Second World

Jack's Infernal Cleansing Flame stabbed into the shield that protected the Chalice of Blood. He had also activated his Storm Breaker's Overlimit when he teleported. Overlimit multiplied the rune technique's damage output by more than three times.

At the same time, Arlcard's Unrelenting Purgatory slammed into the same shield. The shadows of Arlcard's rune technique fused with the shield before countless black swords started stabbing in and out of the shield.

Damage numbers continued to appear as white flames and dark shadows assailed the shield. The rune diagram on the floor that generated the shield shone brightly as it tried to keep the shield intact.

The shield itself was not in perfect condition. It already lost forty percent of its HP when Jack and Arlcard hit it. The archdemon lord's spells hit a large area. This shield also suffered from the archdemon lord's bombardment before its duration ended.

The most troublesome thing about the shield was its recovering effect. The rune diagram on the floor healed the shield as it was damaged. If it was not for this healing, the shield would have broken under the archdemon lord's bombardment.

The rate of the damage inflicted by Jack and Arlcard's rune technique was greater than the healing by the rune diagram, so the shield's HP fell steadily. However, it didn't look like the shield's HP would be depleted when the rune technique ended.

Jack added the damage output by using his sword art on the shield. Once his Infernal Cleansing Flame hit, he didn't need to stay to maintain it. The white flame would continue wreaking havoc on its target until its duration was over.

Marcus and the others weren't going to just stay idle. They lunged at Jack. Cain's red smoke was back then. It understood Jack's intention. Its long-reaching smoke tentacles slapped around, keeping the enemies from coming near the Chalice of Blood.

Leavemealone and Therras did the same. They struck from behind the enemies and tried to gain their attention.

Jack knew Cain wouldn't be able to hold those enemies for long. He repeated his sword art multiple times as Overlimit was still active. The shield's HP went down faster but the rate somehow reduced after its HP bar went below twenty percent.

Jack sensed it was because the rune diagram on the ground injected even more energy when the shield was nearly destroyed.

From such a close range, his advanced mana sense could detect the mana flowing around the rune diagram. Given time, he should be able to deactivate it, but he didn't have that luxury for now. However, he was able to sense the multiple important nodes in the diagram.

He remembered when his Nine Yin Phantom Sword cut Marcus' tentacle-binding spell. The light tentacle regenerated instantaneously when he cut them using his swords. However, when he cut them using the Nine Yin Phantom Sword, they remained cut.

He focused his mana to conjure the phantom sword again. The black light appeared out of thin air and pierced the node where Jack sensed the energy transfer was regulated.

The effect was seen then. The nine yin energy could disrupt mana. Jack sensed the mana around the node he had hit was in chaos. It was as if a tiny black hole had appeared in that node. The diagram was not able to function as it was fully intended to.

The healing of the shield's HP didn't completely stop, but it was significantly reduced. The shield's HP now reduced at a faster rate from the white flames and shadow swords that were still assaulting the shield.

Jack resumed using his sword art to slash the shield, making its HP go down even faster.

Isaac pierced through Cain's red smoke with a bang. His halberd broke the smoke wall using Ki Strike. Multiple melee weapons revolved around him as he lunged forward at Jack. It was Weapon Master's Weapons Festival.

"Peniel, invulnerability!" Jack exclaimed. They were too close to fail.

The weapons festival struck Jack's body. He didn't back down. The invulnerability protected him. He continued slashing the shield.

Seeing Jack ignore his assault, Isaac used his body to block the shield.

Jack activated Ghost Sword. His two swords turned incorporeal. He then used Brave Slash while performing the One-word Slash powered by mana manipulation. The slash went through Isaac and the shield, hitting them both.

Without the express healing from the rune diagram, the shield could finally withstand no longer. It broke apart just as the two rune techniques ended. Arlcard materialized next to the chalice.

"Move that cup!" Jack yelled. His invulnerability had ended when Isaac hit him with a power strike. He was sent flying away.

Arlcard's hand was about to reach the Chalice of Blood but a light beam slammed into him and he was also sent flying.

"Protect the chalice!!" Marcus shouted. That light beam was his spell.

Zara and the others had been assaulting Cain's smoke form. The force of their combined assaults pinned him to the wall. He was unable to reach for the chalice. Leavemealone and Therras were even further away. They couldn't approach and help.

Jack was on his way back. His cloak and golden wings flapped while shielding him at the same time from multiple attacks coming at him.

Marcus hurriedly placed himself in between Jack and the chalice. He prepared a spell. As he did, his eyes caught sight of Arlcard who was also casting a spell. That spell was already nearing completion and he recognized its spell formation.

"No!" Marcus shouted. He was placing himself in between Jack and the Chalice. Arlcard was at a different angle. The chalice was within Arlcard's line of sight. He wanted to move his body to cover that line of sight but it was too late. Arlcard's spell was completed.

Arlcard's spell was one he had just learned recently, Telekinesis. Any target was valid for this spell as long as it was within range and the caster's line of sight. The Chalice of Blood fulfilled these two conditions.

The invisible force from the spell pulled the chalice out of the pedestal. As it did, the illusory blood tendrils linking the chalice to the vampire elders disappeared. All the vampire elders crumbled into dust.