Our Family Has Fallen

The other soldiers didn’t know what this thing was, but Balistan and his men instantly recognized it as the true core of those Heretics, one that had been implanted with a Seed.

These were the cultists granted the chance for Ascension, chosen by the Sect of Ascension to have Seeds implanted in them, merging with the Seeds to gain inhuman powers.

Stronger powers, stronger bodies, greater regenerative abilities—this was a power that violated human physiology, a power not of this world.

As long as the Seed remained, even a fatal injury would not result in immediate death, instead causing a loss of control and transition into the next stage.

Just like now. His head had been injured, yet he had not died. Only his severe injury had passively triggered the power of the Seed, exposing him prematurely.

The face, not yet completely contorted, was clearly that of the Deacon who had previously been by the heretic Saintess’s side.

But now no one could recognize his identity, only knowing that a monster had appeared on the battlefield.

”Flesh Ascends!”

”My lord, please grant me Ascension...”

”Let me join...”

The appearance of the monster instantly attracted the fanatical worship of those Heretics. Even their assault halted as they turned to kneel before the monster, or contorted their limbs. What was more horrifying was that some Heretics even bit open their own arms to smear their flesh and blood onto the monster.

In their eyes, it seemed not a monster but an angel sent by their god to collect them.

Meanwhile, many more, as if injected with stimulants, shouted various slogans of the Ascension Sect and launched their attacks, also desperate for the chance at Ascension.

So they had to please their god with flesh and blood.

It didn’t matter whether it was their own or their enemy’s; to them, it was all the same.

But for the normal people, those not yet twisted by the cult, witnessing these indescribable scenes was an immense shock.

”Damn it!”

”Ugh, how can we possibly stop them?”

”We’ve killed this kind of bastard before, bring the bombs!”

”Cannons! Cannons! Hurry and bring them up!”

The defensive line wavered with the appearance of the monster. Some were knocked down by the pressure, but even more stood against it.

They were not encountering such a creature for the first time, as they had fought a similar monster when they besieged a group of Heretics at the town entrance.

Fear is just a symptom of insufficient firepower.

Balistan was not so optimistic. Last time, he and Reynard had been unable to withstand it. How could these soldiers possibly hold out without the high walls to hinder it?

Geralt also sensed the monster’s strength, but his attention was elsewhere, his gaze sweeping the surroundings as if searching for something.

Others might not feel it, but Geralt, a powerful Transcendent, sensed the sinister force lingering in the air, realizing that this was the true cause of the wall’s collapse.

That meant there was certainly a powerful Spellcaster nearby. If he couldn’t find them, the threat posed would be far greater than this monster. Because even he could not withstand the strike that brought down the city walls. Perhaps that man could...

But now, at least a hundred Heretics were piled up in the breach. They were mingled with individuals of various appearances, making them difficult to spot unless they moved, and nearly impossible to discern with the naked eye.

Not to mention, they were in the middle of a chaotic battle, which greatly diverted his attention.

But the enemy would not wait for them.

Barrett landed a headshot with his musket, prematurely shattering the monster’s disguise and preventing it from charging into the defensive line, though the shot didn’t kill it.

The gunshot damaged its brain, but under the power of the Seed, another, even more twisted brain grew in its place. It hadn’t completely lost control yet, but the power of the Seed had already taken over its body.

”GRAAAH...”

After an unintelligible and meaningless roar, the monster casually shoved the Heretics aside and charged towards the defensive line.

A monster over two meters tall charging forward, its grotesquely twisted form caused the morale of the soldiers to plummet.

This was not an enemy they were supposed to face...

”It won’t get past me!” Balistan stood out with his Shield, his solid figure blocking the path of the charging monster. He continuously shouted to inspire the soldiers, ”Listen, brothers! As long as we maintain our formation, we are invincible!”

He had to make a stand. If the monster managed to break through, the defensive line would be pierced instantly. If the pressure overwhelmed them, they might collapse and flee before the monster even reached them, and the entire outpost would be lost. The Lord had entrusted this crucial position to him; it was a key step in the grand plan and could not be compromised.

In that moment, Balistan raised his Shield and stepped forward. His One-eyed gaze, fixed through the edge of his Shield on the approaching monster, was intense. His muscles, however, relaxed as he prepared to absorb the impact of the charge.

Hold the line!

But Hamlet never fought alone.

Many noticed the appearance of the monster; after all, the creature was simply too conspicuous to ignore.

Immediately, a group of Musketeers fired a volley, but bullets entering its body had no effect, as the ugly flesh squeezed them out and healed instantly.

”Monster! Have a taste of this bomb!” Sobray shouted, throwing a lit bomb with its fuse nearly burnt out.

With remarkable precision, the bomb exploded on the monster’s face just as it ran forward. To time and place it so accurately against a moving target, as if the monster had deliberately run into it, was truly a display of Innate Talent!