Joining Forces

The cave was lit by flickering firelight.

Sessler leaned against the stone wall, tending to his wounds by the firelight. The old man had more than a dozen injuries of all sizes. Some had already scabbed over, while others were still bleeding. He grimaced as he bandaged himself, muttering curses at the Radiant Church. His movements were practiced, but he was old, and bending pulled at the wound beneath his ribs. He sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

"Those bastards chased me for three whole days. If I hadn't been prepared, I'd have kicked the bucket here in the Magical Beast Mountain Range." As he grumbled, he sprinkled powder over his wound. It was grayish-brown and had a pungent medicinal smell. "I bought this in Fenlai City. Cost me over a hundred gold coins. It works pretty well, but it stings like hell."

Linley sat at the cave entrance with his back to the others, gazing into the night beyond. Bebe crouched on his shoulder, his little head bobbing as he drifted toward sleep. A night breeze occasionally blew into the cave, carrying the damp scent of the forest. Linley sat motionless, as if he had melted into the darkness.

Akes sat by the fire, tossing a few dead branches into it. They were pine, and crackled softly as they burned. The firelight flickered across his face. He seemed casual, but out of the corner of his eye, he kept watching Sessler. In the original story, the old necromancer had been a morally ambiguous character—ruthless in his methods, but loyal to those he cared about. If Akes could win him over, he would make a capable ally. And from what Akes had seen so far, the old man clearly had some skills.

"How much do you know about the Radiant Church?" Akes suddenly asked. His voice wasn't loud, but it rang clearly through the quiet cave.

Sessler's eyes narrowed. His hands paused for a moment, then he continued bandaging himself. He knew they had gotten down to business. The old fox had lived most of his life and could read people's intentions at a glance. These two young men had saved him, but they certainly hadn't done it simply out of a sense of justice. Who was foolish enough to do that these days?

He straightened up and said solemnly, "Quite a bit. I've been investigating them for years, from the Fenlai Kingdom to the O'Brien Empire, from ordinary believers to cardinals. I know most of their dirty secrets." He finished bandaging his last wound, then straightened his clothes to make himself look a little more presentable.

"Such as?"

"For instance, an angel needs a vessel to descend into this world." Sessler lowered his voice. The firelight cast deep shadows across his deeply lined face, making him look a little sinister. "For instance, they secretly capture spiritually pure children all across the continent. They have an important base in Basel, the provincial capital of the Northwest Province, responsible for screening and transporting those children."

Linley turned around. Moonlight behind him outlined his tall figure. His expression was calm, but Sessler noticed his fingers tighten slightly.

Sessler felt a chill in his heart.

He paused, then continued in an even lower voice. "The man in charge in Basel is Count Perry. He's a nobleman on the surface, but in truth, he's the Radiant Church's lackey. The old bastard is officially a count of the Fenlai Kingdom, overseeing affairs in the Northwest Province, but secretly he does the Church's dirty work. He manages the Church's entire 'supply' in the Northwest Province. Every year, dozens of children pass through his hands on their way to the Church's secret base."

"How do you know all this?" Linley asked. His voice was quiet, yet carried an unmistakable authority.

Sessler instinctively sat up straighter. He had the strange feeling that he wasn't talking to a young man, but standing before someone of much higher standing. He collected himself and said, "I followed their transport teams. Three times in all. I lost them the first time. Those fellows were too alert; they spotted me before I could get close, and I nearly died there. The second time, I watched them from a distance and confirmed their route and numbers. The third time..." He gave a bitter smile and touched the wound beneath his ribs. "The third time, I wasn't so lucky. They spotted me. Those fanatics escorting the group chased me for three whole days. I lost seven or eight of my undead puppets, and only escaped thanks to the preparations I'd made in advance. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ended up in this state."

As he spoke, his face twisted with regret. It had taken him over a decade to build up those undead puppets. Each one had been crafted from special materials, and some had even cost him a fortune. Losing seven or eight at once had wiped out more than a decade of work.

Linley fell silent for a while, the firelight flickering across his face and making his expression shift between light and shadow. Then he suddenly asked, "Where are the children being taken?"

"I haven't found out yet." Sessler shook his head, a trace of frustration in his eyes. "I only know the general direction—the Chaotic Lands. The Radiant Church has a secret base there, but I don't know its exact location. I once tried to follow a transport team into the Chaotic Lands, but they disappeared after entering the edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I searched the area for two months without finding anything. There are too many magical beasts there, and the terrain is too complicated. My undead puppets couldn't explore very far."

"What do you plan to do next?" Linley asked.

Sessler glanced at him, then at Akes, choosing his words carefully. He knew this was a crucial moment. What he said, and how he said it, would determine whether he lived and whether he could win these two over. He had lived most of his life; he still had enough sense to read the situation.

"These two saved my life. If you don't mind, I'd be glad to work with you." He paused, seeming to gather his thoughts, while watching their reactions. "I may not be as strong as you are, but necromancy can be useful in certain situations. And the information I've gathered should be of use to you. Also..." He lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. "I've built up a few resources over the years. I have several safe houses in out-of-the-way places, and they're secure. I've also got contacts from all walks of life. They could come in handy when we need them."

When he finished, he watched the two carefully.

Linley didn't answer at once. Instead, he looked to Akes.

Akes knew Linley was asking for his opinion. He considered it, then said, "Someone who knows the area will be better than us stumbling around blind. And his necromancy really does give him an advantage when it comes to scouting and tracking." He was telling the truth. Necromancy had unique strengths. Undead puppets never tired and weren't afraid of dying, making them ideal for scouting and reconnaissance.

Linley nodded and turned to Sessler. "All right. But let me make this clear: if you try anything, I won't go easy on you."

He spoke calmly, but Sessler felt a chill run down his spine. He had a feeling the young man wasn't bluffing. He hurriedly waved his hands, somewhat theatrically. "No, no, I wouldn't. I'd like to live a few more years! You have nothing to worry about. I may not be a good man, but I know better than to forget a debt of gratitude. Besides..." He gave a bitter smile and pointed to his wounds. "The Radiant Church is hunting me now, too. We're in the same boat. Even if I wanted to run, where could I go?"

Bebe woke up, jumped off Linley's shoulder, and bounced over to Sessler. He looked the old man up and down. Under the little creature's stare, Sessler felt a bit unnerved. The mouse's eyes were so lively; he looked more like a person than a magical beast. Sessler forced a smile and said, "And who might this little fellow be?"

"Bebe," Linley said. "He's my companion."

"Your companion..." Sessler nodded thoughtfully and didn't ask any more. But his gaze grew more cautious as he looked at Bebe. He had seen plenty of magical beasts in his long life, but this was his first time seeing such a perceptive Shadow Mouse. And if a magical beast like this was willing to follow Linley, then Linley's identity had to be no ordinary one.

Haeru lay at the cave entrance, barely moving the entire time, apart from occasionally flicking his tail. Sessler glanced at him and wisely kept his distance. That was a Level Nine Magical Beast, and judging by its build and coat, he doubted his old bones could survive a single bite.

And so, it was settled.

The next morning, they continued on their way.

The morning mist hadn't yet lifted, and the woods were damp. Dew clung to the leaves, and insects chirped now and then in the grass. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of plants and trees, but the dampness was uncomfortable for travelers.

Akes led the way, with Haeru following behind him and occasionally sniffing at the grass by the path. Linley and Bebe walked in the middle, while Sessler limped along behind them.

Sessler's wounds hadn't healed yet, and he was having trouble walking. He gritted his teeth and kept going for a while, but before half an hour had passed, sweat had started to bead on his forehead. He was old, after all, and didn't recover as quickly as a young man.

Linley noticed his condition, stopped, and gestured to Haeru. Haeru looked at Akes, who nodded.

"Hop on," Linley said.

Sessler paused, then realized what he meant and hurriedly waved his hands. "How could I accept that? I..."

"Your wounds will only get worse if you leave them too long," Linley cut him off. "We need you to recover as soon as possible."

Sessler opened his mouth, then decided not to refuse. He climbed onto Haeru's back. Haeru wasn't used to carrying strangers and shook his coat, but eventually settled down. Sessler sat on the wolf's back, muttering, "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed," though his face betrayed a hint of emotion.

He had lived most of his life alone and had never been treated this way. His fellow necromancers would have gladly stabbed him in the back to steal his puppets. The Radiant Church's people shouted for his blood whenever they saw him. Ordinary people kept their distance whenever they saw him. And now, these two young men, who barely knew him, had not only saved his life but were willing to bring along a burden like him—and even let him ride a magical beast.

He felt conflicted.

Around noon, they stopped to rest beside a stream.

The water was so clear they could see the pebbles and little fish on the bottom. It was shallow, barely reaching their knees at its deepest point, and the gentle current murmured softly. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the water.

Bebe crouched by the stream and reached in with his paws to catch fish. He missed several times, then squeaked angrily. Finally, he flung himself into the water, splashing everywhere, but still failed to catch one. He climbed out, dripping wet, and bared his teeth at the fish in the stream. He looked utterly ridiculous.

Sessler climbed down from Haeru and stretched his limbs before walking over to the stream for a drink. The water was cool and faintly sweet. After drinking several handfuls, he sat on a rock and looked at Akes and Linley.

"I'm curious about how strong you two are. Would you mind if I asked?" he said suddenly.

Linley glanced at him but said nothing.

Sessler wasn't embarrassed. He continued on his own. "Young Linley, after transforming into a dragon, you should be at Ninth Rank Peak, right?" He had seen clearly how imposing Linley had been after transforming. He was definitely beyond an ordinary Ninth Rank fighter.

Linley's eyes narrowed.

Sessler hurriedly waved his hands. "Don't get the wrong idea, don't get the wrong idea. I was just making an observation. I know a little about the Four Ultimate Warrior Clans. Dragonblood Warriors, Undying Warriors, Purpleblood Warriors, and Tiger-striped Warriors all inherit ancient bloodlines. You must be a descendant of the Dragonblood Warriors, right?" His eyes held a trace of curiosity.

Linley was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Sessler's eyes lit up. "I knew it."

His expression turned serious. "I should warn you: the Radiant Church's real strength is far greater than it appears. The Church branch in the Fenlai Kingdom is just a small fish. The real power lies in the O'Brien Empire, the Holy Union, and the Religious Inquisition's headquarters. Every one of those fanatics is chosen from among countless believers. They're trained from childhood and absolutely loyal to the Church. Their strength is at least Seventh Rank."

He paused, then added, "And what about you, young Akes?" He turned to Akes. "Your aura is well concealed. You must be Ninth Rank, too. And that flame..."

"Ninth Rank Initial Stage," Akes interrupted. "Fire mage."

Sessler nodded and didn't press him about the flames. He was a smart man and knew what to ask and what to leave alone.

"With your strength, plus my necromancy, we should be able to handle ordinary Radiant Church forces," Sessler said. "But I should warn you that the Church hasn't sent out its true powerhouses yet. The Religious Inquisition's people are all fanatics, and every one of them is at least Ninth Rank. And their inquisitor, Wusenno, is a Saint-level powerhouse." When he said "Saint-level," he lowered his voice as though afraid of attracting someone's attention.

Linley's expression didn't change, but Akes noticed his fingers twitch slightly.

Saint-level.

He was currently Eighth Rank, and his dragonform brought him to Ninth Rank Peak. Yet Saint-level was still an unbridgeable chasm away. He had no idea how long it would take to cross it. Some people spent their entire lives stuck at Ninth Rank and never even touched the threshold of Saint-level.

"So we have to be careful," Sessler said. "We can't fight them head-on; we have to use our heads. After all these years, I've learned one thing about dealing with them: if we can ambush them, we don't face them in the open. If we can poison them, we don't fight fair. They're not exactly good people, so any method is fair game." He spoke with a sinister grin.

That was true enough.

Akes thought of Sessler's behavior in the original story. The old man really was the kind of person who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. But used well, a man like that could be the sharpest blade. Besides, Sessler knew when to advance and when to retreat. A seasoned veteran like him was exactly what they needed.

"Where do we go next?" Akes asked.

Sessler considered it. "First, we go to Basel. I found out that Count Perry has a shipment he needs to send out soon. It should be within the next few days. If we hurry, we may catch it. I still have a few informants in Basel who can help us gather information." He paused, then continued, "They're all small-time people, but they hear a lot. There's Old Zhou, who runs a general store; Big Liu, who sells buns from a stall; and Fatty Sun, who collects taxes at the city gate. They all work for me."

"Can you manage the journey with your injuries?" Linley asked.

Sessler patted his chest. "It's nothing. I may be old, but I'm not that fragile. And with you two around, what could happen?" He paused, then added, "Still, I suggest we travel at night and rest during the day. The Radiant Church has spies everywhere, so it's best to be careful." He pointed into the distance. "I picked this route. It's quiet and remote, so we're less likely to be spotted. It's a bit of a detour, though—we'll have to travel for two extra days."

Linley looked at Akes, who nodded.

"Then let's go."

For the next few days, they traveled by day and found places to rest at night. Sessler's wounds improved day by day, and he grew more talkative. He told them many of the Radiant Church's secrets, including how they trained their fanatics—the children were kept in secret bases from a young age, where they did nothing but pray and train. They had no childhood or freedom, and were raised to become killing machines that obeyed orders without question. He described the process of an angel's descent: it required a vessel, a sacrifice, and a specific time and place. The vessel's suffering during the ritual was unimaginable. He also told them about the feuds and conflicts among the Church's leaders—the infighting between cardinals, the clashes between the Religious Inquisition and local churches, and more.

Linley listened closely, occasionally asking a few questions. Akes listened too, but paid more attention to Sessler himself. The old man really did know a lot, but he was also keeping a lot to himself. He left things half-said, clearly testing their reactions. For example, when he discussed an angel's descent, he deliberately avoided mentioning what happened to the vessel afterward. When he talked about the Church's internal conflicts, he glossed over certain key figures.

But Akes didn't call him out. It was normal for Sessler to hold back; they had only known each other for a few days. Trust took time to build.

On the evening of the fifth day, they saw the outline of Basel in the distance.

It was a large city, its walls rising high. In the dusk, they could make out the flags flying from the towers—the Fenlai Kingdom's golden lion banner and the Radiant Church's sacred light banner hung side by side. The walls were built of blue-gray stone, about seven or eight zhang high, with a watchtower every so often. Guards patrolled inside the towers. People were coming and going through the city gates: merchant caravans, mercenaries, and commoners. Some drove carts, others carried shoulder poles or led children by the hand. The place was bustling.

Sessler pointed toward the city. "That's Basel, the capital of the Northwest Province. Count Perry's residence is in the east, near the lord's manor. The old bastard's estate is built like a castle. He has more than a hundred private soldiers, as well as guards sent by the Church. We should find somewhere to stay first, then investigate. I have a friend in the west of the city who runs a general store. He can be trusted. His name is Old Zhou. He used to be a mercenary, but after injuring his leg, he opened a shop to make ends meet. I helped him out a few times, so he owes me."

Linley nodded, his gaze fixed on the city.

Akes stood beside him, looking at it too. There were twice as many guards at the gate as in an ordinary city, and everyone entering was searched. Some people waited in line to get in, while others argued with the guards. Vendors called out their wares by the roadside.

"Let's go," he said.

The group headed for the city gate.