Our Family Has Fallen

Sure, here’s the translation:

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Boudica’s frenzied slaughter attracted the attention of the heretics, indirectly helping Balistan and the others out of their predicament.

Under the relentless gunfire, those heretics also felt they had no chance of winning and retreated.

”Quick, save them!”

Due to the uncertainty ahead and concerns that it might be a diversion, the soldiers did not pursue but chose instead to rescue their comrades.

A handful of people enduring twice the number of heretics managed to hold out until support arrived, which was quite impressive.

However, injuries were unavoidable, and some wounds were quite severe.

”Don’t worry, my friends, the Holy Light shields you.”

Junia emerged from the supporting crowd, holding the Holy Canon in one hand and the Iron Torch in the other.

She approached the severely injured soldiers, raised the Saint’s Torch, and uttered a sincere prayer. Holy power, guided by her will, transformed into light and merged into the bodies of those critically wounded soldiers.

Divine Consolation!

This move didn’t have too obvious or immediate effects, but it did pull some soldiers back from the brink of death.

Compared to Alhazred’s exaggerated effects of Fate Reconstruction, Junia’s divine arts had weaker healing capabilities, but were much more stable, at least they didn’t cause harm if unsuccessful.

Also, the conditions for its execution weren’t as restrictive, otherwise how could the Church have so many priests?

The low threshold was the reason the Church could expand so quickly; if one attempt wasn’t effective, then more attempts could be made.

Of course, Lance’s unreasonable Flesh Reconstruction, which only required spiritual essence consumption, was not up for discussion.

Interestingly, due to curiosity, Lance had studied these divine arts in-depth with Junia and discovered something quite intriguing.

He even overturned the previous conclusions about divine arts healing that were made in haste during observation.

It’s unclear whether Junia constantly holding that torch imbibed the enlightenment powers of the Saint, or Lance’s understanding of flesh improved.

Lance discovered that the effects of divine arts healing did not seem to overdraft life force; the process was not a simple stimulation of flesh healing. The complex principles of how divine power acted on physical bodies were obscure, even to Lance.

Regrettably, he didn’t have the time to study further, but hoped to explore more with Junia later. For now, they would use it as needed.

Repeated casting of the healing divine arts left Junia somewhat fatigued, but the soldiers’ lives were spared; though the weakness from severe injuries wouldn’t recover quickly.

”Damn it! Something’s off ahead.”

At this moment, Dismas appeared from the wilderness, cursing under his breath.

It should be known that this direction was where the heretics had retreated minutes ago, obviously he had followed them.

Only someone with his guts and abilities would dare pursue, and only he could forsake army rules to leave the team, as they weren’t of the same system.

But there was no time to discuss these now.

”Taking down target number two will likely be difficult.”

This statement from Dismas already explained the issue.

But difficulty wasn’t an excuse; the Lord’s task must be completed.

Balistan couldn’t afford to worry further and quickly reorganized the team to head there; upon seeing the situation, he understood why Dismas reacted that way.

This was actually a lookout post, its bricks overgrown with moss, large leafy vines crawling up the outer walls, even small trees growing on them, their roots spreading through cracks, branches reaching skyward.

The entire station exuded an old and crumbling appearance, likely a remnant of the past, partially collapsed under the devouring wilderness, yet the core remained solid.

Seeing the heretics hiding within, it became clear target number two was within this post. No wonder Dismas had such a response, even he knew the defensive capability of such structures.

The current troops were light infantry, breaking through would require sacrificing lives.

”We can’t attack directly; the losses would be too great.” Balistan shook his head at the station; he still had to lead support to target number three.

”Why are these heretics just hunkering down?”

Dismas surveyed the heretics using the structure for defense, puzzled.

Previously, heretics wouldn’t retreat, fighting to the death while chanting strange slogans.

But these actually retreated and were now defending.

”There’s a Heretic Priest controlling the heretics here; without her, we wouldn’t have had such a hard time.”

Balistan pointed out a critical issue: someone was controlling these heretics, making it hard to lure them out.

If before the heretics were like clumsy chickens pecking at Hamlet’s troops, then after prolonged confrontation, growth was not exclusive to Hamlet’s troops; the heretics were evolving too.

From guerrilla warfare to now tunnel warfare, it showed heretics weren’t mindless.

In face of equally organized heretics, direct assault would mean unsustainable loss, yet a siege was impractical, as the main force needed to rush to support target number three.

As the stalemate ensued, noise arose from the wilderness.

”What’s the situation?” Barton stepped out hastily, followed by an endless stream of troops, those towing the cannon convoys.