Closing In

"Black Sun Cult? Those troublesome people are here."

Olivia sighed.

She knew how terrifying a real cult could be. Their own didn't count!

"Yes. We clashed with them. They struck first. Curtis was burned by their flames, and I used firearms to hold them off. We barely managed to escape."

Barnard's eyes were rimmed with red.

"This is the second stage of the 'Dark' element, the Son of Burning's ability. They can control a strange flame that burns slowly and continuously, until it eventually consumes everything..."

Lin spoke with a cold expression, describing what she had witnessed before. "Ordinary medicine and water won't work. You need ritual and spiritual power to get rid of it!"

"If that's the case, I can give it a try."

Olivia had received proper instruction from the Wasteland of Wild Woods Cult before. When it came to studying ritual magic, she was far more knowledgeable than Lin.

"But that's not the main problem now... Those black dogs have reached their claws in here. I won't allow it. This is my Lord's city!"

Lin gritted her teeth.

"Don't be rash, Lin. We need more information... But if there's only one second-stage Son of Burning, and no one powerful enough to undergo a life transition, we might be able to take them on..."

Olivia reassured her.

Most extraordinary beings still had vulnerable points unless they had reached a certain stage. They could be killed with firearms and other weapons.

And this was their territory!

"We're already far from the Black Sun Cult. The High Priest and the Dark Seeker won't pay much attention to this place. Having a Son of Burning in charge should be about right..."

Aaron considered the matter, then left the Department Store. He intended to scout alone.

After all, it wasn't easy to establish a cult. If it was wiped out, finding suitable recruits would be a matter of luck.

"They can't detect me anyway. I'm the best person to keep watch."

Based on what he had just heard, Aaron headed in a certain direction.

At the other end of the city.

Mas pulled out an expired can of food and pried it open. He scooped out some luncheon meat and took a bite, then tossed it aside in disgust.

Clang!

The metal can hit the ground. A little girl who looked like a scavenger lit up, scrambled over to grab it, then hurried back into the crowd.

Before Mas stood a survivor settlement of around thirty people, including several elderly people and children.

Mas looked over, and a woman hurriedly pulled the girl into her arms.

The little girl paid no heed to anything else. She dug out the luncheon meat with her fingers, ate a bite, then put a piece in her mother's mouth.

"Not bad..."

Mas didn't pursue the matter. He was simply pleased as he thought, They'll make good kindling... Maybe one more Sublimation Ritual will let me advance to Dark Seeker and become a major figure, second only to the High Priest.

He stood up and looked at the frightened crowd, his face breaking into a warm smile. "Don't be afraid. We of the Black Sun Cult aren't an evil organization. On the contrary, we've brought you salvation... and extraordinary power!"

Seeing several men who were clearly tempted, Mas grew even more pleased. "Did you see the flames just now? Join us, and you can gain that power too!"

His expression turned solemn, and he raised his voice. "Our Lord, the Black Sun, is the Lord of the Eclipse, the Eternal Sun, the only salvation in this world!"

"Only by adhering to the Path of Darkness can we draw ever closer to Him!"

"And I will guide you through the gates of 'Darkness'!"

After preaching, Mas left the Shelter, quite satisfied. Two Black Sun disciples hurried after him.

"Your speech was almost as good as the High Priest's."

Rem, a redhead, praised him. "I can't wait to see those kindling burn... Once you've gained their spirituality, my lord, you might be able to advance to Dark Seeker and even try to complete the great work..."

"The materials required for the Eclipse Ritual are too horrifying..." Mas snapped. "And... I know what you're thinking. Using meditation and breathing techniques to awaken your spirituality is too slow. You want to gain spirituality as quickly as possible and advance from Unburnt?"

Mas looked at the two of them, who were trembling with apprehension, and sneered inwardly. He had seen right through them.

In the Black Sun Cult, even the Unburnt, who were considered core members, could become kindling.

But once they reached the level of Son of Burning, things were much better.

Take the last time, for example. Even when the High Priest conducted the Eclipse Ritual, not one Son of Burning was involved. It wasn't only because they were unsuitable; it was also because they were the cult's backbone, its middle ranks.

And the Black Sun Church was never short of secret arts for stealing spirituality from low-ranking extraordinary beings.

This left the Unburnt feeling deeply insecure, and they did everything they could to advance.

Strangely, despite the cruelty of the rules, very few Unburnt ever defected.

"Rem, that group from earlier claimed to belong to some organization called the Light of Redemption. Go investigate them!"

Mas considered it, then gave him an assignment. "Also... don't forget what the High Priest told us. Track down that 'Lin.' Make sure you capture her and sacrifice her!"

"She's just a girl," Rem muttered. "Even if she's powerful..."

"It's not that simple. The High Priest even suspects she's favored by our Lord's great enemy. If we can offer her to our Lord, perhaps we'll all receive divine favor!"

A cruel glint flashed in Mas's eyes. If he could, he would sacrifice her himself. Then perhaps he wouldn't need any kindling, and the Black Sun would promote him directly!

"Our Lord's... great enemy?" Rem's voice trembled. "What kind of evil god is that?"

"The moon is its incarnation, and bloodshed its domain... I cannot speak its full name. I can only use 'Mother Tree of Flesh' in its place... Remember... All followers of the moon are our mortal enemies!"

Mas had never sounded so serious.

Aaron was right beside Mas and had heard everything. "So it really is just an expansion team. But I didn't expect them to have a mission to capture Lin..."

He shook his head and looked at the heretics. "What a pity... Aike isn't here. Then again, that kid might have gotten caught up in this after last time and been sacrificed..."

"And these people... Even if I save them and cleanse the corruption from them, they'll probably still worship and believe in the Black Sun. In short, they're too far gone. There's no saving them!"

Aaron felt that, in a way, Lin had found the right words for her prayer.

He truly was a symbol of reason and free will!

For extraordinary beings who had not yet lost themselves, his blessings meant salvation and the light of reason.

But for believers who had completely surrendered their faith to terrifying beings, they had long since cast aside their free will. Their hearts had been changed by the cult's subtle influence, and there was almost no hope of saving them.