After choosing to leave, they regretted it.

"According to the original plan, we should have already broken through Jarlsberg and marched towards the heart of the empire. But what's the reality? We haven't even completed the first step yet. How will other races view us? How will those scumbags of the empire laugh at us?!"

"There is no time to delay! In the next attack, we must commit all our remaining strength. Including you and me, we must go to the front line! Anyone who dares to refuse will be executed on the spot. The legend of the brave Azer is brought to an end by us. In the name of Augris, this city will fall!"

Chapter 123 The Real Trouble

"Aize...Ai...wake up..."

"..."

"Well... never mind... I'm too tired, let him..."

"…It's okay, I'm awake."

Aize opened his eyes, gently lifted the blanket that had been covering him by someone at some unknown time, moved his neck slightly, and slowly stood up.

There was no bed under him, but a simple recliner.

The environment is not a tent or a room, but on the city wall of Lilbas.

The blurred vision and consciousness gradually became clear. Looking up, I could see the sun setting in the distance on the horizon. It was already dusk.

Aize rubbed his eyes:

"It's almost dark? Why are you calling me now?"

"I called you once this afternoon, but you didn't wake up, did you? Since there's nothing to worry about, I'll just let you continue sleeping."

Miss Witch spread her hands:

"That being said, now that we finally have a chance to rest, there's no need to stay in a place like this, right? Why don't you just go to bed and get a good night's sleep?"

"Now is a critical period and we cannot afford to make any mistakes."

Aize sighed softly.

A full week has passed since the start of this battle.

During this week, the undead's crazy attacks almost never stopped, but due to the perfect response and the desperate efforts of the soldiers and civilians, it had no effect.

The fragments of the undead that were chopped, shattered, pierced, and burned almost filled every inch of land between the enemy camp and the city wall, and the huge remains of the corpse mountain were mixed in among them.

It was summer, and these corpses, having returned to their original forms, exuded an unimaginable stench. Clouds of flies danced above them, and the land, torn back and forth by the bombardment, was drenched in red and black liquid.

The hellish scene mercilessly announced the victory of the living and the tragic defeat of the Immortal Dynasty.

But things have just begun.

"According to the intelligence previously provided by the Succubus, it's almost time for the other demons to meet their end. This means that the Eternal Dynasty has less and less time left."

Aize turned his gaze to the undead camp in the distance.

"In fact, their attacks over the past two days have become increasingly frantic and reckless. A full-scale assault could come at any time. Of course, I have to stay here."

Villian was silent for a moment and looked away:

"Even the soldiers and militia defending the city can take turns to rest, but you've already been on the city wall for two whole days. You look pale, and the reinforcements are nowhere to be seen..."

"It's a good thing that the reinforcements aren't coming. It means Chris and the others understand what I mean and are doing something more interesting. In this way, our persistence here has its value."

Aize smiled, his expression very relaxed, and naturally changed the subject:

"Compared to this, how's the situation at the workshop? Is everything going well?"

Villian looked at the former hero in front of her who was still a little sleepy, held her forehead and shook her head helplessly.

"Workaholic, you won't be killed by exhaustion—"

Just pretend you didn't hear the soft curses.

"Don't worry about the workshop. The creation and assembly of the various simplified puppet components are proceeding as planned. The next batch of armor-piercing and wheel-shaped items are expected to be off the production line within three hours. They should be ready for the next battle."

"...What about them? Are they making any moves?"

"Yes, but it's just as annoying as before."

The corners of Villian's mouth trembled slightly in disgust.

"They" of course refers to the Pure White Saint Sect.

A few days ago, after confirming that the Faceless King was hiding there, Aize almost immediately made a series of deployments in response to his possible actions.

Key facilities including granaries and workshops were given special protection, and anyone who dared to approach would be killed. The inspection measures to prevent Faceless Men from infiltrating at various military bases were also raised to the highest level.

The Pure White Saint herself was being monitored in all directions by several times more manpower than before, to ensure that even the smallest of her actions were under control.

In theory, they should take action soon.

What is the truth?

All I can say is that action was taken, but not completely.

Starting from the early morning of the second day after that contact, the entire Pure White Sect entered an unprecedented state of activity.

Believers walked in groups of three or five through the streets of Lierbas, sparing no effort to preach their doctrines to everyone they met.

Even Rosalyn herself would occasionally go to crowded places such as public trials or asylums to preach to the crowds gathered there, trying her best to win over the locals to join their ranks.

Apart from this, there was no other action.

Not only was there no sign of the large-scale riot that Aize had anticipated, but they even carefully avoided all sensitive facilities during their actions, as if trying their best to avoid any conflict with Aize.

So much so that everything has been peaceful for the past few days.

But this is not good news for Aize.

The Faceless King's understanding of the Faith Network was far deeper than that of Azer and Villian. There must be some deeper meaning behind these seemingly inexplicable actions.

I feel like I'm becoming more and more passive.

But we cannot act rashly, lest we fall into a trap and make the situation worse.

"That shameless bastard is more annoying than hundreds of thousands of demon troops."

The general attack of the undead is imminent.

Even if they survive this general attack, there are still more demons waiting in line to enter, and the situation in Lilbas will inevitably get worse and worse.

If you let things continue like this, it is very likely that you will suffer the most fatal blow at the most critical moment.

We must find a way to turn passivity into initiative.

Aize thought and walked to the edge of the city wall. He waved his hand to drive away the buzzing flies and cast his eyes towards the undead camp in the distance.

Countless zombies stood motionless under the sun, waiting for their master's orders, while the caves where the key figures were hidden were silent.

It looks like there won't be any action in the short term.

"In that case, it should be okay to leave for a while. Alas, there's really nothing I can do."

As if he remembered something unpleasant, Aize's eyes became empty for a moment.

Turning around, with a wistful smile, he said to the witch behind him:

"I'm afraid I'll have to go to the dark alley again."

"Dark alley? Uh, don't you think..."

"That's the thing—I want to ask the succubi for information. Maybe they can tell me some useful information. Anyway... let's give it a try."

The legendary invincible hero Aize tilted his head and sighed deeply.

His expression wavered, filled with displeasure and even a hint of mortal fear.

"So, I'm sorry, Weir, can you... come with me? Going into a place like that alone, how should I put it... I feel like I won't be able to get out. So please!"

----------

The ruins of the Church of the Supreme God in Lilbas, along with the entire surrounding area, were used as the base of the Pure White Saint Sect.

A few days ago, more than a thousand believers gathered in this small area.

As time went on, many wounded soldiers from previous battles returned to their units, making the population pressure here even greater than it was at the beginning.

At bedtime, the ragged believers would crowd into any shelter they could find, behind broken walls, under broken chairs, among piles of rocks—people were everywhere, compressed like cans.

But that was night.

While it was still daytime, the believers came out in droves as they had done in the past few days, dividing into hundreds of groups to preach in various parts of Lilbas.

The only ones left here were Rosaline and a few other members.

At this moment, these members were sitting in a circle, complaining to their idols.

"Lady Rosalyn, I've had enough of these local heretics! Not only do they lack any faith, but they also have low moral character, vulgar language, and a penchant for violence!"

The young female believer said this with a tearful voice.

While one hand was waving around, the other hand was pressing on his cheek - where there was a bright red wound that was bleeding.

"Just now, a shrew not only refused to listen to our teachings, but also called us traitors and asked us to return her husband! She even got violent and scratched my face like this!"

"Two brothers from my sect wanted to come up to help me, but they were surrounded and beaten up by a bunch of damn locals! If the patrol hadn't come, they would have been dead. Now they're lying in the shelter, and I don't know what's happening to them!"

"Lady Rosalyn, the oracle tells us to spread the truth and enlighten the locals. We shouldn't have any doubts. But...but it's already like this! Do these heretics really need to be saved?"

The other members didn't say anything, but they all nodded silently.

Due to the riot that occurred in public at the shelter, the image of the Pure White Saint Sect in the minds of the locals has been completely destroyed.

When it comes to believers, the residents of Lilbas basically only consider them to be traitors, lunatics, or idiots, and they have extreme disgust and contempt for them.

The result of this environment is that not only is missionary work ineffective, but members of the sect have also suffered from both verbal and physical violence.

Every day, more than 20 people are beaten and sent to the shelter.

The insults, spitting and ridicules he encountered were countless.

Even the most devout person would rightfully feel discouraged by such a situation.

"Lady Rosalyn, these people have no faith at all! Only malice! Endless malice! What...what should we do?!"

The believers were desperate.

Rosalyn was still smiling as always.

She stood up with the help of her holy staff and shook her head again:

"Everyone, listen to me, this is not..."

Snapped! ! !

As soon as she finished speaking, a basin fell from the sky and hit her squarely.

Chapter 124 Faith, Thriving

"How dare you! Who is it!?"

The sudden change made all the other believers present break out in cold sweats, and they immediately raised their heads in the direction where the basin fell.

Then I saw several thin and ragged figures, some squatting or standing on the wreckage of the half-collapsed building, making faces at this place:

"Stupid! Traitor! Ugly! Serves you right! Serves you right! You keep whining all day long, it's so annoying!"

It looked like a group of local children who had sneaked in there while the believers were away and played some pranks.

"You bastards, do you know what you've done? Stop right there! I'm going to skin you alive!"

The extremely angry sect members almost immediately picked up their weapons and rushed to the broken wall where the other party was.

A former member of the Guards held a knife in his mouth and struggled to climb up the broken and bumpy wall.

"Just wait, you little heretic! You and your parents will pay the heaviest price for this sinful blasphemy! I'm going to take away your... Ouch!"

Before he was halfway there, he was hit directly in the face by a stone fired from a homemade slingshot.

He endured the pain and dizziness and managed to hold on to his body without falling. However, as soon as he raised his head, he was drenched in warm liquid.

"You damn bastards! I'm going to kill you all! I'm going to kill you all!!!"

The lines and angry roars that were completely unlike what a believer should say echoed in the church.

All I got in return was another round of children's laughter.

"That pale and now dirty woman over there! My mother said we don't need traitors like you here!"