North America Gunman Detective

Chapter 1378 - 745: Kill_2

The sound of gunfire echoed as the Shadow Beast moved away from Jimmy.

The three priests carried only pistols to remain agile while using their exorcism weapons. Once they started shooting, Jimmy had no choice but to dodge the bullets, as he didn't trust their marksmanship. Engaging in combat with the Shadow Beast, he estimated a high chance of getting caught in the crossfire.

An assistant who had been standing by the door with Jimmy also joined in, firing at the Shadow Beast. But the creature was clever, dodging most bullets by swiftly moving and disappearing behind farming equipment, out of sight.

Of course, it wasn't certain that the beast dodged all the bullets itself; it could also be due to the priests' lack of accuracy.

Jimmy opened his revolver, replaced the spent bullets, and reloaded. Meanwhile, the priests began changing their spare magazines.

"Bullets aren't very effective. Switch weapons." The leading priest holstered his reloaded pistol and drew a silver-plated short sword. Pouring a small bottle of Holy Water over it with his left hand, the others followed suit. Jimmy stood guard with his gun as they prepared.

It wasn't that bullets had no effect. Jimmy had noticed before that when he shot the creature, it bled noticeably, though its dark blood blended with its skin color, making it less visible. However, most of the bullet impacts from the priests barely penetrated its defenses. The creature's body was so strong that only high-powered rifles or Jimmy's revolver, with its demon-breaking properties, could cause it harm. This much was clear.

The Shadow Beast didn't wait around for the priests to prepare. It moved stealthily to a hidden position toward one of the priests, ready to strike when, "Bang!"– Jimmy shot at one of its extended claws.

This was, of course, Jimmy, who kept a keen eye on the creature's movements. It was his first time seeing the beast up close. Observing its tactics allowed him to gather valuable intelligence. From the previous encounter, he discerned its formidable strength and instinctual combat skills, far from a typical beast.

The way it stealthily approached the nearest priest intended to ambush rather than aiming at its greatest threat—Jimmy—suggested it was targeting the most advantageous position, implying a significant level of intelligence.

With beast-like claws, upright posture, a strong, humanoid physique, Jimmy couldn't shake a bad suspicion: could this creature have once been human?

Once again, Jimmy's bullet pierced its claws, and the Shadow Beast retreated into the shadows, moving again. This time, its target didn't seem to be the nearby priest. It darted from behind obstacles, clearly heading toward Jimmy.

The priests weren't without their combat instincts. When Jimmy fired, the targeted priest knew he'd become the focus. He backed up to another priest, and they stood watch back to back.

The other priest and the assistant stood together, shoulder to shoulder against a wall, one holding a nail hammer, the other an M16 rifle, appearing alert.

Jimmy warned the priests, "Don't shoot. Protect—"

Before he could finish, the Shadow Beast lunged at him from his forward flank. "Bang! Bang!" Three rapid shots, and Jimmy had to cease fire, blocking a claw with his right hand while the left quickly countered the other claw. He kicked the beast's thigh, distancing himself.

A revolver was unwieldy for close combat, so Jimmy ditched it, drawing a dagger from his lower back, assuming a stance with the gun in his left and dagger in his right, ready to engage the Shadow Beast at close quarters.

With the dagger, he managed to cut several slashes into the creature. The dagger, a demon-breaking weapon gifted by New York's Priest Rodney, was sharp enough to somewhat bypass the creature's skin, which could resist 9mm bullets. However, the blade was too short to pierce through its body or decapitate it directly.

The revolver in his left hand became an instrument for surprise attacks. After blocking part of the beast's onslaught, Jimmy managed a few shots, blinding the creature in one eye. Oddly, despite the bullet angle suggesting severe brain damage, the beast, instead of paralyzing or dying, merely grew more furious.

Running low on bullets, and with his right hand busy, Jimmy cut his backpack loose, letting it drop. "Reload my revolver."

He tossed the revolver to the ground with the one he had previously dropped. Bystanders didn't hesitate due to his abruptness; a priest and the assistant quickly grabbed the revolvers and backpack, reloading nearby.

The onlookers weren't inert by choice; Jimmy and the Shadow Beast's combat was too rapid. Rash interference could disrupt Jimmy's flow and adversely affect him. Well-versed in close combat, they understood that balance didn't necessarily tip with more participants; sometimes, 1+1 didn't equal 2.

Holding the reloaded revolvers, a priest rushed toward Jimmy, shouting "Gun!" As the Shadow Beast lunged, Jimmy countered, seizing its arm and flinging it aside to create space, catching the revolver deftly.

When Jimmy flung the Shadow Beast aside, two other priests adeptly attacked from its blind side within seconds, both sustaining scratches despite their efforts.

Not hesitating, Jimmy pinned his dagger between his teeth, raising his left hand revolver, and fired six shots at the beast's head. Only the first three found their mark; the beast's head recoiled, dodging the rest.

Taking another bullet's impact, the Shadow Beast abandoned its proximity advantage and charged Jimmy, moving awkwardly as if experiencing concussion-like symptoms due to Jimmy's shots.

Jimmy tossed his right-hand revolver to a nearby priest, gripping his dagger from his mouth, striking the beast as its claw neared his head. He blocked its swipe, driving the dagger from its face to its mouth, slicing open its maw. The creature bellowed, retreating with its face covered.

Seizing the opportunity, Jimmy double-kicked the beast into farming machinery, pursued, and rent its limbs and torso with his dagger. As it recoiled, Jimmy shoved the revolver into its open maw, firing upward, blowing open its head.

Stepping back, revolver in hand, he watched the Shadow Beast slump against the machinery, twitch, and gradually cease movement.

The priests, who'd been scratched, looked on as the beast fell. As one moved forward, he staggered, collapsing, prompting the nearby priest to rush over. "What's wrong?"

Brushing off assistance, the priest stood uneasily, glancing at his chest wound. "I might be infected," he grimly confessed.