[Vol. 8] Chapter 97: The First Contact
Seeing this, the surrounding knights who had been watching stepped back and immediately became more focused. They all quietly held their breath, afraid to make any noise that might disturb their captain’s control over this strange power.
In fact, Bowen was already using his full strength.
True Faith Magic is a skill created and given by the goddess. It allows users to control light elements much better and use the magical power inside them. When Bowen read the [Revelation] many times and felt the true meaning behind its words, his mind naturally came up with hundreds of new techniques, from simple to very advanced.
These divine magics are very deep and mysterious. Though Bowen could barely use them, he did not fully understand their true principles. For example, the 5th-tier magic he was now using, called [Light Hand], was the highest-level Faith Magic he could use. It was powerful in both attack and defense, with many uses, and much stronger than any normal magic of the same level created by humans...
Yet Bowen still felt this was only the very small tip of a great divine power. Because ordinary people could not understand the true divine magic, the goddess, in her mercy, changed it to a softer light that ordinary people could handle, and gave it as a blessing.
If it weren’t for this kindness, even ten Bowens would not be able to move this heavy door one bit.
What great mercy!
The glow of faith stirred inside him. The light orb representing the other Bowen shone brightly, pumping endless magical power and pure holy light into the young knight’s body. Supported by this, the [Light Hand] pushed with giant power, enough to break metal and stone, slowly pulling the sealed heavy door open.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!...”
Bowen clenched his teeth, enduring the great energy this high-level divine magic used, and looked at the secret room slowly becoming visible. He focused all his attention and alertness, ready for any sudden attack.
Finally, the stone door was forced open just enough to fit through a narrow gap. Bowen used [Light Hand] to hold the two sides of the door and shouted low,
“Forward!”
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The team moved smoothly. Two strong and quick knights drew their holy swords and shields and rushed inside!
“Whoa! Who is it this time?! Stay back!”
“Don’t move!”
“Drop your weapons!”
From the dark but very wide stone room inside came a frightened shout from a young girl. As the knights advanced with fierce commands, sounds of weapons clashing rang out. It seemed a fierce battle had already begun!
“Boom!”
Bowen’s face changed slightly. Without needing orders, the elite knights behind him rushed inside one after another. Clenching his teeth, Bowen pushed the stone door wide open and quickly led the remaining soldiers to join the fight!
Sure enough, inside this very large underground room, which looked like a storage cellar, the knights inside had already formed a battle formation and trapped two figures.
Both sides used their powers, golden holy light clashed with dark shadows like ghosts in the air. Strange sparks and explosions filled the room with loud booms and shakes, making the entire underground chamber seem to tremble.
“Thieves and... assassins?”
Looking at the scene inside the room, Bowen thought for a moment.
The two figures being attacked had a very clear fighting style. Both relied on speed and movement for attack and defense. The only difference was that one focused more on dodging and sometimes used tools to help herself, while the other was more fierce and decisive, attacking instead of defending. Whenever she attacked, it took several knights working together just to barely block her.
Very strong... these two women were extremely powerful, probably not much weaker than Bowen himself. Also, it seemed they were not fighting with their full strength, as if holding back. If they were left here as abandoned pawns to hold off enemies, then the decision-makers of the Lombard family were really foolish.
But if they were unrelated to this place, why were they here...?
“Captain, look over there!”
Just as Bowen was thinking about who these people might be, one of his soldiers who hadn’t joined the fight yet suddenly shouted. Following the soldier’s direction, Bowen’s eyes quickly focused on the scene, and his pupils shrank in shock.
At the far corner of this underground room, there were dozens of women from different tribes, some lying down, some leaning against the wall. Their clothes were torn and dirty, and their ages ranged from around ten to thirty years old. Most looked weak and exhausted, and many were wounded. The strong smell of blood filled the wide stone room and couldn’t be ignored, making Bowen frown deeply.
It was clear that these were very likely the victims who had been illegally held captive in the dungeons outside.
Thinking this, Bowen quickly forgot about the fight ahead. He rushed with his soldiers to protect the frightened women.
As well-trained and experienced knights, rescuing people like this was not their first time. The male knights immediately formed a protective circle around the group, watching carefully without looking away. The female knights and priests began urgent treatment for those who were badly hurt and gave them spare clothes to cover their bodies.
The rescue was in full swing. Bowen wanted to avoid causing fear, so he chose a woman who was standing a little apart from the group, wore clothes mostly intact, looked about in her twenties, and seemed both physically and emotionally stable to ask some simple questions.
“Please don’t be afraid. We are the Holy Knights of the Sacred Star City. In the name of the Goddess, you are now safe. Can you tell me what happened here?”
Maybe because they had been bullied for so long, or maybe because Bowen’s full armor and tall figure looked intimidating, the woman, who was quite pretty or rather almost all the women here looked above average in appearance, timidly raised her hand.
She silently pointed toward the far end of the room, where the only exit was already blocked by many fallen stones, sealing it shut. Then she pointed toward the two girls surrounded by the knights, shaking her head anxiously.
“I see...”
Sure enough, she didn’t understand the language of the Holy Empire and was not a local.
Kidnapping... The Lombard family actually did something like this? They were thought to only use religion for profit, but now it seemed their secret dealings were a thousand times dirtier than anyone imagined!
Although the woman could not say anything useful right away, Bowen roughly understood what she was trying to say.