
"Of course, we can discuss the specifics when Maxi returns next month," Tilly smiled. "We have a more pressing matter at hand." "What?" Ash asked, surprised. With the Church's power in the fjord now crushed, all that remained was to focus on building the Sleeping Island... yet the other side's God seemed to have other plans.
The Fifth Princess pointed to the crimson gemstone on the white silk gloves. "Ancient ruins exist not only on the Kingdom Continent but also on the Shadowy Archipelago of the Fjords. Most of the magic stones acquired from islanders originate from this site. I wish to visit it myself while the Church is in ruins." "Is this the legendary Ghosty Red River?" Ash had heard of these tales after spending time in the fjords. The ruins, intermittently visible in the sea, were surrounded by dangerous undercurrents and sea beasts, making them inaccessible to ordinary people. Since its first discovery, many explorers who sought to witness this extraordinary phenomenon had tragically perished in the Shadowy Archipelago. "How can you enter the ruins without knowing its exact location?" "I don't know its precise position, but I know who can lead us there—indeed, this remarkable explorer lies on the Sleeping Island, the very one who first discovered this site," Tilly said with a smile.