"Bang—"
That frail figure crashed heavily to the ground before Klein.
His heart seemed to fall with her, sinking to the depths.
Only when the raised dust cleared and Angel slowly climbed up, staggering toward him, did he breathe a sigh of relief—even as he felt the intense pain in his left arm.
Doesn't she have the Lightness ability? Why would she fall straight down from that height?
Klein was curious why she hadn't used the Assassin's lightness ability to descend gently, instead falling like a stone. Fortunately, the stone slabs on the ground had been blown up by the bombs, leaving mostly soft earth. Otherwise, falling from over ten meters up, even an Beyonder's body would have lost half its life.
But seeing Angel's injuries clearly, Klein's just-settled heart rose again.
Her face was covered in blood and dust. The light-colored dress that should have been refined and proper was now full of tears, stained with blood and ash, dyed brown. The wound across her abdomen still seeped blood, continuing to soak her long skirt.
Her right arm from the elbow down had turned pitch black, the palm no longer recognizable in shape, as if all five fingers had fused together.
The fall had caused her considerable harm as well. Angel's left shoulder twisted at an unnatural angle, her entire left arm hanging limply at her side. Her steps were unsteady, stopping after every few paces.
Only those purple eyes remained clear.
"Where's your hand? Let me try to reattach it. Quickly—the watch's time is almost up."
Angel's voice, completely different from usual and hoarse, called out.
Klein's lips moved wordlessly, then he turned around to search for his severed forearm from the battle.
He suddenly remembered the captain tearing open his chest, using his own blood to feed Saint Selena's ashes and activate the saint's relic.
"Save the captain first—his injuries are worse!"
Unable to continue searching for his severed arm, he called out anxiously.
Only "Damage Transfer" can save Dunn now!
Angel froze, glancing at Klein's left elbow still dripping blood. She hesitated, then nodded.
Swaying unsteadily, she walked to where Dunn Smith still clutched the ashes box, collapsed softly. Angel crouched down, her charred right arm supporting her dislocated left shoulder as she placed her hand on his chest, still pumping blood.
Klein stood behind her, watching with anxiety and hope.
After a moment, Angel stood up again, turning around. Her face, covered in dust and blood, showed no expression.
Suddenly, terror flooded her purple eyes.
Did it work, or fail?
Klein looked at her in confusion, then remembered the Magic Pocket Watch's time limit and negative effects.
Could it be that the watch's time...
He felt pain in his chest, the sensation of someone gripping his heart.
The captain still couldn't be saved?
No, this wasn't an illusion.
Klein's pupils constricted as he looked down at his chest.
A pale hand had pierced through from his left breast, covered in blood.
Who? That Rose Bishop who appeared halfway through? But he died, becoming an unrecognizable mass of flesh.
Megose, who ate two Sunfire Charms and didn't die completely?
She died along with the evil god's child in her womb.
The hand jerked back.
Countless thoughts flashed through Klein's mind before his consciousness scattered. His legs lost strength and he collapsed sideways to the ground.
In his nearly unfocused vision, a pair of new, polished leather boots stepped over his body, walking toward Dunn lying motionless on the ground, and toward Angel charging forward in fury.
With thought and breath nearly stopped, Klein stared blankly as Angel supported her left arm with her right hand, gripping a dagger to stab at the dark-gold-haired man. He easily dodged, then grabbed her blade and thrust it toward her chest.
That slender body fell backward, raising a cloud of dust.
The man in a double-breasted dress coat half-crouched, taking the Saint Selena ashes box from the captain's arms.
Klein's vision went black. All sensation vanished.
...
Several minutes later, Leonard Mitchell's body, leaning against the stone speaking platform, twitched. His eyes slowly opened.
In the blood-stench so thick it seemed it would never dissipate, he struggled to rise, looking around.
In the devastated park, he saw countless severed limbs, countless innocent citizens with eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.
He saw Megose, headless, limbs fused into a mass, abdomen pierced through.
He saw Dunn Smith lying motionless on the ground, shoulder mangled and bloody. He saw Klein Moretti lying on his side, a hole in his chest, left arm severed from the elbow down but still reaching forward desperately.
He saw Angel Granger with a dagger in her chest, right hand black as charcoal, dress torn and ragged.
No... it's not real...
A voice inside Leonard kept denying it all.
He stumbled toward his teammates, walking back and forth between several bodies, constantly verifying, but ultimately could only accept the unchangeable reality.
"No... no... NO!"
He repeated that single word from his throat, dropping to his knees as tears streamed down his face.
After an unknown time, his neck twitched as he cocked his head to listen. Then he clenched his jaw, forcing out a suppressed roar from between his teeth.
The Mandated Punishers team, just arriving by carriage through back roads and carrying sealed artifacts into the park, were frightened into immobility by that roar from hell itself.
On Red Moon Street, in a hired carriage slowly heading toward the steam train station, a pale hand opened a notebook resting on a knee, quickly flipping from the first page.
Turning past the section filled with elegant handwriting, a page with text almost entirely blacked out appeared.
(Most of it is covered in black)
"Cole Granger miraculously didn't die in the loss of control during advancement. She expelled part of her Beyonder characteristics, becoming once again an Assassin—a female Assassin."
"The awakened Miss Granger reported herself and her superior, Madam Sharon. This caught the Nighthawks' attention. Dunn Smith led the team to investigate the case, and Daly Simone, who happened to be in Tingen City, accompanied him."
"Dunn, who had been working overtime to solve multiple mystical incidents, wasn't careful about secrecy. Madam Sharon's informant discovered Angel Granger's movements. After a simple divination, she decided to personally visit the Blackthorn Security Company to eliminate this trouble. The Tingen team was almost entirely mobilized, leaving the rear vulnerable—a very reasonable choice."
(Several lines blacked out)
"With Angel Granger's help and her combat prowess beyond that of an Assassin, the Nighthawks killed the intruding Madam Sharon. Frustratingly, Daly survived."
...
(Most of the page crossed out)
"Klein, who should have died in the warehouse, survived once again. With help from Angel, who should have also died there, he killed the Secret Order's Magician."
"But things still went smoothly. Dunn came into contact with the Antigonus family notebook and was secretly contaminated."
"Regardless, this person who repeatedly disrupted Ince Zangwill's plans must leave Tingen City immediately."
...
(Line after line of text crossed out, more than all the previous combined)
"Dunn Smith's condition improved significantly. He mastered the 'acting method,' found his acting principles, and began rapidly digesting his potion. This reduced his previous contamination."
"Angel Granger, eager to advance, should have secretly taken the 'Instigator' potion after leaving the Tingen team's sight, then died from loss of control caused by lingering contamination. But she actually returned to Tingen City alive and revealed the acting method to her captain. Ince found this incomprehensible, but he could only accept reality."
"The story had new waves."
...
"Azik, hiding many secrets, noticed traces of Ince's influence on Angel and warned her, just as he'd once warned Klein."
"The two survivors used collected information to separately search for the 'red chimney house.' Though they always chose routes that didn't include the target, delaying discovery of the truth, this still disrupted Ince's plans. He had to accelerate his pace."
...
"Pleasure Witch Mitis, whose lover died at Angel's hands, had been seeking an opportunity to kill her enemy. She cooperated with Aurora Order envoys who had infiltrated Tingen City under the Creator's summons, against their common enemy—the Nighthawks."
"Ince felt they could assist him. Kind Ince didn't mind helping them."
...
"Mitis contacted Maynard, the New Party councilman aiming for mayor. After helping him eliminate political opponents, she obtained the contract to renovate the Heart Park on Red Moon Street in the North Borough. This made her spirituality increasingly unstable, but the suffering Pleasure Witch only wanted to end it all quickly."
"Meanwhile, the Aurora Order's Lady D was gathering funds to welcome the divine descent. Her subordinate Gabreo left clues during a robbery of the wealthy, giving the Nighthawks a trail."
"Angel encountered Gabreo while depositing money at the bank and recognized him. The Nighthawks confirmed the Aurora Order's hideout through divination."
"The Red Gloves team arrived as expected. They attacked Lady D's residence. After fierce combat, Lady D successfully escaped, drawing the Red Gloves' attention away from Tingen City. C, hidden in the shadows, continued their secret plan."
"At the same time, Lanrewus once again entered the Nighthawks' sight. Soon, the clues he left would be found by the Nighthawks."
...
(About half a page crossed out)
"Dunn Smith's potion digestion exceeded Ince's expectations. Soon he would complete his 'Nightmare' acting and become a Sequence 6 'Soul Assurer.' His years of accumulated contributions had long exceeded what was needed for advancement."
"Ince had to accelerate his plan."
"Following Daly's suggestion during her brief return to Tingen City, Klein and Angel decided to submit a special application. Before swearing the oath, they would teach the acting method to other teammates—this fit their characters, very reasonable."
"This would make the senior deacon coming to Tingen for examination follow procedure, questioning each Nighthawk who knew the acting method one by one."
"Neil, contaminated by the Hidden Sage, was exposed during the senior deacon's examination. With no choice, Dunn personally killed this teammate. This shook the principles he'd upheld, destabilizing his spirituality and postponing his advancement. Lucky Ince Zangwill gained precious time again."
...
"The grand venue arranged by C and Mitis attracted the baby in Megose's womb. Under the baby's guidance, she would go to the renovated Heart Park in the North Borough to birth the divine child amid the sacrifice."
"Passing the Blackthorn Security Company, Megose coincidentally remembered the diviner who had once helped her and came there, attracting the Nighthawks' attention."
"Calm Dunn Smith attempted to lure her into Chanis Gate, using environmental and item advantages for battle. But Megose again felt the summons and prepared to immediately go to Heart Park."
"The Nighthawk team had to choose between self-preservation and a desperate fight. Dunn took out Saint Selena's ashes and, together with Klein and Leonard, went to Heart Park to stop Megose. This was their style—very reasonable."
...
(Several lines revised)
"C detonated the bombs buried underground during renovation. But with Angel's interference after receiving early warning through unknown means, the sacrifices in the park didn't reach the predetermined number. This would make the baby in Megose's womb more powerless, but this happened to fit Ince's plan. Yes, happened to! He never intended for a true deity to descend on Tingen City."
"The battle began between the monstrous Megose and the Nighthawks. With help from saint's ashes, Blood Vessel Thief, and strangely appearing high-level charms, the Nighthawks severely wounded Megose. Angel's strange bullet simultaneously killed the losing-control Mitis, the self-sacrificing C, and the divine child about to be born incompletely."
"Dunn Smith died in battle, and Saint Selena's ashes were severely damaged. To preserve her spirituality, Angel Granger fell directly from high altitude using a mystical item to save her teammates, losing her final combat ability. Ince didn't get the opportunity to fight her directly—somewhat disappointing, but it didn't affect his purpose."
"He respected Mitis's wish, first killing Klein, then killing the other one. After eliminating this pair who constantly disrupted his plans, Ince took Saint Selena's ashes and brushed past the Mandated Punishers who arrived late after activating sealed artifacts, leaving the scene."
...
The notebook turned to a blank page. The middle-aged man with dark gold hair, one blind eye, and deep features picked up a classically styled quill pen and wrote a sentence on the blank space:
"The story of Tingen City is about to end."
Closing the notebook, his deep blue single eye looked out the window. Two four-wheeled carriages marked with police insignia passed by. Through the open doors, teams of fully armed "Mechanical Heart" members could be seen, faces grave.
"The new park we just passed seems to have had a major incident—thick smoke and explosions. Do you know what happened, sir?"
The coachman driving also looked curiously at the police carriages, then asked through the front window.
"It seems some bad people wanted to blow up the park, even blow up Tingen City. Many people died there."
Ince Zangwill hadn't intended to answer this casually chatting coachman, but he was in a good mood today and decided to chat briefly.
"Wow, amazing, amazing. But you don't seem worried at all—someone must have successfully stopped them, right?"
The young coachman asked in surprise, his right eye involuntarily narrowing.
Ince's downturned lips curved into a mocking smile.
"Yes, they saved Tingen."
Two chapters were really hard to split, so I posted them together...
If nothing unexpected happens, that's it for today.