The days of training and staying in the Astrea mansion came to an end when I decided that it was time for us to go, and possibly make a name of ourselves.
Fighting Witch Cultists that attacked random cities and settlements is not a big deal for me or any of my members, since they're strong enough now. Even Colette, formerly the weakest, can fully control her Beasting bracelet by staying conscious during its activation.
Omega really has a knack for knowing how her own meteors work, I suppose.
Following the 'Quake', Reinhard and I never had a duel again, for safety measures, of course. He taught me how to properly swing a sword and use more fluid movements, which I grasped rather quickly. Maybe it's because of the Deceit Witch Factor, but I can't tell for sure. I also worked out a few more moves with my Swords of Power, before today came.
It was time to leave Hakchuri.
Of course, it wasn't a willing decision, by any means. It's only because that we needed to move on and we cannot stay here for too long, or else we'll end up being viewed as an official supporter of the Felt Camp, which we're not (yet?).
For the better good, as they say.
I sighed as I sat on top of the Astrea Mansion's pinnacle point, viewing the sunset as the rays flashed into my eyes. Zeam, Inen, and Ryokyo's sheathes glowed as they absorbed mana from the atmosphere.
I always wondered... why can I not see my predecessor?
Alchemis had said that she sealed herself within the Witch Factor that she created, but he never specified why she did it, or if there was any way to unlock it. To be honest, finding her was only a matter of time, in my opinion.
I touched my black pendant, and told Echidna to gather the battalion at the main gate, since we were leaving. As I jumped down into the yard, Felt was waiting for me at the gate as she blocked my path.
"Nii-chan, you're leaving already?"
"Well, we do have to go to take care of some business, Felt, but I'll see you again soon enough, you know?"
"Why do you have to leave? Why can't you just stay here and help me grow stronger?"
"You are doing quite well on your own, are you not? You know what, let's make a bet, if you can touch me in a minute, I'll stay here one more week. If you can't, then let's make another bet. Deal?"
"You think I would give up a chance like this?" Felt said happily as she disappeared from my sight, and suddenly appeared behind me, faster than ever. It was only using Ul Akra did I jump away from her by chance, or else I would've lost right then and there.
"You're really using your Divine Protection well, Felt! I'm pretty sure your speed can be comparable to Elsa's now..."
"Where are you looking?" Felt said as she attempted another swipe, but I dodged it again before she ran around me in a circle.
"You know, doing that isn't going to help, imouto-chan." I said as I went over to the circle and flicked a finger on her forehead, and she immediately leapt away and glared at me.
"30 seconds left."
Her next attempt involved a lot of erratic movements, which caught me off guard in some sense before I managed to get a light grasp on her focus. I split myself into clones and mixed up my real body within them. Felt went around trying to get me, but I watched outside the fight as I smiled when the timer clicked.
"You're definitely stronger now, Felt, but you need to learn a little tactic, should you not?" I smirked as I dodged another blow, and the time's up.
"And Felt one minute has passed-" Before I could give the final verdict, a body slammed into me just as I deactivated Akra, and I was sent flying into the wall, feeling immense pain for the first time since I battled Elsa at the mansion.
"Nii-chan? Are you okay?"Felt asked as I sighed in the rubble, and got up thanks to her pulling.
"Is this your way of making me stay here longer?"
"Well, that was unintended, you know..."
"Okay. Time to make that bet, then."
"Hah?! But I won, nii-chan..."
"You did not. I clearly was about to say-"
"Okay, okay, fine! I'll bet this! If you can defeat a really really bad person, and managed to get everyone to like you, you need to become my knight!"
"Hah?"
"HEEEEEEHHHH?"
"Hehe! Knowing you, nii-chan will always get into all sorts of fights! So when you defeat someone strong, it means you can protect me and therefore be my knight!"
"Who said they wanted to be your knight in the first place..." I muttered as Felt gave me a sharp glare, and I immediately retracted my words.
"I understand, I understand. From this moment onwards, I agree with Felt's bet and swear on the Dragon, the Sage, and the Saint." I said as I held out my pinkie, and Felt looked at me, confused.
"Back in my homeland, we make promises by hooking our pinkie fingers together as a sign of trust." I explained, and Felt happily smiled as she wrapped her own around mine, and the contract was sealed.
The ascension's first phase completes, and the Outerworlder begins to leave for his next destination.
Meanwhile...
Bodies were torn as they flew into the air, but no screams sounded as the woman tore through the witch cultists with no mercy.
When she finally reached one that didn't have their usual uniform on, she immediately rushed over to him and looked at him with interest. "Are you perhaps... Betelgeuse?"
"N-no! I'm just one of his fingers! I'm-"
The man was torn apart before he could utter another word, and then was burned. The woman laughed hysterically as she looked at the sky with sadness.
"Oh, my dear Betelgeuse, where did you go...?"
The woman said as she dragged her golden chains behind her, and continued leaving destruction for a while to come.
A white haired man sat in his mansion's room, pondering about his life as he felt the book in his pocket shake, and immediately fished it out to look at it.
A smile formed on his face as he realized the contents, and thought about that woman the Gospel mentioned.
Number 79... who was she?
As the fragmented memories slowly pieced everything together, he remembered the basic outline, and smiled again.
I... will make you my wife, for sure. Nothing can defy destiny.
"We're going to go there- tsu!" A young boy said to another as they walked across the plain of animals, uninterested as they headed towards a remote village.
"Really, Lye? What fun meal is over there? Then again, everything is quite tasty to me -tsu!"
"We really think you oughta up your standards, Roy. There are certain meals that deserve praise, while some don't -tsu." The first boy said to the second as they continued forwards.
"Anyways, don't we have another big, big meal a while later? The Gospel really is very-very good, -tsu!"
"Well, let's begin the feast, shall we -tsu?"
That day, another village full of names and memories have been eradicated again, due to the two Sin Archbishops of Gluttony.
In a bizarre fortress within the unknown territory, a person sat upon the throne that she created herself, and finally smiled as all her attendants in the room bowed to her when her messenger entered.
"So, you finally came back, you masochistic meat, do you have any news, huh?" The one stop the throne sneered as the messenger hurriedly reported.
"My lady, we have successfully sighted Elsa Granhiert and Meili Portroute. Do you want us to bring them back?"
"What are they doing and who are they with?"
"We've sighted around 5 more girls travelling along with them, led by a person who calls himself... the Liberator."
"Heh? Who's that? Elaborate further."
"He's a person who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and is now a renowned 'hero' due to his recent endeavours and saving villages."
"I see. Then we do not need to worry yet. We do have a big thing to prepare for, you know." The girl waved a hand, and the assassins left their 'Mother'.
The Sin Archbishop of Lust jumped off her throne and flew to the top of the building, admiring the stars as she sat down and relaxed. She thought of the individual who can provide so much love for his comrades, to the point where she, the one who should hold all love in the world, thinks it's commendable.
"Then, one who can make such a feat... I~ will~ make~ you~ mine~"
She laughed as the sounds spread into the sky, even making the Warlock of Deceit shudder slightly, far away from her location.
The Outerworlder's ascension completes, and the Grand Stage finally begins to rise as the Witch Cult's grand plan on the Water Gate City begins.