C4 Genesis Order

"Your sect?" Lankro's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Yes, my sect. Given that you only possess the strength of a Class 1, I assume you're not a Devout of another sect, are you?" Egerton inquired. It's quite challenging for a believer to switch allegiances once they've committed to a particular sect as a Devout.

"Are you just trying to make me feel better?" Lankro asked, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.

"Could you maybe trust me a bit more?" Egerton responded, his irritation evident.

"...What's the name of your sect?" Lankro finally broke the silence.

"The Genesis Order. Our doctrine is to let creation change the world, and our prayer is, 'O omnipotent God of Creation, please protect your followers and bless them with the wisdom of the unknown.'" Egerton recited smoothly. To unlock the Class 2 Dodger, he had previously paid ten vagrants in the slum to chant the prayers, so the words came to him effortlessly now.

"The Genesis Order? What kind of sect is that?" Lankro asked, clearly taken aback.

There were nineteen established sects in the Sylvian Continent, each backed by a true deity, and Lankro was just an ordinary believer of the Feral Heart Cult among them.

"Ah, it's a nascent sect, but don't fret. The Genesis Order is indeed supported by a true deity. It's certainly not one of those disorganized, minor sects!" Egerton hastily clarified, though internally he mused, "Even though I am that very deity."

Aside from the nineteen mainstream sects on the Sylvian Continent, there were numerous minor sects, typically lacking divine protection and established for various purposes. The continent's stance toward these lesser and emerging sects was quite lenient. After all, not all of the nineteen mainstream sects were there from the start; many had developed over time. Only the original seven were the official religions of the Sylvian Continent.

"..."

"Oh, and another thing. Our sect can also reshape professional abilities, so you needn't worry about struggling to improve your strength once you join," Egerton added, as a realization struck him, seeing Lankro's hesitation.

When a believer receives the divine power infusion from their sect's deity and becomes a Class of that sect, maintaining their original faith can lead to significant advancement. Once their strength reaches a certain threshold, they can progress to the next Class level through the church's Rite of Ascension.

However, if one were to betray their faith, they could still continue their practice, but the possibility of undergoing the Rite of Ascension would be lost, and advancement would require much more time.

"Can I really reshape my class?" Lankro asked Egerton, her disbelief evident.

The concept was astonishing. In the Sylvian Continent, none of the seven major official religions or the twelve mainstream sects had the ability to reshape a class. Even the fabled Feral Heart Cult couldn't do it.

Was he deceiving me, trying to lure me into the Genesis Order first?

"Can you reshape my class abilities right now?" Lankro probed.

"Uhh... Not at the moment," Egerton stumbled over his words. To perform the ceremony, a church was necessary, but he couldn't even find a single believer, and with his strength at a mere Class 2, where could he build a church for the Genesis Order?

"Just as I thought!" Lankro's suspicions were confirmed, and she found herself torn.

Should I trust him and join this unknown order, or should I refuse?

If I refuse, he might betray me, but I'm no match for him.

Maybe I should flee when he leaves?

But if he's anticipated this and prepared, I still won't be able to escape.

"I know this is a tough decision. Here's what we'll do: recite the prayer, familiarize yourself with the teachings, and then take some time to think it over. Let me know your decision in a couple of days," Egerton suggested with a smile.

With ten days to complete Earl Hagen's task, turning Lankro into a believer could take just two or three days—there was no rush.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'm feeling sleepy, and you should get some rest too," Egerton said, yawning and settling into a rattan chair. Soon, his breathing became steady, signaling he had drifted off to sleep.

"Do I lack appeal?"

Lankro had initially thought Egerton's suggestion to sleep was a prelude to something more intimate, but seeing him peacefully asleep in the chair, she chided herself for overthinking and felt a twinge of annoyance at his apparent indifference.

Her cheeks flushed as she remembered how she had earlier disrobed of her own accord.

"Perhaps I'm just too tense. He doesn't seem like a bad person after all."

The next morning, Egerton rose early. Though he couldn't forgo sleep as he once did in the Eastern Region, his Class 2 strength allowed him to be brimming with energy after a mere five hours of rest.

He instinctively headed to the kitchen to freshen up, but the sounds he heard told him Lankro was already up and about. "Probably still feeling a bit uneasy?" he mused as he entered the kitchen, only to be stopped in his tracks by the sight before him.

Lankro stood at the counter, deftly chopping Egerton's limited supply of apples into small pieces. She hummed a cheerful tune, and in no time, a plate of enticing fruit salad was laid out before Egerton, whetting his appetite.

But it wasn't the culinary surprise that had Egerton astounded. It was Lankro's attire—or the lack thereof. Her top remained unchanged, but where there should have been tight leather pants, there was nothing but smooth, bare skin. The shirt draped over most of her backside, accentuating her slender legs to perfection.

"You're up," Lankro said, noticing Egerton's dumbfounded expression as she nearly nicked herself with the knife. She quickly explained, her demeanor cautious, "I saw you had some fruit left, so I took the liberty of making breakfast."

Egerton cleared his throat, trying to avert his gaze, but his eyes kept wandering back to Lankro's legs. He recalled the previous night's events, and it took all his self-control not to act on impulse. "Looks like I've been holding back for too long. Funny, I didn't find it so tempting last night."

"Let's eat first!" Lankro, feeling the intensity of Egerton's stare, hurried past him with the fruit salad and set it on the wooden table in the outer room before darting into the inner room. She reemerged half a minute later.

"Ah, the lovely view is gone, just like that," Egerton lamented. "If I had been less scrupulous last night, would I be... No, no, no. As a respected Dominion, when have I ever stooped so low as to flirt with a young woman like this!"

Seeing Lankro had already donned her long pants, Egerton felt a twinge of regret.

"Take the next couple of days to stay at my place and reflect on the sect's matters. It's best you don't go out. I'll find a way to deal with Viscount Hagen's issue," Egerton said, breaking the silence after finishing his breakfast.

"Thank you," Lankro responded, initially taken aback, then expressing her gratitude.

"It's no trouble. If you can join the sect, it will all be worthwhile. Just don't let me down," Egerton replied with a smile.

"By the way, what style of clothes do you prefer? If I get a chance, I'll pick some up for you, though I'm afraid I won't be able to get the Orc attire that would suit you," he inquired.

"Oh, why can't you?" Lankro asked, curious.

"It's not that I can't, but I'd have to travel to a far-off district to find them. If I tried to buy them nearby, we might get caught," Egerton explained.

Despite being an old pervert, Viscount Hagen was a noble of the Starmoon Duchy, and it was easy for him to have his men search an entire district.

"In that case, maybe you shouldn't bother getting clothes for me," Lankro suggested after a moment's thought.

"No need to worry about that. I'm heading near the Skyreach Spire anyway, and they sell clothing for women there. It's on my way," Egerton said with a smile.

"You're going to the Skyreach Spire?" Lankro's eyes sparkled with interest.

"Why, do you wish to accompany me?" Egerton queried.

"With my current abilities, I doubt anyone would want me to join them," Lankro said, her eyes gleaming with longing before she shook her head.

The Skyreach Spire was a miraculous tower built by the seven great gods ten thousand years ago, during a time when magical creatures roamed the Sylvian Continent. It served to imprison all magical creatures and also contained the gateway to the Demon Realm, specifically on its highest level.

Because of this history, the Seven Great Gods were held in sacred reverence across the Sylvian Continent. The seven major sects that emerged, each aligned with one of the seven great duchies, became the official religions, deeply respected by their respective duchies.

Regarding the twelve mainstream sects that emerged successively, even with divine protection, their status and influence paled in comparison to the seven major official religions.

Magical creatures were sealed away, and the entrance to the Demon Realm was obstructed, yet this did not entirely prevent the incursion of magical creatures. Behind these beings loomed the Evil Gods, whom even the Gods struggled to vanquish. Thus, the Gods endowed mortals on the Sylvian continent with the power of Classes, transforming them into formidable experts capable of entering the Skyreach Spire to hunt the magical creatures that had once ravaged the land.

As time passed, the average human strength gradually improved, and the chaos of the magical creatures' levels within the Skyreach Spire began to subside. A more distinct hierarchy emerged, based on the tower's floors.

Still, the Skyreach Spire remained perilous. Only believers of Class 2 and above could venture within. Class 1 believers had no chance of entering unless accompanied by a Class 3 expert.

"That's not necessarily true. What if an advanced Adventure Team is looking for a lucky charm?" Egerton said with a chuckle.