After seeing the two apostles coming towards him, Arthur simply lifted two of his fingers and extended them forward with a motion so casual it would have been easy to miss if one wasn’t already watching him closely.
In the next instant, the force holding the third apostle in place inverted, and its body was hurled forward like a projectile. It crossed the distance in a blink and collided violently with the two Apostles rushing in to assist it, the impact released a compressed shockwave that tore through the surrounding air and scattered the clouds beneath them.
All three Apostles gasped as they were thrown backward, their formations breaking as they tumbled through the sky. Their chitinous armor cracked in several places, and it took several seconds of frantic adjustment before they managed to stabilize themselves again, hovering at a distance while struggling to regain control of their momentum.
When they finally looked back toward Arthur, there was no mockery left in their eyes. There was only caution, tension, and the dawning clarity of what they were truly facing.
Arthur remained where he was, floating as his coat drifted gently as though untouched by the violence moments earlier. His expression was calm, as he regarded them and spoke without raising his voice, "I don't want to waste time torturing you guys... So, it would be best if you tell me where your god is.”
The three Apostles didn’t answer him, they gritted their teeth as they exchanged wary glances, their reactions were subtle but unmistakable. And Arthur could see the conflict playing out behind their eyes, the instinct for survival clashing violently with their loyalty for their god.
By now, they understood beyond any doubt that Arthur was not struggling against them. He was in fact toying with them, it was clear from the earlier exchange that he was much stronger. If he chose to end them, it would not be a battle.
One of the Apostles clenched its fists, his black carapace creaking under the strain. The other two hesitated, their bodies were tense, and their energy fluctuated unevenly as the choice pressed down on them. Then, almost as one, they made their decision.
And props to them in spite of knowing they could die here, they still chose to not tell him about their god's location and decided to attack him.
This time there was no restraint in their attacks. They unleashed everything they had, abandoning defense entirely as desperation settled in. Their power surged to its peak, tearing through the sky in violent waves. Blades of compressed energy, attacks that could erase cities, rained toward Arthur from every direction. To an observer, it would have looked like a storm was converging on a single point.
Arthur moved through it with unsettling ease. He stepped aside by fractions of a second, shifting his position just enough that every strike passed harmlessly through empty space. When one Apostle attempted to sever his head with a sword, Arthur caught the attack between two fingers and shattered it without effort.
Another apostle descended from above with a kick, only for Arthur to lean back slightly and let the blow miss by a hair’s breadth. When the third tried to grapple him directly, Arthur placed a hand against its chest and pushed, sending him flying backward with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the clouds below.
For nearly a minute, they poured everything they had into the assault, ignoring the strain on their bodies, ignoring the certainty of failure. And still, they could not touch him even once.
Arthur sighed as the Apostles’ movements began to slow down, exhaustion and despair creeping into their motions. He studied them then, not as enemies, but as warriors who had reached the end of their path. A trace of respect appeared in his eyes born from the understanding that they knew exactly how this would end and had chosen to stand against him anyway. He acknowledged that not many could face death with such resolve.
But respect did not change necessity. Arthur raised his hand, his expression hardening as three invisible blades formed above his hand. And with a single swipe of his hand the three blades shot through the air.
The Apostles were still advancing when the blades passed through their necks. There was no pain, or resistance, only a clean severing as their heads separated from their bodies. Their eyes widened in shock as momentum carried them forward before their bodies collapsed midair.
Even then, their regeneration ability was already attempting to save them. Their vitality was so strong they were still alive and would continue to live for years without their body. Given time, they could have rebuilt their bodies.
But Arthur did not allow it, he injected Aether into their heads and their consciousness was erased completely, wiped clean before any suffering could take root. He held their bodies and severed heads in place with telekinesis as purple flames consumed the remains, reducing flesh and armor alike to nothing. Only the heads remained, preserved deliberately. He stored them away, already preparing to extract the memories he needed.
…
Inside the plaary defense command center, terror finally broke through the discipline that had held the officers together. The holographic feed showed the aftermath clearly, three Apostles were killed so easily.
The Director staggered back, disbelief written plainly across his face, while his assistant stared at the display, his hands trembling as he struggled to speak.
"S...Sir what should we do now?
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