“Trisha–”

Just when we were about to reach out, smoke blurred the entire scene.

“I don’t think he has bad intentions.” I said.

“Not all demons are like you.”

“Watch–”

I stepped forward and parried the attack that was aimed at Priale.

“Oh?” the voice of the assailant faded.

I swept forward and drew a large moon arc. In her or hirs last known position.

Some of the smoke cleared away. It didn’t hit.

The visibility was crazy bad.

I parried another incoming attack.

“Priale, stay close.”

“H-how can you see?”

“I don’t know.”

I just know it’s coming, by instinct.

Random, intermittent firings could be heard from within the smoke. Bleak flashes of light.

“Ah!!?”

“Run!!”

“Hehe..”

This assailant is most probably using a close combat weapon with low range. A dagger?

“We need to get out of the smoke. That direction.”

“Right.”

Priale and I carefully made our way to the last known position which we saw Trisha.

“Ah?”

“What?”

“T-Trap.”

Priale stepped on a tentacle trap, the red bindings held her down.

A glint of light– I blocked the blade coming from within the smoke.

“You’re a demon,” the elf assailant said.

“Yeah, so?”

“Why are you helping angels?”

“I’m trying to save a friend.”

I’m making things up for my convenience. I wouldn’t consider Trisha a friend, yet.

RRRAAWWWWKWKKK!!!!

Ding.

BBOOMMMM!!

BOOOM!!

The ground rumbled heavily. The impact was quite close. Our blades fell away from the point of contact.

“Shit!”

Cursing, the assailant panicked and disappeared into the smoke.

I cut away the tentacles that bound Priale. She staggered.

“There’s probably some numbing effect,” she said.

I propped her up.

The smoke was beginning to clear.

“I can handle myself. Trisha hasn’t died yet so we can assume that it’s as you said, they don’t mean any harm to her. But still..”

“I’ll bring you over..”

“No. Go save Trisha.”

“But you’re paralyzed..”

She took out a gem, crushed it and chugged the potion which appeared from within.

“Go. The effect will wear off once the potion takes effect. Stop delaying,” she said in a resolute voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

I left Priale to the side of a structure, and alone, ran out of the smoke.

The assailant was most probably cooperating with that guy earlier since xe acted as the distraction.

But.. I didn’t know where they went.

Outside the smoke, the view cleared. There was still a heavy battle ongoing between the two factions.

Stay safe Priale.

GGGRRAAWWWW!!

Ding.

To the open streets.

I ran into the alley.

There were crater of various sizes strewn all over the ground. Human statues crushed, shattered into piles of rock.

Seeing that made me wonder if this had any effect on them in the real world.

In all this chaos, there were a pair of demons running down the avenue. I noticed that one of them was carrying another person.

GGRRWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.

BOOM!!

A red light flashed and landed in front of them. A large cloud of dust alongside debris got thrown into the air.

I stepped up my pace.

The place was gradually transforming. From the neutral monochromatic space to a gothic realm with red skies and black stones. Dimming, it created a dreary mood.

Ding.

Gold light descended from the sky.

Landing gently, The Seraph’s feet touched the ground.

Purity rippled outwards. Once more, I watched as the ground transformed from a world of despair to one where quartz and blue grass flourished.

A domain of light.

A domain of dark.

The world had been split into two.

Red fog in the distance.

A familiar pressure bore down on me.

{WARNING: STATUS DIFFERENTIAL TOO GREAT}

{YOUR ATTRIBUTES HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED}

Ah, I see.

This isn’t some divine pressure.

It’s just bloodlust.

Ding.

The Seraph brandished its divine halberd.

The Seraph glanced at the them who stood between the boundary of the dark and light.

The demons who tried to get up fell back down.

The angel, Trisha, who struggled with them stood against The Seraph.

The Seraph pointed the tip of the weapon at her.

Reach them.

Light began condensing.

I swept Arondight:Day down.

Light pillars fell in concert.

All of them hit some barrier in the sky and dispersed.

I tried an inverse pillar. It didn’t evoke.

Come on!

Something!

Reach them!!

…

..

.

Though I brought it as a last resort.

I didn’t think I would end up having to use it.

[“I’m sorry everyone.”]

Damn it.

I crushed the black gem.

An undulating wave of energy pulsated from my hands.

My vision expanded. Details became sharper, clearer.

A sharp pain coursed through my arm, digging into my heart.

The neurons in my mind accelerated.

Orange lighting crackled.

A black mass converged into a tangible form. I grabbed it.

Stomping the ground, my vision warped.

{WARNING: EROSION VALUE: CRITICAL}

I appeared in front of Trisha.

I swung the sword, the black snake curled forwards.

White light shot from the tip of The Seraph’s halberd.

The snake ate the light.

{EROSION VALUE: MODERATE}

“Huh?”

RRRRRAAAAAAAKKKKKKKHHHH.

The Rakshasa began mobilizing. With a roar that shook my core, it jumped out of the rubble and charged towards The Seraph.

The halos behind the Seraph expanded. Wings unfurled. The Seraph stretched out its hands, pointing the halberd towards the red ogre giant.

Circlets of light formed, beginning from the shaft all the way to the tip. Runic symbols glimmered.

Beams of white light exploded from the tip.

“Move already!!”