Hitman with a Badass System
chapter-1064

"Larn," the word slipped from Darth's lips as he laboriously regained his footing. Meanwhile, Michael remained afloat in the oasis, his head above the water. Vedora's ability to breathe underwater had proved to be a life-saving advantage.

Larn, the angel of God Agra, grabbed Darth by the neck, raising him off the ground. Unbeknownst to Michael, who could no longer discern the angels' cultivation levels in this unfamiliar world, Larn was at the Celestial Resonance Realm, the fifth stage of cultivation. This meant he could absorb a fragment of level 5 God Agra's grace to gain a power boost.

"You can emerge from the water now," Larn's voice cut through, addressing Michael.

With a sigh, Michael waded out of the water, his neck making a cracking sound as he stretched it.

"Who are you? A friend of Darth?" Larn questioned, but Michael remained silent.

"I'm not going back to him, Larn. I've had enough of serving him," Darth growled, his voice heavy with anger and pain. Michael was taken aback by the revelation that Darth was actually an angel of Agra. Listening to Darth's words, Michael sensed a complex history between Agra and Darth.

"You sort out your matters. I just need the divine portals to reach Nimbosia," Michael interjected, his intentions clear. He wanted no involvement with Agra or the two angels before him.

"Silence, mortal!" Larn's shout sent a powerful shockwave at Michael. Michael willed his protective shield not to react, allowing the shockwave to hurl him into the air. He needed to avoid using his powers to avoid alerting the pantheon of his presence. Unlike Theo and his angels, Larn didn't rely on artifacts to prevent godly intervention.

Darth's gaze shifted between Michael and Larn, a glimmer of hope in his eyes for Michael to unleash his divine powers. However, Michael managed to restrain himself.

"Don't resist, Darth. Simply return to his grace and offer your apology. I'm sure he will find it in his heart to forgive his favored angel," Larn's words held an ironic edge, evident even to Michael.

Darth's voice cracked through the air, carrying a determined "No!" He unleashed his power, a surge of energy enveloping him. With a fierce expression, he lunged forward, his fist connecting with Larn's chest. The impact sent Larn hurtling through the sand, creating a deep furrow in his wake.

Larn rose from the sand, his excitement palpable. "Ah, so you've found your spine, Darth. Let's see what you can truly do," he taunted, his voice dripping with anticipation.

Darth's eyes blazed with a fiery determination. He summoned his power and readied himself for a confrontation. "Prepare yourself, Larn. I won't be controlled by Agra any longer," he declared.

Waving his hand, Darth summoned an ethereal eagle formed of crimson-red energy. The magnificent creature materialized with grandeur, its wings outstretched as it let out a piercing cry that echoed through the desert.

Larn's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Impressive, but let's see if your pet can match mine," he retorted, his own power surging. He summoned a crimson-red wolf with wings, a creature equally imposing and fierce.

Both summoned creatures dashed at each other, a collision of ethereal forms. The crimson-red eagle's wings beat with power as it soared through the air, its talons poised to strike. The crimson-red wolf leaped with grace, its wings propelling it forward, teeth bared for battle.

The eagle's feathers shimmered in the desert star light, and its eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity. With a flurry of movement, it clashed with the wolf. The sand beneath them trembled as their energies collided, creating ripples in the air.

Darth's gaze remained unwavering as he controlled the movements of his summoned eagle. "Show him your strength," he whispered to his creation.

Larn's laughter echoed as he guided his crimson-red wolf. "Come on, Darth. Is this the best you can do?" he taunted, his voice mocking.

The fight raged on, each summon unleashing its own arsenal of attacks. The desert around them shook with their power, sand swirling in chaotic eddies. The clash of energies created bursts of light and sound that reverberated through the oasis.

Darth's determination fueled the crimson-red eagle, each movement precise and calculated. The wolf matched its adversary with equal ferocity, teeth snapping and wings slashing through the air. The battle was a spectacle of raw power and intensity.

Amidst the clash of summoned creatures, Darth's voice cut through the tumultuous air. "Agra is not a god! He's an evil entity that seeks nothing but death and destruction!" His words reverberated with conviction, carried by the winds of the battle.

Larn's retort was swift, his crimson-red wolf lunging at the eagle with renewed vigor. "And yet, you served that same entity without batting an eye. What's changed, Darth? Suddenly questioning the very being you once worshipped?" His voice held a mixture of scorn and amusement.

As the ethereal battle raged on, Michael watched from a distance with growing annoyance. The divine portals were within reach, yet the interruption by these angels continued to thwart his plans. He clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin. He wanted to end this conflict and secure the means to reach Nimbosia.

Darth's anger and determination seemed to fuel his summoned eagle further. Its movements became more intricate, its attacks more strategic. The crimson-red wolf countered with equal fervor, each clash of energy sending shockwaves through the desert landscape.

Larn's taunts continued, his voice dripping with mockery. "Is this the extent of your newfound defiance, Darth? Facing me, a loyal servant of Agra?"

Darth's response was laced with unwavering determination. "You're blind to the truth, Larn. You're a puppet, blindly following a malevolent force. I won't be part of it any longer."

The battle reached a crescendo, the clash of summoned creatures becoming a spectacle of power and will. Each creature's movements painted streaks of crimson energy across the desert sky, their clashes creating bursts of light that illuminated the landscape.

Michael's annoyance grew with every passing moment. He couldn't afford any more delays, not when his presence in this realm was becoming more apparent to the pantheon. He needed those divine portals, and he needed them now.

Darth's voice broke through the chaos again, his words carrying a fierce determination. "Agra may have deceived me once, but I won't be his pawn any longer!"

Larn's laughter resonated, cutting through the battle's cacophony. "And what do you hope to achieve, Darth? Defeating me won't change your fate. You're marked by Agra."

"This Agra god seems like a big deal, Ghost," Ayag's voice sounded from within Michael's pocket.

"Yeah, I have a feeling we might cross his path in the future," Sarba added.

"I don't care. I need the divine portals, and this Larn guy is messing up my plans," Michael replied with a hint of frustration.

"Well, you can't kill him without using your powers," Ayag pointed out.

"True, but I can at least distract him. Maybe that'll give Darth an advantage," Michael planned, hoping a distraction would help Darth gain the upper hand in the battle.

"Anytime now," Michael was about to make his move when Darth's voice echoed through the chaos, causing him to pause. The ethereal eagle summoned by Darth appeared to be weakening, while the crimson-red wolf grew larger and more menacing due to Larn's connection to Agra.

"Do you think your mortal friend can help you? How the mighty have fallen," Larn sneered.

"You have no idea—" Darth began, but before he could reveal Michael's true identity as a god, Michael intervened.

"You two can continue this fight later. I'm just interested in the divine portals. Show them to me, and I'll be on my way," Michael interjected, momentarily halting the battle.

"Who's this guy? We're in the middle of a fight, and he looks like he's on vacation," Larn chuckled, his surprise evident.

"Darth, you can't win against him. He's more powerful than you. So, activate the portals," Michael suggested to Darth, prompting a spark of pride in Larn's eyes, and he smirked arrogantly.

"Well, your mortal friend is correct. But it's a shame I won't be letting either of you go anywhere. You're both coming to meet his grace, and you," Larn shifted his gaze from Darth to Michael.

"You are going to die," Larn declared with a smug smile.

"Activate the portals," Michael instructed Darth, and the battle between the eagle and the wolf continued. As the clash intensified, Michael used the distraction to kick sand towards Larn. However, the sand disintegrated upon reaching Larn, his power obliterating it.

"Pathetic trick," Larn sneered, his hand emanating a crimson-red energy beam that he aimed at Michael.

Yet, Michael swiftly raised his hand, revealing the black shield, which surprisingly absorbed the energy beams instead of shattering.

"A powerful artifact," Larn's eyes gleamed with greed, desiring the shield for himself.

Simultaneously, Darth evaded Larn's attacks and seized hold of a solitary coconut tree on the oasis's edge. His touch caused a golden light to flicker, manifesting beside the tree – the portal.

Larn's taunting voice broke the momentary stillness. "You're going nowhere," he jeered, his hand raised to strike.

In response, the wolf lunged at the eagle, clamping its jaws around the eagle's neck. The golden eagle shattered into radiant fragments. The force of this shattered connection made Darth cough up blood and collapse to the ground.

Larn prepared to target Darth with his energy beam, but before he could, Michael lunged forward and delivered a powerful punch to the angel's face. The impact sent Larn hurtling away with a resounding explosion.

As Larn soared through the air, the wolf redirected its hostile attention to Michael, its eyes gleaming with aggression.

"Get up and activate the portals!" Michael shouted to Darth, preparing to confront the wolf. He unsheathed his dark swords with a deliberate, tense motion and cracked his neck.

"You're the last obstacle before I reach Nimbosia," Michael declared, his frustration evident.

"Just give me a moment," Darth uttered weakly, pulling himself together.

Suddenly, the wolf emitted a fierce howl and lunged at Michael from above.

"You won't defeat that creature without using your powers," Sarba's voice was tinged with anxiety as the wolf closed in.

Just as the wolf was about to pounce on Michael, Vedora sprang out of Michael's pocket and perched on his head.

In response, Ayag surged forward and opened her mouth wide.

The wolf bared its teeth, leaping at Michael with aggression. Simultaneously, Ayag unleashed a powerful sonic wave with a resounding shout. Visible as a tangible force, the sonic wave streaked toward the wolf. The collision between the wave and the wolf created a burst of energy, throwing the creature backward and causing it to emit a pained growl.

Observing the wolf's momentary setback, Michael noticed Larn beginning to rise, preparing to reengage in the battle.

"Come on, Darth, hurry!" Michael urged, his voice laced with urgency. While the wolf growled and Larn approached, Michael's attention was drawn to a sudden appearance of a golden ring on the sandy ground. A palpable distortion in space emanated from it.

"Oh no," Larn's voice carried a mocking tone as he swiftly moved toward Michael and Darth, intent on preventing them from using the portal.

"I can't hold them both off, Ghost," Ayag's voice conveyed a sense of unease.

As Larn closed in on them, he raised his hands, unleashing a rapid barrage of crimson-red energy beams aimed at Michael and Darth. Michael deflected the beams using his black shield, but he realized that he couldn't keep up this defense for long. If he truly aimed to halt Larn's advance, he would have to resort to his godly powers.

"Just a few more seconds," Darth's voice resonated behind Michael.

"Finish him off," Darth's words were driven by urgency, not knowing the reason behind Michael's hesitance to use his full powers.

At last, Larn closed the distance to Michael, summoning a crimson-red spear from a space ring at his side.

"He's about to strike us down," Darth warned, the energy levels around them surging to dangerous heights. Michael knew that his black shield might not withstand the force of Larn's spear.

Larn's shout echoed in the air as he thrust the spear toward Michael, aiming for a fatal blow.

Summoning his resolve, Michael lifted his dark sword and channeled his power, sending forth a powerful bolt of dark lightning from the blade's tip. Larn's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, the lightning pierced through his chest, sending him hurtling backward. He flew a considerable distance before crashing onto the sandy ground, at least fifty meters away. As Larn's body hit the ground, an eerie silence settled over the oasis.

The use of Michael's power was accompanied by a resounding thunderclap and the sudden appearance of a crimson lightning streak in the otherwise clear night sky.

"We need to leave," Michael stated, his gaze fixed on the ominous lightning streak above.