As Gabriel was about to strike, the woman vanished into thin air, leaving only a cloud of violet smoke in her wake.
Gabriel was left surprised. How had she managed to escape? He scanned the area, searching for any sign of her, but she was nowhere to be found. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
Frustration welled up inside Gabriel, but he quickly pushed it aside. This was for the best as well, since the only reason he attacked the Woman first was for distraction.
His main concern was Ezekiel. Amidst the attention fixed on him, people remained oblivious to a looming shadow gradually nearing Ezekiel from afar.
Gabriel used himself as a distraction while sending his shadow to retrieve Ezekiel. And for the most part, it worked as well as a lot of attention had fallen on Gabriel. Many people were interested in him, especially after seeing the past in the mirror.
Gabriel stood like a lone warrior before the Warriors of this world, surrounded from all sides. The Emperor and the Ministers still hadn't moved from their place.
The Shadow soon reached Ezekiel, merely a few feet away from him. The countdown had already begun in Gabriel's mind. Another shadow was already placed right next to the Portal as a backup.
Just as the Shadow approached Ezekiel, Gabriel sprang into motion. A peculiar energy enveloped his body, causing his skin to darken. In a split second, he transformed into a shadow.
Meanwhile, the shadow next to Ezekiel seamlessly transformed into Gabriel, as though he had effortlessly swapped places with his shadow.
The Elzerians were momentarily taken aback, their eyes widening in surprise as they realized what had just transpired. The real Gabriel now stood next to Ezekiel, his eyes never leaving the vulnerable form of his friend.
Without missing a beat, Gabriel scooped Ezekiel into his arms and turned to face the Elzerians, his determination shining through his darkened features.
The Elzerians, angered by Gabriel's audacity, launched themselves at him with renewed vigor.
But Gabriel was ready. With his newfound shadow abilities, he effortlessly dodged their attacks, his movements fluid and precise. .
He swiftly moved through their ranks, all the while protecting Ezekiel from any harm. The Elzerians, frustrated by their inability to land a blow on Gabriel, became more desperate and their attacks grew more reckless.
As Gabriel fought, he couldn't help but notice the Emperor's gaze fixed upon him. It was a mixture of curiosity and something else that Gabriel couldn't quite decipher. The Emperor had yet to make a move, still observing the battle unfold with a calculating expression.
Gabriel knew he couldn't waste any more time. He had to escape with Ezekiel before the situation escalated further. Fortunately, the preparation was complete.
The same spell was cast again which further linked his body to the shadow near the Portal.
Many attacks landed on Gabriel, but all the attacks passed through his body that had already turned into a shadow. The shadow was destroyed by the attacks, but by then, Gabriel had already switched places with the other shadow.
Gabriel appeared right next to the portal. He used the blood on the sword to activate the passage back. The swirling vortex of energy began to stabilize as Gabriel inserted the sword, causing the portal to emit a blinding light.
Most of the plan had moved according to Gabriel's expectations and now all he had to do was leave.
Although he knew that the Elzerians could follow him, but now wasn't the time to think about that. At least once he left this world, he wasn't restricted by the elements of the world.
He rushed to the portal, but to his surprise, a mysterious and formidable force abruptly repelled him upon contact. The portal swiftly sealed shut, seemingly manipulated by an unknown entity.
After a long time, the Emperor had finally made a move. His voice echoed as if coming from right next to Gabriel even though he was far away.
"What's the hurry to leave?" the Emperor's calm voice echoed.
Although the Emperor looked like an ordinary person, but there was something about him that made him stand out. Even his voice itself was magical.
The Emperor's voice resonated through the air, filled with authority and an undercurrent of darkness.
Gabriel saw the woman appearing next to the Emperor, an interested smile on her lips as she looked at him. It was as if she was looking at her prized possession.
The Emperor asked, his voice laced with a scary calmness. "You think you can simply take what is mine?"
Gabriel's grip on Ezekiel tightened, being clear that the man was talking about Ezekiel. "He's not yours to keep."
"Oh? If he isn't mine, then do you think he's yours? He's a dog that I saved. His life belongs to me," the Emperor stated as he slowly stepped towards Gabriel.
Gabriel's grip tightened on the sword of light.
"Don't worry. I have no desire to hurt you. I'm just curious about one thing," The Emperor stated. "What would you do after taking him back? He'll die the moment you do that. So are you here just to bring him back so he could die in your arms?"
Gabriel's eyes narrowed, his grip on the Sword of Life tightening even further. He wouldn't let the Emperor's taunts get to him. He knew what was at stake, and his mind was still thinking about his next steps.
It was clear that the man had some authority. If he could take down the man, then everything else was much simpler.
"If you're so eager about saving him, then shouldn't you be begging me instead of raising your sword at me? Because in the entire universe, only I can save him."
The Emperor's words weren't a lie either and Gabriel knew it. The reason Ezekiel had managed to live so long was because of the Elzerians who saved him and taught him some methods that allowed Ezekiel to live longer.
"What do you want from me?" Gabriel asked. Since the people had stopped attacking him, he was clear that there was something they wanted from him.
In response, the Emperor smiled.
