Chapter 85: Psycho Demon

The deafening explosion obliterated everything around us.

Once it had cleared, we were somehow alive.

We sat within a massive crater as Kazuma drifted slowly to the ground nearby.

I could see Isabella breathing heavily from the damage she'd taken.

I checked her hp in the status menu and she was already at around sixty percent.

This guy is absurdly strong... How can we fight something like this!?

"Hmm. You two are still alive...? And Carlos also... Very well then. I will call for backup just to be safe."

Kazuma raised his hands and at once, a red-haired woman appeared wearing similar attire to him...albeit, showing much more skin...

"Ah...Kazuma! You really must ask before calling us to your side! I could have been bathing for all you know! Or would you have enjoyed that~?" The woman said.

"If you had arrived in the nude, I would have simply sent you back to get ready for battle. Now then, Elizabeth. Those two otherworlders need to die. Carlos as well."

"And you need my help, because...?"

"I don't. But I will not trust these two if they're capable of harming Yakon. I'm sure you understand at least this much."

Elizabeth nodded and smiled at us.

"Oooooh! The boy with green eyes is a total cutie! Can I have him~?" Elizabeth asked.

"Absolutely not. They're honorary Enforcers and otherworlders," Kazuma said angrily.

"Awww...oh well! Sorry about this, sweetie! If only you weren't an Enforcer, we could have lots of fun!" Elizabeth said with a wink.

At once, I could feel something else in the air as we were hit by a pulse of some kind.

It was like a kind of poison in the air... I started feeling sick...

Even Isabella looked disturbed by it.

My head began to hurt and my skin felt like it was burning, but...I couldn't see what was causing it.

"RADIATION! DON'T BREATHE IT IN!" Carlos shouted as he got to his feet.

Carlos raised his hands and fire began to swirl all around us.

The flames exploded outward as if to repel the substance, but Elizabeth just laughed.

"You seriously think a bit of fire will stop my radioactive decay? Aren't you supposed to be the smart one?" She said with a sadistic smile.

"You deal with Carlos, Elizabeth. I'll handle those two. Come back as soon as Carlos is dead. Got it?" Kazuma said.

"With pleasure!" Elizabeth said.

Kazuma lifted Carlos off of the ground with the same invisible force and flung him away from us. He sent Elizabeth after him and we now faced Kazuma.

Kazuma readied himself and spread his demonic wings.

This is going to be a hellish fight...

"Mizik, whatever happens, stay as close to me as possible!" Isabella said.

I could see crimson hellfire swirling all around Kazuma as his arms changed form.

They were slightly larger now and on the ends, he had burning claws.

"I'll show you the true power of the Overlords!"

Fire erupted from the ground and swirled all around us in a wall.

"DEFENSE SUPPORT! GRAND SHIELD ENCHANT: LIGHT!" Isabella activated her skills.

It made sense that the light element would be lethal to a demon, but was this guy really a demon...?

Or did he just have the powers of one?

Nevertheless, I decided to fight defensively and stick close to Isabella. I changed both of my swords into some of my newly learned ranged weapons.

A pair of submachine guns.

Kazuma eyed us curiously as my swords became guns.

I gave a somewhat nervous half smile in return.

"FLAMES OF RAGE! GRAND SWORD ENCHANT: LIGHT!"

My guns became cloaked in flames which then turned white as soon as the light element mingled with it.

Truthfully, I wasn't sure how effective my vengeance death curse would be...

I didn't have a severe grudge against this guy yet, to be honest...

I raised my guns and prepared to shoot.

As soon as I did, Kazuma shot a huge blast of hellfire straight at me. Isabella stepped in front and took the attack with her shield.

"FUSILLADE!"

My guns began firing rapidly in Kazuma's direction and he simply blocked it with his wing.

The bullets seemed to damage it slightly and he frowned.

"That weapon...ignores our divine barriers...? Interesting...but ultimately Irrelevant."

Then he disappeared.

I felt a flash of heat behind me and turned only to have Kazuma's fist slam into my chest with incredible force.

I was sent flying backwards but stopped in mid air.

Then I shot back at him and he hit me again much harder.

I slammed into the ground far away unable to breathe.

That attack took out over half of my hp...

My ribs felt broken...I was in a daze... I couldn't see straight....

"MIZIK!!!" Isabella screamed.

She turned to Kazuma.

"SUNLIGHT BLADE!!! BLAST NOVA!!!!"

She swing her sword of light at him and he deflected it with his claw. After that her shield exploded and engulfed him.

When it finished, he was standing there covering himself with his wings. They looked damaged and burned.

Isabella's eyes went wide as Kazuma smiled at her.

"You are...quite beautiful up close. If I spare your life, will you become one of my wives?" Kazuma said in a deeper more sinister tone.

"GO TO HELL, DEMON!!!" Isabella screamed.

Kazuma shrugged.

"Suit yourself, dear. But don't scream too loudly when I end your miserable life!"

After that, he rapidly slashed at Isabella with his claws.

Several hits impacted her shield and a burst of brilliant light exploded from it.

Kazuma, however, was completely unaffected.

"Annoying!"

He swung his hand and her shield arm flew to the side. Exposing her body.

Then he punched her hard in the stomach and sent her flying into the air.

After that, he sent a barrage of crimson fireballs at her. They all impacted in unison and created a massive explosion.

She fell straight to the ground and lay motionless.

"ISABELLA!!!" I screamed as I crawled over to her.

I was still coughing up blood as I reached her and turned her over.

She was barely breathing.

I checked her status and her hp was now in the red.

"Nngh...Mizik... You have to get away... He's too...strong..."

"Absolutely not! I won't abandon you!!" I said angrily.

"How touching. So you already have a lover. That explains a lot, actually. Too bad you'll have to watch him die here."

{No...I wOn'T LET YOU!!!}

I felt something strange speak in my head and looked up at Kazuma.

I was filled with extreme rage.

I tried to raise Vengeance to attack but realized he had knocked the guns out of my hands.

[Now is the time. Your anger is building! I have a sufficient grudge!! KILL HIM! CALL ME TO YOU!]

"VENGEANCE! TO ME!" I called.

{KILL THEM ALL!!!!!!!!

        BURN IT TO THE GROUND!!!!}

My status menu flashed bright red as a heavy glitch caused the entire thing to corrupt. But now wasn't the time to worry about my hallucinations.

At once, two submachine guns flew to me and I caught them.

"VENGEANCE DEATH CURSE!"

Kazuma disappeared right as I aimed my gun at him and pulled the trigger.

"Idiot. I know better than to let you shoot me again," he said.

I planned to use my two other skills, but before I could, something hit me in the back and sent me flying forward.

I landed with a thud and glared at Kazuma.

I'll kill you...I'LL FUCKING END YOU!!!!

I stood up shakily and was pulled back to Kazuma.

I turned my head and saw him ready one of his claws...

Before I could even think, he slashed my side and grabbed me by the throat. Then he slammed my head into the ground.

My health ws critically low, now...

As much as I wanted to raise Vengeance and shoot this guy...I didn't think I would even be able to fight anymore...

He severed my right arm from my body with his claws...

Kazuma picked me up by the throat and looked at me without pity.

"You were much weaker than I expected. Although, I guess you've never witnessed an Ultra Aspect in battle before, have you?"

I couldn't even respond to his question at this point...

He raised his other hand and placed a claw on my forehead.

Just then...everything seemed to flicker.

{No! NoT aGaIn!!! NoT nOw!!}

It was a familiar feeling...like this had happened before.

[I told you, didn't I? You should have just let the girl die. You wouldn't be in this mess if you had just let her die. But you are selfish. Kazuma might never have arrived here if you hadn't saved the girl. Yakon would have most likely died by your hand and Kazuma would be none the wiser...]

It was the Oracle's voice again...

What's...going on...?

[This is the result of your actions. We may very well have to reset again thanks to your foolishness.]

What is that supposed to mean? Reset!?

[Fool. This isn't the first time this has happened. Didn't you wonder why the time Isabella almost died was so familiar? Because you've seen it countless times.]

Are you going to send me back then!? Are you going to take everything away from me!?

[No. Not unless you die, that is. I will make sure that Isabella meets a horrifying end if you perish here.]

Why!? Why are you doing this!? ANSWER ME!!!

[The Source must die. There is no other alternative. Your pointless emotional attachment to that doomed girl is causing your lethality to suffer.]

I wanted to know what she was talking about now.

Lethality!?

I wanted to know more.

And as I thought about it...

I recalled something...

Something that had been echoing in my mind for a long time.

Kill them all...burn it down...

My status menu.

Unfortunately, before I could speak again, I started to hear other voices. Most of them were unfamiliar, but one of them I recognized.

It was Iris...and she was pissed.

* * *

"Alright, today I don't have time to chat with anyone. I have a job to do. I need to talk to the Oracle." Iris thought to herself.

As she walked the beautiful pathways of the divine realm, she saw several of the other gods that she personally couldn't stand.

Iris didn't get along well with the other divines. The result was that she had no friends in the divine realm. Except one person, of course...

While walking, she passed the dragon god, Johann, and he gave her a cheerful smile.

"I never understood why you're so nice. Aren't you supposed to be fierce!?" Iris thought.

"Hey, Iris! How are you, today?" He said.

"Hello Johann. I'm kind of busy right now. I can't really stop to talk!" She said.

"Aww...well, let me know when you have free time! I want to give you something."

"Something...? Wait...this isn't another manga, is it? Gah! I really wanna read it, but that'll have to wait!"

"Yeah! Eh...you can show me later!"

"Looking forward to it!" Johann said.

Iris gave a smile and nodded, then hurried off. She had a goal in mind today.

She needed to speak with the Oracle about this 'Black Ooze' that her new Honorary Enforcers mentioned.

If this mysterious substance was capable of destroying a world and perhaps even threatening the whole of creation, it needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, getting in contact with the Oracle was no easy task. Most gods weren't allowed to see her unless they were invited.

"That stupid old crone has to be around here, somewhere..." Iris mumbled.

Iris was currently located in one of the upper regions of the divine realm. It was her assigned divine realm...since birth, that is.

The divine realm known as Excelsis.

There were several. The god of domination, Novak, came from a different divine realm that sought to control Ignitus. Iris had already been tasked with protecting that world.

She would stop at nothing to make sure her precious world and its people were safe. And since Mizik mentioned a force capable of destroying it, the Black Ooze took priority over the war with Novak.

Besides...it wasn't as if Novak wanted to destroy Ignitus. He just wanted absolute control over it.

After walking for a while, she approached the central building that served as the meeting place for the divine council.

Once the guards saw her, one of them rolled their eyes.

"Yes, I'm back. I have business here!" Iris thought angrily to herself.

"Iris, goddess of balance, you are not permitted to-"

"Be quiet! I have important business here! Let me in to see the Oracle!"

"And why should we do that!? You caused a scene the last time we let you in and it had nothing to do with the Oracle!" One of the guards said.

"All of creation might be in terrible danger and you're worried about me causing a scene!? WHO THE HELL CARES!?" Iris shouted.

One of the guards sighed.

"Yes yes...we're all quite aware of the theories you have that the end is near. We've heard it all before from other gods."

"Idiots! Two of my Enforcers happen to be from a world that was destroyed by this force! I'll tell whoever I have to until I get what I want! Let. Me. In!"

The guards looked at each other quizzically.

"Umm...Enforcer...? What's that?" One of them asked.

"Ugh...I don't have time for this..."

"Individuals who have received my blessing of power via a modified form of dragon contract. That's all you need to know. Let me pass or I'll get violent! THIS IS IMPORTANT!" Iris growled.

She wasn't the most powerful goddess in the realm, but she was definitely strong enough to take out two council guards. In fact, she was certain that her sweet Dante would even be able to do it.

She was quite proud of him.

"Lady Iris, you are in no position to-"

At that moment, she decided whatever punishment came her way for this would be well worth it.

Iris assumed her divine form and glared at the two guards. She held their lives in her hands as she began to tip her divine scales.

Both of them reeled in shock and stepped aside immediately.

"Thank you. Hopefully we can skip this next time," Iris said as she returned to her original form.

Once she entered the facility, she knew she would have to be careful as to not draw attention to herself. Luckily, most guards wouldn't harass someone already within the building. If they did, she could simply tell then she was invited to be there. That usually worked. In cases it didn't...

Iris was very creative with her methods of infiltration.

Today, there weren't many guards on patrol. A few of them watched Iris curiously as she walked by, but none of them said anything.

It wasn't worth the effort dealing with her on a normal day like this.

At one point, she stopped to ask one of the council members enjoying a cup of tea if the Oracle was in.

"Excuse me, high councillor Aren. May I ask you a question?" Iris said.

"Iris...should you really be here after what you did last time?" Aren said.

Iris rolled her eyes.

She'd been snooping around in regards to the Black Ooze a week ago and had been arrested...

She caused quite an uproar while spewing out the information Mizik gave her in order to get attention from the higher ups.

The one's who really knew about this crisis.

"Considering that everything might be in danger, yes. I only want to help! Now then...is the Oracle here? Or is she at her temple?"

Aren sighed.

"The Oracle is in, but-"

"Where is she!?" Iris said quickly.

"Let me finish! She's in the scrying hall. But she's currently talking to the chosen...I mean someone important. After that, she'll be going back to her temple."

"Chosen what?" Iris asked.

"That's classified. I have already said too much. I cannot divulge anymore-"

Iris roughly grabbed Aren by his collar and yanked him close to her face.

"Listen here, Aren. You and I are friends, right?"

"Acquaintances...but sure. We know each other fairly well. Friends is a bit-"

"Who cares!? Just listen! My world...my precious Ignitus might be in danger. Who is this chosen!? My newest Enforcers came from Avernia. Their world was destroyed by the Black Ooze! I absolutely NEED to know everything you can tell me about it!"

"Fine...if you must know, the chosen hero is the one designated to deal with a certain...crisis that has appeared. Unfortunately, he has a bit of a problem..."

"What's the issue?" Iris asked as she let go of Aren.

"His emotional attachment to his doomed wife is affecting his required lethality. She needs to die for him to reach his full potential, but this time she somehow survived."

"This...time...?" Iris asked.

"I have already said FAR too much. I can't say anything else under threat of expulsion from the realm."

"Fine. At least give me his name. Perhaps I can help this hero overcome his problem...I'll do anything to protect Ignitus. I love that world, Aren. I adore its people..."

"You might already familiar with him... His name is Mizik Iratus."

The realization hit Iris like a ton of bricks.

Mizik Iratus...she knew him well... But to her, he was just a Honorary Enforcer.

He possessed a strange power that gave him the highest compatibility she had ever seen. That very same power consisted of the purest form of divine energy Iris had ever felt.

As if the Creator himself had blessed him.

Iris turned and ran as hard as she could through the council hall until she reached the scrying room. Two elite guards stood by it.

"Let me pass! I have important information about the chosen hero!" Iris exclaimed.

The guards looked at each other and crossed their halberds over the door.

"The Oracle is currently dealing with the chosen hero. He will likely die within the next few minutes, so your information is useless."

"WHAT!? DIE!? HOW!?" Iris screamed.

"I'm surprised that you don't keep up to speed with your own world, Iris," said another voice near her.

It was the current god of destruction, Abbadon.

"What the hell do you want, Abbadon!?"

"For you to back off. The chosen hero needs to die again. We will reset and the Oracle will ensure that the problem is eliminated. I am here to prevent your interference again!"

"Again!?"

Abbadon assumed his divine form. His radiant light turned into a dark chaotic energy.

"Damn you! What the hell is going on here!?" Iris thought angrily to herself.

It was at that point that she realized she might be on the verge of uncovering something truly terrifying...something like a conspiracy in Excelsis. And Iris wondered if she would even be able to help Mizik right now.

Despite this, she knew that the only option was to try.

Iris assumed her divine form and crashed through the door of the scrying hall. She found the old crone...the Oracle, speaking into the grand scrying pool.

"The Source must die. There is no other alternative. Your pointless emotional attachment to that doomed girl is causing your lethality to suffer," the Oracle said.

"ORACLE! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY ENFORCERS!?!?" Iris screamed.

"Dammit...ABBADON! REMOVE HER IMMEDIATELY! DON'T LET HER CAUSE US ANY MORE ISSUES!" The Oracle shouted.

At once, Abbadon entered the room and created several red orbs of chaotic energy. He fired them at Iris, but she dodged then all by teleporting over the scrying pool.

"DAMN YOU TO HELL, ORACLE! JUST LISTEN TO ME FOR A MOMENT!" Iris screamed.

The Oracle gritted her teeth at Iris with searing rage.

Iris took the opportunity to glance down at the scrying pool.

That's when she saw it.

She saw Overlord Kazuma holding a badly-beaten Mizik by his throat...all within the ruined crater of Carlos' research and holding facility in Olan on Ignitus.

"Damn you, Iris! Isabella must die! If she survives, all of creation might be doomed! You can't just go against the Creator's will-"

"MIZIK! I'M SENDING HELP! HANG ON JUST A LITTLE LONGER!" Iris screamed.

Iris immediately disappeared and entered the divine transit back to Ignitus.

While she was within transit, she contacted Dante via telepathy.

"DANTE! WE HAVE A CODE BLACK! OVERLORD KAZUMA IS WITHIN OLAN! MIZIK AND ISABELLA ARE IN MORTAL DANGER! PLEASE RESPOND!"

"Lady Iris! We are aware of a situation in Olan, but we're too far away. The four of us are still within HQ on Torantis!" Dante said.

Panic was rising in Iris as she thought about her options.

If she couldn't save Mizik, something truly terrible might happen... She needed to prevent that.

Which meant...she would have to utilize her supreme form and break a lot of rules.

"Dante...prepare everyone for rapid deployment! The mission is to protect Mizik and Isabella at all costs! I'm still in transit back to Ignitus, so I have to use my supreme form to transport you. Sorry!" Iris said.

"If Lady Iris wills it, so shall it be. Just please...don't let them take you away... You're far too important to just disappear on us," Dante said.

Iris felt her heart leap in her chest at his words.

Her sweet Dante said she was important!

For her...that was a victory!

But she would celebrate later... For now, it was time to do battle.

As Iris was in transit, she released the restraints of her power. In this form, she could easily reach across the firmament between worlds and do as she pleased.

She immediately used the divine transit to grab her Enforcers and moved them to the crater in Olan.