As Father Anderson went about organizing the clergymen to begin the proceedings for the Angel Call, Ambrose and Carl excused themselves to check on Natasha.
After barely surviving the explosion that destroyed the clock tower, she was unconscious and in critical condition.
Thankfully, her constitution as a WeaponMaster allowed her an incredible healing factor so she would live.
Meanwhile, Alex watched as the clergymen sang worship songs, praising the Only One God Marduk.
Without meaning to, his eyes landed on a certain figure with a piece of cloth wrapped around his forehead, amongst them and persisted on him longer than necessary.
Seemingly noticing Alex’s gaze, the man turned and they made eye contact.
After a brief exchange, the man slowly turned away and continued to sing.
’He looks... familiar.’ Alex pondered momentarily before quickly realizing that he had seen the man somewhere before.
Well, it was the other way around as the man had seen Alex.
He was the owner of the gaze that had watched Alex and Emily when they met with Father Anderson to have him pray for Douglas’s safety.
Judging from that encounter, Alex could deduce that the clergyman was a Mystic which made him wonder why he hadn’t acted when he was pulled over or even when he threatened Father Anderson.
"Hello there." A familiar voice jolted Alex from his thoughts.
Turning, he found Arthur and Nadia standing beside him.
"Not at all. I saw you looking over there." Arthur remarked, gesturing at the clergyman. "I’m guessing you noticed too."
"Noticed what?" Alex raised a brow underneath his mask.
"That clergyman isn’t ordinary. If I should guess, I would say he is a Gatekeeper for the Church of Angelica." Arthur said thoughtfully.
"Take it as an Enforcer but for the Church."
Alex nodded. "I see."
Taking a moment to consider, Alex further asked. "Why didn’t he do anything when I threatened the priest?"
"He doesn’t want to cause problems for the Church. A priest is expendable compared to a Bishop and if I could guess, it would have to do with the law of Zion which prevents armed members of other factions from entering their borders."
"So he won’t act unless necessary."
Alex chuckled softly. "I must say, You know how to start conversations."
"I’ve been told," Arthur revealed a cheeky smile.
"Nothing. Just a little chat."
Alex glanced at him and upon seeing the knowing look in Arthur’s eyes, sighed. "Alright."
Meanwhile, Nadia remained silent by the side, watching the proceedings between the two men with a solemn expression.
"Anyway," Alex suddenly said before looking toward Father Anderson and his clergymen who had begun to loudly pray. "He said something about a Prime Legionnaire. What does that mean?"
"You agreed for him to do it without knowing?" Arthur jocularly asked.
Alex shrugged. "Better than preventing anyone from doing anything."
"Understandable," Arthur remarked. "In the Noxus, the holy book of the Church of Angelica, there is a passage that speaks of a group of Angels charged with watching over the Abyss, ensuring it doesn’t encroach on Eventide. That group was called Legion and its members, Legionnaires. Mikhal is the leader also called the Prime Legionnaire."
"I know right? If you want, I could get you a Noxus. It’s got a lot of fun stories in it."
Alex shook his head. "No thank you."
"Hear me!" Father Anderson suddenly exclaimed in a loud voice as he stepped forward, his arms outstretched while he gazed at the Lightbringer.
Alex looked over with Arthur and Nadia doing the same, all about to watch the spectacle.
"As we are gathered before the light of the Only One God, we ask for his messenger to descend and destroy this foul monstrosity that has entered our world. Come down and dispatch this creature while revealing the might of the one that dwells above. In my name, I call on the Prime Legionnaire, the Servant of the Only One, the King of Angels...I call on the name, Mikhal!...answer the call of thy people!"
As he spoke, Alex could sense faint vibrations in the aether flow around where they were.
That was proof that the ritual was indeed a thing but it was yet to be seen if it would work.
However, someone else seemed to have sensed this as Penemuel which had been dormant for so long suddenly moved again, its large eye gazing in their direction.
Realizing that its targets weren’t dead yet, another attack slowly formed.
Glancing at Anderson, Alex asked. "Now what?"
"Now we wait." Father Anderson said resolutely.
"Of course!... I think."
Alex’s eyebrows twitched before he let out a sigh and rose to his feet. "We can’t wait any longer and fighting that creature is out of the question. We are leaving. Does anyone have any objections?"
"None." Anderson quickly said.
The others replied in tandem as well, allowing Alex to sigh in relief.
A massive gust of wind occurred, cutting off the rest of Alex’s statement.
At the same time, a blinding light appeared on the horizon, rising like a sun.
"It...worked?... But how?" Father Anderson questioned, thoroughly confused despite having shown confidence not too long ago.
’Is this guy for real?... If you had no hope of it working, why waste our time in the first place?’ Alex felt the urge to pummel Anderson yet again but ultimately restrained himself as he looked in the direction of the blinding light.
Penemuel noticed the light as well as they quickly turned in the direction it was coming from and unleashed the red beam it originally aimed at Alex and the others.
Alex frowned at this. ’Was the beam not meant for us?... Or is it a coincidence that it was already done charging up its attack the moment the light arrived?’
As he questioned the sequence of events, the red beam clashed with the light and a terrifying collision occurred, followed by a shockwave that changed the landscape.
"This is a bit much, no?"