The group stood stunned, looking around the room, at a loss for words, then, in turn, noticed Midgard. The woman, with a tense expression on her face, looked at Dora who was barely able to breathe. He weakly glanced around the room before collapsing to the ground, his aura completely evaporating.
She got up and opened her system shop screen and purchased three healing potions. From the others' point of view, it was as if she made them appear out of nowhere. She handed one to Sana.
"For the one with the leg in the crystal."
"... Huh... What is this..."
"Hurry up, or he will die!"
She quickly took the vial shakily and administered it to Cid, while Midgard gave the other two to Dora and Eryl and placed Dora's head in her lap.
A faint green light emerged from the bodies of the three and suddenly their faces seemed relaxed.
The crystals crumbled and shattered from Dora and Eryl but continued to spread on the Cid.
Midgard sighed and looked at Hope.
"Cut off his leg."
"... What?"
"It's already too late for him, cut off his leg or he will die."
"You're kidding... Why are you asking that? What is this place? And who are..."
"Cut off his leg right now or I'll send you back there!"
He felt immense pressure, already at his mental limit, and felt on his bottom.
"... I... No... I can't do that... Pl... Please..."
He looked desperately at his comrades, as shocked as him. Freya, troubled, approached Cid and looked closer at his leg. The crystals had completely covered from his thigh to his foot.
"Can't we do anything?"
"He is different, these things won't disappear, we need to cut his leg before they reach is hips."
Freya lowered her head slightly and gave a pitiful gaze to Cid.
"... I see... Hope, do it."
"W-What?! B-b-but I..."
"You've been horribly annoying today so just quiet and cut it!"
He shivered on the floor, a pathetic display for all the others. Kraim glanced at Leon who nodded and took a few steps forward.
"Lady Freya, please step back."
She got up and joined the group, Leon raised his sword and with a powerful blow, severed Cid's leg from the thigh. Midgard bought a blue mana potion, cheaper than a healing potion, and gave it to Sana.
"This will replenish your energy, stop his bleeding."
"... Alright." She drank the potion and returned to Cid.
They watched this scene with confusion and sadness for the young boy, when Kraim turned to Midgard.
"Now I think you owe us an explanation, who are you? What is this place? And... Looks like you care a lot about this boy."
Midgard kept patting Dora's head on her lap, making Kraim lose his temper.
"Will you answer now?! Who the hell are you?! And what is going on here? This wasn't a D-rank rift!"
Midgard's piercing gaze landed on Kraim.
"One more…"
"Eh?"
"One more question, scream, or anything unpleasant from any of you, and I'll send you all back to hell."
They froze at her threat and she continued to pat Dora's head. They understood that talking would do nothing and without a word, they sat down either on the ground, near Sana, or in an armchair, and thus, several minutes passed in this atmosphere.
Leon and Sana were next to Eric, still unconscious.
"I'm almost out of energy... I... I can't do this, I can close his wound but it's impossible to regrow his fingers... I'm sorry."
"... Don't apologize... It wasn't your fault...You weren't the one who cut them off."
He looked at Dora, sleeping on the bed next to Midgard who never left his side. Thousands of questions consumed the group, but the threat from the woman had discouraged them from investigating further. She looked at him like a mother looks at her child, or perhaps like a child looks at a meaningful toy.
Marie was particularly troubled, she had known Dora for a very long time and knew that he was stronger than he let on, but what had happened in the temple was beyond her imagination.
She wondered what it was, how he could endure all the previous humiliations but overreacted over such a little treat. His behavior no longer bore any resemblance to who he used to be.
In another corner of the room, Hope crouched down, dejected. His first experience in a rift was a total disaster, after all his training and determination, not only had he not killed a single monster, but he remembered Freya's words over and over again.
"Was I... really that lame?"
He said in a frail voice, intended only for himself, but Mercy, not far away, could hear him.
"... It didn't really surprise me... But guess it's worse?"
He groaned, his head between his knees, while Morgiana and Lilith were in deep conversation, trying to understand Dora's nature.
"Really? Just because he wanted to live with his family? How selfish can he be?! And of course, you didn't say anything about it because...?"
"No one asked, okay? But it's not important anymore."
"Now I understand why you were suddenly so motivated, Lilith."
"I... It's not like that! I was angry because I knew his value, I didn't change... I just didn't expect this power."
Kraim sighed at the girls' words and looked at Dora, sleeping peacefully.
"... The privilege of the Avatar type, I heard that the strongest avatars could use 2 or 3 fighting styles, but this guy... Oh..."
All eyes turned to the bed as a reassuring voice was heard.
"... Ah... Who was playing the drums in my head..."
Midgard jumped.
"Dora? Dora, are you awake?"
"... Midget?"
"... Sigma, thank god you're okay."
Marie rushed onto the bed and threw herself at him, much to Midgard's dismay.
"Dora! You're finally awake!"
"Hey! Back off! I didn't give you permission to... Hey! Get off him!"
The group gathered around them hesitantly, but since they didn't sense the deadly aura and Midgard trying to push Marie away was a rather funny scene, they relaxed a little. Zuri in turn threw herself at him.
"You worried me so much! What was that?"
"Hey... Are you... Are you okay?" Morgiana asked from behind everyone.
Dora was speechless, looking around he realized where he was, and seeing Midgard in its true form in front of everyone he understood that their secret may have been revealed. He looked at her in confusion but she shook her head.
"No, I didn't say anything, but now everyone, could you stay back? This is not the time to party!... You two too!"
She grabbed Marie and Zuri and threw them at Kraim like sacks.
"... Wait, be nice to them, these two are my friends."
"Yeah, yeah whatever, I'll deal with you later so stay out of it! No question!"
"... I don't even know what's going on."
She sat next to him on the bed, in front of everyone else, and sighed.
"Alright, now the rules change. You can all ask questions and we'll decide what we answer."
They looked at each other, very confused by the situation, but Leon took the initiative.
"We?... So you're together?"
"Correct, next question."
"... What are you? You two, this guy can't be Dora."
"This is the Dora you know, we won't answer the other question."
Dora scratched his chin.
"By the way, I didn't give you permission to call me Dora... Oh, can I also ask a question? Why is Erick dozing in my room?"
Leon released a murderous aura, surprising the other members of the group.
"Mr Leon, no!"
"Leon, please!" Sana clung to his arm.
It seemed like the situation could spiral out of control at any moment, but then Freya crossed her arms.
"You must be the most feeble-minded leader I have ever seen. Go ahead and throw your life away."
He glared at her, but she showed no emotion.
"Are you that stupid? Can't you see just by looking at them that you're way outclassed? They don't even take you seriously... Now I understand why that team was such a disaster."
"Hey, you're going too far!" Morgiana intervened. "He won't do anything, no need to insult us."
"You don't speak up when your teammates display such behavior, but you will if they are corrected? It's deep inside you."
Morgiana flinched and glanced at Leon who was trembling with rage. Freya turned to Dora and Midgard.
"I will ask the questions, I think you don't want to waste time with pointless emotional questions right?"
Midgard smiled at the young girl and leaned towards Dora.
"Maybe we made an error in our choice of toad."
"... I'm starting to understand what you meant by toad... If you feel regret then I'll take this as a compliment."
"I'm starting to like you, go ahead, ask your questions, I'll answer the best way I can."
Freya looked at the ground thoughtfully.
"Anesidora, are you perhaps D-rank?"
The others jumped and looked at her confused. Dora opened his eyes wide, crossing his arms in an attempt to show no emotion.
"What makes you feel this way?"
"Earlier, when you were fighting undead, I felt your energy after the barrier was broken. I've been around a higher-rank avatar before, so I know it's not enough for a C rank, and way too much for a E-rank."
Dora's eyes narrowed. He was always very careful around this girl and the longer he was with her, the more dangerous she became.
"... I'm not a C-rank."
"... I understand. Where is this place? Are we safe from the undead?"
"... We are safe from the undead, they won't come here."
"Good, now do you think if we go back, we can win?"
Dora sighed and looked at Midgard, he had a clear answer on this but after losing consciousness he couldn't predict the outcome. Midgard smiled and responded.
"Without a doubt, I have an idea of what's going on outside."
"I see... Then I have no more questions. Can we plan the battle now?"
Midgard laughed lightly and stood up.
"Don't be hasty, we're not wasting time here. Now that the boring interrogation is over, you can have a futile interrogation with Dora."
"What? Why me?!"
"I need time to think, be a good friend, and listen to them." She headed to the next room.
The group waited a few moments, looking at the door to confirm her departure before turning to Dora who was already up.
"I also need time to think..."
"Do you seriously think this is going to happen, Idiora?"
"... apparently not."
Meanwhile, in the next room, Midgard was sitting on an armchair. In front of her, was a small table with two cups of tea and someone sitting in another chair.
"Well, now we can start the interesting interrogation."
The woman in front of them took a sip of tea and sighed contentedly.
"Long time no see, Midgard Serpent."