"U-Um, I will help you!" Milleia said when she saw me and Eric preparing to fight the irisless.
"No," But Eric shook his head. "I will take care of them with him. As for you, just quickly grab some Golden Grasses for us."
"I agree," I also give my consent for the plan.
We might sound like heartless monsters to send Milleia alone there but we knew that she wasn't in danger. Indeed, the irisless humanoids will never attack Milleia. It must have to do again with her bloodline again but anyway, it was good news for us. With Milleia, it was easy to get those Golden Grasses.
"B-But…" Milleia looked at us, trying to say something. She clearly didn't feel confident and was scared of dying here.
"It's okay," I faced Milleia.
"Sir Nyrel…" Milleia stared at me and I stared at her back.
"It will be okay, Milleia." I called her by her name to influence her emotions and it worked well.
"Yes!" Milleia smiled and took out her sword and shield.
"Now!" Eric swung his sword which was shining in red and a blast of energy exploded knocking away several Irisless.
Milleia didn't need another word and ran toward a small hill-like structure where the Golden Grasses were growing. When she saw one of the Irisless approaching her, Milleia brought her shield in front of her to defend but-
The Irisless just looked at Milleia for a second before rushing at us.
"What are you waiting for!" Eric broke Milleia out of her stupor.
"S-Sorry!" Milleia continued to run.
One of the irisless stomped the ground and appeared in front of me in a second.
I parried the punch with one of my swords but it was really getting difficult as I was slowly pushed back.
What the hell are those things?!
I gritted my teeth and swung my other sword.
This time, I took the advantage and sent him crashing into his other fellow mates.
"What are they…?" I muttered as I saw my hands still shivering from the shock.
Those creatures are way too dangerous.
"Look out!" Eric's voice rang from behind me at the same time an explosion flashed. I jumped back and saw Eric breathing hard. "Don't lower your gua-"
I threw my sword before he could finish and it hit head-on a irisless trying to attack Eric.
"Don't lower your guard, 'Lord' Eric." I scoffed and walked toward the group of Irisless rushing at me.
I don't need to beat those freaks.
I just need to buy time.
I raised my hand and mirrors appeared around me, their surfaces reflecting the ferocious Irisless.
The Irisless charged forward, their movements swift and agile. I moved quickly, my mirrors shifting to reflect their attacks. I deflected their blows with the mirrors, striking back with my short swords. The sound of metal on metal echoed through the air as the battle raged on.
Also thanks to the mirrors, I could even see the Irises' movements before they made them. I parried their attacks effortlessly, finding the perfect moments to strike back.
But as expected, as the fight continued, I began to tire. The Irisless seemed to be endless, and I knew he couldn't keep up this defense forever. I took a step back, summoning more mirrors around me to create a barrier.
The Irisless charged at the barrier, slamming into it with full force. But the mirrors held strong, deflecting their attacks and reflecting them back.
It's getting annoying.
"Break!" I willingly broke my mirrors and they split into countless shards.
"First Lance of Ares!" Eric landed next to me and punched out.
I didn't expect him to intervene but I wasn't disappointed since the result was deadly. The shards flew at a tremendous speed thanks to Eric's blast of energy piercing every part of the Irisless.
"You are strong…and you seem to be at the same age as me…" Eric muttered. "Who are you? I never heard of you in…someone like you should be already famous." Eric quickly corrected himself.
Indeed, in the Game, no one strong with a unique mirror ability appeared. His confusion was understandable as I would have felt the same in his place.
I looked back at him and smiled. "You are a reincarnator."
"!" Eric's eyes and mouth opened wide. "Y-You!"
"Yeah," I nodded at him before dodging another attack from the Irisless.
With my current strength, I can't beat them. Maybe with the Anathemas Fire but I wanted to preserve my mana just in case something goes wrong.
"Ah!" Suddenly Milleia screamed.
I and Eric shifted our gazes toward her.
A three-meter tall Irisless was fighting Milleia.
I remember the three meter tall but in the game it was welcoming Milleia and Jayden like they were his master!
Milleia was kneeling on the ground with her broken shield and her broken sword. "I-I can't lose…" She bit her lips trying to hold back tears and rushed again but the Irisless was ruthless. He threw a powerful punch and Milleia's barrier broke in a second and she crashed on the ground.
"Hey! If she dies, it's over! You know, right!" I shouted at Eric.
Eric's face turned pale as if remembering. "I-I know!"
"Then send me there with your ability!" I told him hurriedly.
"W-What?" Eric was puzzled at the sense of my words.
I approached him and clicked my tongue. "Send me there with your blast of energy! Quick!"
"Are you stupid?! You will be seriously injured!"
"I won't die." I glared at him. "If she dies, how are we going to beat that fucker from Ante-Eden?!"
Eric's mouth opened but no words came out of it. "Alright!"
I nodded and went in front of him.
I felt Eric's mana overflowing from behind me.
Damn…where do I get those twisted ideas?
[From your twisted brain.]
I'm already missing her.
"Second Lance of Ares!"
"Cough!" I coughed blood at the same time, I felt a similar feeling of a truck hitting me from behind. I softened the shock thanks to the Anathemas Fire but not completely.
In a few seconds, I appeared in the Irisless' vision.
Let's see how you react to Ruah.
I coated my two short swords in a dense envelope of Ruah and mana before swinging them.
The sound of swords cutting the wind echoed and following that, a long arm fell on the ground.
I couldn't stop my body while flying so I crashed on the ground. "Arghh…"
I again broke a few bones.
"S-Sir N-Nyrel…" Milleia, on the ground, glanced up at me.
That damn thing is still aiming at Milleia even after I cut his right arm! Speaking of that, it was already growing back.
First, I should get Milleia to safety. The little Irisless were heading toward her as well.
But before I could take a step forward, something shone in front of me and a figure appeared.
"Mary?" She again appeared on her own.
Mary turned her face around and I couldn't help but notice how she becomes more and more beautiful each day. I couldn't get enough of her pitch black hair and onyx eyes.
"You are not alone, Nyr," Mary said and patted my back which was burned and injured.
"Does it hurt?" Mary asked while lowering her head.
I smiled and grasped her soft hand. "It's better now, thanks."
Mary looked panicked when I said that and she turned her face away. "I-I will buy you some time, Nyr."
"I'm counting on you." I took a step forward and rushed toward Milleia.
Seeing me running toward Milleia, the tall Irisless tried to smash me with his foot but-
"Reflect." Mary's calm voice rang and a mirror appeared above me.
The foot collided with the mirror and the Irisless' was knocked back with a broken foot.
As expected of Mary, she is of course way better than me in controlling mirrors and their abilities. Even her mirrors were more ornamented and had a tinge of black, adding even more beauty to the reflection.
I didn't even have to fight the little Irisless as Mary was also taking care of them. I just hope she wasn't overexerting herself.
"Milleia." I finally reached Milleia who was on her knees now.
"I-I'm s-sorry…" She eventually started crying. "I-I am not even able to p-pick some grass…you were fighting with Lord Eric for m-me but I-I-"
"Milleia." Without choices, I grabbed her hand to make her stand. "If you keep thinking that you are weak, you will never change. This mindset will keep you weak even if you can become strong."
I tried to soften my words. "If we don't get those Golden Grasses…Eric's sister will die."
"Your mother will die."
"!" Milleia's pink eyes started to glow at my words.
"But it will not happen." I said to her with utmost confidence.
I tried to convey how much I was confident to Milleia so she can feel more at ease. Milleia's eyes turned into a brighter shade of pink and even the hue of her blue hair turned deeper.
"I am here and you are strong. It's enough."