"Yukino!"
Watching Yukino Yukinoshita be swallowed by the colossal light pillar surging into the sky, Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno Yukinoshita both trembled violently, nearly collapsing on the spot.
However, Sharon, who had unleashed the Exorcism Ritual, had her face sink, with no hint of joy from defeating her opponent.
"Whoosh!"
Just as the light pillar was about to engulf Yukino Yukinoshita, Leon finally moved.
Three pairs of Devil wings unfurled behind him, and Leon's body emanated a demonic power nearly dozens of times stronger than Yukino Yukinoshita's. He abruptly appeared in front of Yukino Yukinoshita and stretched out a hand toward the light pillar rising from below.
The next second, a magic square array transformed into the most solid barrier, spinning open like a Mandala flower, blocking the surging light pillar.
"Boom!"
The light pillar violently impacted the rotating magic square array barrier, like a torrent of light crashing against an immovable reef. It stirred up roaring sounds while constantly splashing light sparks, illuminating the entire frozen landscape.
The light torrent could not penetrate the magic square array barrier. Like a divided flood, it surged around the two ends of the barrier, unable to reach Leon and Yukino Yukinoshita, who were protected behind it.
Leon maintained the posture of extending one hand to shield Yukino Yukinoshita, while glancing at Sharon on the ground.
Then, Leon raised his other hand.
"Om!"
Vast demonic power surged in the raised hand, quickly forming a dazzling magical projectile, resembling a tiny neutron star.
"Go."
Leon flicked the magical projectile in his hand as if shooting a marble, turning the projectile into a streak of red light that abruptly pierced through space and struck the light magic square array deployed below.
"Bang!"
This time, there was no deafening roar or extraordinary scene of destruction. The magical projectile, like a bullet breaking the balance of the ritual or a sharp dagger, shattered the light magic square array the instant it struck. The array broke down instantly, like a shattered mirror.
The ceaselessly rising power of light gradually dissipated, causing the light pillar to dim slowly until it vanished completely.
"Swish!"
Only then did Leon place a hand on Yukino Yukinoshita's shoulder, flashing with her to the side of Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno Yukinoshita.
"Yukino!"
"Are you alright?!"
Both women looked at Yukino Yukinoshita, who was still processing what happened, their faces revealing expressions of surprise and relief.
"I..."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the lingering panic on her sister's and mother's faces, opened her mouth, but was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Alright, we can talk about whatever it is later."
Leon released Yukino Yukinoshita, pushing her toward Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno Yukinoshita, before flashing once more to appear in front of Sharon.
"Quite a heavy hand."
Tucking the three pairs of Devil wings behind him, Leon landed on the ground, facing Sharon from a distance.
"I hadn't even seen that move just now. I didn't expect you to be hiding something like that."
Leon spoke casually, as if making small talk. His face was relaxed, yet his eyes were devoid of any emotion.
This demeanor undoubtedly caused alarm bells to ring wildly in Sharon's heart.
On the surface, however, Sharon maintained a slight smile.
"That was originally intended for you, but the higher-ups won't allow me to make a move against a genuine pure-blooded Devil, lest I upset the current, delicately maintained balance."
Sharon's words turned Leon's relaxed expression into a half-smile.
"So you used it against my Peerage?" Leon asked casually: "Because killing a Peerage Devil won't break the tacitly maintained balance between the Three Factions, is that right?"
"That's what you taught me." Sharon looked directly at Leon and said, "Just as you can kill an insignificant low-level Fallen Angel without any qualms, I can similarly kill an insignificant low-level Devil, can't I?"
"That makes sense." Leon nodded, then said, "Then you should also be psychologically prepared for retaliation, right?"
The moment this sentence came from Leon's mouth, Sharon leaped backward without hesitation.
"Bang!"
Precisely the instant Sharon leaped back, a magical projectile of astonishing power appeared out of thin air and landed at the spot where she had been standing a second ago, shattering the ground there.
A violent shockwave immediately erupted outward, cracking the ground inch by inch. Countless shattered rocks and debris flew, leaving a huge crater, easily ten meters in diameter, that was deeply alarming.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"...
Leon stood his ground, calmly extending one hand. Magical projectiles continuously shot out from his hand, attacking Sharon. As Sharon frantically dodged, the projectiles either struck the ground or hit the ubiquitous ice mountains, shattering both ground and ice, raising a storm of dust and ice shards.
Sharon also drew her Exorcism Pistol, preparing to pull the trigger at Leon, but before the bullet of light could be fired, the magical projectiles aimed at her abruptly changed. As if controlled by an unseen hand, they paused, turned, and assumed unpredictable trajectories, instantly surrounding Sharon.
"Explode!"
Leon forcefully clenched the extended hand into a fist.
"Boom!!!"
The magical projectiles surrounding Sharon instantly exploded like a series of ignited bombs, creating a deafening roar and igniting fire.
This was a much more violent explosion than any previous one, causing incredible destruction. The blast wave even reached the three Yukinoshita women, making them cry out in alarm.
The ground shook, and dust and smoke billowed up like wolf smoke, lingering in the air.
Leon, bathed in the incoming wind and waves, allowed his clothing and hair to fly wildly for a moment before lowering his extended hand.
"Escaped again?"
Muttering quietly to himself, Leon casually released his demonic power, blowing away the smoke and dust, revealing a huge impact crater to everyone's eyes.
"Gulp..."
At this moment, let alone Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno Yukinoshita, even Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but swallow.
Looking at the man standing before the crater, who maintained an air of complete ease despite the strong winds and the breathtaking scene, the three Yukinoshita women felt a tremor in their hearts, remaining speechless for a long time.
Leon, after glancing at a pool of blood and a piece of shredded nun's habit in the crater, turned and left the area.
"Stop looking. That woman isn't that easy to kill."
Arriving in front of the three Yukinoshita women, Leon immediately roused them when he saw they hadn't recovered their wits.
"Let's go back first. There's no point in staying here any longer."
Saying this, Leon didn't wait for the three to respond, and took the initiative to walk toward the Yukinoshita residence not far away.
The three Yukinoshita women exchanged glances, but in the end, none of them could speak, falling into silence.
"Let's go." Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at Leon walking away nonchalantly ahead, then looked at the silent Yukino Yukinoshita, and said with a complex expression, "We should... have a good talk."
Yukino Yukinoshita silently nodded, prompting even Haruno Yukinoshita beside her to show a complicated look.
The three women followed Leon's steps and returned to the Yukinoshita residence.
As for the area they left, although a huge commotion had been created, for some unknown reason, no one came to investigate. It sat there, ravaged and silent, wordlessly telling everyone what had transpired...
...
"Cough...!"
In a remote, uninhabited alley, a painful cough emerged, followed by a splash of bright red blood blossoming on the ground and wall.
Sharon, ragged and covered in wounds, appeared there, leaning against the wall and coughing up mouthfuls of fresh blood.
"...This injury is not good."
Sharon slid down the wall and slumped onto the ground. Feeling the intense pain throughout her body, she squeezed out the words with a pale face.
She felt her consciousness already beginning to blur, and her vision was stained red by the blood dripping from her forehead. She could barely distinguish any other colors.
Realizing the danger, she wanted to heal herself, but found that she had exhausted the last shred of her strength just to escape here.
If this continued, she would certainly die from excessive blood loss, without any chance of survival.
"Am I really going to die here...?"
Sharon muttered to herself, her consciousness hazy, yet her face showed no fear.
There was no fear of death in her heart, only resentment at being defeated so easily.
"He's become stronger than I imagined... It's truly hateful."
Why was this happening?
What could have changed him so dramatically?
Was she really going to die here, never to defeat him?
"Ugh...!"
The sudden surge of resentment in her heart forced Sharon to regain a little consciousness. Biting her bloodied lip, she struggled to get up.
Just then, a voice entered Sharon's ears.
"I advise you not to move for now, lest you bleed more."
It was a man's voice, somewhat similar to Leon's, sounding both slightly frivolous and easygoing.
"...Who?"
Sharon steadied herself, noticing a figure approaching her at some point, standing right in front of her.
She couldn't clearly see the person's face, but she could feel a familiar sensation emanating from them.
This feeling...
"Are you one of those warriors who inherited the bloodline factor of the Dragon Slayer Hero?"
Sharon recognized the person's identity.
It was a warrior who belonged to the Church, just like her.
But...
"Right now, I am not fighting for God, but for myself."
The person spoke with a smile.
"I have come to invite you, Sharon Holygrail."
"Will you come over to our side?"