Chapter 137 Worst-Case Scenario [1]

I didn't move.

Isabell kept struggling under me. Yet Iris was looking only at me.

Schwing-!

Clatter-

The two halves of my mask fell onto the ground with a light clatter.

"If you are trying to get on my nerves, then you are doing a very good job."

Iris who saw my face spoke with a hint of annoyance.

Due to [Domination Decree] my face was unrecognizable. Of course, the intimidation effect must be working on her too but the gap between our ranks was too big for any effect.

"Stop hiding your face."

She pressed her sword against my neck.

Splosh- Splosh-

Droplets of my blood fell onto the ground.

Isabell who I had pinned suddenly jerked with a powerful force, strong enough to throw me off her.

I was thrown a few feet away.

Isabell, who was now free, spoke in a surprised tone.

"H-how? I don't think I used that much strength?"

'Of course, you didn't. It was me who loosened my grip.'

Using the timing when she would use a somewhat powerful force, I loosened my grip, enough for her to throw me off.

'Please don't come after me. Interrogate her, who has come to take the item!'

Tap-

Tap-

As if to pour cold water on my hope, Iris ignored Isabell and strode toward me.

'What should I do?'

I can't get caught.

Even if Iris was crazy, she should hesitate a bit before killing me, an Irregular with unknown origin.

Originally, my plan was to get caught if escape became too difficult. As long as I consumed 'Mermaid's Tears', using a special method, I could later take it out to use for Resurrection Elixir.

The slip I had given Miller had instructions on what to do in case I got caught.

It was to get in contact with Urek, the leader of Illis, and ask for help.

The outcome would have been a lot unpleasant but not a worst-case scenario, like being caught by Iris.

'Iris is suspicious about my identity. If I get caught, they will have numerous ways to confirm my identity even if I hid my face.'

I couldn't meet Headmaster, and now there was no point in asking Urek for help. Way to have my backup plans thrashed.

"You know I think…"

Iris looked to the side.

"tsk, we got company."

She kicked my chest, and I flew into the wall.

Just when I was confused by her actions, a loud blast transpired.

Boooom-!

The room was cleaved into half… along with the entire stadium.

Tap-

"I didn't know you enjoyed bullying kids."

I felt relief wash over me when I recognized the voice. Huntress was here.

I was safe….

'Fuck! She will also attack me, won't she?'

Before the dust settled and I became her target too, I dashed towards Isabell who was still disoriented from the earlier shock.

She was coughing badly as she was also blown to the wall by the shockwaves.

Huntress must have been in a hurry if she used just a rough method of entry.

A shortsword appeared in my hand and I placed it over Isabell's neck.

'Sorry, but please bear with it.'

"Huntress block Sword Maiden or I'll kill Seer!"

My voice traveled through the thick dust and alerted everyone.

Swosh-

Swosh-

Clang-!!

A loud shockwave exploded that almost blew me and Isabell away.

"You have the guts to blackmail me?"

With her back toward me, Huntress was blocking Iris with her bastard sword.

'Iris must have known that Huntress will help me, so she tried to move earlier'

I felt my stomach churn.

Earlier, Iris kicked with just enough strength to knock me out without killing me. Fortunately, the [Absolute Evil] reduced the damage, and I didn't lose consciousness.

"Just do as I say, and I won't harm her."

I pressed the blade on Isabell's neck.

Mia was not moving, and Iris was being blocked.

I moved with haste.

"Wasn't Albert supposed to hold you back? Where is he?"

"Did you actually think he could hold me back?"

Sparks flew into the air as they remained in a stalemate.

"Come with me."

I dragged Isabell with me toward the opening in the wall that Huntress had created. This was the quickest way to escape.

Gulp-

My body shivered when I laid my eyes on the destruction Huntress had caused.

The earth was split in two and I couldn't even see its depth. She had carved a deep trench into the Earth.

This was the power of Huntress, Vice Caption of Goliaths.

Swosh-

I jumped with Isabell.

Using my weapons as footholds, I quickly moved toward the ground.

"Don't move or you'll fall to your death!"

"Then I'll take you with me!"

We almost entered into a scuffle midair as Isabell tried to get away from me.

'Just a bit more and I'll be out of here'

Thud-!

Both of us landed on the ground.

"Fool"

I was about to move toward the escape portal when a soft voice entered my ears.

"Huh, Sword Mai-!"

Bam-!!!

Heavy pressure descended on me.

Like an insect, I was crushed to the ground. Air escaped my lungs and I could tell that I was being crushed alive.

Blood poured down from my ears, eyes, and mouth like a waterfall.

Tap- Tap- Tap-

"tsk tsk, why do think I left Seer alone? She is quite protective when it comes to Seer."

Iris sneered at me.

I moved my eyes and saw Isabell perfectly fine beside me. Only then did I understand.

If Huntress and Iris fought in that closed area, Isabell would have definitely gotten hurt.

Huntress used me to bring the fight outside.

She allowed me to escape.

"You shouldn't over-reach your boundaries."

Huntress' gaze bore down on me.

Cracks formed on the ground as she laced her energy into her rank pressure.

I felt death reaching me when I looked into her eyes. She was serious. She didn't care if I was an Irregular, she was going to kill me.

I used [Domination Decree] to the maximum. A red hue shrouded my body and attempted to fight against her.

However, it was breached.

It didn't even take Huntress one second to suppress my pressure.

"Well, that's enough."

A different pressure descended into the arena.

Air started howling as two opposite pressures started clashing against each other. The death coming for me took a step back.

"What are you stopping me?"

Iris answered back in a light tone.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that? I'm the one who is supposed to kill others while you should be stopping me from killing a new Irregular."

'It's …not …enough...'

Blood flowed from my body and seeped into the cracks in the ground.

I couldn't speak or move. My limbs started convulsing and my consciousness was escaping from me.

I was beginning to lose my grasp on reality.

'It's ..not enough...'

My ears drums burst and it felt as if my eyes were about to burst.

Iris was trying to save me from Huntress, but that was just another hell waiting for me.

This was the worst-case scenario.

Closing my eyes, I resolved myself.

'It's not enough...'

[Synchronization]

"..to make me give up."

Ding-

[Rank: Meta --> Iota]

The air around me rushed towards me and wrapped me in its gentle embrace.

I felt a rush of unending energy rampaging through my body.

Ding-

[Stats will be temporarily readjusted]

[Strength – 14 --> 50(locked)]

[Agility – 30 --> 50(locked)]

[Stamina – 20 --> 50(locked)]

[Constitution – 25 --> 50(locked)]

[Ether – 32 --> ???]

[Intelligence – 25 --> 50(locked)]

My muscles tightened, my vision improved, and I could again breathe.

I felt power coursing through my veins.

Ding-

[Temporarily raising every skills rank by one]

[Pierce[Common] --> Pierce[Rare]]

[Golden turtle[Unique] --> Golden turtle[Epic]]

[Appraisal[Legendary] --> ???]

[Multiply[Unique] --> Multiply[Epic]]

[Domination Decree Lvl.2 --> Domination Decree Lvl.3]

[Absolute Evil Lvl.1 --> Absolute Evil Lvl.2]

A deep crimson hue rose from me. It rushed outwards, seemingly endless, and slammed into everyone.

I felt the pressure easing on my body, and I tried to stand.

My knees quivered as I tried to stand against the pressure of a Hatamoto-rank.

My bones stretched.

My arms turned into lead and threatened to fall against the monstrous pressure.

Blood flowed down my body as if a dam had burst.

And finally…

Ding-

[Temporarily aiding to increase user's art mastery]

[Armory of Eridu[Legacy](Proficient) --> Armory of Eridu[Legacy](Intermediate)]

I stood up.