The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 327: Chapter 326: Knowing Doesn’t Make It Easy. (2)

Chapter 327: Chapter 326: Knowing Doesn’t Make It Easy. (2)

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Slash!

Belinda skewered a nearby Gregg with her dagger, speaking in an exhausted tone.

"Young master, do you really think we can make it back to the fortress?"

"Of course. Don't worry, we'll definitely get there. Thanks to you two coming, the odds have gone up significantly. Oh, but of course, I could have made it on my own too. Having you here just makes it easier."

Ghislain's innocent reply made Belinda boil with anger.

"Why are you always so overconfident? We're barely moving forward right now!"

She and Gillian were already running out of strength. The number of Greggs seemed to have increased again, and it was impossible to find a way through. Yet Ghislain kept smiling and swinging his sword.

"Just a little more effort. We're almost there."

"I'm telling you, we're completely out of strength! We haven't made any progress for ages! Let me clear a path so at least you can go ahead!"

"No, this is good enough. Piote will help us."

"What did you just say?"

Belinda was so startled by his sudden comment that she momentarily forgot to swing her dagger. Gillian also sucked in a sharp breath. Piote was a priest. He was likely tending to the wounded back at the fortress. He didn't have the ability or skills to help them here.

But Ghislain still smiled as he replied.

"This is when you have to trust your allies. There's a reason he's called a saint. Or is it saintess?"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Their conversation didn't last long. The three gritted their teeth and continued fighting the Greggs. By now, they were so exhausted that even controlling their breathing felt like a challenge.

Back at the fortress, ten priests, excluding Piote, were busily tending to the wounded. These priests had been dragged into service after following the defeated army during the last war, only to be captured by Ghislain. He had even sent a letter to Forisco, securing a temporary assignment for them.

Forced into the forest, they were diligently using their holy power to support the soldiers. Piote, moving among them, noticed the knights preparing for their charge.

'I have to help.'

Though Piote had received some combat training from Ghislain, he still wasn't much use in direct battle. He scanned the battlefield again.

"Don't retreat! If you fall back, it's over!"

"Push them back! Knock them off!"

"The lord is on his way! Cover him!"

The chaos of the battle was overwhelming. Watching the hordes of monsters surging forward made Piote feel dizzy. He had never witnessed such carnage before. His stomach churned, threatening to revolt.

But he couldn't look away. Fighting against such profane creatures was also part of the goddess's will. According to scripture, monsters were aberrations within the natural order.

The mages stood stoically in their positions, not casting spells. It was clear they were holding back for something important-something that required the lord's presence.

As Piote surveyed the scene, his eyes landed on Alpoi, lying on his back and gasping for breath.

'... He's not dead yet?'

The thought startled Piote, and he quickly shook his head.

How could a priest of the goddess harbor petty grudges? Though Alpoi was irritating, Piote resolved to forgive him. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.

'Oh, Goddess...'

Since receiving her revelation, Piote had undergone inexplicable changes. His connection to holy power had grown smoother, and the amount of it at his disposal increased rapidly. At first, he was confused, but he soon realized it was a blessing from the goddess-a sign of greater responsibility.

Holy power began to surge through Piote's body.

Woooong!

He didn't know much about warfare or the right moments to act.

But the lord was isolated, the mages were waiting for their chance, and the knights were preparing to clear a path.

Before the mission began, the lord had pulled him aside and said:

-- "To be honest, this operation is extremely dangerous. The kidnapping team might not arrive on time. That's when your power will be needed."

"Me? What should I do?"

—— "If the kidnapping team or the fortress forces face danger, you must help. When I'm not here, you'll have to make the call yourself."

—— "I-I don't know how to judge that. Can't you tell me exactly when and how?"

Ghislain had shaken his head.

"I can't say for certain. The situation will change constantly. But you'll feel it. If you watch the flow of the battle, you'll know when it's time to act."

Piote now understood that this was the moment the lord had spoken of. It was time for him to

act.

Raising his hands toward the heavens, Piote began to chant a passage from scripture in a voice as clear as crystal.

[Behold, you shall grow strong in the power of the goddess. Put on the full armor granted to withstand the profane.]

Flash!

A radiant light began to spread outward, enveloping the area around the fortress.

[The goddess declares: I have given you power to trample serpents and scorpions, to overcome all the strength of the enemy. Nothing shall harm you.]

"Bless them, O Goddess..."

As Piote opened his eyes, the spreading light culminated in a blinding flash before vanishing.

The next moment, chaos broke out among the soldiers.

"Wow! What is this?"

"I feel incredible!"

"My wounds are healed!"

The soldiers stared at themselves in shock. Their bodies brimmed with strength, minor injuries vanished, and even those lying in the rear with grievous wounds sprang to their feet.

And it wasn't just physical recovery.

Thwack!

"What the-why am I so strong?"

A soldier who had thrust his spear into a leaping Gregg's head stared in astonishment. The force he had just exerted felt like something a Swordmaster might accomplish. The Gregg's skull shattered with absurd ease.

Everyone in the fortress experienced the same phenomenon. Spears pierced deeper, arrows struck with devastating force, and an ethereal glow surrounded them all.

"Screeech!"

Clang!

A soldier struck by Gregg's claw glanced down, confused. Normally, such an attack would have shredded his flesh. But the claw had been repelled by the light surrounding him, leaving no

mark.

"Ha-ha-ha!"

Laughing, the soldier thrust his spear through the Gregg's head. Suddenly, the overwhelming number of enemies seemed far less intimidating.

With their newfound strength, the soldiers attacked with renewed vigor. They slashed and fired faster, turning the tide. It wasn't long before everyone realized the source of this

miracle.

"The saintess has blessed us again!"

"The goddess is watching over us!"

"Charge! Kill them all!"

The soldiers' morale soared to unprecedented heights.

Watching from afar, Piote smiled faintly before collapsing to the ground. Blood streamed

from his nose, but he paid it no mind.

"It's enough... Now the lord can be saved."

He murmured to himself before passing out.

Meanwhile, the priests dispatched from the Juana Order stood trembling.

"What... What is this?"

"How could a mere priest possess such power?"

"So... the rumors were true?"

They had heard whispers about Piote being a saint, but as he was a man, they dismissed the

notion as absurd. They assumed it was just the ramblings of northern peasants awed by basic

holy magic.

But now, they were forced to reconsider. The power Piote had displayed was far beyond that

of any ordinary priest-perhaps even beyond what they had ever seen from the true Saintess.

"We have to report this..."

"Will they believe us? Probably not."

"Who cares. We've seen it with our own eyes."

As the priests grappled with their shock, Piote's miracle altered the battlefield.

The tide of Greggs, which had seemed unstoppable, began to falter. More were dying than

replenishing their numbers.

'No matter how unfair the holy power is, this is still a power. But isn't it too unfair?!'

And in that fleeting window of opportunity, Kaor seized the moment.

"Now's our chance."

The knights, who had been ready to charge, wasted no time. Though stunned by the divine

intervention, they knew it had only improved their odds.

With their bodies also imbued with divine light, they redirected mana from defense to

enhance their speed and strength.

"Let's go!"

Kaor and the 400 knights leapt from the fortress.

The shockwave from their charge sent Greggs flying, obliterating everything in their path.

The knights didn't hesitate or look back-they simply pushed forward, breaking through the

crimson tide.

From the opposite side, Ghislain, Belinda, and Gillian mirrored their efforts, advancing

toward the fortress with newfound vigor.

"See? I told you Piote would come through," Ghislain said, laughing as his eyes glowed red.

Belinda and Gillian smiled, gripping their weapons tightly.

"As expected, the young master had everything planned."

"I'll lead the way, my lord."

Though their mana reserves were nearly depleted, the holy power coursing through them

more than compensated. They charged ahead, ignoring any notion of defense, focusing solely

on cutting through the enemy.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two groups advanced relentlessly, tearing through the Greggs. Like a pincer movement,

they converged, shredding everything in between.

The Greggs, overwhelming in number but lacking coordination, could do nothing to stop

them. As the knights and Ghislain's group finally met, the battlefield erupted into cheers.

Boom!

Ghislain sliced through the last of the Greggs between them, grinning savagely.

"I told you to hold the fortress, didn't I?"

Kaor smirked, along with the rest of the knights.

"We take after our lord. We don't follow orders well."

"Fine. At least now we'll get there faster. Let's move!"

Ghislain, Gillian, and Kaor led the charge, with the rest following closely behind. Belinda fell

into the middle of the formation, sighing with relief.

"Finally, I can catch my breath."

Boom!

The Fenris knights led by Ghislain, known as the best in the kingdom for breakthrough, lived

up to their reputation. Their sheer power carved a path through the endless waves of Greggs.

From the fortress, Galbarik directed the catapults and archers to support the knights' advance. "Focus on their flanks!"

Catapults hurled massive stones, while archers rained arrows on the Greggs closing in from

the sides. The relentless barrage allowed Ghislain and the knights to finally reach the fortress.

As they climbed the ropes prepared for their return, the soldiers erupted in cheers.

"The lord has returned! Just a little more! Hold on!"

"Woo-hoo!"

Despite being covered in blood and exhaustion, Ghislain laughed as he sliced through a

pursuing Gregg.

"Any stragglers?"

"None, my lord!"

The knights responded confidently as they spread out to reinforce the soldiers. With the lord's return, the soldiers' morale reached its peak. Yet, the sea of Greggs continued

to stretch endlessly. Despite all the fighting, the crimson tide showed no signs of stopping.

The divine protection from Piote was beginning to fade. The faint glow surrounding the

soldiers flickered weakly. It was time for the final plan to unfold.

"Vanessa!"

At Ghislain's command, Vanessa stepped forward. She had been conserving her strength for

this moment.

Wooooong!

An immense pressure emanated from her as a massive surge of mana engulfed the fortress. [T/L: Please support me and read 385 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans]