Chapter 16: The Temple of the Hidden Order

Is the church's strength so strong?

That's right.

Now it is only a few hundred years since the Son of God walked the earth. If there are any holy relics, they are probably in the hands of the church at this moment.

"Let me think about what other holy relics the church has."

"Ark of the Covenant, Shroud of Turin, Holy Grail, Holy Foreskin, True Cross, Spear of Longinus, Holy Nails, Holy Crown of Thorns, Holy Veil, Holy Robe, Holy Bones, Holy Icons, Holy Scarab..." (It's the foreskin you think it is.)

"Damn!"

"A bit ruthless."

That Hidden Temple Guard has the 【Blood of the Holy Grail】 mark. The last person I saw with a similar mark was the monster hunter, Qiao Zhi.

"Is the Spear of Longinus still there?"

"And the Holy Grail."

Many thoughts flashed through Deng Ken's mind at this moment. There is no doubt that these people from the Inquisition are the most dangerous group of enemies he has encountered so far.

The Inquisition was secretly established in 394 AD.

Its birth in this world was far earlier than the Inquisition in history. That year, the sacrificial fire of Olympus was extinguished, the ancient Olympic Games were banned, the doors of the Pantheon were closed, monotheism entered a glorious period, and the heresy trial against polytheism began.

However, during this period, the Inquisition did not target ordinary people; they just wanted to gradually eliminate the remnants who served polytheism.

From priests and witches to spirits and immortals, all were within the scope of the Inquisition's trial.

In the entire Italian peninsula and Greece, there are no longer any various mythic spirits that were active hundreds of years ago, so the forest banshee, the only survivor in the Pannonian region, sought help from the Raven Queen, Te Lisi. As one of the ancient Greek mythic creatures, she was also on the Inquisition's list.

The Raven Queen, Te Lisi, was quite alert. She looked at Deng Ken's solemn expression and said in a low voice: "What happened?"

Deng Ken didn't know how to explain, so he could only say: "I feel danger approaching."

When he said this, the Raven Queen, Te Lisi, actually believed it.

Because in her view, Deng Ken is the kind of warrior with extremely strong spirituality, and such people often have a very strong intuition about danger.

The group had just walked out of the inn.

They met Anya and others who were riding over. There seemed to be a special induction between witches. The Raven Queen, Te Lisi, immediately looked at the other side, and Anya also looked up, instantly seeing Te Lisi in the crowd.

But soon the Raven Queen, Te Lisi's face changed, and she said nervously: "People from the Hidden Order!"

Part of the Inquisition is composed of monks from the Hidden Order. This monastic system originated in Egypt and aims at asceticism and piety, among which many are extremely fanatical believers.

Legend has it that there are two "Holy Grails."

One has gone missing, and the other is in the hands of the Hidden Order, but whether it is true or false, and which one is true, the outside world has no way of knowing.

"Go!"

Deng Ken pulled the Raven Queen, Te Lisi, and flipped onto the horse. Anya and others who had just crossed the market also realized that the situation was not right, and soon, under the cover of the guard knights, the two-star white board witch rode to follow.

Two-star white board.

This strength is probably not enough to watch, and may not be able to beat the one-star silver-gray hidden monk.

After all, those with silver-gray star marks are elite units.

The Raven Queen, Te Lisi, turned her head to look at Anya and said in a solemn voice: "You are being followed!"

"It's people from the Inquisition."

On the horse opposite, under the hood of the cloak, was a beautiful and charming woman, with long wine-red hair, about thirty years old, with three-dimensional features, a high nose bridge, like a beautiful woman on an ancient Greek sculpture. Her plump lips were tightly pursed, and her eyes were slightly fearful: "I... I don't know..."

"I was very careful on the way here!"

Looking at her appearance, she seems to be full of fear for the Inquisition. After the death of the last imperial emperor who supported polytheism, Julian the Apostate, these nobles who believed in polytheism had long been scared out of their wits. Those whose family origins were not too deep had long since changed their faith to monotheism.

Anya even intended to abandon her family and business to flee overseas, because she knew that she would be on the Inquisition's list sooner or later.

Her ancestors were close friends of Julian the Apostate.

Deng Ken interrupted the conversation between the two witches at this time and inserted: "Let's go first!"

It would be even more passive if they didn't leave.

The Raven Queen, Te Lisi, was clearly calmer. She held an ancient sacrificial stone in her hand, seeming to be whispering and chanting something, while the two-star white board Anya was full of panic, not like a powerful witch, but more like a frightened Roman noblewoman.

"The causality law deduction does not have the existence of this witch. Did she die here?"

She is one of the founders of the Witch Gathering. Although her strength is weak, her status is still very noble.

Deng Ken looked back.

The people from the Inquisition had already chased after them, but this was a town, and they seemed to have scruples and dared not let go, which gave them a chance to escape. Deng Ken's three, plus Anya and three guard riders, all rushed out of Parisii and entered the wilderness area outside the town.

After entering the wilderness, a hidden monk made a prayer gesture, and the next second all their warhorses began to gallop, as if they had been injected with stimulants.

Someone is cheating!

Under Deng Ken's God's Eye view, watching the opponent's warhorses act as if they had taken drugs, he instantly sensed a hint of danger.

Only he can escape here.

Deng Ken's riding skills are the strongest. Even if the opponent cheats, the speed of the running horse is not as fast as his. The magic of this world is not as strong as he initially thought, at least the people he has encountered so far, even the Raven Queen, Te Lisi, seems to be subject to some kind of law restriction.

They cannot do many things like miracles like the witches of the mythic age.

Anya's anxious voice sounded: "I can't affect their warhorses."

She also seems to have similar means, but it has been ineffective.

Communicating with animals.

Making animals violent, full of aggression, etc.

The Raven Queen, Te Lisi, is still whispering and chanting. She is probably preparing real magic now.

Because she mentioned earlier that after the Olympic flame was extinguished, all the supernatural powers of the priests were significantly weakened. The Romans abandoned their gods, and the gods of polytheism also abandoned the priests. Ordinary witches now are basically no different from ordinary people, that is, they possess a little magic and can perform some magic tricks.

Real magic requires ritual blessing and special spellcasting props. The Raven Queen, Te Lisi, is now holding the sacrificial stone and chanting, which is preparing magic, making her riding speed significantly slower.

At this rate, she will probably be the first to be caught by the enemy.

"Can't run away like this!"

Deng Ken decided decisively: "Bypass the forest ahead, prepare for battle."

After speaking, he pulled the reins and fell to the end.

The Raven Queen, Te Lisi, looked at the man before her deeply, holding the sacrificial stone and still whispering and chanting.

When facing the Hunnic Eagle Shooter, the Raven Queen, Te Lisi, didn't leave him behind to retreat first. At this moment, Deng Ken would not leave first and leave her alone to face

Severus decisively raised his shield and followed.

This druid looked at the people from the church with eyes full of hatred; it was unclear whether his ancestors had some past grievance, or if his own faith had also been subjected to the destruction of mountains and temples.

In the struggle of faiths, there is no right or wrong.

Back then, Christians were likewise persecuted by Roman priests, but now the tables have turned, and the Inquisition simply wants to exterminate them.

There is nothing new under the sun in history.

"You go help too."

Anya turned her head to look at her three escort riders. The Sarmatian auxiliary riders immediately turned their horses around; they were very loyal and brave mercenaries within the empire and would also join the private armies of nobles. The other two quickly followed, but that Imperial Praetorian knight hesitated slightly, his gaze locked onto Anya the whole time, his look as affectionate as a simp.

"Son of a bitch."

"In a situation like this, you still have the heart for romance?"

"Once this wave is finished,"

"I'll leave you enough private space to have a field tryst if you want!"

Inside the projection realm, Deng Ken almost cursed out loud.

But Anya didn't even glance at that Imperial Praetorian knight; she also began whispering something, invisible magic flowing around her body as she prepared spells alongside the Raven Queen, Triss.

I never expected this noblewoman, who was panic-stricken at the start, to have such good adaptability.

"Follow me!"

Deng Ken didn't stand on ceremony; he was using his God's-eye view and knew which parts of this area offered a topographical advantage for his group.

Five riders brought up the rear.

Deng Ken picked up his Northern war bow and aimed at the enemy, firing an arrow tentatively; his target was that two-star silver-gray Hermetic Order Temple Guard.

Clang!

The scene that followed made him widen his eyes involuntarily.

Sparks flew.

That Temple Guard actually drew his sword in an instant and swatted away the arrow Deng Ken had fired.

"Is this even human?" Deng Ken's expression changed.

In his past life, he had seen some rather exaggerated and bizarre videos, such as modern archery experts catching arrows with their bare hands and reflecting them back, or using their own arrows to strike an incoming arrow; there were likely staged elements in those, but this was the first time he had seen someone deflect an arrow with a weapon in person.

With this freakish reaction speed, are you playing Assassin's Creed with me?

The pressure this guy brought to Deng Ken was even more terrifying than the Eagle-Shooting Archer; in a sense, this was already a top-tier expert among mortals.

"It's hard to win even if we all fight."

"We can only rely on the Raven Queen Triss's magic!"

After bypassing the woods ahead, the five riders gradually slowed down. The Sarmatian auxiliary rider took out a short bow, but his mounted archery skills could only be described as average—standard horse archer level. Of the other two, one held a sword, and the other had a long saber and shield, both ready for battle.

Fortunately, the enemy had no long-range units, only the witch hunter carrying a short crossbow; the others were all melee units.

Severus guarded Deng Ken's right side, clearly treating him as the backbone of the group.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out!

The Hermetic Order men charged directly toward Deng Ken, and the witch hunter raised his short crossbow to aim at the two knights. Deng Ken had just hit a Hermetic Order monk with an arrow, and a scream came from not far away.

That Hermetic Order monk was wearing armor under his habit and let out a muffled grunt, his movements not slowing in the slightest.

God-Hidden Assault Assassin.

This enemy, marked as a one-star silver-gray, suddenly spurred his horse to accelerate, gradually catching up to the Sarmatian rider. He shifted on the horse's back, dodging the opponent's arrow by hiding against the horse's belly as if he had predicted it, then closed in at close range. With no more than two or three meters between them, the Sarmatian rider hurriedly took out a short-handled mace, but before he could swing it, the assassin lunged, a short blade piercing his throat. He knocked the corpse off the horse and clung to the enemy's horse back like an ape.

Holy crap, this is a real assassin!

One-hit kill.

So fierce it was chilling; Deng Ken had never encountered such a ruthless character before.

He turned his horse's head, controlling it with ease, and in an instant aimed at that God-Hidden assassin. His bow was like a full moon, the sharp arrow piercing the air, the crosshair locked onto the opponent.

The assassin wore no armor.

Otherwise, he couldn't have performed such flexible and swift movements.

—Resting Horse-Turning Arrow!

Hit!

Blood splattered.

That God-Hidden assassin tilted his head slightly, but he no longer had the strength to leap and seize the horse. The arrow pierced straight through his throat, and with a thud, the corpse fell not far from the Sarmatian rider.

At this, both sides were shocked.

Deng Ken's group was shocked by the opponent's strength, while those inquisitors were shocked by Deng Ken's archery.

"Go chase those two witches!"

The Hermetic Order Temple Guard drew his sword and charged. In the moment their figures crossed, he deflected the private corps rider's long saber, used his longsword to pin the blade, and as they passed, he knocked the opponent's weapon away. Sparks flew, and the longsword pressed in; as he swung with both hands, with a squelch, he decapitated the private corps rider on the spot.

Blood sprayed like a fountain!

This was the first time Deng Ken had seen someone use a longsword to decapitate; even barbarian berserkers had to use two-handed greatswords or two-handed battle axes to perform a beheading.

This guy either had extremely high combat skills or superhuman physical fitness.

Perhaps both.

That Hermetic Order Temple Guard, having beheaded the private corps rider, charged toward the retired Imperial Praetorian knight. In an instant, a severed arm flew up; the Praetorian knight had his hand and sword severed together. His lone left hand tried to reach for a mace, but he lost his balance and fell from his horse, landing half-dead.

Before he could scramble to his feet, the inquisitor had already stabbed him to death on the spot with a short spear.

The battle situation suddenly became quite unfavorable for Deng Ken and the others.

—Resting Horse-Turning Arrow!

Deng Ken blew the head off the witch hunter holding the short crossbow with one arrow and immediately charged forward to block them from pursuing the two witches.

Engaging the enemy in melee combat was extremely disadvantageous for him.

That Hermetic Order Temple Guard had cut down two people like slaughtering chickens and dogs, and he treated the Praetorian knight like a general cutting down foot soldiers. If Deng Ken faced him, he would likely be dead in one or two moves. If not for the riding skill he had seized from the Eagle-Shooting Archer, making him the best rider among those present, he probably would have been trampled in the first wave.

Sharp arrow pierced the air.

Warhorse whinnied in agony.

Deng Ken spared nothing to block the opponent, shooting the Hermetic Order Temple Guard's warhorse dead with one arrow, but before he could nock another arrow, his own mount also let out a whinny of pain.

A javelin was thrown at a sixty-degree angle!

That inquisitor had actually used a short javelin to severely wound and kill his warhorse.

Could this guy have been from the Imperial Legions in the past?

Being able to throw a javelin while on horseback and with such accuracy was something only elite Imperial troops could do; after all, since the ancient Roman period, Imperial heavy infantry were trained in javelin throwing.

Deng Ken fell from his horse and rolled, letting out a muffled grunt before quickly standing up.

He threw a Frankish throwing axe backhanded!

Squelch.

Blood splattered; the inquisitor twisted his body to dodge, but he didn't expect Deng Ken to be aiming for the horse's head. These enemies were too strong; if he didn't knock him off his horse, and Deng Ken missed or failed to hack him to death on the spot, he would be trapped in a situation of being hunted by cavalry.

If an archer is hunted by cavalry, the battle is truly lost.

Warhorse whinnied!

Severus separated from the enemy after clashing, charged toward this side, and without a word, dismounted, gripped his shield and mace, and said in a low voice, "Get on!"

Good brother!

Deng Ken didn't hesitate, vaulted onto the horse, drew his bow and nocked an arrow, the bow like a full moon; the sharp arrow struck the Hermetic Order Temple Guard's calf, causing the opponent to stagger, his speed immediately slowing down.

This guy was actually armored all over and had astonishing physical fitness.

Severus roared, raised his oak shield, and met the inquisitor head-on. He had given his warhorse to Deng Ken; if they were surrounded, death was almost certain!

But Deng Ken was the only marksman; only he could stop these inquisitors.

—Adrenaline Burst!

Deng Ken was going to risk it all.

………………