I spent the next few minutes explaining everything to the other Enforcers as well as Johann and Iris.
They were less than happy to hear the report.
"Why is this Kyriel woman after you!?" Isabella said.
"I have no idea. The others said something about her not being allowed to talk to or fight me because she was obsessed... She seemed harmless when we were alone," I said.
"She didn't touch you, did she?" Isabella said.
"Not once. She did get pretty close to me a few times, though. Actually, she helped me get through the city..."
"Well, she tried pretty hard to kill me, so I think it's safe to say she's a threat to everyone except Mizik," Johann said.
"Good point," I said.
"These Generals are holding magic swords from Avernia then?" Leiso said.
I nodded.
"They've been reforged somehow and are extremely dangerous. Also, there's the problem with what the Source did to our world..." I said.
"Something in the ground feels very wrong right now... Like a darkness has taken root in our world. What's happening, Mizik?" Iris said.
"I don't know... I have no idea what the Source did, but whatever it was, it gave them a huge power boost."
"So it's reasonable to assume that each of these individuals might be just as dangerous as you are or even greater?" Leiso said.
I nodded slowly.
"This is bad... This is worse than bad, man... And what's with that thing you mentioned was eating everything!? Was it some kind of ghost or something!?" Michael said hysterically.
"I have no idea, but I can safely say she's probably much more dangerous than the other Generals."
"That might be an understatement... But who knows what that creature was..." Johann said.
"I have a theory, actually... A terrifying theory..." Iris said.
We all looked at her.
"So, not many people know this because it isn't widely discussed. But our world, along with all other worlds sit in a place called The Firmament. The Firmament is a dense zone between worlds that acts as a barrier to keep everything separate. Time itself is divided across it as well and moves differently for each world. Lastly...there's a place below The Firmament, as well... We call it: The Void," Iris Explained.
Johann looked over at Iris with worry on his face.
"The Void? That place is forbidden for anyone to enter. Besides, you have to go through the demonic and hell worlds to get there in the first place," He said.
"What is the Void?" I asked.
"The Void is an infinite realm that extends below the Firmament. Sort of like a cavern under a city. It's a place that deconstructs all materials and matter that enter into it and returns them to nothingness. Basically, entering the Void is suicide for everyone and everything. Not even a god can survive down there... But that thing felt like the Void itself..." Iris said as fear began to creep onto her face.
"Her name is Valtheim, by the way. I think she's the Source's personal bodyguard..." I said.
"OH, GODS! IT HAS A NAME, TOO!?" Iris shouted hysterically.
"That's just what the others called her... Although, they all seemed to be terrified of her..." I said.
"FOR GOOD REASON! That...thing...is an abomination! How can something like that even exist!? Where did it come from!? And most importantly...HOW DO YOU KILL IT!?" Iris said just before she dropped to her knees.
We looked on as she started crying hysterically.
"My...my precious Ignitus is doomed! MY WORLD! MY PEOPLE!!! NOOOOO! PLEASE, CREATOR!!! I DON'T WANT MY WORLD TO BE DESTROYED! I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUUUUUUCH!!!" Iris wept loudly as Johann hugged her.
She cried on his chest as he tried to comfort her.
All of us found it hard to fight back our tears as we saw Iris break down.
Johann, especially, looked greatly pained at her weeping.
She held onto him tightly and I clenched my teeth on rage.
That bastard...that piece of shit Source... DAMN HIM STRAIGHT TO HELL!!! I'LL KILL THEM ALL!!! I'll...kill them all...I'll burn everything down...
I noticed the other Enforcers talking quietly amongst themselves as I was seething with rage.
We spent a while on the transport, but eventually, Iris teleported us back to HQ.
* * *
After we got some sleep, we were all called into the meeting room.
The Enforcers, along with Iris and Johann were present.
Iris sighed and began the meeting.
"The public has already been made aware of what's going on. Unfortunately, the news media reporters got everything out before I could issue a statement and people are beginning to panic...especially since..."
"Several more cities in Nexus fell overnight..." Leiso said sadly.
"I...I know... We can do this...right? Carlos, do you have any news on how we can fight back?" Iris said desperately.
"La...I mean, Iris...I have the energy type that these two use. It's an extremely pure and powerful form of divine energy that needs the ability to use light to work properly," Carlos said.
At once, everyone looked at Michael.
"Look, I can't seriously be the only one capable of using this shit. Everyone needs to be able to do it or we're screwed!" Michael said angrily.
"There is also another thing. The foundation of the six of our powers...as well as the Attendants, is your power, Iris. Unfortunately, your power seems to be insufficient when it comes to completely destroying it. It isn't pure enough," Carlos said.
"What are you trying to say, Carlos? Are you saying it's impossible to win?" Iris asked.
"I'm not saying that at all, Iris. I'm saying we need to have a way of holding a more pure form of that power within us and applying it to our Aspects. First, we need to find a physical source for that power. I have a theory that your power might provide a necessary foundation that doesn't require the use of light for the rest of us as well. Once we have a source of pure divine power, I can see if it's possible to infuse our bodies with it..." Carlos said.
Everyone looked at me and Isabella next.
"That won't work. I already tried to extract it from Isabella. I need something solid to work with. Perhaps an object of sorts instead of a living person. We don't have the technology to forcibly extract that power from Mizik and Isabella, everyone," Carlos said.
"Then...what can we use!? We need a solid piece of the Creator's power! Are you kidding me!? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS TO OBTAIN!?" Iris shouted angrily.
Carlos crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he looked down. As if he was just resigned to be yelled at without firing back.
"I...I'm so sorry, Carlos... I didn't mean to yell at you...I'm sorry... Please-"
Carlos held up a hand to silence her.
"I'm not angry, Iris. I'm just telling you what I know. I understand your frustrations," he said.
"So let me ask a question here... You need a solid piece of the Creator's power, right? What, exactly, are you looking for?" Jallah asked.
"Something that he has touched with his divine hand. Something that radiates his power," Carlos said.
"Technically, didn't he create everything? If that's the case, then some dirt would do fine, right?" Jallah said.
"I wish that were the case. Yes, he made everything, but the divine energy particles have long since scattered to the winds. Finding even a single particle of that residual power could take years. We need something that he recently made. Something radiating holy power," Carlos said.
"I don't know how much time we have, but Johann and I can go back to Excelsis to have a look around. It's possible that something recently made might exist there... Can you all hold down the fort while we're away?" Iris said.
"We'll do our best, Iris. You can trust us," Dante said with a smile.
"Thank you, Dante... I'm counting on you," Iris said.
Dante nodded and Iris walked over to Johann.
After that, the two of them disappeared.
"That's all well and good, but are we supposed to just sit here with our hands up our asses until they get back?" Michael said.
"Although I dislike your crude way of speaking, you have a point. Deploying the military does little to slow the spread of this abominable substance... Even if it is effective to a degree," Leiso said.
"The military can still gun them down from a distance, right?" I asked.
"Yes, our weapons are capable of destroying the cores in these monsters. I've witnessed it from footage of Nexian and Arcadian soldiers on the ground in enemy territory. It's just that we need a way to permanently kill these things instead of just dispersing them. Or better yet, getting rid of them all permanently..." Leiso said.
When creatures of the Ooze had their cores destroyed, they melted into the ground.
It was always possible, however, that they could rise back up afterward. Although Isabella and I didn't have this problem in the past thanks to our abilities.
Truly destroyed monsters would crumble to dust when they came into contact with pure divine power.
Searching for a core, breaking it, and just merely hoping that they died...it seemed like a pretty troublesome method of disposal.
Destroying the monsters outright with a single attack? That was far more effective.
How much damage would that behemoth variant have done if I hadn't obliterated it while I was on that aircraft?
Surely, it would have sent it crashing into the ground.
Anyone that survived the crash would have been eaten by the Ooze.
Leiso probably would have died and I would have been captured.
Behemoth variants might not have been the strongest, but they were no joke. Being able to kill one completely was important to minimizing collateral damage. Because each one was a walking tank.
And that's before getting into the titan variants...
The giants we saw at the battle of Geldekairn...serpents, flying types...
And now they had humanoid Generals capable of commanding these monsters!?
How many forms did the Black Ooze possess!?
"We can use aerial forces as long as the flying variants don't attack, right?" I said.
"Yes. We have yet to record any such flying variants in the military. Although, these...behemoth variants? We've already seen many of them. The soldiers in Nexus have great difficulty dealing with them. Is there any advice you can give?" Leiso said.
I shook my head.
"Nothing useful other than what you already know. But it might help to remember that they have a reliance on their leader. Whoever that may be. Usually the strongest creature in the group is the one they depend on to stay active. Killing the leader disperses the group," I said.
"You mentioned this in the past... Is this really the best method? Have you recorded its authenticity?" Leiso asked.
"Yes, back when Isabella nearly died in Avernia. Once I killed the behemoth, everything else dispersed. Same with the ones at the border between our countries," I said.
"Then in this case...those Generals..." Leiso said.
"...Are most likely the ones controlling the hordes," I said.
"Unless the Source himself is nearby, right? And what about this Valtheim woman? Were her abilities related to the Ooze?" Leiso asked.
"They didn't seem to be related at all, to be honest. I'm convinced that she might be separate from the Ooze... Whatever the case, the Source seems to hold her in a position of great power other than just a bodyguard if she gives the Generals orders," I said.
Leiso thought for a moment.
"Killing Valtheim seems impossible right now, so we'll skip that part. We can deal with the monsters, it's just that we can't properly destroy them. We have a sizable military force that can support us on the ground, as well...enough to lead an assault, if necessary... But to where?" She said.
"Hang on a second... That crater in central...what was in there, exactly?" Gavin said suddenly.
"Let's see...Iris and Novak made that crater ten years ago at the Battle of Heaven's Crater. Then...it was filled in by the Creator after he took Novak," Jallah said.
"THAT'S IT!" Carlos shouted.
We all looked at him in surprise.
"BY THE SCALES!!! IRIS AND JOHANN NEED TO COME BACK RIGHT NOW!!!" Carlos shouted angrily.
"Umm...why?" Michael asked.
"Because...we need their help obtaining the flowers in Central. That place could be infested by now!" Carlos said.
"What if we just flew in, grabbed what we needed, and left?" Dante said.
"That seems really risky... Do we have the right equipment to harvest the flowers?" Jallah said.
"Dude. They're just flowers. Pick the flowers and fly home, it's not rocket science!" Michael said angrily.
"Ah...yeah... That makes sense in theory, but what if they could be damaged? Would they still work? I'm trying to figure out the exact course of action is all," Jallah said.
"Hmm...Carlos would probably be able to figure it out," Michael said.
Leiso cleared her throat.
"We need to come to a decision. We can wait for Iris and Johann to return and potentially be unable to access the crater, or..."
"...We risk everything we have on the slim chance that those stupid flowers have the power we need?" Michael said.
Leiso nodded.
"I have a theory that he knew this would happen and left them there for us to find later. He has a non-interference policy, so he won't intervene directly unless absolutely necessary... But it seems like he's still helping us out. Those flowers might be our last chance... There is no guarantee that Iris and Johann will find anything worth using in Excelsis, so we need to decide now," Carlos said.
"Very well. Option one is that we wait here for Iris and Johann. Option two is that we take a risk," Dante said.
We all nodded.
"All in favor of option one?" Dante said.
Michael, Gavin, and Dante all raised their hands.
"Sorry...but if we're wrong about this, it could be a disaster. It feels safer this way," Michael said.
The other two seemed to agree.
"As much as I'm all for taking risks and getting difficult jobs done, I'm not about to put everyone in that kind of danger. I think should wait for Iris and Johann. Now...all in favor of option two?" Dante said.
Jallah, Leiso, Carlos, Isabella, and I all raised our hands.
"It's a risk, but I've never had a breakthrough without taking a few of them..." Carlos said.
I could tell he was nervous...
"I agree. The thought is unsettling, but by Iris... This is our world! If we pass up this opportunity, we could still all die anyway, right? Shouldn't we at least try and take a risk?" Leiso said.
"Isabella and I will be there. We can fight them off if need be. We're stronger together, you know?" I said.
"Well then...we have a three to five majority vote. Since that's the case, I expect everyone to come along with us when we go to Central. Are we in agreement?" Dante said.
Everyone nodded.
I could understand wanting to stay in hiding, but...
The Black Ooze was spreading further and further by the minute. Three cities fell in the hours we spent sleeping and it was more than likely at least one more could have fallen already...
We had to act fast.
The eight of us stood up and made our way to the roof of the building where Leiso began organizing the military for a raid.