It felt like we had been fighting for days on end but I was not running out of gas anytime soon and neither was IF by the looks of things. She was like a whirlwind of blades, almost impossible to be seen except for flashes of blue and steel. In comparison I was like a train, slow to start but gaining speed. While she had to dance around monsters and strike from the sides that are vulnerable my sword simply tore through them, while the speed I get through the monsters varied I still cut through them.
Eventually there were no of those monsters standing around and all we could do is stand and look at each other. Each covered in the same black blood that apparently filled these creatures. Well these dead ones.
"Well that was a thing" I managed to laugh rubbing the blood off my sword and looking up at IF. She was still beautiful even with all that blood on her but she would look better without it over her.
"We really need a break" She huffed walking over and leaning against my, her head nestled between my chest and arm.
"That we do" I chuckled lightly leaning against her "But after we've cleaned this mess up"
IF just whined and continued hugging me as I began to think of how we needed to end this. These girls could only fight for so long and until Iris, Neptune and the rest could get their powers back they will not be much of a help so we needed to finish this quickly.
"Hey IF?" I nudged her head with my finger and in return she just grumbled and refused to speak.
"IIIFFF" I whispered into her ear and she grumbled again but looked up at me, the irritation in her eyes was evident.
"Whaaaat?" She almost growled at me, which if it was not for the battle we had been in I would of thought that she was going to kill me.
"Are these things being controlled by that hag who was screaming?" I asked her, gently patting her head gently in a desperate attempt to calm down the adorable dragon hugging me.
"I would assume so, these things are mindless and only seem to listen to her voice" She grumbled but a smile playing across her face due to the attention she was being given.
And right on cue I could hear her screaming even with the distance between us.
"Well looks like I should go for her then" I mumbled before I felt IF grab my face and make me look at her.
"That is a suicide run and I am not losing you" She growled before I grinned.
"Sorry but it's got to be done, we both know if someone does not take her out this fight is not going to end" I attempted to pull away but she held on tightly
"Why have you got to throw your life away? We can secure the city and then push out together" IF growled again but I think she already knew I was not going to give up.
"I was hired to stop these dragons and I do not want to see you girls hurt" I smiled before gently pulling away from her "I'll be back so no worries"
"You had better" She sniffed before reaching up and pressing her lips against mine, she pulled back quickly a smile playing across her face. "I'll tell Ethan so he can meet you"
"Thanks IF" I'll be honest I did not want to leave like this with such a high chance of not coming back but this was gonna be the only way to save everyone, just hoping I can get back to her.
Turning away I started off towards where all the shrieking was coming from, while I have not really killed someone human before it looks like it may be required to win this fight.
One burning city jog later
Turning a corner I took in the scene before me. Between me and the gate leading outside of the city was a dozen different monsters and someone was on the ramparts. Something about that person told me to avoid being seen by then but the way they suddenly focused on me told me they had already seen me.
"Would you look at that" I heard their voice ring out as the monsters started stumbling towards us "You're the one who dodged my shot"
"The mystery sniper" I replied, leaving a brief pause
"One and only" The figured replied "Now let us see if you can fight under pressure from a sniper firing at you"
In a couple seconds his arms whipped up and the first shot was underway, barely able to skip out of its path I rushed towards the monsters, noting how the wall I was beside had been obliterated by the shot.
Ducking under the first monsters swinging arm I brought my sword in an upwards arc, cutting deep into the flesh of the creatures side and staying there. As it screamed I swung upwards as another shot flew by, slamming into the floor where my head once lay cracking the concrete and launching dust high into the air.
Reaching behind me, I pulled the broken sword out and flicked it forward into the head of another creature, causing it to stop dead. Pun intended.
Pulling the sword back out I brought it around in another sharp arc, this time removing the head of the creature and kicking off towards the next monster.
"Kar'zul we need to hurry this up and get past this guy" I hissed skipping away from the path of another round before engaging the creature again.
"Then I'll move more power to your arms and legs but be warned, taking a hit will cause more damage than before" I heard him growl but all of my focus was on the battle at hand so I barely registered what he said before my arms and legs felt like they were on fire.
Roaring in both pain and anger I was suddenly launched forward towards the creatures slicing one in half in one sharp swing. The wind howled from the force and speed of the strike before I dashed forward again, swinging at such a speed and force that if it was not for Kar'zul bonding with me and increasing how tough I was my arms would have snapped off at the shoulders and flew away like two deadly windmills.
Jumping onto one of the creatures I felt my arms stab it multiple times before kicking off and onto another as a bullet ripped into where I was before, blowing the creature apart covering everything in black blood.
"What's happening?" I thought seeing my arms move still, tearing creatures apart and my legs making me dodge bullets.
"This is a side effect" Kar'zul replied remorsefully "We have bonded to a further level quicker than I intended.
"Meaning?" I replied watching as I picked up my broken sword and swing it around in an underhand grip.
"Meaning… I'm in control right now" Kar'zul replied.
"Well that would explain how animalistic and badass I'm acting" I mused for a second "now hold on a minute am I going to get back in control at some point?"
"Of course but with all the commotion going on it may be best to leave it to me" Kar'zul replied, I could see the toothy grin on his face.
"Fine but after these things are dead I'm back in control" I tried my best not to sulk "Make it quick" emphases on tried.
With a chuckle Kar'zul flipped my body backwards and slotted the broken blade back into its sheath and made me hold my sword in both hands.
"What are you doing!?" I shouted in horror.
"Finishing this quickly" He growled as all the monsters jumped towards me when he swung my sword twice in front of him, tearing all the creatures back before whirling around and bringing the blade down onto the bullet which was hurtling towards us. It split clean in two and flew behind us, slamming into the walls of two buildings behind us.
There was a pause when I felt myself regain control of my body and it felt like I had been holding my breath during that.
"While awesome don't ever do that again" I wheezed "I don't think my heart can take that"
"Noted, I would not bother with the sniper he looks preoccupied" Kar'zul replied.
Looking up I could see another figure had joined him, a dark flame behind the newcomer and exotic blade gave away who it was in a second.
"Looks like Ethan got the message" I mused picking my sword up and after sheathing it started jogging towards the gate. Thanks to my increased hearing I could easily hear what they were saying.
"So finally ready to kill me like you were supposed to? Hang up my body with all these other monsters to the world?" I heard the sniper Dunn start, pulling the bolt back on his rifle and slotting the next round in quickly.
"The people I work with are not the monsters. That old hag you work with is the real monster" Ethan replied, twirling his sword around.
"Whatever, our gods will decide who is right and who is wrong after this" Dunn spits back, the venom engraved deep into his voice.
"I gave up on the religion from our religion when I came to this dimension" Ethan replied, taking up a combat stance. "I'll prove to you that these girls are not the enemy"
"You'll die without a scream or prayer" Dunn retorted, lifting his rifle and pointing it at Ethan.
Shaking my head to clear my doubts I continued with my Journey towards the hag, I was not going to interrupt his battle or make fun of him this time. He needed to confront his past by himself.