After we killed Professor Samuel Krane, things got a lot easier.
Over the next two weeks, larger and larger portions of the country ended up under our control.
Additionally, well over half of the country's military was now working for
us and attacking their own allies.
The remaining forces included the fanatics that actually loved Novak and his way of ruling with an iron fist.
However, with the power of the Enforcers, as well as the Arcadian and Nexian military, they fell with ease.
At one point, we stopped pushing forward and just simply watched. The chaos was unreal.
Soldiers killing each other left and right.
That bastard really had this much control over them.
I learned that he wasn't directly controlling their minds, but all the work he had done using his Aspect was completely undone as soon as Leiso killed him. It was more like brainwashing being erased.
Soon, we began to push forward again and eventually, we were approaching Central.
As far as we knew, the remaining Overlords had retreated to Central on Novak's orders and they cleansed the city of anyone that wasn't still loyal to Nexus after Samuel died.
But we knew the truth...
There were many within Central hiding their new loyalty to Iris and waiting for us to storm the front gate. We had been in comminication with several underground groups.
They would run wild as soon as we bashed the doors in...and had been giving us intel on troop placements and fortifications.
This intel was confirmed by our spy planes.
Currently, the remainder of their military forces were stationed in and around the city. We knew that this was going to be one hell of a battle.
Yet none of us drew away from it in fear. We continued forward to face our enemies head on.
We were holding a position about a mile from Central.
Isabella and I simply sat at the ready while Leiso discussed tactics with the others within earshot.
We already had our orders after all.
I was to kill Kazuma as quickly as possible and Isabella was to kill Draiko.
Dante was set to kill Elizabeth while Leiso and Gavin would handle Jason.
Michael and Carlos would continue dealing with the enemy troops and supporting our allies in the city.
As we talked, Iris appeared along with Jallah and Rune.
"Lady Iris!? What are you doing here?" Leiso said suddenly.
"But of course...I've come to see the end of this pointless war with my own eyes. Also, Novak is here. Likely, he will do something illegal to kill the lot of you, so I've come to fight him myself. Don't worry, I already have permission."
Then, Jallah spoke up.
"Since we haven't been attacked, Iris thought it would be fine if I lent my support too. Just point me in any direction and I'll start doing what I do best!" Jallah said with a smile.
"I'm here to make sure he doesn't do anything crazy or stupid," Rune said.
"Hey, I can handle myself! I'm an Enforcer, remember!?" Jallah said.
"You're also an idiot that charged into Nexus, got captured, and unintentionally powered a weapon that would have killed us all. I won't soon forget that," Rune said.
"...harsh..."
"Well then, you can join Michael and Carlos in exterminating the Nexian loyalists. The rest of us will be focusing on dealing with the Overlords and Iris will take care of Novak. You can take on Novak, right Iris?" Leiso said.
"I have been given permission to use my supreme form. Although the divine realms are separate, they are still partially governed by councils and Guardians answering directly to the Creator. Unless Novak has received permission to use his supreme form, I should be able to handle him easily."
"And if he has received permission?" I asked.
"It could mean the end of the world. My abilities by themselves are already enough for that. Novak wouldn't hesitate to destroy everything if it meant getting back at me. Even at the cost of his godhood, potentially..."
"Then are you going to kill him? Is that even possible?" Isabella asked.
"Contrary to popular belief, lesser gods can be killed. The only truly immortal being in existence is the Creator. He exists outside of creation. Killing a regular god is difficult, but still possible. I don't really want to kill Novak, but it might be necessary," Iris said.
"He might be too dangerous to leave alive. Is it possible to just expel him from Ignitus?" Michael said.
"It is, but that isn't what I'm here to do. I'm going to subdue him. If I can't, I'll just end his life. Now then...let's get moving. I'll give a speech to our troops first," Iris said.
* * *
We stood by Iris' side as she addressed our troops at the nearby camp.
"Listen up, everyone. This is it. The battle today will decide the fate of our world. We've fought these bastards for over three thousand years! And today, that ends for better or worse! I WANT TO SEE NO HESITATION! NO REMORSE! I WANT YOU TO FIGHT LIKE DEMONS! WE DO THIS TO LIBERATE THE PEOPLE OF NEXUS! MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, EVERYONE IN THIS LAND! THEY ALL DESERVE TO LIVE HAPPILY LIKE WE DO! DEVOTE YOUR HEARTS! YOUR SOULS! GIVE YOUR BODIES! LAY DOWN YOUR VERY LIVES IN THE NAME OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM! GO FORTH AND FIGHT IN THE NAME OF ARCADIA! FOR IGNITUS!!!"
There was great cheering as the troops raised their fists in defiance of Novak.
A lot of former Nexian soldiers were here as well. They would be operating as separate units in battle under their leaders commands.
Isabella let loose with a pulse from her Almighty Presence and the troops roared with confidence.
"Our first objective is the front gate! We'll destroy it and our troops will move in to fight the Nexian forces head on! After that, we take the fight to Novak and his remaining Overlords!" Iris said.
Once she finished, we moved into position.
Dante assumed his reaper form and the rest of us approached the front gate.
Once they started shooting, it was on.
I charged forward with Justice while dodging bullets and lasers from the enemy and pulled myself into the area behind enemy lines.
At the same time, a hail of explosions, iron thorns, icicles and bone shards, as well as fire and light, rained down around me.
The enemy forces fell with ease to our combined might. Isabella arrived shortly after I did and slammed Honor into the gate. It exploded inwards and we advanced as soon as the dust cleared.
At the same time, our planes and helicopters flew overhead, gunning down the enemy wherever they could be seen.
Leiso had already taken out the anti-air weapons with her thorns so that our air support could advance, thankfully.
Our troops spread out in the city while Jallah, Michael, and Carlos parted with them as a group.
The rest of us charged onward.
Eventually...we closed in on the inner district and I felt the familiar presence of the Overlords.
"And so it begins..." Leiso said.
"Let's deal with Jason quickly. He's dangerous if left alive for too long in battle, Gavin said.
Moments later, the ground exploded and a monster of stone and flesh rose from the ground.
Overlord Jason, the Rock Mutant.
I felt the air become toxic as Elizabeth also arrived.
Overlord Elizabeth, The Atomic Serpent.
"DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL, ENFORCERS! YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING!!!" Elizabeth screamed.
"BASTARD WEAKLINGS! I'LL DEVOUR YOU ALL!!!" Jason roared.
Without hesitation, Dante shot towards her, grabbed her by the face and threw her far away from the group.
Jason was immediately assaulted by jets of water mixed with metal scraps and explosions.
He charged forward and tried to bite into Leiso and Gavin but Isabella blocked him with Honor.
She swung the ax wide and sent him flying backward as a cloud of haze and hellfire arrived near the two of us.
Moments later, Isabella's eyes went wide and she shielded the four of us still present.
There was an explosion of hellfire and several buildings were completely annihilated.
When the smoke cleared, we saw something truly unsettling...
Kazuma was wielding Vengeance...and Draiko was holding Bravery.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I roared at him.
"I'M GOING TO TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB, WARMAGE!" Kazuma screamed as he shot towards me.
Something seemed off about him, however...almost like he couldn't focus.
I threw my chains at him and tried to skewer him, but he dodged.
"VENGEANCE DEATH CURSE!" Kazuma shouted.
There was burst of purple wind from Vengeance...
But not towards me.
The wind reversed direction. It impacted him and Kazuma screamed.
And then the sword glowed blood red.
[I CURSE YOU, FALSE WIELDER!!! DIE SCREAMING!!! REGICIDE!!! I DECLARE REGICIDE!!!] It roared.
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!! STOP YELLING AT ME!!!!" Kazuma roared as he clutched his head in agony.
Hahaha! Too much for you!? Hilarious!!!
Kazuma slashed at me with both of his swords and I parried them with Justice. He seemed slower now.
Like a lamb being led to the slaughter.
At the same time, Isabella was already attacking Draiko with Honor.
I felt Iris' presence above us, but she wasn't paying attention to our battle. She was waiting for Novak to appear.
"BLOOD PRICE!" I shouted as my blade was cloaked in red energy. I trusted it at Kazuma and managed to stab him in the shoulder.
"GAH! WRATH POSSESSION!" He shouted.
Vengeance turned red as his strikes became more rapid and far more precise...red lines began to glow on his body.
Unfortunately...since I was a previous wielder of Vengeance, he now had all of my former skill with it.
I began having trouble keeping up with dodging the attacks and had to step back.
He threw both blades at me like spinning razors and as I reached out to grab one...
They both flew back and stabbed Kazuma in the chest.
Is Vengeance trying to kill him!?
["FOOLISH FALSE WIELDER!!! RELINQUISH ALL THAT YOU ARE!!! DIE SCREAMING!!!! REGICIDE!!!"] Kazuma's voice said as he clutched his own throat in a strangling motion.
"NO...YOU...WON'T HAVE ME!!!" Kazuma said as he tore the swords out of his chest.
The aura of rage faded and a small emblem on the hilt glowed dark blue.
"Kuh...gah...damn demon sword..." Kazuma said as his wounds regenerated.
He glared at me.
"Don't look at me, you idiot. That sword has a mind of its own. Honestly, you might live longer if you just let go of it!" I said.
"YOU'LL HAVE TO PRY IT FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!!!"
He flew straight at me and I dodged his rapid assault of sword strkes with ease. I slashed once and cut his arm off.
Then I used the opportunity as I kicked him away to grab Vengeance.
Immediately, I began scanning to sword for what was wrong with it.
Something was definitely off here...
Before I could fix anything, the sword was violently pulled from my grasp as Kazuma tried to slash me with the other sword again. His arm regenerated and he now held both of them again.
This was wrong... Vengeance was supposed to be my sword. Not his.
[The Overseer has been forced into submission by a divine force, Mizik. The same is true for Bravery... That force must be overwritten for Vengeance to return.]
And how the hell do I do that!?
[Use the Archmage? That might work... Perhaps Isabella could be of assistance as well! Seeing as divine magic is her specialty!]
"ISABELLA! TO ME, NOW!" I shouted.
She immediately came to my side as Draiko approached Kazuma.
He looked pretty badly hurt at this point...
Isabella might not have been directly built for attacking, but she could still hit pretty damn hard with Honor. At the same time, Draiko was definitely no swordsman.
"Use your divine magic on their swords. I'll stall Kazuma and Draiko. We need to free Vengeance and Bravery from these two!" I said.
"Got it!" Isabella said as she put Honor away and held out her hands.
I slowly stepped forward with Justice and it's chain ready.
I activated lethal strikes and manifested several magic spells around my body as well.
"Tch...you really expect to fight both of us at the same time!?" Draiko said angrily.
"You're damn right I do. Now...GET READY TO DIE, YOU BASTARDS! I AM MIZIK IRATUS, THE WARMAGE!!!" I shouted.
I shot forward and leaped over them.
I fired my spells straight into their fronts and attacked with my chains from above.
I managed to wrap the chains around Draiko, but he disappeared into a cloud of bats and mist.
At the same time, Kazuma appeared beside me in mid air and slashed at me.
I deflected the attack, but I was sent into the ground.
Draiko reappeared and several jets of blood shot towards me.
I began to feel the air around him growing colder. Draiko was covered in crimson ice as he raised Bravery.
"SUNLIGHT BLADE!!!" Draiko shouted.
I dodged the attack and was instantly upon him.
Before my attacks could connect...
"FLAMES OF RAGE!" Kazuma shouted.
I jumped back as several blasts of crimson flame shot from Vengeance and nearly hit me.
Once again, the sword seemed to be attacking him. His body was badly burned by the flames of Vengeance every time he attacked.
But Kazuma seemed accustomed to the flames. As much as I could tell that he was in pain, he wouldn't relent on his assault.
Kazuma drew close and I parried his attacks before teleporting behind him and slashing his wings off.
"DAMN YOU!" Kazuma shouted, just before striking my arm with his sword.
The chains covering my arm were enough to block the attack's full damage, but I was burned in the process.
I jumped back as the two of them approached together.
Suddenly, I felt a divine power gathering above them both.
Iris had been channeling Isabella's power into her body.
I raised my hand and did the same.
Before Kazuma and Draiko realized what had happened, a pillar of divine energy shot down and engulfed the two of them.
"GAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Kazuma screamed.
"IT BURNS! IT BURNS!!!" Draiko screamed.
After it cleared, Justice went dark, and I placed it in my inventory.
I held my hand out and Vengeance shot back to my hand.
As I held it, I heard the voice of Vengeance speak.
[Yes...YES! THIS POWER! IT IS BEFITTING OF MY WIELDER! GIVE ME YOUR HATRED! YOUR GRUDGES! YOUR RAGE! KILL THEM ALL! I WILL HAVE VENGEANCE!!!]
Good to see you too, buddy.
I saw Isabella holding Bravery in her hand as the familiar silver armor and shield appeared on her body and arm.
"That's much better...I missed you, Bravery!" Isabella said.
She looked at me with a blazing confidence in her eyes unlike anything I had ever seen before.
I teleported over to her and looked at the two recovering Overlords.
Vengeance was ready for Kazuma's blood.
I saw the familiar messages on my status menu appear as I got my old skills back.
Also, I heard Vengeance speak.
[I will allow modifications for now... Within reason, Mizik. But one day, you will cease.]
Sounds good to me!
I combined Extreme Rage of Iratus together with Wrath Possession and created a skill called Wrath. I also increased the potency of its power and ability. Now that I had Vengeance back, it could shoulder the incredible recoil.
It was like a super berserk ability, now.
Next, I modified Flames of Rage to be bit more personal, yet far more effective.
I also increased the potency of Vengeance Death Curse and changed the delivery to be quicker.
I wanted to modify Bravery as well, but that would have to wait...
[Impressive! Now...GIVE ME THEIR BLOOD!]
I smiled as I stepped forward.
"FLAMES OF RAGE!" I shouted.
My swords became cloaked in emerald flames as I glared at the two Overlords.
"Oooh...how pretty!" Isabella said with a smile.
She also stepped forward and raised her shield.
"Let's show them the proper way to use these weapons. Shall we, my love?" She said.
"I agree," I said as I pointed my sword at them. "VENGEANCE DEATH CURSE!"
Before they could move an inch, the two of them were cloaked in the purple aura of my curse.
"Damn it...why can't I move!?" Kazuma said weakly.
Draiko seemed to be doing much better, however. I didn't have a personal grudge against him, after all.
I changed Vengeance into a pair of bladed shotguns. Something I had been greatly looking forward to.
[Excellent choice. I look forward to seeing the full extent of your knowledge!]
"That's quite the weapon, Mizik," Isabella said.
"Perfect for shooting and slashing at the same time," I said.
Kazuma and Draiko readied themselves for battle and we slowly stepped forward.
Today...you're going to pay for your crimes, Kazuma!