"Pfft! Pfft!"
Just as the red and blue spheres of light fired from Shirou Kyomine's palm were about to swallow Natalia, a piercing whistling sound came from the dense forest. Two crossing blood-red shadows howled through the air, forcibly tearing apart the descending spheres of light.
At the center of the fading glow, a dark glint flashed through Natalia's eyes. She swung her arm, and a spare Remington 1866 Derringer hidden on her body slipped into her palm. She immediately pulled the trigger.
The Remington 1866 Derringer, also known as a Derringer Pistol and colloquially called a Palm Thunder, was a small handgun first created by Henry Deringer of Philadelphia, America. It was easy to conceal and carry, usually had one or two barrels, and packed considerable power.
Accompanied by two muffled gunshots, the two specially loaded bullets streaked through the air in dazzling trails toward Shirou Kyomine's face.
Clang! Clang!
The Church Executor had no time to think. His pupils contracted as six Black Keys sprang from his hand, sweeping across one another and knocking the incoming bullets aside with crisp metallic rings.
But the powerful impact and the explosive runes on the bullets sent Shirou Kyomine tumbling down from midair. He staggered back dozens of meters, his chest heaving violently as his blood churned, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Yet Shirou Kyomine could no longer spare any attention for that. With narrowed eyes, he stared solemnly into the rustling depths of the forest.
They were here!
Under the pale moonlight, a man and a woman slowly emerged. The indescribable pressure they gave off made Shirou Kyomine's brow twitch, and he actually felt the urge to turn around and run.
Samael looked at Natalia, who was leaning against a tree trunk with her