Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

And Hell Froze Over

"I know - but I wasn't singing like this with so much on the line!" Irys argued, "Crystallizing a handful of Horrors at a time is one thing... but crystallizing an entire army of them in one go? Filling the entire world with my magic? That's something else entirely!"

"Did that stupid senpai of yours say something to you earlier?" Bae frowned, "I haven't seen you this distressed since, well - ever! The way you fought earlier - turning it into a scythe too..." She blinked and furrowed her brow, "It reminded me of that time Mumei fought us back in the Army Infirmary in Da Nang."

Did I really seem that scary back then?

"I'm sorry you had to see that." Irys apologized, "There were a lot of things that I've been keeping bottled up inside. Seeing Calli-senpai again popped the cork off the bottle and, well..." She shook her head, "When I heard that they wanted to take you and Kronii away with them - that hurt me."

Bae looked into Irys' two-colored eyes. Then, she laid a hand on Irys' shoulder.

"Well, don't let it get to you, Irys." Bae reassured her, "If they're gonna be arseholes about this whole mess, then Cover Corp can suck it for all I care! I think the Kronster's on the same boat as me there."

"Bae..." Irys managed a small smile, but this deflated into an apologetic frown, "Thinking about it now - I think we might have to hold off on our plans of traveling my world for now. I don't think I'm welcome there anymore."

Bae chuckled.

"As much as I would have wanted to see your world, I'm more than happy to help you make your home here." Bae spoke cheerfully, "Don't bother with what your senpais told you. You're a new gal now - a gal who can cut her own path and reach for her own destiny with her own two hands!" She spread her arms out wide and cheered, "Reach for the stars, Irys, and sing for the world! Make those senpais of yours hear your voice. Make them regret abandoning you!"

"That's going to take some time..." Irys started somberly. However, she took Bae's hand from her shoulder and clasped it gently, "I'll sing my heart out."

"I know you will." Bae smiled.

She also clasped Irys' hand in hers. After a short while, the silence broke when the dressing room door creaked open. AFVN staff poked their heads inside and called on Irys.

The SSS network was ready for her.

"Bae..." Irys turned to the rat-girl nervously.

"You'll do great." Bae reassured her, "I'll be listening from the station's command center. I'll watch the entire world get blown away by your singing!"

"You really think so?" Irys asked.

Bae nodded and pointed to herself proudly, "You're talking to your number one fan right now, though! I'm pretty biased about this thing."

Irys chuckled. She jabbed Bae tenderly.

"Remember my promise to you?" Bae smiled, "If things go to hell and the sky comes falling down, call out to me. I'll come running."

All of a sudden, Irys hugged the rat-girl tightly.

"Promise?" Irys asked.

"Promise." Bae hugged back, holding the Nephilim close. After a short while, she let Irys loose and urged, "Now go and save the world!"

...

Eighty-Fourth Scene - Diamond Tears

Irys bid farewell to Bae and marched into the recording studio. The joint AFVN and local GKTV-5 crew stopped whatever they were doing and welcomed Irys. In Irys' eyes, the fanfare in that little studio seemed like the footage of the Apollo 11 space mission at the NASA control center that she had seen in classified films.