These two cities were the last remnants of this world's supernatural forces. The angels hid in their shells, trembling, while the demons bit and tore inside their cages.
Neither side cared about the world outside anymore. Neither side cared about the humans rotting away.
After hearing the report, Wu Heng gave the order directly. "Thomas, Karim, go to Angel City."
"Isaac, Elena, go to Demon City."
He looked at the two still-flashing points on the holographic map, his voice even. "Tell them: submit, or rot."
Thomas rose to his feet and spun the Hunter Blade in his hand. "What if they refuse to behave?"
Wu Heng looked at him.
"Then let them rot in their cities."
Thomas smiled. "Yes."
Karim rose from the corner, twelve scorpion tails swaying slowly behind him. "Angels fear Pestilence. The Pestilence agents we carry can mimic its aura. To them, it's poison. We won't even need to fight—they'll be scared to death."
Thomas clapped him on the shoulder. "Let's go."
The two led a squad of demon hunters northward for half a day before arriving outside Angel City.
The entire city was built on high ground, surrounded by dense fungal mats.
The protective barrier covered the city like an overturned bowl. Its edges had already been gnawed through by mycelium, leaving countless tiny holes. Holy light leaked from them, faint and weak.
Thomas stood outside the barrier and looked up at the crumbling buildings. An angel flew out from within the barrier and landed before them.
Half its wings had rotted away, and all its feathers had fallen off. The exposed skin was covered in black sores. Its eyes were a murky yellow, and it looked at Thomas as though he were already dead.
"Get lost! Humans carry Pestilence!" The angel's voice was shrill, like