Aiwass was already prepared.
He wasn't really disabled. At this distance, the instinct-driven Aberrant Limb Demon would definitely prioritize attacking him.
It was virtually impossible for him to hit the Aberrant Limb Demon—with its reflexes, it could easily dodge even gunfire. How could Aiwass, who had never learned swordsmanship, possibly hit it?
The Aberrant Limb Demon was immune to curses, so the Severe Coughing Spell enchanted on the "Noble Red" ring was ineffective against it; it was practically immune to decrees, and its speed was too fast for Legal Mages to capture it; it was also immune to petrification, so Miss Maya's Amber Flame was ineffective as well.
But even without exposing the Shadow Demon, Aiwass had already figured out how to deal with it.
The moment he resolved himself, a golden-red glow ignited at the bottom of his pupil, and his left hand lightly touched the Holy Sword.
Hiding in the corner, Isabel's pupils suddenly constricted upon seeing this.
—It really is Mr. Fox!
Her right hand reached out instinctively, and she was about to blurt out that voice—
But the next moment, Isabel's mind went blank.
The Aiwass seated in the wheelchair was pierced through the chest by the Aberrant Limb Demon, whose right hand had become extremely long and narrow!
His wheelchair rolled backwards rapidly, hitting Lily before bouncing back. Lily, caught off guard, was knocked away by the wheelchair, but what truly paralyzed her was the sight of the talon piercing through Aiwass's back.
But Aiwass hadn't died.
Because, before being attacked, he had already begun using the "Rite of Fire" through the flame of his Holy Sword as a medium!
Therefore, the instant he was attacked by the Aberrant Limb Demon, he had partially healed his own wounds.
Maya instantly recognized it—this was a technique mastered by priests proficient in combat, preemptive healing!
Prepared healing before a teammate or oneself gets injured—completing the healing at the moment of injury, thereby minimizing the impact of the strike. You wouldn't faint from the shock, nor pause in thought from severe pain. To all appearance, it would seem as though you had tenaciously withstood the attack.
This technique didn't require special training, only the ability to predict the enemy's actions.
And Aiwass understood the Aberrant Limb Demon too well—he had even used the demon's body during advanced rituals. That Demon Scholar who had made a pact with the Aberrant Limb Demon didn't know it as well as Aiwass did.
Knowing he would take an attack from the main body of the Aberrant Limb Demon after he had sliced off the decoy with one sword strike, he decided to simply use his own body as a trap to lure the opponent into attacking.
This instinctive action also conformed to the principles of Transcendence and the Path of Devotion. Aiwass felt the power of the Path filling his body continuously, enhancing his perception, willpower, and vitality.
Just as he had hoped, he remained conscious after withstanding the inevitable hit through preemptive healing; Aiwass knew he had already won—
He immediately pressed his left hand, which had been cut by the Holy Sword, onto the Aberrant Limb Demon's arm. Merely touching the blade had sliced open his palm, and blood flowed out. He, who was using the Fire Rite Skill, was fortunately not cauterized by the flame at the wound.
Just like every person who had been pierced through the chest by the Aberrant Limb Demon, struggling in vain... futilely pressing down on their own wounds, pressing down on the demon's arm, hoping it wouldn't pull out. But in the end, it was a vain hope.
But Aiwass was different.
The moment his injured, bleeding left hand touched the Aberrant Limb Demon's arm, its aggression plummeted.
It was the "Shepherd's Nurturing" aura, momentarily stimulated by searing oneself with holy fire!
Although Aiwass's mastery of dual paths was unbalanced at the moment, preventing him from properly channeling the Art of Herding, the aura of sanctified flesh and blood was akin to nectar for the Phantom Demon—especially for the instinct-driven Aberrant Limb Demon with meager intelligence, it couldn't discern the difference.
When it realized this human wasn't an enemy but a Shepherd who granted strength and flesh, its hatred for healthy beings conflicted momentarily with the demon's instinctual desire for ascension.
The Aberrant Limb Demon's mind crashed for an instant, freezing in place.
But after all, the herding wasn't completed—and even if it was, it couldn't directly control the powerful Aberrant Limb Demon. This only made it pause for an instant.
During its hesitation, Aiwass did not waver to swing the Holy Sword once more, effortlessly severing its second arm!
The Aberrant Limb Demon let out a shrill and furious wail—pain finally snapped it back to awareness, no longer hesitating about "attacking Aiwass." Each limb was part of its strength and essence; it was a part of its life. Even decapitation couldn't stop it, and only by destroying its six limbs could it be temporarily dissipated.
But the time Aiwass bought was enough.
As the Aberrant Limb Demon writhed in agony on the ground, Gordon, who had just caught his breath, roared and charged, slamming into the demon from Aiwass's side with his shoulder!
This moment was only a few seconds since Maya's warning.
Edward had chosen to believe her word, as Aiwass's situation seemed grim.
Standing on the first floor, Edward immediately drew his pistol from his waist, aiming up at the middle-aged man wrapped like a rice dumpling in chains on the second floor.
Seeing him aiming his gun from such a distance, someone next to him panicked, "Chief Inspector Edward..."