After we appeared, we fell through the floor into the living room and hit the ground hard.
I was confused... But then I realized what was going on.
The house was flickering. As if it weren't really there.
Things were glitching and stayng frozen in place.
I stood up and walked outside of the house. My eyes went wide at the scenery surrounding us.
The people in the streets had stopped in place. They flickered in without moving a muscle.
And finally...the sky had turned completely red.
The clouds didn't move. Everything was bathed in red light.
As I stared at the sky, I saw a message appear above everything.
[ERROR! WARNING! LOCKDOWN IN EFFECT! TERMINAL 29 HAS BEEN DAMAGED! PRISONER IS LOOSE!]
"So this really is just a fake world... I didn't want to believe it... The proof was here... But...ugh..."
"It's alright, Mizik. We'll get through this!" Nasumi said with a smile.
Slowly, I began having flashbacks to things I had supposedly seen before.
I remembered Isabella, the real Avernia, a place called Ignitus...
And finally...the Corruption.
However, there were still gaps in my memory.
I couldn't remember how I got here.
I gritted my teeth in anger.
"Damn it all...how did this happen!?" I said angrily.
"Mizik...?" Nasumi said timidly.
I looked at her and felt my anger surge.
But I held back.
"Sorry, but I think it's best if you left me alone," I said.
She shook her head.
"I won't do that. I have nowhere else to go... They'll reprogram me if I go to them now..."
"Ugh...why didn't they reprogram me, then? If I'm an Exo-Human like they say I am, then why?"
"That's easy. You're a type-3. For the purpose of protecting creation as a last resort measure, your mind cannot be overwritten. Just blocked in case of emergency."
"That's convenient... Makes sense, too. Well regardless, what do we do now? How do we get out of here?" I asked.
"Maybe we could use the Progenitor OS?"
"That phrase again... What the hell is this 'Progenitor OS'?" I asked.
She placed her finger over her mouth as she concentrated and thought for a moment.
"My best explanation is...it's a reality modification tool that allows one to defy the set laws of creation and rewrite them... Do you know what a video game is?" Nasumi said.
"Vaguely... I had a friend a long time ago that loved them. And the goddess of balance plays them a lot."
"There's a program called a console on some games that allows you to input commands. Like a cheat tool. Imagine the Progenitor OS as being the ultimate cheat tool. We have access to it, but only as Guests. Kronos is a User."
"Is there an Administrator...?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Let me guess..."
"The Artificer is the Admin," Nasumi said with a nervous smile.
"Perfect..." I mumbled.
"If we obtain user access, getting out should be simple."
"So we kill Kronos?" I asked.
"H-hopefully not... Maybe we can steal that power from-"
"Nasumi. I'm sorry to say this, but if they're prohibiting me from stopping the Corruption, they have to die."
"..."
"They won't just sit back and let me steal his power. And it's highly unlikely that Kronos will let me use it. He said that we're all trapped here until I die, right? If I escape, maybe I can pull you out as well. But the others won't be able to leave unless I'm dead. The same goes for you."
"Please... Please don't make me fight them..." Nasumi said tearfully.
"I won't. I didn't plan on it. I'll be relying on your help, but you can sit that one out."
"Thank you, Mizik... I wish you would have gotten the chance to be our leader... You're very kind..."
"Tell that to them... I don't want to die in this place..."
"That might be unavoidable," said a voice behind us.
"By the gods..." I said.
I turned and saw the remaining hero party members standing by, save Mori. All of them poised to strike.
"K-Kronos..." Nasumi whimpered.
"Save it. The Artificer will have to reprogram you later. Betrayal is not taken lightly, Nasumi. And as for YOU, I'll go ahead and take your life!" He said angrily.
As he spoke, he raised his hand and clenched it into a fist.
Now, I was fairly well-versed in giving orders to troops...at least I could remember such a thing.
And that looked like a signal to me.
I sidestepped as a highly-concentrated beam of magic flew past my head and exploded into the ground behind us.
"Ugh...that Warlord power is annoying as all hell..." Kronos said.
"Nasumi, what happens if I deal with Mori? Can we escape, then?" I said.
"I-I don't know! She's in charge of this place, but I'm not sure if that'll end the lockdown!"
Several more beams of magic flew at me from multiple directions.
I dodged them all and glared at Kronos.
"Where is Mori?" I asked.
"Haha! Not here! You really think I'll tell you? She's one of our trump cards," Kronos said.
As he spoke, the shadows moved. Multiple Mori's appeared holding daggers in their hands.
I pulled out Vengeance and prepared to fight.
Mako and Kesia stepped forward as Garen changed his sword into a massive hammer.
I really didn't want to get hit by that thing right now...
As all this was happening, Kronos just smiled.
"You think that sword can beat me? I dare you to give it a swing," he said.
"Just watch me!"
I teleported to his front and swung the sword at his throat.
And he just kept smiling as he tilted his has for me...
The blade impacted his neck and didn't make a single cut.
"Wh-what...!?"
"See, I'm not really the wielder Hope. I'm in charge of the Hero Party. You seriously think I'd wield an inferior blade as the leader?"
I watched in horror as the blade on Vengeance shattered and the hilt was violently pulled from my hand.
I jumped back and saw Kronos catch it.
"All this time...you were under a false notion that Vengeance belonged to you. No, Mizik. I've just been letting you borrow it. VENGEANCE IS MY SWORD!!!!"
The blade reformed and a surge of magic exploded from Kronos.
I was blown back by the force of it and managed to stand up quickly.
Kronos stepped in front of the others as a second scimitar appeared in his left hand.
"Vengeance... How...?" I managed.
"I'll just execute you while you're still trying to figure it out," Kronos said.
I quickly grabbed Nasumi and spoke a command.
"COMMAND MOVE!!!" I shouted.
I transported the two of us to Noir, in front of the Iratus Estate.
It was intact...and I could see Tyranus standing in place and flickering. Frozen in space as he had attempted to receive a guest.
I quickly tried to get my bearings.
My status had decreased by a huge margin without Vengeance, but luckily as I looked at my status menu...
"Wait...that's not right..." I said aloud.
"What...? What's going on!?" Nasumi said fearfully.
Another portal opened a few feet away and the hero party members all stepped out.
"Think you can just escape like that? We OWN this world, Mizik. You won't get away that easily," Kronos said.
At that moment, Nasumi stepped back and unsheathed Compassion. It changed into a small scepter and I felt a pleasant sensation form over my body.
I felt empowered.
"I won't fight...but I'll still help you!" Nasumi said.
"Thanks!" I managed.
"Nasumi, please... Get away from him! It's not too late!" Mako pleaded.
"Stop...trying to control me!" Nasumi said.
Mako looked sad...and then raised his shield and sword.
"Then I'll just have to use force..."
"I am allowing all Hero Party members to make full use of their weapons. Kill Mizik with extreme prejudice!" Kronos growled.
He got forward and nearly took my head off with Vengeance. I barely dodged it and formed a sword out of crystalline magic in my hand, slashing him with it.
He parried my strike with relative ease and tried to impale the heart device on my chest.
I dodged to protect it and fired a close-range blast of explosion magic to push him back.
Kesia and Garen took his place, but I just smiled.
I'd been charging an attack since I saw them follow us here.
"ETHER BLAST!!!" I shouted.
Using psychokinesis, I pulled Nasumi to me and centered an explosion of either on myself. A blast that would have annihilated all of Noir.
As soon as I released it, I took my chance.
"Command move!" I said.
I transported Nasumi and myself to the dwarven city of Geldekairn. Near the old house Isabella and I lived in.
I looked over and saw Bronan flickering in his workshop. He looked quite sad...but I couldn't afford to stop and think about such things.
"Mizik! Where are we!?" Nasumi said in surprise.
"The dwarven city. Come on, I'm sure they'll follow us soon. We need to-"
"Leave?" A voice said behind us.
I turned to meet Kronos' sword just before it could enter my chest.
He really wasn't playing around, it seems...
"WILL YOU JUST FUCK OFF!?" I shouted in rage.
"ONLY IF YOU DIE FIRST!!!" Kronos roared.
His swords became a flurry as he quickly swung them both at over and over. I managed to get back as Kesia arrived with Willpower to flank me.
I turned to face her as a heavy impact slammed into my back and sent me flying through several buildings...not that they were tangible, of course...
Garen had caught me off-guard before instant reaction could activate.
I got up slowly as my back regenerated. Kronos was already upon me as multiple laser blasts fired at me from every direction.
Kronos' blade managed to slash into my chest as the magic attacks slammed into me.
I quickly covered my hand in magic crystals and swung at Kronos.
But Mako appeared in front of my hand and blocked it effortlessly.
He was using the Crown of the Hero, so pain shot through my body in response.
I managed to leap back and put some distance between the enemies and myself. As I did, I felt a healing aura envelop me. My wounds rapidly healed and I gave a quick smile to Nasumi, whom had been chasing after me.
"Damn it! Somebody deal with her!!" Kronos shouted.
Mako turned to Nasumi and charged forth.
I pulled Nasumi to myself with teleportation magic, swapping her for an ether mine. Mako reached it just as it appeared. It exploded in his face...and sent pain through my body as it did nothing.
"THIS ISN'T WORKING! DAMN IT ALL!!!"
"Have you tried using your other trump card?" The woman in my head said.
I still couldn't remember what her real name was or how she got there... But I felt like I had a better idea of who she was now. She was something like...
A friend...? Maybe...? Regardless, I decided to trust her.
"Trump card!? What are you on about!?"
"Your memories haven't all returned yet, have they? Well at least you won't be blocked... I'm Eris! The Avatar of Destruction! You are the Destroyee of Worlds! I gave you my power, remember? The Eye of Destruction~! try using your left eye!"
"What the hell does that even...fine! I'll try it!"
I focused my attention on my left eye as Kronos and Kesia closed the distance on me again. And their eyes went wide in surprise as a black aura erupted from my left eye.
I felt power surge through my body as my hands were cloaked in darkness. It formed onto the shape of two massive, black clawed gauntlets extending up to my shoulders.
Kesia was the first to try and attack.
I dodged her swings with Willpower and slammed my fist into her stomach. The blow caused an explosion and sent her flying backward.
Kronos kept his distance as Garen and Mako regrouped with him.
Then Kronos smiled.
"I see...that wasn't part of our known data. Where did you get that, huh? Tanavol? Someone lied about the powers he obtained... I guess you distrusted the Artificer first then? No matter. Mori, increase rate of fire tenfold."
My eyes went wide as I was nearly hit by a barrage of magic blasts from every direction.
I dodged over and over as I was assaulted repeatedly by the different types of magic. Instead of just lasers, I was being attacked by mortars and barrages of needles.
Kronos and Kesia quickly closed the distance on me. I impacted something behind me and turned to see a glowing red rune floating in the air. It exploded and sent me flying towards the two of them.
They split off and Garen arrived with his hammer.
This is gonna hurt...
Garen swung his hammer at me in mid-air and sent me flying into the ground.
I managed to block some of the impact with my arms, but I took an insane amount of damage from that...
Over half of my health...
I stood up as Kesia charged at me with Willpower and her flaming sword. I felt Nasumi healing me again and I activated a spell to fight back more effectively.
A blood magic spell to absorb enemy health with my strikes.
If I couldn't heal with light magic, I would do so with dark magic.
And just as well...
I opened several portals around me with my left eye, releasing an army of Withered Soldiers.
The Black aura surrounding the armored skeletal horrors was enough to cause Kesia to back away.
"Kesia! Stay away! Those things are bad news! We really are dealing with a Demon King, aren't we?" Kronos said.
Am I REALLY the bad guy here!?
Regardless, I took that to heart and summoned as many as I could. More attacks from Mori flooded in as I tried to protect myself in a shield of hardened crystal.
The barrier was pelted over and over until it shattered. But by then, I had teleported to Nasumi.
All around, I could see portals appearing in the air and around the area. Mori was attacking my entire army all at once.
"By the gods, she's so damn annoying!" I said in rage.
At the same time, a group of Mori clones emerged holding daggers. They began attacking my soldiers en mass.
"Nasumi...how do they keep finding us!? Do you know!?" I said frantically.
"U-umm...well...I... I think it's because of that power of yours. Blessing of the Creator is an exo-skill. At the same time-"
"Naughty naughty!" Kronos shouted.
He charged at us and I caught his blade on my claw.
"Telling him about the skill? How upsetting... That skill of his is what ties him to us. To the Artificer. It let's me do...this! Progenitor OS: Command Freeze!"
Instantly, I was frozen in place. I couldn't move at all.
Kronos stood back and laughed.
"So easy! I should have just some this from the start! Now do me a favor and die, won't you?"
I had to think of something...
I was running out of time...
Nasumi quickly ran to my front and spread her arms out.
"Please stop!!! It doesn't have to be like this, Krow!!!" She cried.
Tears were rolling down her face.
"Sorry Sumi, I don't have a choice. I'm just following orders... You know that better than anyone, right? He has to die," Kronos said.
As they spoke, I searched through my status menu for anything I could use to get me out of this.
I found the blessing skill as usual...and I tried something I hadn't done before.
I manually used the Eye of Destruction as well as The Archmage on Blessing of the Creator.
Doing so allowed me to peer inside of it to find the magic that was binding me in place.
And what I saw...startled me.