"Any idea who that masked man might be?" Captain Jackson asked, as they regrouped at a safe distance from the chaotic center of the battlefield.
The survivors of Diablo's previous attack were now busy tending to their wounds, while a few others scrambled to create barriers to protect against the powerful shock waves emanating from Diablo and Vincent's clash.
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
High above in the sky, the two formidable individuals engaged in a fierce battle, their swords clashing and unleashing shock waves of elemental energy. Even someone of Captain Jackson's caliber, a Rank SS, doubted about surviving a single attack from either of them.
Unlike the battles between the Vatican and Diablo, where the force was dispersed to affect a larger area, each slash that Diablo unleashed now held an incredible concentration of power. The slashes appeared more like searing beams, akin to a burning welding rod, rather than mere flames.
However, what truly astonished the spectators was the masked man's ability to hold his ground. While Diablo wielded a divine armament, the masked man simply conjured an ice sword. It was evident that his weapon was not a divine armament, as it repeatedly shattered after a few clashes, forcing the him to conjure a new sword each time.
"That masked man is our leader," a sweet voice suddenly echoed from behind them. Startled, everyone turned around to find two veiled women approaching.
andasnovel.com "You're his companions, right?" Colonel Jackson asked, curious about the affiliation of the two veiled women. "Which organization do you belong to?"
"Moonlight Sanctuary," Erika firmly answered.
"Moonlight Sanctuary?" Colonel Jackson expressed his puzzlement. He cast a glance at the Vatican operatives and the Sorcerers of the East elementalist, hoping to find someone that could recognized the Moonlight Sanctuary. However, to his surprise, neither of them seemed to have any knowledge or awareness of the organization.
"It's not surprising that our name is unfamiliar to you. We have been operating from the shadows for a long time," Erika responded, emphasizing the secrecy and obscurity of their activities.
"A rogue organization?" a man wearing a priest's robe with golden lining interjected, casting a suspicious gaze.
It was Cardinal Gabriel Morales, who had assumed leadership of the Vatican Operatives after the death of Archbishop Sebastian.
And it was no surprise that suspicion arose, as many rogue organizations are associated with evil and inhumane practices, often led by supernatural entities with dark intentions. The history of such groups had understandably left a stain of mistrust and wariness.
"Don't be overly cautious; we are not here to instigate trouble," Erika reassured.
"It's difficult to trust the words of someone concealed behind a mask, especially someone with such strong negative aura" Gabriel retorted.
He harbored an unsettling feeling towards Erika. It was the kind of unease that arose when an individual wielding holy power like himself encountered someone associated with people inherently born from negative energy. As a vampire, Erika fell into that category.
"We don't require your trust; simply refrain from interfering with our leader," Erika sneered, her voice laced with disdain.
"You actually think we're just supposed to swallow your words?" Gabriel sneered with undisguised contempt, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Either you listen to me," Erika's voice turned ice-cold, her disdain for anything associated with light evident. Being a vampire, her hatred to all things holy also ran deep.
"Or you will suffer the consequences," In a display of her own formidable power, she released her overwhelming aura, causing everyone to instinctively step back. While Erika might have been on the same rank as the others present, she was undoubtedly at the pinnacle of her rank, surpassing her peers in strength and ability.
Witnessing Erika unleashing her power, Selene, too, decided to tap into her own reserves. While Erika's power may have exceeded hers in terms of quality, Selene's sheer quantity of energy proved to be greater.
As they showcased their immense power, the other powerhouse came to a realization that they were facing something far greater than a mere rogue organization.
It seemed inconceivable that such an organization could possess such a multitude of powerhouses. Setting aside Erika and Selene, the fact that their leader alone was capable of engaging in a battle on equal terms with Diablo indicated that he was at least minimum rank SSS.
"We are fighting a common enemy . Instead of harboring suspicion, we should be grateful that someone has chosen to assist us," Lao Feng chimed in, his tone reflecting a sense of gratitude. He knew that both he and his student would have perished if it weren't for Vincent's timely intervention.
"Thank you for your understanding, Master Lao Feng," Erika expressed her gratitude, cupping her hand and bowing her head respectfully. Evangeline had advised her to establish connections with the Sorcerers of the East, recognizing them as potential allies.
"I am honored that you are aware of my name," Lao Feng replied, mirroring Erika's gesture by cupping his head and bowing in return.
Despite his own abilities, he recognized that the woman before him surpassed him in strength, even at his peak. It felt only fitting to reciprocate her show of respect. Furthermore, despite his aged appearance, he could sense that Erika had experienced far greater things in life.
'Heretics' Witnessing Lao Feng's unwavering stance, Gabriel reluctantly backed down in this verbal confrontation, realizing the futility of continuing the battle of words.
BOOOOOOOOOM!
Another deafening explosion erupted, sending shock-waves through the vicinity, jolting everyone present.
"Impossible! That damned demon was actually being cornered ?" Captain Jackson exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment and disbelief.
---
In the sky
"Is this all you've got?" Vincent sneered with confidence as he engaged in an intense exchange with Diablo. With each passing moment, his skills and abilities seemed to improve, leaving his enemy frustrated.
Even Diablo couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion. It felt as though the masked man standing before him was fully aware of his every technique and strategy .
What he didn't realize was that Vincent's intuition was subconsciously drawing upon a deep well of memories on how to handle him specifically. This knowledge manifested itself in the form of instinct, guiding Vincent's every move and allowing him to anticipated Diablo's actions with accuracy.
As a result, he had reached a state where he could effortlessly predict and read all of Diablo's movements. The apparent disparity in their performance was not due to Diablo's being weaker, but rather because of his predictability .
"You bastard!" Diablo roared in a fit of rage. Channeling his flames into his wings, he intensified his speed, pushing himself to even greater limits.
Vincent, refusing to give up his momentum, swiftly conjured a snowstorm in front of him, aiming to slowed down Diablo's speed. He drew inspiration from a past encounter when a group of assailants had targeted him in a snowy mountain and had used the same tactic.
This time, the effectiveness of this strategy was amplified since they were engaged in aerial combat, further hindering Diablo's movement and slowing him down.
"Too predictable ," Vincent confidently taunted. He gathered pure energy within his sword, charging it to its utmost limit, preparing to unleash his most powerful attack yet.
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