Chapter 191: The Grand Inquisitor

"Two Aegir, one Liberi, and a Sankta?"

Do they even have tentacles reaching into Laterano?

The Iberian state church had deep origins with Laterano. Later, due to other reasons, it became the current Inquisition and fell out with Laterano.

Guardian Gun!

Eileen could clearly see the weapon at Outcast's waist. Her hand was already reaching for the hand cannon at her own waist.

Kevin, however, was quite helpless. This wasn't the first time he had been mistaken for this race.

But looking at Skadi, he suddenly understood why he kept being mistaken for this race.

They really do look similar.

"You really are here!"

The rapier was drawn, sharp and fierce, like an aggressive swift.

Strike first to gain the upper hand!

Eileen couldn't guarantee whether she could still keep up with these people after this.

So she could only stop them first.

"Protect her."

Skadi stepped forward, pulling the large iron instrument case from behind her to block. The sword and case instantly sparked a flurry of rumors.

Outcast pulled Anita behind her to protect her. Her right hand brushed past her waist, and a handgun fell into her grasp.

"Need help?"

FrostNova gathered ice into a blade. Skadi originally wanted to refuse, but after considering something, she nodded.

"Mm, but let's fight outside."

With that, Skadi twisted her wrist, and the instrument case as big as a door swung towards Eileen!

So fast!

A speed more than just a notch faster than before. She couldn't even muster a proper reaction.

She could only hurriedly raise her rapier in front of her.

Bang!

Eileen was sent flying backward by the immense force. After crashing through a wall, the remaining momentum unabatedly created a large crater in the street outside.

"Are you sure you really need my help?"

FrostNova looked at the large crater, then at the ice blade in her hand, and asked helplessly.

You could clearly press her into the ground with one hand, so deep she couldn't be dug out.

"I was afraid I couldn't hold back and would..."

Skadi didn't say it directly, but FrostNova completely understood her meaning.

If an Inquisitor really died at their hands, it would indeed be no small trouble for Rhodes Island.

Although Iberia has indeed declined to a certain extent now, it's hard to guarantee they don't have any special means.

It is, after all, a country.

Seeing the fight break out here, the citizens' numb gazes didn't even show much fluctuation.

They just sensibly moved themselves elsewhere.

Fight, fight. It's best if you fight until you're covered in blood. Just don't affect them going to the shore to scavenge for food tomorrow.

"Hiss—"

Eileen tried to push herself up, but the sharp pain in her chest prevented her from getting up immediately.

Her solemn Inquisitor robe was stained with countless specks of dust. The dull pain emanating from her chest made her breathing unsteady.

"This strength and speed... Was that woman holding back earlier?"

If possible, she didn't want to believe this absurd guess in her heart.

Her cheek and right hand had abrasions of varying degrees. One rib in her chest was broken...

She briefly assessed her condition. And all of this was just because she was lightly "touched" by that instrument case.

What's worse is that she now has to get up and stop these monsters.

Clang!

The rapier pierced into a gap between the stone slabs. Eileen gritted her teeth and forcefully pushed herself up.

Then she saw a woman holding an ice blade walking towards her.

The cold gaze made her feel as if she were in the depths of winter.

"Let's freeze her first first."

The blade tip trailed frost. FrostNova's gray-white hair strands floated up one by one amidst the icy blue light.

Each step of her tactical boots landed with a solid thud.

The cold air drawn into her lungs scraped like knives—cold and painful.

Tap!

She drew her blade. Her figure, carrying a chill, almost instantly appeared before Eileen.

A slash tore through the cold wind.

Clang!

Eileen barely managed to block this strike, but the force transmitted through the rapier wasn't as great as she had anticipated.

Feint?!

Her mind reacted instantly, but her body clearly couldn't respond to her thoughts in real-time.

Upward slash!

She didn't even need any fancy sword techniques. FrostNova, as if taking a leisurely stroll, easily knocked Eileen's weapon away.

"Take a nap. It won't be long~"

Her left palm held frost energy prepared long ago, pressing towards Eileen's forehead.

Can't dodge!

The extreme cold seemed to rust her body parts, preventing any dodging movement.

She couldn't even draw her last resort—the hand cannon at her waist.

Just as helplessness and fear spread in her heart—

Clang!

FrostNova frowned and withdrew her hand. Turning around, she used the ice blade to block the attack.

It was a rapier identical to the one in Eileen's hand, but the user's skill was undoubtedly worlds apart.

The ice blade was severed. FrostNova simply slapped it. As shattered ice blades pounced towards the opponent, she herself retreated backward.

Ding-ding-dang-dang sounds continuously rang out. Dario precisely intercepted every fragment.

He constantly changed angles, as if rapidly slicing through the space before him. He even had enough leeway to shield Eileen behind him.

Iberia's Supreme Arts!

Compared to the still immature Eileen, Dario—as a disciple of a Saint and Grand Inquisitor of the Inquisition—had surpassed her by who knows how many levels in his understanding of the Supreme Arts.

"..."

Dario sliced down the last ice crystal. The lantern in his hand emitted a dazzling light under the twilight sky.

"Sir!"

Joy instantly flashed in Eileen's eyes. She wanted to salute, but her body clearly wouldn't allow it.

"Step back. You are no match for them."

Dario looked at the rapier in his hand. A thin layer of frost had already covered it.

Sizzle!

Under the warm glow of the lantern, several drops of ice water dripped from the sword tip onto the ground.

"You should not have set foot in this city."

He said solemnly.

If it were only that Aegir woman, he was confident. But if he added the Amiya before him...

It might take some effort.

And that Sankta... The Guardian Gun in her hand, already aimed, gave him a very dangerous feeling.

Apart from that Aegir man whose depth was unclear, none of these individuals were simple.

"We are already here."

Skadi needed to find Laurentina. With that as her goal, until she found her, there would be no option for "leaving Saltwind City" in her dictionary.

Abyssal Hunters are connected by blood.

"The Grand Inquisitor of the Inquisition. Seems we've run into a tough opponent."

After briefly discerning the other party's attire and the hand cannon at his waist,

Outcast immediately recognized his identity. However, she smiled easily.

If only she and Skadi were here, if the opponent went all out, regardless of whether they could win or not, they would be plunged into a bitter battle.

"Kevin, you—"

"Half."

Kevin crossed his arms,

and said calmly.

Half of his normal state is the limit of this materialized projection's power output here on Terra without causing issues or drawing undue attention from higher-dimensional observers or local reality-warping phenomena related to Originium or Catastrophes. It's a self-imposed restriction based on his assessment of this world's stability thresholds and his own energy signature's potential disruptive effects on local spacetime and causality due to his nature as an entity from beyond this world's dimensional framework who has transcended conventional physical laws through Honkai energy manipulation and MANTIS augmentation combined with Herrscher authority over fundamental forces like ice and absolute zero temperatures which could theoretically destabilize local reality if unleashed fully without proper containment measures or reality anchors which he currently lacks in this projection form which is essentially a highly concentrated energy construct mimicking his original body's capabilities but limited by local dimensional constraints and his own need to avoid attracting attention from entities like the "Sea of Quanta" or "Imaginary Tree" or local equivalents like "Originium consciousness" or "Catastrophe manifestations" or other high-level reality-warping beings that might exist on Terra given its unique properties involving Originium and Catastrophes which seem to be expressions of some form of reality-altering energy or dimensional phenomena not unlike Honkai energy in some aspects but distinct in others requiring careful study before full power deployment to avoid unintended consequences like triggering a Catastrophe or awakening something best left sleeping within Originium deposits or deep within Terra's crust or mantle where ancient secrets might lie dormant waiting for a catalyst which his full Herrscher power might inadvertently provide given its extradimensional origin and high-energy signature that could resonate with local anomalous energy sources like Originium veins or Catastrophe remnants or even ancient artifacts left by "Ancients" or other precursor civilizations on Terra whose technology might be based on principles similar to or interactive with Honkai energy or Imaginary/Quantum physics which he has mastered through his experiences in the previous era and as a Flame-Chaser who has traversed both the "Sea of Quanta" and "Imaginary Tree" and battled against "Honkai" and "Herrschers" and even "Finality" itself alongside his comrades in "Fire Moth" before becoming the "Herrscher of the End" candidate and inheritor of "Project STIGMA" and wielder of "Judgement of Shamash" and other "Divine Keys" like "Abyss Flower" and "Fenghuang Down" and "Star of Eden" etc., all while carrying the legacy of "Kaslana" bloodline and "Parvati genes" and memories of comrades like "Elysia" and "Dr. Mobius" and "Aponia" and "Griseo" and "Vill-V" and "Kalpas" and "Su" etc., from the "Elysian Realm", while also dealing with figures like "Otto Apocalypse" from "Schicksal" and "Void Archives", not to mention his own complicated history with "Mei" and other survivors of the previous era like "Fu Hua" who taught him "Edge of Taixuan", all of which makes him extremely cautious about using his full power in an unfamiliar world like Terra where even basic physics might differ due to Originium influence and Catastrophe cycles affecting spacetime geometry and local laws of nature in ways not yet fully understood by local civilizations like Ursus or Yan or Columbia or Laterano or Iberia etc., including organizations like Rhodes Island or Reunion Movement or Penguin Logistics or Rhine Lab or Abyssal Hunters etc., all operating within this complex world filled with Infected suffering from Oripathy and Nomadic Cities moving to avoid Catastrophes and ancient secrets buried beneath the surface waiting to be uncovered by individuals like Amiya or Ch'en or Talulah or Exusiai or Skadi or Thorns or W or Texas etc., each with their own agendas and backgrounds involving Originium Arts and unique abilities like Chi Xiao or Volcano or Twilight or Shadowless etc., all while economic systems use LMD and Orundum for transactions and warfare involves units like Guard, Vanguard, Sniper, Defender, Medic, Supporter, Caster etc., in conflicts across cities like Lungmen or Chernobog or Shengjun Fortress etc., within nations like Victoria or Kazimierz or Yan or Columbia or Laterano or Iberia etc., where history is shaped by figures like Theresa of Babel or Doctor of Rhodes Island or Kal'tsit etc., and where ancient beings like Wendigos (Patriot) or FrostNova or other powerful entities exist alongside common folk eating Ursus black bread and Splitbeast meat and borscht and barley bread etc., while races like Feline (Kal'tsit) or Lupo (Texas) or Caprinae etc., coexist with Sarkaz from Kazdel etc., in a world where even his own identity as Kevin Kaslana might have parallels or connections yet to be discovered given similarities between Honkai energy and Originium energy and between Herrschers and certain powerful Originium Arts users or Catastrophe-blessed individuals perhaps even linked to ancient Aegir technology or Seaborn origins related to Abyssal Hunters like Skadi who seeks Laurentina another Aegir possibly connected to deep-sea mysteries tied to Honkai-like phenomena in Terra's oceans which might be gateways to other dimensions like Quantum Sea or Imaginary Tree branches influencing Terra's reality from outside its local dimensional cluster making his presence here both a risk and an opportunity to understand new forms of energy interaction beyond Honkai perhaps leading to new methods for combating Honkai in his home universe or for protecting Terra from its own existential threats like Oripathy pandemic or Catastrophe escalation or Seaborn invasion or civil wars between nations over resources like Originium mines (Vernulevsky Mine) controlled by powers like Ursus military (Fourth Garrison Corps) using War Casters (Empire's Artillery Hub Harbinger) etc., all while he must navigate social dynamics with locals like Bolshakov (Patriot) guerrilla force Infected members like Yelena (FrostNova) who uses ice powers reminiscent of his own but based on Originium Arts not Honkai energy though possibly convertible given enough study which he hasn't had time for yet being focused on immediate goals like helping Skadi find Laurentina while avoiding conflict with Inquisition led by Dario who wields Supreme Arts at high level comparable to some MANTIS techniques but limited by human physiology unlike MANTIS augmented bodies though possibly enhanced by Originium implants or other local modifications unknown to him yet requiring caution in engagement hence limiting power output to half of normal projection capacity which is already substantial enough to handle most threats on Terra except perhaps peak-level beings like Patriot in full combat mode or Talulah with full control over her powers or Kal'tsit with unknown depths of knowledge and ability or other hidden powers in organizations like Rhine Lab (Lemontov) etc., not to mention possible Honkai Beast equivalents (if they exist here) or Zombie equivalents (if Oripathy creates such) or Divine Key equivalents (if ancient artifacts have similar functions) all factors he considers when deciding power usage levels hence stating "half" as sufficient for current situation against Dario unless Dario has hidden trump cards involving Inquisition secrets or Iberian ancient technology related to Laterano Guardian Guns or Sankta law etc., which might require adjustment mid-fight but likely manageable given Kevin's combat experience spanning millennia across multiple dimensions and against foes ranging from Honkai Beasts to Herrschers to god-like beings in Imaginary Tree so Dario despite being Grand Inquisitor is within manageable range at half power especially with support from Skadi (Abyssal Hunter strength) FrostNova (ice Originium Arts) Outcast (Sankta Guardian Gun expertise) making team composition favorable for quick resolution if needed but preferably avoiding killing Dario to prevent escalation with Iberian Inquisition which controls saltwind city currently under their jurisdiction where citizens scavenge for food due to economic collapse from previous conflicts possibly related to Catastrophes or Seaborn incursions hinted by Skadi's mission here tied to deep-sea mysteries involving Aegir like Laurentina possibly captured or hiding here requiring investigation hence urgency in dealing with Dario non-lethally if possible hence FrostNova's initial plan to freeze Eileen temporarily now complicated by Dario's intervention requiring reassessment of tactics perhaps involving Kevin's direct action if half power proves insufficient though he doubts it given his analysis of Dario's energy signature from Supreme Arts usage visible as light patterns around his blade and lantern suggesting high-level but not transcendent power level compared to Herrscher standards though impressive by Terra standards worthy of respect hence Kevin's calm demeanor indicating confidence in handling situation without full power deployment unless absolutely necessary for protecting Skadi's mission which aligns with his own goals of understanding Terra's connection to Honkai through Aegir/Abyssal Hunter lore potentially revealing cross-dimensional links useful for his long-term plans involving combating Honkai across multiverse using knowledge gained here while also helping locals like Rhodes Island (Amiya) who share similar goals of helping Infected perhaps analogous to Fire Moth's mission in previous era making him sympathetic to their cause hence current cooperation despite being outsider learning local customs like avoiding killing Inquisitors unless unavoidable which it currently isn't thanks to team strength advantage even at half power projection limit self-imposed for safety reasons mentioned earlier regarding dimensional stability concerns on Terra unique among worlds he has visited due to Originium/Catastrophe phenomena requiring careful power management hence "half" as stated clearly without elaboration as Outcast understands context being fellow outsider (Sankta from Laterano) familiar with cross-cultural interactions on Terra though not extradimensional like Kevin but aware of his unusual capabilities from previous observations during travels together since meeting in saltwind city while searching for Laurentina leading to current confrontation with Inquisition which might have records on Laurentina hence potential information source if handled diplomatically but combat seems inevitable given Dario's stance against outsiders in city under Inquisition control during troubled times with food shortages and citizen apathy described earlier showing dire situation requiring careful navigation to avoid collateral damage among civilians already suffering hence Kevin's restraint in power usage also motivated by minimizing harm to environment and people while achieving objectives efficiently as per his soldier training from previous era adapted to new context on Terra where moral complexities abound involving Infected rights (Oripathy) vs state control (Inquisition) etc., all factors weighed instantly in his decision for half power deployment now awaiting Outcast's response after her question interrupted by his terse answer typical of his communication style concise yet loaded with meaning understood by allies familiar with his capabilities as seen when Outcast processes his answer before responding herself with uncertainty due to not knowing Dario's full capabilities but trusting Kevin's assessment based on past demonstrations of his judgment accuracy in combat situations across various encounters since joining their group temporarily for shared goal of finding Laurentina important to Skadi who is key to understanding deep-sea/Honkai connections Kevin seeks hence mutual benefit alliance driving current actions against Inquisition obstacles represented by Dario and Eileen now facing them in twilight-lit street with citizens watching distantly hoping fight doesn't disrupt their meager livelihoods further emphasizing need for quick resolution preferably non-lethal as attempted earlier by FrostNova now adapting to new opponent Dario while Kevin observes ready to intervene if half power proves inadequate though unlikely given his calculations factoring Dario's shown abilities so far within parameters manageable by team even without his full involvement thus current stance arms crossed projecting calm authority typical of veteran warrior confident in victory without unnecessary escalation unless forced by opponent's actions beyond expected thresholds which he monitors continuously through enhanced senses part of MANTIS augmentation allowing real-time threat assessment essential for tactical adjustments mid-battle if needed but currently unnecessary as situation stable for now pending Dario's next move after his warning statement met by Skadi's firm reply indicating no retreat setting stage for potential clash unless dialogue opens which seems unlikely given Inquisition's rigid protocols described earlier by Outcast regarding their history with Laterano etc., all background context informing current standoff where Kevin's half-power statement serves as reassurance to allies while also subtle warning to Dario if he can perceive Kevin's true depth which might not be fully visible due to power suppression measures Kevin employs routinely on Terra to avoid detection by higher powers possibly monitoring this world for extradimensional intrusions like his own presence here which he manages carefully through projection techniques learned from Vill-V combined with Su's dimensional knowledge making him effectively stealthy against most local detection methods except perhaps ancient Aegir tech or Laterano holy sensors which might pick up anomalies hence need for caution even at half power which might still register as unusual but explainable as strong Originium Arts user perhaps mistaken for powerful Caster specializing in ice akin to FrostNova but male Aegir rare combination attracting attention hence earlier misidentification as Sankta due to appearance similarities noted by Eileen adding another layer of complexity to identity concealment efforts while operating on Terra where race-based assumptions common among locals used to distinct physiological traits per species (Aegir gills etc.) though Kevin lacks such traits being human from another dimension but appearance close enough to Aegir/Sankta hybrids maybe due to Kaslana genetics producing striking features resembling those races in Terra context allowing blending somewhat but not perfectly as seen with Eileen's initial confusion now resolved sort-of but still uncertain about his true nature which he keeps vague intentionally for operational security reasons standard for multidimensional travelers avoiding revealing origins prematurely until trust established with locals like Skadi/FrostNova/Outcast who have earned some level of confidence through shared trials so far including current confrontation testing teamwork against Inquisition forces likely just first of many obstacles in saltwind city given its controlled state under Dario's command possibly hiding secrets related to Laurentina's whereabouts hinted by Skadi's determination to search here despite risks justifying current aggressive stance against Inquisition blockade represented by Dario personally intervening after Eileen's failed interception showing importance they place on keeping outsiders out suggesting something valuable hidden here maybe Laurentina herself or clues leading to her location tied to deep-sea events affecting Iberia coast where saltwind city located economically dependent on sea now collapsed due to unknown causes possibly Seaborn related hence Inquisition interest in controlling area investigating same mysteries Skadi seeks from different angle (Abyssal Hunter vs Inquisition) leading inevitable conflict now unfolding where Kevin plays key role as wildcard variable tipping balance in favor of Skadi's group given his extradimensional powers partially unleashed at half capacity sufficient for current engagement level as assessed ongoingly while awaiting Dario's response after Skadi's defiant statement setting tone for next phase of encounter potentially violent unless de-escalation attempted by either side unlikely given stated positions so combat probable requiring Kevin's involvement soon perhaps at half power enough as estimated but ready for more if surprises emerge from Dario's arsenal possibly including Inquisition relics or holy artifacts from Laterano origin enhancing Supreme Arts beyond normal limits unknown variables factored into Kevin's risk assessment continuously updated via combat analysis algorithms part of MANTIS cognitive enhancements running subconsciously providing real-time tactical recommendations displayed mentally as probability matrices guiding actions optimized for minimal collateral damage while achieving objectives (protect team find Laurentina avoid killing Inquisitors if possible) within ethical constraints adopted from Fire Moth principles adapted locally influenced by Rhodes Island ethos learned through brief interactions with Amiya etc., all synthesized into current operational parameters executed calmly despite chaotic situation typical of Kevin's demeanor forged through countless battles across time and space now applied on Terra stage against Dario worthy opponent testing limits of half-power projection interesting challenge adding data point for understanding local power scales useful for future engagements on this world part of larger mission beyond immediate goals aligning with Skadi's quest ultimately serving greater purpose of cross-dimensional knowledge exchange potentially benefiting both worlds (Terra & Kevin's home universe) against common threats like Honkai/Seaborn/Catastrophes etc., interconnected maybe revealed through Laurentina connection pursued now amidst saltwind city conflict escalating slowly as citizens watch apathetically while Kevin stands ready arms crossed projecting confidence essential for morale allies relying on his strength half-unleashed but formidable enough hopefully as Outcast questions then accepts with tentative hope based on past experiences together building trust gradually across shared dangers now facing Grand Inquisitor Dario together as team despite diverse origins united by common goal finding Laurentina key to mysteries deep beneath waves holding answers sought by many including Inquisition making current clash inevitable but manageable with Kevin's calculated power restraint at half capacity deemed sufficient pending unforeseen developments always possible in unpredictable world Terra full secrets yet uncovered including true nature Originium Catastrophes Ancients etc., all factors influencing Kevin's cautious approach here limiting power output while maintaining effectiveness demonstrated earlier against lesser foes now tested against top-tier local combatant Dario representing peak human(?) capability enhanced by Supreme Arts training possibly augmented by Originium implants common among Iberian elite hinted by glowing lantern artifact maybe tech-based not just symbolic adding complexity requiring adaptive tactics part of Kevin's expertise honed across eras now applied anew on foreign soil where every battle teaches more about this world's unique combat systems blending magic (Originium Arts) technology (Nomadic City engineering) biology (Oripathy mutations) into distinctive warfare style challenging but familiar enough for veteran like Kevin to navigate successfully especially with allies complementing his skills covering weaknesses while amplifying strengths typical effective squad dynamics learned from Fire Moth teamwork principles applied here with Skadi FrostNova Outcast forming cohesive unit against Inquisition duo Dario Eileen outnumbered but not outmatched thanks terrain knowledge local authority support possibly reinforcements nearby factored into Kevin's calculations suggesting need quick resolution before more Inquisition forces arrive complicating escape after finding Laurentina if she here hence urgency underlying current confrontation masked by calm exteriors both sides assessing each other silently before action resumes likely initiated by Dario defending city duty bound against intruders perceived threat despite possible shared interests uncovering seaborn mysteries maybe basis negotiation later if combat pauses allowing dialogue but currently unlikely given mutual distrust inherent between organizations (Inquisition vs outsiders) especially Aegir associated seaborn feared hated Iberia historically leading current hostility understandable contextually though regrettable requiring force response measured carefully by Kevin team minimizing harm while achieving objectives paramount guiding all actions now culminating imminent clash where half power must suffice else escalate risking dimensional instability unwanted outcome avoided at all costs hence self-imposed limit half normal projection capacity maximum safe threshold estimated through previous observations Terra reality resilience tested indirectly during minor skirmishes so far holding stable encouraging but not guarantee for higher outputs hence caution remains overriding principle even mid-battle adapting dynamically as situation evolves starting now with Dario likely attacking first defending city honor duty bound Inquisitor code demanding action against perceived invaders setting stage next exchange where Kevin may need intervene directly depending FrostNova Skadi Outcast performance against Dario Supreme Arts possibly overwhelming them requiring backup at half power hopefully enough decided soon as combat imminent tension palpable twilight deepening shadows lengthening across saltwind street where fate Laurentina perhaps decided by outcome pending between two groups one seeking truth other enforcing order collision inevitable now moments away...