What kind of nonsense is this, that you'd be chosen by the gods and favored by all the gods?

Black, fucking black.

Lyle exhaled, realizing that he did not appear to be dead.

Although he couldn't see clearly because he was shrouded in darkness, he could still touch and hear things.

After rummaging around haphazardly, it seemed that I had fallen into the bushes.

Bad luck...

He struggled to his feet and listened carefully to the sounds around him, but there seemed to be nothing unusual.

But at least it's safe for now.

Just be careful of the gravel and thorny vines on the ground, which scratch Lyle's feet and make him extremely uncomfortable.

There seemed to be something strange about this forest; moonlight couldn't penetrate it, and Lyle felt as if he had gone blind.

After struggling to take a few steps, a faint glimmer of light appeared on the horizon in the distance.

Perhaps it was left behind by soldiers who were also enveloped and entangled by the strange forest.

Thinking this, Lyle made his way in that direction, and as the obstacles in front of him gradually decreased, he could see the scene at the firelight.

The body of one of the accompanying soldiers lay on the ground, thorns of unknown composition piercing his abdomen and traveling upwards until they emerged from his head, from his eye sockets, and from his mouth.

The torch fell limply to the ground.

Lyle stared at the gruesome corpse, his heart pounding and his breathing becoming heavy.

That's terrifying...

However, considering their own situation, it's possible to determine whether the attackers were targeting only these soldiers and Timo?

Considering the hazy war situation in the original owner's memories, it might have been specifically designed to intercept and kill the magic-wielding assassins sent by Timothy...

Timo had mentioned to himself that they were in the northern part of the Akshi Plain in the Central Plains of the continent, which was the main battlefield where the Holy Bern Empire clashed with the northern kingdoms.

The situation on the front lines of the war was not optimistic, which is why priests who used the power of prayer were dispatched to assist in the fighting.

Perhaps for this reason, intercepting war priests and weakening supernatural powers is the primary mission of the raiders from the north.

"Xixi—"

The sound of leaves rustling came from beside Lyle. He turned his head and, after his eyes adjusted to the darkness, could barely make out that it was a human-shaped creature.

They seem to have come for that wisp of firelight as well.

Lyle gripped his triangular shield tightly and lay in ambush by the roadside, observing the situation.

Surprisingly, however, more than one person emerged from the forest.

Leading the way were two slaves, followed closely by a fully armored soldier leader and the priest Timo.

They actually banded together?

Lyle's expression shifted slightly, but he did not immediately go out to join them.

His concentration has not yet recovered, so he cannot use divination continuously and needs some time.

This is his greatest reliance in the face of unexpected events and changes.

So he lay in wait in the bushes, watching their next move.

"Poor Leo... He survived the battlefield, but he died here."

The team leader seemed to recognize the soldier who had been stabbed, and looked somewhat saddened.

"The goddess will protect his soul."

Timo drew a holy symbol of the goddess on his chest, which was also a blessing for the deceased.

But then they looked at the torch on the ground.

Timo intended to take the torch with him to avoid getting completely lost in the darkness.

He could certainly use prayer to illuminate or dispel the darkness, but given the current unclear situation, he decided to refrain from using divine power lightly.

"It's time for you to prove yourselves."

"Go and bring me that torch."

He stretched out his large hand and slammed it heavily on one of the slaves walking in front of him, speaking without any emotion.

The slave was startled and trembled with fear at the thought of what he was about to do.

However, he didn't dare disobey the priest in the end, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk into the area covered by the firelight.

Approaching the body, I cautiously looked around; there was no danger.

He crouched down, picked up the torch, stood up, and looked around warily again, but nothing happened.

"call..."

He breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and only saw the priests looking at him with solemn expressions—

Look at his feet.

"ah!!!"

In an instant, countless active thorns and branches burst forth from the soil beneath his feet, first piercing the slave's filthy feet and spreading upwards along his shinbone.

The sudden pain caught him off guard, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground.

However, this made his situation even worse. Without armor to protect him, the moment his abdomen touched the ground, it triggered the spikes on other parts of his body.

From his abdomen, from his chest, it slowly coiled and strangled him...

In despair, he reached out his hand to the pastor for help.

"Ignore him and wait."

Timo's words made the leader withdraw his outstretched hand and silently wait for the dying man to be torn apart.

Immediately afterwards, a rather distinctive red branch grew out from beneath the corpse, about to lift it up, just as the soldier had done when he hung it high.

"That's the one."

This time, the team leader didn't hesitate. He quickly stepped forward and chopped down the corpse and the red branch together with his sword.

The red branches seem to be the source of power for this strange forest.

When it was cut open, the impenetrable darkness around it finally dissipated a little.

Those strong and powerful branches gradually withered, broke, dissolved, and fell to the side.

"What exactly is going on?"

The team leader looked around, looking very confused, while Timo picked up a twig from the ground, examined it carefully for a moment, and then came to a conclusion.

"As expected... it is a product forged from life. Those damned northerners are still as despicable and disgusting as ever when it comes to blaspheming life."

"Flesh and blood become deformed, blood takes on different forms...they always find ways to defile God's creation."

Upon hearing this, the team leader flew into a rage.

"My lord...you mean we were attacked by northerners?!"

"These damned guys, they've already infiltrated the rear?"

"If I catch these wretched rats, I'll make sure they suffer a terrible fate!"

However, Timo did not respond to the leader's anger. He knew very well that the other party was coming for him.

He knew all too well the damage the death of a priest who wielded the power of the covenant would inflict on the front lines.

Only the power of the gods can fight against the gods. Therefore, those who possess extraordinary powers often play a very important role on the battlefield.

Even the simplest group blessings, group healing, and morale boosts can easily turn the tide of battle...

Therefore, their primary objective is to assassinate themselves.

But Timo didn't want to just passively wait for the enemy to attack.

He needs to create opportunities for himself to take the initiative.

Instead of arriving in time to kill him, they used this trap method to kill the one holding the light source—

Perhaps this despicable northern wizard himself was unable to control the forest and was thus constrained.

Ha... a guy who's not very good at his job.

However, I might be able to use this to my advantage...

Timo made up his mind and turned to look at his companion.

"Mr. Colvin, would you be willing to join me in fighting our way out of this forest?"

His expression was solemn, and a serious and chilling aura emanated from him.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure to serve you."

Colvin, that was the name of the soldier's leader, placed his longsword before him and saluted respectfully.

"Very well, now I will bestow upon you the divine power of blessing, which can drive away evil spirits and illuminate the darkness..."

"God will protect you."

Timo raised the talisman in his hand, and the light from his palm gradually dissipated and entered Colvin's body.

All fatigue vanished from his heavily armored body, and he indeed felt a surge of powerful energy entering his body.

"Wow, goddess!"

Colvin bowed respectfully, rose, and took his sword.

Timo nodded and withdrew his hand from the talisman.

"Alright, let's go."