Bang!
Boom!
Several consecutive explosions echoed from a corner of Thunder City.
Several figures soared into the sky, and from a distance, the air trembled as their divine techniques clashed. One alchemist, adept in controlling flas, unleashed techniques that burst across the sky, scattering like vibrant fireworks.
"Release the innocent prisoners at once, or this will not end."
"Heretics! The Thunder Temple will not stand for your defiance."
"Hold your ground!"
"The Second Seat Lord approaches!"
But soon, two of the alchemists were killed, and one managed to escape.
This was Thunderlake Kingdom, after all. Incidents like this had recently beco frequent across the kingdom, where alchemists used various strange alchemical constructs to launch attacks on the temples.
Explosions echoed intermittently throughout Thunder City. At tis, fires ignited, reducing workshops or prayer halls dedicated to the Sky Beast God to ashes.
The Thunder Temple's suppression, which had initially targeted the divine servants of the Temple of Iva, began to include ordinary workshop alchemists. The conflict grew more intense, escalating with each passing day.
Most of the alchemy workshops inside and outside Thunder City had already ceased operations. Thunderlake Kingdom had originally mobilized its extraordinary legion to the kingdom's core heartland to suppress the divine servants of the Temple of Iva, heretics, and believers of foreign gods.
However, the White Tower Alchemy Alliance had dispatched two alchemy corps to the borders of Thunderlake Kingdom. As a result, most of Thunderlake Kingdom's extraordinary legions had to be recalled.
This left insufficient forces to suppress the chaos that continued to erupt across the kingdom.
Even more worrying was the growing friction at the borders. The White Tower Alchemy Alliance's condemnations beca increasingly fierce, and there were clear signs that war could erupt.
The White Tower Alchemy Alliance questioned Thunderlake Kingdom, demanding explanations for the recent series of actions and decrees. Thunderlake Kingdom, in turn, accused the White Tower Alchemy Alliance of stirring up conspiracies, asserting they would absolutely not compromise under military threats.
This situation was quite intriguing.
Thunderlake Kingdom relied on the protection of the Sky Beast God. Even though the White Tower Alchemy Alliance was very powerful, they would stumble repeatedly in Thunderlake Kingdom just as the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents had before.
The White Tower Alchemy Alliance, however, truly did not dare to launch a war. Apostle Oran and the Alliance's Executive Officers insisted that no war be waged, as Thunderlake Kingdom was indeed currently "protected" by a deity.
Both sides maintained this delicate and strange balance.
Chaos reigned within while tensions ran high at the borders, yet no one truly dared to start fighting. One side was too muddled, while the other understood too clearly.
Lise, the "Sky Witch" of the Thunder Temple, was also aware of this situation.
Inside the temple, the snake woman stood silently, draped in white robes that concealed her graceful figure. Her expression revealed a trace of unease as she contemplated the situation. If things continued this way, the Witch's Ritual might never begin.
Although her current life was quite pleasant, Lise's desire to beco a true witch grew increasingly intense.
A witch candidate was, after all, not yet a true witch.
Lise watched the battle between ability users in the distance. It ended almost as quickly as it began.
Her eyes reflected both concern and a deep disdain for the alchemists involved.
Why would these people not just leave the land of faith of the Sky Beast God? Why must they relentlessly obstruct the descent of divine power and obstruct her from becoming a witch?
A robed attendant stepped forward, standing respectfully behind Lise.
"Your Highness the Witch," the attendant said respectfully, "the painting you requested has been delivered. It is now in your bedchamber."
The painting was a reproduction of "The Lost Kingdom" by Master Briman of Suinhor.
The original of this painting was a mural in the Temple of Fire Protection, so naturally, it could not appear here.
The worry on Lise's face dissipated, replaced by anticipation in her eyes.
"It has already been brought over?"
"Quickly, take
to see it."
Lise hurried to her bedchamber, where a wide canvas had already been placed, occupying part of the wall.
The edges of the painting were all clouds and mist, which made one feel they were right before one's eyes.
At the top was light imbued with dreamlike and sacred colors, making one feel it was unreachably distant.
Between the light and clouds was an ancient city.
She walked toward it, feeling as though each step brought her closer to that sacred light. As she approached, it seed she was gradually entering those dreamlike clouds, surrounded by their ethereal embrace.
She had never seen such a magnificent painting. For the first ti, she saw what the divine servants of the Thunder Temple called the Kingdom of God.
Through this painting alone, one could feel the prosperity of this city. The creator seed to have painted all their pride, devotion, and longing into this city.
Lise's lips parted slightly, her eyes filled with shock.
"The Lost Kingdom. The kingdom where the divine lives."
"Yes, it is the kingdom of the Sky Beast God."
She imdiately turned around and asked the attendant behind her.
"But… why is it called The Lost Kingdom?"
The attendant thought for a mont before answering. "Perhaps long, long ago, the divine and humans lived together in this kingdom of the sky."
"It's just that now, only the divine remain there."
Lise was delighted to hear this. "So after I beco a witch, that kingdom will no longer be a lost kingdom?"
The attendant replied, "It should be so, Your Highness the Witch."
Lise gazed at the painting while the attendant stood quietly behind her.
Suddenly, the attendant collapsed to the ground.
Lise heard the sound and turned around in confusion.
There in her own bedchamber, she saw a familiar figure. It was Gal, whom all of Thunderlake Kingdom and the Thunder Temple were searching for.
"It's you… What is it this ti? What are you planning, you madman?"
Lise retreated in terror, pressing herself against the wall beneath the reproduction of "The Lost Kingdom."
She had completely lost the composure she had shown the last ti she saw Gal.
Recently, everyone had been telling her that this was a crazed heretic. They said his hands were stained with blood and that he was orchestrating an evil conspiracy.
Having heard it said so many tis, she too began to believe Gal was deeply calculating and evil-hearted, completely different from what she had seen and imagined.
Lise wanted to cry out, but Gal raised a finger, and she lost her voice.
A voice entered Lise's mind as Gal used the divine technique of ntal communication.
"Do not be afraid. I will not harm you."
Gal had said the sa thing last ti, but Lise beca even more frightened.
"I have co to make a deal with you. A deal to end the conflict."
This ti, Gal did not speak of grand principles, nor did he try to persuade this witch or anyone else.
At this point, saying anything was already aningless.
Lise shouted loudly in her heart. Her outward fierceness hid her inner cowardice. The divine technique of ntal communication transmitted her voice back to Gal.
"The apostle of the Sky Beast God makes no deals with heretics and will not be threatened by you!"
Gal walked before Lise. "Do you truly wish to go to war with the White Tower Alchemy Alliance?"
"Do you truly wish for this conflict to continue until it reaches a truly irretrievable point?"
Gal's gaze was sowhat complex as he looked at Lise. Others looked at her with reverence, but Gal's gaze held sympathy.
He continued, "You also wish for this to end, yet you believe you cannot simply step away."
"Everyone requires a justification."
Gal went to sit down at the side, retracting his tail.
He looked at the witch's goblet and at the luxurious decorations and daily items in the bedchamber.
He realized that Lise was no longer the simple fisherwoman she had once been.
People change, and so had she.
Gal looked at the ornate bronze mirror, gazing at his own reflection.
He revealed a smile. In Gal's own eyes, it was just an ordinary smile.
But in Lise's eyes, that smile appeared utterly evil.
"The insufficiently devout evildoer Gal lost his faith and was seduced by the evil Abyss. He destroyed the witch's carriage, seeking to provoke war between Thunderlake Kingdom and the White Tower Alchemy Alliance."
"A fallen individual seeking to incite conflict between two nations, wishing to please evil deities through disaster. As for everything that happened before, it was all just a misunderstanding."
"How does this reason sound?"
Lise's eyes held terror as well as confusion.
She looked at Gal seriously, no longer daring to speak.
She did not know whether what Gal said was true or a joke.
Gal even thoughtfully considered everything that would co next for the "Sky Witch" Lise.
"The fallen Gal's conspiracy was discovered by the Sky Witch, and he was ultimately killed by Her Highness the Witch."
"The apostle of the Sky Beast God, Her Highness the Witch, then issues a decree, resolving this misunderstanding."
"And the servants of Iva, after these events, can no longer stand in Thunderlake Kingdom. Moreover, Iva's apostle Oran has already summoned all divine servants to return to the Land of Sunrise."
"As long as you release those who were arrested due to this misunderstanding, this conflict can end."
Gal looked at Lise, changing his form of address this ti.
"Your Highness the Witch..."
But when he said "Your Highness the Witch," his voice held no reverence. It was a flat statent.
"In this way, your identity as a witch will beco even more unshakeable in everyone's eyes. You will have averted a war that might have erupted, guiding this nation onto the correct path."
"You will have protected the faith of the Sky Beast God and protected His land of faith."
"Everyone will praise your na."
Gal could sense it. Lise was moved.
He rose and walked past the witch.
"In this way, this conflict will co to a complete end."
Gal was not worried that Lise would refuse to act. Even if the "Sky Witch" chose not to, the Chief Divine Servant of the Thunder Temple and His Majesty the King would ensure that everything he had proposed would co to pass.
At this point, all of Thunderlake Kingdom felt the overwhelming pressure from both internal and external forces. They were desperate for a solution but found themselves trapped, unable to move forward.
Now, Gal had beco the perfect stepping stone, a ladder handed to them at just the right mont.
The King of Thunderlake would alleviate the pressure, the Chief Divine Servant would drive out the faith of Iva, and Her Highness the Witch would consolidate her identity.
This truly was a perfect win for everyone.
Gal raised his head, gazing at the reproduction of "The Lost Kingdom" and staring at that kingdom deep within the sea of clouds.
"And Your Highness, you may also journey to…"
"The Kingdom of God in which you place your faith."
At this mont, Lise suddenly asked Gal, "Do you think I am a witch?"
Gal looked up at the painting, his back to Lise.
He did not say yes or no but instead asked Lise a question in return.
"At this point, can you still deny it?"
"Can you accept the thought of not becoming a witch?"
Lise did not receive the answer she wanted, and Gal suddenly moved.
Gal took a deep breath.
He suddenly drew out the dagger that had killed the old divine servant. His fingers trembled, but his expression hardened as he directly pierced his own chest.
He fell beneath the wide canvas, hunched over and struggling continuously, like a large shrimp.
He forcefully pulled out the dagger, turned over, and lay against the corner of the wall. After gasping a few tis, he ceased breathing.
Ah!
This was Lise's first ti seeing a dead person.
She had never witnessed such a scene, much less understood Gal's actions.
From her perspective, Gal was a madman through and through.
She could only let out terrified screams, retreating until she touched the blood-stained dagger. Her screams then grew even louder.
People from outside rushed in and imdiately saw the scene.
"Protect Her Highness the Witch!"
"There is an attacker!"
Soone turned Gal's corpse over, and those present imdiately recognized his identity.
"Is it truly him?"
"It is Gal, the one who has been orchestrating everything from the shadows."
"Your Highness the Witch, you have slain him. You have vanquished this wicked man."
The "Sky Witch" Lise took a long ti to calm down. She looked at the surrounding people, their discussions, and the peculiar gazes directed at her. She did not understand how she, who had not yet truly beco a witch, could have killed Gal.
At this mont, she stepped forward.
"He is not so alchemist. He is an evil, fallen individual seduced by the Abyss."
"He wanted to incite war between Thunderlake Kingdom and the White Tower Alchemy Alliance, and he wanted to seduce
as well."
"Fortunately, I detected it in advance and borrowed the divine's power to kill this evil heretic."
At this mont, everyone suddenly understood. Looking at the "Sky Witch" Lise, their gazes completely changed. Everyone devoutly prostrated themselves on the ground.
"This must be the guidance of the Sky Beast God!"
"The Witch has received the divine's will!"
"The demon of the Abyss cannot escape the gaze of the divine apostle!"
Thunder City buzzed with conversation. The explosive news from the temple spread rapidly and was soon confird by many.
The individual who had been scheming, inciting conflict, and obstructing the Witch's Ritual was revealed to be an evil heretic influenced by the Abyss.
Once the na of the Abyss was associated with any misfortune, it no longer seed surprising.
The people of Thunderlake Kingdom displayed Gal's corpse on the execution platform, its grueso appearance striking fear into onlookers.
This chilling sight seed to further confirm his identity as a follower of the Abyss.
"So this Gal was an Abyss heretic," people beneath the platform said as they pointed at the corpse, their expressions a mix of fear, excitent, and curiosity.
"I knew there was more to this. There had to be a conspiracy behind it, but I never expected it to be the Abyss Cult." The history of the Abyss's birth was much more recent compared to ancient myths, but while many might not know those myths, they were certainly familiar with the infamous Abyss.
"These evil followers dared to extend their reach here!" The ntion of the Abyss Cult sent a shiver through everyone, filling them with unease.
Following the witch's decree, a significant number of divine servants, alchemists, workshop masters, rchants, and believers of foreign gods who had been imprisoned during the conflict were set free.
However, they were promptly banished from Thunder City and prohibited from staying within Thunderlake Kingdom.
As they walked past the execution platform, their expressions showed a mix of disdain and anger as they glanced at Gal's corpse.
Ptui!
"A fallen individual with wavering faith, and yet he sohow beca a servant of the divine."
"It is because of this man that years of our efforts have been completely undone."
"The Abyss is truly pervasive, spreading its evil wherever it reaches."
The Abyss was known for countless evil deeds, spreading disasters and fueling conflicts wherever they went.
However, this ti, they wanted to insist it was not their doing.
As night gradually darkened, the night wind blew past the execution platform, gently swaying the heavy corpse.
The wooden fra made creaking sounds, appearing terrifying in the darkness.
Suddenly, wisps of firelight emanated from within the corpse, rushing toward the distance.
Far outside the city in a remote small town, a figure stood quietly on a hillside.
Oran stood there, holding a mysterious silver flower in his hand.
It was a flower that only blood in the Kingdom of the God of Desire and Alchemy, the Cup of Desire.
Several wisps of fla crossed the night sky from afar, falling onto the hillside.
Oran seed to be welcoming their return.
"You have returned."
Oran raised the Cup of Desire, and the flas rged into the flower.
The Cup of Desire imdiately changed. It was as though a shadow was twisting and writhing within the silver flower cup. Finally, light gradually illuminated the cup from within.
Gal's voice erged from within, his new form gazing bewilderedly at his surroundings.
Finally, he saw Oran.
"Master Oran, how am I here?"
"Have I co back to life?"
Oran told Gal, "You have not co back to life. You have lost your body. In a certain sense, you are already dead."
"I used the divine's Cup of Desire to preserve your personality and had previously copied most of your mories. However, I am not skilled at manipulating mories. At least, it seems there were no errors."
"Gal," Oran said, "you are missing many things, and because of that, you may never be able to beco a normal person again."
"Even I can only do this much."
Gal suddenly recalled Oran looking at his Lamp of Covenant just before he left. Oran must have sensed that he might die and was preparing in advance.
"So at that ti, you already knew what I wanted to do?"
Oran replied, "I had so sense of it, but I did not expect you would use such a thod."
"You used the thod I taught you last ti to slip through the flaw in the Thunder Temple's barrier and bypass everyone's sight."
"Did you ever consider what would happen if they had patched that flaw?"
Last ti, Oran had used consciousness to guide Gal, allowing him to smoothly enter deep into the temple.
Gal said, "They are not apostles. How could they understand an apostle's techniques?"
Oran did not continue this topic, because everything had already occurred and could not be changed.
Oran had succeeded, though he had also paid an incredibly painful price.
"Gal, you ended this conflict."
"It is just that in everyone's eyes, you have beco a heretic."
"No one will thank you for everything you have done. Everyone will curse, spurn, and hate you."
For a believer, this was difficult to accept.
Gal fell silent. After a long while, his voice erged from the Cup of Desire.
"But the final outco was not bad. It was what I wanted."
Oran told Gal, "From now on, stay by my side. Perhaps in the future, I can find other thods."
Oran walked to the top of the hillside, gazing toward the depths of Thunder Marsh.
The moonlight was hazy, and mist was swirling.
Lakes and jungles large and small stretched into the distance beneath the sky. The most distant waters, as vast as an ocean, reflected the moonlight.
"Gal, do you want to see what kind of ending this farce will ultimately have?"
Deep within Thunder Marsh, Silver Fish Island
Once upon a ti, there had been a prosperous fishing village on this island that produced silver fish popular on noble dining tables. Later, for unknown reasons, it was abandoned overnight.
After Thunderlake Kingdom rose, this place was transford into a site for worshiping the Sky Beast God.
The believers of the Sky Beast God constructed a grand altar on this island. Divine servants were assigned to remain here, and large-scale divine ceremonies were conducted annually.
However, Thunderlake Kingdom's rise was relatively recent compared to other nations.
As a result, many areas within the kingdom still reflected the traditions of wilderness and tribal life. These customs could be traced back to an era a thousand years ago.
Among them were descendants of Pence, descendants of Alcina, and even people of Avel.
Ultimately, they had rged here into a single people, calling themselves the people of Thunderlake.
On this day, the altar opened once more.
Flas roared brightly, casting their glow over the plaza beneath the altar, which was crowded with people. Several newly built witch carriages were docked at the edge of the island.
Once the ceremony concluded, the ships would set sail from this place. They would carry Her Highness the Witch, chosen by the divine, to the Kingdom of God.
Amid the crowd stood His Majesty the King, the Chief Divine Servant, and the "Sky Witch" Lise.
Behind them, a procession of nobles and divine servants of the Thunder Temple followed closely. Among them were the chosen servants who would soon accompany the "Sky Witch" to the Kingdom of God.
His Majesty the King was incomparably excited. He deeply longed to strengthen this nation and establish a great dynasty surpassing other nations.
To achieve this, he needed incomparably powerful assistance.
"The Witch's Ritual is about to comnce."
"Chief Divine Servant, we shall soon receive the divine's protection. There will be no need to fear the Land of Sunrise or the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents any longer."
As for Suinhor, they were too far from Thunderlake Kingdom and had never been considered a threat.
The Chief Divine Servant of the Thunder Temple standing beside His Majesty the King also devoutly prostrated himself beneath the altar at this mont.
"The divine will surely sense our devotion and sense everything we have done."
He prostrated on the ground, his voice suddenly rising.
"Great Sky Beast God!"
"Please accept our offering to You, and please forever protect us and this nation."
Beneath the bonfire, most people followed the Chief Divine Servant and His Majesty the King by prostrating themselves. Sacred and solemn music began to play, filling the air with a sense of reverence and anticipation.
The "Sky Witch" Lise wore a ceremonial dress, appearing as though a holy maiden had descended to the mortal world.
Her body was alluringly graceful, but her expression was sacred and solemn.
The snake woman twisted her waist, slowly approaching the bonfire. She moved with the rhythm, displaying her most beautiful posture and dance.
Amid the solemn and dignified music and the servants' hymns of praise, she began the sacrificial dance.
Ding-dong!
The bells at the ends of her long hair swayed, producing crisp sounds as they struck against the thin gauze that could not conceal her graceful curves.
Swish-swish!
She waved her hands, and the golden rings on them also produced clashing sounds.
Lise climbed the slope step by step, her movents deliberate as she approached the altar. The towering flas danced before her, their light illuminating her figure. She expected the heat to be overwhelming, but instead, a gentle warmth embraced her, as if the flas themselves welcod her presence.
Those kneeling below fixed their eyes on the flas atop the altar, sensing the presence of a vast and mysterious power observing them from an unreachable distance.
They turned their hopeful gazes toward the bonfire and altar, yearning for a sign from the divine.
His Majesty the King sought to use the divine's power to build a great dynasty. He envisioned a future where Thunderlake Kingdom would rise above all others, its strength unmatched and its legacy eternal.
The Chief Divine Servant longed for this mont to signify the divine's true recognition of their devotion.
The nobles dread of blessings, while the servants imagined the prosperity and wonders that awaited in the kingdom deep within the sea of clouds, a place beyond the reach of the mortal world.
Even the "Sky Witch" Lise, her movents elegant and srizing, found her cheeks slightly flushed as she indulged in her own fantasies.
Everyone was lost in their imaginations, each one picturing the rewards they would gain.
Their devotion seed less like an act of faith and more like a transaction. This altar felt less like a sacred place and more like a marketplace where faith was offered in exchange for divine favor.
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