Ikarisa mustered her new power, destroying nearby Enmities and turning around to face even more that were madly dashing towards her.

"Lass!", Ikarisa yelled, gathering monsters with giant chains.

"Leave it to me. Hiya!", Lass swiftly took care of a hoard of chained monsters. "Hmm. That 'Key Of The Gate' you got is quite handy actually."

"Thanks but...there's just no end to them.", she said as she panted.

"Let's keep it together. Pull back for now. I'll get the frontlines and take care of everything else."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, go. Meet up with Anya in the main plaza.", he nodded at her.

"Alright!"

Lass had started cutting his way to the front lines to meet up with the rest of the resistance, as Risa met up with Anya in a desperate state at the main plaza.

"Dammit, stay down already!", Anya screamed as she sawed monsters in half, "How many of these guys are there?!"

"I'm here.", Ikarisa screamed as she snapped her fingers, summoning a wide range of swords.

In a flash, Ikarisa's swords, like a bunch of homing missiles, targeted and slashed all surrounding monsters in the plaza.

"Woah, nice! Glad you caught up with me. I dunno if it's me being out of shape or their sheer numbers, but it's starting to get real tough here."

"I used too much...", Ikarisa whispered as she kneeled.

"You ok?", Anya helped her up.

"It's been way too long since I used any of these powers...they're draining me fast. It's like I'm constantly running uphill."

"It's alright, I've got news to cheer you back up. Every single citizen, innocent as well as soldier is perfectly safe."

"What? But then, what's with all the blood everywhere?"

"It only seems to be originating from Enmities. Weird for two reasons. One, I don't think Enmities would bleed red and two, they aren't targeting randomly like they normally are. It appears way more...organized."

"That's impossible. Enmities have always been volatile...they have always been like that.”

"Then we might just be looking at a new type of monster then. But they're not really battling anyone who either doesn't provoke them or is not an Obsulyte user. It looks like that's all they're doing anyway. They're constantly trying to get themselves to the main plaza."

"Anya...please. I need to get out of the city, fast!"

"Really? No, wait...I think I gotcha! There's no way a car can manoeuvre through this. Hop on!, Anya yelled as she grabbed a mechanical horse for Ikarisa.

"I-I uh..."

"Don't worry all in-city mecha-horses are super checked. With all the destruction, I'm sure even a motorbike would struggle to manoeuvre through this! Now-"

"No. I'm going alone. Please go tell Lass immediately, I don't know how much longer I can keep this up!"

"But you...right. Go, go!"

While Ikarisa took off on horseback for the nearest city gate, a struggle on the front lines was emerging, as the monsters grew increasingly violent.

"Do yourself a favour and stay down," Lass said, taking down an entire hoard of monsters.

"Not bad.", Kalimo scoffed at Lass.

"Shut up and work. What the-", Lass said in surprise, blocking a giant hammer. "God...damn..."

"How's this, you big bastard?", Anya screamed as she cut in the middle of the attack, cutting the monster's head clean off. "Critical and clinical," she said with a smug.

"Well done for a lousy mutt. Wait...where's Risa?"

"She took off again, heading outside of the city as we speak."

"You've gotta be kidding me. Not this damn cat n’ mouse game again.", Lass worryingly said with a facepalm.

"I wouldn't react like that, big guy. She has a plan."

"Screw that, we recently found out that her powers are more than simple healing. We have to reach her before she overestimates what she can do."

"Agreed. Moreover, these monsters seem to have become weaker as a result of that.”

"Where was she heading?"

"The field outside of the west area.", Anya said as she pointed the way, "I'm going after her ok?"

"I'm coming too. Everyone! Stop expanding forces! Redirect all available fighters and army units to the main gates. Cut off every single one of them!", Lass firmly ordered.

A woman in a prideful big looking armour then approached him, looking utmostly annoyed but Lass's actions.

"And who are you to be leading my army?", the woman angrily replied.

"Yo Heista! What's up?!", Anya happily greeted her.

"Huh? Anya?", Heista replied with surprise, "I should've known that despite all that was said with your dad, you'd be out here."

"Surprise-surprise, the big shot merchant knows the army general of Reingard.", Lass said with a sigh.

"You bet! She's my drinking buddy! And after all, this is over, might as well crack a can or a dozen!", Anya happily said, wagging her tail.

”Wait, ‘that’s the drinking buddy Risa told me about?”, Lass said with a straight face, “Bench drinking in the morning too as well. Hang on...have I seen you before? Your face looks familiar.”

"He is with you?", Heista ignored Lass.

"Yeap! Ever since he entered the city. He's got a knack for battles too...don't underestimate him!"

The troubled Heista looked at them both with hesitation, before she too, under the stressful situation, cracked her suspicions.

"Alrighty then. I guess it's time for me to take the lead.", she went to the front.

"No, you must listen. These monsters are harmless to those who are not Obsulyte users or aren't attacking them. They aren't Enmities, we're talking about a new threat here. Considering armies are defined by Obsulyte users nowadays, it's better to form everyone up towards the main gates that way."

"And a Paladin general with years of experience should hear a kid because?", Heista doubted him.

"Because the 'kid' was at least sober enough to kick ass in a battle with your drinking buddy over here. I weigh who is more responsible right now, I think I'd win."

"Hmm. I like you a lot kid. You appeared to do some nice growing up here and there, considering you're at least running decent ideas by that hormone-filled head of yours. Considering the details, I like that plan, at least for the majority safety of innocents. This is a shitshow enough already, I'll have to do some real digging to find out how these bastards escaped the control zone.", she turned around to face her soldiers, "Do as you were told! I was four additional battalions of Paladins scattered in the city, remove every other possible threat that escaped the main hoard!", Heista yelled, slamming her sword and picking it up.

"But ma'am! If we break the parameter lines, the monsters from the sides will pour in!", the soldier replied.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"I'm seriously gonna have to smack their ass into doing what I said at times like-", Heista's words got cut off by Lass.

"Shut up and do it already.", Lass calmly said with a menacing look.

The threatening aura of authority emitted by Lass was enough to make those around him completely freeze and the soldier before him docile to the point of directly obeying him and answering his commands. It was as if he was suddenly brainwashed to see a massive threat.

"I-I, yes! Right away sir!"

"Not bad kid. Might know your way around leading and ordering...but don't get too full of yourself.", Heista said with a smirk.

"Bad around crowds, but good at giving orders. Now how about that?", Anya said with a smug.

"Come on, let's go after Risa. She won't be able to hold for long.", Lass said as he got on a mecha-horse.

"Yes!", Anya replied.

Leaving the front lines to be taken care of by Heista, the two of them rushed to the fields outside the west gate, where a horrifying in size monster hoard had gathered all around Ikarisa.

"Back off.", Lass said as he slashed monsters away.

"You ok?!", Anya worryingly said.

"I'm alright...thanks to you and Lass being here. Now please do the last part of my plan. Break down all military barricades nearby.", Ikarisa said, all out of breath and panting.

"You're planning to nuke them all at once? But that's-", Lass said in a worried manner.

"It'll be ok, you can trust me.", she said with a brave look on her face.

"You're seriously planning to just blow up?", Lass doubted her.

"Lass, we can't argue right now, rational or irrational, it's the one plan I could come up with to stop them, and I doubt we have time to think of another one right now. Please, just do it!"

"Ok...I hear ya."

"I'll take the right.", Anya said as she prepared herself.

"Please...hurry!", Ikarisa said, barricading herself with her powers.

Swift as she finished her words, Lass and Anya made quick work of all military barricades that once held the monsters back, letting them all pour in on the little goddess as she steadily held them off.

"That's the last one!", Lass yelled.

"They're all pouring in!", Anya said as she watched the monsters heading toward Ikarisa.

"Get away! Now!", Ikarisa screamed.

"Come on big guy! Over here!", Anya said as she grabbed Lass.

"Get down!", he yelled.

Breaking the barrier that once held the monsters back from herself Ikarisa slowly lifted herself into the air.

"You will threaten all of us and this city full of innocents no longer!"

With those words the intense Obsulyte energy mass gathered in front of Ikarisa, engulfing her in a bright light aura as it tried to enter her body, the body itself rejecting the energy from entering. Dispersing at once, the energy started reducing the enemy numbers to an absolute zero in the flash of an eye, disintegrating the completely. Ikarisa could only stare in amazement at the powerful sight as she could not believe the abilities she had been locked deep inside her for all this time.

"Wow...thank you, truly. I owe you more than I can ever-", she paused her whispering as she felt what seemed like a gentle gesture of a shadow, patting her head in understanding.

"That was way more dangerous than I thought. What kind of a suicide plan was that? You never told me you'd use so much pow-", Lass's words were cut off by Ikarisa's actions.

"Thanks a lot!", she said with a smile, hugging Lass.

"I...sure.", Lass sighed as he retained his scolding to not take away Ikarisa’s joy.

"Hell of two lovebirds you two make!", Anya said with a chuckle.

"W-What? Me and Lass...that’s not possible!”, Ikarisa blushed.

"You know, first Sonia, your employee, now you. I'm starting to see a pattern here. I will kill you.", Lass menacingly looked at Anya.

"Ehe, it was just a joke!", Anya said with sweat on her face, lowering her ears.

"Risa, what about you? Are you ok?", Lass asked.

"For some reason, despite the power I just used I don't have a scratch on me but...I probably won't be able to use them again for a short while. At least it didn't hurt me as I thought- I mean nothing!", Ikarisa switched her words, afraid of Lass's reaction.

"So you were actually planning to literally blow up. You are an idiot! I knew something wasn't good about that plan! Are you serious?!", Lass yelled, unable to contain his anger and worry.

"I know...sorry.", Ikarisa rubbed her head.

"Despite what you show...you actually care a hell of a lot don't ya big guy?", Anya whispered. "Such a kid...", she said with a chuckle.

"Yes, I care about nearby people and friends not spontaneously combusting in front of me. What a heroic character trait unique to me that is. I feel so special."

"Yeap, still a kid like Heista said!", Anya winked.

"You're asking for it all the time. The damn nuisance of a dog-", Anya stopped messing around with him, forcing him to stop.

"Come on, let's get back.'", Anya said with a chuckle.

Getting back to the now washed-up battlefield inside the city walls, they calmly made their way towards the frontlines. Surprised and horrified they were greeted with a sight most brutal.

"What?! What the hell happened here?!", Anya said in surprise.

"Complications. After the giant explosion in the middle of the field, while all the monsters there were dead, those here went berserk. They started brutally and madly attacking us. They are dead now but...soldiers and competitors...", Heista said with a grim face.

"B-But I thought...I did it. Did I save everyone? I...there's no way!", Ikarisa said as she started to tear up from the mere sight of the wounded and the bloody.

The area was comprised of nothing but pain and agony. Several soldiers and tournament competitors, as well as anyone else who chose to grab a weapon and fight, were all lying in a state of pain, soaked with their blood. Wounds were abundant, as some that were lucky bled out, while others simply failed to keep their body intact, partly dismembered or dragging along parts of them that used to never see the light.

“Holy shit. I've never...seen anything like this...", Anya said, “What is...this?”

"Risa! Hey Risa! Dammit, stop running away!", Lass said as he tried to get a hold of Ikarisa.

"With all, she saw then and now, she must not be all that high. Lass, we must-", Anya's words were stopped at once by Lass.

"No. You've done way more than enough. Stay here and look after them."

As Anya nodded and Lass ran after Ikarisa he was quick to lose sight of her. Anxious about the situation he could only think of a single place in the entire city where he could find Ikarisa. Taking his chances, he rushed to none other than the bridge next to the tree outside of the arena, where the three had their first heartfelt moment. She was just standing there, looking towards the general direction of the wounded soldier’s camp but averting her eyes from the exact place where it all happened. The reason for her running was unknown, she could have only wished to get away from the familiar but unwanted sight.

"I'm such a crybaby aren't I...", she said as she managed to form a weak smile through her wet face, retaining some form of calm.

"Risa.", Lass calmly said as he stepped down.

"What is there to say? I failed again, didn't I? I tried to keep everyone safe...safe from all this. I used all I had to protect them and you. And yet I just stood there. I watched as all of them were carried away. And like the coward I am, I didn't tell them why this all happen. Who caused it to happen...I couldn't even heal their wounds because my powers have been depleted on that part for now. I just have to sit and ask myself again and again…why do I do it? Why do I run away? Why does my head feel fuzzy the more that I look back? Why do I keep telling myself that I have a duty and a task to fulfil that I obviously can’t seem to burden? All these questions and much more I just fail to answer every day but I keep dragging others like you with me, engulfing them in all this. I’ve thought of stopping numerous times. I thought if I would just let myself go and be killed in a way that it would all end…but this one voice in my head tells me it will only be worse.”

"I know how you feel. Wanting to protect someone you care for...calling it your duty but then running away. Not because you were powerless. But because you were frightened. You didn't even run away in the first place...had it not been for you, monsters could've done way worse-"

Ikarisa chuckled. “You know how it feels…you really, really do.", she whispered as she tried to hold her tears in, “I have to ask you one of my many questions…unless they will just keep pilling up.”

”Sure…anything you need.”, Lass complied.

”Why? Why did you do it? Why did you follow and believe some random girl in the rain that appeared crazy? You could have just stayed there and not gotten into all this mess.”

Lass paused for a moment before giving his answer. “Honestly, I don’t know. Be it the boredom at the time or what I had to deal with because of losing dad…I really don’t know. I can’t put a finger on half the things I’m doing. Be it instinct or something else, I can’t help myself but know that somehow, someway, it will work out. I mean, it sounds like something out of a textbook novel I used to read, but it seemed too random to be random. You know what I’m saying, right? Some girl in the rain appears to me half dead in my forge, then that cultist and the healing powers…it felt like at that point, this wasn’t like every other day, was it? Luck…no, not really. And even then, I always felt that throughout my life, something was missing. Outside of that forge that my dad raised me in, something was always off. He told me that one day, I have to and that I must travel to see the world and ‘find myself’. I always used to write it off as some philosophical crap he would flush down my head like that dumb kids' story he did. That was until he died…I kept pondering on everything he said more than ever before, including the story and that philosophy, and the day you came, it all just felt…connected, in a way? Either way, you don’t have to worry about me leaving your side. Though my goal is unclear and I have no idea what I’m actually doing, I know that I can at least be by your side without worrying about you going away just like that. Weird as it is…I can’t shake off at all the fact that I for some reason have seen your face before. Guess it’s comforting somehow? I just…don’t know. The only thing I can do is hope that you would feel the same.”

“Had it not been for me, monsters wouldn't exist. Had it not been for me, monsters wouldn't be here in the first place...I should have been killed like him. Back then. Because I would have at least done everything I could to save this world, those inside it and not having to make them suffer.”

"You wondered for so long...but even then, you don't know? Sometimes even doing our best will still not be enough. Sometimes failure may follow even when we push the limits. But when that happens, it only means that the limits can be pushed further. If we were to give up on the first failure, or the second, or the one hundredth, how would we be able to move forward and see success?", Lass said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the crying goddess's mood.

"Did I...do my best?", she said as she began to break down.

Lass dared not to speak a word, he was too afraid of the outcome based on whatever he said.

"Did I? Is that…my limit?", she asked again as cried as her voice began to break.

"Only you can set your limits…but I can and will always tell you that you can go further.", Lass patted Ikarisa’s head.

Those words were enough to send the already tearing goddess into a state of total breakdown. She could not but cry for her damnation and he could not but console her during her horrible times. He knew that it was better for him to see his tears than others. He had met her a few days ago, but he knew it deep inside him, he cared too much to let her cry on her own. He knew one such feeling, though he failed to find said feeling’s origin, but was himself inexperienced in handling it. He could only hold her tighter as she did the same. And despite both her sadness for her duty and his sadness for her fate she just had to carry on. Only she could trace back at the pain she’s been through and only she could push through them…