PHASE 45 - FIRST STEP AS A DEMIGODDESS

“Rikkun! Rikkun! Rikkun!”

My jaws tremble as I cried the name of my lover out loud. I cradled him to my chest and gently shook him, over and over, but there is no response. I caressed his head tight because I refused to look at him at his current state. His breathing is no more. His pulse is zero. I could no longer sense any prana left in him.

He’s…

Rikkun is…

“Dead,” Helena muttered. “Alaric Eisenhower is dead. It’s a miracle that even he is able to stand up until the end. He fought for so long against me, who has the power of the six Gods.”

I ignored her as I continue to shake Rikkun’s body, hoping for a miracle. “Rikkun, please wake up! Rikkun! Rikkun!”

My tears fell down to his burnt blonde hair. There’s no response.

There’s no response at all.

He’s… dead.

…

But there is still something I can do. I can sing the so that everything will be reset. I have been doing this for seven million times! I’ve gotten used to it.

“Oh, unparalleled love… Oh, wish unsung...” I muttered the first lyrics of the .

I don’t care if I have to repeat everything again. As long as Rikkun is alive and happy, I’ll keep doing this forever.

I’m the Brightmore Witch after all...

“Heh! So you’re going to cast the again?” Helena held her hip as she glared at my soul. “Haven’t you learned your lessons? The next time you use that spell, your curse will reactivate. Your sins will give form to the Celestial Demon Fox once again. And… Your Rikkun would fall in love with another woman… again.”

“I don’t care!” I cried as my tears sprinkled.

My jaws continued to shake. I tried to sing the next lyrics, but my throat failed to produce any voice.

Why am I hesitating to mutter the next lyrics? ...Can I… Can I actually look at Rikkun as he falls in love with another woman again?

We actually haven’t gotten this far. All those dates we spent together. That kiss he made me when he saved me from the burning stake. The memories of him drawing from my chest. The confession he made to me, which made me freak out and end up accidentally rejecting him. All of those… are memories that I never lived through on any other timelines…

Am I really prepared to discard all of it, and start anew once again?

“Oh well... “ Helena sighed. “It’s not like I’ll let you cast the anyway.”

Helena swung her sword, in which I immediately blocked with my steel gauntlets! But the moment of the impact, my weapon exploded and got shattered into pieces!

“Kyah” I rolled on the ground together with the lifeless body of my lover.

“Hey… Let’s have a deal.” Helena made a demonic smirk as she raised her chin. “Why won’t you stay still so that I can kill you? You’ll be meeting your precious Rikkun in heaven. I’ll be doing you both a favor.”

I crawled my way to my treasured cadaver and embraced him tightly. Come to think of it… Dying would be the best scenario in this case. I can’t afford to be cursed and be hated by Rikkun again. I’m also tired of my life.

...Maybe we can finally have a happy ending in the afterlife…

“” Helena is now ready to cast the spell that will mark my end.

“Approved. All six Gods voted for extermination.”

Helena pointed her mechanical golden bow towards my direction and launched a glowing yellow sword.

I closed my eyes…

<>

“...Tiara…”

There was a faint voice inside my head.

When I opened my eyes, I was in white nothingness.

I find myself kneeling on the ground, in front of a childlike figure. She has this long golden hair in twin ponytails tied in white ribbons. Her purple affectionate eyes make my heart filled with hope. Her pinkish white face gave a blush as she muttered my name once more.

“Tiara.”

“N-Necchan!?”

Jeannette Amiella Fontaine von Noctis. My best friend and my love rival. She’s the closest person in my heart, for the reason that her soul resides in me. It is because I am now her...

“It’s not too late.” Necchan started to touch my wet cheeks and wiped my tears away. “There is still hope to save him.”

“B-But… Rikkun is dead… The only way… is the ...”

“There is always another way.” Necchan smiled. “If a door closes, open a window. If the window is locked, go at the back door. If the back door is closed, then breach your way until you have created your entrance. That’s who you are. Just don’t lose hope… With determination, never give up!”

Necchan made the warmest and cutest smile of all. It’s quite contagious, and she already has infected me.

“R-Right!” I pumped my fists. “You’re right, Necchan! With determination, I will never give up!”

“That’s my Tiara!” Necchan cheered. “Now go back there and fight!”

<>

When I opened my eyes once again, I find myself catching the golden sword with my bare scarred hands! Massive energy flowed towards me, like a raging waterfall continuously crushing a boulder. The blaster is ripping my skin and flesh apart.

It’s painful. It’s painful. My whole body aches. Part of me wanted to stay still and accept my death, but as I promised to Necchan, I will never give up!

Nine white tails spawned on my back like a blooming rose in the morning light.

“!!!” In an instant, the sword vaporized and was absorbed by a black hole that appeared in front of my palms.

There’s still an excessive drawback to my absorbing powers even though I’m already using my nine-tailed ! The power of the six Gods is truly terrifying!

“You’re too persistent!” Helena roared like a furious lion. “To think that I’ll be going all out in the likes of you…”

All the swords from Helena’s back levitated upwards and spun like a swarm of sardines in the deep ocean. Meanwhile, golden antler-bow materialized from her mechanical arm and loaded her sword, which immediately transformed into a winged spear that is covered with lightning sparks!

“!!!”

As she released the winged lightning spear from her bow, the swarms of swords followed, leaving nothing but light on its trails.

The full power of the six Gods combined… I can not match it.

But…

If I make that power my own, then maybe I…

“!!!”

I cried out loud as I was devoured by the endless stream of energy.

<>

“I-Impossible…”

Helena’s jaw hanged. Cold sweat ran from her cheeks to her neck. Even if her whole body is covered with her mechanical armor, it was clear that her toes are trembling in fear. The golden circuits on her armor began to flicker, signaling that she’s almost out of energy. It will take some time until she can recharge the power she just used.

“This is…” I muttered as I looked at my glowing hand.

I was no longer in my shrine maiden clothing. Instead, I’m now wearing a pure white silk dress made from warm and innocent prana. The tip of my dress has these flame effects that does not burn me or my clothes. I also have this heavenly floating scarf swirling upon my left and a right arm that shows the power of divinity similar to those East Asian gods. White ribbons that looked like wings spawned above my ears.

A tenth tail spawned up my back. No. They’re no longer considered as a tail from the curse of the Brightmore Witch. It’s warmer... and full of innocence.

All those silver tails reconverted themselves into shape-shifting white wings.

As I took my first step on earth as a Demigoddess, a ripple echoed.