While Jeremy and Ritchie were deliberating on their next course of action, the chief was also engaged in discussions with the key figures within the village regarding their subsequent steps.
In truth, none of the villagers held any resentment towards Jeremy and Ritchie.
They understood that even without Jeremy and Ritchie, the hunting knights would soon discover their whereabouts.
"Chief, do you truly believe that these two outsiders can provide us with assistance? While their abilities are commendable, I find it hard to believe that they can overcome the hunting knights.
We should stick to our original plan and lead everyone in the village to safety."
A middle-aged man spoke to the chief, his voice tinged with anxiety.
The chief did not respond to the man's query, he merely surveyed the faces of those around him and slowly stated.
"Do you really think we can find a safe place?"
In response to the chief's question, no one dared to offer an answer.
They all understood that there were no safe havens left in their vicinity.
The hunting knights had nearly cleared out all the surrounding areas, leaving their village with virtually no allies.
"When I was younger, the areas surrounding us were filled with devotees of the Goddess of Life.
Moreover, the massive town not far from here was home to a grand cathedral belonging to the Church of the Goddess of Life.
However, over the course of thirty years, the number of followers of the Goddess of Life has dwindled significantly. The regions that once upheld the faith in the Goddess of Life have become increasingly confined.
We can no longer escape. Even if we attempted to flee, we could not venture very far, for the territory of our village has been entirely seized by the hunting knights.
All we can do now is to cling to our existence in a desperate struggle."
The chief uttered these words with a profoundly mournful tone.
Upon hearing his lament, the expressions of the others transformed into reflections of deep sorrow.
Several individuals were so overcome with emotion that they began to weep openly.
"You need not shed tears, for the great Goddess of Life has bestowed upon us Her grace. These two outsiders are the glimmer of hope for our survival, a gift from the Goddess of Life.
The strength of these two outsiders is not as simplistic as it may appear.
They surely possess weapons of even greater power. With their assistance, we can triumph over the hunting knights."
The chief's proclamation ultimately brought an end to the discord.
Everyone in the village understood that they had no way out.
They could only place their hopes on Jeremy and Ritchie, believing that they would unleash combat abilities beyond their wildest imaginations in the upcoming battle.
After resting for a night, Jeremy sought out the chief first thing the next morning.
"When do you believe the hunting knights will arrive? Should we set traps around the village?"
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In response to Jeremy's inquiry, the chief's expression brightened slightly.
"Do you truly know how to set traps? The people in our village are only capable of basic hunting, they have no knowledge of trap-setting whatsoever.
If you could assist us in laying traps, our defenses would undoubtedly become much more robust.
However, the task of setting these traps will solely depend on you and your companion, as the villagers cannot offer any aid."
They found it exceedingly difficult to endure the flames that could scorch their very souls.
One by one, villagers fled from their homes in desperation.
Witnessing this scene, the hunting knights erupted into arrogant laughter.
All of the hunting knights were cruel and deranged, reveling in the torment of other deities' followers and taking pleasure in the annihilation of any form of civilization.
Just as the hunting knights were indulging in their mocking laughter, the leader of the hunting knights suddenly fell silent.
He directed his gaze toward a particular room in the village.
In that room, Jeremy and Ritchie slowly emerged.
Jeremy held the Longsword of the Undying in his hand, a smile adorning his face as he regarded the hunting knights.
"You dare to defy us because you have received aid from outsiders! Then I shall ensure that you and those who would dare assist you meet their demise together!"
The leader of the hunting knights charged over the village walls on his demonic steed, crashing into the heart of the village.
The combination of the hunting knights and their demonic horses formed a remarkably potent duo.
Moreover, during their charge, the hunting knights benefited from the additional attributes granted by their demonic steeds.
They believed that failure in battle was an impossibility for them.
Jeremy, however, did not evade the hunting knights' assault, he merely gripped the Longsword of the Undying, prepared to confront them head-on.
When the dark red longsword wielded by the hunting knight clashed against Jeremy's Longsword of the Undying.
A tremendous explosion echoed through the air, and to everyone's astonishment, the hunting knight's weapon shattered into pieces.
In stark contrast, Jeremy's Longsword of the Undying remained completely unscathed.
Every onlooker was momentarily rendered speechless by this spectacle.
Then, the villagers erupted into wild cheers, while the expressions of the two other hunting knights soured significantly.
"We must assist the captain! The one wielding the sword is the strongest in the village! If we can eliminate him, the entire village will fall!"
Upon making this determination, the two hunting knights immediately launched their attack.
In response to the assault from the two hunting knights, Jeremy was not inclined to react in the same manner as before.
He chose to focus intently on a single adversary.
By defeating one enemy, Jeremy would find it far easier to deal with the other hunting knight that remained.
Furthermore, Ritchie would also provide valuable assistance at Jeremy's side.
As the hunting knights surged forward, Ritchie began to employ his shadow manipulation skills.
Although his stamina had not fully recovered, he was still capable of using shadows to restrain the charging hunting knights.
Caught completely off guard, one of the hunting knights was yanked down from his demonic steed by the shadow.
Without the benefit of the demonic horse, the combat prowess of the hunting knight was significantly diminished.
Thus, Jeremy easily dispatched the hunting knight who had fallen from his mount.
By slaying even one hunting knight, Jeremy proved beyond doubt that he possessed the capability to protect the entire village!