Deeply unsettled, he tried to stand, but his body refused to obey. Siri approached him, her eyes—void-like yet a dark, blackened violet—matching the color of her ominous aura.
She spoke in a calm, quiet tone—a stark contrast to the sheer terror she exuded. Her presence was not that of a human, but rather that of a sovereign of destruction:
"You pathetic piece of scum... how dare you call me a concubine, a sex toy—or bring my mother into this? Are you that desperate to die?"
Despite this, Barkwa—accustomed to being the one in control in his relationship with Siri—attempted to speak with a direct, threatening tone, his mind deluding him into a false sense of power.
With every word he uttered, Siri's rage intensified—all while he remained oblivious to the fact that he was trembling uncontrollably with fear:
"How dare you give me orders, you son of a bitch?"
Siri didn't bother with a verbal response; words were a waste of time when dealing with arrogant fools. Instead, she unleashed her aura upon him.
Staring at her, Barkwa stammered, his voice thick with terror: "What is this... this overwhelming aura? I can't move my body—I feel like I'm about to be torn to pieces!" Barkwa continued to speak even as blood streamed from his eyes, mouth, nose, and ears. Yet, Siri's expression remained unchanged, settling into a state of absolute coldness.
Pointing a finger toward Barkwa—from which a dark, violet-hued aura emanated—Siri spoke in a calm, measured tone:
"Barkwa Twakirl, I sentence you to destruction and eternal annihilation."
Siri's words struck Barkwa like a thunderbolt, causing his face to turn completely black. However, before her power—which, for a Ruler of Destruction, was remarkably weak (she could have erased him with a mere glance)—could take effect...
Yuta delivered a powerful kick to Barkwa's face, sending him crashing into the wall with such force that the structure shattered upon impact. Barkwa lost consciousness instantly.
Yuta then turned his gaze toward Siri, who was glaring at him with an indescribable fury. She lunged toward him, unleashing the full extent of her current power—a development that caused a deeply mischievous smile to spread across Yuta's face.
His plan, conceived only moments earlier, was unfolding exactly as he had intended. He deftly dodged several spheres of pure destruction energy, causing them to vanish before they could make contact with his body. He offered a faint, casual smile—a gesture that only fueled Siri's rage at being so blatantly underestimated.
She charged at him, throwing a powerful punch that struck his body. Seizing the moment, Yuta pulled her into a tight, forceful embrace, prompting her to scream as she struggled to break free.
"Let go of me, you despicable wretch! I'll kill you—let me go! Do you even know who I am, you vile scoundrel?" Yuta paid no heed to her words; instead, he gently kissed her head, speaking in a calm, soothing tone:
"Calm down, my dear sister. It's me—your brother, Yuta Casiral. Have you forgotten your own brother so soon?"
A look of shock crossed her features. She lifted her head toward him—her gaze falling upon Yuta's face, from which blood was streaming from his mouth and eyes—and whispered:
"Brother Y... Yuta? Is it really you?"
The overwhelming aura began to fade, bit by bit. Yuta muttered under his breath:
"Impressive. Watching Sira as the 'Avenger' was quite the spectacle. Who would have thought she'd wipe him out instantly, without a second's hesitation?"
Yuta mused to himself as he set her down on the ground. The wounds Sira had inflicted upon him were already healing on their own, thanks to his regenerative immortality. He felt a sense of satisfaction, noting that the 'Master of Sins' ability had rendered Sira's desire for vengeance perfectly manageable.
He turned his gaze toward her and found her weeping, her face shielded from his view. He pulled her close, resting her head against his chest. She was taken aback for a moment—especially as Yuta buried his face against her chest and midsection; she was four years his junior, and, having suffered such mistreatment, she was remarkably frail and thin.
A faint smile graced her lips. She embraced his head, kissed his forehead, and then gently brushed her cheek against his hair. Siri spoke, gripping Yuta's head with great intensity:
"Thank you for helping me, brother. I love you so much, brother."
Yuta pulled away with a faint smile, wiping her tears as he spoke gently. The original owner of this body had loved his sister beyond measure, and Yuta had to play out this charade to the very end:
"Siri, don't cry—nothing happened. Besides, I taught that wretched scoundrel exactly what he deserved. Now, why don't you come with me, and we'll leave this disgusting place?"
Siri looked at him, a beautiful smile lighting up her eyes. She stood up, her voice brimming with joy:
"Really? Are we actually leaving this ridiculous house?"
Yuta stroked her soft, silky black hair as he replied:
"Yes, I'm not joking—it's the truth. We're leaving this pathetic mansion, alright? Go pack your things, and we'll be off. Besides, Mother and Father aren't even here, so we're free to go."
Siri headed toward her wardrobe to gather her clothes—garments that, much like those of the original Yuta, were far less expensive than the attire worn by the rest of the Casiral family.
Meanwhile, Yuta watched her pack. In truth, it made no difference to him whether the masters of the house were present or not; he would have left regardless, and had they tried to stand in the way of his goals, he would have killed them on the spot without a second thought. Siri spoke in a tone brimming with happiness as she headed toward Yuta, carrying a small bag—a sight that made him pause and stare for a few seconds, realizing she owned very little in the way of clothing.
Some time had passed since they left the mansion. Siri, who had been skipping along while holding Yuta's hand, eventually stopped and began to walk at a normal pace.
Puzzled, she voiced her concern—noting that they hadn't taken a single coin with them, and that she had received absolutely nothing from a family of such dishonorable, immoral scum:
"Where are we going to stay? And where will we get the money?"
Yuta cast a glance toward her for a few seconds before speaking in a calm, measured tone—looking at her out of the corner of his eye—which drew a faint smile from her: "Don't worry. I've taken half of our family's assets—the money and the jewelry—and tucked them away in a safe place."
End of flashback.
Yuta continued to watch her in silence. He gently moved her hands away from his face, only to realize she was weeping profusely; he then leaned forward and rested his face against her chest.
Surprise washed over her features as she looked down at his face, now pressed firmly against her chest and abdomen. She embraced his head, still crying, before Yuta lifted his face once more.
He wiped away her tears and gave her nose a playful, gentle tug, feigning annoyance as he spoke in a calm voice:
"Why are you crying? You're so silly. Look—Chloe and Madeline aren't crying like you. How incredibly boring."
Siri's expression shifted to one of indignation. Pouting her cheeks, she struck his chest again, protesting in an irritated tone:
"Siri is the best sister—the others don't even come close! Do you understand? I am *not* a boring sister—got that?"
Yuta watched her for a few moments before rising to his feet and heading toward the bathroom to wash both of their faces.
A few minutes later, they left the room and made their way to the dining hall to eat, joined by the maids and Athena. They found Yuta sitting near Seri, the two of them engaged in conversation. Athena reached out to Yuta via telepathy, prompting a faint smile to cross his lips:
"Lady Gia has been meditating in the estate's garden for the past few minutes. It seems she has no intention of engaging in physical training; in fact, she has asked me to ensure she refrains from any such physical exertion for the coming months. Should I grant her request?"
Yuta remained silent for a few moments before responding, all the while continuing his meal:
"Yes, do as she asks. Gia is an important individual, and her safety is the priority. That said, begin preparations for our expedition to the Dungeon of the Thousand-Beast Lake—we depart in five hours."
Though her expression remained composed, Athena was inwardly taken aback. She knew exactly what he intended: the liberation of Higurashi, the Supreme Ruler of Destruction.
She had anticipated this, but certainly not so soon; the two-week mark would have been the ideal time, not now. Yet, in another sense, it was perhaps the best course of action—after all, anything could happen over the next two weeks.
With a calm tone, she replied before departing the dining hall:
"Understood. Everything will be ready in time."
Yuta took a bite of meat, a faint smile still playing on his lips. Gia was currently undergoing a process of mental evolution—reflecting on her past battles and all the events she had endured—to emerge even stronger than she was today.
Two hours later, in the palace gardens, Yuta, Seri, Kiri, Liri, Chloe, and Madeline were strolling about, enjoying a moment of happiness and tranquility. Yuta was leaning against the trunk of a tree, while the others amused themselves nearby—sometimes by the lake, sometimes chasing one another, and at other times playing hide-and-seek.
As Yuta watched them, he felt a warm sensation against his stomach; he realized that Madeline had rested her head there, a faint smile gracing her face.
Yuta smiled back gently, stroking her hair, then turned his gaze toward the others and spoke:
"Is something the matter, dear Madeline? Are you bored, tired, or is it something else?"
Madeline looked at him for a few moments before speaking, her tone tinged with a hint of embarrassment:
"No, it has nothing to do with being tired or bored. I simply wanted to lie down beside someone dear to me—you, Yuto. We are quite alike; both of us are merely concepts that have taken on physical form. The only difference is that I am an intangible concept, while you are a concept manifested as a crystal that has usurped a human body."
Yuta clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention. As they gathered around him, Madeline shot him an annoyed look.
"We shall soon head to the Lake of a Thousand Beasts and spend the night there, so you had best prepare for the journey."
Their faces lit up with joy as they headed toward the palace. Yuta remained where he was, a faint smile still on his lips—until his expression suddenly turned cold as he caught sight of Athena, who was watching him from behind a tree. "Breaking the seal of the Supreme Ruler of Destruction will not end well, even if they don't act immediately. That said, it doesn't mean they won't take action. There might be a year or two of silence, but a move will eventually be made."
Athena's tone remained calm as she gazed at him.
Yuta's expression, however, did not change in the slightest as he listened. He was confident in his actions, fully aware that setbacks are an inherent part of this world—he had, after all, encountered plenty of them over the past few months.
There was Tom completing the five trials ahead of schedule, forcing Yuta to remain in this world for another three years; there were figures like Lucy, Previka, Seok, Hinatako, and Seol Haoran; and there were the absolute entities lurking in the shadows.
Yuta stood up, brushing the dust and dirt from his clothes. A faint smile played across his lips—a smile that sent a shiver down Athena's spine.
"There's no need to worry. Whatever is written in the narrative—whatever is destined to happen—will happen. One simply has to dream, and the narrative and the plot will dictate the outcome: success, death, or failure. We are all the protagonists of our own stories, living within the narratives that constitute our lives. In this sense, everyone wins and everyone loses; we are both the protagonists and the multifaceted characters of our own tales. Hahahaha!"
"The narrative and plot of this world are far more formidable than some ridiculous 'Will of Heaven.' After all, I could simply erase one 'Will of Heaven' and forge another—and the same applies to you, too." "Yet, we remain slaves to the plot—much like any other characters in a novel, existing within a vast, boundless fictional world."
Athena gazed at him, her expression tinged with slight annoyance; she was forced to accept the truth of Yuta's words—that she might perish for some trivial reason, solely to keep the plot moving. Letting out an audible, irritated sigh, she set off with Yuta toward the place where Gia was staying.
They intended to inform her that they would be embarking on a journey—lasting roughly a day—to the Lake of a Thousand Beasts. Furthermore, in Yuta's view, leaving her behind here would be a foolish mistake—one that could cost him dearly.
As they headed toward a meditation spot reserved for Gia, Athena watched Yuta with a sense of bewilderment. She could not fathom why he was so intent on protecting Gia, especially given that his feelings for her were neither romantic—in the sense of a man and a woman—nor based on any conventional form of affection.
Yuta, however, had no intention of volunteering an explanation; there was simply no reason or benefit to doing so. In his view, disclosing information without some tangible advantage was nothing more than foolishness.
His attention was currently fixed on something far more pressing: the system interface hovering directly before his eyes. He was deeply annoyed by the additional penalties imposed upon him, as well as the extra tasks added to his second sub-mission.
[IMPORTANT: Ruler's Path Missions
Objective 1: Assist the legitimate protector of a Sacred Tree of Existence, Gia Yao Li.
Reward Difficulty: ?????
Ruler's Robe
Rank: ?????
Abilities: Absolute immunity against everything—both that which exists and that which does not.
Failure Penalty: Reversion to the Primal Origin.
Sub-mission 01: Gather the prophesied heroes and prepare them for the impending War of the Paths and the events that follow.
Reward: ?????
Duration: 3 years.
Rank: ??????
Sub-mission 02: Assist the descendant of a Narrative Timeline and the descendant of the Origin Dao, facilitating their journey to become the strongest.
Reward: ?????
Duration: Until the end of the year 675 AD.] Rank: S.
Sub-mission 03: Assist Alessandra's allies in becoming combat-ready for the "War of the Paths" and the events that follow.
Reward: ?????
Duration: 3 years.
Rank: ??????
Important Notes:
1) Mandatory sub-missions will be assigned alongside every main mission.
2) Since the "Candidate of the Great Creation," Yuto, completed the main mission ahead of schedule—specifically, 3 years and approximately 9 months early—several mandatory sub-missions will be imposed upon him.
3) Because the candidate departed from the narrative of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*—during his battle against Fermon Solterk (a "Ruler" and creator of the *War of Conflicting Kingdoms* narrative)—earlier than the permitted three-year timeframe,
the "Candidate of the Great Creation," Yuto, is prohibited from leaving the world of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy* for the duration of the three years—676 AD, 677 AD, and 678 AD—not even for a single second.
4) Since the candidate returned to his original body before concluding the story arc of one of the protagonists of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*—Yuta Caseral—he is forbidden from utilizing the abilities of his original body, or any ability unrelated to the non-physical traits inherent to Yuta Caseral's body.
This excludes innate abilities, as well as those such as "Eternal Writer," "Ruler's Eye," "Ability Creator," "Infinite Evolution," etc. Furthermore, the user is barred from accessing his "Great Creator's Wing" and all associated abilities for the entire 3-year penalty period.
Objective 2: Not yet revealed. Objective 3: Undisclosed.
Objective 4: Undisclosed.
Objective 5: Undisclosed.
Mission Duration: Permanent.]
Yuta's expression remained calm, a confident smile masking the intense anger and frustration simmering beneath the surface. His plans had been all but completely dismantled; he had intended to bolster the strength of his current vessel to better accommodate his own powers and abilities. Now, that path was rendered useless, forcing a shift in his strategy.
Yet, he had no intention of a total overhaul—his modus operandi was to constantly adapt his plans, and a complete change might well do more harm than good.
"No, no—the original owner's abilities are still intact. On top of that, I can still wield my innate powers. Furthermore, even without those, I retain the capacity to manipulate concepts and laws—an inherent part of my very being, as I am the master of the 'Ruler' path and the embodiment of its core concept."
"There's no need for a complete departure; I simply need to recalibrate things to suit my current capabilities. Besides, the 'Fate-Manipulating Eye' and the 'Soul-Devouring Eye' remain—I still have a few trump cards up my sleeve."
Yuta's tone remained steady as he gathered his scattered thoughts—thoughts disrupted by a setback that threatened to entirely alter the trajectory of both his current and future plans.
He closed the system interface displaying the missions assigned by the 'Great Outcast' and pulled up the list of abilities belonging to the original owner of the body. Among them were a few decent skills—though, in truth, they paled in comparison to his own, which surpassed them by light-years. Moreover, he had no time to spare, as events were unfolding with dizzying speed—after all, misfortunes never come singly.
[Ability: Sovereign of Healers (Rank: ????)
Sovereign of Elements (Rank: ???)
Sovereign of Beasts (Rank: ???)
Master of Sins (Rank: ????)
Emperor of the Sword (Rank: ????)
Master of Primordial Chaos (Rank: ???)
Master of Devouring (Rank: XXX++)
Master of All (Rank: XXX++)
Saint of Weapons (Rank: XXX++)]
Yuta's gaze held a subtle, unspoken satisfaction. His 'Healing' ability (Rank: XXX) had evolved into 'Sovereign of Healers'; 'Master of Elements' (Rank: XXX) had become 'Sovereign of Elements'; 'Beast Tamer' (Rank: XXX) had transformed into 'Sovereign of Beasts'; the 'Berserker' ability (Rank: XXX) had shifted into 'Primordial Chaos'; and 'Devouring' (Rank: XXX) had ascended to 'Master of Devouring.'
This realization dawned on him: evolving his current vessel would also cause the abilities inherent to the original host's body to evolve—a logical outcome, given their deep-rooted connection to the genes of Dragons, Angels, Demons, and Saiyans.
This bolstered his confidence to proceed with advancing his Dragon, Angel, Demon, and Saiyan genes to Level 2. He also planned to travel to the Dragon Realm to push his Dragon genes to Level 3, ensuring his future endeavors would unfold more smoothly. Evolution was essential; if his intuition proved correct—and entities of Level 5 or even 'Absolute' beings truly existed in this world—his current strength might well be rendered useless.
This conviction was only strengthened after hearing the words of Afrius, the ruler of the Dragon Realm, which left him all the more certain that such entities existed within the other four realms. Ultimately, the venerable and exalted Islabeth—a blessing from the heavens—resides in the human realm; there exists a law that prohibits the presence of entities of her caliber within the other four realms.