Athena spoke in a calm tone while looking at him, "Did you manage to obtain the Sword of the Lords of Destruction?"
However, Yuta did not utter a single word; the sword's power prevented Athena's voice from reaching him. This made her realize that he had finally obtained the Sword of Death.
She sighed happily and clenched her fist tightly, realizing she was finally free and could exact revenge on the High Rulers after millions of years of imprisonment in the mortal realm.
She turned her gaze toward Yuta as he walked toward her. He paused briefly before her, speaking calmly as he returned the Sword of Death to a pocket dimension, ignoring the trembling of the dungeon. "Of course, I came here specifically for it; there was no way I'd let it slip through my fingers. Besides, we need to leave; this place is collapsing."
"As for the monsters from your world—why did you seal their power so heavily? Even the strongest among them were reduced to Rank XXX; a mere Rank X hunter could kill them. Don't worry, though; I've broken the seals, so they'll return to their true power levels."
Athena didn't say a word in response to Yuta's question, as she couldn't find a suitable answer herself. Had she done it because she wanted to follow the original storyline, or because she had accepted her fate? After all, she was the embodiment of the concept of Death, not of "endings."
Meanwhile, Yuta looked at her calmly with a faint smile, stopping midway.
He spoke in a mocking tone that made Athena look at him with an expression full of annoyance. "I remembered we have a teleportation skill—why not use it?"
As Yuta spoke, an explosion occurred, causing the dungeon's existence to rapidly fracture. Yuta instantly grabbed Athena's hand.
Without a second thought, he activated the teleportation skill. In a split second, they appeared outside the "Rulers' Tomb" dungeon, finding themselves surrounded by a crowd—including high-ranking Hunters (Classes X, XX, and XXX). The King and his son were watching them with calm expressions.
The area was packed with powerful Hunters and citizens of Ghasmburg. Yuta spoke, feigning surprise and confusion: "Why is everyone standing by the gate? Is something strange going on?"
No one uttered a word; everyone was in shock over the disappearance of the Rulers' Tomb dungeon gate.
Loud exclamations began to spread through the crowd—noise that deeply annoyed Athena, though Yuta remained unbothered.
"The Rulers' Tomb dungeon was destroyed by a young man and a woman who looks to be in her twenties."
"That's one of the most dangerous dungeons in the world! How did they manage to destroy it in under three hours?"
"It seems there are some terrifyingly talented individuals emerging this year—people who were previously unknown."
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Yuta turned his gaze toward the spot where the gate had previously stood, feigning astonishment to preempt any unnecessary suspicion. "Oh, really? Yes, as you can see..." He then looked toward the King and spoke in a loud, enthusiastic, and joyful tone: "Your Majesty, I heard that the reward for clearing the dungeon..." "The Rulers' Tomb... a reward of two million platinum coins—is that true?"
Signs of shock appeared on the faces of the King and his son as they listened to Yuta, who spoke with a calm tone that still betrayed a hint of shock and bewilderment. "Yes, Yuta. The kingdom has indeed set a reward of two million platinum coins for whoever clears the Rulers' Tomb dungeon."
He then raised his voice with enthusiasm, drawing everyone's attention. "Yes, that reward goes to the person who clears it, and you managed to clear it in under three hours. You have truly achieved something magnificent that commands respect."
Everyone turned their gaze toward Yuta Casiral, who was thinking to himself with a tone full of mockery: *Just a bunch of useless fools, gathering around someone else's success. Still, keep building this kind of reputation for me; it will prove useful. Hahahaha.*
He then turned his attention to Victor, the ruler of the city of Brahis, and asked in a calm voice, "So, when will I receive the reward for clearing the Rulers' Tomb dungeon?"
Some time after the destruction of the Rulers' Tomb dungeon—and after Yuta had collected the dungeon-clearing reward—the two were walking through the city of Brahis. Athena wore a calm expression and a warm smile as she looked at Yuta, who was speaking to her. "Athena, you need to buy new clothes; your current ones are drawing suspicion."
A look of surprise crossed Athena's face as she realized her attire was unusual. She was unaccustomed to the Rulers and the people around her; furthermore, she could feel the gazes of passersby drifting toward her from time to time.
She spoke in a quiet, slightly frustrated tone—the voice of a Ruler suddenly forced to shop for the clothing of the mortal realm.
They headed toward a nearby clothing store—one of the finest in the city of Berhais.
Yuta spoke calmly as they walked inside: "Alright, choose whatever you like."
Athena didn't say a word; she had remained silent ever since leaving the cell, feeling unable to converse with anyone. Having been imprisoned alone for millions of years, it was only natural that she would struggle to communicate with another being—even an Absolute—on such short notice.
Yuta sighed in frustration and walked toward a shop assistant, all while Athena felt a sense of irritation at her own inability to speak.
She let out a deep sigh as her energy radiated throughout her body, resolving her psychological block by simply extinguishing the very concept of that complex within herself.
She turned her gaze toward Yuta, who was speaking respectfully to the assistant—a demeanor that left the employee stunned for a few moments, given Yuta's striking appearance and the news of how he had destroyed the Rulers' Graveyard cell in a mere three hours. "Ma'am, could you please help her choose some clothes? She is very shy."
The assistant looked at Athena, then back at Yuta, speaking in a calm, respectful tone: "Certainly, I will help her. Mr. Yuta Casiral... and Miss—it is a pleasure to meet you." Athena gazed at him for a few seconds before speaking in a calm tone, prompting a subtle smile from Yuta; the fact that she had overcome her complex so early on worked to his advantage. "My name is Frederica, but I go by Athena."
The shop assistant clasped her hands together in front of her face with an engaging smile, realizing the interaction wouldn't be as difficult as she had imagined. She spoke while moving through the shop with Athena, "Alright, let's see what clothes suit you."
Athena followed her silently to pick out new clothes, ignoring the gaze of Yuta, who had made his way to a nearby seat.
Five hours later, they had finished selecting the clothes. They found Yuta lying on the bench, staring at the ceiling with a look of regret over the moment he decided to buy clothes for Athena; though it had been five hours, to his body, the time was dragging agonizingly slowly.
Athena gently tapped his forehead, causing him to look at her with mild annoyance before he stood up and headed to the checkout counter—the very spot where the assistant worked.
Yuta spoke as Athena placed the clothes into his personal dimensional storage space, "Alright, what is the price of the clothes?"
The assistant calmly nodded, signaling him to wait a moment as she rapidly tallied up the cost of the items. After a few minutes, she spoke in a calm tone while handing Yuta the bill, "The price is ten platinum pieces."
Yuta produced ten platinum coins while glancing irritably at Athena, who was avoiding his gaze. He didn't actually care about the cost, but he used it as a pretext to deter any suspicious moves from those watching from the shadows. "Here you go, and we apologize for the trouble we caused you."
She placed the money in the designated slot and spoke cheerfully, "It's no trouble at all; thank you for visiting our shop." "The humble Lord Yuta and Lady Athena..."
This caused Athena to glare sharply at the shopkeeper. "Humble? Are you joking? Where is this humility? I certainly don't see it."
Yuta dragged her away, as Athena was looking at him with annoyance; to her, the clothes were utterly trivial—unworthy of a High Ruler. He spoke in a calm tone while glancing at the flustered shopkeeper: "Goodbye."
An hour later, Athena and Yuta were walking through the city toward their home.
Yuta spoke calmly as he walked, without looking at her: "Did you like the clothes?"
Athena sighed, her head bowed; she had a bump on her head and a tear trickling from her left eye—the result of refusing to wear the clothes, which she had deemed cheap and trivial. "Yes... they were very beautiful."
A few minutes later, Yuta and Athena arrived home.
Yuta spoke while looking at Seera, Leera, and Kira, who were playing together: "Seera, she will look after you in my absence. I've changed my mind; we're going to live here. Furthermore, I've asked the Duke to prepare a mansion for us, and we'll be moving there next week. Alright?"
Athena kept her gaze fixed on Seera, remaining silent; she sensed a pure, destructive power radiating from the child's body, alongside an unfathomable energy coming from both Leera and Kira.
Yet, her attention remained focused on Seera, who seemed incredibly familiar to her.
She spoke inwardly, piecing together scattered memories of a solitary figure who had chosen to stand by her side against the rulers during the First Ragnarok War: "Could it be..." "The Supreme Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi... She resembles him somewhat, though her power is currently unstable."
She snapped out of her reverie as she listened to Yuta, who was gently stroking Seera's hair. "Meet Frederica—or 'Athena,' as she is known. She is the Dungeon Master of the 'Tomb of Rulers,'" Yuta said in a warm tone, though his words struck them like a bolt of lightning.
They spoke in unison, filled with shock: "Are you serious, Brother? She defeated the five strongest fighters—ranked X, XX, and XXX—including three mages and two warriors. Yet, you managed to defeat *her*?"
Yuta spoke calmly, glancing at them out of the corner of his eye—a look that put their hearts at ease. "Don't be afraid; she is a very kind person. She was forced to remain inside the dungeon due to a curse, much like the two of you, Lyra and Kira."
Seera gazed at her for a few moments before approaching with slight trepidation. Clutching the woman's clothes, she said, "Since my brother says you're kind, I'll trust him... but stay away from him. He's a good person."
Athena knelt down to Seera's eye level and gently patted her head. "There's no need to worry. My job is to look after this adorable little angel, Seera."
[End of Flashback]
Athena opened her eyes and gazed at the crimson moon. She rose with a faint smile and descended from the mansion's rooftop into the interior.
She mused quietly to herself, "It has been nearly a year since I became a member of the Casiral family. Time flies."
She turned her gaze toward Seera, who was just entering the room. She guided her back to her room.
Later, she entered Yuta's room and found her climbing into his bed, burying her face against his chest with a smile, half-conscious. Seeing this, she smiled faintly and left the room, whispering softly, "Good evening, Auntie... Sister Sera."
The next day—July 15th, year 675—at 8:30 AM, Yuta's room was dark; the curtains were drawn tight, blocking out even the tiniest sliver of light.
Yuta was in such a deep slumber that he had overslept his usual wake-up time by three hours and forty-five minutes—a fact that puzzled both the servants and Athena, as it was highly unusual for him to sleep this late.
Gia was also surprised, having previously seen him training from 5:00 AM to 7:05 AM. Yet, despite the confusion, she felt a strange sense of inner peace and a terrifying power surging within her.
She decided to let the matter slide; the place they had visited was incredibly bizarre, leading her to believe Yuta had been affected by it—after all, the "Great Story Merchant" Stefan Tilmore was an immensely powerful figure.
Back in Yuta's bedroom, he opened his crimson eyes, feeling remarkably refreshed and energetic, even though his sleep had lasted only eleven hours. Initially, his attributes—speed, perception, and the like—were effectively at zero, leaving him unable to sense his surroundings; however, these abilities were rapidly returning to normal.
As he propped his back against the pillow, he felt someone embracing him. For a few fleeting seconds, his attributes remained suppressed before finally returning to their natural levels. He pulled back the covers to find her arms wrapped tightly around him. He glanced at her with a faint smile, then pretended not to notice; he lay back down on the bed and pulled the covers over himself again.The upcoming three-year period would be a mix of complex and simple challenges, ultimately leading to a sense of relief. There was no inherent flaw, yet a genuine danger—one far more formidable than 99% of his current adversaries—lay in wait beyond those years.
He turned his gaze toward Sery, who was waking up; she looked at Yuta while rubbing her eyes and yawning, then placed both hands on his chest.
He watched silently as she sniffed his clothes with half-open eyes, speaking in a groggy, semi-conscious tone: "Brother Yuta, why do you smell like a woman? Have you become a womanizer, you idiot? If you love them, just marry them; being mere lovers is ridiculous."
Yuta remained silent. After all, he had been embracing the Revered and Exalted Blessing of the Heavens, Islabith—his own mother. Was he supposed to marry his mother to prove his love for her? Certainly not.
He flicked Sery on the forehead; the idea was utterly absurd and nauseating. While Yuta was willing to do anything for his own interests, marrying his mother—the Revered and Exalted Blessing of the Heavens, Islabith—would result in his head being severed by his triplet siblings. Besides, he had no interest in incestuous relationships.
Sery looked at him, clutching her forehead as a tear rolled down her cheek. Yuta completely ignored her, which only fueled her anger and frustration.
She landed several punches on Yuta's chest; he looked at her with a hint of mockery. Then, she threw a punch infused with pure Destruction Energy—a move that shocked Yuta for a moment before he caught her fist.
Although the blow wouldn't actually harm him... The attack—composed of pure destructive energy—was powerful enough to alter the surrounding reality; had he deflected it with his body nonchalantly, it would have devastated the world around them.
Realizing the situation, Seira looked at him, tears streaming profusely from her eyes as she backed away from Yuta. "I'm a terrible sister... I tried to kill you again... *sob*..."
Yuta gazed at her calmly, recalling the day she had tried to kill him back at the Casiral family estate.
He hadn't been upset, though; in that moment, he had actually been happy about the warmth he found within the Casiral family—something truly incredible for Yuta, the prophesied hero of the four realms: Humans, Dragons, Demons, and Celestials.
[Flashback]
As Yuta was gathering his belongings, he sensed a dark aura—an energy of destruction—permeating the entire palace. Its source was a nearby room, yet he couldn't fathom the reason for such an ominous presence. He spoke in a calm, steady voice: "That is the sealed power of a Supreme Ruler of Destruction. What is an entity of rank ORR-05 doing here?"
"Can you tell me who possesses this energy, Hyon?"
[Well, the owner of this destructive energy is Seira Casiral. She is the youngest daughter of the original body's owner and is ten years old. As for her origins or background—that remains a mystery. All I know covers the ten years from her birth to the present day—information that you, and only you, are aware of.]
[Yuta, I have to go to my other half now; they might be a bit confused—hahaha. Goodbye.]
Yuta stared at the system screen before dismissing it. He immediately stepped out of the room, moving with a light, steady pace as he headed toward the source of that destructive energy... It bore a resemblance to <>, leading him to conclude that it would be useful for his future plans—especially since information about it was scarce, making him realize it had a history beyond the fantasy world they currently inhabited.
Moreover, Barkwa—who was her relative in name only—was a vile scoundrel who delighted in beating her; this gave Yuta the perfect opportunity to step in and play the role of the heroic savior.
In Sery's room, Barkwa was delivering brutal kicks to her. Destructive energy was leaking from her body, though Barkwa remained oblivious to it; had he sensed it, he would have fled long ago.
Sery spoke while shielding her face with her arm: "Barkwa, stop! Please, stop... I haven't done anything to you. Why are you treating me like this?"
A look of sadistic amusement spread across Barkwa's face as he listened to her pleas. He delivered a powerful punch that sent her flying several meters; she slammed into the wall, and blood began to stream from her head.
He spoke in a loud voice, dripping with contempt and mockery—words that ignited a fierce rage and hatred within Sery. "What's your problem, you whore's daughter? Your family exists solely to serve as sacrifices for us. You're nothing but nauseating scum."
"Don't worry; you'll make a fine concubine for me when you grow up—just like my father did with your mother. He kept her for four years before casting her into the Underworld as a sacrifice to its ruler, to serve as his sex slave there, too."
Sery was left in shock as she listened to Barkwa's words. Then, a pure aura of destruction began to erupt from her body—so intense that Barkwa could finally sense it. It was a chilling aura, heavy with overwhelming power and ruin, causing him to collapse... His backside [clenched] from sheer fear and astonishment.