Smoot sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere immediately.
The Holy Knight's breathing grew heavy again.
In the end, he wisely stopped paying attention to the people from the mystery side and turned toward the city shrouded in negative energy.
But then something unexpected happened-
Clang!
With a sound like metal striking metal, Smoot walked straight into the smoky black negative energy and was forcibly knocked back a step.
He stared at the black negative energy before him in astonishment.
Before the Holy Knight could react, the black negative energy began to change.
A faint power of decay crept along the ground toward Smoot.
In fact, it was approaching not just Smoot, but everyone from the mystery side nearby.
"Get back!"
Smoot shouted a warning as Sanctuary Force surged from his body.
The white light stood out starkly in the darkness.
But it also made him the target of every attack.
The negative energy that had been gathering on its own seemed to come alive at that moment, lunging at Smoot like ravenous beasts.
Although Sanctuary Force dissolved it instantly, it kept coming in an endless stream.
More importantly, ever more negative energy joined the assault.
The black negative energy seemed to transform into black claws, which slashed at Smoot with sharp gusts of wind.
Even Smoot's expression changed as he faced hundreds upon thousands of black claws.
He retreated rapidly.
Only after he was beyond the claws' reach did he stop.
Smoot looked grim.
Not only had he failed to enter Ceylan City, but he had also suddenly realized that someone had been manipulating them all along.
From the moment Simon's "surprise attack" fell into Barry's trap, everything had slipped beyond their control. Everything that followed had merely been their opponent toying with them.
The enemy had laid out