A hand emerged from the crater first, followed by a calm but strained voice. "Aren't you rude, Mr. Blue Hair..." The pastor pulled himself up, his ever-present smile now faintly cracked, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Detective Cassandra, get them out of here, " Julius said, his voice brimming with excitement as he unsheathed his sword once more. Descending toward the man with deliberate steps, he added with a smirk "It's time for a little fun." and continued with raised tone, "Not as rude as you, though—throwing Astraval-level spells at our freshly awakened warrior."
The man's strained smile didn't waver as he stepped out of the crater. The last thing Cassian heard him say was, "I wouldn't have, if he hadn't killed so many of my people..."