"Have you seen Lord Lumberling and the others?" Gordon asked, wiping blood from his hands as he and Thalia oversaw the clearing of bodies and cleaning up.

"I haven't seen them either," Thalia replied, shaking her head.

But then, both of them froze at the same time.

A wave of pressure rolled over the camp. Instinct made them turn their heads.

"What in the…" Gordon's words trailed off.

From the shadows, figures emerged, familiar faces, but changed. The captains and vice-captains of Lumberling's army walked toward them, their new forms radiating raw power. Auras bled from their bodies with every step, pressing against the hearts of all who watched.

The camp went still. Soldiers of the Church, Gordon's men, even Thalia herself widened their eyes.

"They… they evolved."

"No, look at them, several of them all at once."

"Monsters, how can they all become this strong so suddenly?"

Murmurs spread through the ranks, half awe, half fear.

The Church soldiers exchanged glances, uneasy. None dared voice it aloud, but the thought was there. Were these creatures still just allies, or something far more dangerous?

Even Lumberling's own foot soldiers blinked in disbelief at their captains' transformation. They had seen Aren evolve earlier, but this was on a different scale.

"Hah!" Aren barked out a laugh, grinning ear to ear. He folded his arms proudly. "Took you all long enough to catch up."

His words earned a ripple of laughter from the newly evolved, the tension breaking slightly. Their pride was clear in the way they carried themselves, in the gleam in their eyes.

Still, the rest of the army could only watch in silence, stunned by how quickly their Lord's inner circle was rising to power.

As Lumberling and his group drew near, the weight of their new power pressed on everyone. Gordon cleared his throat, forcing words out.

"What… what happened to you all? Where did you even go?"

Lumberling's face remained calm. "My subordinates were on the verge of evolving. We found a place away from prying eyes so they could do it safely." The lie rolled off his tongue effortlessly.

"I… see," Gordon muttered. He couldn't hide his shock, but at the same time, he felt a strange relief. Since the day he had met this group, they had defied every expectation he held. Dangerous, yes, but they were on his side, and that was enough.

Thalia, however, was smiling. Her eyes lingered on Lumberling, sharp but amused. "Your group keeps growing stronger, Lord Lumberling," she said softly. After a pause, she tilted her head. "Have you ever thought of joining the Church of the Twilight Prayer?"

The words fell like a stone in a still pond.

Whispers broke out among the soldiers nearby. Gordon blinked, stunned. Even the Church troops froze, unable to believe what they had heard.

Thalia was no ordinary priestess, her position gave her both voice and weight in the Church. For her to extend such an offer meant it carried the Church's authority as well. The Church of the Twilight Prayer, third in rank among the empire's great Churches, but no less terrifying than the others. They housed Knights of the Fourth Stage in their foundation. To be invited into their fold was no small thing.

Lumberling chuckled, but his eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to recruit us, Lady Thalia? You want a band of monsters in your holy ranks?"

"Why not?" Thalia's reply was calm and unflinching. "Race doesn't matter in this era of chaos. What matters is strength… and potential. You and your people have both. Any force would fight to claim such talent."

A hush spread through the camp.

Gordon swallowed hard. To belong to the Church was to stand beneath one of the greatest shades of protection in the empire. In these times of endless wars, such an offer was beyond precious. If it were him, he would have accepted on the spot.

Even Garrick was struck silent. His pride warred with awe, but deep down he knew, it wasn't his place to speak. Not here. Not before a decision of this weight.

All eyes turned to Lumberling, waiting to see how he would answer.

He met Thalia's gaze, holding it for a long, quiet moment. Then, slowly, he shook his head.

"Thank you for the offer, Lady Thalia," he said at last, his tone respectful. He gave a small bow of his head. "But we must decline. The Church's path is not for us."

To join was to kneel. To ally was to stand side by side. And as long as he stood, his people's future remained their own.

A ripple passed through the crowd. Some frowned, others muttered under their breath, clearly baffled by his refusal. For men and women who had spent their lives under the shadow of great institutions, turning down such protection seemed like madness.

But Thalia… she only smiled.

"I already guessed you would refuse," she said, her voice light, as if amused. Then she stepped closer, her eyes never leaving him. "In that case, what about an alliance?"

The words landed heavier than the first offer.

Lumberling tilted his head. "An alliance?"

"Yes." Thalia's smile softened, but her eyes were sharp and measuring. "You may see your group as small, but strength isn't only about numbers. What I saw today on the battlefield… tells me otherwise."

"I appreciate your goodwill," Lumberling replied, calm but wary. "Still, compared to your Church, my force is little more than a spark. Why would you want us?"

"You never know, Lord Lumberling," Thalia said quietly. She seemed as though she might say more, but stopped herself halfway.

Yet that pause was enough. Lumberling narrowed his eyes, a flicker of thought stirring in him. 'Did she see something again?'

The silence stretched for a beat before he finally nodded. "Very well. If it's an alliance you want, then I will accept."

Gasps and whispers erupted around them. To ally with one of the most feared Churches of the empire, even without joining them outright was no small matter.

Thalia's smile widened, this time carrying a hint of satisfaction. "Then let this be the beginning, Lord Lumberling. I look forward to what comes next."

Thalia extended her hand. "Let it be sealed here."

Lumberling regarded her for a heartbeat, then clasped her hand firmly. Their grips tightened, not as rivals, but as equals. For a moment, the battlefield fell silent around them. Soldiers, priests, and monsters alike looked on in disbelief.

An alliance had been born.

A monster-led army and one of the most powerful Churches in the empire, bound together.

For Lumberling, the weight lifted. No longer did he have to fear the Pentaline Empire turning against him outright. With the Baron, the Viscount, and now the Twilight Church standing behind his banner, his people had gained a shield as well as new ground to grow.

As the murmurs spread, Skitz leaned in close to his Lord, grinning like a fox. "My Lord, did she just fall in love with you? I'm telling you, your elf wives are really going to kill you."

Lumberling shot him a glare. "Scram."

Skitz burst into laughter, the sound echoing as he slunk away, thoroughly pleased with himself.

With the tension broken, the gathered armies began to move again. Orders were called out, banners raised, and the weary troops made ready for the long march back to the Viscount's stronghold.