Chapter 270: Archenemy

Deep within an unnamed forest, several figures cloaked in black, cape-like garments moved like ghosts, their feet not touching the ground, exceeding human limits in speed as they headed eastward into the woods.

"Another thirteen miles ahead, and we'll reach the coast of Yanxia. Our submarine for extraction is waiting there. We'll be safe once we arrive," said a leader cloaked in black, speaking in low English.

"Ackmond, this operation has gone much smoother than anticipated. It makes me uneasy," another man with a deep voice remarked.

"Regardless, we've secured the 'Holy Grail'. Now our task is to deliver it back to the Council," Ackmond replied.

The other leading man chuckled darkly, "Morbis, your paranoia is acting up again. Don't you find encountering some resistance exhilarating? I've heard Lillith is with them this time. I do miss that little one whose sweet blood I could smell a mile away."

"Charlie, don't underestimate this. Unless you want Lillith to take your other hand," Ackmond sneered.

Charlie under the black cloak snorted coldly but said no more.

The three leaders, followed by nine others similarly cloaked in black, maintained their terrifying speed, sweeping through the forest like a black whirlwind. However, after proceeding for over a mile, Ackmond abruptly came to a halt.

"Careful!"

After the warning, about a hundred meters ahead, within the dense and dark forest, three high-intensity white incandescent lights suddenly lit up! These lights were covered by cross-shaped lampshades, their metallic silver shells gleaming brightly.

The intense lights illuminated the gloomy forest as if it were broad daylight, exposing the twelve men clad in black cloaks, leaving them with nowhere to hide!

At this moment, intricate dark golden patterns, resembling certain totems but with no discernible pattern, became visible on the cloaks of the twelve men, which had been previously invisible.

"Damn it, it's the 'Cross Mass Silver Radiance'! The hounds of the Vatican!" Morbis roared in frustration.

"Let's not act rashly. We hold the advantage now. Finding the opportunity to deliver the Holy Grail is crucial," Ackmond said in a low voice.

From behind the three lights, several dozen figures gradually emerged. Their faces were somewhat obscured due to the backlighting, but for the twelve men cloaked in black, visibility was not an issue. They immediately recognized a few familiar faces among the emerging figures.

3.5

Charlie chuckled, "Ackmond, has the Vatican's old man gone all out this time? Am I mistaken, or is Gabriel, the high-ranking and influential commander of the Red Cross Legion, really here to cross swords with us?"

A burly man clad in the heavy armor of a medieval European royal knight stepped forward with deliberate steps. He had a scruffy beard, a square face, and curly chestnut hair that gently swayed in the night breeze. His gray eyes showed no emotional fluctuations, emanating a weathered and ancient aura with each movement, like aged wine.

Reaching behind his back, the man pulled out a massive single-handed sword, an artifact in its own right with a red gem embedded in its hilt. A white cloth slipped off the sword, revealing a tarnished and colossal blade that exuded an aura of decay yet indomitable spirit.

Gabriel calmly surveyed the twelve shadows confronting him. In slightly muffled Italian, he said, "Ackmond, hand over our Holy Grail."

"Gabriel, you're still as arrogant as ever. Do you think we'll just hand over what we have?" Ackmond sneered beneath his cloak.

"You filthy monsters. Do you think seizing the Holy Grail will earn you the Lord's protection?" a slightly younger voice interjected. Another tall Western man with a pale complexion stepped forward, clad in chainmail armor and wielding a slender single-handed sword.

"Young man, it doesn't seem like it's your turn to speak here," Ackmond said disdainfully.

The young man scoffed, "Big Bat, open your eyes wide. I'm Arthur D'Amvins, the youngest prodigy Templar Knight of the Vatican. After tonight, you'll tremble at the sound of my name."

"Hahaha, Gabriel, it seems the new blood in your Vatican is becoming more and more inferior," Ackmond laughed heartily.

Gabriel remained silent, but Arthur seemed deeply insulted and was about to advance when another middle-aged man stepped forward and restrained him with one hand.

This man had a lean face and a slightly tall stature with jet-black hair. He shook his head at Arthur and said, "Don't be provoked by Ackmond. He's trying to anger you."

"I know, but I'm not afraid of him at all!" Arthur snorted but refrained from charging forward again.

Ackmond chuckled, "Oh, Sir Thomas, long time no see. Is this young lad your disciple? When did your Templar Knights lower their standards?"

Thomas remained impassive and stated, "Marquis Ackmond, hand over the Holy Grail. Tonight, you have no chance. With Commander Gabriel, myself, and Arthur, along with the twenty Sacred Knights of the Pope's Guard behind us, your three elders and nine servants are no match for us."

Ackmond sneered, "Of course, I recognize all of you. We've been at odds for over a dozen centuries. But I'm curious, who are the dozen or so behind you? They don't seem to be from the Vatican."

Morbis, somewhat displeased, replied, "Ackmond, no need to guess. The only reason the Vatican is making such a fuss and engaging us in battle here is because of the Yanhuang Iron Brigade!"

"We're not your friends," a young man spoke in English as he stepped forward. "I'm Yongye, leader of Dragon Team 2 of the Yanhuang Iron Brigade. According to our superiors, we're here to assist the Vatican in eliminating you heretical invaders and reclaiming the Holy Grail."

Yongye appeared smug, and behind him, members of Dragon Team 2 followed suit. Simultaneously, Cai Ning approached from behind, followed by a row of fully armed Jiaolong Special Forces.

"Yanhuang Iron Brigade meddling in affairs that exceed your jurisdiction, involving the Vatican and the Dark Council?!" Charlie sneered.

Yongye scoffed disdainfully, "We recognize only the authority of the Vatican. You heretics should have been put on the gallows long ago, you filthy creatures who feed on human blood. If we weren't in Europe, we would have wiped you out long ago."

Cai Ning furrowed her brows slightly and said to Yongye, "Enough said. We're only here to assist."

Yongye smiled gently at Cai Ning and promptly fell silent.

Meanwhile, Gabriel seemed to be running out of patience. He forcefully plunged his single-handed sword, over two feet long and more than an inch thick, into the ground. "Ackmond, it's time to decide—fight or flee. If you hesitate any longer, I will strike first."

"Ackmond, don't you think outsiders shouldn't meddle in our affairs? You've allied yourselves with the Yanhuang Iron Brigade. How decadent," Ackmond lamented with a hint of regret.

"These matters don't concern me. I am the commander of the Red Cross Legion, and we Crusaders obey only the Pope's divine commands. My duty is to fight," Gabriel replied firmly.

"If that's how you feel, then there's nothing more to say. Old friend, it's been many years since we crossed paths. I hope your body hasn't rusted as much as your giant sword," Ackmond said before his cloaked figure suddenly shot out like a bolt from the blue.

A man with a pallid, lifeless face, tall and slender, dressed in an anciently tailored suit, moved like a black lightning bolt through the tranquil night.

In an instant, Ackmond's right fingertip glowed with a five-pointed crimson light. His nails rapidly extended by a centimeter, and the trajectory of his movements in the dark night pierced the air with sharp, whistling sounds.

"Hmph!"

Gabriel grunted, and he lifted his massive sword from the ground, slamming it heavily with the flat of the blade. Despite its seemingly simple appearance, the strike effectively blocked all angles, forcing Ackmond into a position where he could only withstand the blow head-on.

"Hngh!"

Unfazed, Ackmond extended his crimson blood claws fearlessly, eyes flashing with fiery red flames, meeting the rusty giant sword head-on.

"Cross Holy Light!"

Ackmond roared fiercely. A milky-white halo appeared on the back of his sword, with a small cross symbol suddenly enlarging into a massive cross-shaped radiance that enveloped Ackmond.

"Sacrifice!"

A drop of blood seeped from Ackmond's fingertip, forming a viridian flame in mid-air. It collided with the cross halo, emitting a corrosive "sizzle" sound before dissipating entirely.

After the exchange with Gabriel, Ackmond staggered back several meters. In a barely audible voice to Morbis and the others behind him, he said, "Quickly flank and retreat! Before they completely surround us!"

Morbis and Charlie realized that a direct confrontation would not secure their escape. Ignoring Ackmond's peril, they swiftly moved their feet, aiming to flee towards the sea from the other side of the forest.

"Don't even think about escaping! Do you think we're just for show?"

Arthur, the Holy Templar, held his sword single-handedly and swiftly moved two steps in front of Morbis and the others. The blade gleamed with sacred light, accompanied by countless complex sword shadows, converging towards Morbis at the forefront.

"Young man, don't underestimate me!"

Morbis grew irritated. Clearly, the youthful Arthur made him uncomfortable. He raised a hand hidden beneath his cloak, revealing a sword formed of blood magic unique to the vampires. With a flash of bloody light, Morbis's sword intercepted and shattered Arthur's entire attack.

The blood sword violently burst in the air with an eerie ferocity, creating a strong gust of wind that forced Arthur to stagger back several steps uncontrollably.

"You think you can stop me, Morbis? You underestimate the Elder of the great bloodline!"

Just as Morbis thought he could break through and lead his group away, dozens of icy cold stars suddenly appeared ahead.

"Get back!"

The swift agility of the vampires saved them, but one of the blood servants didn't dodge in time and was hit by several of the incoming cold stars.

"Ahh!"

A dreadful scream pierced the air as the blood servant, engulfed under his cloak, writhed on the ground in agony.

"Silver needles, the hidden weapons of Yansha?!" Charlie speculated angrily as he saw the irreparable loss of their servant.

Emerging from the darkness ahead, Cai Ning, now clad in a tight combat outfit, stepped forward. Her expression remained cool and inscrutable, holding a delicate needle-like projectile in one hand.

"Twenty-seven rounds of Blizzard Pear Blossom needles. Although not purely mechanical, perhaps these will suffice against you," she replied calmly to Charlie's inquiry, once again assuming her role as Huayu among the Eight Members.