As soon as Azrael's words echoed across the battlefield, the scene fell into stunned silence.
After all, if what he said was true, it was beyond bizarre, a Gold-level Lore Cardian defeating an Erald-level demon seed impossible by any conventional logic.
Kishimoto and Toriyama exchanged doubtful glances, their years of experience as firefighters in Qilu offering no precedent for such a situation. They had both been certain Azrael would not survive the encounter, only to be proven spectacularly wrong re minutes later.
However, unlike Kavach, they felt more delight than shock. After all, a genius like Azrael surviving was the optimal outco, they wouldn't have to worry about facing a Master Lore Cardian's wrath for failing to protect his disciple.
Godfrey, standing nearby, felt as if lightning had struck him. He had just imagined how pleased the master would be if Azrael died, but instead of perishing, the young man had apparently beco the Crimson Oath Society's number one enemy in Donglai.
At least based on his mories, Guild President Kavach definitely wasn't capable of such a feat. Godfrey's face truly resembled a corpse as he stared blankly at the young man, uncertain what to say.
Unlike the three aforentioned individuals, Diesel perford another dramatic expression change. In a matter of seconds, his features shifted between astonishnt, shock, and joy, ultimately settling on convinced acceptance.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Azrael changed the subject, "But my cards are nearly on cooldown. Those demons in the distance..." He gestured toward the shattered fleet of warships that had fallen silent. "I'm afraid I can't provide much assistance."
The others weren't prepared to let the matter drop so easily, especially Kavach. After all, he and Azrael were the only ones present who harbored genuine animosity toward each other, and he wouldn't be able to rest until he discovered what had actually transpired.
Even then, peaceful sleep would likely remain elusive.
Kavach lived up to his reputation, his expression resembling soone who had lost a beloved family mber, his heart utterly devastated. "Wouldn't it have been better if he had just died peacefully?!"
In his view, Azrael's death at the hands of an Erald-level demon would have been a happy ending for everyone, a perfect way to clear himself of suspicion. But who could have imagined that Azrael would actually kill an Erald-level demon? This ti it was an Erald-level threat, but who might be eliminated next ti?
After all, Kavach possessed so self-awareness regarding who had orchestrated Azrael's perilous situation.
After a mont's silence, his eyes rolled, and he casually made an outrageous request, "Since President Azrael claims he defeated the Erald-level demon, could you please show us the card information you used?"
Recognizing his words were presumptuous, he attempted to justify himself. "Of course, I'm not doubting you, President Azrael. I'm simply... curious."
Even with this clarification, the others present frowned slightly. Asking to examine a Lore Cardian's specific card information was extraordinarily presumptuous, no, it couldn't be called presumptuous; it was pure ignorance.
How could a Lore Cardian's card information, crucial to their survival, be casually revealed to others? While Diesel and the others were curious, they had no intention of making such an inappropriate demand.
Besides, Azrael had done nothing wrong. Could defeating an Erald-level demon possibly be considered a cri?
Before Azrael could respond, Diesel spoke first, "Isn't Guild Master Kavach's request rather rude? Guild Master Azrael isn't an illegal Lore Cardian requiring investigation cooperation."
Azrael observed Diesel's deanor and gestures, confusion rising in his heart. "Why is Diesel speaking up for ?"
If he rembered correctly, Diesel was probably in cahoots with Kavach, right? But judging by his actions, the support seed genuine.
"Am I really a succubus?" The thought struck him with dark humor.
A fake succubus: scantily clad in revealing black stockings with an enormous bust, pestering you daily with intent to drain you dry.
A true succubus: a weathered middle-aged man in his late fifties, shaking your hand while asking if you'd join him in supporting the Empire.
Azrael rembered similar events at Pixar University, when Oliver from the Battle Club had inexplicably beco his devoted fan. But then he recalled the information Shiraori had identified about Diesel, "The Addict of Contradictions."
Considering his title, such behavior wasn't entirely surprising.
"So... haven't I already effectively sidelined Kavach?"
Setting aside the seemingly neutral Director of Human Resources Godrick, he now controlled both Gold-level Lore Cardians at the Donglai Cardian Master Association headquarters.
Azrael suddenly realized he was approaching de facto control of Donglai, both openly and covertly.
Even as his thoughts raced, Kavach's expression hardened. He said stiffly, "Director Diesel, what do you an by 'investigation'? I'm simply curious. I believe President Azrael would satisfy my innocent curiosity."
In a few words, he had attempted to place Azrael on his side. What Kavach didn't realize was that in Azrael's eyes, he was already as good as dead.
In response to his actions, Azrael simply said, "You're curious?" and then completely ignored him.
Kavach froze, not expecting such blunt dismissal. Just as he prepared to continue probing Azrael's hidden agenda, a blazing flash of lightning exploded near them.
Imdiately afterward, an elderly man in pristine Taoist robes with a flowing white beard materialized on the shore.
"Where's the Erald-level demon?" the old man demanded, scanning the area with sharp eyes.
Upon seeing the newcor, Azrael brightened with surprise. "Master Finn?"
"Azrael?!" The elderly man's stern expression softened with concern. "Are you unhard?"
The old man was none other than Master Finn, a close friend of Azrael's teacher, Lucian. Azrael hadn't expected this particular individual to arrive. If he recalled correctly, Finn should have reached Diamond level by now.
He shook his head and asked, "Why are you here?"
Logically, the Qilu Cardian Master Association should have been able to dispatch an Erald-level Lore Cardian to handle the Donglai situation, there was no need to alert a Diamond-level master like Finn.
Furthermore, as a Celestial Master, the elder should normally operate in the Mid-Town area, which was relatively southern. Why had he co to Qilu, near the north?
Master Finn chuckled at Azrael's question and stroked his pale beard. "The situation in the north isn't favorable, so I'm providing assistance there. I happened to be resting recently, so after receiving Donglai's request for aid, I rushed over to assess the situation."
This was all true. However, Master Finn didn't ntion that Azrael was his old friend's most promising disciple, and his friend had specifically asked him to watch over the young man after he arrived in Donglai.
The newly erged secret realm along the southern coast had left Azrael's teacher completely occupied. Therefore, Master Finn had already inford the Qilu Cardian Master Association and provided them with crucial intelligence about Donglai.
"Speaking of which, didn't your ssage indicate that an Erald-level demon had appeared on Donglai's coast? Where is this demon?"
At that mont, Master Finn's perception detected no Erald-level demons, even the Gold-level threats were re stragglers and wounded remnants.
Upon hearing this, Azrael recounted the previous events to the old man. He omitted details about his Crimson Oath Society cards and his request for assistance from mphis.
By now, he had devised a strategy. Even if they needed to examine his card information, he could easily attribute everything to Aizen's Inventor trait. After all, that trait's description was deliberately vague, allowing for creative explanations.
Sothing like the appearance of the Hōgyoku, allowing Aizen to evolve into a Transcendent Being and slice through Vangeance with a single devastating blow. Or perhaps the manifestation of the Divine Light Rod, enabling transformation into a Warrior of Light to obliterate Vangeance with a Zeperion Ray.
Yes, that made perfect sense. Soone might argue that Azrael couldn't beco a Warrior of Light without light in his heart? Check out Dark Tiga, there was always a precedent available.
But it was clear that Master Finn wouldn't press the issue. The younger generation had their own opportunities, and he wouldn't pry further. After all these years, he still trusted his old friend's judgnt implicitly.
The old man simply regarded Azrael with pleasant surprise. "Impressive, Azrael! I didn't expect you to possess such capabilities."
Although Gold versus Erald did seem otherworldly, a card with multiple enhancents and blessings didn't make success impossible. Combined with extraordinary abilities, the chances of a Gold-level card defeating an Erald-level opponent were slim but not zero.
What Master Finn couldn't have anticipated was that Azrael had relied on the abstract skill [Administrator's Observation], a power that transcended conventional understanding.
Kavach had been attempting to make himself invisible since the very beginning of Master Finn and Azrael's conversation. He hadn't anticipated that the support sent by the Qilu Cardian Master Association would be Azrael's elder, and a Diamond-level Lore Cardian at that!
Even if his entire family were mobilized, they wouldn't be able to challenge such a figure.
Damn it, does having connections really an you can do whatever you want?
Kavach had no idea what Azrael was thinking, or he might have responded like the villain in a classic drama, "Sorry, but having connections really does an you can do whatever you want."
And these weren't just any connections, he had backing in both legitimate and underground circles.
Kavach could only pray that Azrael wouldn't complain to Master Finn, or he would face catastrophic consequences. Fortunately, the young man seed disinclined to pursue the matter.
Azrael simply glanced at him coldly before dismissing him entirely. After all, who wastes words with a dead man?
Master Finn, a perceptive individual with extensive experience, naturally observed the conflict between the president and vice president of the Donglai Cardian Master Association. But since Azrael didn't ntion it, he had no intention of interfering.
It seed the young man had already made his decision.
"Since everything's resolved, I'll return now." Seeing no imdiate tasks requiring his attention, Master Finn prepared to depart from Donglai. He was only on vacation and would soon return north to assist Master Tempest in fighting the demon army.
"Before I leave..." Master Finn paused, seemingly struck by inspiration, and a red-faced, bearded figure holding a golden seal in his left hand and a golden whip in his right appeared beside him.
[Taiyi Thunder-born Responsive Transformation Heavenly Worthy·Wang Lingguan]
As a crucial deity in the Empire of Aetherlight's Taoist system, Wang Lingguan was naturally the preferred choice among contemporary Taoist disciples. However, he was at least Erald-grade, making him impossible for most disciples to summon.
But as the current Celestial Master, Master Finn naturally faced no such limitations.
Wang Lingguan's expression was dignified and fierce. As the golden seal in his hand rotated, wisps of divine fla shot toward the sea. The mont the golden flas touched the water, they instantly spread across the entire ocean.
In the blink of an eye, every visible inch was filled with rising golden fire. The next mont, everyone witnessed what it truly ant to burn the heavens and boil the seas.
The vast ocean beca like bubbling soup, vaporizing and dissipating into the air. Space itself distorted under the soaring temperatures.
But that wasn't the most impressive aspect. The vast fleet in the distance ignited like massive torches, burning fiercely on the sea's surface while releasing trendous heat. Within seconds, the armada that Vangeance had painstakingly assembled was no longer visible.
"You won't need to worry about their threat anymore."
As Master Finn's voice echoed, the golden flas on the sea's surface flew back to the golden seal in Wang Lingguan's hand like swallows returning to their nests.
Strangely, despite their proximity, Azrael and his companions felt no heat whatsoever. The once-boiling seawater instantly cald, as if nothing extraordinary had occurred. Only the vanished fleet of warships in the distance confird that the previous display hadn't been an illusion.
"Now I'm truly departing."
Dismissing Wang Lingguan's manifestation, Master Finn smiled warmly at Azrael. What he had just accomplished wasn't a whim or re showing off, he simply wanted to assist his old friend's disciple.
After all, if Azrael were bullied under his watch, he wouldn't be able to face his old friend.
"Safe travels," Azrael replied with deep gratitude, bowing respectfully.
In a brilliant flash of lightning, the elderly Taoist vanished from the shore.
With Master Finn's departure, the assembled Lore Cardians breathed sighs of relief. Godfrey had been especially nervous, he was far more anxious facing Master Finn than even facing Alice.
His situation was complicated, after all. Being the association's director was his profession, but being a mber of the Crimson Oath Society was his life.
Azrael was different, he was a mber of Schrödinger's Crimson Oath Society, capable of switching allegiances at any mont if necessary.
He glanced at the silent Kavach and declared, "Now that the crisis has been resolved, we can clean up the remaining issues here, and everything should return to normal."
This was technically overstepping his authority, it would have been more appropriate for President Kavach to make such statents. However, since Kavach appeared troubled at the mont, Azrael temporarily assud presidential responsibilities on his behalf.
Upon hearing this, the other Gold-level Lore Cardians, excluding Kavach, all agreed and turned to attend to their respective duties.
Seeing this display, Kavach seed to regain his composure, and a false smile once again appeared on his face. "Then I'll leave this to President Azrael. I'll return to headquarters to oversee operations there."
Without waiting for Azrael's response, he disappeared from the coastal area.
Watching the hypocritical middle-aged man's retreat, Azrael curled his lips in disdain, scoffing internally.
"Pathetic."
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