Rey had been constantly wary of Tabos, the Ascetic who had transformed into a Fallen Werewolf. He could feel Tabos's intense desire to kill him.
As for Caractacus Burke trying to force Rey into a difficult choice regarding Terence's exorcism, Rey felt zero pressure.
First, Terence Barrow wasn't his friend. Second, Rey had already done more than enough for him. Third, Rey wasn't a bleeding heart.
So, there was no choice to make. Rey simply remained vigilant, guarding against both Burke and the werewolf Tabos, ready for either of them to attack him or Helena.
Essentially, from the moment Caractacus Burke appeared, Rey treated every word he said as nonsense.
Saying he wanted Rey as an assistant? Nonsense. Forcing a difficult choice? Pure nonsense.
With someone who spouted nothing but lies, the only thing to do was watch for the moment they changed their mind and attacked when you let your guard down.
Although Rey was drained and exhausted, he kept his guard up, fully alert.
However, the light from the small teleportation circle pulsed, signaling someone's arrival.
This disturbance drew not only Burke's attention but also distracted Rey and Helena.
Seizing this exact moment, Tabos, who knew who was coming, made his move. He pushed off with his powerful legs and launched himself forward with a whoosh.
Raising his arm, he slashed his razor-sharp claws at Rey and Helena, who were standing near the edge of the circle.
If that strike landed, it would pulverize stone, let alone flesh and blood.
A momentary distraction was all it took to be fatal. "Not good," Rey thought, his heart sinking.
He could hear the wind of the attack in his ears and felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. Tabos's speed was far greater than he had anticipated.
Rey sensed the attack, but his exhausted body couldn't keep up with his reaction time.
Helplessly, he grabbed Helena and threw himself forward, using his momentum to shield her.
If his calculation was correct, this fall would push Helena out of the path of Tabos's claws. As for himself... he could only rely on luck.
---
THUD!
The sound of bodies hitting the ground rang out, accompanied by a dull, heavy impact.
Rey and Helena crashed to the floor together, but the charging Tabos was sent flying backward.
The person who had struck him was the figure emerging from the teleportation circle—Cardinal Alofman, reeking of heavy musk.
Everything happened too suddenly, too fast.
Caractacus Burke hadn't even had time to interfere with Terence before the situation escalated to this point.
Cardinal Alofman's sudden entrance caught him completely off guard.
If the Church represented the light of the divine kingdom, then Caractacus Burke, abandoned by Hell, represented the darkness.
Light and darkness were natural opposites. When two such distinct forces met, introductions were unnecessary; a single glance revealed their origins.
Like boiling oil and water, there was zero chance of coexistence.
So, after locking eyes with Cardinal Alofman, Caractacus Burke promptly fled.
He fled with incredible speed, turning into a cloud of black mist that vanished without a trace. It was likely his strongest escape magic.
Perhaps the little old man wasn't as powerful as he pretended to be. He was likely quite weak, only clinging to existence because of the dark energy leaked during the Founders' repair of Stonehenge. Otherwise, he would have dissipated long ago.
If he were truly strong, he would have acted already. So, the moment a genuine powerhouse like Alofman appeared, Burke fled without hesitation.
Alofman didn't pursue him. He didn't even glance at the werewolf Tabos, whom he had just punched flying, leaving his fate unknown.
He first glanced at Terence Barrow, frozen in place with black mist being sucked from his forehead. Then his gaze swept over Helena, pinned beneath Rey, before finally settling on Rey himself.
He had saved Rey because of that familiar sensation—the feeling that he had found a new source for his blood transfusion.
With a new blood source right in front of him, he couldn't allow any mishaps.
---
The moment he hit the ground, Rey knew he had narrowly escaped death again.
He just hadn't expected his savior to be the Red-Robed Cardinal who had tortured him in the Vatican.
Alofman stared at Rey but made no further move. Rey looked familiar, but Alofman couldn't place him. He had tortured and killed too many people to remember every face.
But there was another feeling: this boy felt incredibly similar to the infant Ryan Evans had brought back.
Since Rey had entered the underground hall and been scanned by the ward Alofman set up, the Cardinal could link Rey's signature to that of the infant.
For Rey, however, Alofman's sudden appearance was terrifying. He felt even more dangerous than the Pope had back then. Perhaps the Pope had been at his weakest moment during their encounter.
"Wait for me over there."
Rey helped Helena up and whispered into her ear.
Helena shook her head, refusing to leave. Rey smiled gently. "Don't worry, it's fine. I still have that I can use."
With that reassurance, Helena watched anxiously as Rey took a few steps forward.
Alofman was standing at a distance. Since Helena wouldn't retreat, Rey stepped forward to put some space between her and the danger.
Originally, Alofman had appeared near Rey. But in the blink of an eye, he had moved over twenty meters to punch the charging Tabos away. It was astonishing.
That speed was nearly on par with Godric Gryffindor.
It had to be a spell that temporarily boosted strength and speed—likely a secret art exclusive to the Church.
---
"You aren't that child, but you give me the same feeling. Perhaps your blood can be of use to me."
"Boy, come with me. I'll let your woman go."
Alofman glanced at Rey sideways, issuing the command as if it were the only logical outcome.
There was no room for negotiation. This was the arrogance of true power. When he told you to come, you came. Or he would make you.
Rey stopped about ten meters away from Alofman, showing no intention of moving closer.
Alofman's speed earlier had been incredible, but surely such speed couldn't be sustained. If he could move that fast constantly, wizards wouldn't stand a chance.
Rey's assessment was correct. Alofman's movement came from a specific blessing granted by the Pope.
It could only be used once a day. Any more, and his body would collapse under the strain.
Unlike Apparition, which folded space, this was pure physical speed. Given his rotting body—masked heavily by the scent of musk—he couldn't handle the stress repeatedly.
So, that burst of speed was his limit for the day.
" Reduc... "
Rey attacked suddenly, but before he could finish the incantation, a beam of white light slammed into his chest, blasting him backward.
Rey's attack had been fast, but Alofman was faster.
Because Alofman didn't need to wave a wand or speak a spell. All he had to do was simply raise his hand.