Iris, who had completely recovered both her stamina and magic power,
was facing Isis floating a little far away with ἀποκάλυψις in hand.
The two didn't exchange any words, and a few moments later, Alice,
who was standing at a distance, signaled them with a circle over her
head with both hands. This was a signal that the Spatial Isolation Ward
that protects the surroundings was complete, and at the same time, it
meant that Isis could fight with all her might.
[———–Gahh!?]
At that moment, Iris felt a tremendous pressure, as if her whole body
was being clamped in a vise. Startled, she moved her gaze forward and
saw Isis quietly preparing for battle.
(…I see, so this is the magic power of death. It feels as if I'm facing fear
itself. If it wasn't for this body, this mock battle would have been settled
before we could even fight. If I had been hit by this after the battle had
begun, even if it's just for a moment, I would definitely be paralyzed. So,
it was fortunate that I was able to experience the intimidation of her
magic power of death here… But, even so… This is too tremendous.)
The magic power overflowing from Isis' body turned from pale blue to
jet black, and at the same time, the atmosphere around her became
sharp and cold. She truly looks like the King who rules over death, a
being possessing absolute strength.
The earth trembles as if it fears the King, and the air retreats to make
way for her path.
[Well then, mock battle–——– Start!]
When Alice announced the start of the mock battle, Isis remained
motionless, staying afloat in mid air… and her eyes looked at Iris as if to
tell her "I'll allow you to have the first move".
Immediately receiving her intention to mind, Iris slammed her hands
on the ground.
(She deactivates magic and reverts it back to magic power. At first
glance, it sounds like she holds an invincible power, but it isn't like she
has an ability that automatically nullifies all magic. There will definitely
be a process in between the recognition and execution. In that case, if I
attack at a speed that exceeds Isis-dono's perception, with an amount
that her deactivation ability couldn't keep, there's a good chance that I
will hit her!)
Iris summoned a huge magic circle. It's not just one, as it went beyond
10, 100, and reached 1000. Referencing the Simultaneous Activation
that Isis used earlier, she executed it until her brain was almost burned
out.
[…Kuhh… συμφορά μοιραίο φορέας!]
(T/N: Calamity Doombringer)
They weren't something that could be described as a rain of swords
anymore. The number of jet-black swords crowded together without
any gaps exceeds a billion, and there isn't even a space for a mouse to
pass through. In other words, it has become a black wall made of
swords.
Even so, Iris understood that against Isis, a magic like this would be
lifted in less than 10 seconds. That's why, she prepared her next
attack…
[…Die.]
[ ! ? ]
However, she didn't expect that all of the billion magic swords would
disappear with just a single word from the King. In front of the serious
Isis, even a magic barrage could no longer buy even a second of her
time.
It was beyond her expectations. However, her opponent is one of the Six
Kings… She had already expected that something unexpected would
occur. That's why, Iris poured an enormous amount of magic power into
her ἀποκάλυψις.
Alice said that Isis nullifies "almost" all magic. She didn't say that she
could nullify all magic. Thus, there should be a magic that she couldn't
nullify… a magic that she couldn't deactivate.
With that thought in mind, Iris guessed that Alice was referring to a
super-dense blow filled with an overwhelming amount of magic power.
Therefore, she entrusted the result of this battle to the magic that she
had just learned.
[Swallow it all! Beast of Tyranny————- γίγας ἀποκάλυψις!!!]
(T/N: Giga Apocalypse)
Let's just say the conclusion. Iris' idea certainly is right. There is a limit
to the amount of magic power that Isis can instantly deactivate, and if
the output is too large, she may not be able to deactivate it in time.
…The magic density of the γίγας ἀποκάλυψις, which shot out hundreds
of times the magic power poured into it, exceeded Isis' deactivation
speed.
However———— That doesn't mean that her attack will reach Isis.
[…Cocytus Infinity.]
With her words————— "The world froze".
The shaking earth, the trembling winds, and the jet-black
bombardment that Iris released all froze and stopped moving, and
silence took over the place.
Isis excluded Iris' body on purpose, but her surroundings and her
ἀποκάλυψις were frozen in place. No, that's not all.
(…What is this? What in the world just happened? I can't move… No,
not just my body and my magic power… I also couldn't breathe.)
Iris' body shouldn't have been frozen, but she still couldn't move. It's as
if even the space she needed to move around in has been frozen…
[…This place… is already my domain… where everything… is frozen…
Magic power… Space… Time… And when the ice shatters… everything
returns to nothingness… Cocytus… Zero.]
[Kuhhh, gaaahhhhhh!?]
As soon as Isis finished her words, the frozen earth and the magic
bombardment shattered into pieces, leaving only ice crystals danzing in
mid air.
[…That's an amazing staff… Even my Cocytus Zero… can't shatter it.]
[…Haahhh… Haahhh…]
ἀποκάλυψις is a Heart Tool, and it can never be broken unless Iris'
heart shatters. However, that didn't mean that she can use it as an
invincible shield.
ἀποκάλυψις is Iris' heart itself, and thus, receiving powerful attacks
with one's Heart Tool takes a toll on her mentally. Dropping down on
her knees, Iris' ragged breath leaked out white clouds… and the result
of the mock battle was now obvious to everyone.
[…Do you still… want to continue?]
[…No… That's enough. I know that I won't win… but for me to be
defeated with just two moves, no, with just one move… The world really
is vast.]
[…Iris can still… become even stronger… Now, I'm just… a little stronger
than you… but who knows… what will happen next.]
[…Do you think I might be able to win next time?]
[…I don't know… However… unless you give up… I think that… the
possibility of that happening… isn't zero… Being involved with others…
If I had given up… I wouldn't have… met Kaito.]
[...…]
She was in a difficult and painful situation, and there were many times
when she almost gave up. However, even until the end, she never gave
up. After looking at Isis, who told her how she was able to meet Kaito
with a smile, Iris closed her eyes and thought for a while.
After a few moments of silence, Iris opened her eyes, and looking at Isis
with a smile, she spoke.
[…This is something I would also like to ask of you. "Isis-sama", would
you accept me as your subordinate?]
[…Are you… alright with me?]
[You are more than enough. You definitely have the makings of a King.]
[…The makings… of a King?]
[Yes, the fact that I want to serve you now, the charm that attracts
others closer to you, means that you have the makings of a king, of
which something I do not have. I have seen how capable Isis-sama is,
and I am convinced that you are worthy of entrusting my fangs. That
alone is enough for me.]
Iris Illuminus… She is not a person without manners. In fact, she knows
how to be polite and speaks in a tone that is appropriate for the person
she is talking to.
The fact that she calls Isis with a "-sama" attached to her name and
speaks to her with honorifics… was the best proof that Iris recognizes
Isis as her master.
[…Unnn… Unnn… Thanks… I will be… in your care… Iris.]
[Yes, Isis-sama.]
Her first subordinate, someone that the Six Kings had that she didn't…
Looking at the hand held out by Isis, whose eyes teared up in joy, Iris
firmly grasped her hand.
Later, she became the first of the Death King's subordinates, leading her
executives "The Pleiades", known as Death King Isis Remnant's trusted
retainer————— This was the new beginning of the "Black Violent
Star", Iris Illuminus.~ ~ Death King's Executive Subordinate ~ ~
"Black Violent Star" Iris Illuminus
After this incident, she became Isis' subordinate. She has quite the
serious character, so when she decided that she was to serve Isis, she
moved her residence to Isis' castle to serve her well. During the day, she
spends her time in Isis' castle, and at night, she spends her time at the
bar in Kaito's mansion, entertaining him and chatting with Alice.
However, Isis' excitement at having her first subordinate was through
the roof, and within a few days of serving her… Iris tilted her head,
wondering why it looked like she wasn't Isis' subordinate and was
instead her friend.
Frankly speaking, she doesn't have any work to do at the moment, so
during the day, she just spends her time in Isis' castle, talking to her,
having tea with her, reading books with her, and training with her… In
the future, Iris has been asking herself many times what exactly is a
subordinate.
With the help of the many books in Isis' castle and the guidance of Isis
and Alice, her skills rapidly improved and soon became a competent
member within the Six King's executive subordinates.
After a while, for some reason, the head of the War King's subordinates
started to come to play (train) with her a lot, and Isis' castle became a
bit livelier. Of course, Isis became overjoyed.