Chapter 4: You Want to Harm My Believers? Did You Ask Me First?!

Buzz!

The entire church’s light suddenly brightened by several degrees.

Faint Holy Light spread outward like ripples of luminous waves.

It covered the entire refugee camp and the hundred-meter radius around the church.

A thin layer of light that could obfuscate aura quietly formed.

This was Lynn’s most basic application of the 【Divine Art: Holy Protection Sigil】.

Within the range of protection, it also carried a concealment effect.

He did not expect to completely hide everyone.

He only hoped to temporarily mask their scent—to buy some time.

“Aunt Liz!”

A young refugee in charge of outer patrol came running, his face ashen.

His voice trembled with fear he could no longer suppress: “The forest—there’s movement in the forest!”

“A lot of it! Messy! It doesn’t sound like beasts!”

Liz’s expression changed slightly.

Having experienced countless brushes with death, her instincts for danger were exceptionally sharp.

She immediately turned around, her tone carrying unquestionable authority, suppressing the growing commotion in the camp.

“Silence!”

“Extinguish all sources of light, then take up your weapons!”

“The elderly, the children, and the wounded—retreat into the church immediately!”

“Quick! Don’t make a sound!”

Panic.

It spread through the crowd like a plague.

But the miracle Liz and Lynn had performed moments ago gave them the courage to act.

The bonfires were swiftly put out, the clatter of pots and pans forcefully stifled.

In the midst of muffled breathing and hurried footsteps—

The women, children, and elderly supported one another, stumbling and pushing toward the oak doors faintly glowing with Holy Light.

Inside the church.

Lynn’s divine sense clearly enveloped each refugee entering the sanctuary.

He could feel their racing heartbeats, their cold sweat, and that deep, marrow-level fear!

“It seems those ghouls left quite the trauma on them.”

Recalling scenes from zombie films,

Even Lynn felt a chill on his scalp.

But as the Angelic One, he had to fulfill his role.

Lynn began to channel the Holy Radiance.

He let the light within the church grow softer, warmer—dispelling their cold and panic.

“Lord Angel, please protect us!”

The nursing mother, Marianne, knelt upon the cold floor, clutching her infant.

She buried her face in the swaddling cloth, praying in silence.

“Most High Father, please grant victory to Your warrior!”

The old woman who once hid bread clasped her trembling hands, more devout than ever before.

These fragments of despair—yet filled with pleading faith—

Once again converged into belief toward Lynn.

The Holy Radiance on his panel flickered slightly,

forming a strange equilibrium—its consumption nearly equal to its replenishment.

Meanwhile, on Liz’s side—

She did not retreat into the church, but stood firmly on the steps before the great doors.

Her old knight’s sword angled toward the ground, not a tremor in her stance.

“Ulf! Take three men and guard the left windows!”

“Siance! Lead the archers to the right-side ruins!”

“The rest of you—use the church doors as shields and form ranks!”

Her commands were short, clear, and without a single wasted word.

And the survivors who had escaped hell itself—

At this moment, displayed astonishing resilience!

They quickly followed Liz’s orders and moved into position,

forming a crude but effective defensive line.

Before long—

The forest’s silence was completely shattered!

Rustle, rustle…

Clatter, clatter…

Heavy dragging sounds!

The grating friction of bone!

And suppressed growls rumbling from deep in the throat—terrifying to the core!

Countless horrifying noises blended together, surging from the western woods!

“They’re here!”

Lynn’s divine sense was the first to detect the enemy.

A ghoul suddenly crawled out from the underbrush!

It hunched over, its skin gray and rotten, white bone gleaming beneath.

Its murky eyes held nothing but hunger for flesh and blood.

Very soon—

Its decaying claws lashed out toward the young man holding a spear at the front!

“Hold steady! Don’t be afraid!”

Liz shouted sharply.

Her movements grew even faster.

The knight’s sword, carrying the force of wind and thunder, precisely severed that decayed claw!

The ghoul let out a shrill and piercing scream, spraying filthy blood!

This was only the beginning!

More ghouls, like hyenas catching the scent of blood, poured madly from the shadows!

They came in all shapes—some missing limbs, some with hollowed bellies dragging rotting entrails behind them.

Yet without exception, each exuded a thick aura of death!

Bloodthirsty—and deranged!

They ignored all pain,

throwing themselves forward in endless waves, crashing against the line of flesh and will!

“For the Sanctuary!”

“For the Lord!”

Ulf roared.

The logging axe in his hands split open a ghoul’s skull with a brutal swing.

Foul-smelling brain matter splattered across his face.

“Loose the arrows!”

Siance shouted from the remains of the bell tower.

A few crude arrows shot out crookedly.

Their aim was poor, but they managed to slow the ghouls’ assault on the right flank.

The battle instantly reached its fever pitch!

Clashing steel, shattering bones, despairing cries, ghastly howls of ghouls— in the deathly still forest, a cruel symphony of death resounded.

Liz stood as the firmest bulwark, a golden whirlwind,

charging and turning at the very front line, protecting everyone with all her might.

The Holy power newly awakened within her was faint, yet each strike of her sword carried a restraining effect upon the undead!

Every ghoul touched by that Holy Light showed visible pain and sluggish movement.

Unfortunately— the number of ghouls was simply overwhelming!

The defense line wavered under the assault, on the verge of collapse.

A refugee was knocked down.

Several ghouls followed, and his scream was abruptly cut off.

“Damn it!”

“They’re all my believers!”

“【Divine Art: Holy Protection Sigil】!”

Lynn gritted his teeth.

Without hesitation, he drew upon the Holy Radiance again.

But this time— his goal was not concealment or personal blessing, but protection and attack!

Buzz—!

The rusted cross atop the church’s spire suddenly erupted with light—brighter and purer than before!

The golden brilliance descended like a column of light, in an instant striking down upon the fiercest battlefield before the church doors.

As the light touched the ground, there was no earth-shaking explosion— but it was as if cold water had been thrown into boiling oil.

Sizzle—!

All ghouls bathed in the golden light instantly emitted thick black smoke, screaming in agony beyond comprehension!

Their movements slowed to a crawl; their rotting skin burned and peeled away as though charred!

This holy power of light—for such foul undead— was the most lethal poison imaginable!!

Many of the weaker ghouls were purified in an instant, leaving behind only black stains of corruption.

Conversely— those within the golden light’s range—Liz, Ulf, and the refugees— felt a warm, powerful force pour through their limbs and bones!

Fatigue vanished at once.

Bleeding wounds tingled with healing warmth.

The fear in their hearts was replaced by an overwhelming courage!

Even their weapons felt lighter, each swing slicing through the air with a divine resonance!

“It’s the Holy Light!”

“The Lord has bestowed divine grace upon us!!”

Ulf, covered in blood, shouted in ecstatic joy.

He swung his axe even faster, cleaving a ghoul—slowed and burning in the golden light—clean in half.

“Slay all this vile corruption!”

“With Lord’s protection, we will prevail!!”

Liz’s spirit surged as well.

The faint trickle of Holy Light within her body now surged like a torrent beneath the golden illumination!

Her sword— for the first time—blazed with a steady, radiant gold glow!

Each swing tore through the ghouls’ bodies with ease.

The tide of battle completely turned!

Only Lynn, at the center of it all, did not relax in the slightest.

For the Holy Radiance was being consumed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It would not last much longer.

Moreover— he could feel, from deep within the forest, a tremendous and chilling presence approaching.

“Damn it… there’s still a hidden boss out there?”

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