Chapter 218: Crown Of The Hero

As I looked at Rose standing in front of the Enforcer HQ, I could tell something horrible had happened...

It was like I could almost hear Bravery screaming for me for help.

[Bravery... Your salvation is here. My allies will liberate you.]

"Bravery, your salvation is here. My allies will liberate you," I said.

Rose looked at me strangely and then glanced down at her sword.

"What sort of trickery are you using this time, Demon Lord Mizik?" she asked.

"No tricks. Those were the words of Vengeance. Not mine," I said.

"Also, he's definitely not a Demon Lord. And...wait...Cassandra?" Iris said.

"Umm, Iris... She is...or was, my identical twin sister. My darling Mizik's ex-wife," Cassandra said.

Then Michael wistled.

"Wow. That is a pretty girl. You were hitting that, Mizik?" He asked.

"I...well, yes actually. But this really isn't the time, Michael..." I said.

"Mizik only hit me once at the border of Kalsa to knock me unconscious," Rose said.

"Kinky..." Michael mumbled.

"She doesn't know what you're talking about, Michael. Also Rose, he means sex. A lot of it," I said bluntly.

Her face turned red and she glared at me.

"HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH A THING, YOU VILE PERVERTED DEMON LORD!!!!" She screamed in rage.

"You're not still simping for her, are you, Mizik? Because she seems like kind of a bitch. Not gonna lie..." Michael said as he took a step back.

"What the hell does that even...? Look, I'll agree that she's a bitch. A mass-murdering egotistical bitch who needs to die screaming. But Michael, please stop with the confusing wordplay," I said.

"What, simping? It means-"

"MICHAEL! NOT NOW!" Leiso shouted angrily.

"You are all an odd bunch... And I'm sure you would all be happier to stay alive, correct?" Rose said.

"Save it. We're not interested in your lies. It's obvious that you'll probably destroy Ignitus even after we give you Mizik," Difar said.

"How rude... You haven't even heard my offer and you're rejecting it? How did you even know about it!?" Rose asked.

"Mizik told us literally a few minutes ago," Michael said.

"Vile Demon Lord... Is there no end to your power!?" Rose said.

"Rose, you are unbelievably stupid if you actually think I'm a Demon Lord. Have you even seen a Demon Lord?" I asked.

"Have you, Mizik?" Difar asked.

Suddenly, I recalled something...

At the very least, Malzekad claimed to be a Demon King...

"I've seen a Demon King, but never a Lord. I doubt there's much of a difference, so shut up, Difar," I said.

"I'm looking at a Demon Lord! An evil creature in the form of a man capable of enslaving an entire world to his will! And somehow, you control the Source of the Corruption..." Rose said.

"Woah. Hey now. I'm genuinely offended. You think this little pile of shit is my Master? Get real. I have no Master. I'm just helping him now so that I can kill him later. Slowly and painfully," Difar said.

"It's true. Difar is an asshole. When this is over, I plan to hunt him down like a dog and erase him," I said.

She looked conflicted.

Then she readied herself for battle.

"Your lies won't sway me, Demon Lord Mizik!" Rose said.

"This feels pointless. It's like...her brain just fell out or something. Why does she have such a hard time believing what's right in front of her!?" Michael said.

"Because the Oracle filled her head with lies. Either that, or she suddenly became stupid somehow," I said.

"Ignoring your...insults...I will give you one last chance! Come quietly, and I will spare this world!" Rose said.

"Listen, Rose. I need to ask you something. Why do you want Mizik dead so badly?" Iris asked.

"He abducted my sister, he humiliated me, and he's a mass murdering Demon Lord that used to be a false hero! He's working with the Source of the Corruption to conquer all of creation!" Rose said.

"That is definitely wrong...on sooooo many levels..." Difar said.

"Your sister? She seems very attached to Mizik. Right Cassandra?" Iris said.

"I love Mizik more than life itself. If Rose took him away from me, I would be forever doomed to suffer my worst nightmare over and over again," Cassandra said.

"I don't know what you mean, but... Very well. You say he humiliated you? How?" Iris said.

Is she trying to mediate? That won't work.

"I...would rather not say..." Rose said.

"Oh, I see. So he DID get some action with you. Right, Mizik? I mean she's cute, but rape is kinda messed up, ain't it?" Michael said.

"In the past she was willing because we were married. After the reset, not so much. I haven't touched her. I did, however, command Valthieim to gaze into her eyes from a very close proximity. She got so scared that she wet herself in front of me and Cassandra. I was heartbroken then, so I didn't laugh. But thinking back, it was pretty enjoyable," I said bluntly.

"Y-YOU!!!! I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD!!!" Rose screamed.

I just rolled my eyes at her.

"Lastly...you know what happens if he dies, right?" Iris said.

"Of course! His demonic control will be released. Everyone will be free and the worlds I destroyed will come back. All will be right with the worlds," she said.

Vakra stepped forward.

"You are horrifyingly naive, Rose. Yes, those worlds may return, but for different reasons. Mizik is tied to a temporal anomaly that causes reality to reset itself every time he dies. He has met his end one thousand times. You and him were lovers in the past and he has retained his memories of it. If you kill him, everything goes back again. Lastly, killing Mizik does not solve the real problem. The Corruption will remain even if Mizik dies. You will literally doom us all," he said.

"It's true. I'm not affected by the memory loss, either. Killing Mizik resets the spread of my Corruption, but does not erase it. Killing him is utterly pointless...despite how fun it is..." Difar said.

"More lies... None of you can be trusted while Mizik lives! Give him to me and I will spare this world!" Rose said.

"I think not. I'm not going back to Lorelei again. Never. I'll destroy everything before I let that happen," Difar said.

He was surrounded by Corruption as the seven dragon heads manifested on his back again.

Valtheim cloaked me and Cassandra in a barrier as everyone else got ready for battle.

"Hey, does this Difar guy have some crazy power, or what?" Michael said.

"You haven't even seen half of it yet. I have no equal in battle!" Difar said.

"This is the last time I will offer. Hand him over or your world is doomed!" Rose said Angrily.

Then Elizabeth sighed.

"Why would we give him to you? You'll just have him executed, right? That means Ignitus is doomed, either way. How stupid do you think we are?" She said.

There was a bright flash around her body as a radioactive field appeared. Her body was surrounded by a green miasma.

Kazuma burst into flames and emerged in his demon form.

"So the Demon Lord Mizik commands actual demons, too... So be it. I'll kill you all and end this world!!!" Rose said.

Difar shot forward and slammed into her with his sword.

She was thrown back as my allies let loose with a barrage of attacks.

"SHE CAN'T SWIM!!! AND SHE'S AFRAID OF BUGS! USE THAT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE!" I shouted.

"HOW DO YOU KNOW THESE THINGS!?!?" Rose shouted.

You...MOCKERY!!! HOW DARE YOU PRETEND TO BE HER!!!

She tried desperately to block and dodge the rapid assault of my allies but was repeatedly beaten back by Difar.

I truly had to admit...

I was so glad this guy was on my side here...

Now, if only my channeled power would cool down...

It was only morning and I still had at least eight hours...

Meanwhile, Rose began trying to blast light at our allies. Valtheim caught each light stream in her Void eyes.

"You...will not..." Valtheim said.

"ATTA GIRL!!! GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I'M GOING TO LET LOOSE!!! EVERYONE STAND BACK!!!" Difar yelled.

His sword glowed brightly as his physical form began to shimmer with an after image.

His onslaught of attacks seemed to do far less damage than before. As if...

Then the realization hit me.

She used world siphon to destroy not just one, but likely two magic worlds.

Her level was probably far higher now.

And because of Blessing of the Creator, she was likely to be capable of standing against him by now.

Damn it all!!!

At least I could verify this method's effectiveness against Difar...even if it was inhumane...

Suddenly, Rose covered her mouth as the radiation hit her.

She tried to move away but dropped to her knees.

She looked sick.

"Wow...radiation is useful! Good job, Elizabeth!" I said.

"Ah...you can thank me in bed, handsome!" She said.

"Okay, 'Rastair'... How about no...?" I mumbled.

Rose was surrounded in light and seemed to recover. She evaded around Difar and charged towards me. Then froze in place as Kazuma slammed into her shield with his explosive fists cloaked on hellfire.

"Stay away!" He said.

I saw Iris cloak herself in her supreme form.

I knew it likely wasn't officially sanctioned, but she would still be far stronger, nonetheless.

Her divine scales appeared and she held her hand out to Rose.

The scales tipped far left...

Which meant...

"I see. This is what I expected. Your heart is darkened by an interfering force!" Iris said.

Then hundreds of streams of teal energy fired out at Rose.

Rose was repeatedly blasted by both Iris and Difar.

She collapsed as soon as the dust cleared.

"How...could I lose...?" Rose said.

"Easy. You're weak. Just like always," Difar said.

She shakily stood up as our allies regrouped. She pointed her sword at me.

Her armor was heavily damaged and she was breathing hard.

Although her body was regenerating, I could see the constant barrage of energy and magic attacks were having an effect.

"Grandma Oracle...said to use this if I got into trouble... Here goes nothing!" She said.

She sheathed Bravery and held out the weapon.

Suddenly, I felt that strange feeling again.

And I heard Vengeance roar with anger.

[WHAT HAS THAT VILE ORACLE DONE TO YOU, BRAVERY!? IMPOSSIBLE!!!! ABOMINABLE!!!!]

Rose took a deep breath.

"I CALL UPON THE TRUE POWER OF THE DEUS ARMS!!! I, THE WIELDER OF BRAVERY, HAVE FACED MY ENEMIES AND HELD STRONG!!! I HAVE RESONATED WITH THE OVERSEER AND NOW COMMAND YOU TO RELEASE YOUR TRUE POWER! SHE THAT FACES THINE ENEMIES, IS THE BRAVE ONE!!!" Rose roared.

Suddenly Difar's eyes went wide.

"BRAVERY FORM FOUR!!! CROWN OF THE HERO!!!" Rose shouted.

"THEY HAVE A FOURTH FORM!?!?!?" Difar roared in anger.

Magical energy violently exploded around Rose as a beautiful and silvery armored crown was placed upon her head. It had pink gemstones in it and radiated holy might. A cloak spread out on her back. She now looked like the very definition of a holy knight.

"I see... This exactly what I wished for! Thank you, Grandma Oracle! I can defeat them all like this!" Rose said.

Her armor reformed and Difar shot towards her.

She blocked his rapid barrage of attacks with relative ease.

Why...why is this happening!?

[FALSE WIELDER!!! I DEMAND HER BLOOD!!!!]

Suddenly, Difar jumped away as he recoiled in pain.

"That...SHE'S REFLECTING MY ATTACKS!!! STAY BACK!!!" Difar roared.

He looked beyond pissed.

Suddenly, everyone else began unleashing a barrage of ranged attacks at Rose.

She stood still and took all of them.

When they finished, everyone was hit by a flash of light. Almost everyone collapsed.

"By the gods..." I said.

"I DIDN'T KNOW THEY COULD DO THAT!!!! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?!? GAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Difar roared in anger.

He glared at Rose with pure hatred.

If I don't do something, this guy will destroy Ignitus before she does!

[WIELDER OF VENGEANCE!!! MIZIK IRATUS!!! I WILL OFFER YOU A DEAL!]

FINE! TELL ME!

[STAND AGAINST THIS FALSE WIELDER AND I WILL CONSIDER YOU WORTHY!!! But be warned...I will fight her myself!]

Will this kill me?

[Most likely not. Although it will place a tremendous strain on you. I will draw upon your newest ability to make up for the lack of power. Will you accept?]

I accept. Do it.

As Rose stepped forward, light began to shimmer around her.

"I'll start by executing these meddlesome pests that surround you, Demon Lord Mizik," she said.

"VALTHEIM!!! TAKE EVERYONE WHO CAN'T FIGHT TO THE PLACE I SPECIFIED!" Difar shouted.

"I...obey..." She said.

Suddenly, everyone that had collapsed was taken away.

The only ones that remained were Difar, Vakra, Iris, Cassandra, and myself.

I stepped forward and the barrier Valtheim made separated.

"Oh? Are you giving up, you vile fiend?" Rose said.

"MIZIK!!! GET THE HELL BACK!!!" Difar yelled.

"Darling!!! No! Please come back!!! I'll keep you safe in my arms!!!" Cassandra said.

But I couldn't respond.

Vengeance had already taken over my body.

Black armor began to form on my arms and chest as I manifested my second sword.

"What...is he doing...?" Difar said in confusion.

"[I have come to take you away, Bravery. This false wielder must die...]" My voice said.

Rose looked strangely at her sword for a moment.

Then, Vengeance drew on my channeled power ability.

As my energy rapidly exploded, I knew that Ignitus likely wouldn't survive the outcome of this battle.

I could only hope that Rose would perish in the process...