"Clang—"
The dagger Angel threw arrived belatedly, shooting into the wall and bringing down some wall dust.
Following close behind, she reached toward where Ms.D had disappeared, but could only feel the hard wall.
"Penetrated the wall and left directly?"
She murmured, pulled out the dagger and came to the nearby window. The window glass had shattered in the previous explosions, leaving only the wooden frame swaying in the breeze.
Just now she became transparent, then passed through the wall - was this using some shepherded soul's ability? Or the effect of some mystical item?
Angel speculated, trying to use her night vision to find Ms.D in the garden shadows outside the window, but found nothing.
After hesitating a moment, she still didn't jump out the window to pursue.
She lacked a Seer's tracking abilities. Even if she chased outside, she couldn't find the "Shepherd" who had hidden in shadows and quickly escaped. Moreover, even if the other party's spirituality was exhausted, a Sequence 5 Beyonder wasn't someone she could handle alone. Fighting the versatile Ms.D while facing the approaching negative effects of the "Magic Pocket Watch" would likely be throwing her life away.
Understanding this, Angel put away the dagger and returned to the devastated hall entrance. Having experienced multiple explosions, the surrounding tables, chairs, and decorations had vanished, leaving only the relatively sturdy marble floor and dilapidated walls.
The self-destructing "Aurora Order" member had now become large patches of flesh smeared on the floor, emitting waves of bloody smell. Past this radial bloodstain were the Night Watchers lying scattered by the door.
"Good thing I attacked Ms.D in time and didn't let her shoot, otherwise none of you would have escaped..."
Angel thought silently, walking to "Nightmare" Henry who was closest to her. The latter had blood from mouth and nose, pale complexion, moaning something softly. Seeing Angel approach, he instinctively clenched his fist and tensed his back, then recognized the person and relaxed completely.
Helping Henry up, Angel felt in his coat's inner pocket and indeed found the sky-blue metal vial. It was somewhat deformed from the explosion but hadn't leaked the potion inside.
Unscrewing the cap and giving the "Goddess's Gaze" to the dazed Henry, Angel helped him sit against the wall, watching him drink the potion himself. His pale face gradually reddened and his eyes regained brightness.
"I'm fine now... cough, go check the captain and Lares."
Henry coughed up blood and said slowly.
Another "Red Gloves" member was in much worse condition.
Though the "Corpse Collector" was farther away when the "flesh bomb" exploded, his potion pathway didn't enhance the body as much as the "Sleepless" ones, making him less able to withstand damage. Now Lares lay prone, one hand holding the metal bottle containing "Goddess's Gaze," the other gripping the "Blood Vessel Thief."
He seemed to have awakened midway, trying to drink medicine for self-rescue, but fell unconscious again from exhaustion.
Turning this "Red Gloves" member over, Angel briefly examined him and found that though unconscious, his breathing and heartbeat were fairly normal - no life-threatening danger.
Right, the Blood Vessel Thief can't be held too long...
She took the thick, stiff blood vessel and put it in her clothes pocket for safekeeping.
"Angel... that 'Shepherd,' Ms.D? Dead or escaped?"
Dunn Smith's low voice came from outside the door.
He was supporting "Requiem Master" Sost, slowly walking into the hall. The latter had been attacked by Ms.D's unknown ability, his mouth, nose, and ears bleeding like Henry who had been close to an explosion, now congealed into streaks of blood scabs.
His gold-inlaid walking stick had vanished. The silver ring on his left middle finger had also been removed, and his entire palm was red as if scalded by boiling water, even spreading above the wrist to parts covered by his coat.
In comparison, Dunn was in the best condition among everyone. He only showed fatigue from using dream abilities on his face, with almost no injuries on his body.
"Ms.D escaped. I cut off one of her arms with the dagger, but she detonated her own limb and took the opportunity to pass through the wall and escape outside."
"I didn't try to track her - that would be too dangerous and meaningless."
Angel reported the final battle results truthfully.
"Your decision was correct. We defeated him because multiple Beyonders cooperated. Facing the versatile 'Shepherd' alone might not end well."
Dunn replied, but his gaze looked toward the "Red Gloves" captain he was supporting, seemingly waiting for his evaluation.
Sost frowned as he looked at his sitting and lying team members, then at the two Tingen squad members, finally nodding.
"Our preparation was still insufficient. The opponent also shepherded souls from various pathways. Achieving current results in combat is already quite good."
"I also bear responsibility for not discovering that Ms.D was only pretending to be controlled by me, when she had actually discovered our whereabouts. And that final 'Aurora Order' member..." His gaze swept over the devastated hall floor, continuing: "...he should have awakened after I left the dream, lurking near the battlefield waiting for an opportunity... I should have warned you earlier."
"When we return to headquarters, we can have Klein try divination to confirm her whereabouts. The battle just now should have exhausted Ms.D's spirituality. Her combat ability will decline short-term. If we can..."
Angel still suggested with some unwillingness.
"Too late. She'll now escape Tingen City at maximum speed, to other cities or secret hideouts in the suburbs to hide and recover. This is the consistent practice of 'Aurora Order' divine envoys. You fought that 'Mr. C' in Enmat Port and should know their escape methods."
As captain of the "Red Gloves," Sost had rich combat experience against the "Aurora Order" and quickly reached a conclusion.
"Then let's handle the scene here first."
Dunn said. Seeing Sost had gradually recovered strength and could stand alone, he stopped supporting him and went to help the recovered Henry lift the still-unconscious Lares, moving him to the slightly cleaner ground outside.
"He should be fine - stable pulse, normal breathing. Probably hit his head in the explosion."
Hitting his head still counts as fine...
Hearing Sost's conclusion after examining Lares, Angel remained somewhat worried.
But since the "Red Gloves" captain had spoken, she couldn't say more. Perhaps after returning to Blackthorn Security Company and treatment through ritual magic, Lares would recover normally.
Seeing the three Red Gloves gathered together, Dunn also walked to Angel's side, looking at her with concern: "What about you? You weren't injured just now?"
"I'm fine. Remember, I have the paper figure substitute. Now just my back hurts a bit." Angel moved her arms, indicating she was alright. "But cleaning up the scene later might have to be done by you all."
Taking out the "Magic Pocket Watch" with less than a minute left on the countdown, looking at the brightly lit hall of the villa from outside, Angel said with a bitter smile.
Modified some unreasonable potion enhancements. Thanks to everyone for pointing out errors.