Chapter 397: Clash Of Numbers and Titans (Bonus)
"There goes my numbers advantage." He said, then rolled his neck from side to side. "Fuck it...Let’s kill this bastard!"
Dark Bella’s grin widened at those words, and right then, her body dissolved into a writhing mass of shadows before surging across the battlefield.
It was as though that single movement had become the signal to begin as the numerous Dark Novas immediately shot forward to engage.
Ethan, Ishtar, and the summons charged in as well.
A gigantic sphere of darkness erupted from Dark Bella’s position as she advanced, hurtling towards the approaching Dark Nova.
But Norman swung his lightning spear at it and knocked the colossal orb off its course.
It sailed across the battlefield before crashing into the ground several hundred metres away. And the instant it struck... that entire section of land simply ceased to exist.
The black-hole had consumed that area before disappearing
Fortunately, the Stark Estate as a whole was an enormous expanse of land, with the manor standing alone amidst acres of open property.
Norman then adjusted his spear, preparing to strike Dark Bella.
But in that moment, Purple lightning flashed beside him as Ethan appeared at his flank.
His fist, coated in crackling lightning, slammed into the Hero’s cheek and the impact detonated like an explosion.
A shockwave erupted from the collision, sending the surrounding winds crashing towards that side of the battlefield.
However, the punch only forced the Hero’s face to tilt slightly to the side.
In the very next instant, Norman whipped his head back while simultaneously releasing red beams of energy from his eyes.
The attack swept across the entire space between Ethan and the Princess, forcing both of them to evade as a streak of purple lightning and a fast-moving shadow respectively.
Unfortunately, the stark manor was caught in the crossfire.
The crimson beams carved straight through the building, sectioning it cleanly in half as the edges of the severed structure blackened with intense burns.
Ethan and Dark Bella reappeared at opposite ends of the sky. But Neither of them had time to spare a second glance at the sight of their ruined home.
Dark Nova had already appeared before the Princess, angling his lightning spear forward, with its tip only inches from piercing her.
Fortunately, Dark Bella reacted in time with a shield of darkness that instantly manifested before her.
The barrier shattered upon impact, unable to withstand the sheer force behind Norman’s strike, but it had accomplished its purpose.
The lightning bolt never struck at her. Instead, the remaining force exploded into a shockwave that sent Dark Bella towards the ground.
Ethan immediately gave chase.
Dark Nova pursued his wife just as relentlessly, but Ethan caught up from behind, grabbing hold of the Hero with the momentum of his flight before carrying both of them away from the immediate battlefield.
The two tore straight through the estate’s perimeter fence in an explosion of shattered concrete.
Dark Bella burst out from the crater left by her impact and immediately followed after them.
Within moments, the Stark Residence had become a battlefield consumed by colours, destruction, and chaos.
-
Meanwhile...
Beatrice and several members of the Morgenstein vampire family sped towards the Stark Residence in a convoy of vintage sedans.
Today...they intended to take revenge for the life their past family leader.
⸻
Across different parts of the city, everyone else was dealing with the bad situation in their own way.
Eduardo, who had left the house an hour earlier for the company right after the awkward conversation with Ishtar, was now engaged in combat against groups of opportunists who had deemed the chaos the perfect opportunity to vandalize and destroy company property.
Fighting alongside him were Valerie, the Hargreeves cousins, Lucy and Rex, both of whom were equipped with the Assault Suits.
At the Clustervayne Guild, Percival, Aliyah, and Wilson had their own battle to contend with as they faced the most brazen assault yet, with members from multiple rival guilds launching an outright attack against the Guild.
Hayley, for the most part, wasn’t facing any direct confrontation. She was at the family house, anxiously pacing back and forth across the room as she desperately tried calling anyone she could reach.
-
As for Bettie...She was currently at home, standing in silence while her father yelled at her, demanding answers after seeing the news.
Her younger brother watched the entire exchange with an upset expression, unable to come to terms that his sister was now tagged as a murderer.
⸻
At the Royal Palace...
King Carson had an arcphone over his ear as he yelled at the President.
"What the hell is your agent doing, Julius?" Carson roared. "Have you completely lost control of your own people? Do you have any idea what he’s—"
Not long ago, he had seen the live broadcast from the hero in black.
Then, his voice suddenly stopped as he sensed a certain disturbance.
The clash of overwhelming powers, so immense that it reached the palace despite the countless kilometres separating them.
Without uttering another word, Carson lowered the phone and immediately strode out of the throne room.
Beilong silently followed behind him.
The palace guards instinctively stepped aside as the pair walked through the halls at an increasingly hurried pace until they emerged out of the palace building.
It was then that Beilong’s body rapidly expanded into the size of an enormous golden dragon whose wings cast a shadow across the palace grounds.
In seconds, the dragon lifted its rider and began traveling the distance.
⸻
At the Astral Realm...
They had just appeared here, although Nathan had moved forward to sit on the floor of this mind island.
Jillia then said. "My Lord... I assume you’re trying to regain your son’s favour."
"If that’s truly the case..." she continued, "...then why did you leave and not help them fight that man?"
Nathan exhaled. "My presence there would only make things worse."
"Besides...I can still help them."
Nathan slowly closed his eyes as his awareness expanded into the sea of collective consciousness.