"Huff, huff…"
Priest Pickar kept running.
Though his body was constantly healing thanks to the Serpent's Blessing—symbol of regeneration—and the Tree's Blessing—symbol of recovery—his breath was ragged and sharp.
He was pushing far beyond human limits.
Pickar could not stop.
No—he must not stop.
An entire branch of the doctrine had been completely destroyed by heretical Turncoats.
Everyone was dead.
The followers. The priests.
Only Pickar remained.
"Those accursed ones…"
Grit—
Pickar ground his teeth.
Exhausted and wounded, he cursed the Turncoats who had attacked the faith without warning.
What had they done to deserve such savagery?
Weren't they the ones living in falsehood, chasing a counterfeit faith?
"They will pay for this."
Pickar swore vengeance.
Vengeance—he kept running for that alone.
He knew exactly where to go.
Pickar was one of the most promising bishop candidates, chosen by the Great Will and blessed with lightning and trees.
Because of that, he knew of secret branches of the Church hidden from ordinary followers.
He ran, and ran, and ran.
How long had it been?
"Haaah…"
Pickar knew.
He had finally arrived where the Earth's Blessing was deeply rooted.
"At last…"
Surrounded by the palpable aura of sacred power, Pickar trembled with joy.
Wooooooo…
Bathed in radiant light like sunlight, Pickar moved forward with reverence.
Pious. Solemn.
Maintaining heartfelt piety, he came face to face with a follower emerging from the light.
"What brings you here, brother?"
"I've come to see the bishop. Please, I must see him."
"You mean… the bishop?"
"Yes! The Turncoats—those cursed heretics—massacred me and my brothers! Please, let me see the bishop!"
Pickar made no attempt to hide his anguish.
He had witnessed too many deaths.
Brothers he had laughed, cried, and prayed with were mercilessly slaughtered.
In this moment, all he could do was beg.
"…Is this true?"
"If it weren't, why would I seek the bishop? Please… let me see him."
"…Very well. Come with me, brother. I'll lead you to him."
Following the believer's guidance, Pickar continued forward.
Before long, he descended into the earth and stood before a massive underground sanctuary.
"This place…"
"The bishop is inside."
Hiding his trembling, Pickar stepped forward with care.
The title bishop signified an immense and revered presence within the Church.
Creaaaak…
The great doors finally opened.
Pickar stood before the Bishop of Earth.
* * *
'Hmm…'
I glanced toward the ground.
Several small dots, clearly in motion, were chasing after me.
It was Colonel Melissa and the Turncoat Suppression Unit.
'They're following well.'
It seemed the effort to adjust my speed was paying off.
Colonel Melissa and her unit were steadily keeping up.
Sniper shots and suppressing fire continued occasionally, but nothing that could penetrate Janus's bone armor.
However, what was annoying was the constant interference from the Ether soldiers.
[St…op…]
[Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go. Don't go.]
[Whe…re—going──?]
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have even noticed the Ether interference.
But right now, Esther was too busy luring Ouroboros.
So, I had to fend off the Ether influence on my own.
Tsk.
Only now did I realize how much Ether interference Esther had shielded me from all this time.
Of course, I'd never admit it to her face—that'd be suicide.
And the Turncoat Suppression Unit wasn't the only threat.
This was the wilderness outside the Ark.
Flying loudly and openly in the sky was bound to draw the attention of other aerial beasts.
And sure enough, they came flocking.
[KRAAAWK!]
[KIEK, KIEEEEK!]
Normally, I'd consider this a feast and let Janus devour the whole flock.
But I didn't have that luxury right now.
'No choice, then.'
I spoke quietly.
"Janus."
Janus understood.
It opened its maw wide.
['Roar of Ankelenth' has been activated!]
A deafening roar burst from Janus's gaping mouth.
[KIYEEEEEEEEEK────!]
The flying creatures froze mid-air, startled.
Some, unable to endure the sound attack, bled from the ears and plummeted.
"Gghh…!"
"E-Everyone, be on alert!"
It wasn't just the flying beasts that froze.
Even Colonel Melissa and the Turncoat Suppression Unit, caught off guard by the Roar of Ankelenth, hunkered down defensively.
Still, thanks to Melissa's presence, the unit soon regained formation.
They wouldn't stop chasing me over something like this.
[Kaaak…]
[Kuhk, KAAHK!]
The stunned flying beasts finally recovered, turned, and fled en-masse.
The Roar of Ankelenth stirred primal terror in all living things.
"Wh-Who… what are you…"
It seemed the roar had awoken Captain Sneer.
'Then…'
Even amid the chase, I didn't neglect what needed to be done.
'Time to act.'
At my signal, Janus's bone tentacles plunged into Sneer's body.
Shlup!
Shlup-shlup!──
Sneer's eyes trembled violently as he came under Janus's control.
"W-What are you doing to me…?"
"Hold still."
"Gahh!"
The tentacles burrowed deeper.
'Turning a Skull Knight was unexpected, but not unwelcome.'
Skull Knights were far more versatile than Skull Turncoats.
Unlike Turncoats—undeniably treated as monsters—Skull Knights were still seen as human within the Ark.
Sure, subtle discrimination persisted in rear areas like the Red Line, but they could operate openly within Ark society.
'They're harder to move outside the Ark, but that's what Turncoats are for.'
This gave me one more valuable asset.
[Kiik!]
Sneer's body shook violently, struggling.
But resistance was brief.
[Skull Knight 'Captain Sneer Temvel' has been subordinated!]
Though he fought fiercely, there was no resisting a creature like Janus.
'If only I could subjugate others this way…'
Sadly, Janus could only control beings with bone-parasitic origins—Skull Hounds, Skull Turncoats, Skull Knights, and the like.
Still, it was enough.
'This should be far enough.'
I descended and landed.
Having paced myself, it didn't take long for Colonel Melissa and her forces to catch up.
'No need to subjugate her.'
Even if I could control Melissa, it wouldn't benefit the Ark overall.
She was too valuable.
If subjugation altered her in any way, the Ark's security might be compromised.
Better to deceive and manipulate her from the shadows.
"…Turncoat Pawn."
Exhausted from the chase, Melissa and her team looked worn down.
Typically, the Turncoat Suppression Unit would use silent hovering bikes—but it seemed Melissa had opted to approach on foot.
'She must have prioritized stealth over convenience.'
Their suits confirmed it—Level 4 camo armor that adapted to the environment.
'Still…'
I faced her.
"Release Captain Sneer, Turncoat. I know you can understand human speech."
I didn't answer. I simply let Sneer go.
"…Huh?"
Melissa's wariness turned to surprise.
She hadn't expected me to hand over the hostage so easily.
But there was no need to keep Sneer—he was already under Janus's control.
'No point holding him anymore.'
The abduction was only to lure Melissa and the Suppression Unit.
That job was done.
Melissa cautiously recovered Sneer, who was unconscious.
With the hostage secured, she gave the order.
"…Prepare for combat."
Freeing the hostage didn't win her mercy.
If anything, it made her more aggressive.
Expected—but I'd already accounted for that.
'Janus.'
At my command, Janus spread the wings of Ankelenth once more.
Melissa's unit opened fire, but I didn't look back. I fled.
'No need to fight them.'
Melissa and her team were precious resources for the Ark.
Injuring them would only hurt my cause.
"What the hell…"
Her voice grew distant.
I didn't stop. I flew faster.
The lure had worked.