While Sylutia was preparing to establish the Silver Radiance Church, elsewhere in the Mage Alliance...
A force of over a thousand searched the wooded mountains and finally located the stronghold hidden beneath a mountainside.
An enormous machine resembling a long metal dragon rotated day and night, boring a spacious tunnel like a shield tunneling machine and extending deep underground.
A week later, they broke into the underground stronghold, and fierce fighting erupted. Unlike those at the two strongholds defeated earlier, the Sixth-Order Master hiding here did not stand his ground. When the investigation force entered, he detonated explosives he had prepared, destroying the underground structure and killing or injuring many of those fighting below.
Over the next several days of chaotic fighting, he released numerous unique plague viruses he had developed, infecting large numbers of his pursuers.
Although they finally captured him, the price was enormous. Nores, who had led the force, was also criticized by the Alliance and took the setback hard.
Afterward, Alliance officials obtained more intelligence from the captured Master and determined the locations of the four remaining strongholds.
With three strongholds already uprooted, the remaining four should have received word. Unless they were swiftly eliminated, their occupants would likely withdraw and flee, making any subsequent pursuit immensely troublesome.
To resolve the problem as quickly as possible, Alliance officials stopped holding back. They ordered around twenty Masters to suspend their pressing work, assemble into four groups, and lead forces against the remaining strongholds.
Sylutia was among the Masters called up this time, and she was also the youngest and the one attracting the most attention.
Two weeks later, an airship passed through thick clouds and landed at a desert oasis. Sylutia ducked through the exit and looked around.
The temperature was low, and a chill hung in