The Warden of The Witches-Chapter 257:

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256="">Chapter 257: Friendly Fire</ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Watching the countless bats locked in a fierce battle overhead, Aiden silently took a few steps back, bent down to pick up his briefcase, and retrieved a mask and a short silver sword engraved with runes. He had made some equipment preparations for tonight's operation, but he still felt a tinge of regret. If he had known he'd be personally fighting the opponent today, he would have come dressed in the full attire and gear of a Supervising Inquisitor.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The effect of the divine utterance had faded. Now, they had to rely on Kyle as the main force to engage the Agent head-on. The immortality granted to Kyle by the Progenitor could resist the "Reaping" power of the "Death" authority, but the opponent also possessed the "Undying" power. Aiden estimated this battle would be difficult to conclude decisively.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->A small cluster of grey bats broke off from the main swarm and charged straight at Aiden, but they were quickly intercepted by another small group of black bats, leaving only a few stragglers flying towards him. Aiden fired several shots, then cut down the last two that got close with his short sword.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Kyle and the Agent were similar in build, and Kyle likely held no disadvantage in lineage; the number of bats they split into was almost identical. Aiden glanced back again at the three corpses lying on the street; none of them showed any signs of movement. Amidst such intense fighting, the Agent seemed to have little capacity left to attack him.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Numerous injured bats fell from the sky, crawling on the ground. Aiden reloaded his pistol and looked up at the sky. In just a few seconds, the number of bats had significantly decreased. The battle seemed chaotic, but Aiden began to discern a pattern. The core of a high-ranking blood-kin's being was actually the heart. When a blood-kin split apart, the heart portion could divide into a cluster of four to seven small bats, which couldn't stray too far from each other. While other body parts could fly far away, they had to return to the heart's location before their time limit. The closer they were to the heart, the more precisely the blood-kin could control the bats split from other body parts.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->For a Supervising Inquisitor, attacking the few bats transformed from the heart could severely injure a blood-kin in their transformed state. However, distinguishing those specific targets within a swarm of bats was an almost impossible task for an ordinary person. But as the number of bats dwindled, Aiden gradually observed the two densest centers within the battling swarm. One spot concentrated the Agent's grey bats, swirling into a ball shape mid-air, currently under siege by black bats. The other spot showed the reverse situation. Both Kyle and the Agent had to protect their vital core with all their might during the fight, much like two boxers trading blows, always guarding their own chin while attacking the opponent's. In other words, the area concentrated with grey bats was the Agent's vital spot.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Aiden, holding his reloaded pistol, estimated the direct distance—about thirty-odd meters, within his accurate range, but realistically hitting the Agent's heart within the swarm was impractical.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->He sheathed his short sword and took out a sealed flask from his briefcase. It contained highly concentrated holy water, extremely corrosive to the undead; ordinary spirits would likely dissipate upon contact. Recalling the previous Aiden's experience beating up Ophelia, Aiden gripped the flask and recited an incantation: "Scorching light shines upon my palm."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Fine bubbles appeared within the holy water in the flask—this black magic spell heated a specific target, with a very short range, essentially only effective on objects held by the caster, and ineffective on living beings. Aiden used this spell to heat the water in the flask to near boiling point, then took a few steps forward and forcefully threw the flask towards the concentration of grey bats.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->The vial soared into the air, gradually nearing the ball formation of the grey bat swarm. The Agent sensed something was wrong. A few grey bats flew towards the flask, attempting to knock it away—but it was too late. Aiden quickly aimed and shot the flask, shattering it.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Scalding holy water sprayed through the air, accompanied by large amounts of steam. Nearly the entire grey bat swarm was hit—of course, Kyle's black bats participating in the siege were not spared either. This tactic was devised by the previous Aiden to counter Ophelia's mist form ability; he would throw heated, sealed holy water at Ophelia transformed into mist, then shoot the container—Ophelia would revert to her original form, rolling on the ground in pain.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Amidst the piercing shrieks of the bats, Aiden saw the grey bats rapidly coalesce into a human form in mid-air, plummeting down and crashing hard onto the ground. Aiden seized the opportunity, firing five consecutive shots at the body, emptying the cylinder and lodging all remaining anti-magic bullets into the Agent's body.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Simultaneously, the black bats also fell back to the ground, merging together to reform into Kyle.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"I'm dying, I'm dying!! Bro, couldn't you give a heads-up before attacking!?" Kyle wailed, clutching his face. Like the Agent, he was covered in wounds, but the most severe damage came from Aiden's widespread holy water attack—Aiden's move had not only heavily injured the Agent but also delivered friendly fire to his own teammate.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Sorry, but if I gave a warning, wouldn't he have been prepared?" Aiden reloaded his pistol without looking away. "Also, could you please either put on some clothes or turn around? Don't face me directly, thanks."<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Kyle finally recovered from the intense pain of the holy water corrosion. Just as he was about to complain, gunshots rang out again—Aiden, having just reloaded, immediately resumed firing continuously at the Agent, emptying the cylinder once more.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->His heart corroded by holy water, having taken over ten anti-magic bullets specialized against undead, the Agent could no longer get up, only twitching futilely on the ground. Then, Aiden ejected the spent casings and began reloading again.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Say, what are you doing..." Kyle asked, dumbfounded.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

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<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->"Preventing him from getting up again," Aiden replied expressionlessly, pushing the cylinder back in.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Kyle was flabbergasted. The Agent was not only covered in wounds, his heart shot several more times, and joints hit by anti-magic bullets, but although he couldn't die, he was utterly incapable of resisting further.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Was this desecrating the corpse? Weren't anti-magic bullets expensive?<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Subsequently, Aiden aimed at the Agent and began firing again.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node>

<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->

<ms-cmark-node _ngcontent-ng-c2459883256="" _nghost-ng-c2459883256=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->Listening to the Agent's agonized screams, Kyle silently made a decision in his heart—if unnecessary in the future, it was best not to make an enemy of this Warden.<!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></ms-cmark-node> freēwēbηovel.c૦m

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