The fire popped, sending a spray of sparks into the air. Thomas spoke and confirmed what Reidar already knew: the Church wasn't just conquering territory; they kidnapped survivors, either to work them to death or to use them for their twisted experiments, creating stronger monsters that they would then slaughter for massive mana gains or to use them in some other way.
Thomas also explained the settlement situation in this area, and it was bleak. There were no other major settlements left around these parts. The Church had been thorough. Anyone who hadn't bent the knee had been eradicated or dragged off in chains. This small camp was the last one still standing. Of course, that was not true for the entire region, but a huge chunk of it had been conquered already.
After all, the level disparity between the average survivor and the church was abysmal. Only the settlements directly protected by the Aegis Phalanx were still standing.
