Suzaku quickly rejected her earlier assumption.
If he really were some reclusive being from the Inner Sanctuary, there's no way he'd only show up now, after the whole place had already been reduced to rubble.
Even the most isolated hermit wouldn't sit idly by while their home was torched.
And just the sword in his hand was proof enough, this guy couldn't be one of the Five Great Clans.
There were plenty of exorcists within the clans who used swords, but a Holy Sword? That was a different story. Not only were they sacred relics of the Church, even if one were somehow in clan territory, it would be considered a heretical demonic weapon.
Still, she couldn't make sense of his identity.
"Could he be... an exorcist from the Church?"
"If so, then everything adds up."
Satanael had betrayed the Grigori, and Fallen Angels had always been a key concern of the Church.
There were even records of past Church exorcists pursuing Fallen Angels deep into the territory of the Five Clans.
That explanation seemed the most plausible.
But now wasn't the time to overthink it. What mattered most was how to deal with Satanael.
With that in mind, she gave Rod a slight nod, just enough to signal intent. Before Satanael could react, she quickly formed a series of seals, then thrust both hands toward him.
Yes, this would completely destroy the Inner Sanctuary's main hall, but since the Uji Treasure wasn't there, it didn't matter.
Besides, Satanael had already sliced the building in half earlier anyway.
"From the southern gate of the four directions, heed my call! Keeper of the Vermilion Flame, Suzaku!"
As her clear voice rang out, a massive pentagram materialized above her.
Crimson runes radiated red light, and a fierce vortex of flame burst forth from the array.
With a shrill cry, the gigantic form of the Vermilion Bird descended, bathing the air in blistering heat.
"Go!" Suzaku commanded, directing the bird toward the sky.
Its massive wings beat the air with fiery intensity. With one final surge, it ascended skyward, then dove like a missile straight toward Satanael.
In an instant, the sky above the Inner Sanctuary was engulfed in flame.
"You insolent wretches! You think this will kill me?!"
Satanael staggered up, veins bulging in rage.
Driven past his limits by Rod's earlier assault, he had lost all composure.
Raising his right hand, a spear of light rapidly began to form.
Only... it didn't stop at a normal spear's length.
It kept growing, until it was the size of a telephone pole.
Then he hurled it at the descending Vermilion Bird.
Whoosh!
The thick light-spear tore through the air, carving a blazing path as it collided mid-air with Suzaku's attack.
First came the blinding flash, holy light clashing with divine flame, creating a white-hot burst of radiance.
Then, after a single heartbeat, came the explosion.
The resulting shockwave shredded the atmosphere.
The already-ruined buildings of the Inner Sanctuary were blown apart.
Nearby exorcists and yokai alike were flung away like leaves in a storm.
The tremors continued for several seconds before finally settling.
Silence fell across the battlefield.
Only the crackle of fire and the crumble of rubble remained.
Rod dusted himself off and scanned the surroundings.
Suzaku's fiery avatar had vanished. So had the spear of light.
Looked like a draw.
But Rod could still feel the seething malice radiating from Satanael's aura.
As for Suzaku, she had collapsed from exhaustion, flat on her back in the ash, barely breathing.
She'd clearly used up the last of her strength.
No backup from her.
And then,
With the air shimmering around him, Satanael rose from the burning ruins, face twisted in fury.
Both hands lifted skyward as another spear of light began to form.
But Rod noticed something, the spear was forming much slower than before.
"You foolish mortals... I'll bury you all along with this place!"
This ambush was supposed to have been a clean operation, and yet it had descended into chaos, and worse, he'd been pummeled by some unknown punk.
His rage now burned brighter than Suzaku's flames.
Satanael's bloodshot eyes locked onto Rod, brimming with murderous intent.
"If you were really capable of that," Rod grinned, "you wouldn't need sneak attacks to begin with."
Satanael's face twisted with fury.
He just needed time, once the spear was ready, he'd annihilate every last human here.
Even his allies could burn for all he cared.
To die for the great Satanael should be their honor!
He could feel Rod's aura had dimmed after that strange speed burst.
That must've drained him.
But Rod didn't give him the chance to finish charging.
He popped a Senzu Bean into his mouth.
In a flash, his stamina and strength returned to peak.
"Clock Up!"
The emotionless mechanical voice rang out as Rod re-entered the world of accelerated time.
"What?!" Satanael's expression shifted, shock flashing in his eyes.
This human could still-
Before he could finish the thought, Rod was already on him.
Satanael's focus had been on the spear, and rage had clouded his senses. He couldn't react fast enough.
Rod's first target was the cursed black sword in Satanael's hand.
With a swift slash of the excalibur, he carved deep into Satanael's wrist, down to the bone.
Then came the wings.
Rod severed the remaining black feathers with brutal precision, and with them, the power fueling the light spear faded.
It dissolved into nothingness.
Satanael's body was launched into the air, blood spraying wildly as the cursed sword clattered to the ground.
Now painted red from head to toe, Satanael struggled to rise, glaring at Rod.
"Enough! You damned mortal... I am a Fallen Angel!"
Rod tilted forward, body low.
He drew his holy sword in a reverse grip, like a samurai readying a final strike.
The battlefield had long shifted focus.
Everyone, exorcists, witches, yokai, even the remnants of the Cicada Group, watched in awe as the two figures faced off.
Satanael, grinding his teeth, conjured a basic light sword and flew straight toward Rod.
But in the very next instant,
Rod vanished.
The world stopped.
Black and white arcs of slashing energy bloomed around Satanael like the cracks of a shattered mirror, forming a cage of death.
It was as if space itself groaned under the pressure, collapsing in on itself with a brittle snap.
And in that same moment, Rod sheathed his sword.
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