Just as Shalnark was about to close his eyes, the blood on his face, like a ridiculous mustache beneath his sharp nose, remained as Pakunoda appeared in front of him.
Then, a worried-looking Sheila appeared. She was frantically glancing around, and for some reason, her gaze finally fixed on the front.
Shalnark couldn't help but laugh. You three have given up on fighting and struggling, running to my side. Are you here to listen to my last words?
"Alright, alright, let's wrap this up with some dignity. As the second leader of the Phantom Troupe, I forgive you all."
However, while Machi was stitching up Shalnark's wounds, Pakunoda hesitated for a moment and then said something to him.
"Sheila has brought reinforcements... Though it's reluctant, in this situation, they're the only ones who can change things."
"Whatever happens after, let's cooperate with them for now."
Shalnark wasn't sure if it was because Pakunoda's words were vague or if his injuries were too severe, affecting his thinking, but he couldn't fully grasp what she meant.
However, despite his dulled reactions, the booming explosion sounds in the distance made him realize that something unexpected had occurred.
But what exactly happened?
Not far away, Germain stepped over the "Elder's" corpse, feeling puzzled.
Could this be called one of the "Three Royal Guards"?
Was it because they were too weak, or was it that Yupi, Feitan, and the others were just too strong back then?
The "Elder's" combat power was actually somewhere between the "Three Royal Guards" they had encountered in the Republic of East Gorteau and the "Squadron Commander."
It was strong, but calling it a "Royal Guard" might be a little unfair to the reputation Youpi, Pouf, and Pitou had built.
He had fought the "Three Royal Guards" himself, so he was probably the most qualified to make such an assessment.
Germain turned his head and saw Kurapika struggling to swing his silver chains, pushing back the surrounding demons. Then, he saw Shizuku confronting the "Old Priest."
He pursed his lips, struck out with a slash, clearing a large wave of demons for Kurapika, and then quickly moved to Shizuku's side.
"Do you need me to handle it?" Germain had a pretty good idea why Shizuku hadn't taken down the "Old Priest" yet.
Given her current strength, the "Old Priest" shouldn't have been much of a challenge.
Shizuku adjusted her glasses, recalling the kindly old priest in her memories.
The old priest had a face full of wrinkles, his body grown fat, and he was always muttering with a Bible in front of him.
None of the orphans from Meteor City ever paid attention to his sermons. They were only interested in the Eucharist afterward, especially the candy and cookies.
Maybe there were two oddballs: one was Chrollo, the other was Pakunoda. They really did listen to the priest's chants, but that was a long time ago.
After the Sarasa murder incident, they rarely came to the cathedral anymore.
So, when the little girl was blankly staring, the old priest took her as the only one who genuinely listened to his preaching.
This pleased him, and he treated the girl especially well, often giving her extra snacks and fruits.
However, he quickly realized that the girl wasn't actually very interested in religion. But since a bond had been formed, he started taking care of her like a granddaughter.
When the girl, like many others from Meteor City, decided to leave the city and explore the world, the old priest thought for a long time. He didn't give her a cross, but instead gave her a St. Peter's cross.
The priest hoped she would remain humble and find her way to heaven.
But the priest, isolated in Meteor City, didn't know that outside the city, the upside-down cross had already become a symbol of rebellion.
At this moment, the girl blinked but didn't see the old man who was always smiling or the one who looked worried when she left.
All that was left in front of her was a "priest" who could only be recognized by his clothes.
His face had turned black like charcoal, his body tall and muscular, and he was holding a blood-stained axe.
This cruel figure was definitely not the old man.
The old man was someone who, even in a place like Meteor City, tried to preach, raise children, and was always hopeful, believing that if people believed in God, prayed sincerely, and did good deeds, they could be saved.
However, God clearly would not save Meteor City. This place was known as one where even the gods would abandon.
Time continued to pass.
"No need." At this moment, Shizuku took a breath, stepped forward, and said, "No need... only he... must die by my hands."
Easily dodging the axe's swing, Shizuku swung her "Blinky" and tore off one of the "Old Priest's" arms.
She raised the "Blinky" again and with a sharp sound, crushed the "Old Priest's" head, then coldly watched it collapse to the ground.
In the end, when it came down to it, making a choice was hard, but it was also easy.
After a while, Shizuku reached out and gently touched the inverted cross on her chest.
She fiddled with it for a bit, then whispered a prayer she had already memorized for the dead, directed at the "Old Priest's" corpse.
I should've told him earlier... that I had it memorized.
Germain said that souls really do exist in this world. I hope it's not too late, and that his soul is still around, able to hear my prayer...
Rest in peace.
The sudden entrance of Germain, Shizuku, and Kurapika turned the tide, but the war was far from over.
Machi handed the wounded knight, whose injuries had been stitched up, to the less powerful Sheila for care and stood up.
The last wave of combat troops surged out from the main camp, and along with the survivors Machi, Pakunoda, and the others brought back, they gathered together.
Machi and Pakunoda now led them in a charge, intending to crush the demon army that had lost the "Three Royal Guards."
This was the closest they had come to victory, but they were suddenly pushed back by a new demonic legion that appeared out of nowhere.
Under the moonlight, the "Ant King" Gyro, wrapped in his cloak, and the "Ant Queen" Zazan, showing off her fiery physique, appeared.
Zazan smiled as she leaned against Gyro, her long scorpion tail wrapped around his waist, showing the closeness they had shared recently.
"Heh heh... I didn't expect all of the 'Three Royal Guards' to be dead..."
"Never mind, never mind. As long as we have my 'Queen Shot,' and your 'King Shot,' we can make as many 'Three Royal Guards' as we want."
Zazan licked her dark purple lips and cast a seductive glance at Germain, Shizuku, Shalnark, Machi, Pakunoda, and Kurapika.
"Look here, aren't there six people who are qualified to become 'Royal Guards'?"
Gyro said nothing in reply, only stared at Germain, sensing a dangerous aura from this man.
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