[Reboot Arc] Chapter 244: Infighting?

“Seven Sins—Lucifer and Samael!” Captain Huo drew a deep breath. “I never expected them to appear here.”

“Seven Sins? What are those? The Seven Deadly Sins?”

Mo Xing asked in confusion. All he knew was that Lucifer was a demon—a fallen angel.

He seemed to remember reading about him in Dante’s Divine Comedy. Lucifer had refused to submit to Christ, the Son of God, and led one-third of the angels in raising a rebellion in the northern reaches of Heaven. After three days of fierce celestial warfare, Lucifer’s rebel army was finally defeated by Christ. He fell through the chaos for nine dawns and dusks before landing in Hell.

In his original world, all of this was merely legend. Yet in this world, such a figure truly existed.

Then was Mr. Shen Lucifer—or that other one, Samael?

“You can understand it that way. The Seven Sins are the seven gatekeepers of the Kallendis Order, each symbolizing one of the seven sins. Gathering all seven gatekeepers is one of the necessary conditions for resurrecting the Black Dragon God. So we must do everything in our power to prevent that possibility.”

“I... see.”

Mo Xing paused, his thoughts in turmoil. He had encountered Mr. Shen several times before. Judging by his skills, Mo Xing had always felt that the man’s identity was far from simple. He was certainly no ordinary sweeping monk. Logically speaking, he should have been one of the villains on the Kallendis Order’s side. But then why had he taught Mo Xing how to use skills? And besides—

“Why are the two of them attacking each other?” Mo Xing asked, puzzled.

“That, I don’t know.” Captain Huo frowned. “As members of the same faction, the two of them could easily have joined forces and dealt a devastating blow to our special police unit. Yet instead, they’re fighting among themselves. I have a bold theory...”

“What theory?” Mo Xing hesitated. “Could it be... could they be fighting over internal conflicts?”

“That’s what I think too.” Captain Huo nodded. “There must be some disagreement over internal interests or ideology.”

“This isn’t the time to discuss that. I’ll first arrange for the men to evacuate these people. This underground space looks as though it’s about to collapse.” Captain Huo glanced at the dangerously swaying ceiling and walls.

“Right.”

Mo Xing hurriedly responded. He saw a row of filthy black water gush through the shattered wall on the third floor. It was probably sewage from the underground drains, and it looked revolting.

“Squad One! Squad Two!”

Captain Huo picked up his radio. After waiting for a response, he issued an order:

“Escort the wanted criminals and gamblers out of here. Go to Area Eleven of the flight-training grounds above and rendezvous with Squad Eight!”

“Understood!”

A reply came through the radio.

“Mo Xing, leave with the main force for now and get somewhere safe.” Captain Huo patted him on the shoulder.

“Huh? Oh... all right.”

Mo Xing froze for a moment, then looked up at the two figures colliding in midair. Mr. Shen and his opponent were clearly evenly matched, exchanging blows in a fierce battle.

The earthquake grew more violent by the second. Fire and lightning streaked through the air, while fierce winds and shattered rocks flew in every direction. The entire underground space trembled on the verge of collapse.

“Squad Three! Squad Three! Can you receive my signal?”

Captain Huo switched radio channels, his expression anxious.

Squad Three was the group that had just gone to the offices on the third floor. They were closest to the dark electrical current, and no one knew whether their shields could withstand that overwhelming aura.

“Bzzzt—”

There was no response, only the crackle of electromagnetic interference.

“Squad Three! Is anyone there?” Captain Huo asked again. “If you can hear me, respond!”

“Bzzzt—”

Still no answer. Only the sound of electromagnetic static.

Captain Huo clenched his fists and drew a deep breath. They had planned this operation to suppress the bandits for so long, yet an unforeseen crisis had still arisen. Those men had better be all right.

“The rest of you, come with me to the third floor. We’re going in to rescue them,” Captain Huo ordered.

“Yes, Captain!”

Several of the soldiers responded at once.

They were members of Squad Four. Unlike the other squads, their duties were rather special: they were responsible for cleanup and handling the aftermath. Joining this squad was tantamount to entrusting one’s life to the Grim Reaper. As their slogan went:

“Squad Four, Squad Four! Faithful unto death!”

“I’m coming too!”

Captain Huo turned around and discovered that Mo Xing was still there. He had not left with Squads One and Two. Instead, he stood gripping the divine weapon Frostless, still poised for battle.

“Mo Xing, go back for now. You performed well in this operation. Someone will contact your school and arrange credits and a scholarship for you.” Captain Huo paused. “As for the work that falls outside the plan, leave it to us. You don’t need to take part.”

“Please let me join the rescue operation.” Mo Xing’s gaze was resolute. “I can definitely help!”

“I’m sorry, Mo Xing, but you can’t participate in this rescue operation.” Captain Huo shook his head. “The dark electrical field on the third floor is far too powerful, and it’s close to the battlefield as well. It’s simply too dangerous. If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t know how to answer to your school.”

“You two, take Mo Xing away. The rest of you, follow me to the third floor.”

Captain Huo pointed to two soldiers in the group, then turned and led the squad toward the third floor, activating the high-altitude flight device beside his belt.

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers acknowledged his order.

“Take me with you! I can help—”

Mo Xing watched Captain Huo rise into the air. Unfortunately, all he could do was hop and run; he had no flight skill. He had barely taken two steps when the two soldiers left behind blocked his path.

In midair—

“Lucifer, did the Order send you here to eliminate me?”

Mr. Shen released the defensive skill Guardian’s Arrow. A massive azure shield enveloped him, blocking the black bolts of lightning summoned by Lucifer.

“Since you chose to betray Kallendis, you’re of no further use to the Order. Your elimination is inevitable!”

Lucifer transformed the black current in his hand into dozens of energy spheres and hurled them forward.

“Heh. What I mean is, sending only you seems a little inadequate, doesn’t it?”

Mr. Shen gave a cold laugh. The azure crystal bow in his hand wailed once more, firing several sharp arrows of wind. The arrows tore through the air and pierced the field of black lightning, flying straight toward Lucifer—only to be shredded by his claws.

“Samael! Don’t forget—I, Lucifer, am the foremost of the Seven Sins! Dealing with a third-rate character like you, who knows nothing but disguises and stolen techniques, is well within my ability!”

Lucifer’s pupils contracted. The draconic glyphs tattooed across his face extended down to his shoulder.

Dragon Chant: Second Heaven!

Lucifer’s body underwent a marked transformation. His frame grew larger, the black aura surrounding him thickened, and even more violent currents of dark lightning gathered in his hands.

“Under such powerful black lightning, let’s see how long you can hold out!”

Lucifer laughed arrogantly.

“Have you ever heard the saying that if you use the right method, even tofu can kill a man?”

Mr. Shen smiled, entirely unsurprised by Lucifer’s sudden surge in power.

“Haha! You’re still making sarcastic remarks at a time like this? In this battle between the first and last of the Seven Sins, you won’t even have a chance to touch me!”

Lucifer was just about to release the black lightning he had finished gathering when his body suddenly shuddered. Azure vines had appeared from nowhere, binding his right hand. Blue-green poison spread along his arm, instantly interrupting the release of his skill.

“What? When was I hit?”

Lucifer stared at his bound right arm, a trace of astonishment crossing his face.

These were no ordinary vines, nor was this an ordinary technique.

The stronger the captive became, the more rapidly and wildly the azure vines grew in response to that power.

It was truly wild growth.

“From the moment you began clashing with me, wind energy had already infiltrated your body and planted a seed. When you used those black claws to tear apart my arrows, the beautiful seed finally sprouted.”

Mr. Shen smiled as wind energy began gathering once more within his azure crystal bow.

Lucifer was consumed by rage. Faced with the arrows flying toward him, he could do nothing but dodge frantically. The more he gathered dark lightning to launch counterattacks or defensive skills, the more violently the azure vines on his arm grew. The blue-green poison was even beginning to rot away his entire arm.

He had never imagined that, in the two months since they had last met, Samael would have developed such a technique.

“Dark Lightning Gate!”

A black gate appeared behind Lucifer. Its frame was formed from particles of lightning and darkness, while a black-and-violet vortex swirled within. From inside came a distant song:

“Our Emperor Kallendis, take up the blade of power and reshape the pitch-black night—”

“Samael! Just you wait!” Lucifer cursed. “I’ll settle the score with you later!”

“Heh. Is that so?”

Mr. Shen smiled.

“Then have another arrow.”

A white whirlwind merged into the azure domain of wind, gathering within the azure crystal bow in his hand. Several phantom-like azure arrows shot forth, carrying the destructive force of stars collapsing into oblivion. They curved across the sky like the tails of meteors and charged toward Lucifer.

Arrow of the Pursuing Wind!

The most powerful wind-element attack skill!

Its formidable penetrating power could pierce any defense in an instant. Even against high-level defensive skills such as Ion Shield or War God’s Body, the Arrow of the Pursuing Wind could break through the formation and inflict severe damage on its opponent.

“Damn it!”

Lucifer released a defensive skill. The azure vines instantly spread across his upper body, while the poison stimulated his muscles and nerves. The formation in his hands was shattered in an instant, and he was sent flying into the Dark Lightning Gate behind him along with the incoming Arrow of the Pursuing Wind.

As the Dark Lightning Gate closed and vanished in midair, Mr. Shen let out a slight sigh of relief. The entire underground space was swaying violently, looking ready to collapse at any moment.

Though the Arrow of the Pursuing Wind possessed tremendous destructive power, it placed an enormous strain on the nerves. Combined with his earlier clash with Lucifer, Mr. Shen was utterly exhausted. Relying on Windshadow Step, he slowly descended from the air.

Suddenly, several ion energy spheres appeared beside him. After circling him twice, they formed a massive blue shield, enclosing his entire body.

Ion Shield!

“Hey! Taking advantage of someone when they’re down isn’t very fair, is it?”

Mr. Shen smiled bitterly. Several soldiers had suddenly appeared before him, one of them Captain Huo.

“When dealing with villains, we show no mercy! And you’re one of the Seven Sins!” Captain Huo declared.

“Heh. I was expelled from the Order long ago. And honestly, I can’t stand the way you righteous people are trying to profit from the conflict.”

Mr. Shen smiled.

“No matter what methods or means we use...” Captain Huo paused. “Arresting you and bringing you to justice is the highest tribute we can pay to the brothers who were killed or wounded.”

“All right, then. Take me away.”

Mr. Shen stretched out inside the sphere of the Ion Shield.

“That speech of yours was rather entertaining.”