Catherine Isabella
Strength: A+
Stamina: A+
Agility: A+
Magic Release: A+
Mental Power: A+
Luck: A
Noble Phantasms: Bloody Rose (False), Goddess of War (False), Black Contract Victory Sword (True), Black Light Armor (True)
Riding: A+
Intuition: A+
Temperament: A+
The moment Bella put a bullet through Mephisto's head, a familiar surge of power roared through her veins.
Her mental strength skyrocketed, the virtual attribute interface flickering into existence before her eyes. Every stat except Luck had reached A+, and even Luck—historically the hardest to increase—had jumped from B- to A. She'd expected killing the Demon King to bring rewards, but this gain exceeded all predictions.
It was a pleasant surprise, and the satisfaction was written all over her face.
Sure enough, Demon Kings were the best kind of prey—easy to track when wounded, rich in experience, and loaded with rewards.
But her moment of satisfaction didn't last long. Bella's expression hardened as she turned her gun toward the roadside.
"Get out."
The words were cold, like the first wind of winter. The killing intent behind them made it perfectly clear—anyone who tried to run would die in the most miserable way imaginable.
From the shadows, figures began to emerge. They wore black tactical uniforms and long coats, pistols strapped to their thighs, the pale gleam of fangs visible in the rain. At the lead was a tall, striking woman with short, messy hair, her sharp eyes locked on Bella.
It was Selena, accompanied by a squad of Death Walkers. Beside her stood Kraven, temporarily leading Victor's forces.
The other Blood Clan said nothing, but Kraven's thoughts were chaotic. He had rallied much of the dark alliance to surround the town tonight, hoping to use the battle as a stage to prove his worth—just like when he had "slain" the Werewolf King centuries ago.
When Mephisto appeared, Kraven thought fortune had smiled upon him. When the Demon King was injured, he dared to hope for glory.
Then Bella showed up and killed Mephisto in a single shot.
Kraven's pride turned to dust. The Goddess of Judgment was a name spoken like a curse in the dark world—equivalent to Death itself. In her presence, cities had been erased for less.
He prayed she wouldn't notice him.
She did.
With the muzzle of Bella's gun aimed his way, Kraven forced himself forward, following Selena toward the woman every instinct told him to avoid.
When Bella's eyes landed on Selena, something in her expression shifted. For all her icy demeanor, Bella was not immune to beauty—and Selena was undeniably beautiful. Pale skin, a cool and untouchable aura, the mystery of an iceberg queen. In Bella's mind, perhaps only Natasha Romanoff could rival her, and even then, the comparison was like fire to ice.
A shame, Bella thought. Killing her would be a waste.
The hesitation was enough to make Selena's squad even more tense. They knew their lives hung entirely on Bella's whim. Resistance? Impossible. They had just watched her obliterate Mephisto. Against her, there was no "fight" or "flight"—only "die."
The air shifted again as the low, guttural roar of an engine approached. A burning skeleton astride a flaming Harley tore into view, leaving a trail of scorched earth in his wake—Ghost Rider.
He was followed by Tony Stark's armor-clad figure, Captain America, Natasha Romanoff, and Thor, the latter three crammed into a mud-splattered off-road vehicle.
Behind them, thousands of low-level Blood Clan—the remnants of the transformed townspeople—swarmed toward the scene. Nobody paid them much attention; the main players were already here.
BANG!
Tony and Thor landed with a practiced superhero flair, though their moment was spoiled by the arrival of Hulk, who came crashing down like a meteor. His landing obliterated a cluster of Death Walkers who hadn't moved fast enough.
ROAR!
Hulk stared at the mess beneath his feet, realizing he'd stepped on something that used to be alive. A low, almost sheepish growl rumbled in his chest, like a child caught misbehaving.
The Death Walkers who remained alive took an instinctive step back. Even Tony grimaced.
Then Hulk's eyes found Bella.
The change was instant. The massive green rage machine's posture softened; he shuffled over to her side like a child standing beside a strict mother, head lowered, shoulders hunched.
Hulk remembered her.
She had beaten him senseless once, leaving a mark on his pride he'd never forget. Even though Loki had been controlling him that day, Hulk's memory of the beating was crystal clear. He'd been given no chance to fight back—no chance to even breathe.
A smart Hulk was a cautious Hulk. And he wasn't about to poke that bear again.
The awkward moment passed, and the Death Walkers kept silent, lined up like soldiers awaiting sentence.
Captain Rogers stepped forward, his gaze dropping to the remains of Mephisto's body—what was left of it slowly dissolving into a foul, tar-like sludge. The enemy was gone.
"He almost got away," Rogers said, glancing at Bella.
"You did well," Bella replied with a curt nod.
The Avengers exchanged looks. The truth was, they hadn't done much at all. Between Sanjid's relentless assault and Bella's final blow, their role had been more… scenic.
From the off-road vehicle, Sanjid stepped out, his face pale from blood loss but more alive than before. His wounds were closing, his stance steady. In his hands, he carried the second Bloody Rose, which he offered to Bella with both hands.
During the drive, the Goddess of War—Bella's other weapon—had suddenly vanished, startling him so much he'd nearly flipped the car. Only Rogers' warning had kept him from crashing outright.
In his mind, failing to finish the mission or protect his comrades was a grave offense. Letting the Demon King flee and forcing Bella to intervene was worse. Even now, guilt gnawed at him.
Still, she took the weapon back without scolding him.
"Don't panic," she said simply.
And in that moment, the tension in the air seemed to lift, if only slightly.
------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31
----------------------------------------------------- .
-