• Chapter #24: [MIYANASE]

(At LightWays Media)

“Dammit…! W-What should we do?! We’re going to be overrun!”, A hoarse, whispery scream of a Union soldier choked out, as he gazed at the huge number of Black Zodiac people outside.

“… I don’t know…”, One spoke in clear despair.

The situation in LightWays Media is much more worse. Ever since that teleporting spell had been cast and their 2 Supreme Ranks and most of their strongest members had been taken away, things continuously went downhill.

There are 2 new Supreme Ranks standing outside and their other members are still continuing to pour through the place.

True, the barrier was one of the strongest, and would even block 2 Supreme Ranks. However, with the enemy continuously summoning in soldiers, there’s only sometime till the barrier eventually breaks.

For now, they could still resist and hope. However, if the barrier finally breaks off, it would be a one sided slaughter.

….

Yosh! Been a while since it was me, but I’ve had the time to collect most of the information that I need. Now, there’s only one needed and I’m here in front of it.

I’m standing here in this dark room, with the runes, floor lines, ceiling lights dimly glowing, enough for it to be seen, but not enough to light the place up. I’m in the middle, gazing at the orb that’s placed in some sort of an altar. In specific, the orb looks like a basketball sized plasma globe.

*Sigh*

I hovered my palms on the orb, making it’s energy go haywire and connect to my palm. Immediately, it activated and created a projection, which I begun to read in runic language.

“Sunshine and rainbows, I am the Lady of Joy.”

“But everything comes to pass, even my joy’s not infinite.”

“As greed devours everything, so is the happiness of this little lady.”

“Replaced by sorrow, smiles turned to cries and laughter turned to whimpers.”

“Crying becomes despair when there’s no shoulder to lean on and the comfort of silence becomes lonelier as you despair alone.”

“Greed of those she cherished. Betrayal of those who abandoned.”

“The Lady of Joy.”

“The once lasting smile of happiness that adorned her face…”

“The Lady of Sorrow.”

“Became the embodiment of everything that’s opposite of her grace.”

As soon as I finished reading the last line, the projection suddenly died out, followed by the runes, and everything that lit the place up, making it go pitch black. I told myself to think of the last hint later on, and tried to summon my Light Element.

However, before I could do so the orb that’s in front of me glowed. It was just a tiny sliver of light for a moment, but slowly grew till it resembled a white star and lit the whole room up. Thankfully though, because of my mask, I wasn’t blinded and had no problems of looking at it.

As it reached it’s crescendo, the whole temple also rumbled. But this time, it was accompanied by a shaking, one that resembled an 7 Magnitude earthquake. I was able to use my Mana to stabilize myself though.

Man, this feels like some temple raiding movies that I had watched on.

*Crack!*

… Oh boy, is that normal? The orb now had a crack on it’s top, and is continuously spreading throughout the sphere slowly.

I have a feeling that this is gonna be woozy…

…

*Shatter!*

As the orb shatters to dust, the light inside of it envelopes Kaide, making his form glow brightly. If he was a normal human, he would immediately break from the amount of sorrow and other negative emotions that were flooding into him from the white light. However, Kaide is one of the most gifted and powerful humans out there, so this was no breeze for him.

A few moments as light and despair still envelopes Kaide, he then disappears without any trace.

…

“W-What’s going on?!”, One of the Union members inside of Lisa’s snowstorm cried out, as they tried to make themselves stable in the midst of the earthquake.

On Lisa’s mind, she was rapidly thinking. This wasn’t the way to get out! Based on her knowledge, a gate will appear somewhere near once all information and trials had been passed. In her studies, there wasn’t any earthquakes written on it that’ll happen. This had been the first time!

“It’s not an attack! It’s coming from the Monument!”, Another one yelled out.

Yumie looked at the Monument once more, slightly worried about the man inside. No doubts, he was the one responsible for it’s odd behavior.

She thought once more, the events that would make the planet go awry is when it’s Divinity dies, or when someone tries to access the dead Divinity’s—!

Impossible! Could it be?!

“Unbelievable…”, Lisa muttered, frowning at the prospect. The Mythical Items that could affect a Deity’s soul would be at the Lady of Slumber’s hands. Only a direct connection to the Ancient Goddess would allow one to access such things…

… If such person exists, then he’d…

…

“Urgh…”, I groaned out, as I placed a hand on my forehead. Slowly opening my eyes, the only thing that stretched forever on the skies were dark clouds, which also sprouted deep violet lightning from time to time, hitting my ears with loud thunderclaps. I’m confused though, why was the ground so soft and comfy?

I squinted my eyes, before turning to my side. The scent of flowers entered my nose. In contrast to the dark and stormy skies, the plains were beautiful. What looked like red spider lilies, except they’re colored white, covered the land as far as I can see.

What an odd place, it was like the border between Light and Darkness. But despite that, it still possessed a beauty that made me smile as I sat up the flower fields.

[Potter’s Discernment: Active]

Ah… Now I see. We’re actually within the Realm of Dreams. It’s a dimension that differed based on a person, cause it is within their minds. To be short, this is like the deepest part of someone’s consciousness.

“ANYONE HERE?!”, I yelled out, using my hands as some sort of megaphone. A few moments later, with no reply, I stood up and gave a silent sigh.

“… Hello…”, A sweet and melodic, yet also sad voice came behind me, it carries a deep emotion within its voice, making me turn sharply. Looking about, a young woman was looking straight at me. Half of her hair were white, surrounded by a brilliant golden aura. Meanwhile, the other half was ash gray in color, surrounded by a thick purple miasma. Her eyes were heterochromatic, having red on the right and blue on the left. Her dress is similar to a summer dress, extending just below her knees. It was adorned with golden accents and a ruby gem resided on it’s chest area.

Overall, she looked like someone’s childhood friend neighbor, except that her eyes and face is very dull and lifeless…

Well that, and the dark violet curse marks that crisscrossed on her body, along with the shackles on her neck, wrists, and ankles, that were chained on some creepy, spirit-like clay doll floating behind her.

[Aptitude – Speaker: Active]

“Were you the one who brought me here?”, I asked simply.

“… I… Did…”, She whispered, enough for me to hear, and bowed her head slightly.

I didn’t mind what she looked like or what things were on her, but I really do want to know this place and her.

“May I have a permission to hear your name?”

“… Miya… Nase…”, She slowly said, but honest and directly. Upon saying her name, the voice carries a deep pressure. So this is a deity?

How weird, the most powerful females that I met is odd. First is that Supreme Rank girl, who was always cold and calm, on either her allies or opponents. Second, is this girl. She doesn’t feel human at all. Despite being so low and slow, her words carry this strange feeling.

So this is a Deity huh…

“I’m Hori Kaide.”, I introduced. Luckily, I had a activated [Aptitude] to be able to speak with her.

“Why do you stay in here?”, I need to tread carefully here. Having the wrong choice of words would leave my existence snapped out of reality. The gap between a Deity and an Enlightened is immense. Sure, I might be able to leave, but fighting my way to death doesn’t sound fun at all.

“… I.. I-It’s my d-dream place… I-It makes me… Happy…?”, She stuttered awkwardly. Those words didn’t fit her at all, and looked like it was made on the spot. In what situation would you feel happy in being tied?

…

I know what you’re all thinking, please stop.

…

But still, an embarrassed, cute Deity? I’ll take that any day.

“I see… May I ask what this human could do for you?”, I courteously said, softening up my voice and sincerely looking at her. I had already removed my mask a while ago.

As I said those words, she looked at my eyes for a moment, before her own teared up and her aura rose. In that moment, I was about to regret my choice of words, before she said…

“K-Kaide… I… I-I’m sorry…!”, She choked out, sobbing at the end. My eyes slightly widened in surprise, before I flinched and shivered noticeably, as her emotions came crashing to me. Despair, agony, regret, loneliness, and…

… Hope?

[•END•]

Revised by BaNaeNae.