First War of the Divinum Religion (Part 1)

Knight William stood alongside his fellow Holy Knights and a small group of regular knights within the confines of an abandoned house.

Their eyes were fixed on the scene unfolding before them: a procession of a hundred vicious thugs marching towards the Divinum Square, where the cathedral and all the Slum dwellers sought refuge.

The tension in the air was palpable, each breath filled with a mix of anticipation and determination. As they watched the threat marching past them, William couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He peeked through the cracked window as he watched how the thugs mocked the barricades.

His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning white. He exchanged a brief glance with his comrades, their eyes conveying the unspoken understanding that this might be their final moments.

"We stand here today, brothers, in the face of overwhelming odds," William's voice resonated with unwavering resolve. "Our duty is clear, our purpose unwavering. We fight not for our own lives, but for the safety and sanctity of the people within those sacred walls."

The group nodded in solemn agreement, their unwavering faith shining through their eyes. They knew the odds were stacked against them, but their devotion to their cause burned brighter than ever.

The weight of their armor served as a constant reminder of the sacrifice they were willing to make. As more and more thugs drew nearer, their raucous laughter and crude gestures mocking the defenders, William's heart pounded in his chest.

He could hear the footsteps of the enemy echoing through the empty streets, growing louder with each passing moment. The time had come to face their destiny. With a final, resolute look towards his comrades, William led the charge out of the abandoned house. The other Holy Knights and knights followed suit, their swords glinting in the fading sunlight.

They formed a tight formation, their shields interlocking, ready to meet their adversaries head-on. The clash of steel reverberated through the air as the battle erupted. William fought with a blend of grace and ferocity, his movements fueled by an unyielding determination.

His strikes were swift and precise, each swing of his sword aimed at repelling the relentless onslaught of thugs. Beside him, his comrades fought valiantly, their unwavering resolve echoing through the chaos. The regular knights fought with valor, their loyalty to their Holy Knight brethren and the innocent lives they sought to protect evident in their every action.

Though outnumbered, the defenders refused to yield an inch of ground. Their blows landed with purpose, their defense impenetrable. William could feel the heat of battle intensify, the sweat dripping down his brow, but his resolve remained unbroken. As the minutes turned into an eternity, the line of thugs began to waver. Unfortunately, also the numbers of the defender.

The Holy Knights and knights fought with unyielding determination, pushing back the relentless onslaught. The enemy's bravado faltered in the face of their unwavering defense.

Yet, despite their efforts, William knew that victory might come at a heavy cost. The odds were stacked against them, and the overwhelming numbers of the enemy threatened to overpower their valiant resistance.

But they fought on, knowing that their sacrifice would not be in vain.

Unfortunately, the difference in numbers was just too big.

Even without much training and discipline, the thugs soon recovered and began to surround the knights.

One of the Holy Knights fought bravely against 3 opponents. He parried one attack with his longsword, while knocking down an other thug with his shield.

Just as the third thug was about to swing his short sword, an arrow pierced his skull and, killing him instantly.

The Holy Knight turned and saw a knight in leather armor on the roof with a bow in his hand. It was one of the 10 Longbow-Knights that support each group of defenders. He is wearing brown leather armor and a green hood to cover his face. They wear light armor to be able to move freely on the roofs and not easily break through the rotten roofs due to their weight.

Just as the Knight was about to respond to the Holy Knight and give a thump up as well, 3 arrows flew out of the darkness and hit the Knight. One arrow landed squarely in his right eye, another pierced his stomach and the last shot his left thigh and severed his femoral artery.

The Knights lifeless body fell back and rolled down the roof, only to vanish behind the house facade.

The Holy Knight looked horrified and was frozen in shock. A fatal mistake.

A spear pierced his heart, ending his life instantly.

The thug laughed like a maniac while throwing the body of the Holy Knight away like a pile of trash.

"Hahahahaha I killed him!! I killed the blasphemer!!"

William watched as more and more of his comrades died. With a heavy heart he called for the retreat

"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat to the 2nd line of defence!"

The remaining 4 Holy Knights and 6 regular knights disappeared into the empty houses and escaped through the back doors.

Similar scenes took place in the other 3 locations.

***

The losses are as follows:

North (William):

5 Holy Knights -> 4 Holy Knights

10 Knights -> 6 Knights

East:

5 Holy Knights -> 5 Holy Knights

10 Knights -> 2 Knights

West:

5 Holy Knights -> 3 Holy Knights

10 Knights -> 9 Knights

South:

5 Holy Knights -> 5 Holy Knights

10 Knights -> 5 Knights

Others:

10 Longbow-Knights -> 6 Longbow-Knights

***

In total, the enemy lost half of its troops. From the 400 thugs remained only 200.

The main reason is due to superior equipment and discipline that the Knights possess.

As Kami, watched the ongoing battles, a sense of detachment enveloped him. He observed with a somber gaze as his loyal knights valiantly fought to protect his faithful followers.

The clash of weapons and cries of anguish echoed through the air, but Kami felt no emotional response. He recognized the gravity of the situation, yet an unsettling numbness lingered within him.

For the first time, Kami witnessed the brutal reality of human mortality, the fragility of their existence in the face of violence and cruelty. The sight of his knights falling one by one, their lives extinguished in the pursuit of protecting his devotees, should have stirred a deep sadness within him.

But instead, he felt nothing. A profound realization washed over Kami. Since ascending to godhood in this new world, he had become more emotionally distant as the time went on, detached from the raw emotions that once coursed through his divine essence.

The warmth and compassion that he once possessed had been replaced by an icy demeanor. The divinity that elevated him above mortal limitations had inadvertently distanced him from the very essence of humanity.

As he reflected upon his transformation, Kami began to comprehend the price he had paid for his godly powers. The divine nature bestowed upon him by dying in one world and being reborn in another had come at the expense of his ability to empathize fully with the human experience.

The weight of this revelation settled heavily upon his ethereal being. In that moment, Kami felt a profound sense of loneliness, a deep yearning for the connection he had lost.

He longed to feel the full spectrum of human emotions once more, to share in their joys and sorrows, and to experience the depth of their love and pain.

With a heavy heart, Kami acknowledged that he was no longer truly human but a God.

The realization brought both a sense of awe and a haunting emptiness. He pondered the meaning of his existence, questioning the purpose of his divine powers if they only served to isolate him from the very essence of life.

As the cries of battle continued to reach his ears, Kami made a silent vow.

He resolved to seek a path back to his humanity, to rediscover the empathy and compassion that had defined his mortal self.

He yearned to bridge the gap between godhood and humanity, to reconcile the warmth of his divine nature with the authentic emotions of the mortal realm.

In that pivotal moment, Kami recognized that true divinity did not lie solely in power or immortality, but in the capacity to understand, connect, and feel alongside those he sought to protect.

He vowed to reclaim his lost humanity, to nurture the flickering flame of empathy within his immortal being, and to embrace the essence of what it meant to be truly human.