"Found them! The places where the two black mists disappeared are not far apart! However, one of them moved quite a distance before vanishing; it's highly likely they are staying away from their base, waiting for us on purpose."
The leading Emperor's Blade stood up, sensing the location where his power had dissipated. In the past, it would have been impossible for an Emperor's Blade to manipulate the mist so effortlessly, but things were different now. Because of the so-called "Apocalypse" from Laterano, he had merged with a "Demon"—he was now a Demon using a human shell! This was why he could control the black mist so skillfully.
"Seventeen, Forty-one, you two go toward the village. I will check the other direction."
With those words, the leading Emperor's Blade vanished before their eyes. To be honest, the others were quite envious of this fellow's ability to fuse his flesh with a Demon; at the very least, this power was undeniably real.
The lead agent soon spotted a massive figure—a silhouette so gargantuan that few races in Terra could match it.
"Oh... Patriot, Buldrokkas'tee! I didn't expect the one I encountered to be you!"
The Emperor's Blade looked at the towering figure, instinctively ignoring the blonde girl beside him. He assumed she must be the captain of the Yeti Squad mentioned in reports. But where were her ears? Didn't the Intelligence Department say it was a white-haired Cautus? Had those slackers in Intelligence been lazy again, or did she have Originium Arts to change her appearance?
"So it is you. But you've come alone? You won't be able to stop my path by yourself!"
Patriot didn't waste time on idle chatter; instead, he attacked immediately while the opponent was still reacting. This was no time for catching up on old times—not that he had anything to say to such a creature. One could not communicate with such things using words.
"Stop, Patriot, stop. I am not here to wage war with you. There is no hatred between us! The blades of Ursus should be swung in the right direction!"
The Emperor's Blade easily sidestepped the sweep of Patriot's halberd, and the black mist began to permeate his surroundings. As the saying goes: where an Emperor's Blade treads, there is the soil of Ursus. This power was a "Dominion" condensed from this very black mist.
As one of the few fused Emperor's Blades, his Dominion was also ridiculously strong. If the Dominions of others were like plastic structures, his was made of D32 Steel! Even a Wendigo would find it taxing to face such power. While he might not be able to kill Patriot, he could delay him long enough for the other two to subdue all his companions!
"You... how dare you... how dare you fall and become a Demon! You have failed the sacrifices of the late Emperor and the trust of the current one! Your actions betray me and every Wendigo who once fought alongside your predecessors! I demand... your death as atonement!"
Patriot felt as though his past efforts had been betrayed. His entire body was wrapped in a black-red current of energy, and his strength increased fivefold in an instant. At this moment, the ancient Wendigo unleashed his terrifying might once more.
He could never forget the War of the Sunset Canyon, where he and his clansmen, along with the most elite casters, tore through countless Demons. They had paid in endless blood to bring peace to this land. Now, these Emperor's Blades had fallen to this level! He could not fail to recognize the difference between a normal agent and a Demon. Though the man before him still looked human, his essence had turned demonic.
However, the Emperor's Blade was still able to keep up with Patriot's rhythm. From time to time, he could even trade blows with Patriot. Coupled with the fact that they were within his Dominion, Patriot actually appeared slightly disadvantaged.
"Let me say this first: I haven't betrayed any Emperor. This power is a miracle triggered by an accident! Patriot, hand over that power. With it, Ursus can create more Emperor's Blades, and then Ursus shall endure forever!"
Looking at the fanatical agent, Patriot said nothing, only attacking with his blunt weapon. If the power of God hadn't restored much of his physical function, it would have been uncertain who would have the upper hand.
The fellow before him was a newborn Demon, but he had already caused much slaughter and "fed" on enough fear to grow. Patriot couldn't let the delay continue!
With this in mind, Patriot feigned weakness and began to retreat gradually. His weapon seemed to lack strength, and he "had" to release his Sarkaz secret arts... Everything pointed to Patriot being unable to resist the Emperor's Blade's assault. He seemed to be retreating only to stall until the agent ran out of steam.
The Emperor's Blade was pleased. Black mist swirled around him, condensing into a ball of energy that flew toward Patriot. If a normal person took a direct hit from this, not even their bones would be found. But the moment the black orb was about to hit Patriot, it dissipated like harmless smoke.
This scene put the Emperor's Blade on high alert. He hadn't expected Patriot to be carrying a weapon capable of suppressing Demons; it looked like an ancient relic from some ruins.
Patriot was now standing within the domain formed by the Holy Water Jeanne had just sprinkled. Just as he had envisioned, this power completely countered demonic energy. Within this range, the enemy couldn't even manage an effective attack.
"..."
The Emperor's Blade was stunned. He had imagined many possibilities, but he never expected this! His full-powered strike had been erased so easily. Was this a joke? In all his years as an Emperor's Blade, he had never seen anything so bizarre.
Refusing to believe it, he charged with his blade, the weapon wrapped in layers of black mist as he slashed at Patriot at the edge of the domain. But in the next moment, something unexpected happened: the moment his arm entered the domain, it withered into white bone, and his weapon fell powerlessly to the ground.
The agent retreated instantly. Watching his arm slowly regrow, his heart filled with wariness toward the two before him. The pain, like acid being poured on his arm, was something even he nearly failed to endure.
"I didn't expect you to possess something of this level... I will say it one last time: Join us, Buldrokkas'tee! This power is something you cannot hold on your own!"
"If you only have such meaningless words to say, then you should go see the late Emperor! I will tear you to pieces with the strength of a Wendigo!"
Patriot raised his halberd, and an unknown Originium Art flowed through it. It seemed he was determined to smash this Demon-fused creature to bits.
"Then... there is nothing to talk about. Aren't you curious where the other Emperor's Blades went? Did you really think your village had the strength to resist two Emperor's Blades without you?"
Hearing this, Patriot didn't waver in the slightest. He knew very well that the enemies would not be able to crush the rest of the Reunion Movement near the village.
"You... know nothing of true power!"
Then, the halberd swept through the air. Simultaneously, Jeanne, who had been watching from the side, splashed the remaining Holy Water from her bottle onto the halberd. The weapon, coated in Holy Water, drew a crimson line through the air and exploded precisely where the Emperor's Blade stood.