Chapter 150: Unexpected Enemies
The figure of the "Creator" vanished, and Klein faintly heard Hobert say, "Praise be to the 'Creator.'"
Klein breathed a sigh of relief; things were finally resolved.
Turning to check on the other teammates, Hobert seemed to be in the best condition, having not suffered severe injuries. Leonard appeared to have merely fainted, but Captain Dunn's condition was dire; blood continued to flow from his chest, pooling beneath him.
Dunn Smith turned his head towards Klein, a gentle and relaxed smile on his pale face. "Tingen City is saved!"
Klein was about to struggle to his feet to use ceremonial magic to heal the Captain when a pale hand pierced through his chest.
Not even Hobert had noticed when the one-eyed Ince Zangwill appeared.
As Klein stared at the pale hand, consciousness slipping away, he collapsed to the ground. From there, he saw Hobert holding a statue, moving Captain Dunn and "Saint Selena's Ashes" to his side. "Ince Zangwill!"
As Klein's vision darkened, he lost all consciousness.
Ince paused briefly, surprised that this Sequence 8 actually recognized him. "One troublemaker down, one more to go."
Though he had failed to advance, he could still use the abilities of Sequence 5, "Gatekeeper."
Hobert felt a chilling sensation creeping in. He immediately activated his spirit vision and indeed saw a towering spirit next to Ince, with another hovering in mid-air.
Hobert noticed Dunn's eyes losing their sparkle and swiftly made a decision. He tossed "Saint Selena's Ashes" to Ince. "Take it and go."
Without hesitation, Ince picked up the ashes and left.
It wasn't fear of Hobert that drove him, but the potential arrival of support from headquarters could happen at any moment. He didn't even have time now to settle his score with Hobert.
"Ince Zangwill!"
Upon hearing the voice, Ince shuddered all over, as if recalling his most terrifying memory. He had arrived too late.
Following the voice, Hobert looked towards the door where a clean-cut, deep-eyed old man stood. He was the support rushing from Backlund's St. Samuel's Cathedral, Archbishop Anthony Stevenson.
If Daly hadn't insisted on seeing the Archbishop, Anthony might have just received the plea for help from Tingen City.
Hobert, seeing this elderly figure who was likely a saint, finally relaxed a bit. He bowed slightly to the Archbishop and hurried to prepare the ritual to save Captain Dunn.
Ince stood there, with no intention to flee. He knew he couldn't escape from Anthony's grasp.
At that moment, Ins's quill, tucked at his waist, suddenly leapt out and rapidly wrote on the floor: "Just as Ince Zangwill was trembling in fear, a 'Frenzied Mage' passing through the reception hall was drawn to the large tree."
"0-08" was even less willing than Ince to be caught by the Church of Evernight. Its desire to escape surpassed Ince's, and crucially, it wasn't intimidated by the fear emanating from Anthony. So it wrote swiftly, completing the sentence before Anthony could react.
A force of sleep and horror emanated from Anthony as he prepared to seal "0-08" with his own abilities.
However, at that moment, an enormous pressure suddenly descended from outside, forcing him to temporarily halt. A section of the reception hall's wall had collapsed, and through the breach walked a gray-haired gentleman who appeared weather-beaten, as if he had been traveling.
He knew of Anthony's presence but stood at the breach, seemingly observing yet also waiting for an opportunity.
Hobert's hands trembled violently as he felt a deep-seated tremor from within. It was no ordinary shaking. The "story" written by "0-08" had been fulfilled once again. This gray-haired elder was a Sequence 3 "Frenzied Mage" of the Pathway of the "Lawyer" approach!
"The Black Emperor's" suppression was not as potent as the "Death" pathway, but saints could easily overwhelm "low sequences," and angels could easily overwhelm "mid sequences."
This "Lawyer" pathway saint stood there, rendering Hobert powerless.
Inside the reception hall, the intimidating aura of fear and the maddening aura clashed and tugged. The mental pressure on Hobert was immense.
He glanced at the corner of the "Frenzied Mage's" eye, struggling against his body's shivering. "If, if you've come for this tree, then, then please take it away."
The standoff continued, but "Horror Bishop" Anthony stepped back, clearly indicating, "Take it if you want."
For him, sealing "0-08" and capturing Ince Zangwill were now the top priorities.
As for this tree, he could sense that while its approach wasn't low, its power was dissipating rapidly. It could likely only be used once, or a few times, as a mystical item.
Hobert's words provided a way out for both Sequence 3 individuals, neither of whom wanted to engage in combat.
The "Frenzied Mage" remained wary of Anthony while approaching the tree. His hand touched the tree, causing it to immediately shrink into an ordinary black sandalwood.
He could feel the order power filled within the sandalwood and its high rank.
The "Frenzied Mage," now with the black sandalwood, bowed slightly to Anthony in thanks, then turned and left. In one step, he was on the street outside; in two steps, he was on the main road; in three steps, he had vanished.
Anthony gave Hobert a deep look before chasing after Ince, who had taken advantage of the chaos to escape.
Hobert's spirit and astral bodies had been repeatedly squeezed and pulled today, leaving him exhausted. His wounds continued to bleed, soaking his clothes with blood, leaving bloody footprints wherever he walked.
But now was not the time to rest. He mustered his strength and continued preparing the ritual.
Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and hurried to check on Dunn. Dunn's pupils were dilated.
With a gentle smile on his face, Dunn faced outside the reception hall, as if he had just scrutinized Tingen City under the sunlight.
Hobert finally couldn't bear it any longer. "Ince, Quill, 'Frenzied Mage'! Damn you all!"
He had just been about to slam the floor forcefully when he suddenly remembered, "The Black Emperor" could find even the loopholes in death!
Hobert's eyes widened suddenly. He still had a way!
Continuing to set up the altar, he changed the central symbol to represent the "Creator" in the shadows of order.
As he was about to sacrifice himself, he saw the "Umbilical Cord of the Evil God's Spawn" not far away, grabbed it, endured the whispers and corruption it brought, and placed it before the altar.
Looking at Dunn with a gentle smile again, Hobert said, "O Creator in the Shadow of Order..."
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