Angel Descent

Alex didn't consider himself a powerhouse despite having Nyx's authority.

At the end of the day, it was a borrowed strength.

It wasn't his, to begin with, and even if it was, the authority was not proportionate to the power he held.

If he compared his actual strength to the authority, it would be the same as comparing an ant to an elephant, the disparity was too much.

Now, using that to measure with Penemuel, the angel had an authority that was on par with Nyx or maybe even greater and still had tremendous power to stand.

There was no chance of victory if he dared to go against the angel.

Thus, his only other option was to retreat.

At least it was better than dying.

He had done his best in preserving BoneHaven.

Doing more would only lead to unnecessary complications.

It was regrettable though, at this rate, his desire to use this as an opportunity to complete his trial would be for naught.

Sighing helplessly, he crouched to place Ana on the ground only for someone to call his attention.

It was both Ambrose and his assistant, Oscar.

"Hunter."

"It's you two," Alex remarked casually before adding in a jocular fashion. "You look worse for wear."

Ambrose had a wry smile as he replied. "I'm just thankful that I made it out alive."

"I had no idea the tunnels would fall apart. I'm surprised I didn't think of such a scenario."

Ambrose pondered for a brief moment before he spoke up. "Maybe you might have."

"Hmm?"

"Maybe you did think about it but you got scared for some weird reason, causing you to not dare bring it up."

"That… is unlikely," Alex muttered as he furrowed his brows.

Just as Ambrose said, he recalled having thought about such a scenario but it wasn't that he got scared of it.

It was more like he forgot…

"But I hardly ever forget except if it's severely unimportant and this was an important situation." Alex pursed his lips.

The situation was quite bizarre, to say the least.

"I have a hypothesis, Hunter." After The near-death experience he had, Ambrose had begun to realize that his initial reservations about certain things were pointless.

Since the entity before him held goodwill, it would be unwise to withhold anything from him.

Alex glanced at those that were behind.

Taking a moment to consider, he blocked off the flow of sound in the area about him before gesturing for Ambrose to speak.

"Apart from you and Basar… I believe there is a third party assisting Basar in the background."

"And do you have any evidence of this?"

"... It mostly has to do with how none of us considered the possibility of the tunnel collapsing or how Basar managed to infiltrate BoneHaven so smoothly without a single mistake. He may be an Apostle, but there's no way he hasn't made a blunder since he arrived in the city."

"Unless there's someone else covering his tracks and pulling the wool over our eyes."

"Exactly."

"It is farfetched…" Alex glanced at BoneHaven, recalling the dark curtain that once enshrouded it.

If there was a third party, they had done well to cover their tracks and with the destruction of BoneHaven, there was no way to find them now.

Alex looked back at the survivors, wondering if the culprit was amongst them.

Ambrose felt satisfied that Alex agreed with his words.

He had thought he would be blown off but this shows that he was correct in some way.

Glancing at the woman in Alex's arms, Ambrose asked. "How is Lady Ana?"

"She will live. She overexerted herself while trying to keep the Eye of Truth at bay."

"Thank you for saving us," Ambrose said with a bow.

Alex waved his hand. "It's fine. I did what I did because I can."

"Still, we thank you."

"Alright."

Ambrose sighed. "Sorry to ask but… what now?... With the D.O.D branch in BoneHaven destroyed, Lady Ana unconscious and a fallen angel on the loose. We have lost, no?"

"As long as you breathe, you haven't lost." Alex simply said.

"But then, what do we do?"

Alex shook his head. "I can only do this much."

"Then let me offer my assistance!" Father Anderson's voice came from behind.

"Did I not tell you to stay quiet?... No one would bother with you if you remain silent!" Alex berated the old fool with an annoyed expression.

"But I am telling you, we can help."

Alex glared at the latter but ultimately decided to hear him out first.

"Alright, speak. But dare to waste my time and I will not hesitate to end you."

Coughing awkwardly, Father Anderson remarked. "You see, the teachings of the Angelica have always been about the nature of god and his angels. This means that amongst the several organizations in the world, you cannot find any other that has studied more on angels than the Church of Angelica."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed!" Father Anderson said with a bit of confidence.

Alex thoughtfully nodded.

It was indeed sensible that the Church of Angelica would have connections to angels and the like.

Gaining information from them could help him in certain ways.

Seeing as Alex was silent, Father Anderson decided to be a bit brazen. "Amongst the host of Angels created by the Great God Marduk, Penemuel, the Angel of Perception was one of the many that disregarded his words and so were banished from the lord's presence."

"Alright, enough with the history lesson no one asked for. Do you know how to send it back?"

"...I don't know."

"Then you are useless."

"No, wait!"

Alex sighed as he faced the priest again. "You are getting on my nerves."

"I may not know how to send it back but… I have a way to destroy it."

"You?" Alex looked him over before continuing. "You can destroy an Angel?"

"Not me, but I know how to call down someone who can."

"Is this person an acquaintance of the Church?"

Father Anderson shook his head. "An Angel, fallen or not, can only be killed or defeated by a fellow angel or a being of equal power and authority."

"So…"

"I will call down the Prime Legionnaire, Mikhal."

"Isn't that the Angel Descent spoken about in your scriptures?" A familiar voice was heard from behind.

Alex turned back to find Arthur approaching his position with Nadia following closely behind.

He had already known they were safe but seeing them assured him of their state.

Meanwhile, Father Anderson revealed a complicated expression as he replied. "Yes."

"Then what do you think you are doing?... According to what I read, even attempting an Angel Call, talk more of a Descent is only for ArchBishops and the Pope. So how exactly do you intend to perform it as a mere priest?"

"That…"

"If this Angel whatever…"

"Descent." Father Anderson corrected.

Alex glanced at the old priest and after barely suppressing the urge to pummel him, continued.

"Whatever. if it can take down that thing…then by all means. I'm out of options as is."

He had considered finding Basar but unfortunately, the latter was nowhere to be found.

Alex wondered if Penemuel had already killed him.

Meanwhile, having gotten Alex's permission though it wasn't needed, Father Anderson gathered his fellow priests and informed them of what was to be done.

Once they were done deliberating, Father Anderson didn't hesitate to begin the proceedings.