In fact, Ascension Sect followers often roamed the wilderness around Hamlet. However, they were mostly ordinary cultists, many even poorly equipped.
The ones launching this night attack, however, were all Elites who had undergone numerous Flesh Rites for Strengthening and earned the right to wear full gear.
This situation was primarily due to Hamlet's new Lord. Lance had killed the Witch, led soldiers to purge several Ascension Sect camps in the wilderness, and severed their connection with Ovando.
Subsequently, large-scale wilderness development projects often involved squads of soldiers sweeping the area. This continuously shrank the cultists' operational space, and ordinary followers were almost certain to die if encountered.
While they never feared death—on the contrary, they revered it—this was a notion brainwashed into the rank-and-file followers. The Ascension Sect's leadership still understood that this attrition wasn't sustainable.
