How the Cult Saves the World-Chapter 141

"Please, have a seat first."

At Felcia's words, I sat down on the wooden chair. She took the seat across from me, while Zain and Troy stood behind me.

Felcia had been drinking tea alone. She picked up her teacup, then waved her free hand in the air. A cup of tea materialized in front of me---it was a refreshing tea, different from the one she was drinking.

"Take a sip, and let's talk slowly."

I nodded and did as she said. The cool tea eased my anxious mind.

"Rifts of significant size have opened in the east, west, and north of the Empire."

Felcia's brows furrowed at my words. With a sigh, she muttered in frustration.

"...No wonder, the air has felt strange. So?"

"We've sent senior members from the Kyros Church to each affected region, and I'm heading north to Segel. However, the journey is long, and I need assistance."

Although my stop here was on the way to Segel, my true purpose was to meet Felcia.

'The Earth Fairy should have enough power to help with this.'

I also had this unfounded belief that if she truly loved humans, she would help without any conditions. But now that I was actually asking, doubt crept in. What if she refused?

Felcia's face remained expressionless, making me uneasy. After a moment of silence, she slowly nodded and spoke.

"...Yes. If it's your request, Revelof, then I will grant it."

She placed her teacup down and rose from her chair.

"I, too, am concerned about the people in the places where these rifts opened."

"Thank you."

I stood and followed her, grateful. Felcia's lips curled into a bright smile, so wide that her cheeks seemed to crack.

"Alright, time is short. Follow me quickly."

We hurried after her as she led us deeper into the town.

Eventually, she guided us up the mountain behind Prell. We walked along an uninhabited mountain that wasn't particularly tall.

Felcia, being an Earth Fairy, moved with ease. She walked so quickly at a speed that could've had ground folding beneath her feet. We almost had to run to keep up, yet before we knew it, we had reached the summit.

There was nothing particularly grand about the summit---it was just an open field.

"Wait here for a moment."

Felcia stepped forward while we stood back. Then, bending down, she squatted and placed a hand on the ground.

"------"

She began chanting an unfamiliar spell.

Whoosh---

A pure white light flowed from her hand, seeping into the ground. Suddenly, the earth trembled.

Rumble---

An earthquake.

"AAaah!"

I grabbed Zain as he stumbled. Within seconds, the shaking stopped, and Felcia's voice fell silent.

She had been crouched over the ground, but now she stood and gestured toward the spot she had touched.

A large hole had appeared.

"What...is that?"

"I guess a fairy is just on a different level, huh?"

Zain and Troy muttered in astonishment. They couldn't help it. A tunnel-like hole had formed on the flat ground.

'In a matter of mere seconds.'

I swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the sheer power of the fairy before me.

Felcia turned to us and explained, "This tunnel leads directly to the mountain in Segel. It runs deep underground, so you won't have to worry about being seen."

Coming to Felcia had been the right choice.

"With my power supporting it, the tunnel won't collapse. I've also cast a speed enhancement spell inside, so you'll reach Segel in no time."

As she spoke, she extended her hand toward us. A small, light brown glow radiated from her palm.

"H--huh?"

Three orbs of light floated toward me, Zain, and Troy. As they touched us, the glow seeped into our bodies.

"Don't worry---only those with my blessing can pass through this tunnel."

"Thank you very much, Elder," I said sincerely.

Zain and Troy followed suit, expressing their gratitude. Felcia smiled warmly and gestured toward the tunnel.

"Well then, good luck, children."

With her goodbye, we stepped into the passage. It was higher than expected, with enough space for the three of us to walk side by side.

"Church Leader, get on."

Troy transformed into a black panther the moment we entered.

"Thank you, Troy."

I climbed onto Troy's back with Zain, and he took off at full speed.

'Ho...'

The wind, which had felt refreshing before, now whipped against my face like a fierce storm.

As Felcia had said, Troy's movements were twice as fast as usual, likely thanks to the speed-enhancing magic.

"As expected of a fairy. This is amazing," Zain said in awe behind me. But his tone soon shifted to one of concern.

"We have to get there before Segel suffers too much damage..."

He was clearly worried about whether we'd make it in time.

"Don't worry, Zain. The fairies are stronger than you think. It won't take us long to get there."

"I know...but I can't help but worry. You said this rift is even bigger than the previous ones."

He was right. When I had gathered the senior members for a briefing, I told them that according to the vision Kyros had received, the rift was massive---large enough to cover more than half of Segel's sky.

'It's similar to the situation in the original story...'

At least there weren't any unexpected variables this time.

Worrying wouldn't change anything now, so I steeled myself instead.

***

After several hours of riding the Black Panther Troy without rest, a faint light appeared at the end of the tunnel. Troy's speed picked up as he followed the glow.

"Church Leader, I think we've arrived."

"Yeah," I replied, a small smile forming. Thanks to the earth fairy, we had reached Segel far sooner than expected.

"We finally made it. That was faster than I thought... What a relief," Zain said, visibly more at ease.

Troy stepped out of the tunnel, and as we emerged, I took in our surroundings---trees. As Felcia had promised, the tunnel had led us to a mountain in Segel.

"Good work, Troy."

I climbed off his back and opened my inventory, pulling out a health potion. Now back in human form, Troy accepted it.

"Thank you, Leader."

Without wasting time, I scanned the area. Judging by the terrain, we had arrived at the southern mountain close to Segel's entrance.

'Seeing how it matches the map from the original... I'm sure of it.'

After confirming our location, I raised my head upward. There, stretching across more than half the sky, was the massive rift. Even at that moment, small, winged low-level monsters were pouring out of it.

'It's quiet here... They must not be venturing into the mountains since there are no people around.'

Lowering my gaze, I caught my first clear view of Segel.

Segel---a port city in the northern part of the Continent.

It enjoyed the spotlight in the empire as a port city. The city killed two birds with one stone---trade and tourism, famed for its beautiful scenery.

But now, more than a day and a half after the rift had appeared, that beauty was gone.

Buildings had collapsed, and the streets were devastated.

'Still...'

Being one of the Empire's top trading hubs, Segel had a high level of security.

With so many soldiers stationed here, they were managing to hold their ground against the monsters.

'That's only because the ones appearing are low-level for now.'

The real issue was that the rift had formed inland. Monsters were blocking the only entrance and exit, forcing survivors to gather at the port.

'So far, everything is unfolding just like the original...'

I shifted my gaze away from the survivor camp.

"Zain, Troy."

Because I knew exactly what was coming next.

And right on cue, intermediate-level monsters emerged from the rift and came into sight.

"Let's go."

Without hesitation, we began descending the mountain.

***

Clang! Clang!

The knights' swords barely managed to fend off the claws of the lower-level monsters.

"Ugh!"

Even though these soldiers had undergone rigorous training, they were already exhausted from the relentless battle.

"Hold the line! If we fall, the citizens will be in danger!"

The captain's voice rang clear through the chaos, rallying Segel's soldiers. But as time dragged on, their grips on their swords grew weaker.

This wasn't a matter of willpower, effort, or skill. Unlike monsters, soldiers were 'human'---their numbers were limited, and their strength had its limits.

"Where are the reinforcements...?!"

Segel's situation was nothing short of desperate. From the moment the rift appeared---an unprecedented size---pleas for aid had been sent to the Imperial Family, neighboring territories, and even the Diego Church.

But Segel was at the northernmost edge of the Empire. Reinforcements would take time.

"Just hold out a little longer! They'll be here soon!"

Clinging to that hope, that if they could just hold out for a few hours, reinforcements would arrive, the soldiers gritted their teeth and fought on.

But their hopes were shattered when---

"I-It's a intermediate-level monster...!"

It began with a terrified cry.

"Don't panic! It's just one intermediate-level monster!"

Someone reasoned. If they worked together, they could take down a single intermediate-level monster.

"I-It's not just one! There's dozens!"

All soldiers' eyes turned skyward.

From the rift where lower-level monsters had been pouring out, intermediate-level flying monsters with slightly larger wings emerged.

"Keeeeek---!"

They screeched as if mocking the struggling humans.

"Aaah."

"This is the end for us."

A few soldiers, who had been fighting against the lower-level monsters, muttered in despair. Their swords slipped from their trembling hands, falling uselessly to the ground.

Against intermediate-level monsters of this size, they knew they wouldn't even stand a chance.

They saw no point in fighting.

And they weren't the only ones who saw the new threat.

"Oh... Lord Diego..."

At the survivor camp, civilians also spotted the flying creatures emerging from the rift.

"Please... Protect us."

Hugging their loved ones, they prayed to God.

The once-clear skies of Segel darkened with the appearance of the flying intermediate-level monsters.

And just like that, a shadow fell over the faces of both soldiers and survivors alike.

Whoosh---

It was at that moment, a ray of light flew in.

Just 11 more to go!!