Dawn Of Twilight

The oracle said this place has been polluted by a foreign source. A cleanse is necessary." At the middle of the group of knights was an old man wearing a white-colored robe, with his features devout and pious. his expression was extremely stern.

"Chief Priest, we have completely surrounded the area." A knight reported respectfully after urging his horse over. He was chiseled, his armor and features domineering.

"Good, Shrine corps, be prepared to coordinate with each other. Don't let even a single heretic escape." The Chief Priest waved his hand. Numerous youthful and resolute men dressed in white ceremonial clothing followed behind him, followed by the groups of knights in an orderly manner.

A serious crisis immediately enveloped the little town, but the residents were bȧrėly aware of what was going on

•••••

"Hm? Ohh I guess the saint humans are here …" The dark figure said, after spreading its detection ability, it's had sensed the people surrounding the village. It was a pity that there was nothing left to do. In its current state, he just needed to watch if his majesty experiments were successful, and then begin their besiegement on the villages.

"They are quite fast to act, and their activities are extremely incredible too." The figure exclaimed in admiration. It's had noticed them even before their arrival, it's job was just to watch the outcome and report the results.

Of course, he could have a rummage through the villages living no soul alive, but the pact its high-ups signed didn't give room for such. Perhaps it was more appropriate to say, killing two birds with one stone for them.

With the protection of the pact, the whole village was akin to a domain. Though they could take a few and just a few only.

The figure sighed, "It's a pity that it's impossible for a blood night…".

Here, even though its body had been shivering from excitement, and from all the pulsing of hearts and veins. It's could do nothing, to quench the thirst.

"Hah, the thirst is unique as always!"

In the first place, massacres were exactly not forbidden. However, all research done are to be accounted for on all the humans, a single miscalculation is seen as a blasphemy to the high ups, and those discovered doing a killing spree would be burnt by holy water.

After determining the situation, strangely it felt thrilled while watching a live show, anticipating what was going to happen next.

It's was only watching, especially the outcome of the experiments. Also making use of this opportunity to gather more data on ages.

"Come, let see what next!."

A streak of dark red flashed from the broken sword, with a blood-red radiance.

...

The sounds of the neighing of horses, high-pitched roars, the blood-curdling screams, and profound pleas for help.

Grey used the back of his hand which was clean and rubbed his eyes, and before he yawned.

He, who had been awakened by the sounds, saw the fire outside his window. The trotting of horses, the slamming of doors, and shouts lingered in his ear like the mumbles of a devil.

"What's going on? Is this a nightmare?" Grey's mind was in a state of confusion, unable to react to what was going on.

"What did you come out for? Get back in there!" After Grey left the room, he was immediately pushed back in roughly by a middle-aged man.

On his father's face were a grimness and solemness that Grey had never witnessed before.

But before he could obediently return to his room, a tall, fierce steed rammed into his house.

Mounting the horse was a knight wearing steel black armor. The luxurious armor made out of steel rendered Grey speechless, for this usually belonged to lords who were knights or some family heirloom belonging to the nobility, such as barons.

Even the baron who was closest to this area might not have anything of such quality and value.

Grey's eyes were full of fear and awe. Meanwhile, he also noticed a cross crest embroidered on the armor— this was the crest of the Holy Shrine!

"It's the Shrine knights of the  Holy Shrine! What are they doing here?"

It had to be said that these Shrine knights used to be Grey's idols, but what they were doing now was just destroying his dreams about them.

"Esteemed Lord, may I know…"

Grey's father gathered his courage and approached the knight. But before he could utter his sentence, he was aggressively sent staggering to the ground.

"I'm only saying this once. All residents are to gather at the altar. And I mean Everyone!"

The knight burst through Grey's front door, and what followed was the sound of trunks and boxes being rummaged through. Grey's brothers and sister were also chased outside in the process.

Following his father and the rest of his family, Grey left through the front door and headed to the heart of the village to stand.

It was only at this point that Grey noticed, and was overwhelmed by what he saw, the other villagers had been also expelled from their homes as well. As they flowed like a stream to converge at the center of a lake.

"Wha... What's going on?" Grey still had no idea of what exactly was happening. All he knew was that his whole family had their hands tightly holding onto each other, to the point that he felt his hands being grasped tightly making his hands sour and sweaty.

In front of him was his father, whose expression was dark and full of uneasiness.

Even when their livestock had died for the past few years, and when the tax soldiers had come to the village, Grey had not seen such an expression on his father's face before.

The many villagers gathered like herded sheep. The knights raised their fire torches and as they made their horses surround them in a parade, shining brightly in the dark of the night.

Around the knights were also many men dressing in their priest robes.

Their clothes were even more extravagant than a priest. To make it simple, all of them must be amazing people.

"Cough cough… cough cough…" The solemn atmosphere, as well as the arrival of the deity officials and knights, caused Grey to feel frightened, though he had no reason why.

"Chief priest, all the villagers have been gathered. This is the village head."

A knight with golden patterns on his armor tossed an old man who was trembling, before the Chief priest.

"Lord Chief priest, our Olori Village has always been piously worshipping and paying taxes, and never dared go against it."

From Grey's perspective, this village head who was usually very capable was like a baby here, weeping and sniffing in front of the old chief priest.

"The gods of our land have taught us to treat every follower with love."

The Chief Priest kindly helped the village head up and even bent to his knees to help brush off the soil, immediately giving rise to feelings of gratitude from the chief and the villagers.

"The reason I'm here is that I was instructed by the gods of our land to cleanse this area of foreign sources."

After the village head had calmed down, the Chief Priest expressed his purpose in coming here.

For some reason, Grey saw his father's body trembling, almost falling to the ground. Even his siblings were sobbing quietly, and the surrounding villagers looked as though the world was ending.

Of course, he was a mere child now. All he knew was that after the Chief Priest who seemed very influential spoke, the villagers, including the village head himself, went limp and fell to the ground, unable to even plead.

"Oh mighty gods of our lands, your humble servants piously offer sacrifices to you. Please open your godly eyes and differentiate the foreign power here!"

In front of the altar in the little village, the villagers devoutly prayed. Immediately after, white milky way blazing fire lit up from the altar toward the sky, bringing an apocalyptic ŀuster to the world.

"Come here one by one so we can separate you. The gods will not misidentify anyone."

The Chief Priest announced. Immediately after, those knights began to grab hold of the villages, pressing them down under the altar and forcing them to kneel and pray.

The villagers were forced to go through with this ceremony under the altar one after another, and the white milky way blazing fire on the altar stayed white.

"Next!" The Chief priest said with a cold and neutral expression as if nothing in the world was worth him frowning or hesitating over. The holy knights were like demons, only knowing to complete their tasks robotically.

Finally, it was Grey's family's turn.

First was his father and sister, and then Grey.

"Quick, pray quickly!" A tremendous force could be felt on his back, and he had no choice but to bend down.

"Mighty gods of our land, you are merciful in all your doings, the one who loves us more than our mother's. I confess to you…"