Falling Stone City lies where the Warmwater River meets the Doomsday Mountains. A magnificent waterfall plunges from the peaks, stretching hundreds of metres high. The roar of the water is deafening, like giant boulders smashing into the ground. For this reason, the cascade is called Falling Stone Great Waterfall. Over countless years, the meteor-like torrent has carved out a smooth, mirror-like pool at its base. The water flows gently from the pool, merging with other streams from the Doomsday Mountains to form the Warmwater River, which cuts almost straight across the continent.
Falling Stone City is built right against the great waterfall and takes its name from it. Even inside the city, the faint thunder of the falls can always be heard. To the residents, that sound has become part of daily life.
It was early morning.
In the most luxurious inn of Falling Stone City, the Boiling Water Station, Bosley emerged looking weary after a restless night. Her eyes were slightly red and swollen. She rubbed her forehead as she walked into the main hall.
He Xiangshi had already prepared a delicious breakfast: Falling Stone City’s speciality charcoal-grilled water-kiss fish, golden crispy fish-ham, meat-shred porridge, and several slices of sweet fine-wheat bread.
It was an appetising meal, but Bosley had little appetite. She sat at the table, picked up a piece of bread, and nibbled without enthusiasm. He Xiangshi sat respectfully beside her.
They had left the royal capital yesterday and hurried through the night, only reaching Falling Stone City around midnight. They decided to spend the night here. Once across the Warmwater River, they could enter the Dark Tunnel that cut through the Doomsday Mountains. The tunnel was said to be a masterpiece of the ancient dwarves. Those short but sturdy, peculiar people had honeycombed the entire mountain range with their underground passages, linking them in all directions.
They had even connected their tunnels to the terrifying Underworld. Countless tomb guardians now stood watch outside that realm, one of the most feared places on the Kastello Continent.
A burst of girlish laughter came from behind. Bosley turned and frowned.
Two scantily clad, pretty girls were being embraced left and right by Krian as he descended the stairs. Krian had once been regarded as Bosley’s partner and always maintained a gentle, refined image in front of her. But ever since his humiliation in the capital and discovering that Bosley actually liked a worthless baldy, he had completely let himself go.
When they arrived in Falling Stone City last night, the local church had welcomed them warmly. Bosley had seen Krian whisper something into Bishop Wenda’s ear. She had thought nothing of it at the time. Now it was obvious: Krian had asked the bishop to find him two bed-warmers.
What a disgusting man.
But apart from disgust, Bosley felt nothing else. She continued slowly eating, her eyes still tinged with faint worry. She did not know where the worry came from. It was a premonition that something huge was quietly unfolding.
Krian sent the two girls off. When he returned from outside the inn, a short, fat man with a false smile all over his face was walking beside him.
That man was Bishop Wenda, the master of Falling Stone City’s church. At the same time, he wielded enormous power within the city. Even the city lord had to yield to him.
The Star Empire had always resisted the Church, yet the Church’s influence had dominated the continent for five thousand years. Some cities had long been deeply affected. Falling Stone City was one. Crossing the Dark Tunnel led directly to the territory of the Holy Heart Kingdom (a small country similar to the Vatican, with little land but immense authority). Because it was so close to the Church, the religious atmosphere here was extremely strong. Most residents were at least semi-devout, maintaining traditions of prayer and worship. The Church’s power was therefore immense, more feared than the city lord himself.
Bosley disliked Bishop Wenda intensely. A man who combined hypocrisy, flattery, and cruelty made her skin crawl. She was about to leave the table when it was too late. Krian sat down nearby, and Bishop Wenda approached her with a respectful expression.
“Good morning, Miss Bosley.”
“Good morning, Bishop Wenda,” Bosley replied listlessly.
“The Falling Stone Great Waterfall is a famous sight across the entire continent. I have arranged a viewing route. Miss Bosley, please stay in Falling Stone City for a few days and enjoy this majestic scenery created by the gods,” Bishop Wenda requested obsequiously.
“I’m sorry. We are in a hurry and have no time to linger,” Bosley answered coldly. She was indeed interested in the waterfall, but the thought of spending extra time with someone like Wenda made her uncomfortable. Perhaps one day she could come back with Greenton and Ye Chui for a proper visit? She had long been curious about several dwarf caves branching off the Dark Tunnel. It might even turn into an exciting adventure.
“We’re not in any rush to return. We might as well stay a while longer,” Krian interjected. He was still savouring the softness of those two girls. Back at the Magic Guild, despite his father’s status as Phase King, he could never behave so freely.
Bosley was about to snap back when a startled cry rang out. A servant carrying a water jug passed Krian. Perhaps overwhelmed by serving people even Bishop Wenda treated with deference, he stumbled. The jug tipped, and water splashed onto Krian.
Krian leapt up like a monkey whose tail had been stepped on. “What the hell are you doing?” he roared at the servant.
“I-I’m sorry…” The servant paled and hurriedly pulled out a towel to wipe him.
“Keep your filthy hands off me!” Krian shoved the servant away.
Bishop Wenda’s face twisted with rage, as if he himself had been doused with excrement. He strode over, kicked the servant to the ground, and snarled viciously, “You should be handed to the devils for judgement! Do you know who these people are? You deserve to die!”
Seeing the satisfied look on Krian’s face, Wenda kicked even harder. A stream of vicious curses poured from his mouth.
Other guests in the hall fell silent or hurriedly left. Such scenes were not new. The Church in Falling Stone City had always been brutal and unreasonable, wielding power that surpassed the city lord. No one dared oppose them. Even the city lord himself could only swallow his anger before arrogant church believers.
Bosley watched this farce with an icy expression, feeling nothing but disgust for Krian and Wenda. She stood up angrily, ready to put a stop to this ridiculous violence. But at that moment, the heavy tread of armoured boots echoed through the hall. A squad of soldiers stormed in.
They drew their weapons and pointed them straight at Bishop Wenda.
A middle-aged swordsman in armour stepped forward, hand on the hilt of his sword.
It was the lord of Falling Stone City.
Bosley’s group had met him yesterday upon arrival.
“What are you doing? How dare you show such disrespect to His Lordship the Bishop!” one believer shouted, stepping forward. The next instant, several city guards shoved him aside roughly.
“Lord City Governor, what is the meaning of this?” Wenda panted, his eyes cold as he glanced at the soldiers. He straightened his robes and asked haughtily, deliberately avoiding eye contact with the city lord to show contempt. So what if he was disciplining a clumsy servant? He could kill the man and no one would dare say a word.
“Word just arrived from the capital. The Star Empire has officially declared war on the Church!” the city lord announced in a grim voice. With a ringing schwing, he drew his sword.
“What? Impossible…” Wenda’s body shook. He sensed danger, but years of comfort had made him forget to draw his holy scripture from his robes.
The next instant, sword light flashed. Bishop Wenda’s head flew from his shoulders. Blood sprayed. Thud. The shocked head rolled across the floor, followed by the collapsing body.
Bosley, Krian, and He Xiangshi leapt to their feet in alarm.
The city lord had killed the bishop?
And he had just said… the Star Empire had declared war on the Church?
Damn it! They had left the capital only yesterday. What on earth had happened in less than a day?
“You… what are you doing? You killed him…” Krian stared at the city lord in panic, blood splattered across his clothes.
“Cardinal Elisa murdered His Majesty the Emperor! The Star Empire and the Church are now mortal enemies!” the city lord growled, his voice thick with suppressed fury. He had deep respect and loyalty for the old emperor, having once followed him to repel barbarian invasions on the border. Yet this morning he received word from the capital that a Church cardinal had dared assassinate the emperor!
As both city governor and an imperial soldier, the anger he had long suppressed against the Church finally erupted!
He glanced coldly at Bosley and the others. “You are important figures of the Magic Guild. We naturally have no quarrel with you. Please leave Falling Stone City at once! The Dark Tunnel is now under heavy guard. Soon no one will be allowed through!”
“Ha—” Krian let out a dry laugh. “So that old bastard Elisa really had the guts. He actually killed the emperor. Haha, he really did it…”
His words made every imperial soldier present flush with rage, but knowing Krian’s noble status, none dared touch him. Krian knew this perfectly well, which was why he dared mock so idiotically. Thinking of what mattered most to him, he asked the city lord, “Then what about Ye Chui? If the cardinal killed even the emperor, surely Ye Chui is dead by now?”
He admitted Ye Chui was strong, but Cardinal Elisa was still a level above. If Elisa struck, Ye Chui had no chance of survival.
Bosley also looked concerned.
The city lord stared coldly at Krian, a hint of pride in his voice. “No. You are wrong. Cardinal Elisa has been killed by Mr Ye Chui!”
“What!?” A cardinal, dead at Ye Chui’s hands? Krian could no longer stay calm.
Bosley rubbed her temples and looked toward the capital. She finally understood where her vague unease had come from…
Ye Chui had actually killed Elisa!!!
How did he do it?
How did he dare?
He…
His ability to cause chaos was truly admirable!!!
…
While Bosley marvelled at Ye Chui, Ye Chui had already begun executing a grand and mysterious plan.
The Empire had formally declared war on the Church. Large numbers of believers were thrown into imperial dungeons. These believers held unshakable faith in the Church’s gods, loudly denouncing the Empire’s tyranny from their cells. With Prince Geller’s permission, Ye Chui visited the prisons and selected thirty believers. He brought this first batch to his castle, sent them through the portal into the Necropolis, and told Aqua, “Your followers have arrived.”
The believers were overjoyed to see Elisa still alive, but they quickly realised something was strange about him.
“I shall impart the teachings to you!” Elisa declared with his usual wise and holy demeanour.
“We shall heed the Cardinal’s teachings!” The believers hurriedly knelt in panic.
Then Elisa raised both hands and pointed behind him at Aqua, who sat smugly upon a stone throne. “This is our goddess! From now on, you will worship Goddess Aqua and join the Axis Cult! Our doctrine is this: whatever Aqua says is always right. Everything she says is truth. Even if it is not right, it is still right. We must forever serve, honour, and love Goddess Aqua…”
As Elisa spoke, Aqua kept nodding with great satisfaction, humming, “Mm, mm, mm!”
The believers began to stir uneasily, staring at the seemingly deranged Elisa.
A few mustered their courage and stood. “W-what is going on… Lord Elisa, are you really Lord Elisa?”
“What? You doubt our teachings?” Elisa asked coldly.
“No, no… only… only…” the believer stammered in terror. “Only this is completely different from the Church’s teachings…”
“The Church is a heretical cult! The Axis Cult is the true faith! You must forget your former church and devote yourselves faithfully to Aqua!” Elisa shouted.
“He’s not Lord Elisa! He must be an imposter…” More believers grew agitated. Several scrambled to their feet and tried to flee.
But Elisa instantly appeared beside them. He seized one by the collar, face twisted ferociously, and snarled, “Believe in Aqua! Aqua is the greatest god! All other gods are devils!”
“Lord Elisa…”
“Say it now! Aqua is the greatest god! All other gods are devils!” Elisa demanded.
“…Aqua is the greatest god. All other gods are devils,” the believer said, trembling.
“Now all of you! Say it loudly! Say it with feeling!” Elisa turned to the rest. “Aqua is the greatest god! All other gods are devils!”
“Aqua is the greatest god… all other gods are devils…”
“Louder!”
“Aqua is the greatest god! All other gods are devils!”
“Very good. Again!”
…
Three days later, Ye Chui was pleased to see that all thirty believers had been successfully brainwashed.
So he sent another fifty believers into the Necropolis.
The brainwashed followers immediately began preaching to the newcomers. Elisa had declared that whoever recruited a new member would earn points. If the recruit then brought in more members, the original recruiter would also earn bonus points. Points could be exchanged for higher status within the cult.
Under this policy, the cult sprang into frenzied activity.
As the war between Empire and Church escalated, more and more believers were captured and sent by Ye Chui into the Necropolis, where they were brainwashed and absorbed into the Axis Cult.
Ye Chui was extremely satisfied with the results. Once the cult reached a certain size, he would release this… missionary group (definitely not a pyramid scheme) into several Church-strong imperial cities near the Holy Heart Kingdom, letting them tear the Empire apart from within!
