Although the Peak-level Rank 5 dragon armor protected Astoria, her own body's defense failed to withstand the shock, thus, resulting in critical injuries.
On the other hand, Vaan was still in his Celestial Dragonwolf Transformation. Adding his elemental blessing, his defense could easily reach Peak-level Rank 5. So even if he did get hurt, he would still be in a far better state than Astoria.
Nevertheless, even with the heightened healing properties of his blood, he still failed to bring Astoria out of her critical state.
Her condition was far too serious, and he couldn't afford to spare too much blood either. After all, Emperor Renardier suddenly got stronger, having reached Early-stage Demigod rank.
"You called, Supreme Leader?"
"Take her back to the clan for immediate treatment. Have the dragon lords treat her if it is required. I want her healed. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Supreme Leader!"
Shortly after Vaan did everything he could to preserve Astoria's life, he handed her over to Zodreg to bring her back to the Red Dragon Clan, where they could provide the best treatment possible.
Meanwhile, shortly after Vaan and Astoria were sent flying away, the imperial soldiers shivered in terror at Emperor Renardier's rise.
His demonic power seemed to have skyrocketed to the point that he didn't seem human anymore. In fact, a normal human wouldn't be able to stand, much less attack with the broken and damaged state his body was in.
Aeliana roared furiously, immediately slamming the ground with her Dryad-transformed palms.
In that instant, seeds sprouted from her palm, intertwined, and proliferated rapidly, resulting in a powerful, sharp vine pillar piercing out of the ground at Emperor Renardier's feet, aiming straight for his head.
However, Emperor Renardier simply tilted his head to the side before grabbing the vine pillar with his bare hand. He uprooted it from the ground and flung it away.
As a result, Aeliana was dragged and thrown away along with it. She crashed into many imperial soldiers.
It was just a casual move from Emperor Renardier, but it resulted in heavy injuries for many people.
"Out of my way, insects. I don't have time for weaklings," Emperor Renardier coolly spat.
Seeing that the demonic emperor showed no interest in them, many people from the battle witches and imperial soldiers' side expressed their relief.
As Eniwse and Hester deliberated over whether they could stop such an opponent, the person walked off in Vaan's direction. As such, they hurried over to Aeliana's location to check on her instead.
Aeliana spat with a gloomy frown after she crawled out from among the bodies of the groaning imperial soldiers, who had been used to cushion her fall, albeit not really.
She had been flung so effortlessly.
Even if she wanted to take revenge for her lord, she lacked the qualifications to do so. The enemy was too strong.
"What should we do?" Hester asked.
"Treat the injured and evacuate the area. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about that thing. Only Lord Vahn can deal with such a person," Aeliana stated.
"Sigh. I guess that's all we can do," Eniwse agreed with a sigh and said, "Even if we can't assist him, we can at least not become his burden."
Shortly after, they pulled the battle witches away with the matriarchs and also healed the injured imperial soldiers with their healing spells.
"Why are you healing us?"
"Do you prefer if we don't?"
After receiving such a question, the imperial soldier was unable to answer. Naturally, he wanted to be healed. But at the same time, he couldn't say it.
Many imperial soldiers had mixed feelings about receiving treatment from the witches — people who they had been trying to kill. Even so, the feeling was not bad.
In the end, they were still people—unlike whatever demonic entity Emperor Renardier had become.
Step by step, Emperor Renardier approached Vaan's location before he stopped roughly thirty yards away.
At the same time, Vaan glanced back at Emperor Renardier with a cold gaze.
"You shouldn't be able to walk."
"A funny thing to say. No matter how broken this body is, it is still my will that commands. With a strong and indomitable will, even a cripple can walk again. You can achieve anything as long as your will is strong enough."
n LL n Shortly after Emperor Renardier spoke, a brief silence followed.
"Thank you for sparing the others. I'd take it that Emperor Renardier is no longer with us. Are you the Great Devil, Helcan the Mighty?"
"It is I," the demonic emperor calmly nodded and said with a grim smile, "And I have no interest in weaklings. You, on the other hand, are a different story. I haven't heard or seen anyone like you in Pangea before. I'm interested in fighting you and finding out your limits."
"TI would have been interested in taking my time, fighting someone strong like you, too," Vaan admitted before his expression turned colder. "...Unfortunately, you hurt someone you shouldn't have."
"That imbecile from earlier? Kekeke, such meager strength, yet dared to stand in my way," Helcan chuckled sinisterly before scoffing, "If anything, she hurt herself. The blame is not mine to bear."
n LL n Vaan was silent for a moment. He wanted to converse with Helcan to fish for information and feel out his opponent. That was the most logical thing to do against a person who has been possessed by a Rank 6 divine being.
However, he found it difficult to do when he was feeling bottomless rage inside. In the end, he inwardly sighed. It seemed Astoria's importance weighed more heavily on his heart than he believed she did.
Sometimes, one just had to forget about the calculations and consequences and resort to their primal instincts, letting loose once in a while.
Shortly after Vaan stopped suppressing his rage, something in his mind had snapped, causing his aura to change completely into that of a wild beast.
It almost seemed like he had turned into a different person as he glared at the demonic emperor, full of wrath.
A beam of multi-colored flames struck down where Helcan's incarnation stood and burned away everything instantly except the person standing in it.
Even with the broken Rank 5 armor melting into molten liquid, his clothes turning to ashes, and his flesh becoming charcoal black, Helcan's incarnation remained standing with a casual expression that soon lifted into a smile, seemingly unaffected.
"Is this the extent of your animosity? Kekeke, I'm definitely feeling it!
Such amazing comprehension of the Fire Law for one so young!"
Helcan's incarnation exclaimed heartily.
Despite feeling the full extent of the pain of being burned alive, Helcan's incarnation remained so nonchalant to it.
If everyone realized that, they would be horrified by his tolerance.
"Go to hell!" Vaan roared.