The Battle of Ravenwood Town (2)

With a thud, Warren dropped to one knee just as he was about to collapse. A Ravenwood guard circled behind Lase and thrust his sword into Lase's lower back, but Lase's muscles clamped down on it before it could penetrate deeply. Lase roared in pain and spun around, slicing the soldier in half at the waist with a single stroke.

Warren breathed a sigh of relief and didn't waste the opportunity the soldier had bought him with his life. Seizing the moment Lase turned, Warren quickly rose and swung his sword at the back of Lase's neck, but Lase sensed the danger and dodged. The blade struck Lase's shoulder instead of his neck.

Warren freed one hand to grip the blade, and with both hands, he slid the sword downwards, opening a long wound across Lase's back. Blood gushed out, and Lase roared in pain, nearly falling to his knees. Lase quickly turned back, only to be met by Warren's sword hilt. The pommel struck Lase's face squarely, sending him reeling to the ground, stars dancing in his eyes.

Just as Warren straddled Lase, sword in hand, preparing to strike, a powerful shockwave hit Warren's chest, denting his breastplate. Warren was sent flying back over three meters, crashing to the ground. His helmet fell off, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

It turned out the hunched-over grey-robed orc had climbed onto the city wall. He was now gasping for breath, holding a wooden staff, clearly having taken a hit himself.

"Mage! You really are from Moran!"

Warren struggled to get up but was immediately pinned by several orcs. Two long spears pierced the weak points behind his knees. Warren screamed and was forced to his knees by the orcs. He looked around; the Ravenwood guards were no longer on the city wall. The wall had fallen. A bitter smile creased Warren's face.

At that moment, the orc mage placed his hand on the wound on Lase's back. As he chanted, a powerful heat emanated from beneath his palm. As his hand moved, Lase's wound rapidly closed, searing shut. Lase clenched his fists, enduring the agonizing pain of his flesh burning.

Once the wound was sealed, Lase picked up his greatsword and walked before Warren. He squatted down, grabbed Warren's head with his large hand, forcing him to look him in the eye, and said:

"Human, where is that girl? Tell me where she is, and I can spare your life. I swear it on the name of the Orc God!"

Warren spat a mouthful of blood onto Lase's face.

"You can torture me all you want, orc. See if I utter a single word."

Lase wiped the blood from his face and turned to the orc mage.

"Can you use a soul-searching spell on him?"

"I'm afraid not, Commander. This human's will is too strong, and my magic is insufficient."

"Hmph," Lase grunted in annoyance, but there was nothing he could do. He stood up, raised his greatsword, and looked at Warren.

"As you are a warrior, I will grant you a full corpse."

Then Lase raised his greatsword and thrust it down heavily. The greatsword pierced straight through the dented breastplate and into Warren's chest. Warren coughed up a large amount of blood.

"I'm sorry, Bishop. I've failed your expectations." Warren's eyes slowly lost their light.

At that moment, a gnoll dragged in a priest wearing a black uniform.

"Sir, this is a priest from Ravenwood Town. He should know the girl's whereabouts. Most of the townspeople fled to the church. Only this fellow didn't make it back in time. We killed the others and left him."

Lase pulled out his greatsword and walked over to examine the priest. The priest, seeing the dead Knight Warren, was already weak in the knees with fear. But he still shouted:

"Devil! I won't tell you anything! You will be punished!"

Lase had no interest in interrogating him and simply threw him to the mage beside him. The mage caught the priest, placed his hands on the man's head, and let out an eerie laugh.

"Sir, I can use a soul-searching spell on this one, but I'll need some time to cast it."

Lase nodded.

"Alright, you cast it here. I'll take some men to check the church. Do it quickly. Those fellows in the forest won't be able to hold back the Shadow Garrison for long. Once the Shadow Garrison figures out their strength, they'll break through and head straight for Ravenwood Town."

He instructed a few soldiers to guard the orc mage while casting and then led the main force towards the church.

Inside the church hall, Dorodamenro was surrounded by a group of mercenaries who hadn't left and guards who had retreated from the wall, numbering less than two hundred in total. They were currently fending off the pursuing alien troops. Seeing that Warren was not among the returning soldiers and that one of the priests sent to escort the townspeople was missing, Dorodamenro couldn't help but sigh.

A look of sadness crossed his face. Dorodamenro walked to the church entrance, removed his robe, revealing a bare torso with well-defined muscles covered in large, mysterious totems, and two slender flame-shaped swords hanging from his waist.

Drawing both swords, Dorodamenro slowly advanced. He twirled his swords and suddenly quickened his pace. His footwork was agile, and his sword angles were tricky. The combination allowed Dorodamenro to weave through the enemies as if dancing. In mere seconds, several orcs had their necks slit and died. What was unexpected was that the usually gentle-faced, seemingly frail elf bishop possessed a robust physique and exceptional combat skills.

With a feint, he dodged a chain mace swung by a gnoll and simultaneously extended both hands, thrusting his swords diagonally upwards into two enemies' abdomens. He then pulled out his swords and quickly straightened up, taking advantage of the gnoll in front of him losing its momentum to cross his swords and decapitate it.

He kicked the headless corpse of the gnoll backward to block the charging enemies. Then, he crossed his swords to block a weapon swung by an enemy on his left, entangling that enemy's weapon. He then turned and forcefully flung the enemy, who refused to let go, forward. The enemy was positioned directly in front of another enemy's thrusting longsword. With a schlick, the sharp blade pierced flesh unimpeded. The orc whose friend's body had been pierced froze for a moment, then was killed by the two swords that had pierced his comrade.

With a forward kick, he sent the two impaled enemies sliding off his swords. At this point, Dorodamenro was covered in the blood sprayed by his enemies. His usually beautiful face, now smeared with blood, became terrifying, giving off an eerie aura. The Ravenwood guards and mercenaries beside him, inspired by his bravery, saw their morale soar. The Moran forces had to retreat temporarily, leaving dozens of bodies behind, to await Lase's arrival.

Dorodamenro did not press the attack. The townspeople were taking refuge in the church's basement. They had to guard the church entrance, and the numerical disadvantage was not something Dorodamenro could overcome with his martial prowess alone. They could only stall for time and await reinforcements from the Shadow Garrison.