The sudden crack spread rapidly throughout the space.
"…Huh? What's this?"
Malpi, the Burning Torch executive who created this isolated space, gasped, sensing something.
"Malpi? What's wrong?"
"The spatial lock is lifted… no, this isn't just that…!"
Ann, holding the unconscious President, asked in confusion, while Malpi frantically scanned the surroundings, not even looking at her. But the change was already underway.
Crackle
The crack widened, revealing the scenery outside. A dark night sky with twinkling stars, and a small, slightly run-down city. It was a hideout in Thailand, near the Malaysian border, where Malpi had been before joining the meeting.
"The space is collapsing!"
The direction of the spatial lock suddenly reversed, and the pressure from their previous escape attempts erupted all at once. Of course, it wasn't a coincidence that it happened now.
'The connections to the magic tools used as mediums are being severed. This is…'
It could only be explained by external interference. Anomaly signals were coming from the devices placed throughout Southeast Asia to connect the region, like the antique silk cloth used to enter this space.
Crack Crash!
The spreading cracks turned into a spiderweb pattern, and the surrounding scenery crumbled before they could react. It was a situation where anyone would be flustered, but not everyone froze.
[Now!]
As if waiting for it, Nagaraja's telepathic message echoed in the minds of the Cheonbuhoe members. Since he had warned them beforehand, their movements were swift and precise. And that, of course, included the Executioner, who had been fighting Harley.
"Ugh— Hey, dude! Where are you going in the middle of a fight? Let's settle this like men!"
[Kha! You're incredibly persistent. I've ripped and smashed you countless times, and you still won't die?]
The monstrous demon, having just slammed Harley into a pile of rubble, clicked his tongue as he watched him get up and regenerate. The regeneration speed was slower due to the accumulated damage, but he, too, was exhausted. He was confident he could finish him off, but considering the other opponents here, it wasn't wise to be held back.
'That vampire… he's the one who hunted that Duke in Europe, isn't he?'
He instinctively knew. That he couldn't guarantee his survival if he faced both the barbarian and the vampire, even with his unique skill. So he didn't hesitate to retreat. He could satisfy his pseudo-madness and bloodlust later.
"Where are you going in such a hurry? I have many more things prepared. It's rude for the host to leave the party early."
But his opponent didn't let him go. The man in the opera mask, who had been waiting for this moment, appeared like a ghost, blocking his path, having scattered minute blood particles as a countermeasure against Time Stop. Openly expressing his intent to eliminate him.
[…Can you really stop me?]
But the Executioner, no longer intending to fight them head-on, just smirked. The sinisterly demonic smile made Heinz frown.
"It's useless, whatever you do. I've already prepared countermeasures."
[Is that so? I wasn't planning on doing anything.]
And as soon as he finished speaking,
[They're here.]
————!
Heinz, Harley, Heinrich, Harris.
Several Transcendents, including the four avatars, looked up at the sky.
'That's?!'
Their thoughts accelerated. They quickly assessed the situation and formulated a plan. And immediately put it into action.
Whoosh!
Heinrich, who had been charging towards the Cheonbuhoe group, changed direction and soared into the sky. His six wings scattered brilliant light, illuminating the surroundings, and a large light blade erupted from his holy sword.
And immediately after,
BOOOOOM!
A blinding flash of light exploded in the dark night sky, accompanied by a deafening roar. A massive shockwave followed, and a storm swept through the area.
"Uwaaa! Bombing! It's a bombing!"
"Kyaa—! What's happening?! Mom!"
"Close the door! Quickly!"
The citizens' screams echoed throughout the city. Even after he minimized the shockwave's impact on the ground… Heinrich frowned, feeling his arm tingle from blocking the attack from the sky. If he hadn't blocked it, the damage would have been far greater than a missile strike. Probably only a few of the Burning Torch executives, who were close to Transcendence, would have survived.
'…Who launched such an attack…?'
Heinrich recalled the shape he glimpsed right before blocking the attack. If he wasn't mistaken, it was…
'A metal stake about the length of a forearm.'
Of course, it wasn't an ordinary stake. It was a proper magic tool, radiating an ominous aura. Practically a miniature missile. But he didn't have time to think about it.
'It's coming again. This time, multiple…!'
As if the first attack was just a ranging shot, unidentified projectiles rained down like carpet bombing.
Whoosh
Heinrich's senses expanded. He had been too startled to observe carefully before, but now he noticed details he had missed.
'Speed calculation, trajectory analysis, mystical energy flow tracking… It didn't just cross the physical realm, but also passed through the astral realm.'
The sudden attack from the sky was devastating, deserving of the term orbital bombardment. Even Heinrich, with his enhanced defensive capabilities as an angel, felt the strain.
Boom! Rumble! Crash!
Explosions and flashes of light erupted in the dark night sky as Heinrich, weaving through the air with his wings, swung his sword and intercepted the incoming bombardment. And as he blocked several attacks, he was able to roughly estimate the origin of the attack by analyzing the projectiles' trajectories and other data.
'…Crazy. If this is true, the distance is at least 5,000 kilometers.'
Over 5,000 kilometers north of Thailand.
That was the estimated location of the attacker. No, he couldn't even be called a sniper. What kind of sniper launched attacks equivalent to intercontinental ballistic missiles from 5,000 kilometers away?
'Don't think about it logically. Blocking the bombardment is the priority. If I'm not careful, not just Burning Torch, but the entire city will be wiped out.'
Fortunately, the avatars dispatched here weren't so weak that they would be in trouble without him. But he didn't know what would happen next, so it was best to finish this quickly and rejoin them before their plans were disrupted.
'This might be a bit flashy, but… let's make it certain.'
Heinrich, soaring above the city, spread his six wings wide and unleashed his holy power. As if protecting the people below from a heavenly punishment. A giant barrier, covering the entire city, shimmered like an aurora.
"…Ah. That's… what is that?"
"An angel…? A real angel?"
"Oh! An angel has descended from the heavens! To save us!"
Perhaps because Heinrich's charm had increased after becoming an angel, some of those looking up began to pray,
As if their faith had been ignited by witnessing the divine being.
Of course, Heinrich, who didn't have the time to worry about such trivial matters, ignored it.
"Hey! Are you recording? You'll be fired if you miss this! Zoom in! The angle is bad!"
"The angle isn't the problem, Chief! How can we capture that on camera?!"
An angel, clad in white armor, with wings of light and a halo, protecting the city from disaster,
Was being captured by a news crew that happened to be filming a documentary in the area.
But that wasn't important.
Near Lake Baikal, Russia.
"Phew~ What a ruckus in the middle of the night."
The thick steam, accompanied by the smell of sweat, gradually dissipated. A blonde woman appeared from within, cracking her neck and swinging her arms, as if checking for any injuries from the sudden exertion.
"I'll definitely collect this debt. I wouldn't have cared if that annoying Executioner died if it wasn't for the Oracle's request."
The woman, dressed casually in a tank top and shorts, as if she had been dragged out of bed, scratched her messy blonde hair tied back loosely. Her scalp itched unbearably from the heat generated by her sudden, all-out effort without any warm-up. Beads of sweat trickled down her toned body, following the contours of her muscles.
"Haa, shall we continue?"
Unfortunately, her work wasn't finished yet. Even for her, specializing in long-range sniping, this distance was a considerable burden, so she had only taken a short break. She picked up one of the metal stakes lined up beside her. Her special 'bullets', made of rare metals and imbued with Cheonbuhoe's unique complex spells.
"Phew~ Phew."
Steam rose from her flushed body as she took deep breaths. Her eyes were already focused on a distant point, thousands of kilometers away, a place impossible to even pinpoint the direction of with ordinary means.
Thump!
She took a powerful step forward. The energy amplified from her legs, rotating through her waist and shoulders, reached her wrist. And the moment all that power was concentrated in her fingertips,
With a powerful shout, she swung her arm, and the metal stake in her hand disappeared.
Whoosh Rumble!
Leaving behind only a shockwave that tore through space, like a launched rocket. The surrounding bushes swayed violently from the aftershocks. It didn't end there.
She took another step, another stake already in her other hand.
Rumble! KABOOM!
Despite the barriers mitigating the impact, the surrounding environment was in disarray from the successive shockwaves. If she hadn't come to this deserted area, the aftershocks alone would have caused mass casualties. She continued firing over a dozen more shots.
"Phew, that was a good workout."
Her blue eyes turned south. It took about ten seconds from launch to impact. Most of her shots, enhanced by various long-range skills, including 「Unerring Shot」, had already reached their target. It defied the laws of physics and even mystical logic, considering the distance of over 5,000 kilometers, but she wasn't bound by such laws. She had transcended the world's logic and reached a level where she could impose her own laws.
"…Oh, not bad. Hmm, I've done my part. If they still die after this much help, it's their own fault."
She only did this because of the Oracle. She didn't like the reckless Executioner. No, she hated him. If the leader hadn't forbidden infighting, she would have stabbed him in the back with her special move countless times.
'A thug who starts fights without any conviction, a typical bully who preys on the weak. I hope he learns his lesson this time.'
She glanced south, yawned, and walked away. She was going back to her quarters to wash up and sleep after her unexpected workout. She had done her part.
Tracking the origin of the attack failed. Despite their power and speed, the projectiles were too small, and special abilities were involved, making it impossible to track them even with Hesperon's satellite and other means.
'But I have the approximate direction and distance.'
Russia. It was almost certain. But it wasn't much help, considering its vast size.
'It must be a high-ranking executive, slightly below the Executioner. Specializing in long-range attacks.'
Otherwise, this level of power was impossible. Launching attacks equivalent to tactical nukes from thousands of kilometers away… Considering the concentrated, focused nature of the energy, the destructive power within a small area must be even greater.
'Of course, I've never been hit by a tactical nuke.'
Thanks to the enemy's extreme attack power, he was able to better understand Angel Heinrich's defensive abilities. The result:
A cityscape protected without major damage, aside from some strong winds—and,
"Cough!"
"D-damn it."
Six Cheonbuhoe remnants, captured and lying before him, barely alive. Six, not seven, because,
'Tsk, to think he abandoned his subordinates and ran.'
The Executioner, the most important target, was still at large.