“Enough of this,” said the devil possessing Enchanter Kingston.
He stepped forward, unleashing white, feathered wings and summoning a glowing golden halo over his head.
Name: Richard Kingston
Branch: Alteration (Supreme Physicality)
Branch: Cosmic (Divine Halo)
Branch: Augmentation (Wings)
Rank: 1st
Personally, I believed the Christian presence of his branches played a bigger role in his ranking than his actual ability. It was profound how religion evolved, finding purpose in magic, and claiming God or whoever blessed the most faithful with great magics—and, of course, demons were naturally drawn to sin and the sinful.
I couldn’t help but wonder how the pious would react to their devoted hero being possessed.
The Global Guild, like too many organizations, favored religious backgrounds and fair complexions more than talent—they’d only recently loosened their chokehold on conservativeviews. That said, Enchanter Kingston also possessed the same strength and speed as Gladiatrix. Milo would need to be on his guard since this devil wouldn’t be fooled like the ones that had possessed Gladiatrix and Wadsworth.
“A devil in angel’s clothing.” Milo grinned. “How poetic.”
“This ends now.” Enchanter Kingston’s wings flapped, and he vanished in a powerful gale.
The gust reeled Milo forward and swept him directly into Kingston’s path. The devil reappeared in a blink, fist balled, and swinging a furious strike meant to knock Milo’s head clean off.
“Aaargh!” Milo yelled in pain as he blocked the blow with his already injured right arm.
A crunch hit hard, followed by a thousand tiny cracks as every bone in Milo’s arm broke.
The nerves in his arm were still in hyperdrive, raging with a fiery throb. When the realization that Kingston’s fist had shattered the bones of Milo’s forearm, his face turned ghostly white. Every thought in Milo’s mind went silent. The pain bled through his entire body, and he nearly buckled right there.
To be struck by the strongest man on earth while his sensations for pain in his arm were elevated. How Milo managed to stand was beyond me. He truly was on a completely different level from anyone I’d ever encountered.
“Got you right where I want ya.” Milo grimaced, slapping his left hand over Kingston’s face.
The bright light of the halo created a caustic burn, singeing Milo’s skin. That ridiculous halo was for more than just show. It protected Kingston from close combat strikes.
Not that it mattered. Milo’s banishment kicked in in waves, repelling and neutralizing the magic of Kingston’s halo. Evenhis wings diminished some, feathers crumbling to ashes as they were locked within Milo’s perfected banishment.
“How’s it feel, devil?” Milo tightened his grip on Kingston’s face, digging his nails in deep. “All that power, and your possession means nothing in the end.”
“Stop him!” Kingston roared.
The devils possessing Stone and Barlowe flew close, throwing plants and ice at Milo to no avail. His perfected banishment shattered all magical attacks, but because his focus was split on countering incoming magic, it slowed the exorcism of the devil possessing Richard Kingston.
The devil possessing Robbins attempted to bind Milo with her golden warding chains again, only this time, they rusted over instantly. The symbols cracked apart. The golden glow turned a deep copper brown. The chains themselves crumbled into ashes, propelled and destroyed by Milo’s banishment in tandem with telekinesis.
“I’m in my perfected state,” Milo declared, blue eyes shimmering with the purple glow of psychic energy. “As long as I channel all four roots simultaneously, you can’t touch me.”
“Let’s see about that,” the devil possessing Whitlock appeared from below, bringing two other devils with him.
The hex enchanter slapped a hand on Milo’s chest. “Stop casting.”
“Your commands require contact.” Milo smirked, his body pulsing with a thin protective layer of levitation repulsion. The very magic in our cores that allowed us to float now coated Milo from head to toe, repelling threats.
The sensory enchanter slapped Milo, attempting to strike enhanced pain throughout, but Milo’s cloak held strong.
“Wait your turn, you’ll all be banished soon enough.” With that, Milo sent a surge of telekinesis, propelling the devils away and leaving him alone with the devil possessing the number one enchanter. Milo applied more pressure, dropping the shrieking devil to his knees.
