"Truly disgusting! As disgusting as I am!"
Alucard swung his sword, charging straight for Maxwell.
A monster is not his challenger, so he had no intention of watching that monster tear apart his grand performance.
In a flash of crimson light, Alucard appeared directly in front of Maxwell. His longsword, carrying a chilling aura, pierced through the thorny monstrosity.
However, such an attack had little effect.
The current Maxwell was no longer human and possessed none of a human's weaknesses.
His entire body, now transformed into thorns, emitted a creaking sound as he launched a counterattack against Alucard.
The Holy Nail pierced into his chest was already wrapped in thorns, and countless spikes shot out, impaling Alucard's body.
The armor covered in spikes that Alucard wore offered no protection against this attack. After all, the armor was merely a manifestation of his blood.
Although it possessed the hardness of metal, it was useless against a monster like this.
Thorns are a cruel plant. After transforming into a monster, it began absorbing nutrients from everything around it to fuel its own growth.
Alucard's body began to wither rapidly. A vampire being drained of blood by another monster that fed on blood—the irony was palpable.
For the first time, Alucard's face showed anger. The longsword piercing through Maxwell's chest slashed upward, cleaving the entire entity in two.
But inside the split body, there was no sign of flesh or blood, only densely packed thorns!
At this moment, the human named Maxwell finally died.
His soul, lucid due to the immense pain, watched as he gradually shriveled up, eventually turning into a pile of flying ash.
Maxwell was not Helena, the saint; he did not have the Lord's protection.
As the last trace of this human's existence was erased, the fanaticism in Anderson's eyes flickered slightly.
Then, brandishing his bayonets, he charged toward Alucard.
He had felt Maxwell's passing, but Father Anderson had no time for grief.
Since Alucard had chosen to walk toward his throne, this battle would escalate straight to its climax.
"Die! Something already dead dares to walk before me!"
Anderson masked his sense of loss with a roar, his bayonets piercing through Alucard's back.
Facing the attacks of both the monster and Anderson, Alucard remained silent.
His body continued to shrivel, his once handsome and resolute face gradually reverting to its eerie, monstrous form, while his body withered further.
This caused Alucard's originally tall frame to hunch over.
In a battle against Anderson alone, he would have been willing to die in the image of Vlad the Impaler.
Because Father Anderson, like Van Helsing, was worthy of the honor of killing The Impaler.
But now, his enemy wasn't just Anderson, the human worthy of entrusting his life to.
And Father Anderson wasn't the valiant and noble Van Helsing of the past!
Therefore, only killing the vampire Alucard would be fitting for Anderson's performance. With a hint of a smile, Alucard extended his hand and pierced the chest of the thorny monster Maxwell had become.
Simultaneously, Alucard drew a handgun from seemingly nowhere. Passing the muzzle under his armpit, he fired at Anderson behind him.
The heavily modified and enhanced ammunition instantly pierced through Father Anderson's arm.
His right hand was now connected only by a layer of skin and flesh; the bone was shattered.
The splashing golden-red blood didn't change Anderson in the slightest; the holy fire on his bayonets continued to burn.
The wound where Alucard was impaled began to emit the foul stench of dried, burnt blood.
"No monster, no matter what kind, can kill me!"
Alucard's voice, sounding like a whisper right next to the ear, echoed in Anderson's mind.
The vampire's head twisted a full one hundred and eighty degrees, smiling at Father Anderson.
Then, he lunged forward violently, passing straight through the body of the thorny monster.
In the next moment, Alucard, stripped of flesh and clothing, stood before Anderson.
The monster made of thorns let out a wailing roar before collapsing into a heap of tattered scraps.
The glowing Holy Nail was now in Alucard's hand. Stuck to the nail was a heart—originally Maxwell's—struggling to beat.
With every beat, a small spray of blood squeezed out from the wound pierced by the nail.
The power of the Holy Nail continued to radiate, and dense thorns wrapped around the heart once more, preparing to regenerate its body.
Alucard looked at Anderson with a slightly provocative gaze, then yanked the Holy Nail out of the heart.
He gently licked the wound on the heart, lapping up every trace of blood.
Then, revealing a mouthful of hideous fangs, he bit down, crushing the last trace of Maxwell.
Watching Alucard gulp down the heart caused the corners of Anderson's eyes to split. He lifted his useless arm with his left hand, biting onto the sleeve to hold it up.
Having undergone countless modifications, Anderson's physical durability was beyond ordinary comprehension. Even a layer of skin that looked ready to snap couldn't be torn by simple slashing motions.
Anderson's heavily injured hand still gripped the bayonet tightly. At this moment, the holy fire on the blade burned with unprecedented intensity.
Alucard's terror shook Anderson to his core.
He had originally planned to use the Holy Nail himself to face Alucard, but his request had been denied in favor of Maxwell.
He didn't think he was much stronger than the monster created by the nail, but he did not retreat.
The arm clamped in his teeth was a symbol of his courage, proof that he had once again conquered fear.
Imperius watched his subordinate from Mars, his wings slightly folded behind him, silent.
"That priest is quite interesting."
A completely nude blue figure spoke in an utterly flat tone.
"Seeing the past, present, and future, I find it difficult to understand their choices at this moment."
Doctor Manhattan's words carried a slight desire for exploration.
"Humans are existences like that. The consequences they create can be more dangerous than any demon."
Imperius responded to Doctor Manhattan's question, thinking of the Nephalem who would kill Hell Lords at all costs.
Among all the Archangels, the humanity of the Archangel of Valor was originally the most indifferent.
He always considered himself pure Valor—unwavering, fearless.
Even obstinate to the point of being annoying.
But now, he had acknowledged the greatness of humanity. Regarding the Nephalem—or rather, Bul-Kathos—Imperius had finally understood a little of what mercy meant.
That was what Auriel had always hoped he would understand, and the basis Tyrael always used to rebuke him.
"Then, do you also believe beings like us should not interfere with human choices?"
Doctor Manhattan sat cross-legged on the ground, watching everything happening in London.
"They can become greater and nobler than you or I, and they can do things even Itherael cannot understand.
"Humans are full of infinite possibilities!
"The union of Inarius and Lilith was an accident, perhaps guided by Fate.
"The Nephalem choosing to stand under the banner of Justice was also an accident.
"They could have used their immense power to enjoy most of the beautiful things in the world.
"Can we truly stand aloof from humanity's choices? Itherael?"
Imperius's voice carried a trace of weariness. His skepticism toward the Eternal Conflict led him to question his brother, the embodiment of Fate.
In Doctor Manhattan's eyes, the hooded head of Itherael shook slightly.
His grey-tinged dark blue wings gently unfurled.
Fate is merely the final outcome guided by choices.
The Archangel of Fate did not sit idly waiting for the end; he had long placed his hands into the river of fate.
He had even personally muddied the once-clear waters, standing before a Hell Lord to launch an attack.
Itherael had known the consequences of Inarius and Lilith's union long ago, and understood what changes it would bring.
Yet he allowed it to happen with expectation and a smile, even giving it a push himself.
"He says we are already part of it."
Doctor Manhattan closed his eyes as he spoke.
"Then let the radiance of Valor shine upon this world! Let all bright and great wills raise the banner of the High Heavens and enjoy the protection of angels!
"Let those bastards who do evil throw themselves into the embrace of the scum in Hell, and then be crushed to pieces in battle!"
Imperius's body began to radiate majesty!
The aura of Valor flickered across the world, and every existence qualified to sense the origin of Valor turned their gaze toward Mars!
In Imperius's hand appeared a ring the color of fire, filled with the aura of Justice and Valor.
It was a joint creation of Tyrael and Imperius, capable of granting the wearer fearless power.
The Justice Lantern!
As long as a block is theoretically achieved, the damage taken is greatly reduced.
When the wearer can block all unjust attacks, they become the sturdiest wall!
The Ring of Valor and Justice would become an aid to all in this world who dare to resist the unjust.
Imperius held the Justice Lantern high, then let it fly into the vast universe.
"What is that? I feel a bit uncomfortable."
Death sat upon her throne, ignoring the hesitant gaze of the Mad Titan before her.
Her attention was greatly drawn to the fire-like ring.
But she didn't voice her true feeling.
The power on the Justice Lantern made her uncomfortable, yet it also made her feel her own power grow slightly stronger.
Death represents not only the end of all things but also one of the manifestations of life's rules.
The appearance of the Justice Lantern added a possibility to this world, making life more vibrant and colorful.
And Death, holding most of the authority over life, felt an increase in power.
However, having never felt the sensation of becoming stronger in her long existence, she voiced her question.
Before her, the hesitant Thanos's eyes flickered.
He felt the aura of the Archangel of Valor and deeply realized he could not match it.
So, he secretly resolved to accelerate his plans.
[For the continuation of the universe, and to make her happy.]
Thanos thought.
Actually, his first worry was completely redundant.
Because the task of "sustainable universal development" had already been undertaken by someone else.
The unlucky fellow who ran around every day just to get enough to eat.
That guy was probably the busiest existence in the world when it came to filling his stomach.
Wake up, hunt for food, starve—an infinite loop.
Occasionally, he would meet guys unwilling to spare him some small snacks who would beat him up; getting thrashed was a common occurrence.
But those who have never starved wouldn't understand to what lengths this guy would go for some "snacks."
Plus, since he was quite good at fighting, "begging for food" usually turned into looting.
Because of this, despite bearing the title of "Invincible," he was always getting knocked down.
Fortunately, he hadn't starved to death yet, though hunger left him perpetually weak.
Meanwhile, in front of Eternity, a three-headed, neckless freak with a blue-green rag on his head was staring at Eternity with a scrutinizing gaze.
That rag might have originally been azure blue, but overuse and stains had turned it a dusty grey.
The two entities stared at each other in silence.
Like playing a game of "whoever moves first loses."
The gaze of the three-headed neckless freak was focused on Eternity's chest, where a brilliant, fire-like light was spreading throughout Eternity's body.
He seemed to have something to say about this, but in the end, he remained silent and continued the "game."
"That ring?"
Doctor Manhattan said, somewhat troubled.
Having ascended from human to a god-like existence, all his humanity had vanished in the state of "observation."
So he was puzzled by Imperius's action.
There was a conceptual gap between him, a human-turned-god, and the Archangels, gods-turned-human.
Imperius wouldn't change his actions because of Doctor Manhattan's opinion, but he would act on Itherael's signal.
Valor and Fate completed an exchange using Doctor Manhattan as a bridge.
Now, facing the imminent arrival of the Seven Great Evils, this world gained another accessible power.
The Justice Lantern flew to a location unseen by anyone and began its transformation.
After gathering all its radiance, the Justice Lantern shook with difficulty.
Amidst the tremors, this ring of immense power split into seven rings similar in shape, differing only in color.
Having dispersed most of its power, the exhausted Justice Lantern, like a mother after childbirth, fell toward Earth, sensing someone worthy of it there.
The Justice Lantern needed a worthy existence to restore its original power, and there happened to be one there.
In its place, seven rings of different colors remained, greedily absorbing the energy of this world.
Like hungry infants, they sucked in large mouthfuls.
Eventually—
The Green Ring pried open the origin of Will, gaining the power of Valor and Willpower.
Only with courage can will be firm; this was the power Imperius originally imbued into the Justice Lantern.
The Yellow Ring pried open turbulent Fear, swelling up in an instant.
This was catalyzed by the blood of Diablo contained within the Justice Lantern.
The Orange Ring opened the loosened Avarice, instantly becoming somewhat disgusting.
This contained a portion of power from Azmodan's blood; compared to the origin of the Lord of Sin, it only obtained the part belonging to Greed.
Thus, it huddled next to the Yellow Ring, separating from the other rings into a small group, looking smugly like a lackey following the Yellow Ring.
Possessing only a small portion of Greed's authority, it dared not oppose Fear.
Even Azmodan, if limited only to Greed, wouldn't dare raise his voice against Diablo.
A halo flashed on the Blue Ring, signifying Hope.
The Indigo Ring leaned on the Blue Ring, and after a shake, the Blue Ring shared the power of Compassion with it.
The blessing of the Archangel of Hope: Hope and Compassion!
The two similarly colored rings touched gently like sisters.
The Red Ring trembled, appearing somewhat irritable. The halo on it flickered with a luster identical to the fury of a Barbarian.
The Violet Ring shook tremulously. After a series of efforts, it sensed the thought in the heart of the first Bul-Kathos when he forged the ring.
When the first Bul-Kathos forged the Justice Lantern, he thought only of creating a perfect ring for his beloved.
So, it gently tapped open the origin of Love, then skipped away like a cheerful fawn, disappearing from the spot.
The White and Black Rings seemed somewhat powerless. Despite all their efforts, they couldn't pry open much of the rules, because Life and Death were already controlled.
Borrowing a faint gift from Death born of curiosity, the two rings appeared beside Death's throne.
One black, one white, the two rings humbly slipped onto Death's jade-white finger bones, trembling slightly like children asking their parents for candy.
As Death covered the rings with her other hand, the two rings dimmed their already faint light as if losing their future, gradually hiding their existence.
The birth of the Justice Lantern had been long enough.
Initiated by the Archangel of Justice, blessed with power by the Archangel of Valor and the Archangel of Hope.
Forged by the first Bul-Kathos himself, infused with the blood of Diablo and Azmodan.
The Justice Lantern exists to tell its bearer that in the face of demons, only the noble are qualified to fight.
And now, this ring from the High Heavens split the five origins of its birth, differentiating into the various powers represented by those origins.
All existences in this world gained a shared power. As long as they are lucky enough to encounter these rings containing immense power...
They can leap to become supernatural existences and make a choice regarding their destiny!
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