"Was that... the Gentleman Thief 'Black Emperor'?
"Was he the one who disrupted the Abyss of Flesh ritual?"
A member of the Mandated Punishers Squad blurted it out.
Because the Spellsinger of God had taken a keen interest in the Capim Case, he had spent some time investigating this "hero" who had recently appeared in Backlund. He recognized him at a glance.
"Impossible! How could the Lord's ritual be destroyed by a ghost who isn't even High Sequence?!" Mr. A's eyes flew wide. Beneath his cold, blood-red gaze lay undisguised disbelief.
The reason he had not rushed to deal with the "little bugs" who had slipped into the basement was that he was certain they could not stop the ritual. In his experience, even Demigods from the Churches of the True Gods had been helpless against it.
Despite his disbelief, Mr. A quickly came to his senses. He, too, had noticed a Saint approaching fast. If he did not flee now, he would never get away... Without the ritual's support, he no longer had the ability to "resurrect."
Just as he made his move, the Mysticism Mentor Stewart raised his right hand and pointed at Mr. A, who was stark naked after his "resurrection." Stewart spoke a word in Ancient Hermes:
"Imprisonment!"
The space around Mr. A suddenly grew viscous, as though a giant piece of amber had formed around him, or transparent walls had sealed him in.
He froze in place, unable to move an inch.
Once the Abyss of Flesh was broken, the force suppressing Stewart and the force strengthening Mr. A vanished together. Only then could Stewart temporarily bind him.
The Mandated Punishers who were still conscious attacked Mr. A with their weapons at the same time, working together with practiced ease.
Once Hazel recovered from her