The sudden shout made the pursuers, traumatized by Samael, turn pale and instinctively stop and retreat.
However, after waiting a moment, as the echoes gradually faded, there was only mountain mist and the breeze through the forest. Realizing they had been fooled again, the Four Exorcist Families flew into a rage, their murderous gazes focusing on someone in the clearing.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the heat gathered by those stares was almost enough to roast his snakeskin.
Samael, equally embarrassed, forced a dry smile and tried to reason with them patiently.
"Uh, it's late at night. Maybe I didn't catch her at the right time, and she's still asleep. How about you wait a little?"
"Get him! Beat him up!"
"Catch that bastard!"
"We have to make this guy suffer!"
Having been led around all night, the exorcists were furious as they charged, gritting their teeth at the culprit in the clearing.
However, just as several hundred exorcists were about to rush Samael, a bloody arc like a crimson meteor trailed a long tail of flame as it plunged from the sky and struck the center of the opposing sides.
Boom!
The earth shook and the mountains trembled. The surging Aether Tide whipped up a fierce storm, sending hundreds of exorcists flying like withered grass tossed in a gale.
"Flash Sheath: Eight Piercings!"
"Iaido: Tigerfall Flute!"
"Roar!"
In the face of danger, Nanaya Kouri, Old Man Ryogi, and Gakmazaki Kurenai—the high-ranking leaders of the Four Exorcist Families—braced against the powerful wind pressure and launched counterattacks in unison.
"Get lost!"
A frigid shout erupted as a raging torrent of dark-red magical energy swept violently in every direction.
"Pff! Pff! Pff!"
In an instant, the short staff in Nanaya Kouri's hand shattered, Old Man Ryogi's long blade snapped in his palm, and