A powerful repulsion wall blocks my blasts!
He's battered from the onslaught but grins gleefully.
"That was intense! You're dangerous—always pulling new tricks when I'm ahead!"
"Don't wanna hear that from the guy blocking it so easily!"
"It's a compliment, take it!"
"Shut up! Doesn't feel like one! And I don't have the luxury to care!"
No matter what I throw, he won't go down!
"Just fall already! I'll give you 300 yen!"
"What am I buying with 300 yen!?"
"Go to the dollar store!"
"I went yesterday! With Bell for snacks!"
"You went!?"
Feared worldwide, and you're snack shopping at the dollar store!?
Too carefree!
You got too much chill!?
Or are you just dumb!?
Probably both!
"Snack shopping with Bell… you guys are way too wholesome!"
"She's cute, alright? Don't underestimate my sister's cuteness!"
"What! My Miu's cuter!"
"Say that again! Bell's cuter!"
We argue mid-battle.
Sure, ignoring their dangerous abilities and affiliations, Bell's cute.
Those sleepy eyes and childish vibe are totally fine.
But—
"Don't diss my Miu! She's clingy and gives me lap pillows!"
"Huh!? Bell loves shoulder rides! You get how crazy her smile is!?"
"Damn, I wanna see that!"
Ugh… a sister-bragging battle!?
Didn't see that coming!
This guy's a real threat—in every way!
I halt the barrage, don my Tianwu armor, and charge!
Razul drops his repulsion shield and rushes in!
He's radiating insane aura!
My right booster expands, spewing flames.
"Shining Bunker!!"
My flame-charged right arm clashes with Razul's powerhouse fist!
The collision warps the ground, forming a massive crater!
"Daaaaah!"
"Uoooraaa!"
Our powers are dead even.
Push and pull, back and forth.
Any slip, and this balance breaks.
Even maxed-out enhanced Tianwu can't overpower him…!
I curse Razul's bottomless strength.
Then—
Something flies at Razul from the side!
Even he reacts late, blasted away!
Shocked, I see someone land gracefully before me.
"Yo. Struggling, huh?"
A blue-haired beauty waves.
"T-Tia!? Why're you here!?"
"Ugh, same reaction as before."
"What's with that half-assed response!? Explain properly!"
Tia sighs. "Your mom asked Diarmuid to deliver provisions. I tagged along, found a barrier, used Gáe Dearg to disable it temporarily, and here we are. Got it?"
"No way I get that!"
My shout echoes!
Provisions!?
Found a barrier by chance!?
What timing!?
And Diarmuid agreed to deliver!?
Is that okay for a hero's soul!?
"Where's Diarmuid?"
"She's fighting with Miu. They're struggling too."
Figures, with Bell spawning endless giant beasts.
I still hear tremors from Miu's direction.
"Who's interrupting me!?" Razul returns, brushing off dirt.
Blown away hard, but barely damaged.
I whisper to Tia, "Sorry to ask right after you got here, but can you handle this?"
"What's that mean?"
"…Grendel and Ladon showed up. Koneko and the others can't handle them."
"Grendel, Azi Dahaka, and now Ladon revived… Lucifer's son's a real piece of work."
Tia curses the revival of legendary evil dragons.
She nods. "Fine. I'll take over. Go."
Razul protests. "What, hero's leaving?"
"Sorry, my friends are in danger. Gotta go."
Tia adds, "Don't worry. I'm Tiamat, mightiest Dragon King. I'm a worthy opponent, right?"
They lock eyes.
But—
Razul swings his palm at me. "Nah, if the hero's leaving, I'm out. Half-assed fights kill the vibe. Was getting hyped, too. Tiamat, was it? We'll fight next time."
He turns, summoning a teleportation circle.
Stunned, I ask, "You sure? Won't Asem chew you out?"
"We move freely. The boss doesn't bind or order us. We came here on our own, and we leave on our own."
What…?
Didn't Asem make minions to control them?
What's the point of minions who act on their own…?
Puzzled, I hear Razul say, "That's how it is. Let's fight again sometime. You too, lady."
With that, he vanishes.
Tia and I are dumbfounded by his casual exit.
Tia mutters, "…Weird guy."
"…Yeah. Doesn't feel like an enemy. So straightforward, I almost doubt he's with Rizevim. …Kinda wholesome overall."
"Rizevim and Asem… maybe they're not a monolith. Asem seems interested in you, so he might try something specific, but…"
"Don't say that! A guy being interested in me… worst-case scenario!"
Girls only, please!
"Now that Razul's gone, I'm heading to Koneko. You—"
BOOOOOM!!
A massive roar and tremor hit us!
What!?
We look toward the sound.
There—
"No way… what's that!?"
A twelve-armed giant wields swords, rampaging!
That's where Miu is… Bell summoned it!
That giant's demon king-class… maybe stronger.
Can't she only make non-god-level beings!?
Tia narrows her eyes. "Miu and Diarmuid can't handle that. I'll go. Backtracking, but oh well."
"You sure?"
"I can manage. You take down Grendel. That dragon preys on the weak—disgraceful. End him. Got it?"
"Got it. Was planning to anyway."
Tia smirks.
We part ways—I head to Koneko in the southwest, Tia to Miu.
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