Chapter 122: Close and Personal

Corbin stood atop the balled-up form of the archangel as it descended slowly from above, drifting down to the far end of the ruined street. His landing was calm, controlled, yet his presence pressed heavily against the battlefield as he positioned himself to block any possible path of retreat.

The moment his feet touched the ground, the air shifted.

Duke Haborym stood between them.

They circled him.

“I guess you were right. This sneaky bastard teleportation is a fraud.” Corbin laughed like he won a million dollar lottery.

Damian chuckled while flexing his shoulders, causing bone breaking sounds to resonate from his body.

“Now we know he can’t escape, we can focus on killing him.”

“You bet!”

Corbin tightened his grip on his flaming sword and radiant shield, golden light flickering across his arms as divine fire licked along the blade. Opposite him, Damian advanced with slow, measured steps, azure flames engulfing both his arms, the fire coiling violently as if eager to be unleashed.

For a brief moment, the battlefield stilled.

BAM!

Damian moved.

He shot forward like a bullet, his body low and fast, closing the distance in an instant. The ground beneath his feet shattered as he lunged straight for Duke Haborym with killing intent.

The demon responded just as quickly.

His massive arm swung out in a brutal clothesline, aiming to crush Damian mid-charge with overwhelming force. But Damian was faster. He slid beneath the incoming strike as his claws lashed out in a vicious arc. Azure flames trailed behind his strike, forming a blurred line of light as his claws tore clean across Duke Haborym’s leg.

Shrrrk!

A spray of dark blood burst into the air.

Deep claw marks carved into the demon’s flesh, the azure flames searing into the wound as the force of the strike ripped through muscle.

“GRAAAH!”

Duke Haborym cried out, his body jolting from the sudden pain.

Damian shot past him, unable to stop his momentum as his body skidded violently across the shattered ground. Rubble scattered in all directions as he struggled to regain control, his heels digging deep trenches into the earth.

Bam! Bam!

Both his hands and legs slammed down, forcing his body to halt abruptly.

Without hesitation he lunged again. Like a beast unleashed, Damian launched himself into the air, his body twisting as his azure-cloaked claws swung forward in a relentless barrage. But this time Duke Haborym was ready.

The moment Damian entered his range, the demon turned. His movement was sharp, precise as a single hand shot out.

GRAB!

His fingers clamped tightly around Damian’s neck and the force alone stopped him cold. Before Damian could react…

BOOOOOOM!!!

Duke Haborym slammed him straight into the ground.

The impact shattered the earth beneath them, a massive crater forming instantly as shockwaves tore through the surrounding ruins. The ground sank several meters under the sheer force, debris exploding outward in all directions.

Damian’s body was buried into the impact point, dust and rubble swallowing him whole.

“Scram!” Corbin sprang into actions with his sword, unleashing a wave of golden fire!

Duke Haborym did not linger. In the next instant, his body burst into flames and vanished.

FOOOOSH!

He reappeared several dozen meters away, standing firmly atop a fractured section of the street, his three heads scanning both Damian and Corbin with cold, calculating intent.

Corbin did not hesitate this time.

“I’ll take the lead!”

The moment Duke Haborym created distance, he surged forward, his figure bursting into motion like a streak of golden light cutting across the ruined street. The flaming sword in his grip roared to life, its divine fire intensifying as his aura flared.

Duke Haborym reacted instantly.

The floating torch beside him spun violently, and in the next breath, a torrent of hellfire erupted outward, surging like a raging tide meant to swallow Corbin whole.

But Corbin did not slow down.

He raised his shield.

Buzz!

Golden energy surged outward, wrapping tightly around his frame, forming a radiant barrier that perfectly outlined his body. It moved with him, as he charged straight through the inferno without a hint of hesitation.

The flames crashed against the barrier, but instead of consuming him, they split and flowed around his figure, unable to breach the divine protection.

In an instant, he closed the distance.

“RIP!!!”

His sword came down.

With a powerful swing, Corbin unleashed a massive arc of golden flame that tore through the air, its brilliance cutting across the battlefield like a divine execution.

But Duke Haborym had already moved.

He sidestepped.

The golden arc cleaved past him, carving through the ruined street behind, while in the same motion, the Duke twisted his body and drove a brutal punch toward Corbin’s head.

Corbin reacted just as fast.

His shield rose.

BOOM!

The punch slammed into the golden barrier, triggering an explosive burst of divine light. The shield flared violently upon impact, releasing a scorching wave of radiant energy that surged outward like a backlash.

“GRAAAH!”

Duke Haborym’s body jerked as the light burned into his flesh, forcing him back as a pained roar tore from his throat. Smoke rose from the point of contact, his skin searing under the holy energy.

Corbin did not let the moment slip.

He stepped in again, his sword already moving for another strike, the flames along its blade intensifying as he aimed to cleave through the opening he had just created.

But Duke Haborym had already recovered and his movements were too fast. Before the blade could descend, his hand shot out.

Clang!

He caught the flaming sword with his bare hand, gripping the blade itself as the golden fire raged wildly against his palm. At the same time, his other hand snapped forward.

Crack!

His fingers wrapped tightly around Corbin’s neck, lifting him clean off the ground in a single motion. The battlefield fell still for a split second as the golden light in Corbin’s eyes began to flicker while Duke Haborym stood unmoved, his grip tightening as his expression twisted into something far more vicious than before.

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