Volume One: The Awakening of the Dragon Soul Chapter 52: The Conclusion

"The Seven Sins—Lucifer, and Samael!" Captain Huo drew a deep breath. "I never expected them to appear here."

"The Seven Sins? What’s that? The Seven Deadly Sins?" Mo Xing asked in confusion. He only knew that Lucifer was a demon, a fallen angel.

It seemed in Dante's "Divine Comedy," Lucifer refused to submit to the Christ, leading a third of the heavenly host in rebellion at the northern border of the heavens. After three days of brutal celestial battle, Lucifer's forces were routed by Christ, and the defeated angels fell through chaos for nine days and nights before plummeting into hell.

Such tales were mere legend in his previous world, but here, these figures truly existed.

So, was Mr. Shen Lucifer? Or was he the other one, Samael?

"You could think of it that way. The Seven Sins are the seven gatekeepers of the Cult of Kalendis, each representing a different sin. Gathering all seven is one of the necessary conditions to resurrect the Black Dragon God, so we must do everything we can to prevent that possibility."

"I... I see." Mo Xing hesitated, his heart uneasy. He had met Mr. Shen several times before, and from the man’s skill alone, he knew he was no ordinary janitor. By rights, he should be on the side of the Cult of Kalendis, the villains. But then, why had he taught him those abilities? And—

"Why are the two of them fighting each other?" Mo Xing asked, perplexed.

"I'm not sure," Captain Huo frowned. "They're on the same side. If they joined forces, they could do serious damage to our special police. But instead, they're at each other's throats. I have a bold hypothesis..."

"What is it?" Mo Xing pressed. "Don’t tell me... they're having an internal conflict?"

"Exactly. That's what I think too," Captain Huo nodded. "It must be some internal disagreement, over interests or ideology."

"Now's not the time to discuss this. I’m going to have the team evacuate everyone—the ceiling and walls look like they’re about to collapse," Captain Huo said, eyeing the trembling structure.

"Right, right," Mo Xing quickly replied, noticing a stream of inky, filthy water gushing from the shattered wall on the third floor—probably sewage from the underground pipes. It was disgusting.

"Team One! Team Two!" Captain Huo picked up his radio and, after getting a response, issued the order, "Lead the fugitives and gamblers out of here—rendezvous with Team Eight at Flight Training Ground Eleven!"

"Understood!" came the reply.

"Mo Xing, you should leave with the others and get to safety," Captain Huo clapped him on the shoulder.

"Huh? O-okay..."

Mo Xing hesitated, glancing up at the two combatants in mid-air. Mr. Shen and his opponent seemed evenly matched, locked in a fierce and violent duel.

The tremors grew ever stronger. Fire and lightning arced, wind howled, and shards of stone flew; the whole underground chamber was on the verge of collapse.

"Team Three! Team Three! Do you copy?" Captain Huo switched radio channels, his expression tense.

Team Three had gone to the third-floor office—closest to the dark electrical surge. He hoped their shields could withstand the intense energy.

"Zzzzt—"

No answer, only a burst of static.

"Team Three! Are you there? Say something if you are!"

"Zzzzt—"

Still nothing but static.

Captain Huo clenched his fists and drew a deep breath. After all the planning for this raid, he hadn’t expected things to unravel like this. Those men—please let them be safe!

"The rest of you, come with me to the third floor for rescue!" Captain Huo ordered.

"Yes, Captain!" The others responded in unison.

They were from Team Four—unlike the rest, their duties were special, responsible for cleanup and aftermath. Joining this squad was like handing your life over to death itself, as their motto went: "Team Four! Loyal to the end!"

"I’m going too!"

Captain Huo turned to see Mo Xing still standing there, not leaving with the others, gripping the Frostless Blade and ready for battle.

"Mo Xing, head back first. You performed well in this operation; someone will contact your school about awarding you credits and a scholarship," Captain Huo said, pausing. "As for the rest... leave the unexpected work to us. You don’t need to get involved."

"Please let me join the rescue," Mo Xing said resolutely. "I know I can help!"

"I’m sorry, Mo Xing, but you’re not allowed to take part," Captain Huo shook his head. "The dark electric field on the third floor is too intense, and it’s right by the battlefield. It’s too dangerous. If anything happened to you, I couldn't answer to your school."

"You two, escort Mo Xing out. The others, come with me to the third floor," Captain Huo said, pointing to two soldiers before activating his aerial device and soaring upwards.

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers replied.

"Take me with you! I can help—" Mo Xing called after Captain Huo, but he could only leap and stumble. He didn’t know how to fly. After just two steps, the two soldiers stopped him.

In mid-air—

"Lucifer, did the cult send you here to eliminate me?" Mr. Shen unleashed his defensive skill, Guardian’s Arrow, conjuring a massive azure shield that blocked Lucifer’s black lightning.

"You chose to betray Kalendis. To the cult, you’re useless now. Eliminating you is only logical!" Lucifer transformed the black current in his hands into dozens of energy spheres and hurled them forward.

"Heh, and yet they only send you? Isn’t that a little insulting?" Mr. Shen sneered, his crystal bow glowing as it loosed more razor-sharp wind arrows. The arrows tore through the air, piercing the black electric field, but Lucifer’s claws shredded them.

"Samael! Don’t forget—I, Lucifer, am the leader of the Seven Sins! Dealing with a third-rate like you, who only knows disguise and stolen moves, is child's play!" Lucifer’s eyes narrowed, the draconic glyphs on his face stretching to his shoulders.

Dragon's Roar: Second Heaven!

Lucifer’s body swelled, his aura darkening, and even more violent black currents crackled in his hands.

"With power like this, let’s see how long you can hold out!" Lucifer laughed arrogantly.

"Ever heard the saying, 'With the right technique, even tofu can kill'?" Mr. Shen smiled, unfazed by Lucifer’s surge in power.

"Still mouthing off at a time like this? In this showdown between the heads and tails of the Seven Sins, you never stood a chance!"

Lucifer prepared to unleash his completed black current, but suddenly his body shuddered—a blue-green vine erupted, binding his right arm, its venom spreading rapidly and interrupting his attack.

"What? When did I get caught?" Lucifer stared at the vine in shock.

This was no ordinary vine, nor was it a simple technique.

The more power the victim used, the faster and wilder the vine grew—pure, savage growth!

"From the moment we started trading blows, wind element had invaded your body, planting the seed. When you used those claws to slice my arrows, the beautiful seed finally sprouted." Mr. Shen smiled, drawing the wind elements once more to his crystal bow.

Furious, Lucifer was forced to dodge the incoming arrows. The more he tried to counter with dark lightning or defensive spells, the more the vine raged, venom threatening to rot his whole arm.

He never imagined that in just two months, Samael had developed a technique like this!

"Gate of Dark Thunder!"

A black portal appeared behind Lucifer, its frame woven of lightning and dark matter, a swirling vortex within. From its depths, a distant chant echoed:

"Our lord Kalendis, wielding the blade of authority, shall remake the night—"

"Samael! Just you wait! I’ll settle this with you later!" Lucifer cursed.

"Oh? Is that so?" Mr. Shen smiled. "Then let me send you off with one more arrow!"

A white tempest merged with the azure wind domain, gathering at the heart of the crystal bow. Several spectral arrows shot forth, trailing meteor-like arcs, brimming with the power to shatter stars.

Arrow of the Chasing Wind!

The mightiest wind-element attack, its sheer penetration could pierce any defense in an instant! Even against top-tier shields or divine armor, the Arrow of the Chasing Wind would break through and deal a grievous blow.

"Damn it!"

Lucifer tried to defend, but the vines had already crept up his torso, their venom wracking his nerves. His spell shattered, and the Arrow of the Chasing Wind blasted him into the Gate of Dark Thunder.

As the portal closed and vanished, Mr. Shen finally exhaled. The entire underground chamber trembled, on the verge of collapse.

The Arrow of the Chasing Wind, though devastating, was mentally exhausting. Coupled with his earlier clash with Lucifer, Mr. Shen was drained, relying on Windstep to drift gently to the ground.

Suddenly, ion energy spheres appeared beside him, swirling together to form a massive blue shield that enclosed him entirely.

Ion Shield!

"Hey! Isn’t it a bit unsporting to take advantage of me now?" Mr. Shen managed a wry smile as several soldiers appeared, Captain Huo among them.

"No mercy for the wicked! All the more so when you’re one of the Seven Sins," Captain Huo said firmly.

"Heh, I’ve long since been cast out of the cult. And honestly, I can’t stand the way you righteous types swoop in for the spoils," Mr. Shen replied.

"No matter the means or methods," Captain Huo said, "bringing you to justice is the highest tribute we can pay to our fallen comrades."

"Fine. Take me away." Mr. Shen lay back inside the ion bubble. "I have to admit, your speech is quite entertaining."

——End-of-chapter notes——

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