Re: In My Bloody Hit Novel - Chapter 548

Chapter 548: The Rebel Army
However, at that moment, a robed man standing behind began to chant, raising his staff to the sky. It glowed with a beautiful, radiant light. Those who were still injured but not yet dead on the ground, including the man with the hammer, were bathed in a white holy light. Dylan and Timothy watched in surprise as the fallen men’s injuries began to heal, their bodies rejuvenated by the divine glow.

The cleric’s voice rang out, clear and resonant, his words a poetic call to the Goddess of Fate:

“O Fate, who weaves the threads of life,

In this dark hour, end our strife.

With holy light, let wounds be mended,

By your grace, let life be extended.

Grant your healing, pure and bright,

Restore our strength, renew our might.

In your hands, our destinies lie,

Guide us now, we do not defy.”

As he chanted, the light from his staff intensified, casting an ethereal glow over the battlefield. The wounded men began to stir, their injuries knitting together. The man with the hammer, previously on the brink of death, groaned as his flesh reformed and his strength returned. One by one, the fallen men rose to their feet, their expressions a mix of awe and determination.

The air crackled with energy, the holy light so intense it seemed to shimmer with a life of its own. The scent of fresh rain mixed with the metallic tang of blood, creating a surreal atmosphere. Dylan and Timothy stood in stunned silence, their hearts pounding as they witnessed the miraculous recovery of their enemies.

This was the power of a cleric, an important asset of the Holy church. In battles, they were seen as important as even battle commanders.

The cleric’s chant grew louder, more fervent, his eyes closed in deep concentration. The light from his staff pulsed rhythmically, each beat infusing the fallen men with renewed vigor. The ground beneath them seemed to hum with the power of the Goddess of Fate.

Finally, the cleric lowered his staff, his chant reaching its crescendo:

“By Fate’s decree, we rise once more,

Our spirits strong, our hearts restore.

With sacred light, we stand and fight,

In her name, we claim the night.”

The glow subsided, but the renewed strength in the robed men was obvious. They stood up ready, their eyes locked onto Dylan and Timothy with a fierce resolve. The battlefield had shifted once again, and the fight was far from over.

This time around, it was Dylan and Timothy who were left stunned, their morale began to falter. Despite this, Dylan raised his sword to face their enemies, while Timothy clutched his bleeding stomach, staying at Dylan’s back. They leaned against each other, back to back, their breaths heavy and labored.

Dylan had never seen such a display of power before. These people of the Holy Church were now more formidable than he had ever imagined. Slowly, they chuckled among themselves, drawing closer to him. The one who had thrown the chain earlier threw it again, this time grabbing Timothy’s leg and pulling him to the ground.

“Timothy!” Dylan screamed as he lunged to cut the chain with a somersault and his sword, but a blast of white flames shot toward him. He had no choice but to defend against it with his sword. Luckily, his control over his spiritual energy allowed him to withstand the attack, though some flames still seared his skin.

Timothy, on the other hand, was pulled in. One of the men in robes raised a sword, aiming for Timothy’s head with an accomplished smile on his face. Just before he could bring the blade down, something unexpected happened. An arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself in the man’s forehead. Blood splashed onto Timothy’s face as the sword fell from the man’s hand, embedding into the ground close to Timothy’s head. He screamed in shock.

Everyone turned to look in the direction the arrow had come from.

From the shadows of the trees, a figure emerged, cloaked in dark garments and moving with the grace of a predator. The archer was a tall woman with piercing eyes that glinted with determination. Her bow was still raised, another arrow already nocked and ready to be loosed.

The robed men hesitated, taken aback by this sudden turn of events. Dylan seized the moment, his spirit rekindled by this unexpected ally.

“Who are you?” one of the robed men demanded, his voice wavering.

The woman stepped forward, her voice calm and commanding. “I’m someone who doesn’t take kindly to the Holy Church’s oppression. Now, leave, or face the consequences. Just so you know, there is an army a hundred strong of the rebels behind me. even your so called cleric would not be able to resurrect you before you are dead like your friend over there.”

“You bluff!” the man with the hammer voiced out. However, before he could say an more, six arrows landed at the feet of him and his men, all glowing with spiritual energy of the copper rank.

The men in robes exchanged uncertain glances. Their confidence was shaken, and the presence of this new threat made them reconsider their advantage.

Dylan rushed forward to pick up timothy, and still supporting Timothy, took a step forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light. “You heard her. Leave now, or you’ll wish you hadn’t messed with us!”

The tension in the air was obvious between them. The robed men, now faced with a formidable adversary and the unexpected appearance of the archer, began to retreat, muttering amongst themselves.

The one with the hammer frowned, “we will come and burn you heretics to the ground.”

As they backed away, the woman lowered her bow slightly, her eyes never leaving them until they disappeared into the night. She then turned her attention to Dylan and Timothy, her expression softening.

“Are you two alright?” she asked, approaching them.

Dylan nodded, though he was visibly exhausted. “We are now, thanks to you.”

Timothy looked at the woman and then smiled, “The Black Arrow,” he muttered. The woman nodded, her appearance still hidden. “Come with me. I’ll lead you to the boss. He is expecting you. Especially you,” she said, turning to Dylan.

As they moved through the forest, Dylan noticed movements in the trees. Two people landed beside them, also wearing masks to cover their faces. Dylan frowned, “I thought you told the church people that an army was coming.”

“I lied,” she stated as she continued walking. “These two are my assistants.” On saying this, one of the men walked over to Timothy and began giving him first aid. Once he was done, he raised a black cloth to Dylan.

Dylan asked what it was for, and the woman replied, “Put it on. You are new; we cannot have you knowing where our hideout is.” Dylan was a bit skeptical at first, but it was true that he was still foreign to them, so he did as they asked. However, the moment he placed the cloth over his face, he realized that it had been dosed with sleeping herbs. Before he knew what was happening, he had passed out.

—

When Dylan woke up, he was surprised to hear subtle sounds echoing through the dimly lit cave. Rising to his feet, he looked around and noticed the masked Black Arrow still standing guard. Immediately, his thoughts turned to Timothy. He searched the small chamber but saw no sign of his friend.

“Where’s Timothy?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Black Arrow shook her head. “He has been disposed of.”

The coldness of her words struck Dylan like a blow. Shocked and angry, he wanted to protest, but the woman gave him no chance. “The boss will see you now,” she said, turning to lead him further into the cave.

Dylan followed her through the labyrinthine passages of the underground hideout. The walls were rough and damp, carved from the natural rock, and the air was filled with the earthy smell of moss and moisture. Torches lined the walls at intervals, casting flickering shadows that danced eerily on the stone surfaces.

He couldn’t help but notice his magical sword hanging loosely from Black Arrow’s waist, a constant reminder of his vulnerability. As they walked, he felt eyes on him from the shadows, silent watchers evaluating his every move. The whispers ahead grew louder, and he strained to catch fragments of conversations, but they were too quiet and indistinct.

The passage eventually opened up into a bright room, a stark contrast to the gloom of the cave. The walls here were lined with polished stone, and the ceiling was supported by intricately carved pillars. Torches blazed brightly, illuminating the space with a warm, golden light. At the far end of the room was a large, ornate chair, almost like a throne, and seated in it was a figure shrouded in shadow.

Black Arrow gestured for Dylan to step forward. As he did, he could feel the weight of many eyes upon him, the silent scrutiny of those who lived and fought in this hidden place. The whispers ceased, and an expectant hush fell over the room as he approached the throne, ready to meet the mysterious leader of the resistance.

As Dylan stepped into the brightly lit room, he took in the scene before him. The large chamber was bustling with activity. Men and women of various races were gathered around wooden tables, poring over maps and documents, deep in discussion. The room had an air of urgency, as if plans for a significant operation were being meticulously crafted. Flickering torches on the walls cast a warm, golden glow, illuminating the faces of those present.

Among the gathered crowd were orcs, their muscular forms towering over the others. Dylan recognized some of them, their faces etched with the memories of past battles. It had been a long time, but their distinctive features were unforgettable. They had fought together once, comrades in arms against a common enemy.

The room fell silent as Dylan entered, all eyes turning to him. The sudden quiet was disturbing, Conversations ceased, and the rustling of papers and clinking of metal came to an abrupt halt. Dylan felt the weight of countless gazes upon him, evaluating and scrutinizing his presence.

Ahead, seated on a large, ornate chair that resembled a throne, was a figure who exuded authority. The man’s fierce expression and the scar running from his temple down to his neck gave him a menacing appearance.

His commanding presence filled the room, and it was clear he was the leader. Dylan’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized the man immediately. It had been many months, but the memories of their childhood together came flooding back. This was someone he had once trusted, someone who had been more than a friend.

The figure on the chair raised his head, his intense gaze locking onto Dylan. “So the betrayal finally comes home,” he said, his voice carrying a mix of bitterness and disappointment.

……

Meanwhile, in a different part of the kingdom, the men of the church were gathered in a dimly lit chamber, the air was filled with the scent of incense. In the center of the room, a glowing orb hovered above an ornate pedestal, pulsating with a soft, ethereal light. It was their means of communication with higher-ranking officers of the Holy Church, a mystical device that transcended distance.

One of the robed men stepped forward, his face illuminated by the orb’s glow. He began to speak, his voice steady and reverent. “We have sent word,” he announced to his companions, and the orb brightened, indicating a connection had been established.

On the other end of the o link, a figure materialized within its glow. It was Dona, Chiron’s uncle, a high-ranking officer of the Holy Church of this branch. After all, he was known to have risked it his life against Chiron, and was a right hand man to a Bronze knight of the holy church.

His stern features and piercing eyes conveyed both wisdom and authority. He gazed into the orb, waiting for the report.

The man before the orb spoke again, his tone deferential. “Sir, the situation is as follows,” he began, recounting the recent events and the battle that had unfolded.

He concluded with the critical detail: “We were able to leave a cut on one of them.”

Dona’s expression remained unreadable, but his eyes seemed to gleam with satisfaction. “Good,” he said, his voice resonating through the orb. “I am on my way.”

As the connection faded, the men of the church exchanged glances with one another.

When they had been threatened by the black arrow and Dylan, they had not left out of fear as Dylan had thought. They had left because of a more concrete plan at work.

…..