Our Family Has Fallen

Not to mention capturing the outpost and using it as a base to block them, only then was the situation slightly stabilized.

Utilizing the undiscovered Beast Lair tunnels at the time, deploying suicide squads to disrupt the wildland development progress.

This led to later playing "Whack-a-Mole" with those heretics, because Hamlet had too few people at the time and lacked the development capacity.

Of course, the early disruptions by the heretics contributed to this, anyway, the development couldn’t keep up with the expanded lands.

Lance didn’t blindly expand, but instead held the outpost to train soldiers, bleeding the Ascension Sect.

During this time, it’s safe to say the outpost faced many dangers, even the high wall was breached once, but fortunately, it was successfully defended in the end.

From that point, the roles of offense and defense began to switch, because with population replenished, Lance needed more land to settle these people.

Logically, the population of the Ascension Sect should decline sharply after so many battles and exterminations.

But in reality, they didn’t disappear, on the contrary, harassment and attacks continued, just like before.

Now, however, Hamlet’s Army is stronger, not fearing small-team skirmishes, especially with the Honor Guard and heroes.

However, based on frontline feedback, the strength of these heretics is also continuously improving, which is why Lance doesn’t dare to relax even a bit.

Honestly, Lance also doesn’t quite understand how much the old ancestor still has left, and can only blame it on those dumb lords feeding them over the years.

Anyway, the battle between Hamlet and the Ascension Sect is not over yet.

And now the road opened to the ruins still requires forces to guard those convicts, preventing escapes and fending off heretic attacks.

Meanwhile, on the more secluded edge of the wildlands, a squad is searching for enemies.

Balistan, clad in Heavy Armor, walks ahead to lead the way, followed by Dismas, Junia, William, and of course his partner Fergus.

After Lance took over the police system setup, William also found an opportunity for vacation, since with the Lord present, there won’t be chaos; only the Lord can give him peace of mind in Hamlet, others always worry him, fearing problems might arise.

Though his vacation isn’t just lying in bed sleeping, rather, he goes hunting with Fergus.

Because Fergus is a hunting dog, it needs ample exercise to relieve its abundant energy; leashing it for a two-hour patrol is merely a walk.

Just as the outskirts are being cleared, Fergus’s search ability proves useful.

Even during vacation, voluntarily coming out to hunt, a chosen laborer; he feels uneasy when not working.

The dog is sniffing the surroundings when suddenly it stops and crouches, its head looking in a direction.

"She’s growling, be careful... something’s nearby."

William immediately reacts, softly alerting his teammates.

The team, all seasoned veterans, become vigilant as they crept toward that spot.

Soon they find heretics nestled in the dense wild forests, a classic three-in-one, three heretic warriors with a heretical witch.

Sometimes battles erupt with no nonsense, a gunshot announces the start of a fight.

"Bang!"

At the instant of the sound, the heretical witch’s head snaps backward sharply, yet astonishingly turns back in the next second, only to show a dent on her visor, visible on her unmasked lower face, blood dripping.

The black iron helmet worn by the heretical witch served its purpose, otherwise the shot could have shattered the skull, spilling brain matter.

But the helmet didn’t penetrate the skull, only leaving a blood trail across the face.

"Damn, I didn’t hit the eyes." Dismas grumbles, but reloads swiftly without hesitation.

All who’ve fought heretics know to eliminate the spellcasters first, and William is no exception.

"The hunt begins!" William marks the target as he whistles.

Commanded, Fergus charges forward immediately, excitement barely controlling drool secretion, spilling from its bared jaw.

It craves battle!

The heretics can’t even keep up with the dog’s speed; rushing forward, it leaps and snaps at the hand clutching the Magic Wand, shaking its head furiously, biting forcefully.

Trained to know the most effective attacks.

The witch’s Casting Spells are interrupted, her hand bleeding uncontrollably, yet the pain fuels her into a frenzied state, shifting the wand in hand aiming at the dog’s head.

Fergus, smartly, didn’t hold on like ordinary dogs.

When the heretical witch attempted a counterattack, it released but didn’t leave; instead, circled nearby, barking fiercely, baring its teeth, waiting for the next move.

Its eyes fixed on the throat.

Meanwhile, Junia is already wielding the Iron Torch unleashing Divine Arts judgment, the flames soaring, a flash striking the witch, plunging her into an uncontrolled state.

At this point, Fergus seizes the opportunity and lunges, biting the ankle.

With force, it drags backward, causing the briefly unconscious witch to lose balance and topple.

Now Fergus exhibits its fiercest scene, abandoning the ankle to pounce, keen fangs sinking into the throat.

Swinging its head, its whole body twisting, using full body power to shake, tearing the throat out, extracting the windpipe.

Fergus’s mouth stained red with blood, as if eating dragon fruit.

Yet, in its fervor, it shows no signs of stopping, tossing away the flesh, continuing to bite, clearly aiming to sever the neck completely.

No matter how thick the heretic’s blood is, they can’t withstand such devastation, the heretic warriors on the side react, swinging iron claws in intent to rescue their ally.

Can William simply watch them attack his dog? He steps up, wielding the police baton like a Warhammer, striking fiercely.

William has no advantage in skill or strength, possibly weaker; but don’t forget, they’re "Siamese twins."

Seeing William step in, Fergus immediately abandons the unresponsive witch, joining to flank the heretic.

Meanwhile, Balistan raises his Shield to block another heretic, the iron claw and shield clashing sparks, the Morningstar Hammer swung destined to draw blood.

A hammer blow crippling the heretic, crushing bones, helmet mask dented, blood flowing mingled with brain matter from gaps.

Elsewhere, Dismas thrusts forward, Short Sword drawn with a decisive feel, shielding those iron claws, yet in the next moment pressing the musket against the guy’s face.

"Bang!"

Undoubtedly a headshot, at this range not the previous power, the black iron helmet shredded by shell, yet the terrifying Life Force defied death, countering desperately.

Dismas gives no chance, dodging and countering, slitting the throat with the Short Sword, blood gushing, draining the last Life Force.

And Junia also steps in to completely cleanse the witch with the torch.

Fight over, the heretic squad wandering in the wildlands is eliminated.

Yet just as they want to catch their breath, the earth trembles, followed by the distant dust rise, clearly indicating the cause.

"What’s happening?"

"That’s where the ruins are."

"Evil is stirring..." Junia looks toward that spot with a solemn expression, though she often seems that way, sensing the gravity.

"Don’t be scared, girl."

While others focus on the matter itself, uniquely, William soothes the dog, yet Fergus’s bloodstained face showed little fear, rather vigilance.