Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 155: The Roaring Arrows
So, Ouyang Ziyi drew her bow and released an arrow, following the same feeling she had in the secret room. As her fingers relaxed, a greenish light streaked forward like a stretched meteor, accompanied by sparks. With a “bang,” it exploded against the chest of a man in black with golden hair right in the center of the enemy line, sending him flying. A scream followed, waking the two opposing sides to the fact that the battle was still ongoing…
The man hit by Ouyang Ziyi collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing, with a faint green glow still emanating from his chest—clearly, the green arrow had struck its target dead on!
“It’s a Holy Power Arrow! Use the defensive shields quickly!” A warning snapped those surrounding them out of their daze. Fortunately, they were well-trained; in just a few moments, those at the front switched to using defensive shields. Some created a holy energy field around themselves using their own Holy Power, while others used the power of their staffs and weapons to form larger defensive barriers to ward off these sudden arrows.
As they set up their defenses, Ouyang Ziyi gritted her teeth and kept shooting, knocking down three more enemies in a row. But this was her first time killing someone, so her face turned pale. If it weren’t for her understanding that today’s situation meant survival of the fittest, she might have collapsed from shock.
Sofia and the others watched Ouyang Ziyi’s actions and joined in the counterattack, especially when the enemy was forced to switch from offense to defense. This gave them a perfect opportunity to strike back, allowing them to finally deliver a satisfying retaliation. Everyone’s morale soared, and they used every means at their disposal for long-range attacks. Those unable to attack from afar stepped forward willingly.
Clearly, the new reinforcements were long-range archers. Not only was there the bow itself, but also the unique power of the arrows—just seeing their lethal effect on enemies made them fully aware of their responsibilities!
After shooting the first few arrows, Ouyang Ziyi suddenly felt exhausted. The bow and arrow on the string became faint, and despite several attempts, she was unable to bring them into existence. Meanwhile, the enemy’s defensive formation was already in place, and without Ouyang Ziyi’s fierce firepower support, the impact of their own long-range attacks had diminished significantly.
Watching as the enemy began to advance and the walls of the surrounding castle rooms kept being breached, expanding the siege area, she felt a sense of powerlessness wash over her.
But just then, a surge of strength came from the holy power ring on her finger, as if giving her renewed momentum. The emerald-green arrow finally appeared, and without hesitation, Ouyang Ziyi shot it at an enemy who had slightly exposed himself…
However, the holy power from the ring was limited and slow, far from meeting the demands of using an elf bow. It seemed this weapon, in the hands of someone with no holy power at all, could not fully unleash its combat power. At that moment, Ouyang Ziyi felt a sense of helplessness.
As she grew anxious and her allies wondered why the powerful support arrows were becoming slower, she suddenly felt warmth spread throughout her body, as if enveloped in an energy wave. The elf bow regained its brilliance, with an even brighter green glow, and another arrow appeared effortlessly. Overjoyed, she didn’t even take time to check before launching another round of shots at the approaching enemies.
The power of Ouyang Ziyi’s bow became evident quickly, and it seemed even more formidable. Although some arrows were blocked by defensive shields, they were usually enough to shatter those shields in just one shot, leaving the enemies no time to form a new shield before being hit by her next arrow.
As a result, the enemy’s entire formation was disrupted. They tried to charge forward, but Sophia’s desperate counterattacks prevented them, coupled with Ouyang Ziyi’s precise shots—one after another—causing them great distress. Thus, they had no choice but to retreat continuously, creating distance and using broken walls and pillars as cover to mitigate the power of her arrows.
They also used some long-range energy waves in retaliation, most commonly holy light punches, but with the distance between them increasing, the effectiveness of these aerial attacks diminished greatly.
Ouyang Ziyi and her group finally got a chance to catch their breath. Ouyang Ziyi’s shooting range had also shrunk significantly, so they temporarily stopped shooting and turned to figure out why such a sudden change had occurred. When she saw Sophia standing behind her, with white light emanating from her hands, her whole body trembling, her face pale, and large drops of sweat falling continuously, she realized it was the “blessing” from her Golden Priestess! Ouyang Ziyi was deeply moved. From Sophia’s appearance, it was clear she was barely holding on through sheer willpower. Having endured the battle from the start, especially after using so much sacred energy to release thespirit, she had reached her limits both mentally and physically! Seeing her precarious state, Ouyang Ziyi quickly stepped forward to support her, asking anxiously, “Are you okay?” Sophia’s lips, already pale, trembled as she replied softly, “I’m fine, just a bit exhausted. Is that… the Sacred Artifact for releasing thespirit?” Ouyang Ziyi nodded without saying a word. “It really is a Sacred Artifact—extremely powerful. It’s a shame; if my Ring of Life were still here, I believe it could help you hold on longer…” Sophia said weakly. Ouyang Ziyi’s heart stirred as she remembered the moment Sophia’s ruby ring shattered on the road—that must have been one of her sources of sacred energy. “That’s right! Don’t I still have a Ring of Sacred Energy on my finger? For me, the little sacred energy it provides isn’t enough to withstand these attacks. I wonder if I can take it off and let Sophia use it…” With that thought, Ouyang Ziyi quickly tried to remove the Ring of Sacred Energy from her middle finger. To her surprise, it came off easily—unlike the Elf Bow on her wrist, which she didn’t even know how to remove, as the “Ishe Declaration” didn’t mention it at all! When Ouyang Ziyi handed the Ring of Sacred Energy to Sophia without hesitation, Sophia could hardly believe her eyes. The ring was crystal clear, with shifting light and a radiant holy glow—her admiration was beyond description. In fact, it wasn’t the ring’s elegance that excited Sophia so much; what truly stunned her was the sacred aura it emitted and the powerful, pure energy pulsing within it. That energy brought not only a sense of peace and tranquility but also endless kindness and serenity…
And it seemed to share the same properties as the priestly holy energy within her body; her heart trembled instantly, and an indescribable resonance arose, as if all the cells in her body began to pulse like tiny microcomputers. The ring, too, seemed to be attracted to the aura emanating from Sophia, trembling joyfully in Ouyang Ziyi’s hands. A strong white light suddenly burst forth, dazzlingly bright. Ouyang Ziyi felt a sudden lightness in her hand and lost control of it. In surprise, after the light disappeared, she finally saw Sophia staring at her finger in amazement. Following her gaze, the ring of holy energy was quietly worn on her right middle finger, with the white light flickering intermittently, creating a sense of perfection and harmony, as if it were meant to fit tightly on Sophia’s finger from birth! Looking at Sophia, aside from her expression of joy and excitement, her face shone with vitality; the earlier sense of exhaustion and weakness had vanished, and her entire being exuded a pure and enduring aura, giving those around her a sense of vigorous vitality and lifting their spirits. The fatigue from the recent battle also diminished significantly. Faced with the holy energy emanating from Sophia, everyone turned their attention toward her. “Hehe, it seems this ring was meant for you from the start!” Ouyang Ziyi said carelessly with a smile. “Is… is this really for me?” Sophia asked, her heart trembling slightly, still unable to believe it. “Hehe, of course. Actually, I just ‘lent it’ to you— it came to you on its own. It feels like this ring was prepared just for you! Hehe…” Ouyang Ziyi laughed heartily. Hearing this, Sophia felt intoxicated. She opened her mouth but was too excited to speak, repeatedly thinking in her heart, “Such a precious item… he actually gave it to me? Is this… a token of love?” At the same time, she gazed at Ouyang Ziyi affectionately, but her gaze made Ouyang Ziyi feel uncomfortable. Just then, the enemy across seemed to make a new move, prompting Ouyang Ziyi to quickly turn away from Sophia’s gaze and shout, “Everyone, watch out! The enemy is attacking again!” With that, she sent an elf from her hand, which created a whirlwind and shot two emerald arrows at the enemy.
That sudden move really took Ouyang Ziyi by surprise. She hadn’t paid much attention earlier—how could she shoot two jade arrows at once? Could it be…? With these thoughts, she turned her gaze toward Sophia beside her. Sure enough, Sophia was smiling warmly at her, a beam of white light emanating from her hand and enveloping her. At this sight, Ouyang Ziyi immediately understood: it must be the Ring of Holy Power, finally exerting its full effect in Sophia’s hands as a natural Golden Priestess.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Sophia looked solemn and raised her gloved hand in a fist. Instantly, she was bathed in a radiant light from top to bottom. Her rosy lips moved as she began to chant, “Light of Life, grant me endless vitality and fighting spirit, and let Your power be the source through which I summon the God of War…”
The moment the spell ended, the Ring of Holy Power on Sophia’s hand emitted a red glow that grew stronger, quickly turning into a thin mist that spread toward those around her—primarily Ouyang Ziyi. The moment the red mist touched her, Ouyang Ziyi felt her blood boil with enthusiasm. An endless fighting spirit and strength surged within her, and her morale soared. Instead of defending, she stepped forward boldly, releasing her elves like a barrage of arrows…
With the help of the Ring of Holy Power, Sophia broke through the limitations of her previous God of War Light and gained even more powerful blessings from the God of War. Her joy was unparalleled, and her love for Ouyang Ziyi grew even deeper.
So when Ouyang Ziyi charged forward with fierce determination, Sophia followed without hesitation. The ring’s light turned back to a gentle white glow, casting another layer of protection around Ouyang Ziyi.
With Sophia’s dedicated protection and the blessings of the God of War, Ouyang Ziyi became even more formidable. Her elves emitted a bright green light as deadly arrows flew one after another. With just her own strength, she overwhelmed all her opponents.
Sophia’s allies, inspired by her blessings, also charged forward, surrounding Ouyang Ziyi like a sharp blade piercing into the enemy’s ranks.
The crisp sound of bowstrings and the roar of arrows—each shot, each roar eliciting a scream of pain from the enemy. With the power of divine strength backing her, Ouyang Ziyi’s blood boiled with fighting spirit; there was no pity or mercy in her heart, only hatred for her foes. Where once there were magnificent sculptures, now there was only rubble; where once stood towering stone pillars, now there were only piles of broken debris… All of this made Ouyang Ziyi forget everything else—she knew only to shoot her arrows straight at the enemies’ hearts! A cold glow covered her face, turning her stunning beauty expressionless, devoid of any emotion.
Ouyang Ziyi and Sophia combined their forces, turning the situation upside down. The ruined castle became Ouyang Ziyi’s slaughterhouse—no one could block her arrows. Those who tried to attack her up close, even at the cost of their comrades’ lives, were stopped by the skilled fighters surrounding her. Any slight hesitation meant a green arrow would pierce their hearts with a roar. Those who attacked from afar could only serve as targets for her arrows, and none could escape under the blessing of the War God bestowed by the elves…
Duke Tili was furious. He had gathered so many skilled fighters and deployed so much power—three hundred energy waves in total—and yet he heard news that the front lines were under pressure. His face turned ashen as he listened to his subordinates’ reports without saying much. With a wave of his arm and a swift movement of his own body, his cloak billowed in the wind as he soared toward the castle like a giant bird. The dozen or so Night Warriors followed closely behind, without needing any orders.
Ouyang Ziyi was now completely insane. The castle had turned into a green slaughterhouse. She was fighting against the last few skilled fighters, who used their wands and weapons to emit light balls and divine energy to barely fend off the elf arrows. But without the thrill of slaughter, the close combat made her even more irritable. Her heavy breathing and growls made Sophia, who was behind her, sense something was wrong. However, since the battle was still ongoing, and in Sophia’s eyes, this was just the fierce nature of the man she admired… she paid it no mind. But just then, something unexpected happened—a surge of divine energy, followed by a terrifying roar—as a massive energy ball rushed toward Ouyang Ziyi.
The energy ball struck at just the right moment, right after Ouyang Ziyi fired an arrow. By then, Ouyang Ziyi was already in a frenzied state, focusing solely on shooting at the targets she had locked onto, completely unaware of this sudden attack.
“Be careful!” With Sophia’s cry, Ouyang Ziyi was pushed aside, and the massive energy ball hit Sophia’s chest. With a loud explosion, the moment the energy ball touched her, the Holy Power Ring seemed to sense the threat as well, instantly generating an energy shield that barely deflected its power.
Yet the force of the collision still sent Sophia spitting out blood on the spot, sending her flying and crashing to the ground, where she immediately lost consciousness.
Duke Tili launched a surprise attack and hit his mark, but before he could act again, Ouyang Ziyi, who had just been saved by Sophia, locked onto him as her target. In a frenzied manner, she conjured three emerald arrows in her hands and, with a string snap, shot them straight at Duke Tili.
Relying on his experience, Duke Tili knew how deadly these arrows were. As he generated a holy energy field with his staff, he darted backward. But Ouyang Ziyi ignored the required distance for archery and launched another barrage of three arrows.
Duke Tili managed to dodge the first three arrows but not the next three. With no other choice, he concentrated all his holy power in his staff to block the emerald arrows.
With successive booms, the three green arrows were blocked one after another, but the faint amaranth-colored glow appearing on their surfaces did not lessen their momentum. Like three smaller arrows, they pierced through Duke Tili’s chest…
At that moment, Duke Tili’s face turned deathly pale. Looking down at the three holes in his chest glowing with moonlight, he could hardly believe what was happening. Muttering a few words, he said, “The Curse of the Moon Demon…”
After that, his tall figure collapsed to the ground, never to rise again.
After firing those three arrows, Ouyang Ziyi remained in her shooting stance, glaring angrily at the remaining enemies, as if they were all her next targets. An aura of power radiated from her, shaking the surroundings.
It was truly as if the arrows were roaring, “Who else but me?”
There was no need to hesitate. Seeing that even the mighty Duke Tili had been killed in a single strike, the remaining enemies, after their initial shock, turned around and fled at top speed…
Just as they turned around, Ouyang Ziyi also fell backward in a shooting stance. Even those beside her didn’t react in time, and she landed heavily on the ground just like Sophia. It turned out that after delivering her final strike, Ouyang Ziyi had already lost consciousness, only remaining upright for a few seconds due to inertia. Yet none of those who fled turned back to look! As those retreating figures disappeared and the remaining people were about to check on Ouyang Ziyi and Sophia, suddenly two dark figures appeared at extreme speed. Thinking the enemies had returned, they all prepared for battle. As the two figures approached, they immediately launched their attacks, but a powerful energy wave struck back, not only rendering their attacks ineffective but also leaving the attackers unable to move due to the backlash. “Stop! It’s one of us!” one of them shouted when he recognized the newcomers. Indeed, it was Chu Tianyu and Fernand, along with Sister Xin and Duke Ret on their backs. Although Chu Tianyu didn’t understand French, he could tell from their relaxed expressions that someone had recognized him. He set down Sister Xin and swiftly picked up Ouyang Ziyi from the ground, placing his palm on her back and channeling his vital energy into her. After hearing the call, the others were about to lower their weapons when everything blurred before their eyes—the Easterner had already embraced Ouyang Ziyi and seemed to be treating her. Though amazed by his speed, they weren’t worried since he was one of their own. Some stayed to guard the area while others checked on Sophia. After circulating his vital energy through Ouyang Ziyi’s body, Chu Tianyu frowned and withdrew it. Seeing that he was done, Sister Xin, despite her weakness, hurried over and asked anxiously, “Ziyi, is she… is she okay?” With a stern expression, Chu Tianyu shook his head. “She’s not injured. Instead, some kind of cold energy has appeared in her body, seemingly taking control of her whole body. Just now… Sister Xin, let’s talk later. Ask them what exactly happened here. Do they know which force launched the attack?” His cold and bloodthirsty tone made Fernand, who had been planning to watch from the sidelines, shudder instantly.