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 his family 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, the numbers of the defender as well.

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 head. 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 Archer 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 defense!"

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. Most of the enemies didnt die because of Kamis troops but through the hands of their own. They were so eager to destroy the knights and loot the square that they rushed at the enemy like ants. If the thugh in front of you got hit, even if the wound was not lethal, they pushed him aside, trampled over him or even killed him themselves and tossed him aside

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 neutral 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. He felt more sadness towards the possible loss of equipment and manpower than towards his old kind

The warmth and compassion that he once possessed had been locked or was removed completely by the Divinitas Protocol. The divinity that elevated him above mortal limitations had inadvertently distanced him from the very essence of humanity.