The Theocheirós Clan consisted of people that had a significantly stronger affinity with the divine than normal people. Technically, all humans, those who were marked by divinity, could borrow the power of gods. But since these powers weren’t worth half of the price the gods asked for, almost no one outside of the Divinity Clan prayed to the Rite of Sacrifice.
The stronger one’s affinity was to the divine, the lower the price the gods required for using their power. Zarria, for example, could use a skill that would normally take both a person’s eyes. And she only had to feel sleepy for it. People like Axerion, Dheinyrus, and the inner family of the former clan head, had a similar case.
Neral, an outsider who had married into the family, was granted partial affinity. Though it was just divine mercy granted by gods through marriage, she was still stronger than the average clan member.
’So why can’t we beat this bastard?!’ she thought to herself.
Silver Cloud moved so fast that he almost became invisible. Neral’s armor was tough enough to negate his attacks, Amelia was also being protected by her shield, but the battle wouldn’t be over if they can’t even touch their opponent.
She knew Silver Cloud was a former member of the Divinity Clan. Twenty years ago, the passing of clan leadership to Axerion Theocheirós had caused a mysterious organization to close, and Neral knew that Silver Cloud was somehow connected to that.
But was that really enough to desire the ruination of the clan? And where does this overwhelming speed and agility come from? Google seaʀᴄh novel⦿fire.net
Silver Cloud charged forward, performing a downward double slash aimed at Amelia. His daggers got blocked by the diamond shield. Then, before the assistant could stab him with the sharp spearhead, the man had already vanished.
All the two could do was defend and attempt to counter. Chasing a man this fast would only exhaust their energy.
Behind them, the marching army of doom was only getting closer.
’Nothing can be done.’
Though a bit hesitant, Neral decided that a sacrifice must be made.
This prayer would instantly kill anyone she wished, but the price was also a life she valued as much as her own.
"Divine Retribution."
As she said those words, Amelia whipped her face towards her with widened eyes.
"Lady Neral!"
Her prayer stopped, she looked at her assistant.
"There’s no other way. I will take this man to the grave with me, but you get to warn Edvic Theocheirós about his son’s betrayal. If he doesn’t believe you, then we have truly lost. Either way, we have to try."
Silver Cloud suddenly appeared behind her and swung his dagger towards her neck. Neral quickly turned, parrying his attack.
"You think I will just sit here and let you pray?!"
Neral gritted her teeth and slashed the man who effortlessly dashed backwards.
"You’re starting to get on my nerves..." she muttered.
Opponents like him who fight like a coward was the one thing she and her tribe hated the most. Keeping the distance and striking swiftly might be a good strategy, but it was also lame and pathetic in her eyes.
"Why don’t you fight me head on and stop acting like a scared little girl?"
Silver Cloud stopped in his tracks, behind him, the army of demons had already crossed the border.
The ground trembled at their footsteps. If you look at it from the sky, the million strong marching in a line formation looked like a giant black snake crawling on the earth.
"Fun’s over, it seems," Silver Cloud stated.
"I’ll leave it to them, but I gotta take your head to Raymond afterwards. I don’t know what he’s planning to do with it, though."
Silver Cloud was confidently standing there, assured that nothing could ever catch him off guard.
And so, when Axerion Theocheirós tapped him on the shoulder, smiling without a care in the world, his skin crawled and blood drained from his face.
The man slowly turned to the leader of divinity, his eyes asking: "how did you get here?" But it was too late. Before he knew it, Silver Cloud’s legs and arms just fell to the ground in a pool of blood. Axerion lifted him by the hair, his limbless body dangling from his grip.
"It’s you! Didn’t my son already warn you about not messing with us?" Axerion jokingly said.
Silver Cloud let out a terrible scream.
Neral and Amelia watched all this with a horrified expression.
Axerion continued.
"Ishrafa, please heal this bastard so I can punish him myself later."
And just like that, the wound from his severed limbs closed, stopping the blood from flowing out like a waterfall. Then, the leader of divinity tossed his body aside. Unable to run or crawl, the pitiful man just lay there, crying.
Axerion turned to the army of demons and then uttered:
"Now, on to fixing the mess my genius of a brother has made."
It took some time, but after restoring the mana core to the operation chamber, the barrier eventually returned. Some of the demons had already entered the continent, but most of them were left behind.
He turned to Neral who looked at him with widened eyes. Wearing a carefree smile, he spoke.
"I never thought I would fight alongside you like this again."
Neral scoffed.
"Honestly, I would rather stay home. I’m too old for this."
Axerion let out a laugh at her statement.
"You’re forever young to my eyes, my dear."
The crimson-eyed man jumped several meters into the air, his arms wide open. And at his command, a giant portal facing the ground appeared in the sky. As Axerion levitated, he summoned a massive diamond hand from the portal. The raw energy that came off of this skill affected the way the elements behaved, even turning the white clouds into stormy gray with lightning tracing the sky.
This diamond hand turned into a fist. Then, like a falling meteor, it smashed the ground where the demons were standing. It utterly crushed his enemies, sending shockwaves that made Neral and Amelia hide behind the diamond shield.
Lifting the giant hand, Axerion saw some demons were still squirming on the ground. He flattened it with the divine hand several times until all was left in that area was a pool of blood and splattered flesh.