Chapter 33

The battlefield fell into an uneasy silence. The vampires remained hidden, while the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents refrained from advancing. Both sides found themselves at a standoff, unsure of what to do next. Seizing this rare reprieve, Barton instructed the wounded to patch themselves up and the others to reorganize their gear. All he could hope for was that this fragile calm wouldn't shatter too soon. As he glanced at the seventy-odd children huddled in the center of the S.H.I.E.L.D. formation, Barton felt a sharp pang of frustration.

The children looked at the agents with wide, innocent eyes, but none of them spoke. They sat quietly on the ground, their silence as though it were a natural state. When Barton received Qin Li's intel earlier, he had immediately sent a team to rescue the children. Yet, despite their efforts, about twenty of them had been taken by Hand ninjas.

Suddenly, a vigilant agent at the frontline noticed movement on the enemy side. Peering closer, the agent spotted someone hefting an object onto their shoulder. It was an RPG! Panicked, the agent shouted, "Fall back! Fall back! They've got heavy weapons—an RPG!"

Reacting instantly, Barton nocked an arrow, aimed, and fired. The arrow streaked through the air like a comet, colliding with the RPG just as it launched. The resulting explosion sent the missile careening off course, detonating on the ground and blasting away several Hand soldiers nearby. The new arrivals were hurled to the ground, their fates uncertain.

The agents stared at Barton with newfound awe. In an age dominated by firearms, a man who could clear a path with nothing but a bow and arrow was nothing short of a legend. But their relief was short-lived. The same watchful agent screamed again, this time with even more terror, "They've got more! Five RPGs!"

"Retreat immediately! Keep the kids in the center! Assault team, cover the rear! Watch for incoming fire!" Barton barked out orders, his mind racing. Earlier, with only one RPG, he could anticipate its launch and intercept it, but five? Even he wasn't superhuman.

The Hand exploited the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents' focus on the children to unleash their arsenal. The unmistakable roar of RPGs launching filled the air. Despair spread across the faces of the rear-guard agents, yet they stood their ground, firing desperately to stave off the advancing vampires.

As the deafening explosions rang out, Barton and the retreating agents couldn't help but glance back in dread. What they saw left them speechless.

The agents who had been bracing for the RPG blasts found themselves sitting on the ground, dumbfounded. Before their eyes was a radiant wall of golden light shaped like a cross, shielding them from the deadly projectiles. Many agents, overwhelmed by the miracle, crossed themselves repeatedly, murmuring prayers of gratitude to God.

"You should be thanking me, not God," came Qin Li's teasing voice. Striding onto the battlefield, he added, "I doubt God has time to bother with you mortals." He had arrived just in time to summon the Holy Shield and block the incoming missiles. As Barton approached, Qin Li greeted him with a grin, "Miss me?"

Barton responded with a punch to Qin Li's shoulder, smirking. "Thanks. Drinks are on me after this."

"No problem. Let me clean up here first, then we'll call it a day," Qin Li replied, returning the friendly punch.

When Qin Li turned to face the enemy, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by an expression of cold fury. Behind him, golden spears of energy—the Spears of Victory—materialized, floating ominously in the air. The agents looked at Qin Li as though he were a divine messenger, whispering prayers under their breath.

With a wave of his hand, Qin Li dispelled the protective light wall. The enemies now faced him directly and caught sight of the glowing spears poised behind him. A wave of fear washed over them. One man shouted desperately, "Retreat! Retreat now!" Life was truly unpredictable—just moments ago, they had forced the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to retreat. Now the tables had turned.

Without emotion, Qin Li gestured forward. The spears shot out like missiles, streaking toward the fleeing enemies. Each spear found its mark, piercing at least two targets apiece. The battlefield was awash in golden streaks, leaving no room for pretense or survival. Even those who attempted to play dead had their heads pierced—there was no escape.

In just ten seconds, it was over. The Spears of Victory dissipated, leaving behind a field littered with the lifeless bodies of Hand soldiers and vampires. Qin Li turned back toward Barton, who was approaching him with a look of awe.

"You were brilliant tonight," Barton said, extending a hand for a shake and a quick hug.

"You weren't bad yourself, Hawkeye. Sniping an RPG mid-flight? Impressive," Qin Li replied.

Barton chuckled wryly. "Not even close to your level. So, what's next?"

Qin Li glanced at the children still encircled by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and replied, "Get the kids out of here first. It's too dangerous to keep them on the battlefield. If your people see the kids they're protecting get hurt, it'll mess with their heads."

Barton nodded in agreement. "True. If it weren't for the kids, we could've pulled back more easily. I'll take them back to HQ for some rest and debriefing."

"Good. Be careful, though. Make sure you check for spies from the Hand. That could cause real trouble," Qin Li added.

"Got it. I'll handle it." Barton turned to leave, then paused. "By the way, they took about twenty kids. The Hand's ninjas haven't shown themselves yet—just the grunts. That warehouse over there might be their base, but it won't be easy."

"Easy?" Qin Li's voice dripped with disdain. "No, this won't be a fight—it'll be a massacre. And the ones getting slaughtered will be them."

Barton studied Qin Li's icy demeanor and couldn't help but worry. "Don't lose yourself in there. Remember, we're grabbing a drink after this."

Qin Li's expression softened slightly. "Deal. Get the kids out. With me here, they won't send many after you. But stay cautious."

"Understood. Alright, team, move out! Kids, stick close. We'll grab a meal later and get you home," Barton commanded.

As Barton led his team and the children away, Qin Li set his sights on the warehouse where the Hand and vampires had holed up. His eyes burned with determination. It was time to finish this.