Abyssal Awakening

"Madam Cardinal! We're receiving reports of abnormalities in the east!"

"Abnormalities in the north!"

"Warehouses near the docks!"

Gwen gritted her teeth.

Right after summoning the Sentinels to her side, they began receiving word that corrupted masses of flesh appeared in each of the three sectors. They weren't fast by any means but their regenerative abilities are no less than what she had just tried to purify.

Ordinary methods wouldn't work!

And to make matters worse, they haven't got a clue on who the culprit is yet.

She had to take command as the only one who can purify these masses in the city.

"Rama, Ami, Marcel! It's time for you to do the Lord's work and redeem yourselves. Are you ready?" Gwen turned her gaze towards the three gang leaders.

Since they were most familiar with the terrain, they'll be able to delay the corrupted masses of flesh long enough for her to deal with them one by one.

Plus, none of them were weak by any means. They became gang leaders for a reason. While they cannot compared to her in raw power, they should be able to hold their own.

The three were hesitant. Especially since if any of them get injured, the other two might take the chance to get rid of them.

"Tch. I'll guarantee you this. If you get injured during the fight and the others try to take advantage, I will personally deliver their head to your doorstep. This isn't a battle to see who gets an advantage, this is a battle to maintain the order of your city." Gwen warned.

On top of this, there was also the silent warning in her gaze.

The tightening of her grip around her spear.

'If you don't fight, I'll throw you in there personally.'

Marcel was the first to react. He slammed his fists together and forced a grin on his face.

"Of course, who else to defend the order in this city if not us? I don't know about you two but I ain't afraid of some lump of flesh. Hold it off? Sure I can do that."

With each clash of his fists, steam began to emanate from his body as his skin took on a red hue.

Realising that he was probably trying to curry a favour with Gwen in order to redeem himself the other two didn't hold back either.

"I'll have my ladies secure an escape route for the civilians that might get dragged into the battle. I'm more suited for assassinations and recon after all." Ami hid her face with a fan as her shadow began to twitch and expand.

"Then I'll use my clones to lock down the other two. Muscle head can only deal with one but through technique, restraining two is a piece of cake." Rama taunted as a vein bulged on Marcel's forehead.

But this was no time to argue.

Gwen felt like facepalming.

All three of them in front of her were idiots in their own right.

What's the use of acting tough after surrendering to her just a moment ago?

However, she couldn't send them off without thorough preparation either.

Twirling the spear, she threw it into the air and clasped her hands together.

"O' Flame undying, source of the Lord's holy breath.

"Grant me thy warmth that mends all wounds.

"Ember that defies decay, spark that light up the darkest night."

"Flame of Renewal."

Opening her palm, a golden flame appeared and split into three, shooting into the bodies of the gang leaders.

All three of them felt a warmth spread through their body but Gwen wasn't done.

"O' Crown of heavens, radiant halo of light.

"Let your shield encircle my soul, my body.

"Let no shadow pierce your divine light.

"Stand by me, as you stood at the world's first dawn."

"Radiant Spirit."

The spear that she tossed above stabbed down as golden tethers attached to each of the three, forming a barrier around their bodies before disappearing.

And for the last buff, Gwen reached out to her spear and shattered it, transforming it into a roaring flame.

"O' Blade of morning, bearer of radiant wrath.

"Ignite within my grasp, sacred flame.

"Let my enemies feel your sting, let them turn to ash in your path.

"Enchantment."

Compressing the flame into a spark that split into three, the gang leaders had their weapons burst with radiant fire.

Marcel's fist glowed with red hot justice, Rama's daggers lit up the darkness and Ami's threads lit up with a radiant white.

"I've bestowed upon you three buffs that should help you out if the outbreak is bigger than anticipated. Now you have no excuse if you were to get your ass kicked." Gwen smirked.

Turning around, Marcel crouched down for a moment before jumping high into the sky, transforming into a red blur.

"That buffoon. Not a single speck of patience." Ami sighed, falling into her own shadow and disappearing from the spot while Rama split into clones, covering both his own territory and Ami's.

While the three of them were out holding back the masses of flesh, Gwen had her sentinels shut down the gates, making sure that no one can get in or out.

Not only that, but she also put more focus into her 'Zone', making sure that not a single speck of detail is missed.

Blood began to trickle down her nose as she wiped it away.

Pushing her focus on such a wide space was pushing it, no matter how talented she may be or how good the technique is. Yet the strangest thing of all, was that she couldn't spot anyone who could be the culprit at all.

Nothing was wrong, it's as though the beasts just appeared out of thin air.

Something must be concealing the culprit from her detection and not just that, but they're aware of it too.

'What a troublesome enemy.' Gwen narrowed her gaze, making her way towards the Ami's territory since that's the closest one to civilians.

Dealing with that first will resolve a lot of her worries.

###

Alice observed the situation from the ally. After setting everything on a timer, she wanted to see how Gwen was going to react.

What she didn't expect was for her to overlay so many buffs on the three gang leaders, thus making them capable of holding off the corruption rather easily.

Just from analysing the energy threads, Alice could tell what the three buffs were.

The first was a significant regeneration boost bordering on healing. Even if they lose an arm, that flame would regenerate a new one for them.

The capacity isn't that high and big wounds cause it to drain faster. But it was still better than most healing skills that she's seen.

The second was a barrier that acts similar to the first ritual that she did.

Not only would it protect them from Eldritch energy but also weaken it in the process.

And the third ritual was one that enhanced their weapons with a small spark of the purifying white flames.

With this woman being able to do this much, her predicted importance within the Church has just skyrocketed.

Even Alice knew that getting involved with her was bad news since there's no doubt that Solaris was going to be looking after her to some extent as well.

Then there was this. . . Abnormal 'Zone' of hers.

The range that it covers, the intensity of the information gathered. . . It's almost as though there was an eye in the sky that observed everything. If they were to fight, Alice was certain of one thing.

Her current Zone was inferior to Gwen's vision.

It's certain now.

No matter what, she had to interact with Gwen even if there were risks involved.

She needed to understand the secrets behind this new vision so that she can prepare against Shiera if they are to fight in the future.

[I'm still against this. But this is probably your best chance at finding out what's happening with this new vision. If you tried to find out while fighting Shiera. . . Yeah, you'll be cut in half before you can even get a rough idea.] Cayla was reluctant.

The risk was high but delaying this would only increase the danger in the future.

[Just. . . be careful since we don't know who's watching her. Solaris definitely did something to protect her since she's too valuable. And the two Apostles out at sea will definitely move if something was to happen to her.] She warned as Alice nodded her head.

The issue now was how she'll 'appear'.

If she was to stay as she is, Gwen will get suspicious. Someone that can't be detected? She'll be the only one that can move freely within this 'Zone', thus making her the prime suspect.

But if she was to drop her stealth completely, Gwen will no doubt focus her attention towards Alice as someone who suddenly 'appeared'.

Once again, suspicious as hell.

She needed to slowly fade in her presence.

Slow enough where it wouldn't draw Gwen's attention. Faint enough where she could justify somehow ignoring it and still strong enough where it can't completely evade detection.

Which meant amplifying her presence if she was to get involved with something but dimming it if she's just a bystander. . .

This level of fine tuning, this level of risk and danger.

Alice had to admit, she was getting a little excited. She held her hand over her chest and felt each beat.

[Yeah, Imma just call you a danger junkie now.] Cayla sighed while Alice shrugged.

Little by little, her presence was reintroduced to the 'Zone' as she made her way towards the beasts that she had released.