Chapter 277 - 241: The Charm of a Combat Style! I’m Tougher Than You

Even the Vengeful Angels, who were constantly monitoring the battle and ready to provide support at a moment’s notice, were shaken to the core by Reinhardt’s sudden, unmoving state.

Seventy-Six, who had been facing the Demon Army besieging the ship with a casualness that made it seem like he was swimming through the enemy ranks, abruptly abandoned his leisurely slaughter and whipped his head around to look at the battlefield where Reinhardt and Huffman fought.

His alchemically altered face was long incapable of forming human expressions, but the gravity in his movements spoke volumes.

He activated a short-range Radiant Teleportation, broke free from the demonic siege, and appeared atop the Punisher Ship. While using Telepathy to contact the others, he was already setting up his massive firearm and aiming it at Huffman’s head.

’Agate, Reinhardt needs support. You handle the Demons outside for a moment.’

Raphael’s brow furrowed.

In his state of Mind Release, he had perfect command over every brick and stone in the entire port battlefront. Even the physical condition of the most distant Mortal Auxiliary Army soldier was under his watch.

According to his Mind Perception, aside from the severe energy drain on his Power Backpack, Reinhardt’s body was completely unharmed. His mind even remained intact. It didn’t look like he was injured or had suffered a Spiritual Energy invasion at all.

But in a battle between the powerful, life and death were decided in an instant. Raphael had no more time to think.

Including him, the surrounding Ash Guard and the other two Think Tanks all watched with horrified expressions as the terrifying Slaughter Knife in Huffman’s hand—a grotesque weapon constantly leaking Demon Evil Power—whistled through the air toward the motionless Reinhardt.

One of the Think Tanks even proactively established a Spiritual Energy link with Raphael, exclaiming, ’Priest! You must support him immediately—’

Time seemed to stop at that moment.

Seventy-Six’s finger had just squeezed the trigger, the bullet still in its chamber.

The Think Tank’s horrified words were not yet finished.

The Devourer’s Slaughter Knife had already struck Reinhardt!

Raphael’s expression changed drastically. Even his voice, carried by Telepathy, lost the composure of a Think Tank, becoming frantic with terror and worry as he cried out Reinhardt’s name.

’Reinhardt! What are you doing?!’

It wasn’t just the Empire’s Transcendents who were shaken by this terrifying sight; even the Mortal Auxiliary Army on the surrounding defensive lines noticed the Demon Slaying Blade strike Reinhardt!

With Florian heavily injured...

Reinhardt, who bore the revered title of a Vengeful Angel, was the ultimate symbol of strength for all the defenders in the port battlefront!

If he were to be defeated and fall in this battle, all other resistance would be meaningless. Unless stronger Imperial reinforcements arrived, they would all perish one by one under the dual pressure of the Void Knights and the Demon Legion. They would die until this position of immense strategic value—the link between the Void Storm and the Imperial Administrative Region—was lost.

Even Huffman’s eyes, lost in the madness of battle, revealed a trace of excitement and ecstasy at the moment his blade struck Reinhardt.

Because it was confident that no Imperial Knight below the Four-star Earth Military Rank could withstand a slash from the Devourer’s Slaughter Knife!

However, when its arm, now one with the Slaughter Knife, felt the impact, the smooth sensation of cleaving through flesh was replaced by a sudden, jarring resistance. It was as if the blade had sunk into a thick, muddy swamp, unable to press forward an inch.

And it was in this same moment, as Huffman’s gaze fell upon Reinhardt, that the violent rage on its demonic face was utterly replaced by abject horror. An incredulous scream erupted from the depths of its heart.

’This is impossible—!’

From the perspective of the Mortal Auxiliary Army...

What they saw was Huffman’s Slaughter Knife, carrying an incredibly terrifying force, savagely crashing into Reinhardt. Propelled by this immense power, the latter’s body was sent flying sideways, seemingly ’unable to resist’.

But in the perception of the Ash Guard and the other Transcendents...

Reinhardt’s feet were planted as if rooted to the spot, sliding sideways across the ground. In fact, his posture had only shifted slightly from taking the full force of the Slaughter Knife’s frontal assault.

It was nothing like the horrific scene they had imagined of him being cleaved in two.

When the dust settled, Reinhardt’s figure came into view.

His right hand, encased in an ice-blue Extraordinary Armament that radiated a bone-chilling cold, was positioned in front of the left side of his neck, tightly gripping the grotesque blade of the Devourer’s Slaughter Knife.

At the same time, a dark purple, living substance exuding the aura of Mighty Power was constantly deconstructing and re-forming at the point on his palm where the Slaughter Knife made contact.

Only then did the Ash Guard realize that Reinhardt was not only alive, but had caught the Demon Slaying Blade with his own hand.

Their hearts were instantly filled with utter shock!

They were not just horrified by Reinhardt’s suicidal fighting style, but utterly astounded by his Knight Power, which was powerful to the point of being terrifying!

To catch the downward slash of a Combat Gang leader in his prime with one hand...

This required not only immense Knight Power, but also the heart of a true warrior—one filled with courage and absolute contempt for the enemy!

Even though this was the first time all the Ash Guard participating in the Radiant Angels rescue mission had fought alongside the legendary Emperor’s Vengeful Angels, at this moment...

Reinhardt’s absolute-powerhouse stance, contemptuous of both Demon and Void Knight!

His fierce, death-defying fighting style!

The visual and psychological impact they delivered was unprecedented!

This was more than just reverence for Reinhardt’s immense strength; it was a profound, soul-shaking admiration for his unyielding combat style!

Immediately after, a special-issue bullet from the Assassin Court whistled through the air and pierced Huffman’s iron-hard demonic skull, blasting a hole through it.

Seventy-Six’s voice followed close behind.

’If you’re going to pull a stunt like that, you could at least give us a heads-up. For the Divine Emperor’s sake, I can’t believe I was actually worried about a bastard like you...’

The hole in Huffman’s skull healed with extreme speed, thanks to the blood-siphoning ability of the Devourer’s Slaughter Knife.

But even this could not hide the horror and fear deep within its eyes.

Staring at Reinhardt, the battle madness clouding Huffman’s mind instantly cleared. As he met Reinhardt’s icy gaze, he felt, for the first time since betraying the Empire, the palpable threat of death!

Though horrified by Reinhardt’s power, Huffman stubbornly believed that even so, this Imperial Knight couldn’t possibly kill him while he was empowered by the Devourer’s Slaughter Knife.

He still had a chance to win this fight!

But the fear deep in his heart was an act of cowardice, the one thing the Dark Abyss and the Slaughter Death Arena would not tolerate.

Unfortunately, Huffman was incapable of understanding this.

He was also fated never to receive the gaze of Avernus.

And in that same moment, as the absolute leader of the Abyss Legion in the port battlefront, the offensive momentum of the Demons and Void Knights collapsed entirely, dissipated by his roar, which now reeked of fear.

"This is impossible! No Imperial Knight has ever stopped my Devourer’s Slaughter Knife! Bastard... I’ll kill you! I’ll flay you and devour your flesh and blood!"