After repeatedly dying and coming back to life, Bruce and Andore's mental state had long since collapsed.
So—
Almost as soon as Hawke's words fell, they started recounting the events of that year, one after another.
The general situation was not much different from what Gioruno had said.
Andore, the patrol officer who went to pursue the two bird-men that year.
He caught up at the time, but he saw the miracles displayed by the two bird-men. As a devout believer, when he saw the 'stigmata' behind the two bird-men, he believed it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The two bird-men told him they were from the future, following the Lord's instructions, to change the fate of believers who would otherwise go astray in the future.
But who that was, the two bird-men did not tell Andore.
He only knew that Andrew Chloe, killed by these two bird-men, was key to whether the Lord could convert that believer in the future.
So… they needed to take Andrew Chloe away.
Not just his soul.
But also his body.
Andore was still conflicted at the time, and it was then that Bruce and Gioruno had tracked him there.
When they heard the two bird-men promise them eternal life and to bathe in the Lord's glory, Bruce was the first to agree.
Andore followed closely behind.
Gioruno hesitated for a moment, then also agreed.
When a year had passed, Bruce died first, took Andrew Chloe's body, and then went to Paris, where he met the original two bird-men, but they had transformed into the so-called Blood God Envoys.
"Wait."
Hawke listened to Bruce up to this point, stroked his chin, and interrupted, "You mean, they became Vampires at that time?"
Bruce nodded, "Yes, the Envoys said they had to cut off their wings to stay here. In order to welcome the Lord's arrival, they could only first turn themselves into Vampires. After the Lord arrived, He would allow them to return to being Blood Angels."
That's right.
Angels age very quickly after losing their wings.
If these two bird-men hadn't become Vampires, they probably wouldn't have made it to the present; they would have likely died of old age.
Hawke thought to himself.
The next second.
He raised an eyebrow, looking at Bruce and Andore.
"But you weren't converted by them?"
"Yes."
Andore nodded and said, "The Envoys said their blood was too overbearing, so they arranged for the Vampire Carter to convert us."
Hawke looked at Andore with a calm expression.
"And you believed it?"
"…Yes."
Andore and Bruce exchanged glances upon hearing this, then, seeing the growing strangeness in Hawke's expression, fell silent.
Hawke chuckled.
After all that, he thought those two bird-men had given them some incredible benefit.
It was just a mixed-blood Vampire.
Not even a pure-blood Vampire.
Hawke thought to himself, looking at Andore and Bruce, "Didn't you react at the time that something was wrong?"
Bruce shook his head.
"The Envoys have a pair of blood wings."
"Blood wings?"
"Yes, they are a pair of blood-colored wings."
"…Alright."
Hawke pictured an Angel with blood wings behind him in his mind, shook his head, and looked at Bruce, "Let's go back to Andrew. You took Andrew to Paris, and then what?"
Bruce shook his head.
"I don't know."
"Hmm!"
"I really don't know. The Envoys left me with the Vampire Carter, and they left with Andrew. After that, we never saw the Envoys again."
Bruce looked at the displeased Hawke and hurriedly explained, "Until recently, just before we came to New York City, we saw the Envoys again."
Hawke raised an eyebrow.
"Continue."
"The Envoys said Andrew had escaped and told Andore and me to come to New York City to find the escaped Andrew."
"Andrew escaped?"
Hawke frowned upon hearing Bruce's words.
Actually, Andrew still being alive was within his expectations.
After all, Jehovah's bird-men, knowing some mysteries, was normal, not to mention Andrew's soul was in their hands.
It's just—
Hawke didn't quite understand what their purpose was in resurrecting Andrew.
To use the father to command the son?
Don't be ridiculous!
Hawke, facing Mephisto's threats, would rather choose to never see his sister Anya, with whom he lived day and night, again.
A mere Andrew who only provided half his bloodline and was not very familiar?
What could he do!
If Jehovah dared to do that, he wouldn't mind saying, "Please give me a share!"
Wait.
Bloodline?
Hawke's heart stirred.
The next second.
He laughed in spite of himself.
This trick might have been effective before he compressed the timeline, but now that he has compressed the timeline, and has even taken the first step towards godhood, with only one last step remaining, this trick is completely ineffective.
His time is in his hands.
As long as he isn't tempted by the time that is still on his timeline, tempting him almost every moment to glimpse the future, no one can harm him through time or so-called bloodline anymore.
However… Andrew being resurrected was within Hawke's expectations, but Andrew escaping was unexpected for Hawke.
Hawke came back to his senses, looking at Bruce and Andore.
"Did you find him?"
"No."
"The Envoys said Andrew has now also been converted into a Blood Angel, so we've been searching in all possible Vampire locations these past few days."
Andore said so, then looked at Hawke, "We were just searching, but before we found him, you…"
Hawke frowned, "Did the Envoys you mentioned say what to do after you found him?"
Bruce shook his head.
"No, the Envoys just said that if we found him, we should keep an eye on him, and they would also come to New York City soon, because the Lord would descend not long after."
"Heh, twenty years ago, didn't they tell you the same thing?"
Hawke snorted a laugh.
If he hadn't misheard, indeed, twenty years ago, when these two guys were fooled by the bird-men, the bird-men said the Lord would descend soon.
As a result… twenty years passed.
Their Lord would still descend soon.
No!
Their Lord did descend once, not long ago, but as soon as He appeared, he was directly chopped down by him, and without hesitation at that.
Hawke's thoughts turned as he looked at Bruce and Andore, who had no further value after he had finished questioning them.
He thought for a moment.
With a thought.
Instantly.
Bruce and Andore, who were in the Netherworld of the Downpour, were moved onto the large disc of the Netherworld of the Millstone.
The next second.
Hawke's mind ascended, and after opening his eyes, he smiled slightly at Gwen, who had been waiting for him.
"They came looking for Andrew."
"Hiss!"
Gwen gasped.
"Is Mr. Chloe still alive?"
"Yes."
Hawke nodded, "They stole Andrew's body to resurrect him, and then turn him into a weapon against me."
Gwen's pupils constricted upon hearing this, and a worried expression appeared on her face.
"Against you?"
"Bloodline curses and such, things that can't be taken seriously, in short."
Hawke smiled slightly, saying casually, "Before I went to Kamar-Taj, maybe it would have worked, but not now."
Before he awakened his Seventh Sense, no matter how strong he was, his life level, theoretically speaking, had not escaped the realm of 'mortal'.
Even extraordinary was mortal.
But after he awakened his Seventh Sense, his life level underwent a qualitative transformation.
In a word.
Before, he was mortal.
Now—
He is a god.
Not to mention anything else, even Mephisto, if he met him now for the first time, would respectfully address him as 'Lord God'.
Gwen met Hawke's gaze, seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, that he truly didn't care, and subconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
"That's good."
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Home, of course."
"…"
Gwen looked at Hawke, who was yawning while speaking, and blinked, "But Mr. Chloe hasn't been found yet."
Hawke smiled slightly.
"Do you know where he is?"
"No."
"Then that's it."
Hawke spread his hands, looking at the shaking head of Gwen, "You don't know, and I don't know. Anyway, the person I wanted to chop has been chopped, so we should go home. Let's not stay here and cause trouble for Sharon."
Although there are still two bird-men, no, two Blood Angels still wandering outside.
But it doesn't matter.
It's still the same saying.
If they have the guts, they can learn from Strucker and never show their heads for their entire lives. Once they do, their fate will be the same as Strucker's.
Instantly killed upon showing their heads.
Hawke thought to himself.
Sharon, standing by, couldn't help but chuckle at Hawke's remark about not causing them trouble, and looked at Gwen, saying, "Yes, Gwen, you can go back first. I'll be here, and if I have any news, I'll tell you immediately."
Gwen heard this and said nothing more, nodding and acknowledging.
Then—
This time, two months passed, and the time quickly arrived at November of 2015.
Inside the house at 521A Palm Street, with a flash of light.
Hawke, who had returned from Kamar-Taj, stepped out of the air behind him and said to Gwen, who was cooking in the kitchen, "The tea leaves you wanted, I brought them back for you."
Gwen turned, her eyes lighting up at the tea leaves in Hawke's hand.
"Didn't the Sorcerer Supreme say she was going on a trip? Why hasn't she left yet?"
"Who knows."
Hawke also shrugged.
According to the timeline, by this time, the Ancient One should have retired.
Last time he went, the Ancient One said the same thing.
But… this time when he went, he saw the Ancient One, and the Ancient One directly said that she felt she could still be saved.
Hawke was impressed without understanding why.
Gwen took the tea leaves from Hawke's hand and blinked, "Oh, by the way, what about the Time Stone? Do you know Mr. Chloe's whereabouts?"
Hawke shook his head.
The next second.
Just as he was about to speak.
The phone rang.
Hawke took out his phone and glanced at the caller ID.
Wanda Maximoff!
… (End of chapter)
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