Ok since some of you didn't read my review, let me say it here. I am not a machine where my editing will be perfect, I make mistakes. The most I can do is correct them when you tell me and point it out. ALSO, I metioned that not all names will be in English because complications will arise when I do so, so you'll still see a good amount of chinese names.
You can also add names that you'd like to see here. Most of the time, I just put a person's name from the last genre of book I read or the people in my surroundings. [HERE]
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When Azrael and Wendy arrived at the scene and observed the coffin, neither had expected that something could survive the devastating attack they'd just witnessed.
Azrael approached the vehicle cautiously and studied the transparent coffin with careful attention. He tore away the damaged data cables wrapped around its surface and carefully dragged the entire container free from the wreckage.
"It seems we've caught ourselves quite the prize," Wendy muttered under her breath, her usual playful demeanor replaced by focused professionalism.
The two circled the coffin and discovered a man lying inside with his eyes closed, seemingly in some form of suspended animation.
For safety reasons, they chose not to open the coffin immediately. Azrael and Wendy weren't the reckless protagonists of horror films who would carelessly unleash unknown dangers. If something sinister lurked within that container, opening it would only invite trouble upon themselves.
After a thorough examination, Azrael commanded his Shadowkhan soldiers to collect the mysterious artifact and prepared to deliver it to Commander Kageyami, letting the Northern Defense Army's research division wrestle with whatever secrets it contained.
While they studied the coffin, the Shadowkhan had efficiently collected the corpses of all the demons present at the battlefield.
Ulquiorra approached respectfully and offered Azrael a brilliant crimson bead. "My lord, this is Yale's essence."
Azrael examined the bead in his palm and couldn't help but comment, "This looks like something a fantasy protagonist would use as a cheat code for instant power-ups."
With that observation, he channeled his spiritual energy to condense the material, then crushed the bead in his hand. The result materialized as an Emerald-level [Scarlet Overlord] (Red quality).
Although Azrael had anticipated from their battle with Yale that he would likely obtain blood-related materials, the sight of the [Scarlet Overlord] in his hand still left him genuinely stunned.
The card was a perfect match for his current collection.
"Wendy, I need this material. After we calculate the battle points, I'll transfer twelve thousand points to your account."
After securing the material safely, Azrael turned to Wendy to discuss dividing their spoils of war.
Wendy waved her hand dismissively. "You eliminated all those demons single-handedly. Take whatever you need."
However, after hearing Wendy's generous offer, Azrael had no intention of accepting such an unfair arrangement.
He understood that without Wendy restraining the other two Demon Army officers, he would never have had the opportunity to eliminate Yale in the first place.
After a moment of consideration, he said, "Then let's do this instead. Wendy, the remaining materials are yours."
Besides the three Emerald-rank Demon Army officers they'd eliminated, the convoy had contained numerous lower-level demons, though Yale had reduced most of them to demonic waste at the battle's outset.
Hearing Azrael's proposal, Wendy glanced at the low-level demon corpses gathered by the Shadowkhan soldiers and roughly estimated their total value. "Alright, that works."
The combined value of these lower-tier materials totaled approximately thirteen thousand points, which after accounting for processing fees, wasn't significantly different from twelve thousand points.
Azrael felt relieved when the short-haired woman agreed to his proposal.
Although Wendy had acted somewhat unpredictably in the past, she proved remarkably straightforward in matters of business. Otherwise, she wouldn't have initially suggested that he take Yale's materials outright.
After concluding the division of spoils, Wendy immediately grasped Azrael's arm, and both vanished into thin air.
Early morning found Azrael opening his eyes in his residence within Gaza Town.
Some time had passed since he and Wendy's successful ambush mission.
After they returned to Gaza Town and submitted their collected materials, Commander Kageyami offered minimal commentary. Clearly, not being a researcher himself, he couldn't discern anything particularly significant about the coffin's contents.
Other teams subsequently returned to the city, though most came back bearing wounds. Few managed to obtain materials from the Demon Army's experimental convoys.
This was primarily due to most materials being destroyed during the fierce battles with demon forces.
Some were destroyed by collateral damage from the fighting, while others were deliberately destroyed by the Demon Army themselves to prevent capture.
It's worth noting that the points for the previous city defense battle had already been distributed. Ulquiorra had earned twenty thousand points for slaying two Emerald-level demons.
Looking at his remaining point total of twenty-three thousand eight hundred sixty, Azrael stroked his chin thoughtfully and wondered, "Should I prioritize upgrading Ulquiorra first?"
He opened the points platform interface.
However...
"[Dark-Winged Bat Demon], twenty-five thousand nine hundred ninety points?"
"Why don't they just go rob a bank instead?" Azrael muttered, swiping through a material that had caught his attention.
The next several suitable materials he found cost at least twenty-four thousand points each, which forced him to abandon the idea of upgrading Ulquiorra immediately.
"Never mind, I'll consider it later."
Azrael sighed softly and turned off his phone.
Right now, he wasn't in any urgent rush to upgrade Ulquiorra to [No. 4]. After all, there wasn't any critical situation demanding immediate enhancement.
If this had been before he crafted the Saber Belt, he might have borrowed some points from his senior sister. But now that he possessed the ability to protect himself adequately, such urgency no longer existed.
Setting Ulquiorra's upgrade aside for the moment, Azrael carefully extracted a snow-white thigh from his stomach area.
Rising from bed, he looked down at Frieren, who was sleeping terribly sprawled across the mattress, and couldn't help but sigh.
Without disturbing the sleepy, white-haired elf, Azrael headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Fubuki, dressed in baggy lace pajamas, was also conducting her morning routine.
Seeing Azrael enter, a toothbrush instantly floated toward him through psychokinetic power.
It was true that telekinesis proved quite convenient; Azrael didn't even need to handle basic tasks like brushing his teeth personally.
"Gurgle, gurgle, remember to wake Frieren for breakfast later," Azrael said while brushing.
A moment later, having finished his morning routine, the young man arrived at the dining room and found Retsu preparing breakfast.
Azrael wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind and whispered, "Thank you for all your hard work, Sister Retsu."
"Not nearly as much as you endure," she replied.
Feeling a gentle pat on his hands, Azrael awkwardly released his grip.
He couldn't determine whether the gentle beauty's words were genuine appreciation or subtle sarcasm.
Leaving the kitchen, Azrael discovered Artoria sitting at the dining table, her expression solemn as if preparing for an arduous battle.
Perhaps, for Artoria, breakfast truly represented a challenging ordeal.
"Would you like something to fill your stomach first?" Azrael casually retrieved some bread from the Shadow Kingdom's storage and handed it to the petite girl.
Seeing the bread, Artoria's eyes lit up immediately. "Thank you, Azrael."
She accepted the bread and began gnawing on it with hamster-like enthusiasm.
"Ah, Azrael, you're so biased! I want some too, little spider!" Shiraori called out in an overly sweet tone.
Azrael shuddered at the saccharine words and tossed additional bread to the spider girl, who was also waiting for breakfast.
He made his way to the living room, where Misaka was engaged in video games with Nel.
Suddenly, a voluptuous figure emerged from the shadows behind Azrael, sending a chill through his body.
It was Shinobu.
"Stop that! There are children present," Azrael blushed and slapped away the pale hand reaching beneath him.
Nami, who had been watching television nearby, rolled her eyes. "And it's happening in broad daylight too."
Shinobu crossed her arms defiantly. "You're simply jealous of the bond between my Lord and myself."
Nami's forehead tightened with irritation, and she exchanged heated words with Shinobu. "What did you say?!"
Azrael involuntarily reduced his presence, having no desire to become entangled in a conflict between women.
Meanwhile, Misaka's fair ears, her back turned to Azrael, had turned crimson.
Clearly, the scene that had just unfolded proved too mature for this middle school student's sensibilities.
Azrael, he thought to himself, another day of chaos begins.
Under the veil of night, a massive city slowly shifted its position.
Within the command tents at the city's heart, numerous Lore Cardians stood assembled in dense formation.
Someone spoke with solemn gravity, "Thank you all for your assistance during this operation."
It was none other than Bear Master, the commander-in-chief of Sardinia City.
About a month or two prior, the Northern Defense Army's leadership had ordered both Sardinia and Shibuya to conduct strategic withdrawals.
Both cities had immediately begun preparations, but unfortunately, in this world, they couldn't simply abandon their urban infrastructure.
Constructing crucial border fortifications like these required countless hours of painstaking effort from Lore Cardians, making it impossible to leave them standing for the Demon Army's advantage.
Fortunately, all important border cities possessed mobile capabilities.
This time, Sardinia and Shibuya's destination was Shunagakure.
Once the operation reached completion, both cities would become satellite settlements of Shunagakure, providing forward defensive positions.
Azrael's senior brother, Jacob, was also present within the tent.
Hearing Bear Master's words, he simply smiled. "Commander Bear, you're too modest. We're simply fulfilling our duties."
He then sighed with evident concern. "But I have an uneasy feeling that this operation has proceeded too smoothly. So far, the Demon Army hasn't made a single aggressive move."
Upon hearing this observation, everyone present fell into contemplative silence.
Jacob's concerns weren't unfounded. After all, the reason Sardinia City and Shibuya City had initiated their withdrawal was due to increasingly aggressive Demon Army activity in the vicinity.
However, now that the Northern Defense Army was actually conducting the pullback, the Demon Army had mysteriously quieted their operations.
At that moment, a flicker of worry crossed Bear Master's eyes, but he quickly forced a cheerful laugh and said, "Who knows? Perhaps those demon forces are occupied with some demonic experimentation project and lack the time to concern themselves with us."
"Don't overthink the situation, everyone."
Considering the intelligence his master had recently relayed to them, Jacob temporarily set aside his doubts and sighed softly. "I hope that's the case."
"By the way, when did we last receive communication from Shibuya City?"
"Something serious has occurred."
In Gaza Town, Azrael had just finished his duty shift when Wendy arrived wearing an unusually grave expression.
He rarely witnessed her displaying such seriousness, which immediately put him on alert as well. "What's wrong?"
Wendy simply pressed her lips together. "Let's discuss this inside," she said, guiding Azrael into the house.
The confused young man led the short-haired woman into the living room, where a Shadowkhan soldier promptly placed a cup of hot tea before each of them.
But Wendy had no time for refreshments at the moment. "Shibuya and Sardinia are surrounded by Demon Army forces."
The briefer the words, the more severe the situation.
Azrael felt momentarily stunned by the news, but then remembered his senior brother Jacob, whose mission involved supporting these two cities.
He composed himself and said calmly, "Tell me more details."
Wendy shook her head and spoke rapidly, "I don't have complete information on the specifics. Commander Kageyami only mentioned that Shibuya and Sardinia were under siege, and we need to dispatch reinforcements."
"It's just that Jacob has already departed with a group of personnel, so we probably won't be able to send a large force this time."
Azrael fell into thoughtful silence.
He understood that Commander Kageyami's decision was tactically sound.
If Gaza Town committed the same number of personnel as the previous mission, another city would likely fall under siege as well.
"Wendy, you came to see me specifically. I assume we've been selected, correct?"
Upon hearing this, Wendy's expression grew somewhat peculiar, then she released a strange laugh. "Commander Kageyami seems impressed by our previous tactical cooperation, so he specifically requested our participation."
"But this time, we'll be operating as a small harassment unit, aiming to disrupt those demon forces."
"When the timing proves favorable, the Lore Cardians within both cities will naturally coordinate with our efforts."
Azrael nodded slightly in understanding.
This mission's support from Gaza Town wouldn't include any Master-level Lore Cardians, let alone Diamond-level ones.
Under such circumstances, they naturally couldn't engage the demon forces in direct confrontation. Guerrilla tactics were far more suitable for a two-person team like theirs.
"I understand. When do we depart?"
"Commander Kageyami indicated the sooner, the better."
"Understood."
"BOOM!"
A pale green beam of spiritual energy pierced the heavens and earth.
From the walls of Sardinia City, countless Lore Cardians observed with bemused expressions as earth-shaking explosions erupted within the distant Demon Army positions.
For the past several days, they'd noticed Lore Cardians conducting harassment operations against the Demon Army. They quickly deduced these were Lore Cardian teams dispatched from surrounding cities.
However, clear differences existed among the various Lore Cardian teams.
The most conspicuous disturbances were caused by an unknown unit that had been launching vicious attacks against the Demon Army positions.
For days now, the Demon Army encampment had suffered bombardment approximately every hour or two. While casualties remained relatively light, the psychological impact proved extremely troubling.
Not only the Demon Army itself, but even the city's defenders had been affected.
Some lower-level Lore Cardians couldn't even meditate properly under these circumstances.
Jacob, having never witnessed Ulquiorra in action, naturally didn't realize this was Azrael's handiwork.
Observing the motionless Demon Army in the distance, Bear Master couldn't help but mutter, "Why are these Demon Army forces acting like turtles hiding in their shells?"
If he were commanding those demon forces, they would have grown fed up with hearing explosive bombardments constantly echoing in their ears and would have charged out to locate that unknown Lore Cardian.
Then the Lore Cardians within Sardinia City could launch a coordinated counterattack.
At that moment, far from Sardinia City, Azrael and Wendy were stealthily observing the Demon Army's positions.
For safety considerations, Azrael had Ulquiorra unleash his Lanza del Relámpago at maximum effective range. Given the vast scope of the Demon Army's encampment, there was virtually no chance of missing their targets.
"Such remarkable patience," Wendy couldn't help but grumble, observing the Demon Army's complete lack of response.
Azrael's expression remained serious, however. "We probably won't be able to continue this tactic much longer."
"I suspect the Demon Army is waiting for us to lower our guard before dealing with us decisively."
Wendy was startled, then nodded like an enthusiastic student. "I thought the same thing!"
Azrael glanced speechlessly at the woman beside him who seemed to simply echo his observations.
"Let's go, Wendy. We'll return to Shunagakure to rest, then give them another serious blow."
"I hope my brothers and the others can seize the opportunity when it presents itself."
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