Chapter 37: Ramiel’s Turmoil
Pressure.
Invisible, like a tsunami of squishy anxiety rolling in.
That guy was at least a hundred meters away, standing under the city wall against the night sky. From here, he looked like a tiny shadow, utterly unremarkable. If it weren’t for that spotlight of frost glimmering, Ramiel might not have noticed him at all—who would, in pitch darkness, unless you were actively searching for someone a hundred meters away?
But the man spotted “him” instantly, not because the fellow could loiter in the sky with style, but because his very presence screamed, “Look at me!”
A mere glance sent a chill down Ramiel’s spine like a snowstorm followed by a bucket of cold water. It felt as if someone had thwacked him in the head with a hammer, and in a heartbeat, all the pressure flooded his body—his hands and feet turned ice-cold, muscles tensed as he stiffened, feeling like he’d fallen into an icy dungeon.
Thump thump!
He could clearly hear his own heartbeat.
What the heck…
An intense instinct told him to take a step back.
Ramiel always had a strong sixth sense.
Growing up as an orphan in Cataloma, he discovered his affinity for the power of faith early on, and the Church bred him as a core member of the Choir of Saints. He’d gone through grueling elimination training, sharpening his instincts to a beastly keen edge.
So, when he spotted that white figure crouched by the city wall, he sensed the “danger” long before he recognized the Sword Demon.
This man had unwavering faith in his instincts…
But this was the first time he felt slightly out of breath just from seeing someone far away, as if a swarm of bees had taken his brain hostage. The thought of running away crept into his mind.
This wasn’t the same “danger feeling” he had when he saw the Sword Demon.
In this moment, it was as if he could foresee himself being crushed into a pulp by an overwhelming force.
“Emily…”
“Ah ha—!!”
Cold sweat broke out on the man’s forehead as he scrambled to stop the woman next to him, only to hear her cackling as she charged first toward the Sword Demon, surrounded by sparkling lights, ready for an all-or-nothing showdown—she hadn’t noticed the weirdo looming in the night sky, darn it…
Slash!!
In the moonlight, Thunder Light roared into action, crackling arc lightning filling the air with a symphony of sharp chirps. The Sword Demon’s small figure vanished, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the enraged woman, stance wide, sword glimmering. He brought the lightning-infused blade down…
Whack, whack, whack, whack, whack!
That sword swung down like it was cutting paper, slicing through the ground, and the snowy surface cracked open, leaving a stark white line that reached a tree crown several meters away. Countless leaves fluttered as thunder roared, mixing with the chaotic debris in the air.
A seemingly unavoidable lethal strike aimed straight for Emily’s head, but the quick-witted woman detected it early and dodged just as some of her hair fluttered in the wind. Instantly, she countered with a punch, moving with astonishing speed, striking back at the Sword Demon in a stylish, gravity-defying manner!
Boom!
A golden fist crackled with energy, sending a terrifying gust of wind spiraling out into the darkness, flashing danger signs left and right. But the Sword Demon was already no longer at the center, hastily circling around the woman like a thunderbolt, his cloak flowing like a ghostly skirt, his blade crackling with electricity swinging once again.
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz—
For a fleeting two or three seconds, it became nearly impossible to discern whether it was the sounds of divine miracles or thunder striking the air. The battle had instantly escalated into a hyper intense showdown, blinding light flashing in wild rhythms, as the crash of sound shifted places in the darkness. Suddenly, the blazing electric web lit up the night sky again, revealing a crazed woman hugging a tree yanked from the earth, ready to smash it down like a hammer against the rumbling thunder!
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
Countless snowflakes danced in the night air, instantly cut apart by the densely packed sword lights, as the tree trunk seemed to splinter into pieces in an instant. Emily hurled a fist skyward.
Golden light and thunder clashed ferociously, but just seconds later, she was struck on the left shoulder by a sword swipe that nearly took out her entire arm. Roaring, she retaliated, pushing back the adversary with unstoppable force, clutching her arm and screaming, “Ramiel, k*ll her!”
Ramiel stood rooted to the spot, not moving.
He just wore a grim expression, gazing at the battlefield that seemed to stretch further away, yet his attention was stuck on that figure in the sky.
Is it her…?
It definitely has to be.
It looked like she had no intention of joining the fray, merely watching, yet somehow emanating such crushing pressure…
Ramiel vaguely saw her settle on a floating ice cube, yawning while scratching her back before lazily rifling through her pockets. After some time, he couldn’t quite see what she pulled out, but it seemed she stuffed something in her mouth… Was she snacking!?
“Ramiel, I swear I’ll—!!”
The sound of battle continued ahead as the man heard the woman’s furious shout through the chaos. His heart raced, knowing that if he wanted to save his reckless partner’s life, they should join forces to take out the Sword Demon fast, making the quickest escape afterward, deciding later whether to stay or run…
Ramiel knew he was hesitating.
Once he considered joining the fight, that aloof figure casually observing from above might jump in as well, weighing heavily on his conscience.
He was confident about defeating the Sword Demon; including Skarlij wouldn’t hurt. Right now, he wished that figure watching was Skarlij. Even if he summoned an army, if Ramiel wanted to leave, the Northern Army wouldn’t be able to hold him.
d*mn it…
Why could she sense the battle so fast and get here? It hadn’t even been more than a minute since they started fighting! Even if flying, that was absurdly quick…
Meanwhile, he had no idea when she’d shown up…
The gap was so glaring…
Ramiel’s thoughts spiraled, his head swarming with countless ideas, but soon he snapped back to reality… Wait, am I scared of her?
Am I… afraid?
He glanced down at his hands.
No…
I am Ramiel; I fear nothing.
She’s just a Special Patient…
And once upon a time, she was merely a lamb trapped in a cage waiting to d*e.
Why would I be intimidated by her…
What on earth am I doing?
“Ha.”
He suddenly chuckled, his gaze sharpening.
Either way, she might not be on the Sword Demon’s side; she could even be an enemy, considering that during the Woodward Forest incident, she was among those targeted by the Sword Demon.
So she’s just watching; why am I only now remembering this? Truly throwing myself into disarray…
Buzz—
The gold light, now slightly subdued, flared back to life around him, more dazzling than ever. He headed toward the clash between the Sword Demon and Emily.
If you like to watch, then I’ll give you a show to remember.
