164 Chapter 164: Black Beasts (2/2)

The soldiers, now free from engaging the Dark Apes in close combat, raised their carbines and let loose several precise shots at the Dark Apes still harassing the civilians. The Dark Apes snarled as they were struck, but only three died in the barrage. The rest turned around, abandoning their attempts on the beleaguered bodyguards.

And good thing too, for there were about five men in suits and sunglasses (why the fuck were they wearing sunglasses inside an underground shelter?!) remaining. And they looked like they were in pretty bad shape.

On the other hand, we had managed to thin the number of Dark Apes to about half of their original count. About fifty Dark Apes left. Pretty good odds, if you ask me.

”Damn, maybe I should have cast Vermillion Phoenix or White Tiger instead. Never mind.”

At that moment, I summoned Black Tortoise. My Celestial Guardian appeared and he immediately conjured whirlpools of water that slammed into the Dark Apes and swept them away. As hardy as they were, even Dark Apes needed to breathe, and the immense water pressure not only crushed them but also drowned them. Just as insurance, I summoned Pisces. The two gigantic sharks sailed through the water that Black Tortoise had created and began tearing the Dark Apes apart with their dagger-like fangs.

”Over here! Move it!”

The sergeant was yelling for the civilians to run over to our position. With the Dark Apes out of the way, they would be safest next to us, especially if the Dark Church dudes still had anything up their sleeves.

Speaking of which…where were they? I had lost sight of them when dealing with the Dark Apes, but I was pretty sure they didn't just disappear somewhere. There was nowhere else to go in this shelter, and my rescue team was guarding the only exit. Not unless they used the elevator at the center, but the space in front of it had always been empty. If they had headed that way, we should have seen them. Unless they used an invisibility spell, but that begged the question of why didn't they cast it earlier?

By now I was summoning more and more Constellation spirits to finish off the surviving Dark Apes. Even though the number of bodyguards had been drastically reduced, I could easily reinforce our position with more Constellation spirits. The longer time passed, the more advantageous it would be for us.

”Canis Minor!”

I called one of my hunting hounds over and gestured him toward the last place where I saw the Dark Church trio. He nodded and bounded over to sniff the area.

”Go track them down! I'm counting on you!”

Canis Minor barked an affirmation and began sniffing out the trail. He began racing toward the civilians. I snorted inwardly. If those idiots thought they could hide within the civilians, then they were dead wrong. My Canis Minor was capable of picking out their scent from everyone else.

So I was surprised when he ran past the civilians and deeper into the shelter. Cursing under my breath, I followed him.

”Oh? There's still more prey?” Craig noticed me jogging toward the opposite end of the shelter, and he joined me. The guy was faster and fitter than I was, and he caught up really easily. They said that spearmen were the fastest mages, and now I finally had a chance to see that they were right.

Sheila also caught up shortly after. Being weighed down by her shield, she was just a teeny bit slower than her president.

”What's going on?”

”The real enemy,” I replied grimly. ”We're not going to let them get away.”

”Oh, the Dark Church! Great idea!”

With a cheer, Craig increased his speed. Canis Minor ignored him, skidding to a stop near the edge of the wall.

”…what the hell is that?”

I also paused in my tracks when I caught sight of two gigantic canisters lying against the wall. Between them was the surviving trio from the Dark Church.

”Who cares?! Kill them! Kill them all!”

Craig hurled his spear at them in reflex, instinctively understanding that he couldn't afford to let them do anything. Sheila did the same, but a magical barrier appeared between their targets and their weapons, stopping the spears from piercing through.

”Man, this was meant to be a last resort. We really don't want to use this…but you kids forced our hand.”

The Dark Church dude in the middle was growling some cliché line that I had heard a dozen times before. So I didn't pay attention. The moment Craig had attacked, I had begun casting a summoning spell as well.

”Taurus!”

It was futile. The barrier held strong even as Taurus collided against it. Behind the barrier, the Dark Church dudes continued to work on the canisters.

”You're too late!” the Dark Church dude in the middle howled triumphantly.

The moment the words left his mouth, the canisters clicked and flung open, releasing white smog into the air. And then, from each of them, a massive dark figure stepped out, their silhouettes still obscured by the dense smog.

”What in the world…?” I muttered under my breath, but Craig suddenly seized me and Sheila.

”Get out of here!” he shouted as he began sprinting backward. ”Everyone, run! Or we'll all die!”

Amidst his panic, I could hear the three Dark Church dudes cackle cruelly as they too were enveloped by the smog.