Chapter 77: The Iron Tsunami

"Excuse me?" Isabella said. "What do you mean by that...?"

"You will face one of us in battle. If you succeed, we will consider you strong enough to help us out. If you fail, we will send you away," Dante said.

"If you send us away, does that mean we have to freeze to death when winter rolls around?" I asked.

"You mean go back to your...treehouse...? That, I can't answer. It depends on what Iris wants to do. She could send you to a divine realm and they would sort you out from there. Likely, you would be sent back to Avernia regardless of its current state," Dante said as he motioned towards the woman on the throne behind him.

I looked up at the teal-haired woman and she smiled at me.

I couldn't tell if it was friendly or not...

But...the prospect of being sent back to Avernia absolutely terrified me. That world was lost and we would be sent to our doom in such a scenario.

"But if you prove useful, Iris should be able to grant you a blessing to help you get past the language barrier. After that, you could probably live normal lives on Ignitus instead of being forced to go back to Avernia," Dante said.

"If we were sent back to Avernia, that would mean our deaths. Our world is a nightmarish hellscape where nothing can survive anymore. Are you sure you can't just leave us in the wilderness?" I asked.

"It is always possible that the Overlords could capture you. They might even use you against us in that case. Sorry, but this is how we do things here. It's how we've managed to survive against them for three thousand years. This isn't personal," Dante said.

Damn it all...

"Excuse me, but why can't Iris just grant us the blessing anyway and let us live here?" Isabella said.

"I'm glad you asked!" Iris shouted proudly.

There was a flash of light and she materialized in front of us.

I took a step back and Isabella got in front of me instinctively.

"The answer is because I can offer a much better reward than living boring everyday lives!" Iris said.

Isabella stayed in front of me and narrowed her eyes.

"I see, so you're a defensive type. That means the boy is an offensive type, yes?" Iris said.

I could feel an extreme amount of power radiating off of her.

Is this woman really a goddess!?

"That would be correct, Iris. Mizik attacks while I defend."

"Splendid! Then I'll have you both fight Leiso."

I felt genuine fear for a moment as I saw Leiso give a smile.

"Why her!?" I said.

"Because Leiso will force you to do your best. And she doesn't show mercy. If you're not trying hard enough, you'll die. Now then, let's be on our way," Iris said bluntly.

Iris smiled and snapped her fingers.

Before we could do anything, the room around us flashed brightly and we found ourselves in a different location.

Isabella and I quickly looked around and saw that it was an arena full of people.

The people in the stands looked confused suddenly and started cheering, anyway. Iris raised both of her hands and shouted to them.

"Hello my wonderful people! I am deeply sorry to interrupt this delightful sporting event you have here today! To make up for it, I have brought you something far more interesting!" Iris said with a booming voice.

After she spoke, the remaining Enforcers moved to the upper wall at the side of the arena...except Leiso, of course.

She stared at us with deadly, unflinching silvery eyes.

"These two otherworlders are responsible for the recent destruction in our lovely city of Florence as well as the death of officer Alex. As such, I have condemned them to death unless they can prove their strength against our very own IRON TSUNAMI!!!"

The crowd cheered and beckoned at us angrily.

"Mizik, get ready," Isabella said as she took out Bravery.

I pulled out Vengeance and released the second sword.

As the crowd pointed and shouted at us Iris shook her head.

"Sorry, but these two are otherworlders. They can't understand a word of what you're saying. Just sit back and enjoy the show!"

"Wait! I thought you said we were forgiven! What's this all about!?" I said angrily.

Iris turned to me and smiled.

"I decided that your forgiveness should be based on ability. If you survive, your crimes will be purged. If not...well... Leiso will ensure that your sins are paid in full," she said.

"You lying bitch!" Isabella growled.

"You dare to insult our lady Iris?" Leiso said suddenly.

Immediately after that, Iris disappeared and we were standing face to face with the Iron Tsunami.

"She said we were forgiven!" I said angrily.

"Apparently not. Now then...how about you two do me a favor and die?" Leiso said as she narrowed her eyes.

"Hey, Mizik...this woman isn't that scary, is she? Compared to that dragon we fought, she's harmless."

Upon remembering that Leiso wasn't nearly as terrifying as the shadow dragon, I smiled.

"You're right. She's not scary at all. Hey Vengeance, ready to shed some blood?"

[Always.]

"Let's get going then," I said.

Leiso raised her hands and we felt a pulse of energy hit us like a tidal wave.

I could see water rising and swirling around her as something shone brightly in it.

"Mizik, I think there's probably metal in that water. Don't let it hit you. It could tear you to pieces!"

"FACE MY WRATH!" Leiso roared.

Powerful jets of water immediately shot at me but I smiled and didn't move. Isabella stepped in front of me and took the attack.

The impact caused the ground to shake.

This won't not be an easy fight...

[Demonstrate your power!]

Will do.

As soon as the attack finished, several more jets of water shot towards us and I darted for Leiso, both swords ready to strike.

"ATTACK SUPPORT! DEFENSE SUPPORT!" Isabella shouted.

I felt my strength and speed increase as a barrier formed around my body.

Leiso gritted her teeth as I quickly reached her.

"ASSASSINATE!!!"

I teleported behind her and spun my swords like a rotating saw and Leiso blocked it with a shard of metal.

After that, she lunged at me and punched me in the chest.

I was sent back with minor injuries as Leiso shook her hand.

"How the hell are you so dense, boy!? You don't even have any Aspects!"

"Because I'm protecting him! NOW GET AWAY FROM MY HUSBAND!" Isabella roared.

"You should really think about telling your secrets!" Leiso shouted.

"VALIANT CHARGE!"

Isabella charged at Leiso with both sword and shield raised. Leiso dodged to the side and held out her hand.

Without hesitation, an iron spear shot out towards Isabella's throat and she blocked it.

"FLAMES OF RAGE! VENGEANCE DEATH CURSE!" I shouted.

As I held out my sword to fire the curse, Leiso jumped straight into the air and it missed.

Water swirled around her as she levitated in mid-air within it.

"Announcing your attacks as you make them? Are you two stupid!?" She said.

Ah...I mean, it's not like I WANT to fight this way...

After she spoke, Isabella held out her sword and I changed both of mine to pistols.

"THUNDERBLAST!"

"SNIPER BURST!"

As our attacks fired off, a larger shell of shimmering water formed over Leiso and she shot straight towards the ground.

When she did, blades began rapidly spinning around her. Isabella and I backed away and immediately regrouped.

I could feel my frustration rising at the fact that we had yet to land a single attack.

Think! How do I fight something like this!?

Leiso stood still after her attack dispersed and eyed us curiously.

Isabella instinctively stepped in front of me with her shield raised.

"Mizik? Are you going to start trying yet?" She said to me.

I could see a bit of worry on her face, so I shook my head and took a deep breath.

For some reason, I was feeling heavier than normal...

"Leiso, give up now. I can't guarantee that you'll survive if you keep this up," I said.

"You are in no position to be making threats when you have yet to land a single attack. Besides, I have only been analyzing you. I haven't started fighting seriously yet."

That's not reassuring. Still, I haven't started trying, either.

"Perhaps I should show you the power of an Enforcer? We aren't just capable of petty tricks like you've seen already. Each of us is a literal walking disaster."

Leiso snapped her fingers and water began swirling all around the arena in a wall covering the stands.

I could see spears and blades made of iron forming to create a wall pointing at us from the water.

Just as her name implied...an iron tsunami...

"Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you. EXTREME RAGE OF IRATUS! WRATH POSSESSION!"

"GRAND SHIELD ENCHANT, LIGHTNING! ATTACK SUPPORT!"

As I spoke, I felt myself overcome with the spirit of Vengeance and turned my pistols back into swords.

["Let's make this quick!"]

I shot forward at Leiso and she caught my blade on a shard of metal. I began rapidly striking at her as she parried and blocked every single hit.

Eventually, water exploded out from her and shards of iron rained down upon me.

"Aegis barrier!" Isabella said as a shield formed over me.

Thorns shot out of the ground and flew at me as Leiso formed several more jets of water.

"Damned cockroach! Just die already!" Leiso shouted angrily.

Then the wall of water caved in on us as the metal weapons and spikes within it shot towards Isabella.

"Defense support!" She said as the metal weapons and water jets bounced harmlessly off of her.

The tidal wave created a whirlpool of blades around us as I readied myself to strike again.

"Stay right here for now, Mizik. I'll protect you! Just watch for an opening!"

Leiso clenched her hand and the blades closed in on us.

"AEGIS BARRIER!"

Isabella enveloped me in her arms and covered me with her shield as a wall formed over us.

The blades created numerous sparks as they broke against her barrier and Leiso glared at us.

"HOW THE HELL ARE YOU STILL ALIVE!?"

Isabella let go of me once the attack finished and I readied my blades.

Leiso leaped towards us and slammed her fist into Isabella's shield. Lightning shot out and electrocuted her.

"AAAAHHHHHH! WHAT IS THIS!? LIGHTNING!?" She screamed.

As soon as she recoiled, I threw my swords at her and she barely managed to dodge it just before sending a jet of water my way.

I side stepped it and prepared to strike.

["Assassinate."]

I teleported behind her and just barely managed to slice off a few strands of hair and burned her neck before she kicked me in the chest.

"SUNLIGHT BLADE!"

Isabella brought her sword down on Leiso and she dodged again. After she moved out of the way, she lunged with an iron thorn covering her hand and slammed into Isabella's shield.

Lightning shot out and electrocuted her again as Isabella smiled.

"BLAST NOVA!!!"

Leiso's eyes went wide as she covered herself and was blown back by the heavy explosion.

"MIZIK! NOW!"

["EXTERMINATUS!!!!"] I roared.

The flames on my swords extended and I released a lethal combination of heavy sword strikes at Leiso.

As soon as the dust cleared, I could see Leiso standing far back covered in cuts and clutching her shoulder...

She was missing an arm.

"Damn you two... I have to admit your teamwork is decent... But that ends here!" She said angrily.

As she spoke, water formed around the wound on her shoulder and grew into an arm covered in metallic plates. She shifted it into several forms of metal weapons before glaring at me.

After that, she raised her hands and a gigantic whirlpool of water formed around the stadium. It even blocked out the sky.

I could see thousands of thorns, spears and blades forming and aiming at us.

"If you want to fight with weapons, then we can fight with weapons. DIE MAGGOTS!!!" Leiso shot forward and there was a flash of light between all of us.

As soon as it cleared, I could see Leiso frozen in place in a field of teal light.

The attack that formed around the stadium had also dispersed instantly.

Iris stood between us.

"That would be their victory, Leiso. I understand you might have been holding back a bit until the end, however. You don't need to analyze them so much, you know?" She said.

"Lady Iris...I apologize. I have failed you... Please forgive me..." Leiso said with a voice full of remorse.

"You haven't failed anyone, Leiso. But I expected less mercy from you. Reflect on that, okay?" Iris said with a smile as she released Leiso.

MERCY!? SERIOUSLY!? WHAT PART OF THAT WAS MERCY!? HOW STRONG ARE THESE DAMN ENFORCERS!?

As soon as she was set free, the water and metal forming her additional arm fell harmlessly to the ground. As soon as it landed, it dispersed.

"But lady Iris, I haven't shown them any mercy!" Leiso protested.

"You may not realize it, but you were holding back. Is it because they look so young?" Iris asked.

"No, lady Iris. I wasn't-"

"If you weren't holding back, why haven't you turned this place into a field of blades and skewered them from below? Isabella can only protect Mizik from so many angles, you know."

Leiso was silent for a moment and looked at me. I could see a bit of pain in her eyes as she stared for a moment.

"They might be strong... They may even be otherworlders. But they're still kids. I don't think I can bring myself to do something like that. I might be a merciless warrior on the battlefield, but I'm against killing children," Leiso said.

"I'm proud of you for that, Leiso. You must hold onto your humanity. Never forget that you were once like them," Iris said with a motherly smile.

Leiso bowed her head to Iris.

"HOLD ON A DAMN SECOND!" Gavin yelled angrily.

Iris looked in his direction as he moved towards us.

"Is this really okay? They can just win like that!? I won't accept it!" Gavin shouted.

"Gavin, stand down. They have already won. You have been-"

"Forgive me, lady Iris, but these two are murderers! Shouldn't we try a bit harder? There are two of them so why not have me and Leiso fight them together?" Gavin said.

"Hold on a second. We already won the fight!" I said angrily.

"SHUT UP, YOU DAMN OTHERWORLDER!" Gavin yelled at me.

"Hmm...an interesting proposition. Very well, I'll entertain it. You may fight alongside Leiso against Mizik and Isabella. Be sure not to show mercy. Leiso, will this be acceptable?" Iris said.

"If you order it, I will fight at full strength. Regardless of their age. Also, lady Iris... If I may be so bold, Mizik has relieved me of my arm. Could I have it back?" Leiso asked.

Iris placed her hand on Leiso's shoulder and a new arm formed almost instantly.

She tested it out and looked coldly at us.

"Let's do this properly now. Gavin, ready yourself. We'll use the ripple formation to execute them quickly," Leiso said.

As she spoke, Gavin walked up beside her and flexed his hands. Iris disappeared.

"Isabella...how the hell did we end up in this mess...?"

"I really can't say... Are we going to die here...?"

"It's possible, I'm afraid. Just know that no matter what happens, I love you."

"I love you too, Mizik... Please just stay close to me..."

I didn't feel confident about what was going to happen next...