Villain Retirement

"Your Holiness!"

It took almost an hour, but Angela was finally able to fend off all the members of the House of Super that wanted to get inside the vault where the Pope was hiding — her armor was still completely intact, with not even a scratch on it even though all sorts of attacks were done to it.

She was tired, however — extremely.

The House of Super may just seem like they only have numbers on their side, but they also have supers that could be considered Grade-A. Their ranks seem to be represented by what accessory they were wearing, but Angela didn't really have the luxury to ask which is which as she just endlessly waved her sword against the onslaught of people.

This is probably the most people she had ever seen gathered in one small area, and she's been in the Academy… and the leader of their group, the so-called Caesar, has not once shown itself yet.

They seem like a well-structured organization, but in truth… their system and ranks were all over the place. They didn't even have a proper plan of attack.

No wonder, of course — most of the people that joined the organization probably just wanted the benefits after the world is ruled by them. They were like ants being swayed by sweets.

And now, it would seem they were ordered to stop as no one was approaching the vault anymore; all that remained were their corpses that were piled up in front of Angela; their bodies, barely even recognizable due to the sheer size of Angela's sword.

"... " The only thing she could really do right now was to stand guard; resting her back on the large door of the vault, trying to catch her breath as fast as possible just in case another army shows up inside — but nothing.

She could see some people running from afar, but not one tried to rush toward her. Did they finally discover that Riley was outside?

Should… she check what's happening?

And before Angela could even take a single step, she felt herself being pushed as the vault suddenly opened.

"Crimson Paladin, standing guard!" Angela then quickly raised her voice as she took a few steps away, pushing and throwing away the bodies near the door with her sword, before kneeling on the floor.

"...So George did not make it."

"..." Angela only glanced at the Pope as he stepped out; in front of him, was the Gold Paladin, who immediately approached the Silver Paladin. He then kneeled in front of his comrade, he wanted to remove his helmet, but it was already caved in; forcing it might do more damage to the Silver Paladin's corpse.

Instead, he just removed both of their gauntlets and held his hand to offer a silent prayer.

"I… was too late," Angela's sighs could be heard even through her helmet, "If I knew we were being attacked, I would have stayed and—"

"And disobeyed his Holiness' order?" Gold Paladin then took off his golden helmet; revealing the tired warrior underneath. His face, plastered with a large scar that was shaped like lightning bolts; trailing from his left cheek and all the way to his neck,

"George sacrificed his life knowingly. You do not have to veil yourself with guilt."

"..." Angela finally stood up as she nodded her head. She then turned towards the Pope, not really knowing what to say to him.

"Angela."

"Your Holiness," Angela bowed her head. When they were on their way here, Angela had so many things she wanted to say to the Pope — she had even constructed an entire speech. But now, seeing him in front of her, the only thing she could really do was stand there awkwardly.

She had always just served the Pope as a guard, she didn't really know how to act any different. And perhaps… this isn't the right time to do so anyway.

"I am here with Riley Ross," Angela then said; her voice, that of a soldier for now.

"..." The Pope looked at her for a few seconds, before letting out a sigh and also nodding his head; understanding the meaning of her tone, "And where is the boy now?"

"He is outside," Angela turned around to look at the walls, "He— !!!"

And finally, Angela saw the scenery in the square. And there really was only one way to describe it — a forest of death.

"What… is he doing!?"

"Leave him," Gold Paladin raised his hand before Angela could walk away, "Securing the Pope and bringing him away from here is our first priority. I will—"

"...Matt?"

"..."

Both the Pope and Angela could not help but turn their heads to the Gold Paladin as his words suddenly and abruptly stopped.

"Matthew?" The Pope let out a small breath; his steps, sluggish as he approached the Gold Paladin and placed his hand on his shoulder, "What is wrong, child? Are you—"

And before the Pope could finish his words, the Gold Paladin was suddenly replaced by Angela in his vision as she rammed him with her sword; launching him straight into a wall. And once again, before the Pope could even understand what was going on, Angela suddenly lifted him up onto her shoulder and leaped away.

And as soon as she did so, the ground where the Pope was previously standing caved in… with the Gold Paladin suddenly appearing out of nowhere in the air and causing a crater to form as he landed.

"..." The Gold Paladin only turned his head towards Angela and the Pope, before once again instantly disappearing from his spot and appearing above them.

Angela once again leaped away as he dodged the Gold Paladin's descent — this time, not even looking at him as she ran away while carrying the Pope.

"W… what is happening?" The Pope's breaths were constricted.

"It's not Matt," Angela muttered, "Someone's controlling him. I heard one of the high-ranking members of the House of Super is capable of possessing other Supers."

"I–"

The Pope didn't even have the chance to talk as the Gold Paladin once again teleported near them — this time, in front of them… his shoulders, already threatening to ram through Angela.

"!!!"

Angela quickly pointed her sword towards the rushing Gold Paladin. The Gold Paladin, however, did not stop even as the sword penetrated through his armor. The sword did not go through, though, as Angela found herself being pushed back as Gold Paladin just continued to charge.

The Gold Paladin's abilities were quite… mighty.

He was able to teleport short distances, and was also able to multiply his weight and harden his skin to the point that even Megawoman herself stated that he was almost indestructible. Unfortunately, it would seem his body was not immune to possession.

"Tch."

Angela then hopped, before pushing herself away by kicking the Gold Paladin's shoulder and pulling her sword from his armor. And as soon as she landed, she pierced her sword through the ground and used it as a shield.

The Gold Paladin did not even halt his charge as he just rammed through the sword, causing the ground to split and create a crevice as he practically dragged the sword through the ground. But then, after a few more steps, he stopped.

After all… Angela and the Pope were gone.

"..."

"..."

The Gold Paladin stood there in silence as he stared at the sword. But after a few seconds, he once again disappeared into thin air.

***

"..."

Outside in the square, Riley was still standing on top of the obelisk — his eyes, following Angela and the Pope as they weaved their way through the forest of corpses he made.

And as soon as they got near, Riley finally hopped down from the cross as he stood in front of the two,

"I see you have grown old to the point you are no longer able to use your legs, Louise," he then quickly said as he saw the Pope on Angela's shoulder.

"It would seem—"

"Why are the two of you talking so casually!?" Angela raised her voice before the two could continue their discussion, "Get us out of here now, the Gold Paladin will be here any second!"

"..." Riley looked back and forth between the Pope and Angela, before letting out a sigh as he settled his eyes on the Pope,

"Were you betrayed by one of your followers, Louise?" Riley shook his head, "Truly, the history of your doctrine is filled with—"

"We have no time to discuss this, Riley," Angela cut off Riley's words, "Get us out of here now. The Golden Paladin is a tricky opponent, even for you. Megawoman herself doesn't want to fight him because there's no sense to it!"

"...Oh?"

"..." There and then, Angela knew she made a mistake. How could she forget the Pope's stories of Darkday's unhealthy obsession with the mightiest hero? She wanted to retract her statement, but alas…

…a smile has already grown on Riley's face.

"Damn it!" Angela could really only click her tongue as she took a few steps back. She then turned around to run… but found herself unable to take another step as something seemed to be blocking her path — an invisible wall.

"What… are you doing?" Angela quickly turned to look at Riley, who only pointed his finger towards the air above her.

"..." She slowly looked up, only to see the Golden Paladin standing above her… unable to descend any lower.

"He's quite heavy."

She then once again turned her attention to Riley as his words calmly reached her ears,

"Heavier than Toronto."

"!!!"

Riley's words were then followed by a loud rumble; the entire square, trembling as the Golden Paladin stepped down from the invisible box that Riley created to shield Angela and the Pope.

"Riley Ross," the Golden Paladin spoke; his voice, distorted almost as if two voices were escaping his mouth,

"We meet again."

"You're the one from the shelter," Riley slightly tilted his head to the side.

"...I am," the Golden Paladin nodded; his eyes moving in different directions, "You can call me the Soul Conqueror."

"...Hm."

"The Caesar has words for you," the Golden Paladin's head started shaking as his voice became more and more distorted, "Stay away…

…or we will be forced to eliminate you along with the Pope."