Ray's eyes narrowed as he muttered, "SSS Class Hero Rank 3, Beki the Berserker." His gaze hardened as he stared at the woman before him.
"In four years, I'll make you accept me as your disciple," Ray declared, his voice resolute.
Then, with a clenched fist, he added bitterly, "And Iris... if I meet you at the academy, I'll strip away that prideful look you had when you tried to kill me!"
Ray's mind drifted to his first encounter with Iris. Back then, she appeared so frail that a mere flick to her head might topple her. But he quickly learned the truth: she was no ordinary girl. As Isakawa's daughter, it was obvious not to judge her. So Ray dared not underestimate her.
He recalled the moment his flame skill attacked Iris in the Rift, slashing off her arm. At first, he felt a bit of satisfaction watching her in pain. But that satisfaction turned to dread as he witnessed her going berserk. Blood Knights and Dark Knights emerged at her command, killing the monster horde in minutes. A feat like that was unimaginable, even for a party of fifty seasoned C-Class Heroes. Yet Iris, alone, had accomplished it. Her power was nothing short of monstrous.
__________
Meanwhile, Isakawa sat beside his wife, Jennifer, on their bed. "Don't worry, Jennifer. Iris will be fine," he said gently, offering comfort.
He swiped a hand before him, conjuring a smoky haze that coalesced into a clear image. On the screen, Iris lay on a hospital bed, two healers at her side. Bright green light flowed from their palms, washing over her body before fading.
Jennifer exhaled in relief, her lips curling into a warm smile. "I'm so glad she's okay."
Her gaze shifted to Isakawa, her eyes sparkling with an entirely different emotion. Isakawa noticed and began to fidget under her intense scrutiny.
"Honey, is something wrong?" he asked, his voice tinged with unease.
Jennifer wiped her drooling mouth, her smile turning mischievous. "Nothing at all, dear," she replied, her eyes glued to his lustrous hair.
"Husband, I haven't given you a hair makeover in ages," Jennifer teased with a playful laugh, holding a comb as she approached Isakawa. Her tone was flirtatious, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Without waiting for a reply, she began brushing his smooth, silky hair.
"So soft... soooo soft," Jennifer murmured dreamily, lost in the blissful rhythm of combing his hair.
As her hands grazed Isakawa's face, he flinched slightly. His mind wandered, distracted by an odd realization. For the past two hours since they'd taken Iris to the infirmary and come to rest, Jennifer hadn't coughed once. Usually, her fits occurred every 30 to 40 minutes like clockwork.
'Her blood fluctuations... they're stabilizing,' Isakawa thought, his unease deepening. Even his advanced healing magic had failed to suppress her condition, so this sudden improvement was unexplainable.
"Jennifer," he asked carefully, watching her braid his hair, "did anything unusual happen before you came back to the room?"
Jennifer paused at the unexpected question but answered with calm honesty. "Apart from carrying Iris, I didn't do anything else."
Isakawa's brows furrowed. He replayed the events in his mind until a vivid memory resurfaced: Jennifer had kissed Iris's bloody cheek.
'Could that be it?' He recalled Dr. Yong Feng's research but couldn't remember any mention of Iris's blood possessing healing properties. His expression darkened. I need another sample of Iris's blood to confirm this. He made a mental note to have the doctor conduct a thorough investigation once they got back home.
---
Iris stirred awake, her head pounding. She rubbed her temples with trembling hands, her voice weak as she whimpered, "Mama!"
Her tear-filled eyes scanned the unfamiliar room, but the throbbing in her skull made it impossible to focus. Frustrated and overwhelmed, she curled into herself and drifted back into an uneasy sleep.
When Iris woke again, the pain in her head had dulled slightly. She blinked groggily, scanning her surroundings more carefully this time. Rows of beds lined the room, some occupied by children she vaguely recognized from the family games. Their peaceful slumber contrasted with the unease knotting her stomach.
Noticing the familiar children around her, Iris's panic eased. She realized she was still in the Subaru Main House. Her racing heart slowed as she took stock of her situation. Her clothes had been changed into a clean white dress, and the bed she rested on carried a refreshing scent. These details didn't bother her much, though.
Just as she was about to drift back to sleep, a suffocating pressure suddenly filled the air. Her body froze, trembling uncontrollably as beads of sweat formed on her brow. Breathing became difficult, and the weight pressing down on her was unbearable.
[Threatening HOSTILITY is being directed at the host.]
The System's warning echoed in her mind, but Iris was too frightened to move. She stayed still under the covers, clutching the blanket tightly, afraid to turn around.
"I know you're awake," a deep voice chuckled, its tone laced with menace.
Iris flinched at the sound. Slowly, she sat up, her wide blue eyes meeting the dark gray gaze of a man leaning casually against the wall. Her breath caught as she noticed the resemblance he bore to Ozymandias.
[HOSTILITY against host has subsided.]
"What do you want?" Iris asked, her voice shaky as she tried to mask her fear.
Tomita smirked, his gaze scrutinizing her. "I can't help but laugh. You look so much like my little brother," he muttered, tilting his head slightly as if trying to solve a puzzle.
'I don't get it. Is she really the same kid who wiped out those monsters?' he thought.
"Of course I'm Daddy's child," Iris said with pride, her tone firm despite her nervousness.
Tomita raised an eyebrow. "I almost thought you were a fake. But with the power you wield, it's clear you're the real deal."
His expression shifted, growing serious. "Listen, kid. I'll only help you once, for Ozymandias's sake. You two seem close."
Iris blinked, confused by his sudden change in tone. She stayed quiet but paid attention to every word.
"As a child, you won't understand this yet, but you need to watch out for your father," Tomita warned, his voice low and somber. "He's... crazy."
He paused, his dark gaze locking onto her for a moment longer. "Right now, you're too dangerous for your age, and this family doesn't let threats go unchecked. Be careful."
Tomita pushed off the wall and walked toward the door. "Life is going to get a lot more interesting for you, kid," he said with a faint frown, leaving Iris with his cryptic words and an uneasy feeling in her chest.
"How dare that man call Daddy crazy?! Hmph," Iris huffed, her cheeks puffed with indignation as she frowned.
"Daddy is the most amazing dad ever. Daddy cares for Iris! Liar, Daddy is not crazy!" she declared with defiance, her voice dripping with contempt.
Frustrated, Iris pouted and burrowed back under the bedsheets. She couldn't bring herself to believe a single word the man had said about her father.
A while later, the door burst open, and Jennifer rushed in, tears streaming down her cheeks. Without hesitation, she wrapped Iris in a tight hug.
"Oh, Iris, I'm so glad you're okay," Jennifer sobbed, clutching her daughter as if she might disappear.
"Mama, I was so scared," Iris cried, burying her face in her mother's embrace, her small hands gripping tightly.
Jennifer's comfort was interrupted by Isakawa's stern voice. "And you, young lady, must stop running into danger. You're not a hero yet," he scolded, flicking Iris on the forehead.
"Owwwww! I'm shorrrryyyy, Daddy," Iris wailed, clutching her now-swollen forehead as tears welled up.
"Isakawa, don't be so hard on her!" Jennifer protested, pulling Iris close and giving her husband an exaggerated pair of puppy-dog eyes. Iris joined in, her big, watery eyes pleading with him for mercy.
Isakawa sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Hah, whatever," he muttered, defeated.
Jennifer and Iris beamed, their matching smiles lighting up the room.
"Now, let's get you cleaned up," Isakawa said, ruffling Iris's hair. "It's time to leave."
"Okay, Daddy!" Iris chimed, her earlier fears replaced with the warmth of her family's love.
_________
"Where is that brat of a son?" Takase growled, his voice echoing through the spacious living room as he stomped down the hallway. His fiery gaze locked onto a white door at the end.
**Bang!**
The door flew open with a violent kick, slamming against the wall. Takase's face, red with fury, twisted with barely contained rage.
"Where the fuck are you, Ray?!" he bellowed, his voice thunderous.
"Father?" Ray's confused voice came from within the room. He turned to face the source of the commotion, only to meet the back of Takase's hand.
**Smack!**
The force of the slap almost sent Ray tumbling, but he managed to steady himself, his hand pressed to his now-red cheek.
Before Ray could respond, Takase clenched his fists, and his veins began to glow an ominous red. The same glow surged through Ray's body, and he dropped to his knees, gasping for air. Pain erupted through him, like molten flames scorching him from the inside out.
Ray clawed at the ground, his body writhing in agony as he struggled to endure the excruciating sensation.