Jason's lips curved into an appreciative smile as the final pieces of the puzzle clicked into place in his mind.
The mastermind's strategy showed remarkable cunning—using someone else's resources to achieve personal goals. Gabriel's death was an unexpected bonus—one less celestial power to deal with in future fights.
Originally, he had expected the vampire forces would merely weaken Heaven's strength. Instead, they had killed one of Heaven's most powerful guardians outright.
His expression shifted to thoughtful focus. The immediate tactical question remained: how to deal with the surviving vampire hordes? Should he step in personally?
Yet as this thought formed, Jason paused, recognizing a more elegant solution.
Direct intervention might prove unnecessary. If the relationship between Shuri and her mysterious backer was strong enough—or if the Wakandan genius had enough hatred—the vampire army consuming New York and potentially spreading throughout America could serve as convenient leverage.
My god, Jason thought with dark amusement, those hundreds of burned priests died for nothing.
The implications went further—North America's religious landscape had entered unprecedented chaos. Faith structures that had remained stable for centuries now underwent massive transformation.
Jason's mind raced through potential scenarios and countermeasures.
Meanwhile, the European deity led her reduced angelic host toward the distant bridge.
Standing before the water crossing, she hesitated for a moment. Behind her, massive waves of vampires regrouped for another assault.
Conservative estimates suggested 70-80% of New York's population had transformed—about five to six million vampires. Despite Gabriel's devastating sacrifice eliminating nearly half a million, more than four million remained.
Shuri coordinated vampire movements with tactical precision, systematically surrounding the retreating angels.
The critical unknown remained: did additional special commanders with combat abilities rivaling those Gabriel had destroyed still exist within Shuri's forces? Without such elite assets, ordinary vampires—regardless of numbers—would struggle to overcome celestial warriors.
After brief thought, the European goddess steeled herself and stepped onto the bridge. Her single focus had narrowed to evacuation, followed by dimensional portal creation for immediate return to Heaven.
Halfway across the span, underwater weapons activated as expected. Black mist launchers erupted from beneath the surface, covering the entire bridge in impenetrable darkness.
Though ordinary vision failed within this supernatural fog, Jason's enhanced perception pierced its obscuring properties. He watched each angel create protective golden auras, accompanied by faint celestial hymns that countered the mist's corrupting effects.
The angels advanced methodically, dispatching individual vampires with efficient precision. They had nearly reached the opposite shore when a thunderous disruption shook the bridge.
"BOOM!"
Massive tentacles—each thick as ancient redwoods—erupted from the water, blocking the forward path. The octopus monstrosity that controlled these appendages surfaced before the angelic vanguard.
The European deity advanced with her honor guard, easily severing two huge tentacles with synchronized strikes.
As they prepared to deliver the killing blow, the creature's mouth gaped impossibly wide. A torrent of black-tainted water gushed forth with catastrophic force.
This special attack transcended the defensive capabilities of celestial light. Angels caught in the flood dissolved instantly, reduced to swirling red clouds within the contaminated water.
Jason inhaled sharply, genuinely disturbed by the sight. "Too brutal," he murmured. This represented the ultimate humiliation of Heaven's forces—divine beings reduced to bloody slurry.
The octopus horror continued its relentless assault, internal reservoirs seemingly bottomless as black water cascaded across the bridge. The angelic forces retreated several hundred meters under this attack.
Their tactical situation got worse when vampire reinforcements blocked their rear escape route.
The angels found themselves trapped—a bridge with both exits sealed, water beneath, and toxic mist above.
Jason observed with cynical detachment. The European deity would inevitably attempt aerial evacuation next, having exhausted ground options. This approach seemed equally doomed, as the enemy had almost certainly prepared countermeasures against predictable escape routes.
Heaven's forces faced imminent annihilation.
At this critical moment, Jason received an encrypted transmission from the rear lines. T'Challa—the Black Panther—had finally arrived from the orbital platform, his advanced aircraft operating under stealth protocols as it approached their position.
Jason decided to wait for his arrival. While uncertain whether T'Challa's presence might influence events, the possibility existed that Shuri might grant her brother audience—perhaps even negotiate terms.
Across Europe, populations followed developments with mounting anxiety. Due to signal interference created by the black umbrella, information arrived in broken pieces.
Current intelligence extended only to the Angel Corps' initial river crossing and midair ambush—the European public remained unaware of Gabriel's sacrifice or the catastrophic bridge trap.
Nevertheless, Europeans processed the confirmed loss of nearly one thousand angels with collective shock. These celestial beings—rarely glimpsed throughout human history—had died defending American soil.
The magnitude of sacrifice staggered understanding. Our European angels died while North American forces remained conspicuously absent!
European sentiment toward America deteriorated rapidly.
During BBC's ongoing coverage, Jameson's face flushed with righteous anger, though he quickly composed himself with journalistic discipline.
"Fellow citizens," he addressed the camera with unwavering conviction, "I must state clearly: North America hosts no genuine deity. The entity claiming divine authority over this continent has shown through calculated inaction that it lacks fundamental qualities deserving divine designation."
He continued with increasing passion: "American casualties now number in the tens of millions, yet this fake 'god' maintains unconscionable silence!"
Drawing a steadying breath, Jameson delivered his most provocative declaration: "I reach this undeniable conclusion—even should this entity suddenly appear, I would neither acknowledge nor worship its authority."
His voice gained philosophical weight: "In law, we maintain that 'justice delayed is justice denied.' By extension, I submit that delayed salvation constitutes no salvation at all, merely retroactive damage control."
With unflinching camera engagement, Jameson concluded: "To the false deity of North America: You have taken our devotion for generations without giving back. From this day forward, you stand exposed as the greatest evil force in our hemisphere!"
His pronouncement triggered global reverberations—some applauding his boldness, others contemplating his theological implications.
Beyond mere discussion, organized demonstrations emerged spontaneously throughout Europe. Their unifying message crystallized around a simple premise: European angels shouldn't sacrifice immortal existence protecting Americans.
The sentiment carried particular irony given America's historical dominance over European affairs. Even as our continental 'big brother,' such sacrifice exceeds reasonable expectations!
Throughout remaining American strongholds where radio signals penetrated, despair reached terminal velocity.
We're finished! Vampires advance inexorably. European angels suffer catastrophic losses. Our own celestial protectors abandon us completely.
Damn it all! DAMN YOU, GOD!
A grassroots movement gained exponential momentum—fueled by rage rather than hope—centered around an elegantly simple proposition: We demand divine replacement!
Jameson's public condemnation had been carefully coordinated with Jason.
Jason had anticipated the North American deity might attempt opportunistic intervention once the vampire threat reached critical mass. The entity would arrive at the moment of maximum desperation, eliminate remaining vampire forces, and position itself as humanity's savior.
With carefully constructed explanations absolving itself of earlier inaction, the deity could theoretically emerge with strengthened devotional energy and potential territorial expansion opportunities.
Jason's countermeasure operated with vaccine-like efficiency—Jameson's broadcast inoculated the population against such manipulation. Even should the North American deity achieve military victory against vampire forces, its credibility had suffered potentially irreparable damage.
The accounting for previous neglect could not be easily dismissed.