The sun barely broke through the clouds as Lorth of the Ivory Cross and his team marched toward the outer fields. The air was heavy with tension.
"Vice-Captain Rylan Torvain," Lorth said firmly, "stay sharp. I'll be back shortly."
Rylan, ever composed, nodded. "Be quick. We move soon."
Lorth said if you hear any sound from my office don't come
Rylan didn't say a word
Lorth turned and headed back to his office, the clanking of his boots echoing through the stone halls. He opened a secure chest tucked beneath his desk. Inside, he retrieved a pair of silver-plated holy knuckles, each etched with radiant crosses that pulsed with holy light.
He clenched them tightly. "I will kill that boy… and any other demon that stands in our way."
But before he could move, a cold wind swept into the room.
From the shadows emerged him the hooded man from before, the one drenched in demonic energy.
Without warning, the figure lunged, but Lorth was faster. He caught the attacker's arm mid-strike, holding it still with a vice-like grip.
The hooded man laughed. "Quick as always, Lorth! Let me just get this…"
He snapped a photo of Lorth's face with a cursed device. "That's a nice one. Might add it to my "almost Killed S-Ranks' list. Oh, wait… I can't die! Hahaha."
His grin faded for a brief moment. "This one's for you, brother."
He tossed an envelope onto Lorth's desk.
Lorth opened it and his expression changed immediately.
Photographs spilled out. Bloodied scenes. One of them unmistakable: Seraphim Valeria, lifeless, crucified to the Exorcist Council's walls.
A deep rage surged in his eyes.
"You did this…" Lorth muttered, slipping on his holy knuckles.
The hooded man smirked. "Tsk. You're already too late anyway."
Lorth lunged forward, fists wrapped in divine energy. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
Their fight ignited the room in sparks and bursts of power. Each punch from Lorth shattered walls and cracked the floor. The hooded man weaved between blows, laughing like a lunatic, his demonic blade clashing against holy fists.
The air burned from the sheer force of their strikes.
But Lorth caught him a clean punch to the gut.
Blood burst from the man's mouth, but his grin never faded.
"Not bad… but I'm just getting started."
His body regenerated instantly. Demonic energy surged around him, wrapping him in shadows. A massive dark slash tore through the building as he struck, forcing Lorth to dodge back just in time. The entire left wall crumbled.
Lorth gritted his teeth. "Why are you keeping me here, you bastard?!"
The hooded man spun his blade once and laughed. "Finally caught up, huh? My men… they're already in Kaigenshiro. Just waiting for your little group to arrive. Probably saying hi already."
He tilted his head mockingly. "That boy you're chasing? He's not just a demon. He's the weapon. He's here to devour your world… and bring back ours."
"You talk too much," Lorth growled.
He launched forward with another blow — but this time, the hooded man caught his fist mid-air. The ground beneath Lorth cracked violently under the pressure.
Lorth's eyes widened. You've gotten stronger… you bastard…
The man leaned in, eyes still hidden by his hood.
"I'll let you live, just so you can suffer. Shame about your wife though… oh, wait—" he paused, then laughed. "What's the point of apologizing when you'll be joining her soon?"
Lorth knocked his hand away, stepping back.
"We'll finish this later."
The shadowed man nodded with a sinister grin. "Oh, we will. I'll be waiting…"
And with that, he vanished into darkness.
Lorth descended from the ruins of his broken office and rejoined his squad below. Rylan Torvain and Kairo Mizune awaited him.
"We're ready," Rylan said.
Lorth looked straight ahead, his voice cold and clear. "Then let's get going."