Silas gave them two months to prepare for the assault. He would rather not take chances. Reidar had foiled too many of their plans. Given the state of things, it was a miracle already they had been able to take Havenwood.

Highmont had to fall; they needed the city, as it held strategic importance.

<I need to kill him…>

After that, Silas left. There was another person he had to talk to, one that was now acting as his bridge to the Progenitor.

Silas found Mara on the last floor of the Skyscraper, in a suite that had once belonged to a CEO before the world ended. She was standing by the window, looking out at the city below.

She turned as he entered. Mara was beautiful in a terrifying way; her features had been changed by the same mutations that affected all the mutated humans—pale skin, pointy ears, and eyes that reflected light like a cat's.

"You're back," she said. She didn't bow and actually gave Silas a look. "And you look almost as terrible as you smell."

Silas poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher on the table. "I had to fly for three weeks to reach Ashwick. Forgive me if I didn't have the time to shower."

She gave him a contemptuous look. She was the only one who could do that, and that was just because of accomplishments alone.

"You don't look wounded," Mara said, crossing the room to stand before him. "But your ego is surely still bleeding."

Mara already knew what happened.

Silas drank the water, setting the glass down. "Would you have anticipated that outcome? Honestly… We have too many advantages compared to those bound by the system, and yet he still messed up the plan."

"Expected?" Mara raised an eyebrow. "I won't be brazen-faced enough to lie. No, I wouldn't. But you should've."

She paused.

"You went to Creamont to build a Mana Siphoning Circle. You went to turn a city of survivors into fuel. Instead, you come back three weeks later with nothing but the clothes on your back. Jorik warned you that Reidar's parents were in Creamont, and you still didn't prepare. You thought the humans there were inconsequential given their low levels, and you underestimated Reidar. You knew there was a high chance he was going to Creamont, and you did nothing to prevent that."

"He wasn't even at level 260 when he was in the valley, Mara! I was more than a hundred levels stronger than him!"

"And yet, he closed the gap, didn't he? The summoner beat you."

Silas sighed.

"No," Silas said. "The Aegis Phalanx beat me."

He paced across the room, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Miller was the one who destroyed the War Hounds and the circle, but I could have killed him. I could have restarted the project. It was the war against the War Hounds that alerted the Aegis. If Reidar had minded his fucking business, none of this would have happened."

"So what now?" she asked. "Highmont is next on the list. Are you going to lead the assault?"

"No," Silas said. "Cornelius will handle Highmont. I have a more important task."

He stopped pacing and looked at her.

"I am going to the cave."

Mara froze. The playfulness vanished from her face. That was a serious matter.

"The cave? Why?"

"Yes. The cave, and the reason is Reidar."

Mara remained silent. "I get it. He scared you…"

"Scared me?" He paused. "You weren't there, Mara. Miller is… He is too big of a problem." He paused again.

"You look scared," Mara said.

Silas met her gaze. "He summoned thousands of creatures at level 298. Thousands, Mara. War Hounds, flying beasts, and ground troops—an entire army materialized in minutes. I watched him coordinate them like a general commanding battalions. Each summon was strong enough to overwhelm our forces individually, and together they formed a wall I couldn't break through."

He paused, his jaw tightening. "Now imagine what he'll be capable of once he crosses level 300. His summoning power will multiply. His creatures will be stronger, faster, and more intelligent. He'll be able to field an army that could challenge entire cities."

"I bet he's already past that threshold," Silas said. "Given his leveling speed, he's probably over 300 by now. Maybe even 310. Every day I wait, the gap closes further."

"Silas," she said. "That place is unstable. We use it to boost our people, like we did with Drecht, yes, but only for short durations. Exposure for too long… it changes things. It twists our minds."

"I'm not going to fail the Progenitor again, Mara. If his plan works, we will be able to extend our mantle over humanity in its entirety."

Mara wasn't stupid enough to not see the hypocrisy in what they were doing. They were using people to make monsters stronger so that they could then be harvested, and they were doing all that for the sake of humanity. In the church's eyes, even in her eyes, the end justified the means, but it didn't mean she wasn't aware they were killing many people.

Silas walked to the window, looking out at the dark stone walls of Ashwick.

"The distance between us is shrinking, Mara. I'm certain of it. At my current level, I'm exposed to danger. The Phalanx has operatives who've surpassed level 400. To preserve what we're building and ensure the Church's survival, I must grow more powerful."

He turned back to her.

"I am going in. I am not coming out until I break the Level 400 threshold."

Mara stared at him for a long moment. She saw fear in his eyes and a hint of desperation. Not because he feared death, not because he feared Reidar, but because he feared failing in his mission; he feared he wouldn't be able to protect humanity.

"You're afraid of him?"

"I am afraid of losing," Silas said. "And I will not lose."

He walked to the door.

"Keep an eye on Drecht. Make sure he doesn't mess up and that he takes Highmont. If Miller comes, make sure he doesn't get overconfident. Tell Drecht to empty the city if he has to. Just kill him. If that doesn't work, call me."

"I will," Mara said.

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