Rise of the Inquisition (Arc 10)

Chapter 221: Dragon of Order, Harbingers of Chaos

Standing far back from the Grand Army of Orion, Paladin watches as the Grand Army desperately tries to hold on. Soldiers from all different armies running everywhere, officers commanding soldiers around as they tried to fill up the cracks in the defensive line, while a constant flow of injured soldiers incapable of fighting were brought backwards, unable to be tended to but brought out of the fighting so they didn't suffer in the defensive line. Screams from commanding officers, saying that the reserves of the Grand Army of Orion has been depleted, and that they must hold their ground no matter what.

Hearing all of this news so suddenly, it made Paladin realize.

Tiberius and Lucifer had to be defeated now.

Holding Alphaspear in his right hand, Paladin begins walking forward. His recognizable form was gone, no longer was he recognized as the Lord Inquisitor by the soldiers of the Grand Army of Orion. Instead, when he passed by the soldiers as he advanced forward, he was seen as an unknown imperializing presence - that made people bend at will.

While he advanced through the defensive line. Delta and Orion flew above Paladin in sync, and before Paladin walked into them, they blanketed legionnaires of the Legion of Death in seas of green and blue Dragon flames. Dragon flames that weren't as strong as the golden Dragon flames that Paladin used earlier, but strong enough to put a dent into the legionnaires in front of him.

Soldiers of the Grand Army continue to run by him, wondering who he was constantly, and wondering if the man dressed in the pure white armor was there to help them. On the other hand, the legionnaires were not showing any friendliness to Paladin. Instead of friendliness, they opted to charge forward at Paladin while swinging their swords - being aggressive. Allowing Paladin to hold his hand out at them, sending forth a burst of roaring golden Dragon flames that incinerated the legionnaires the moment they were touched - melting their armor down into volcanic like liquid that roasted their flesh. The golden Dragon flames were so powerful, it forced the legionnaires to stop where they were and drop to their knees as they couldn't hold themselves up.

Paladin kept marching forward, and soon he found himself passing by Lady Athena. Lady Athena turned to look at Paladin - not recognizing him, but felt that his presence was familiar. While on the other hand, Paladin didn't turn to Lady Athena at all - nor did he care to turn to her.

"Lady Athena! Look out!"

Hearing Captain Cassius' yell for her to lookout, Lady Athena turned to look forward. She found that a legionnaire was charging at her straight on - a legionnaire that Paladin could see charging forward from the corner of his eye. Lady Athena prepared herself to fight the legionnaire, but she couldn't pull her sword out of the dead legionnaire body it was pierced into fast enough, and because Paladin continued to walk forward - allowing Lady Athena to fight the legionnaire alone - Ava was forced to jump in and cut the charging legionnaire down. Saving the life of Lady Athena.

Lady Athena was shocked by how she was saved by Ava, but she found herself to be extremely grateful.

"Ava... thank you."

"No probl--"

A legionnaire came from out of nowhere in the crowd, and pierced his sword through the right knee of Ava. Making Ava shriek out in pain as she was forced to the ground, right as the legionnaire pulled out his sword and attempted to slash his sword at Ava's neck. However, before he could do so, Captain Cassius jumped in and proceeded to cut the legionnaire down.

"Ava, are you alright?"

Captain Cassius looked down at Ava, and watched as she was breathing heavily from the shock of what had just happened, panting as she groaned in pain as she placed both her hands together over the wound.