Metatron snorted coldly. Without dodging, he traced a line through the air before him with his right hand, and a miniature shield composed of countless fine silver runes instantly appeared.
The arrow of light struck the rune shield and burst into a hazy cloud of pink-gold radiance, but it failed to penetrate. Its energy was absorbed and dissolved by the rapidly flowing runes.
Metatron's forward charge was barely affected.
A fierce glint flashed through Cupid's eyes. His butterfly wings beat frantically as he drifted backward, drawing another arrow and nocking it to his bow. This time, three slightly smaller arrows of light formed on the string at once, flying toward Castiel in a triangular formation!
Castiel did not possess Metatron's exquisite defensive magic.
With a low shout, he unleashed the remaining angelic power within him, forming a thin pale-blue curtain of light before himself.
The three arrows of light struck the curtain, producing sharp sizzling sounds.
The curtain rippled violently before barely managing to block them, but Castiel felt a strange, cloying emotional fluctuation trying to seep inside, filling him with inexplicable irritation and agitation.
He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, using the pain to drive away the interference, and continued charging forward.
"You hateful bastards!" Cupid's voice was crisp but full of anger. He realized these two were anything but ordinary, especially the man in the suit, whose power restrained him.
He stopped trying to attack. With a powerful flap of his butterfly wings, he turned, intending to transform into a streak of light and flee.
"Stay!" Metatron had anticipated it long ago.
He spread the five fingers of his left hand and suddenly clenched them toward the direction of Cupid's escape.
Several chains formed of silver light abruptly appeared in the void, clattering as