Expansion

"High Lord Dill, a minor lord from the countryside wishes to see you!"

"Oh! Which lord?" Behind a screen, several beautiful, slender maids were feeding grapes one by one to a fat man.

"It is Baron Bob of Coco Village!" the guard replied respectfully, dropping to one knee with his right hand over his chest.

"Oh, that bald fellow! Did he say what he wanted?" the fat High Lord Dill asked indifferently.

"No, my lord. He merely looked extremely anxious! He said he had something important to report!"

"Very well! I'm in a good mood today. Bring him in!" Lord Dill waved his hand.

"Yes, my lord!" The guard slowly rose, then backed out of the room with his waist bent.

Before long, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

Dill frowned slightly and murmured to the maid beside him, "A country lord indeed. He has no manners whatsoever!"

"My lord, how could he possibly compare to you? You are an earl personally invested by the daimyo!" the maid cooed, gently massaging Dill's brow with her fair hands.

Dill sighed in pleasure and pulled the maid into his arms. "My darling knows me best!"

"My lord! Honorable Earl Dill, you must save me!" A heart-wrenching wail rang out.

"Darling, I'll give you some proper loving tonight!" Dill gently released the maid, then shouted, "What is all that racket, you country baron? Don't you know where you are?"

Hearing Dill's roar, Bob hastily fell to both knees and sobbed, tears and snot streaming down his face. "Lord Dill, please forgive my rudeness! I truly have an urgent matter to report!"

Dill sat up and gently rubbed his brow before roaring, "What could possibly warrant all this howling like a dog? Have you no noble manners at all?" The quick-witted maid stepped behind him and began massaging his shoulders.

Satisfied, Dill patted the maid's silky little hand.

"My lord, I recently returned to my domain, only to discover that an organization called the Holy Church had occupied it! Had I not kept my wits about me, I might never have made it here to see you!" With that, Bob broke into another bout of aggrieved sobbing.

"What? Someone dared seize your domain without being invested by the daimyo? Are they trying to rebel?" Dill exclaimed in surprise.

"My lord, please see justice done for me!" Bob repeatedly banged his forehead against the floor, producing a series of loud thumps.

"Enough, I understand. You may leave! They're merely another band of rebels." Dill waved impatiently.

Seeing that Dill had no intention of asking any questions and was already impatient, Bob worked his lips but ultimately left the earl's mansion looking utterly pitiful.

"Can these rebels not settle down for even a moment? They know nothing of loyalty! The Land of Rain has raised a pack of ungrateful curs!" Dill said angrily.

"Now, my lord, calm yourself. They are merely a bunch of peasants rebelling with hoes. You need only lift a finger, and they will be wiped out in no time!" the maid said gently.

Looking at the beauty before him, Dill's fury vanished in an instant. He wrapped an arm around her slender waist again and laughed. "My beauty is right! Tetsui!"

"My lord, your servant is here!" A burly man clad in armor emerged from the darkness, placed one hand over his chest, and bowed slightly.

"Take five thousand warriors to that bald lord's domain and investigate. If it is a rebellion, kill them on the spot!"

"Yes, my lord!" With that, the burly man silently disappeared into the darkness.

"Now, my beauty, come to my room, and let's do what lovers do!" Dill said with a lecherous grin.

"My lord, you're so naughty!"

The next day, a large force of warriors rode tall, fine horses through Corona City, galloping toward the gates. Pedestrians scrambled out of their way, but the warriors paid little heed to the peasants' lives. Even if they struck someone, a death was just a death. They had no intention of stopping.

"Bishop Ria, our merchants in Corona City have sent back intelligence!"

"What intelligence?" Ria asked, her head bent over the documents she was reviewing. As the Holy Church expanded, her workload kept growing.

The young female Priest looked at the busy Ria, a flicker of sympathy crossing her eyes. Then she said solemnly, "A large force of warriors is heading our way!"

"Oh, has the fish we released finally taken the bait? Roughly how many are coming?" Ria set down her pen and looked up with a smile.

"Yes, Bishop Ria! According to the merchants in the city, there are about five thousand."

"Mm. You may go. Send Axel and Rich, our two high-ranking Knights, to me!"

"Yes!" The Priest hurried downstairs to find the two high-ranking Knights on duty.

Before long, two sets of measured footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Big sis, what did you need us for?" Axel gently pushed open the door and asked eagerly.

Looking at her two younger brothers who had hurried over, Ria smiled. "You'll have something to do very soon. The minor lord we released last time has brought us a wonderful surprise! The enemy is coming!"

Axel's and Rich's eyes lit up. "Oh, so soon? We're at your command, big sis!"

Ria looked at her two confident younger brothers, nodded, and said softly, "Take one thousand combat Holy Light Clerics to Foxling Wetland immediately and intercept those warriors! Defeat them. Crush them!"

"Yes!" Both men planted their feet and gave a spirited Holy Light salute.

In Huayu Town, people excitedly gathered at the sight of the orderly ranks of Holy Light Clerics, waving to see their Knights off as they left town.

Feeling the people's heartfelt affection, the Holy Light Clerics all straightened their backs. Beneath them, their Holy Light Wolves let out excited howls, answering the enthusiasm of the crowds on either side.

The wealthy merchant Reilly watched the disciplined, battle-ready ranks of Holy Light Clerics and the townspeople who voluntarily cleared a path to see them off. A jumble of emotions filled his heart. So this was the Holy Light! They truly had the people's support!

He thought of the old Huayu Town, with displaced refugees and homeless children everywhere, then looked at the town today. They were like two different worlds.

In just over a year, the people had become full of life, smiles everywhere on their faces and decent clothes on their backs! Gone were their sallow, emaciated appearances. At the thought, Reilly felt increasingly fortunate that his cooperation with the Holy Church had grown ever closer. Silently watching the departing force, he firmly believed that the Holy Light would win this battle!

After leaving Huayu Town, Axel led the Holy Light Clerics at a gallop along the newly built highway. In just half an hour, they passed several villages and arrived at Foxling Wetland, where gloomy rain still fell.

"Halt!" Axel shouted, waving his hand.

As though they had rehearsed it long ago, all the Holy Light Clerics brought their Holy Light Wolves to a halt in perfect unison.

"Holy Armored Ones, prepare to set up the Holy Light Rifles! All other Holy Light Clerics, stand by!"

"Yes!"

The formation shifted. Several Holy Armored Ones took components from the enormous iron packs on their backs and began assembling them. Before long, they had completed one weapon after another resembling machine guns, but with exceptionally long barrels and huge stocks shimmering with light. Working together, they secured the weapons on stands at the front of the formation.

"Lord Tetsui, once we cross this wetland, we'll be nearly at Lord Bob's domain!" The retainer Bob had sent pointed out the route from horseback, calling loudly to Tetsui.

Tetsui nodded slightly, then suddenly shouted, "Halt!"

The abrupt command threw the column into confusion. Many warriors failed to react in time and collided with those ahead of them!

Tetsui narrowed his eyes at the formation waiting in battle order through the curtain of rain. He fell silent. A deadly aura swept toward him, and he involuntarily tightened his grip on the reins.

The force behind him finally recovered from the chaos and formed ranks. Looking at the Holy Light Clerics standing motionless in the rain, they all swallowed.

They had assumed they would face nothing more than malnourished peasants carrying hoes, just as before. But this time, they saw matching armor and giant white wolf mounts that were clearly extraordinary! At the front, a strange, faintly glowing device stood between every two columns. Unease rippled through the warriors.

Tetsui gently urged his horse forward. "Who are you?"

Axel ignored Tetsui's demand. Since they already knew these were enemies, there was nothing to do but fight!

"Holy Armored Ones, charge your weapons! Fire!"

Seeing that the opposing force gave no answer, Tetsui steeled himself. "All warriors, charge with me!"

"Kill!" The warriors roared, venting the unease in their hearts!

Pew, pew... pew, pew!

Streaks like broken chains of light swept toward the charging warriors in an instant.

Thud, thud, thud!

"Aah! Aah! My hand! My leg!" Flesh and blood flew everywhere as men and horses tumbled. The warriors fell like stalks of rice before a scythe!

A veteran of many battles, Tetsui had deliberately slowed during the charge and slipped to the rear of the force. Looking at the hellish scene ahead, he was frightened out of his wits, his mind utterly blank.

He hastily wheeled his horse around and fled back the way he had come, heedless of his route!

The other surviving warriors turned deathly pale with fright. Seeing Tetsui's retreating figure, they yanked their reins and fled after him in panic, crying repeatedly:

"Demons! Demons! They're demons!"

Seeing the enemy trying to escape, Axel immediately commanded his force, "Holy Knights, charge with me! Split up and surround them! Don't let a single enemy escape!"

Two long trails of light swept around the warriors, forming a gourd-shaped encirclement!

"War Stomp!" The earth shook. The already panicked warriors felt a violent tremor and fell from their horses! They could only watch as the enemy rapidly closed the opening!

"Drop your weapons! Surrender, and you will be spared!" The despairing warriors seized on those words like a lifeline. They threw down their weapons and clasped their hands over their heads, trembling as they begged to be allowed to live!

"Rich, take five hundred Holy Light Clerics and escort these warriors back to town! The rest will come with me straight to Corona City!"

"Brother Axel, stay safe!" Rich said solemnly.

"Don't worry, Rich!" Axel replied with a smile, patting Rich's shoulder.