The power of shadow instantly enveloped Mulan's entire body, while radiant power covered his exterior. By the time the blast of flames struck, his left hand was already gripping Fang's hilt.
Clang!
A faint but clear ring sounded from the blade. Mulan drew his sword and slashed forward, cleaving an opening through the flames and forcing them apart. He kept charging throughout the motion, then burst out of the blast's reach.
To anyone watching, Mulan had simply swung his sword through the surging flames and darted out, without even singeing his clothes.
The wound in his shoulder throbbed. Mulan silently cursed, Lunatic, and continued his swing, slashing straight at the two combatants.
Radiant wings glimmered faintly behind Mulan, though they were not wings in the conventional sense. They were more like the streams of light behind the angels in Diablo. Fang seemed to grow broader and longer in his hand, taking on a slight curve as it swept downward with tremendous force.
Mulan had not actually intended to kill with those four shots. His main aim had been to separate the combatants. Since the smaller one had been more aggressive and destructive, Mulan had directed more bullets at him. He had never expected the man to make no attempt to dodge and retaliate with an explosion instead.
But after that flame-cleaving slash descended, the two combatants finally separated. Apparently, even the lunatic who had taken the bullets head-on did not want to be cleaved in two.
More precisely, the more aggressive combatant leaped backward, while the burly man remained where he was.
Mulan held his sword between them. Rather than immediately pursuing either one, he gave each a cold look before settling his gaze on the man whose body still bore bullet holes.
"This is Sorens, a northern city of