A charred figure fell from the top of the castle wall, crashing directly into the crowd below and knocking dozens of soldiers and refugees to the ground.
The sudden turn of events froze the heavily armored figure with the black demon horns, as well as the current king nearby. Both paused mid-battle, their eyes fixed on the slowly collapsing blackened figure.
"CP0? How did he end up like this? Who's interfering?" King Nathan's face darkened as he stared at the familiar form. He could not understand how someone from the East Sea could leave the World Government's top agent in such a pitiful state.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Joseph struggled to rise, his body scorched, the smell of burnt flesh emanating from him.
Coughing up chunks of blood, he turned toward King Nathan and gasped, "Vice Admiral Nathan, go! Capture the target and bring him before the Five Elders. I'll hold this unknown third-party force in check!"
King Nathan, clad in ornate armor, remained silent. He did not expect Joseph, beaten so badly, to still be thinking of his mission. Even he, a king subordinate to the World Government, was genuinely surprised.
What favor had the Five Elders granted CP0 to make him take such a risk?
Seeing that King Nathan did not respond, Joseph's disfigured face hardened. His bloodshot eyes widened as he glared at the king.
"Do you intend to defy the Five Elders' orders?"
"Do not think that being the king of a World Government-affiliated nation allows you to ignore the will of the World Government!"
At this, Nathan's face immediately darkened.
"This demon race is only valued because of his innate talent. Once he dies, everything will be resolved. Why would the Five Elders care about a dead man unrelated to them?"
Joseph's anger flared at the king's words, instinctively forcing him to rise. But in the next moment, his bloodshot eyes trembled violently.
The surrounding air shifted, smoke and dust swirling around him. Unseen, a shadow with wings enveloped him, the wings slowly folding.
He turned sharply, spotting Louis descending quietly. Joseph's eyes widened as Louis's face remained hidden in the shadow cast by the sunlight.
"When did he…"
Bang. A blazing spear streaked past, sending Joseph flying through the air. He crashed into a small barricade, shattering it completely.
Louis flicked the charred scraps clinging to his spear and exhaled a warm breath. "When will you guys stop chatting during a fight?"
Far away, King Nathan watched everything unfold, instinctively tightening his grip on his weapon. At last, he understood why CP0, feared across the world, could end up in such a pitiful state.
To him, a demon born among natives was like an unarmed adult facing a leopard.
Now, this young man with wings looked like a lion, instinctively inspiring awe and fear.
But decades of service in the Marine Corps and his kingly composure quickly restored his reason. He cautiously asked, "Who are you? Why are you involved in this…"
Suddenly, a massive shield cut through the smoke, colliding directly with King Nathan.
The concentrated force hit his chest. Even with his armor, he staggered backward, blood spraying as he smashed through wooden barricades before regaining his footing.
Pain twisted his face, blood soaking his deformed armor and ornate garments beneath.
Louis glanced at the pained, veteran vice admiral, his words hanging unspoken for a few seconds.
Then Louis turned, raised a hand, and hurled his sharp spear. It impaled the CP0 agent preparing to strike him, lodging firmly in the castle wall.
Afterwards, Louis focused on a figure a few inches taller than him, fully clad in heavy armor, gender indiscernible. Using his superhuman senses, he assessed the opponent's condition.
A contemplative expression crossed his face.
"He…"
"No, this one seems… close to death…"
The armored figure, horns sharp and straight, head covered by a gas mask, casually tossed the man in the "Justice" cloak into the fire.
He stepped forward, wielding a long-handled war hammer, and approached his blood enemy. From beneath the gas mask came a low, muffled voice: "He speaks the truth."
Leaping forward, the hammer swung violently toward the man.
King Nathan gritted his teeth, pushing away debris pressing against him and courageously parrying the strike with his slender sword.
"You bastard! When the old men were fighting pirates on the New World, your mother was still playing in the mud up on the plateau!"
The hammer and sword collided with a deafening crash. The shockwave from the clash flung debris in all directions.
After a brief standoff, both retreated, only to clash again.
The two figures, tall and short, charged through the castle walls like demolition machines. After the battle, vast rubble was scattered beyond the walls.
Wherever they moved, soldiers and refugees caught in close combat were knocked to the ground.
King Nathan, holding a high position, remained indifferent, treating the affected soldiers as insignificant.
However, the other combatant could not accept this. Her face, distorted beneath the gas mask, grimaced. She gritted her teeth and began guiding her opponent away from the fighting refugees.
King Nathan, experienced from decades at sea, quickly understood the situation. He managed to wound her multiple times, blood staining her armor.
Elsewhere, Louis stood before the spear-impaled CP0, expressionless, drawing his spear.
Blood spurted out, staining the wall and grass red.
The intense pain roused the dying, dazed agents. They opened bloodshot eyes and glared at the blond youth.
Joseph still could not comprehend why this sudden newcomer fixed his gaze on him in silence.
Louis ignored the furious dying men and lifted his hand, extending his palm toward them.
How do you win a person's heart?
Louis provided a chillingly literal answer.
Step one: reach into a person's chest and grab their still-beating heart.
Joseph's eyes widened as blood gushed from his mouth and chest. The pain made him want to scream, but his throat had been damaged by fire and repeated blows, leaving him unable to cry out.
Louis paid no attention to the blood and quietly proceeded to the second step.
He swiftly removed the heart, displaying it in front of its owner, forcing him to witness his own heartbeat.