Chapter 731

Chapter 116: The Evil Tide

As the light curtain drew back and the sins surged forward, Knight Commander Hopkins watched helplessly as the vanguard fighters in front were crushed and swallowed by the abyssal mud, torn apart by the terrifying horde of demons that sent shivers down one’s spine. His eyes were red as if they were about to bleed, his breathing labored, and his right arm, gripping the sword hilt, trembled violently. He looked at Alersta with a face that seemed to devour, a look that shook the young bishop to his core, snapping him out of his daze.

“Shields! Formations!!!”

Fortunately, at this moment of life and death, the knight commander understood what was truly urgent and important. He did not lose his composure; he no longer spoke another word to Alersta. Turning around, he began shouting to the remaining elite warriors who were still alive but already in a state of panic as they faced the terrifying abyss. “Raise shields, thrust lances! We can’t escape anymore! Brave holy warriors, show them your most resolute stance. Let that demon see what the Church’s First Knightly Order is all about!”

The men leaped onto the beasts’ backs, charging forth with an unyielding spirit towards the front lines. They turned their mounts, facing the accelerating chaotic abyss beyond the sins. Raising his sword high, he shouted, spittle flying: “May the gods be with us all—!!!”

“May the gods be with me!!!”

In the echoing cries, the sound of heavy shields slamming against the ground could be heard. Determined faces lined up, forming two rows of shield walls on the barren land. Behind the shield walls, riders on horned horses drew their sickle lances from their mounts, swinging them outwards. The spear tips gleamed as they pierced through the shields, amidst the roar of the great beasts.

Behind them, more knights with bloodshot eyes, poised like drawn crossbows, radiated divine light. Their swords hummed, instantly enveloped in dazzling purple flames.

They were the most devout and finest elite warriors selected by the Church. Even when facing such terrifying and powerless demons, akin to a natural disaster, even if the next moment meant death or being swallowed by the abyss, brave warriors could not show any sign of fear.

Rumbling…

In front, the earth’s rumbling grew closer.

Pitch-black abyssal mud churned endlessly on the barren land, emitting a grating “sizzling” sound as it surged towards everyone’s sight, inch by inch devouring the land. In the mire, demons with bizarre steps advanced like a hunting army that had caught scent of prey. The dense black tide approached within thirty meters.

They crossed deep pits, rushed out of the mud, and stepped onto the barren land. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of dark figures moved silently and swiftly, their footsteps shaking the ground like an earthquake, sweeping over the warriors from all directions.

Twenty meters…

Ten meters…

“Ready!”

At the forefront of the army, the knight commander, riding his beast, charged forward with a sword shining with purple light. His gaze was as fierce as if he were going to his death, sharp and determined: “Meet! The impact—!!!”

The sound of dense collisions erupted in the next moment.

Boom boom boom boom boom—

Like an ant horde, the demons rushed forward one after another, crashing into the towering sins like a massive wave. The demon tide seemed to be waves battering against a shore, the demons completely unaware of slowing down. Using their bodies and heads, they slammed into the holy light, mud flows exploding inside them, spreading on the solid barrier. The sound of erosion “sizzled” incessantly. Those who arrived first had not fallen yet, and behind them, more demons climbed over their limbs and shoulders, continuing to crash into higher sins.

At this moment, over a dozen monks vomited blood and fell to their knees.

“Come on!!!”

“Damn demons, come here—!!!”

“Kill as many as come! Let them have no return, you stinking mud monsters—”

“We are the invincible Church’s First Knightly Order!!!”

The warriors fiercely shouted at the demons approaching, their words filled with bravado, but their faces showed terror. Of course, they were afraid. Even the strongest warriors, who would anyone truly abandon their fear at such a time? They only showed determination.

White, there was no longer any way to retreat.

But there was one person who did not think this way.

While everyone held their breath and gritted their teeth, focusing all their attention on the collision of the sins with the demon, Bishop Alistair rode on his unicorn, his face pale, cold sweat continuously streaming down his face. His entire body was trembling, fear striking his already wavering heart with each deafening impact.

At this moment, as the true power of the Abyss lunged before him, the young man felt an irresistible, suffocating pressure and shuddering sensation, finally understanding the taste of impending death. Suddenly, he realized—he was not as brave or fearless of death as he had imagined.

He was not someone who had the courage to face death.

Whether for the Church or for his family.

Even if he faced punishment upon returning, even if he faced treatment more cruel than punishment, even if he lost the status and honor he had fought so hard for, losing everything he possessed, becoming a disgraced and ridiculed person, or even if he would be executed immediately upon return, he did not want to die here. At least now, he wanted to live.

No one wished to die by the devouring of the Abyss.

No one.

He began to slowly retreat from the crowd at the front of the army.

Meanwhile, more monks fell, spewing blood, lying on the ground in pain or groaning, the golden light on them gradually fading away. However, the ferocious charge of the demon continued at the front of the army, with more and more dark figures pressing against the light barrier until they almost formed a small mountain. In the next instant, there was a loud crack, and the towering, seemingly indestructible golden barrier of sin could no longer withstand the impact and erosion of the chaotic Abyss. The dazzling surface suddenly cracked.

Then, it shattered into countless fragments.

Boom—

A massive explosion erupted before everyone’s eyes, with countless golden shards flying in the air. The black mountain blocked by the light barrier suddenly collapsed inward.

In this instant, nothing could stop the tide of Abyssal demons surging forward. Twisting their bodies, trampling over their companions’ limbs, they crawled and rolled in a comical yet terrifying manner toward the golden army!

“Ughaaaaaahhh—!!!”

At the same time, the Knights let out a despairing roar like a tidal wave.

Thud thud thud thud thud—

The astonishing impact sounded again on the barren land. This time, the demons lunged at the tightly-knit shield wall formed by the Knights at the front of the formation.

The violent impact surged forward the moment it made contact. The Knights, their faces twisted in horror, opened their mouths to emit continuous roars, trying desperately to suppress the chaotic tide. But the demons charged forward, ignoring the countless spears protruding from behind the shields. Even as their bodies were pierced by the lances and their heads dented by the large shields, their forward momentum did not stop.

One second, two seconds… three seconds.

The vanguard of the army could only hold off such an assault for about three seconds.

After that came a spray of blood, knights falling and shields flying. The formation was torn apart with unstoppable force, and the demons that broke through pounced onto the fallen knights. Sharp claws tore through armor, shredding skulls. Faceless demons opened their jaws wide, like the mouth of the Abyss, but before they could bite the necks of the knights, more demons rolled over them from above and behind. Captain Hopes swung his sword furiously, cutting off the heads of two demons, but was soon engulfed in the endless darkness.

“Hold the line!”

Amidst the chaos, the pale-faced young bishop shouted tremulously from within the formation: “The great God is watching our bravery! It will grant us invincible divine power! And the demons will be punished! Victory belongs to us! No one retreats!! Hold the line—”

As he shouted, he turned his beast’s head and fled in panic.