The Second Vortex of Conflict

The night passed quietly.

Around midnight, Fang Li group finally returned to the Tohno family.

However, the gate of the Tohno family was tightly closed. Not only was it locked, but it was also filled with a strong atmosphere of rejection, as if it did not welcome people who returned in the middle of the night. One could clearly sense the anger of the mansion's owner.

That's only natural.

One was a deacon who had abandoned his post for an entire day.

One was the eldest son who had skipped class for an entire day.

Moreover, the two went out for a night stroll and did not return until the middle of the night, without even a word from them.

Faced with these two individuals, the owner of the mansion had the right to express his anger.

Not to mention, these two were taken away by vampires they hated.

In a normal situation, Fang Li and Tohno Shiki would inevitably have to express their thoughts on the situation.

However, neither Fang Li nor Tohno Shiki were in the mood for it tonight.

So the three of them climbed over the fence and sneaked back to their room like thieves.

That's right, three people.

Arcueid came along too.

As if it were only natural, Arcueid seemed to regard Fang Li's room as her own lair. When Tohno Shiki returned to his room in a daze, the princess of the True Ancestor also followed Fang Li back to his room.

Immediately afterwards, Arcueid lay down on Fang Li's bed and fell asleep without saying a word.

Anyone could sense Arcueid's displeasure from that expression.

"Just like a child."

Looking at Arcueid lying on his bed, fast asleep, Fang Li was somewhat speechless.

However, Arcueid's performance was not beyond Fang Li's expectations.

"After all, that's the kind of development where an annoying character appears, isn't it?"

As he muttered to himself, Fang Li briefly recalled what had happened at the construction site.

The sudden confrontation between Tohno Shiki and Arcueid was an unexpected episode.

However, after that, Tohno Shiki clearly lost interest in continuing his original purpose and simply sat on the collapsed pile of stones, remaining silent.

In this situation, Fang Li and Arcueid did the exact opposite, as if they had completely forgotten what had happened before, and entered the unfinished building that had just been haunted by the dead and wild beasts.

Originally, Fang Li and Arcueid were already prepared for battle.

Unexpectedly, upon entering the building, an unforeseen Matoba unfolded before them.

That's Matoba most people would absolutely find unacceptable.

On the exposed concrete foundation of the building, corpses lay scattered about.

The number of corpses is probably around twenty or thirty.

Some of them were dead.

Some are wild animals.

However, all of these dead and wild beasts have been killed.

It was a sword with a red handle and a steel blade, resembling a giant nail or an iron stake.

One by one, the swords, sharp as nails, pierced through the dead and wild beasts, pinning them firmly to the ground and the surrounding walls.

It was like a horrific massacre scene.

Seeing this, Fang Li couldn't help but be surprised.

"Has someone beaten them to it?"

That's the only way to go.

While Fang Li, Tohno Shiki, and Arcueid were still fighting amongst themselves outside, someone broke in and slaughtered all the dead and wild beasts inside.

Use those sword-type weapons that look like nails.

Looking at the nail-like sword-type weapon, Arcueid's expression suddenly darkened as if she had thought of something.

"Black Key..."

— "Black Key".

Arcueid's murmur prompted Fang Li to recall the memory of that nail-like weapon within his own mind.

That's a kind of amulet.

Although it's called a talisman, its main function isn't for protection, but for combat.

Its effect is exorcism. The blade is made of pure magic, so you only need to carry the hilt, which is very convenient. However, it is difficult to use. Moreover, it has no physical destructive power and no sharpness. In terms of "sword", its functionality and refinement are both very low.

This Matoba is used specifically for throwing and combat against Spirit Body.

After all, the effect is exorcism, so it naturally focuses more on the interference with Spirit Body than on physical attack power.

Therefore, there is basically only one type of person in the world who knows how to use this weapon.

That is the agent of the Holy Church whose main purpose is to eradicate heresy.

In other words...

"Did agents of the Holy Church come here and annihilate these dead and beasts?"

Fang Li made the judgment that best suited the current situation.

Arcueid's expression grew increasingly displeased at this assessment.

"Could it be that woman?"

Arcueid's words were filled with displeasure, as if she knew exactly who was responsible for this scene.

Adding to the fact that an agent of the Holy Church had come to the city, Arcueid snorted coldly, turned around, and left.

The way she strode around made it clear, without even needing to guess, just how terrible True Ancestor mood was.

As Arcueid left without a word, Fang Li gazed at the slaughterhouse before him and shrugged.

"Things are getting more and more interesting."

After leaving those words behind, Fang Li turned around and left the scene.

All that remained were the dead and wild beasts pierced by swords as sharp as nails, gradually turning into ashes and black mud, disappearing from the spot as if only then realizing what had happened.

Recalling what had just happened, Fang Li pursed his lips.

"It seems that Misaki City, like Misaki City in the past, is becoming a vortex of struggle."

Princess of the True Ancestor.

The Dead Apostle of the Twenty-Seventh Patriarch.

The Non-Human Clan Tohno family.

The survivors of the Seven Nights Clan.

In addition, there was that unknown "snake".

And, gradually, the agents of the Holy Church began to appear.

All sorts of beings have begun to gather in this Misaki City.

Therefore, Misaki City has secretly become a battlefield.

Just like Misaki City, which used to attract all sorts of Flame Haze Warrior and Crimson World Denizens.

"So..."

Fang Li unconsciously rotated his wrist while muttering to himself.

"What should we do next?"

This self-talk, however, received an answer.

"No matter what, what I need to do will not change."

Arcueid was not asleep at all. She remained lying there, opened her eyes, and looked at Fang Li.

"You're the same, aren't you?"

His tone was full of certainty.