Chapter 11

Xain found himself utterly flabbergasted by the surreal sight before him—an actual, genuine angel stood right in front of him. The angel's pure white wings emanated a magnificent glow, though Xain barely had a moment to appreciate it. A swift punch came hurtling toward him. Reacting on pure instinct, he barely managed to evade the angel's blow by turning his head.

"What the heck!" Xain exclaimed, his mind reeling from the attack. The angel, undeterred, followed up with a rapid kick aimed at Xain's midsection. Despite Xain's attempt to block, he could feel his bones fracturing as he was forcefully propelled backward. The impact sent him crashing into the church pews. The wooden structures splintered upon impact, sending sharp fragments into Xain's back.

Groaning in pain, Xain struggled to comprehend the bizarre situation. "Nice reaction speed, not that it'll help!" the angel taunted, preparing for another assault. Before the angel could strike again, a flash of metal caught his attention—a dagger wielded by Zee, who aimed to pierce his eye.

However, with a mere flick of his hand, the angel easily deflected the dagger, sending it clattering away. In a fluid movement, the angel's right wing flapped, generating a powerful gust of wind that sent Zee hurtling into one of the stone walls of the church, leaving her breathless and momentarily incapacitated.

The gust of wind from the angel's wings revealed Zee's pointed elven ears, drawing the angel's attention. "An elf, huh? Two demons and an elf on my to-kill list today. Well, ain't that just fuckin' great," the angel sneered, his focus momentarily shifted from Xain. Meanwhile, Xain struggled to get up, his efforts visible to the angel.

"Looking at how you're struggling currently, you seem like a normal human kid. But I know better than to fall for tricks like that," the angel observed, turning his attention back to Xain. As he approached, a sudden movement caught his notice from behind. With a swift turn and a defensive move, the angel used his left wing to block a slash aimed at the back of his head from the demon's razor-sharp claws.

"Quicker on your feet than I expected," the angel remarked, acknowledging the demon's agility. The demon, undeterred, pulled back its arms and launched a series of slashes with its claws. The angel responded with a complex dance of his wings, skillfully intercepting each attack with precise wing movements. The clashing sounds echoed through the church, creating an intense and rhythmic cadence.

Seizing the opportunity, the angel taunted, "Hornless and nameless, what can you even do?" With swift precision, he grabbed the demon's arm mid-slash, immobilizing its limb. In a swift and powerful motion, the angel delivered a devastating elbow strike directly onto the demon's elbow joint. The impact caused the demon's elbow bone to snap audibly, leaving it protruding as blood gushed out.

Just then, the angel's eyes widened in surprise as the demon's bone extended rapidly, a jagged edge aiming for the angel's face. Swiftly, the angel ducked the unexpected attack, only to be met with a powerful knee to the face, snapping his head back. The demon's snapped arm underwent a rapid transformation, morphing into a drill-like appendage that started spinning with lethal intent.

With precision, the demon thrust the newly formed drill at the angel's midsection, but the agile angel managed to evade the attack. The demon's drill arm missed its mark as the angel's wings acted as a formidable defense. Sensing the need for space, the angel flapped his wings, creating a considerable distance between himself and the demon.

"Of course, you had to be a damn shapeshifter," the angel grumbled, a mix of frustration and surprise in his tone. The demon inspected its drill arm with a hint of amusement as the angel expressed his sentiments. "You're confident to a fault, little angel. One must never underestimate their opponent," the demon advised, its voice calm and collected amidst the chaos.

Meanwhile, Grace checked up on Xain. Concern filled her eyes as she asked, "Are you okay?" Xain, his voice laced with pain, responded with a touch of humor, "I just got kicked by an angel and have pieces of wood stabbing into my back, so pretty well all things considering."

Grace clicked her tongue in frustration. "Now's not the time for jokes. Do you want me to carry you out of here?" she offered. Xain, despite his injuries, shook his head determinedly. "Nah, check on Zee. I gotta help the priest however I can," he insisted.

Annoyance flashed across Grace's face. "Are you kidding me? You sit your ass by the elf over there. I'll help our priest," she commanded. Before Xain could protest, Grace swiftly silenced him with a sharp chop to the head. "No talking!"

The angel and the demon continued their intense clash, a chaotic dance of attacks, blocks, and parries. The angel, with his wings and brawler-esque style, faced off against the demon, whose morphing appendages transformed into an array of deadly weapons—swords, spears, cleavers, and spiked knuckles. Despite the demon's versatility, the angel maintained a clear advantage, his wings granting him superior mobility and defense.

"You're damn tough for a nameless and hornless demon," the angel grudgingly acknowledged, to which the demon responded with a calm demeanor, "Thank you. However, if I were a demon with horns or a name, you wouldn't be alive given your degree of skill." The angel's face contorted with anger, and he glared at the demon, muttering, "You bastard."

As the angel prepared to launch another assault, a sudden beam of light disrupted the battlefield. He managed to block it with his wings, only to turn and find Grace standing there, her outstretched palm directed at him. "Why don't we make this a fair fight, you damn overgrown pigeon!" Grace declared, her body starting to emit a faint glow.