Marcus, who had been blocking the Hell passage, suddenly detected a massive energy barrier forming on the opposite side.
Though his electrical attack was powerful, it couldn't immediately penetrate this formidable barrier.
A legion of demons continued advancing under its protection. High-temperature flames rose among their ranks, their bodies twisted but unharmed by the intense heat.
Observing demons walking unscathed through the flames, Marcus recognized the distinctive hellfire—a unique phenomenon of the infernal realm.
"Someone's directing these demons," he concluded.
Both the sudden energy barrier and the disciplined advance of the demonic forces suggested a controlling influence.
Without leadership, these chaotic beings would have been tearing each other apart. Demons were inherently disorderly creatures—only under powerful guidance would they move with such coordination.
Marcus's arm reverted to the form of Harrow [Exorcist]. With a single motion, he swung the Incinerator, releasing another wave of Blame Bondage toward the Hell passage.
As the energy surged forward, shackles materialized across the portal's entrance. The gateway trembled under this assault, slowly beginning to close as the binding chains tightened around it.
Screech! Screech! Screech!
Just as the passage started to seal, a strange force manifested within it, forcing the closing portal open again. The chains stretched taut, straining to contain the Hell passage as something pushed against them.
"So there is someone," Marcus thought, unsurprised. He had already suspected what might be on the other side.
As if confirming his suspicions, a giant flame-covered humanoid beast burst through the ranks of advancing demons. Its arms resembled massive blades as it charged toward the passage with unstoppable momentum.
Despite its enormous size, the creature moved with astonishing speed. Countless lesser demons were knocked skyward in its wake, the unlucky ones cleaved apart by its blade-arms.
"SOULS!!! DELICIOUS SOULS!!!" The beast roared, shaking the very air as it slammed toward Marcus.
Its sharp arms swung at an incredible velocity.
Whoosh!
The bladed limbs cut through the air, generating shockwaves that rippled outward.
THUD!
A beam of brilliant light suddenly struck the monstrous demon, smashing it violently to the ground.
The already damaged earth shattered completely under the impact, sending waves of soil and debris outward.
"Looks like a fight is unavoidable," Marcus said, rolling his neck. He raised the Incinerator and regarded the demon. "At least this is a proper professional match-up—exorcist versus demon."
With that, Marcus lifted the Incinerator from the ground.
Though the game version of this weapon had no combat abilities, this wasn't a game. The flail-like Incinerator made a formidable weapon.
THWACK!
The Incinerator traced a luminous arc through the air before crashing down on the demon beast's head with tremendous force.
On impact, the energy within the Incinerator exploded outward in a wild surge.
Bruce and Selina, still battling the Talons, received another energy infusion. Their weapons flared with renewed power as they beheaded more owl-masked assassins.
Outside the immediate battle zone, Gordon and Harvey finally arrived. They stood transfixed by the scene before them.
"What in the..."
Beyond the beast-men fighting among themselves, they witnessed the two vigilantes engaging a group of owl-masked warriors.
The vigilantes' weapons displayed extraordinary power—a sparking rapier that effortlessly severed the Talons' blades, and an energy whip that unleashed devastating force.
Despite facing numerous attackers, the vigilantes handled the threat with apparent ease, even beginning to push their opponents back.
"Wait! Harvey, look over there!" Gordon exclaimed.
Glancing inside the ruined building, he spotted a giant monstrous creature being pounded into the ground by someone resembling a cleric wielding a glowing flail.
Both officers were stunned by what they witnessed. They had no conception of what was unfolding.
It now seemed clear that apart from themselves, even the rampaging beast-men were among the least threatening beings present.
"Harvey, inform the chief. We need backup," Gordon ordered.
"Alright, but listen—don't do anything stupid. None of these Gotham bastards are worth dying for," Harvey cautioned.
He nodded grimly, handing Gordon all his ammunition and the shotgun.
"Take this. It's far more dangerous here than outside." He grabbed Gordon's pistol in exchange. "I'll keep these to defend myself."
After the weapon swap, Harvey sprinted away.
He harbored no illusions about their capabilities against such foes. The beast-men, terrifying as they were to ordinary humans, were clearly outmatched here.
Confronting these monsters would require weaponry far beyond their standard police equipment.
"Be careful, Gordon," he called back.
Harvey genuinely worried about his partner—a police officer too principled for Gotham's corrupt reality. Gordon's integrity was precisely why Harvey remained loyal to him.
With renewed urgency, Harvey ran toward their car parked outside the perimeter.
After Harvey's departure, Gordon navigated carefully through the ruins toward the battle's center, a growing sense of dread spreading through him.
"Hmm, it actually connected," Marcus frowned slightly.
He swung the Incinerator downward once more, smashing it into the giant demon beast's head.
CRUNCH!
The creature's skull caved in under the impact, black blood spattering in all directions.
"Disgusting," Marcus muttered as the demon lay motionless.
The Incinerator's energy spread outward, igniting the black blood with cleansing fire, burning away the filth.
Though the giant demon had fallen, its attack hadn't been in vain. While Marcus had been occupied, numerous demons had surged toward the passage's entrance and begun pouring through.
"Breaking through already?"
Seeing the demons spilling into Gotham, Marcus swung the Incinerator toward himself in a decisive motion.
Penance
Blue light erupted from his body as glowing scars manifested across his back. A strange-looking pistol materialized in his hand—the Knell of Dead.
"Both of you, stand clear! Don't worry about getting hit!" he called to Bruce and Selina.
He swung the Incinerator, releasing Blame Bondage at the demons attempting to scatter.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Countless chains shot out from all directions, ensnaring most of the escaping demons.
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