The Deceitful One

"W-What the fuck is going on!?" Bryan looked at the night sky in the distance where red-colored fireworks were blooming, in utter disbelief. Something really terrible must have happened for so many signal flares to be shot all at once.

Beads of sweat dropped from Ron's forehead as he instructed the team, "Everyone! Focus on the enemies ahead!"

The rest of the team members snapped back to their senses as they saw the Blood Path Transcendents look at them as if they were prey. And in this scenario, they were indeed prey.

After all, they were outnumbered ten to six and the other side also had a Rank 2 Transcendent leading them!

However, the members of the Strike Team were also seasoned warriors, even Bryan who had joined recently had had his fair share of life-and-death battles. Even though they were outnumbered, they didn't back down nor did they try to escape.

The six of them had their backs to each other as they looked out for any incoming attacks from the enemy.

"What's the plan, Ron?" Henry tightly gripped his broadsword as he prepared for battle. Strength Path Transcendents almost always preferred cold weapons.

Ron surveyed the area around them and replied, "I can try to take two of them at once, maybe three. But I'm worried about the Rank 2."

Listening to Ron, Alfredo couldn't help but chuckle in amusement, "Worried about the Rank 2, is it? Very well, I won't participate in this battle. Let's see how you guys perform."

The members of the Strike Team were momentarily stunned, however, they still knew better than to trust the words of their enemy.

"I'll do you one better." Alfredo's lips curled up into a cold smile as he pointed at Bryan, "Hand over that boy to me and I'll let you all leave."

Everyone present was shocked as they started to wonder just what the relationship between Alfredo and Bryan was. The latter was also equally shocked as he stated, "What do you want with me? I don't even know you."

But of course, Bryan knew exactly who Alfredo was. In Lara's dream, he had seen him a few times and knew him as the leader of the Holy Blood Sect's branch in Damascus.

"What do I want with you?" Alfredo gritted his teeth as he stared daggers at Bryan and screamed, "You killed my dear grandson, my only kin, and even mutilated his corpse. Yet you have the fucking gall to ask what I want with you!?"

Bryan's eyes narrowed listening to Alfredo. He looked at the latter closely, trying to figure out which unlucky bastard that died from his hand was Alfredo's grandson.

A few moments later, Bryan's eyes widened as he was now able to vaguely match Alfredo's appearance with another blond young man. The very man who had killed Jamie!

"Anthony…" Bryan muttered under his breath.

"Hehehe," Alfredo chuckled coldly, "It's good that you remember. I'll do the same thing you did to my grandson. Tonight I will have finally avenged his soul."

He then raised his hand and pointed at the Strike Team members as he ordered the people beside him expressionlessly, "Kill them all."

…

The sun was about to set and the sky was dyed a shade of orange hue. High up in the sky, the clouds parted as they made way for a humongous ship!

It was a steam dirigible!

The frame of this giant flying ship was made up of brass and copper. The sound of gears moving and steam hissing filled the surrounding as the dirigible's propellers whirled rapidly.

This dirigible was unlike the common ones that were used by the regular people—mostly the affluent. For this flying vehicle was a product of science as well as magic!

On the main deck of a dirigible, three figures stood by the railings. The harsh winds blowing did not hinder them one bit. All three of them were Transcendents!

The one standing at the front was a middle-aged man with brown hair. He was wearing a gray three-piece suit and the hems of his suit jacket flapped behind him because of the strong wind, making him look heroic.

The man had a solemn look in his eyes as he stared at Damascus City in the distance. Even though it was almost a hundred km away, he could still see it clearly. This spoke volumes about his power!

His name was Victor Smith, a Rank 4 Ice Path Transcendent, and a member of the Silver Owls' branch in Nadir!

Standing behind him were two figures, one boy and one girl who looked to be in their early twenties, as they marveled at the breathtaking view all around them as well as below.

"Teacher, will we be participating in the battle?" The blond young boy asked Victor as his blue eyes shone with excitement.

The black-haired young lady beside him elbowed the boy and spoke in annoyance, "Isn't it obvious Tim? Don't ask stupid questions."

"Stupid?" Tim was dumbfounded, "Elena, that was a genuine question!"

Elena simply rolled her eyes at him and then asked Victor, "So…teacher, will we be fighting as well?"

Tim was dumbfounded yet again as he thought inwardly, 'This girl… Hypocrite!'

Victor replied without turning back, "I'll be fighting at the forefront. You both make sure to provide assistance to the other members of the Damascus Strike Team. Understood?"

However, Tim urged, "Teacher, please let me fight with you! I can even try out the new spell!"

Victor turned around and looked at Tim expressionlessly, "Can you hold your own against a Rank 4 Devil?"

Tim and Elena simultaneously sucked in a breath of cold air.

"R-Rank 4!!?" Tim was wide-eyed, "How did a Rank 4 Devil appear in Damascus in the first place!?"

Both he and Elena found it difficult to comprehend how a Devil that should have been residing in Hell—whose entrance was sealed, no less—appeared in the surface world.

Victor, however, didn't reply. He turned his gaze back towards Damascus where he saw Detective Watson along with other members of the Silver Owls facing the Devil. However, things weren't looking so good.

'James…' He thought inwardly as his eyes flickered with a hint of somberness.