In their escape, the caravan led by the soldiers found themselves trapped in front of the large bridge where they were awaited by a horde of gray wolves and several capped men. The twenty soldiers who protected the caravan advanced, keeping their guards. One of the soldiers took command and ordered the rest of the caravan to stand back, preparing to flee at the slightest opportunity.
The carts all stopped before reaching the bridge because they were trapped. Behind them their troops staying back faced a horde of goblins and wolves and now in front of them their guards were preparing to face a horde of wolves led by a giant wolf and covered-faced men with books in their hands and an ominous presence. The situation couldn't be worse.
It was then that a teenager got out of one of the carts accompanied by three women wearing priestess clothes with their heads veiled just like the young girl. Their clothes were closer to the outfits of Asian nuns with little covered bellies and a long skirt. She approached the soldiers and told them
- In view of the danger, I don't think my help will be too much.
The soldiers and the three other women at her side tried to dissuade her from intervening. The soldier who had taken command spoke
- I beg you priestess, forget this idea and return to the cart. It's our duty to protect you and if something happened to you then we could never forgive each other. Trust us to finally open a breach so that the caravan can pass.
- the soldier is right! You are one of the ninety-nine priestesses of the Goddess of Light, your life is far too precious to risk it like this. I beg you to stay back.
Added one of the women near the priestess. But the young girl completely ignored their request and prepared to fight with an air more determined than ever. One of the soldiers then retorted
- Good priestess! If this is what you want, your help will be very useful to us!
After this exchange, the soldiers and the young girl all took up combat positions. The soldiers dismounted from their horses to add them to those of the caravan which seemed quite exhausted.
- We will lose the advantage of height but at least, with that, they could get by and escape any pursuer.
All the while, neither the caped men nor the wolves attempted anything. They remained on the bridge observing the scene in silence until the soldiers were finally ready to carry out their assault. The one who had taken the command then addressed the others by pronouncing
- Our goal is just to open a passage so that at least half of the caravan can flee so fight until the end and no attempt at heroism... A horde of gray wolves accompanied by a giant wolf and a bunch of weird caped guys... That doesn't tell me anything but IT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT THE PRIESTESS OF THE LIGHT UNTIL THE DEATH... SO FIGHT! FIGHT TO YOUR LAST BREATH AND TO DEATH. AND LET THERE BE LIGHT...
Exalted by the cry of their superiors, the soldiers immediately went on guard with rage in their stomachs and their eyes filled with unflinching determination. Ten of them took up position with spears and swords ready to fight. Right in front of them, ten others formed a barrage with their shields very well timed to create a solid magical barrier.
Straight ahead, the gray wolves were in rage preparing to pounce on their enemies, they were just waiting for the signal. It was then that one of the caped men left the line formation to stand in front before raising his hand smiling. He was now capturing everyone's attention and when he lowered his hand as he sliced through the air, started it immediately. The horde of wolves rushed with speed and speed on their targets who were waiting for them.
The tension was palpable and at its peak. The soldiers swallowed their saliva and had cold sweats while the wolves were just three meters from their positions.
- Watch out for the shock!!! shouted the ringleader.
Carried by incredible speed and unparalleled ferocity, the wolves come crashing down violently on the magic barrier created by the soldiers. The shock was terrible and violent to the point of moving the human barricade of the soldiers and kissing the skulls and bones of some wolves.
Despite a terrible collision, the wolves tried as best they could to break the barrier of the soldiers with claws and fangs but this one held firm by giving a slight advantage to the soldiers whose leader shouted
- Don't flinch. Hold the shield as long as possible. The others with me.
At the same time, the priestess used her holy powers, empowered by the three others who accompanied her to bless the soldiers in addition to strengthening their weapons and armor. The Head Priestess spoke, clasping her hands.
- O great, merciful and merciful goddess. By your grace, there be light! Salvation!
Immediately, the body of the soldiers began to shine so the priestess added, turning to her companions
- I have reinforced their physique, so it's up to you to reinforce their armament.
"GOOD!" They answered.
The reinforcement of the priestesses allowed the soldiers to gain in strength to better resist the attacks. The other soldiers retreating behind the barrier, reinforced by the magic of the priestess, also passed the attack. From inside the barrier, they attacked the wolves outside, piercing them with their spears and eliminating large numbers.
If the barrier was impassable from the outside, from the inside it could easily be crossed and the soldiers took advantage of this opportunity to deliver decisive blows to their assailants by shooting down many gray wolves who were only dark.
Whether by five or by six, despite the number of deaths in their camps, the wolves continued to attack with always the same violence and ferocity. The soldiers, on the other hand, remained on the defensive and stuck to their plan in order to strike fatal blows and weaken the opponent.
When the corpses became too much under their feet, they retreated two or three steps to make space and better resist to counter attack effectively. A good strategy that paid off.
Time passed, the wolf corpses were more and more numerous. The soldiers do not weaken, nor does the priestess and her servants. But the wolves did not stop their assaults. The same pattern repeated itself without change. The wolves rushed on the barrier but failed to break it and the soldiers took the opportunity to eliminate them quickly. There were no changes since the start of the battle and only one person noticed. He was the man who temporarily led the troop of soldiers. He said to himself
- Damn, we're holding on for now but... Neither the giant wolf nor the guys with the weird capes have yet...
Pronounced the soldier who commanded when, a huge ball of flame compress into a hot ball comes down violently on the barrier and crosses it in half. Everyone was surprised and shocked when the man shouted
- Don't stay there. The barrier will...
shouted the soldier when the ball exploded destroying the barrier and carrying several soldiers in the flames. The priestess and servants were propelled back by the shock wave at the same time as some soldiers who managed to withstand the attack.
"Priestess how are you" "Have you been hit" "Say something...we can't stay here. We need to run away and fast."
Said the three maids as the young girl tried to get up. The fall had been violent so she had difficulty recovering in this abnormal smoke caused by the attack. Weakened, with ringing ears, she uttered as she gazed at the smoke that had been created by the explosion.
- This smoke...no, it's...not caused by this explosion...it's an enchantment... Soldier, get out of this cloud of smoke quickly.
cried the young priestess again. Of the ten soldiers who formed the barrier, only two were still alive. The other eight died instantly. The other two who had survived were in critical states closer to death than life. On the other hand, out of the ten soldiers who led the assault on the wolves, only one lost his life because this had been able to run so as not to take the full force of the explosion and despite this, three of them were badly messed up.
Those who were able were trying to help their comrades when the wolves began to attack, taking advantage of the cloud of smoke to pounce on their prey.
Some soldiers tried to resist by drawing their swords to face the onslaught of the wolves. A hand-to-hand fight then began between the wolves and the soldiers, both enraged. But at two, three, four, five, six or even seven against one, the battle was to be decided.
Despite this brutal reality, the soldiers resisted fiercely and bravely, even taking their opponents with them to the grave.
- If you must die then take ten with you. May every monster that faces you forever bear a mark of your sword on its head. LET THERE BE LIGHT!!!
Exalted by the voice of their leader, the soldiers offer a performance worthy of true heroes of tragedy. Their swords fell without hesitation on the heads of the wolves, shattering them with a single blow. Their spears pierce their targets from side to side, their swords were covered in blood as well as all their armor. Blood of their targets but also of their own blood. But this bloody massacre was going both ways.
After a moment of fierce and bloody combat, the wolves halted their assaults by watching the soldiers who were gathering close together. There were only seven left alive. The man in command of the troop approached the priestess along with the other six. The rest of the troop was slaughtered and the wolves returned to hunting position. The situation seemed hopeless so the priestess stood up and shouted
- O GODDESS OF LIGHT, may by your grace be illuminated the darkness of THIS WORLD!!!
A glow of light erupted from her joined hands before she opened them, sending the light straight at the smoke to make it disappear. The smoke disappeared, the situation was clearer for everyone. There were still wolves that were getting dangerously close and the cloaked men and the giant wolf still hadn't moved. One of the soldiers then pronouncing, angrily,
- The bastards...
- NOT MOVING! Our mission is to protect the priestess and nothing else. AT YOUR POST...don't sully the memory of those who have already fallen. We cannot create a passage for the caravan to pass. We are not capable of it. It's very clear but...we can always buy time by hoping that the other half of our troops staying behind manage to get rid of their attackers and catch up with us as soon as possible. Otherwise...
These were the thoughts of all of them. At seven they formed a barrage in front of the priestess. This one pronounced
- You seven listen to me. The operation is dangerous and there is a risk of dying before even fighting, but... If you accept, I can temporarily provide you with the strength and power of a hero.
"Strength..."
"A hero?"
- Do it! At the point where we are now, death seems obvious to me, so we might as well leave as a hero.
Answered the leader of the troop, smiling despite his injuries. His smile cheered up those who accompanied him and who all started smiling like him. The priestess looked at them both joyfully and sadly before adding.
- Our goddess will witness your bravery. But...know that whatever the situation, you should never darken towards death but towards the light so in the name of our all-powerful goddess, I forbid you to die!!!
"Understood!!!" They all answered at the same time by resuming a combat position with a determined air.
- Alright! So here we go!!!
While the horde of wolves resumed hunting. The priestess, helped by the three women who transmitted their miracle to her in the form of a mana of light, created a big yellow-red halo mixed above her head. The same symbol appeared as his pupils and in the hands of the three others who accompanied him.
Then she divided the halo above her head into seven pieces, one of the pieces went to plant itself in the body of each soldier before penetrating it.
Immediately, a whitish-yellow aura erupted from the body of the soldiers and a golden feather appeared in the left wing of the back of each of them. The same kind of feather was drawn on their two pupils but going in the opposite direction to that in their backs. Their hair had also changed color to become more yellow and golden like the feather.
- Each of the 99 priestess possesses a miracle given by the goddess and transmitted by the supreme priestess. Mine "hero heart" boosts potency to an extreme level. But the human body can only bear it for a short time, so... Go for it!!!
When the priestess cried out, four gray wolves were jumping on them with bloody fangs and claws. But with a movement so quick that even the priestess could not see it, one of the soldiers cut in two the four wolves without any difficulty. All the other wolves then threw themselves on the soldiers without any restraint and with speed and ferocity. But what followed was of a speed and efficiency that the priestesses themselves have seen almost nothing.
Cut from head to tail, decapitated, halved, punctured heart, punctured head, in an instant, the soldiers massacred the entire horde of wolves without suffering any damage from their part. It was an outright one-sided massacre. All the gray wolves on the bridge were savagely slaughtered to the last by the seven soldiers. There were only the caped men and the leader of the gray wolves who remained in the background until now.
One of the priestesses who accompanied the main priestess, pronounced while watching the scene
- "Heart of hero" your miracle is really fascinating. She is able to make the most fragile human, an implacable warrior. It's like a kind of rebirth.
- A rebirth? No, far from it, it's just...a slow and painful kill.
replied the priestess when one of the soldiers turned to the caped men saying
- Now that the case of the little ones is settled, we'll take care of...
Before falling to his knees on the ground. He dropped his sword and blood flowed from every pore of his body. Eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, he was bleeding everywhere and the beautiful light that carried him, disappeared little by little. He collected the blood that was coming out of his mouth in both hands before pronouncing
- So, that's it...the strength of heroes? Ha ha ha...it's...far too heavy...for mere humans. And yet, I have never felt so free and... happy.
Before collapsing on the ground in his blood. The soft and beautiful light that emanated from him, extinguished like a small flame carried by the wind.
- Damn...is that the weight of heroes? It's... insurmountable. What kind of person can... shoulder such a burden? I...I'm sorry...Lady Luby.
Another soldier said before collapsing in the same way as the previous one. The five other soldiers also seemed exhausted but they resisted with all their might. The priestess herself was bleeding from the nose. It's following yelled at him
"Please stop, this power is a double-edged sword. If this continues..."
"If those who benefit from this force do not feel the pain of death and feel free and peaceful at the time of death, it is because it bears on it all their sorrows and their suffering. It is it who suffers in their place. This is why we must not abuse this power."
"Lady Luby, don't take so much..."
They tried to hold her back but she cut them off by raising her voice to address the capped men.
- Who are you? What do you want? If it's our goods you seek, take what you want, but please spare those lives. I humbly ask you.
At the words of the priestess, the leader of the men in black advanced. He lifted his head and looked at the priestess for a moment. He then raised his hand in front of him before pronouncing
- Is there anything more precious than life? Yes! Yes! There is something more precious than life! Divine love is more precious than life! The love we have for a divinity! The love that a god has for his followers! Yes, this love is far more precious than life! Is there a life more precious than that of one of the ninety-nine Priestesses of Light? Yes! So priestess, know that it is in the name of the love of a life more precious than yours, that your life will be offered as a sacrifice to the great God NARMAN. Rejoice, for you will know the pain of love!
Said the man in the cape before raising his head, displaying a very big smile of a terrifying psychopath to your blood. The priestess and the soldiers, themselves, did not remain unmoved.
Because on the face of the man, seemed to be reflected all the human malice.