Paradox Breakers

4: No Heroes

Fire, arrows, and magic shot out in all directions from her shield, turning back on the soldiers that had fired them. Energy exploded on the demon army's side, and the fliers fell to the earth. One of them stood up, his mask shattered. Johann saw it again and confirmed it with himself. Emilia stood wide-eyed next to him. The black-armored soldier's face was bloodied, but it was undoubtedly human.

Siegfried didn't waste any time. "Horolo!"

"On it!" Horolo said, drawing his sword.

He dashed into the enemy ranks, and his figure blurred. Johann could scarcely track him with his eyes. Blood splattered onto the ground and the walls of the houses nearby as a shadowy blur surrounded them.

Some of the soldiers screamed and ran off. Johann's notebook glowed. He opened it. "Four enemies headed your way, Fenrir," it read.

Soon after, he heard blood-curdling screams in the alleys toward which the soldiers had run.

Horolo screamed. The blur had come to a stop. The leader of the soldiers held Horolo by the head. He struggled and clawed at the arm holding him to no avail.

"Don't underestimate me. I will not succumb to such cheap tricks. Vector reversion? Time dilation? All those are can only be crushed underfoot by absolute power."

"Tch! They sent Louis the Absolute. I didn't think they'd go that far," Hohenheim said.

They know this guy? What's going on? Johann looked on in confusion.

Pheles tapped on his wrist. He leaned over and she whispered, "This definitely wasn't some random raid by that army. Look out for that old man Hohenheim too."

Louis threw Horolo to the ground. His massive figure rushed at Teri, swinging an axe. She raised her shield, blue energy shining. He smashed his axe down and shattered her shield. He slashed through her armor, and blood splashed out of her chest. Teri staggered backwards.

"So even Aegis isn't enough to defend against that?" Siegfried said. He opened his eyes wide, and they glowed red. "Then!"

Nothing happened, however. Siegfried took a step back. "What? My ability didn't work?"

"You've made quite a name for yourself. Did you think I wouldn't know about your ability? Omnipotence Absolution lets me manipulate the laws of nature in a short range around myself. The light from your eyes cannot reach me. I cannot see your eyes," Louis said, his low voice reverberating through his menacing mask.

Siegfried drew a dagger. "If you can't see my eyes..." He dashed toward Louis.

Louis raised his axe. "You think if I can't see where you're looking, I can't deal with you?"

Siegfried's arm bent away from Louis as it neared Louis. He swung his axe down on Siegfried's head. Louis stopped, and his hands shook.

"W-what's going on?"

Siegfried took a step back and stood straight. "Whew. That was too close. Your ability lets you manipulate physical laws. So a force unaffected by physical laws is unaffected by your ability."

"I see. So that's what Bahnsen's ability is," Pheles said.

"What? Where is Bahnsen? I thought he had moved ahead with Siegfried," Johann asked quietly.

"Now that I think about it, he was just gone before I realized it," Emilia said.

"Now I understand Siegfried's ability too," Pheles said. She pointed to Johann. "Create a contract to acquire Shadow Vision."