"Wait, arrogant insect."
"What's the matter, slow insect?"
"As a reward for sparing me, I'll tell you what I know about the demon on the next floor."
"You don't need to…"
"We do. You can tell us what you know," Max interrupted me.
"Do as you wish. I'm moving on."
"It's better for me. I'll stay with Max, and Ui will be with..."
"Okay, I'll stay with Izumi!"
I continued to walk to the next floor. However, upon crossing the door, I realized there were no stairs in sight.
"What will we do, Izumi? There are no stairs, and I can't jump up there."
"Goodbye! Brute Force Iz."
"Wait, Izumi! Please, don't leave me," she clung to me before I could jump.
"Let go of me!"
"No!"
"If you don't let go, I'll kill you!"
"I won't let go! Please, Izumi. Take me with you!"
"Let go of me, you bastard!" I kept shaking my leg, but it wouldn't let go.
"Aren't you afraid of dying?"
"I won't let go, even if it means I'll die!"
It seemed that a dialogue with her was out of the question, and now, I realized I couldn't eliminate this annoying woman, which only increased my frustration.
"Fine, I'll take you with me."
"Really!?"
"Yes."
"I knew you wouldn't leave me alone."
"How annoying."
"Izumi, you're the best!"
The only good thing about that woman was that she recognized how amazing I could be.
"So, here's the plan: I'll use my 'Brute Force Iz' and send you straight up there."
"Okay, I'm ready for you."
"Alright."
I grabbed her and launched her upwards.
"What a dream. Izumi touched me!"
"What a crazy woman."
I activated my 'Brute Force Iz' and then jumped.
"Ouch!"
"What!?"
"Be careful, Izumi! Someone attacked me!"
Looking at Ui, I noticed she was covered in burns. Even before touching the ground, a gigantic flame came towards me.
'Second form. Kotxi Flames.'
The attack came suddenly, and despite not detecting the demon's scent in the area, Ui was incapacitated. Curse it, it would have been better if I were alone, without this burden. I touched the ground but sensed something approaching from below.
I tried to move away, but the sensation wouldn't stop, no matter where I stepped. It was as if the entire place was riddled with traps.
"Izumi, what's going on?"
'Is she alright?'
Ui remained in the same spot, and nothing happened to her. Were my instincts wrong? I doubted it because they had never betrayed me before, and today wouldn't be the day.
"What's happening, Izumi? Why are you constantly moving around?"
"Stop right there, Ui!"
"What? Why? Izumi?"
"Don't move. That's an order!"
"Hmm! Ah! Okay."
I wasn't sure what was happening, but it was likely that the demon was using me as bait to lure me into its trap.
"Show yourself, demon! You won't stand a chance if you act so mediocre! Stop being a coward and show that face you call an ass!"
"Izumi?"
"Annoying! Annoying! Annoying! Annoying! Annoying! Annoying! Annoying! Annoying! Why won't you die? You walking plague!"
"Stop complaining and show your face, you weakling."
"Weakling? Did you just call me a weakling? I won't accept that, I won't accept that. I won't accept that!!!"
"Only the weak hide behind their fear. And you're afraid of me."
"Izumi, you better stop provoking, we don't know what he's capable of."
"You walking plague. You might have managed to kill my brother, but don't think I'm as weak as him."
"So, that slime was your brother? Everything makes sense now. Maybe you share the same butt face, but don't worry, even an unpleasant face looks better when sliced."
"You walking plague!! Your death alone won't be enough. I will burn you for eternity, make you suffer, and you will beg for death."
"You're just talk, like your brother. Look, I killed him. Lhiahahahahahaha!"
"Craaaaaaaaa!!!!! I will kill you! Annihilate! Burn! I will kill everyone you love!"
"Love? I don't love anyone."
"Shut up! I will see if that's true, starting with this woman."
I felt a massive concentration of demonic energy forming under Ui, and I shouted:
"Ui, jump!!!"
"Hmm! Ah! What!?"
"Too late. Die!!!"
She managed to jump, but the enormous demon-shaped flame chased her relentlessly, and there was no escape. If I didn't take action, she would die.
'Die?'
I don't know what compelled me to act, but I acted without hesitation. I sheathed my swords and instantly activated my 'Speed Iz Brute Force,' launching myself toward her. My mind was focused, and my body responded with agility as I approached her in a lightning-fast rescue.
'What's happening? Why did I do that?'
"Izumi, thank you. I thought I was going to die."
I was in a trance, lost in thought, and could barely grasp the words she was saying. With an unsteady gesture, I let my body settle on the ground, muttering,'Ui,' my mind wandering into uncharted territories. I tried to snap out of it, bringing my hands to my cheeks and applying gentle taps, as if trying to awaken from my reverie.
'Wake up, Izumi. Don't think. Act.'
"Craaaahahahahahahahahaha! It seems this woman is important to you."
"What!?"
"Don't worry, Wandering Plague. I'll kill her right in front of you, and you'll know despair."
"Despair? I'm sorry to tell you, but that's where I came from."
"I'll show you a despair greater than any other. The despair of death!"
"Shut up and show me this so-called despair."
I drew my swords, ready for battle.
"Move away, Ui."
"Okay."
"Flames of hell!"
A massive ball of flames burst from the wall and came toward me.
"Die!!!"
"Second form. Kotxi flames."
"What? Impossible!"
"Your brother said the same."
"Craaaaaaaa!!! I'm going to kill you!!!"
"So, this is your appearance?"
"Remember before you die."
"I say the same."
The demon was pure flames, with a huge mouth.
"Now die, Wandering Plague!"
I started walking toward the demon, and it continued to hurl its fireballs at me, but I cut them all down.
"Impossible! Impossible! Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!"
"Impossible only exists if you allow it to. And the word 'impossible' doesn't exist for me."
"Since it doesn't work, I'll kill her!!! Flames of hell! Craaahahahaha!"
The demon launched an attack toward Ui, who emerged from another wall, and I activated my 'Speed Iz Brute Force' ability toward her. However, the flames were already within her reach.
'No. She's going to die.'