Chapter 63: The Conquest of the Order

“Starting from the doctrine advocated by the ‘Conquest Order,’ it is not difficult to deduce that brutal methods of pioneering, such as burning forests to clear land and draining lakes to create fields, are considered legitimate actions. This conveniently aligns with the colonists’ urgent desire for fertile land, but fails to consider the irreversible wounds that excessive development inflicts upon nature. People burn jungles to cultivate crops, and for the first few years, they may enjoy abundant harvests. However, as environmental destruction intensifies, these farmlands soon exhaust their fertility, and the local climate deteriorates drastically due to the widespread burning of forests. Eventually, the fertile fields degrade into deserts, and natural disasters occur frequently... In the end, radical pioneering might bring short-term benefits, but from a long-term perspective, it leads to even greater calamities.” Viktor Kalinin offered a fair critique of the ‘Conquest Order’s’ doctrine from the standpoint of a “Greenwild Druid.”

“Father, of course we can criticize the ‘Conquest Order’s’ doctrine for being overly simplistic and violent, neglecting long-term consequences. But think about it: those colonists who came to the new continent with dreams of wealth, most were displaced peasants unable to survive in the old world. They longed to quickly own a piece of fertile land for themselves—who among them would care about disasters that might occur years or even decades later?” Magni shrugged.

“You’re right, Magni. We can criticize the ‘Conquest Order’s’ shortsightedness, but we cannot condemn their actions as evil. After all, those colonists must survive, and they have dreams of prosperity. Possessing land—more and more land—is the only way these exiles can seek survival and realize their dreams.” Matoka sighed, her emotions conflicting.

“If the ‘Conquest Order’ truly represented the broad interests of the colonists as they claim, we would have little reason to blame them. But that’s not the whole truth. Father, Mother, this northern journey gave me a glimpse of the true intentions of the Order’s leadership. If my observations are thorough, and my reasoning not too far from reality, I fear I must draw a conclusion that will shock you both.”

“Speak your conjecture, Magni. Don’t worry about frightening anyone—no cowards sit beside you now.” Viktor cast an encouraging glance at his son.

Joan sensed the atmosphere around the campfire suddenly grow tense. Conversation ceased, and every gaze turned to Magni’s stern face. Even he, an outsider with no stake in the matter, found himself holding his breath, waiting for Magni to reveal the truth about the ‘Conquest Order.’

“In my view, the slogans flaunted by the ‘Conquest Order’ are nothing but false fronts. They care nothing for the well-being of colonists. What truly concerns them is the destruction of forests and grasslands; they take pleasure in the withering of plants, delight in replacing lushness with decay, life with death.” Faced with the puzzled and bewildered looks of the others, Magni enunciated his words: “The core doctrine of the ‘Conquest Order’ is not their public claims of ‘conquering the wilds’ or ‘cultivating fertile fields.’ They exist purely for destruction—destruction for its own sake.”

“When the forests and grasslands of the earth have all been destroyed, those cultists will not stop there. Next, they will turn their destructive intent toward the fields and orchards. Those who follow the Order in their pioneering efforts will one day realize that the idols they worship are, in truth, a band of cruel demons. When the demon’s flames have no trees left to burn, they will turn and consume the wheat fields behind them.” Magni solemnly delivered his ominous prophecy.

“Destruction for destruction’s sake... ruin for ruin’s sake...” Conti echoed her brother’s words, a chill running down her spine. “Magni, what benefit could such madness bring the Order? Surely their leaders are not simply lunatics who find pleasure in burning forests?”

“They are certainly not madmen. In fact, they have ample reason for their actions.” Magni lowered his voice, his expression growing ever more grave. “During our reconnaissance along the north bank of the Iphen River, we were fortunate to receive assistance from benevolent fae and ancient treants living on the fringes of the Hanging Forest. These beings have long struggled to resist the Order’s expansion, and, through their prolonged confrontation, have learned secrets the Order keeps hidden. The leader of this resistance, a venerable old treant, told me personally: several high-ranking members of the ‘Conquest Order’ were once druids. Sadly, they could not withstand the temptations of demons and ultimately betrayed their faith in nature’s source, turning to its opposite and descending into what are known as ‘Witherers.’”

“With... Witherers?!” Conti could not help but cry out, her fair face turning pale with fear.

Viktor and Matoka, as well as the elders by the fire, all revealed expressions of shock and even horror. For a moment, not a sound was heard.

Joan, unable to restrain his curiosity, leaned close to Conti and whispered, “What are ‘Witherers’?”

“Witherers are an extraordinarily evil supernatural vocation, a path only trodden by druids who have fallen.” Conti took a deep breath to steady herself. “Only those who truly love life and worship the source of nature can win its favor and become druids. But the way of the druid is fraught with hardship. If someone strays, losing their love for life and nature’s source, forsaking their sacred mission to maintain the balance of nature, they will be punished by nature’s source—stripped of all their abilities, including the power to cast nature’s magic.”

Joan nodded. “And then?”

“The Mother of Nature is merciful. If a wayward druid repents in time and actively atones for their fall, they can regain nature’s favor and their lost powers. But some stubborn souls refuse to repent, and, feeling resentment for their punishment, turn to the embrace of demons. Under the guidance of these demons, they become evil spellcasters, known as ‘Witherers.’”

“Just as people call the dark knights of evil gods ‘Anti-Paladins,’ ‘Witherers’ are known as ‘Anti-Druids.’ Their creed is the direct opposite of the druid’s: they take pleasure in desecrating life and spreading death, pride themselves on destroying green plants. They possess powerful and wicked abilities; their spellcasting can even surpass that of true druids. Yet these powers are not without cost: every day, a Witherer must personally destroy a vast expanse of flourishing vegetation—normally by burning forests, grasslands, or crops in fields. Through this cruel ritual, they appease their demonic patron and gain their daily spell slots.”

“The higher a Witherer's level, the more greenery they must destroy each day. Bound by this requirement, they cannot sustain their powers in the sparse vegetation of glaciers or deserts. Thus, Witherers always lurk in regions rich with plants. It is easy to understand why the ‘Conquest Order,’ led by Witherers, seeks to expand into the great Alf Forest and incites colonists to indiscriminately burn and clear land. It allows them to mingle among the pioneers, under the guise of leadership, conducting their evil rituals of deforestation—sacrificing vast quantities of green plants to enhance their own powers, leaving behind only withered branches and fallen leaves.”

Hearing Conti’s account, Joan felt a chill deep within. Since Witherers must destroy trees day after day to maintain their spellcasting, Magni’s earlier deduction seemed perfectly logical. These fallen druids truly did destroy for destruction’s sake, ruin for ruin’s sake; their public doctrine was nothing but a beautiful facade to conceal their true purpose.

“If the ‘Conquest Order’ is a cult founded upon Witherers as its backbone, then the ‘Black Wilt,’ spreading from the north, is likely tied to this evil group.” Joan mused aloud.

“Based on our investigations in the north these past days, your guess is accurate.” Magni patted Joan’s shoulder, then continued the topic he had introduced. “In the past month, we have scouted no fewer than ten regions that suffered outbreaks of the ‘Black Wilt.’ We also interviewed surviving locals and found two common signs that appeared before and after the disease struck.”

“Tell us specifically—what similarities did you find?” Viktor pressed.

“First, before the Black Wilt outbreak, there were often mysterious black-robed figures wandering the forests. Wherever these suspicious individuals appeared, the disease soon followed: plants withered and died in large numbers. This strongly suggests the evil rituals of the Witherers.”

“The second suspicious sign appeared in the woods infected by the Black Wilt. The withered trees seemed infused with some wicked magical power, transforming after death into breeding grounds for monsters. These creatures, born from the dead trees, resembled animated plants, yet harbored a hatred for the living akin to that of undead. They roamed in packs through forests and fields, hunting any living thing that strayed into their territory—including us humans. In fact, nearly all villages near the Black Wilt outbreaks have been destroyed by what locals call ‘Wither Monsters.’ Survivors who fled these villages spoke of the monsters with terror and hatred. At first, we didn’t understand why they were so timid, why they wouldn’t band together to resist the invasion. Only after we ourselves encountered the Wither Monsters... did we truly comprehend the feelings of those refugees.”

Magni’s voice grew low, the fire casting flickering shadows across his face.

The flames danced on Magni’s features, and in the hearts of those listening, cast an indelible shadow. Unconsciously, the atmosphere around the campfire grew fearful. Conti and Joan exchanged a glance, shivering in unison.