A Core Ship From The Start

“So, you’re saying I should rehang this bell?”

Standing at the top of the clock tower, looking at the large bell in front of him, Duanmu Huai asked the question. Upon hearing his inquiry, the Combat Nuns nodded their heads.

“That’s right, we need to let the sound of the bell resound throughout Modheim City once again, bring the protection of Sigma back to this cursed city. The bell has now been purified, the only thing left is to hang it back up, but…”

It’s no wonder they’d asked Duanmu Huai for assistance- while the bell might not be as large as those that are used in temples, rung daily by diligent monks, it was still not something easily moved by just anyone. The only one who might possibly be able to lift it up and hang it back in place was Duanmu Huai.

To Duanmu Huai, this was as simple as lifting a finger. However, should he do it?

Duanmu Huai glanced at the others – the Combat Nuns were now waiting expectantly while the Imperial Captain watched with an amused grin.

“Please, Steel Knight, this should be no trouble for you.”

What a fool…

Duanmu Huai ignored the Imperial Captain’s comments, casting his gaze towards the Witch Hunter. The latter, suddenly finding himself the object of Duanmu Huai’s attention, paused before silently nodding in agreement.

“Alright, leave it to me.”

Without further ado, Duanmu Huai reached out to the heavy bell before him, lifting it effortlessly and hanging it back in the clock tower.

Following this, three Combat Nuns approached the bell, making a circle around it and kneeling on the ground as they began their whispered prayer. As their voices rose in supplication, the bell began radiating a faint golden glow. Seeing this, Duanmu Huai stepped back while tightening his grip on the War Hammer. He noticed the Witch Hunter’s hands fall to his sides, resting near the hilt of his sword, his gaze unblinking as he watched the praying Combat Nuns.

The Imperial Captain, unobservant of the subtle actions of the two men, simply watched the unfolding scene with intense concentration.

Finally, as the praying Nuns’ voices carried on, the majestic bell glowed even brighter. Then…

“Dong——!”

The heavy ringing of the bell echoed throughout the entirety of Modheim City. For a fleeting moment, it seemed as if a ring of golden ripples emanated from the body of the bell, spine-tingly brilliant, spreading outwards like waves. concurrently, the dim, gloomy aura that consumed the surroundings seemed to somewhat lessen.

“Dong———!”

The bell tolled again, louder than before. At the same time, the grotesque tumors and chaotic entities that had previously clung to the outer walls of the temple began to silently recede and vanish with the tolling of the bell, much like snow melting under the warmth of the sun.

“Dong———–!”

As the bell rang for a third time, even the thick clouds covering the skies of Modheim trembled. A ray of sunlight, like a piercing sword, broke through the cloudbank, illuminating the temple. Though the phenomenon only lasted momentarily, everyone could sense that the temple was now fundamentally different from before.

Not until the ritual concluded did people breathe a sigh of relief. The Imperial Captain quickly dispatched news of the success to General Pastte who was located at the rear. Upon hearing the news, General Pastte also breathed a sigh of relief, considering they would be engaging in a drawn-out battle in this cursed city. If they hadn’t received the deity’s protection, their operation might have failed even before commencing.

But now, the temple has been reclaimed, and Sigma’s glory has once again shone upon it. This was indeed a auspicious start worth celebrating.

However, it wasn’t the time for celebration yet. The resurgence of Sigma Temple was bound to draw the attention of other hidden forces within Modheim City. It could be said that the reactivated Sigma Temple was like a piece of cheese in a rat’s nest; everyone wanted to take a bite.

Therefore, Pastte immediately sent people to clear the roads leading to Sigma Temple, allowing more soldiers to enter the temple for rest and defense. On the other hand, he also demanded the three battle groups to defend the temple with their utmost effort before their arrival.

In fact, even without his orders, others would have done the same.

Although the blessings of Sigma seemed powerful and beneficial, the commotion was so huge that anyone who wasn’t blind could see it. For the forces currently in Modheim City, the revival of Sigma Temple was the last thing they wanted to see. Hence, it was expected that they would launch another assault on the Sigma Temple to completely eliminate this threat.

The Chaos Believers had just been defeated and wouldn’t be able to spare more manpower in a short time. Necromancers and vampires were naturally restrained by Sigma and wouldn’t dare to act rashly. However, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be any stubborn fools who would risk death. For instance, Ratmen, a species notorious for their digging ability, strong reproduction rate, and their indifferences towards casualties—just like cockroaches—were crafty and loathsome.

“I have had enough of these damn rats!”

Duanmu Huai raised his War Hammer and swung it down with force, sending tens of Ratmen in front of him flying into pieces. However, that wasn’t enough. Soon after the revival of Sigma Temple, these accursed rodents swarmed in as if they had smelled blood and launched a frenzied attack against the Sigma Temple.

Soon, the battle group in charge of guarding the temple was put in a difficult situation.

The towering city walls couldn’t deter the Ratmen. These rodents were experts in climbing walls and prising open doors. Not to mention that during the previous assault, Duanmu Huai, in his reckless manner, had shattered all the defensive doors. Karma struck faster than he had anticipated, and the tables were soon turned. Their situation had become as miserable as the Chaos Believers’ had been previously.

The blessings of Sigma did not have much effect on the Ratmen. More importantly, these creatures were crafty. They always hid in the ruins around the temple and launched surprise attacks when Duanmu Huai and others were off guard. It was undeniable that these damn rats were truly annoying.

It seemed that they needed more drastic measures.

After smashing another wave of Ratmen into pulp, Duanmu Huai retreated. At this point, he was soaked in blood, with bits of Ratmen flesh and blood covering his Power Armor. Lorena was also injured in the fight against the Ratmen and was currently taking up a defensive position under the protection of Ogis. Merlot stood on the rooftop of the temple, eliminating Ratmen shot after shot. However, her sniper rifle was not a Gatling gun and was limited in its effect against the number of Ratmen.

Only Faiya seemed to be enjoying herself at the forefront of the battle. Like a ghost, she darted through the crowd of Ratmen, leaving a trail of fallen rats wherever she went. After all, she didn’t fear death and couldn’t be killed, so all she had to do was keep fighting.

Still, that couldn’t suffice.

The other two battle groups were still fighting hard as well. Although energized by Sigma’s blessings and not feeling particularly fatigued, it was only a matter of time before they shared the same fate as the Chaos Believers if things continued this way.

If that’s the case, they can’t blame me for being ruthless.

Looking at the annoying rats, Duanmu Huai also hardened his resolve. While swinging his war hammer, he quickly opened the communication.

“Mia, can you hear me?”

“Yes, Master, what can I do for you?”

Soon, Mia’s leisurely voice echoed in Duanmu Huai’s ear.

“Load the Hellfire missiles for an aerial cover. Blow these beasts to hell!”

“Understood~~!”