Outside the Domain.
Cardinal Gabriel Morales, accustomed to being held in high regard due to his position within the Vatican, seethed with frustration as the two veiled women stood firm, preventing him and everyone from entering the Domain.
The audacity of these individuals, challenging his authority and impeding the Vatican's access, infuriated him.
"Why on earth are you preventing us from entering the Domain?" he bellowed, his voice filled with suspicion and dripping with contempt as he glared at Erika and Selene.
"You are all not allowed to enter," Erika replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation or further discussion.
"This is madness! How dare you act as if you own the place?" Cardinal Gabriel retorted, his voice laced with disbelief and anger. "The Vatican will not let this pass. You are nothing more than an unregistered organization."
Erika's eyes flashed with contempt as she listened to Cardinal Gabriel's threats. His attempts to assert the Vatican's authority only fueled her anger .
"You think we're afraid of the Vatican? You can't even defeat a demon lord, and yet you speak as if you hold all the power," she sneered, her voice filled with disdain. She had to actually restrain herself from acting on her impulse to put the arrogant Cardinal in his place.
"The Vatican's power extends far beyond your narrow understanding," the Cardinal replied, his voice strained but attempting to maintain his composure.
"You may have your arrogance because of that Rank SSS leader of yours, but don't forget who we are. We have weathered the storms of history and stood against formidable challenges. " he added.
"I don't care about that twisted history of yours." Erika retorted,
"Twisted? How dare you..."
The tension between them hung heavy in the air, neither willing to back down.
"You will regret this," Cardinal Gabriel's face twisted with fury, his eyes ablaze with anger.
"I said no one can enter ," Erika's aura surged forward. Her voice, cold and unwavering, pierced the air
As it radiated around her, the surrounding individuals, including the USSF and Sorcerers, instinctively took a step back, recognizing the formidable force before them.
"We will not force ourselves in," Colonel Jackson reiterated. He maintained his stance, choosing not to impose the USSF's authority or interfere further in the ongoing situation.
"I agree " Lao Feng, the representative of the Sorcerers, nodded in agreement with Colonel Jackson's statement. The Sorcerers, too, recognized the importance of restraint and respecting the boundaries that had been established.
Both leaders displayed a lack of favorable expression towards the Vatican , so it was better for them to remain neutral.
"You fools! These people might be in cohorts with that damn demon!" Cardinal Gabriel's voice reverberated with anger and accusation. His earlier retreat was short-lived as he launched another verbal assault, refusing to let the matter rest.
"This.." Colonel Jackson was rendered speechless.
While he maintained a neutral stance during the exchange between Erika and the Cardinal, he couldn't dismiss the possibility raised by the Cardinal's assumptions.
If there was any truth to his suspicions, it raised the concerning possibility that these individuals might indeed be working towards the rescue of Diablo.
Deep in thought, he contemplated the potential implications. He recognized that the consequences of such an alliance could have catastrophic effects on the world. The thought of an unknown powerful organization secretly plotting to ally with a demon lord was no laughing matter.
"Are you an idiot? If our leader had not stopped Diablo, you all would be dead now," she retorted, her words cutting through the tension. She refused to let the Cardinal's words make the situation worst .
'She has a point ' Colonel Jackson couldn't help but consider the validity of her words. If their leader had truly wanted to collaborate with Diablo, there would have been no need to fight against him and risk their lives to save them. It made little sense to engage in a battle against the demon lord if their intentions were malicious.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, a newfound understanding emerged. He realized that he had overlooked a crucial aspect of the situation, clouded by his initial skepticism and the Cardinal's assumptions. Erika's words served as a wake-up call, urging him to reassess his perspective.
"Cardinal Gabriel, it's important that we base our judgment on facts, not assumptions. We must acknowledge the heroic actions taken by their organization in battling against the demon lord that almost killed us all."
The Cardinal's face twisted into a mask of disdain, his voice dripping with contempt as he unleashed his fury.
"You fool," he spat, venom lacing his words, "you're easily swayed by the venomous words of this heretic."
But as the tension grew more intense, a commanding voice boomed from the sky, cutting through the air.
All eyes turned upward, witnessing a magnificent sight. Descending from above was a colossal Artificial angel with five pairs of wings, radiating a brilliant aura that illuminated the night sky. The presence of this divine being instantly captured everyone's attention.
The angel gracefully hovered down, and as she touched the ground, a sense of reverence and awe washed over the Vatican operatives present. Standing on its huge hands was none other than Saintess Agnes, known for her immense power and unwavering devotion to the Vatican.
Her golden hair cascaded around her, and her piercing blue eyes held a gaze that seemed to penetrate the depths of one's heart. With each movement, her robe shimmered with divine energy, a testament to her elevated state of power.
"Saintess Agnes," the Vatican operatives whispered, their voices filled with reverence, as they instinctively knelt before her.
They recognized her authority and knew that her arrival signified a significant turning point in the unfolding events.
Saintess Agnes surveyed the scene, her gaze lingering on Erika, Selene, Colonel Jackson, Lao Feng, and Cardinal Gabriel.
"Colonel Jackson, you are not a fool , but a strategic leader who understands the importance of information ," Saintess Agnes spoke, her voice carrying an ethereal quality.
"We must navigate this situation with wisdom, unity, and a commitment to truth. Why prevent us if there is nothing to hide ? We could even help each other in vanquishing the demon " she added, her words carrying a subtle hint.
The implication was clear: Erika should allow everyone to join the battle, to shed light on the truth that lay within the Domain.
"Our leader can handle it. All of you will just be an additional burden," Erika responded
"Is this power not enough to aid your leader?" Saintess Agnes asked, her voice laced with gentle playfulness. Her aura surged, and a brilliant, purer form of holy power enveloped her being. The intensity of her divine energy was awe-inspiring, radiating with a resplendent glow.
Erika clicked her tongue in realization, her gaze fixed on Saintess Agnes as she felt the immense power radiating from the angelic being. The magnitude of her strength surpassed her expectations.
"So, the Vatican actually sent their Rank SSS saint," she muttered under her breath. She understood that with Agnes present, the situation had taken a significant turn.
She could also sense the presence of other Rank S individuals; it appears that the Vatican has arrived here with full force.
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