...

Looking at the sealed dimensional portal before him, Shin could not help but recall the current situation within the Lesser Kingdom of Juron, particularly its capital city, the Oath City.

"From the information that Diablo and Alucard have sent, the two Demonic Churches that they are fighting seem to have different agendas," he mumbled while observing the sealed portal. "The side of the Demonic Church of Terror wants to conduct a Great Sacrificial Ritual by slaughtering everyone within the Oath City and those within its vicinity."

"Meanwhile, the side of the Demonic Church of Envy is planning to use some sort of special method to contaminate a dimensional portal and turn it into another Demon Portal that will lead to another hell realm."

Staring at the sealed portal before him, Shin seemed to have realized something. "This must be the portal that they are looking for!"

"Such a coincidence!" he was surprised at the sudden development before contacting Diablo and Alucard about their situation.

Unfortunately, he just realized that both were currently within a sealed environment, preventing them from receiving any message from the outside.

"Tsk! Tsk! This has become a bit more troublesome," he mumbled, understanding the current situation.

He was originally planning to head to the Alfheim Kingdom to look for the Second Holy Maiden of the Temple of the Moon for his other quest, but it seemed like the ’Almighty’ had other plans.

"It can’t be helped," he sighed helplessly after realizing his current situation.

"Should I wait here?" he mumbled, trying to decide what to do next.

*Ding*

He was still in deep thought when a notification suddenly interrupted his thoughts. When he opened his system log, he immediately realized that it was a message from Alucard.

"It seems like he has gotten out of that sealed place," he mumbled before opening the message.

Alucard: The situation on Diablo’s side seems to be quite troublesome. They have managed to destroy two more core altars, greatly hurting the progression of the sacrificial ritual.

Alucard: Unfortunately, the wicked energy that is being contained by those three core altars that they have destroyed escaped and spread throughout the region, transforming and contaminating the mana in the air.

Alucard: It seems to be the contingency plan of those bastards from the Demonic Church of Terror.

Alucard: Based on Diablo’s analysis, the opposing side will most likely take the initiative to destroy the fourth core altar, creating a perfect environment for their people.

Alucard: There is a high chance that they will be attacking the Oath City next once it happens.

Shin skimmed through the report given to him, trying to analyze their current situation. In the end, he also came up with the same conclusion. "Worse, they may even have powerful NPCs in their ranks, most likely at the ranks of Demonic Bishops at the very least."

"When that happens, then it will be already too late for Righteous Churches to make their move at that point."

"Saving the Oath City and its people will also be impossible once it happens," he mumbled before offering them some solution.

Sickarius: Can you send my words to Diablo and our people? Tell them to gather their forces within the city walls and do everything they can to defend it. At least, buying as much time as possible.

Sickarius: I will issue some orders to the nearest branch of the Church of Sun and Moon, asking them to send some reinforcements. Even a crusade, if possible.

Alucard’s reply also came almost immediately.

Alucard: I can pass your message to them, but it will require me to go back to the isolated region. And I am not sure if I can get out again once I have dived back in.

Alucard: I will also lose sight of Leviathan since I will have to drop my chase on him.

Alucard: Felix and Felicia may be good, but I doubt that they will be enough to stop him since Leviathan has fully regrouped with his forces. There are even two commander-level sweepers among them, who are only slightly worse than those two in terms of skill and strength.

Alucard: I am afraid that they will be captured by Leviathan instead once I have left the two.

...

"Felix and Felicia?" repeated Shin, trying to recall the information that they had on these two experts.

He might have just gone online, but that did not mean he was too clueless about the current situation.

He had already been hearing updates about everyone since earlier, when he was exploring the area. He had heard that these two experts were at least god-level powerhouses.

He was not sure how powerful they were exactly when compared to him and the others on the same level, but since Alucard acknowledged their abilities, they should not be that bad either.

Looking at the portal behind him, Shin immediately sent another message.

Sickarius: It is fine. I will handle that issue. Just make sure to assist Diablo with his task. I’ve got a bad feeling about that one.

Alucard: That should not be that much of a problem. I heard that the reinforcements from the Titan Guild are already arriving one after another.

Alucard: The adventurers and mercenaries who have accepted the commissions from their respective factions and the tasks from the Righteous Churches are appearing within the vicinity of the Oath City as well.

Alucard: It has just become more troublesome dealing with the believers of the Demonic Church of Terror, who have become more powerful due to the wicked energy tainting the mana in the surroundings.

After a while, Alucard seemed to have realized something and immediately asked.

Alucard: Wait! What do you mean by you will handle the rest, Vice Commander? Are you telling me that you are also currently within the region?

Sickarius: That’s right. Things happened, and I ended up in this place.

Alucard: Why are you exactly?

Shin sighed once again before looking around for another time before replying.

Sickarius: From the looks of it, I am currently in the place that you guys are supposed to be.

Those words immediately made Alucard realize something and unable to believe what he just heard.

Alucard: Do you mean that you are currently in the location of the dimensional portal?

Sickarius: Yeah. And it is a sealed dimensional portal at that.

Alucard: How do you end up in that place!?

Alucard was unable to believe it, even though he fully trusted Shin. He felt that it was most likely a prank or something, but he also knew that the latter would not do something like that, given their current situation.

Sickarius: Well, I wonder about that as well.

Sickarius: Anyway, you do what I have asked you. I will handle the rest.

Shin gave the surroundings one last look before adding.

Sickarius: I may lie in wait here and launch an ambush later.

Sickarius: Can you also communicate with those two? Help me rely on my words to them as well if that is the case.

...

Shin then further made a series of arrangements, making sure that no accidents would happen before proceeding to hide.

He just hoped that Leviathan would fall into their trap without any problem. If he managed to capture this guy, then they would truly deal a heavy blow to the Pandemonium Descendants and their overall plans.

After all, Leviathan and the other Sin Devils from the Pandemonium Troupe possessed an extremely crucial role in their huge scheme, especially when they shared names with those extremely powerful Great Demon Kings from Hell.

***

In the meantime, Felix and Felicia, who were chasing after Alucard and Leviathan, could not help slowing down their speed after receiving a message from Alucard.

"Do you think we can trust them?" asked Felicia while looking in the direction where Alucard had disappeared.

"It is something beneficial for us anyway, so there is no need for us to be too wary of a betrayal," said Felix before quickly adding. "Moreover, we also have the key, so they will not be able to open that portal unless we are present."

"Do not forget that Leviathan’s true goal is to corrupt that portal with whatever method he has, and the rest will follow according to their plan," refuted Felicia before further scolding him. "Once it happens, then they do not have to do anything else and let ’the other side’ deal with the rest."

"Are you strong enough to handle the power of Demon Kings from Hell? Or even a Great Demon King at that?"

She bombarded Felix with multiple questions that almost made his ears bleed.

In response, he could only sigh and say. "There is no need to worry about that. Do you think that those guys from the Empyrean Talons will let such accidents happen?"

"From the information that we barely collect, it is said that the Empyrean Talons are constantly clashing against the forces of the Pandemonium Descendants, who are the frontrunners at exploring the Hell Realms!"

"They are mortal enemies, so they will always be at each other’s throats."

"We can use this piece of information to our advantage," he added while looking at the distance, watching Leviathan lead his people toward the location of the said portal.

Now that they were no longer pressured by Alucard’s pursuit, they were free to head to that location while only keeping enough guard to keep an eye on the twin.

"I do not know what kind of trap those from the Empyrean Talons have prepared, but I am confident that it will not be that lame either," he chuckled as he observed the opposing party.

...