Have you had enough, Miss Vampire? It's time to get down to business.

Many things that had originally made him feel vaguely unnatural suddenly had answers.

For example, the reason why "Vampire Lucinda" came to Gordon City was to hunt her own kind and seize the blood of the True Ancestor... However, the church never figured out who the "prey" she was pursuing was, and there were no clues to track down.

Now, he finally understood.

It must be Isabella!

Also, it was no coincidence that she appeared at the scene of the "Ferryman Miles" incident... Although the reason is still unclear, Isabella must have intervened in the outcome of the incident to some extent.

As a demigod-level powerhouse, she is fully capable of playing with all of us in the palm of her hand!

Thinking of this, Joyce couldn't help but sweat on his forehead.

In the seemingly peaceful and tranquil city of Gordon, there is actually a high-level vampire lurking there, and he is the "family member" of a member of our team, and has close ties with the church... It's outrageous!

The question now is, does Lor know the true identity of his partner?

...If I didn't know, it would be abnormal.

Joyce came to this conclusion somewhat reluctantly.

If you think about it carefully, ever since Isabella appeared beside Lor, his luck seemed to have suddenly changed. Not only did he make meritorious deeds repeatedly and was chosen by the high-level sealed object "Liu Guang", his strength also improved by leaps and bounds... If it was because of the secret assistance of Isabella, a high-level existence, then all this would make sense!

This kid Lor is most likely already a vampire clan member!

"Good boy, I didn't expect you to have such a big secret..."

Joyce laughed for a moment.

Although, as someone who also has a secret, I have no right to say anything about him.

He hesitated for a moment, and finally took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

The black thorn patterns on the back of the hand began to spread rapidly as if they had life, transforming from patterns into actual dry branches that grew out wantonly!

Then, these branches twisted together, entangled and intertwined with each other, and soon formed the shape of a dagger.

A sword covered in spikes from blade to hilt, with a strange and ominous shape.

"I'm sorry, Lor," Joyce muttered to himself with a stern look. His sword-wielding hand was pierced by the sharp thorn, and blood flowed out and dripped from his wrist. "Although we have a good personal relationship, I can't let your fiancée make such a fuss."

To Joyce, Isabella now seems to have lost all sense.

There seemed to be no tactics in her fight with the unidentified man. She just kept releasing the vampire power in her body, wildly and wantonly, like a wild beast!

Although this place is in the suburbs, it is not far from the city. If she is allowed to continue making trouble like this, there is no guarantee that the people in Gordon City will not be affected.

At least we have to control her first!

……

"Well!"

A sharp sound of breaking air passed by his ear. Emmett was too late to dodge and felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. By the time he reacted, his entire right arm was gone!

Hiss, it’s really hard to guard against.

Emmett groaned inwardly, thinking that he had finally escaped the raging blood wave and thought he could finally take a breath... It seems that I was too naive.

He quickly detonated the talisman in his other hand, using the impact of the explosion to create distance between himself and the aggressive Isabella.

This action made him experience unbearable pain again.

His mouth was full of the taste of blood, and his internal organs were churning. It felt like many of his organs were injured... For him, a high-level vampire, this minor injury was nothing, but the "blood of the true ancestor" in his body had been frozen, and his self-healing ability had been greatly weakened, so he probably wouldn't be able to recover for a while.

"It's really embarrassing."

After successfully creating some distance between himself and Isabella, who was in a bloodthirsty state, Emmett muttered to himself with a helpless look on his face as he managed to maintain his fighting strength.

He concentrated his mind and felt the "blood of the True Ancestor" in his body.

The "freeze" created by the True Ancestor has begun to loosen somewhat... Although Isabella's situation is the exact opposite of mine, her violent state won't last forever...

The question is, can I hold on until then?

For a moment, Emmett thought, maybe he should just give up the struggle.

Anyway, "life" to me is nothing more than tasteless chicken ribs, and there is not much fun in it anymore... It comes to an end here and now, although it is a bit hasty, but it is not unacceptable.

but……

If I die, my dependent Lyanna will not be able to survive alone.

"I remember she once told me...I saved her, made her my follower, and gave her a place to stay, so I have to be responsible for her to the end." Emmett smiled bitterly, "Alas, there's really nothing I can do. If I die like this, she will definitely scold me in the other world."

My dependent has a very poisonous tongue.

...Then hold on a little longer.

At least I have to hold on until the day Lianna leaves before me.

Having said that, it is an indisputable fact that I am currently in a miserable state and losing ground. If I want to break this situation, I need some opportunities.

At the same time, an abandoned house right in front suddenly collapsed!

Broken bricks and tiles were scattered everywhere, and blood was spilling like raindrops... Isabella's figure appeared again, and her murderous dark red eyes had once again locked onto Emmett's position!

"Hiss—it seems like 'holding on' won't solve the problem."

Emmett's scalp tingled.

At this moment, a strange figure suddenly appeared beside him——

"Do you need help?"

Emmett was slightly stunned, realizing that his attention was all focused on Isabella, so he didn't notice someone else approaching. Then, he quickly looked at the man who suddenly appeared.

The man was about thirty years old and quite handsome, but he had stubble on his face and his clothes were a bit sloppy, and he was obviously unkempt... In addition, he was holding a strange-looking weapon in his hand that looked like it was made of twisted thorns.

This is……

Joyce, the acting captain of the Gordon City Exorcist Squad?

Lianna had secretly observed Lor's colleagues in the church, including Joyce in front of him, so Emmett quickly recognized this person's origin.

"Have the rescuers finally arrived? They're actually from the Holy Light Church. I didn't expect that."

Emmett's mouth curled up slightly, thinking, this plot development is really unexpected.

Probably because my own power was frozen and I didn't use any vampire power in the battle, the exorcist didn't recognize my true identity and only thought I was a human transcendent who was fighting against the vampires alone.

So, did you rush to help without hesitation?

Fun, really fun!

82.Thorns

If I remember correctly, Joyce should only be a third-level exorcist. According to common sense, with his current strength level, he should not be involved in this level of battle.

Emmett thought.

This "acting captain" is probably not a hot-blooded, reckless, and self-aware person. The reason why he chose to take the initiative to join the war must be because he has something to rely on.

Emmett glanced quickly at the strange weapon made of twisted sharp thorns in Joyce's hand.

Rather than saying that this weapon is "held in his hand", it would be more accurate to say that it "grows in his hand"... The ends of the thorn branches are dark in color and pierce into his skin, which makes people's scalp tingle just by looking at it.

It feels like there is a lot of power hidden in it.

"The 'Arsenal' of the Church of Holy Light contains many various extraordinary items... Could this be one of them?" Emmett guessed in his heart.

Although he is not good at fighting, he has extraordinary talents in perception, reconnaissance, and identification of extraordinary items.

Therefore, Emmett was certain that the weapon in Joyce's hand should be the remains of an eighth-level or even ninth-level extraordinary being... As for its origin, it was still impossible to determine.

The spiritual power contained therein was quite unfamiliar even to Emmett, who had lived for hundreds or thousands of years and was knowledgeable.

Whatever.

Anyway, I will be able to witness its power and characteristics soon.

At the same time, the murderous Isabella was rushing towards where the two were!

Emmett didn't immediately activate the spell he had in his hand, but quickly said to Joyce, "It's up to you, Mr. Acting Captain."

……Um?

This person actually knows me? Who is he?

Joyce felt a flicker of doubt, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. After all, he was facing a high-ranking vampire of the demigod level. If he was distracted even for a moment, he would be doomed!

"prick!"

Joyce pointed the thorn dagger in his hand at the approaching silver-haired girl and shouted a command. Then, black iron thorns suddenly sprouted forward, like a flying arrow!

The speed is so fast, like lightning, almost unavoidable!

But only “almost.”

Isabella currently had almost no rationality left and was fighting entirely on instinct... but in contrast, her reflexes and desire to fight had also been greatly enhanced!

Joyce's thorns pricked nothing.

He and Emmett beside him didn't see clearly how Isabella dodged just now. They only knew that she was about to be stabbed by the thorns a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye she flashed a few steps away, and looked quite relaxed and casual!

"hair!"

Joyce gritted his teeth and immediately issued the next order.

In an instant, the thorn that extended forward from his hand began to twist and tremble!

Every node on the black iron-colored branches has grown many branches, which are intertwined and entangled with each other to form a large net full of thorns!

Isabella paused and stepped back almost instinctively.

She seemed to be afraid of the thorns on the branches.

"I see. It's indeed quite powerful." Emmett narrowed his eyes slightly.

After closely observing the thorns' attack methods and feeling the power contained within them, he finally roughly guessed the "origin" of this thing... But at the same time, he also felt a bit of sympathy for its operator, Acting Captain Joyce.

What is certain is that this thing could never have been taken out of the church’s “arsenal”.

Although the Church of Holy Light has done many shady things in secret, it also has a certain bottom line in its behavior. It is absolutely impossible for it to give such evil things to members of the organization for use.

After all, that was tantamount to sentencing this person to death.

And more importantly, the "root" to which these black thorns belong is contrary to the creed of "salvation and protection" of the Holy Light Church; those who possess and use this power will sooner or later be corrupted and become the enemy of the church!

...Does Joyce, who possesses this power, know the end he will face sooner or later?

"It seems that the future fate of this acting captain is also worth watching... One more reason to live temporarily." Emmett thought secretly.

Meanwhile, Joyce began to close the web of thorns, trying to trap Isabella.

However, it didn't work out.

Numerous crimson, blade-like crystals gradually condensed around Isabella's body. Then, they drew arcs in mid-air, slicing at the thorny net from different angles and directions!

Those thorns that seemed to have life retreated slightly.

Isabella took advantage of this fleeting opportunity and successfully escaped.

Joyce frowned and groaned from his throat, his expression clearly showing pain... as if those thorns were part of his body.

"Believe me, she can't be trapped. I've tried many times." Emmett said slowly.

Thanks to Joyce's help, he finally got a moment to breathe, his breathing became calmer, and his thoughts became clearer.

Isabella, who was in a frenzy, might not have understood the characteristics of those thorns... Perhaps she instinctively sensed the danger and was obviously afraid of them.

She should indeed be wary.

"Mr. Acting Captain."

Emmett said quietly:

"If I'm not mistaken, your thorns possess the property of 'corruption,' correct? The more powerful the enemy's extraordinary strength and the greater their strength, the more severe the consequences of 'corruption' will be.

"Isabella is a seventh-rank vampire, and the 'True Ancestor Blood' in her body has been activated, temporarily boosting her strength... If she were to be pierced by your thorns, she would be severely injured, and it would probably take at least ten to eight years for her to recover."

Joyce's eye twitched slightly.

He thought to himself, this guy not only knows my identity, but also knows everything about Isabella... Who is he?

Also, what is the situation with "the blood of the True Ancestor being activated"?