"Are we all prepared?" Carlos said.
Everyone, including Iris all sat down at a round table in the conference room at HQ. Everyone except Carlos, of course. Today he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a white lab coat.
"Go ahead, Carlos," Dante said.
"Thank you. I've called you all here today because I want to discuss the Abyss Engine."
"And isn't that your area of expertise? Have you figured it out, yet?" Michael said.
"If you'll let me finish, I can explain," Carlos said sternly.
"Yes Moooom," Michael said.
Why is he an Enforcer, again...?
"Iris damn it, Michael! Shut up!" Gavin shouted.
Iris' expression turned sour.
"Excuse me!? Do you any idea how rude it is to use someone's NAME as a swear!? What the hell is wrong with you!?" Iris shouted angrily.
"I...uh...sorry Lady Iris..." Gavin said meekly.
"You better be! Don't you ever say that again! ...Jerk..."
"Ahem...Carlos, would you please continue...?" Dante said.
"Thank you. Now, Yakon has only revealed a small bit of information on the Engine, but our suspicions were confirmed. It was made with the sole intentions to nullify our powers."
"How the hell is that supposed to work?" Michael said.
"It severs our connection to Iris and essentially makes us immobile. This process renders our divine barriers ineffective as well. For Iris herself, it neutralizes it using a second field of energy."
"How is that possible? How could it neutralize my power?"
"The short answer is: I don't know. It uses an unknown power that radiates demonic energy. Along with a familiar component of Iris' own energy likely gathered from Arcadia. My hypothesis is that Kazuma is behind the demonic power source."
"Seems likely. Considering he has the Ultra Aspect of The Demon, it could be his doing. Has Yakon said anything about how to cancel it out?" Dante asked.
"Not a word. He refuses to cooperate no matter how much I torture him. I worry that my methods might be driving him into further madness..."
"Is that all to your report, then?" Dante asked.
"Yes sir. But I would like to request Mizik and Isabella to accompany me at the holding facility."
"Why do you need us there?" I asked.
"Because I want to try a different approach. You're going to talk to him this time," Carlos said.
Isabella looked worriedly at me.
I know...but this is our job now...
* * *
After the meeting finished, we boarded a private jet and flew to another city where Yakon was being held.
I was curious why Iris couldn't teleport us there, but she said she had other things to do in the divine realm.
I had a feeling that she was just being lazy, but she might've also been working on obtaining information about the Black Ooze. I didn't protest.
Regardless, we arrived in the city of Olan and Carlos took us to the holding facility.
Once we entered the facility, many Attendants and other human researchers saluted the three of us as we walked by. We made our way down to the holding area and saw Yakon once again strapped to a strange bed sitting straight up.
He was very well restrained despite not being able to walk anymore and missing both of his arms.
As soon as he saw Isabella and me, he glared daggers at us.
"YOU! YOU'RE THE ONES THAT DID THIS TO ME! I SWEAR THAT ONCE I ESCAPE, I'LL MAKE YOU BOTH PAY FOR THIS!!!" He screamed.
Carlos snapped his fingers and Yakon began screaming in pain. At the same time, he spit blood from his mouth.
"You do not need to shout. We can hear you just fine from out here. Tell us how to cancel the Abyss Engine," Carlos said with a neutral face.
"Hah...hah... You won't get...shit from me... Kazuma will arrive soon...then I'll have my revenge..." Yakon said.
Carlos turned to us and shrugged.
"He keeps saying that Kazuma plans to rescue him. I don't know how or why he assumes this to be the case. We already told Nexus that we captured him and they have yet to respond."
"How long ago was that?" I asked.
"About three months after you subdued him," Carlos said.
"Excuse me, Yakon...can we talk?" Isabella said kindly.
Oh, right. This might be her area of expertise.
"GO TO HELL YOU UNDYING COCKROACH!!!"
"Seeing as you have nothing better to do, you might as well speak," Isabella said bluntly.
Yakon's expression softened somewhat and he stared at Isabella.
"Fine. What do you want from me, shield-witch?" He said angrily.
"Can you start by telling me about the other Overlords?" Isabella asked
Yakon stared strangely at her.
"We don't exactly keep secrets on what we can do. Did they not tell you?"
Truthfully they didn't.
But the reason was more or less that we never asked. We were too preoccupied with training and learning.
"Indulge us, Overlord Yakon. Please," Isabella said.
Yakon was all too happy to be called by his official title.
"Well, if you must know, Kazuma is the leader. Seat 1. This isn't anything you shouldn't already know. His Aspects are the Ultra Aspect of The Demon, and Advanced Aspect of Psychokinesis,"
Psycho what...?
After that, he gave a rough explanation of the rest of the Overlords.
Overlord Kazuma was designated as 'The Psycho Demon'. He was considered to be extremely powerful among Enforcers and Overlords, alike.
Next was Overlord Davis. The High Imperial General of the Nexian military and a direct counter to Leiso. He was designated as 'The Magnet God'. Possessing the Advanced Aspect of Magnetism and the Advanced Aspect of Creation.
Seat 3 was held by Overlord Elizabeth. The 'Queen of Nexus'. She was designated as 'The Atomic Serpent'. Possessing the Advanced Aspect of Radiation and the Elemental Aspect of Poison.
I didn't know what radiation was, but it didn't sound good...
Seat 4 was Yakon. The Plasma Accelerator and head of Research and Development in Nexus. We already knew his Aspects.
Seat 5 was held by a woman named Overlord Kiyomi, who was also in charge of the slave overseers in Nexus. She was called Supernova Kiyomi. Possessing the Advanced Aspect of Gravity and the Advanced Aspect of Sunlight.
Lastly, seat 6 was held by a terrifying man named Overlord Jason. The Rock Mutant. He apparently worked under Yakon as R&D, but focused more on the human experimentation side of things. His powers included the Advanced Aspect of Mutation and the Elemental Aspect of Stone.
These Overlords sounded exceptionally powerful. Each one of them had crazy Aspects that gave them overwhelming advantages on the battlefield...
"You all sound really strong... How is it that you Overlords haven't won the war yet?" Isabella asked.
Yakon gritted his teeth and glared at Carlos.
"Our members are carefully selected and filtered to be the best with their strong Aspects. But we don't usually live as long as a result. Honestly, I feel as if we could easily defeat these Enforcers. It's just that they're more experienced than we are," Yakon said.
"Is it because they have a much longer life expectancy? It certainly makes sense to me..." Isabella said.
"Who the hell knows? Aspect potency grows over time. So even though their powers aren't as strong naturally, they have plenty of time to grow. The result is that they're more experienced fighters than we are and their abilities match that."
Since Enforcers tended to live longer, they made up for the initial difference in power with experience and well-grown Aspect potency, it seemed. The Enforcers might not have had as many overwhelmingly powerful Aspects, but they were still a lethal team of fighters.
"Why are you telling us this?" Isabella asked.
"Kazuma will probably be here soon. I'm stalling. Besides, I have nothing else better to do. And this information isn't going to help you once you're dead. I didn't say anything terribly classified, so no harm was done."
"How do you know that Kazuma will be here to help you?" Isabella asked.
Yakon smiled.
"Because Kazuma's Demon Aspect let's him do all sorts of crazy shit. I've been talking to him for a long time now."
I saw Carlos' eyes go wide for a moment and he stepped back.
"What!? How is that possible!?" Carlos said.
"Telepathy, dumbass! Why do you think I've been so hesitant to say anything!? BECAUSE HE KNOWS I'M HERE!"
Suddenly as he spoke, I felt an oppressive energy.
Oh hell...
"Mizik...I think I feel something really powerful approaching..." Isabella said.
"You two, stay close to me!" Carlos said.
We moved close to Carlos and there was a flash of red light within Yakon's cell.
There was a man with medium-length black hair, similar to mine actually, standing next to Yakon. His eyes were glowing crimson.
He wore a long dark gray coat over a suit of black body armor. Just like the armor Yakon had arrived in.
"Lord Kazuma! Finally! Are you going to get me out of here!?" Yakon said with a smile.
"You have been replaced," Kazuma said as he put his hand on Yakon's face.
"Wh-what!? WAIT! NO! PLEASE!!! AAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
I saw a crimson glow as Yakon's head was reduced to ashes. As soon as Yakon died, an orb of light shot through the ceiling from his body.
A moment later, Kazuma turned to us. His eyes met mine and he gave a cold and unfeeling gaze.
I could feel his overwhelming presence from here.
Even within the room through the viewing glass...the pressure was intense.
Suddenly, the entire room began to glow and Isabella stepped in front of us with her shield already raised.
There was a massive explosion that blew the viewing glass away and then Kazuma stood directly in front of us.
"Hm. So he was right. The girl is unbreakable. Interesting hair color though..." Kazuma said.
Carlos stepped forward.
He had a special tool on his wrist that caused him to bleed. As soon as his blood was dripping out, it moved.
Carlos' blood formed into several spiked tendrils and a set of crimson claws over his hands.
I could feel the air heating up around him as a fire began to blaze forth.
"Carlos, you cannot kill me. You know this, yet you attempt to fight. Why?"
"If I am to die here, so be it. But I won't go down without a fight."
"Fierce as I was told you were. Pity that you are an Enforcer. However, I have no desire to deal with you now. Away from me."
As Kazuma spoke, he slowly raised his hand. Immediately, Carlos shot straight back down the hallway and slammed into a wall.
I wanted to help him...but...
"You. Green-eyed boy. I would have words with you."
Isabella stayed in front of me as I readied Vengeance and summoned my second sword.
"You crippled Yakon. How?" Kazuma asked.
"I chopped his arms off and severed his spine with my swords. How else?" I said.
"Obviously. I meant how did you defeat him. His plasma barrier is not easily broken. It would take an extreme amount of force to break it. The divine barriers surrounding our bodies as a result of our Aspects should have protected him too. Yet, I'm told the Enforcers were being affected the Abyss Engine."
"That would be me. I caused an explosion from point blank range. Then Mizik attacked him," Isabella said.
"Interesting, but not surprising. The otherworlders fight as a pair... Attack and defend...perhaps you could join us? Yakon was a fool to believe that experimenting on you would be a benefit to us. Your power is already immense as it is."
"We're already Honorary Enforcers. We refuse your offer," I said.
Isabella shot me a look that said enough.
'Why did you tell him that!?' The look seemed to say.
I realized too late and Kazuma shook his head sadly.
"Then you must be exterminated. The Enforcers are but a plague on our world. I am curious as to how both of you gained the status, but it is ultimately irrelevant. After all, the dead cannot become Enforcers."
"What is it you people want, anyway? It's not like they're directly bothering you!" I said while trying to stall him.
"We seek to dominate Ignitus. It is our right as Overlords. It is the will of Novak. Is that not simple enough?" Kazuma said.
I couldn't help but wonder again how I had gotten us into such a mess. I hoped dearly that the other Enforcers would arrive, but...that seemed unlikely.
Me and my damn mouth...
Carlos was just getting back up and shook his head to regain his bearings.
"Yes...you two will perish here. Novak would be very displeased if I allowed the both of you to survive."
After he spoke, Carlos once again stood at our side. He was bleeding from his head...
Not that this was a bad thing for Carlos, of course. His own blood was a lethal weapon.
"Carlos, are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine... That psychokinesis really hurt. We need to evacuate now. We can't beat Kazuma right now-"
"You fools. If I wish you eliminate you, why would I allow you to escape?" Kazuma asked.
At once, the three of us were impacted with a force that sent us straight back into the same wall that Carlos has been thrown into.
My head was ringing from the impact as I saw Kazuma raise his hands.
His body began to glow with crimson flames as his skin became black scales. Horns sprouted from his head and I could see wings growing out of his back.
The sclera of his eyes turned pitch black and his crimson pupils now resembled that of a reptile.
"Now...BE CONSUMED IN HELLFIRE!!!" Kazuma shouted.
Isabella stood up and grabbed both me and Carlos. She threw us to the floor and ducked between us with her shield raised.
"AEGIS BARRIER! DEFENSE SUPPORT! SHIELD WALL!"
I wasn't sure how helpful it would be...
The air around us began to heat up quickly...
Suddenly...everything was consumed in a blaze of hellfire.