He let out a deep sigh as he dismissed the system interface, then cast his gaze toward the sun, which bathed him in its warmth beneath a clear sky. A beautiful smile graced his lips—a mask concealing the grimace born from the absurdity of his assigned tasks, which brought him far more penalties than rewards.
He found it impossible to skillfully exploit loopholes in his plans to ensure their success, hindered as he was by the watchful eyes of three hostile "Venerables," not to mention a system that had imposed penalties and restrictive conditions upon him ever since he arrived in this world.
He paused, looking toward Jiya, who sat in the shade with her eyes closed in meditation. He sensed her energy—now remarkably calm, a stark contrast to the chaotic state it had once been in. Moreover, her power had surged significantly compared to when they were in the city of Yuher Spek.
Sensing someone nearby, Jiya opened her crimson eyes to find Athena and Yuta watching her with calm expressions.
She let out a slow, measured sigh as she looked at them, trying to discern their intentions. Although it hadn't felt like long to her, she had actually been meditating for three hours.
Despite the relatively short duration, she felt noticeably stronger—even though she remained at the same rank: Master of Rulers. She spoke in a calm tone as she closed her eyes once more. Athena cast a look of slight annoyance her way, finding the gesture disrespectful, but Yuta remained entirely unbothered—he was well-accustomed to her haughty demeanor.
"What brings you here, Lord Yuta Casiral and Lady Athena Casiral? Is there a specific reason for your visit, or did you simply miss me? I am quite curious."
Yuta listened, his expression composed, before responding in a calm, measured tone:
"Indeed, there is a reason for our visit, Lady Gaia. Please forgive us for being such fools—wasting even a few seconds of your most precious time."
A flicker of clear annoyance crossed Gaia's eyes at his words, while Athena, standing beside her, let out a laugh. Gaia opened her eyes, turning her gaze toward him to hear the rest of what he had to say.
Yuta offered a faint, distinctly mocking smile:
"Well, let's get to the point. We are heading to the Lake of a Thousand Beasts to spend the night there—we'll be leaving shortly, so you'd best prepare yourself. It's the perfect opportunity for us to enjoy ourselves, wouldn't you agree?"
Gaia remained silent, staring at him as she tried to recall the destination he had mentioned. She felt as though she had heard or read about it somewhere before, though she couldn't quite pin down when or where. A few seconds passed in silence before, finally, the memory surfaced. Rising from her seat, she spoke in a questioning tone, clearly skeptical of Yuta's intentions in heading there:
"You're aware that we're heading to a dungeon, aren't you? And that the land itself is an ancient battlefield from the era of Luther de Moliar—the ancestor of humanity's hero and the world of Daniel de Moliar. Is there something specific you're after?"
Yuta gazed at her for a few seconds before bursting into laughter—his words only deepening her suspicions:
"You'll learn everything in due time and in the right place. Just wait; after all, patience is a key to success—though do make sure your patience isn't entirely hollow."
With that, he walked away, leaving her even more suspicious than before. Having known him for the past few months, she was certain there was a specific reason he had chosen to go to that particular location.
As he headed toward the palace, Yuta remarked in a calm, satisfied tone:
"There are things in this world that only reveal their true utility in the hands of others—and I need only make use of those hands to achieve my own ends."
Then, raising his voice—much to Giya's slight annoyance—he added:
"Hey, you spoiled brat—get yourself ready. We've only got twenty minutes left before we head to the Lake of a Thousand Beasts, so stop putting on that cheap, pretentious display of luxury." Jia's eyes betrayed her annoyance as she listened to Yuta. She headed into the mansion behind him to get ready; after all, she had to follow him to uncover his true objective. Her intuition, however, told her that this journey would come as a shock to him—it was bound to alter how he perceived one of the members of the Casiral family.
But which one? She couldn't be sure. There were several individuals with questionable backgrounds: Siri, Liri, Kiri, Athena—and now Chloe and Madeline, the two newest additions.
Twenty minutes later, everyone had gathered outside the Casiral family mansion, eager for the journey ahead—everyone, that is, except for Athena, Jia, and Yuta. For Yuta, the true goal—the real prize—was not the journey itself, but the breaking of the seal on Higurashi, the Ruler of Destruction.
In a calm, steady voice, he began calling out the names of the Casiral family members:
"Let's see if everyone is here. Siri?"
"Present."
"Liri?"
"Present."
"Kiri?"
"Present."
"Chloe and Madeline?"
"Present."
"Jia?"
"Present."
"And finally, Athena."
"Present, sir." Yuta gazed at them calmly for several seconds before speaking in a quiet, steady tone. His words sent the excitement of Chloe, Madeline, Siri, Liri, and Kira to its peak, while simultaneously heightening Athena's anxiety and fear, and deepening Jia's suspicions.
Each of them perceived the journey differently: for Siri, Liri, Kira, Chloe, and Madeline, it was a pleasant and heartwarming excursion. Athena, however—fully aware that their destination was the site where the seal of the Supreme Ruler of Destruction was to be broken, and anticipating the complex conflicts that might arise with the other Supreme Rulers—was filled with apprehension.
As for Jia, she found the journey entirely unsettling; for her, the trip was a means to discern Yuta's true intentions and uncover the plan behind his decision to head toward that specific location.
Yuta himself, meanwhile, was brimming with excitement—the time had finally arrived to reap the rewards of the patience he had cultivated over centuries.
With that, Yuta started the engine of a small bus and set off toward the Lake of a Thousand Beasts, leaving his servants behind—their faces etched with astonishment, as they were entirely unaccustomed to such a mode of transport.
As they headed toward the Lake of a Thousand Monsters, Chloe and Madeline gazed at the surrounding scenery with expressions full of wonder.
While they were both looking out the window, Madeline—feeling uncomfortable—pushed Chloe's face away from the glass.
Chloe, reacting with a mix of annoyance, anger, and intense fury, shoved Madeline back, which only served to enrage her further.
Kira, Liri, and Siri turned their attention toward the squabbling girls with looks of bewilderment. Gia, meanwhile, wore an expression of clear irritation; she viewed the group as a collection of useless fools, judging them by their physical appearance rather than their true, underlying nature—which was, in reality, that of mere children.
Athena stepped in to mediate, prompted in part by the subtle, barely perceptible tension on Yuta's face—a sign that his anger could escalate into something dangerous. Though she knew the girls, her acquaintance with them was quite limited.
A strange, colorless energy swirled around Chloe and Madeline as they grabbed each other by the hair. Were it not for the underlying danger, the scene might have been more comical than alarming.
"Get away from me, you idiot! I'll kick you—"
As Madeline spoke with irritation, Athena pulled them apart—an intervention that only fueled their rage, as it prevented them from finishing their fight. They both turned their gazes toward Athena with fury, making her want to strike back. However, she sensed that something was wrong—she began to lose all feeling in her hands, prompting her to let go and take several steps backward.
This left Gaia, Sira, Kira, and Lira completely bewildered, as they watched Athena, whose expression now betrayed a flicker of fear.
"What the hell just happened? I was about to erase... I felt my own narrative being wiped away with terrifying speed."
Athena thought to herself, gripped by a profound sense of dread. She stared at her hands for a few seconds before clenching them into fists and casting a sidelong glance at Yuta.
Yuta let out a sigh—one that carried a tension she couldn't quite fathom—yet it was enough for her to grasp just how dangerous Chloe and Madeline truly were, or rather, how perilous the concepts of "good" and "bad" could be.
As he steered the bus, Yuta spoke, his tone tinged with a hint of irritation:
"Both of you, stop it. This is neither the time nor the place for a fight. You know what I mean—my point is clear. And one more thing: if you don't stop, you're both banned from having any sweets for the next five months."
Chloe and Madeline crossed their arms, looking visibly annoyed as they listened to him, leaving both Athena and Yuta to gaze at them in sheer frustration. Yuta let out an internal sigh, relieved that things had ended well, as he continued his journey toward the Lake of a Thousand Beasts.
"It's a good thing this turned out alright. 'Good' and 'Bad' are like ticking time bombs; no one wants to be erased—the way things were in the early days of Era 1, or during Era 14, or Era 11. Who would have thought that a squabble between them could end up wiping an entire era of history and narrative from existence? We could have been among those erased just moments ago. Damn my mother—she tricked me into having to look after them."
Having de-escalated the situation, Yuta moved on without bothering to mediate between the two; they always fought and made up on their own, just as they were doing now—Madeleine resting her head on Chloe's lap, while Chloe gently stroked her hair.
The others watched them with half-lidded eyes, trying to fathom what was going on in their minds, before simply returning to whatever they had been doing—oblivious to the catastrophe that had nearly unfolded.
An hour and twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Lake of a Thousand Beasts—a place both highly renowned and strictly off-limits, were it not for the fact that Yuta had granted them permission to enter.
Stepping off the bus, Yuta spoke—ignoring the sullen glares shot his way by Chloe and Madeleine as they disembarked with clear annoyance:
"We've arrived at the Lake of a Thousand Beasts. Enjoy your time here until the moment we've been waiting for arrives." As he was closing the bus door to return the vehicle to its designated spot, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Kira, whose eyes held a look of bewilderment.
Kira then spoke, his tone filled with confusion and curiosity regarding the place they had arrived at:
"Why is it called the 'Lake of a Thousand Beasts'? And why is it a forbidden zone?"
Yuta remained silent for a few seconds before answering Kira's question:
"It's called the 'Lake of a Thousand Beasts' because the Hero of Humanity once defeated a thousand beasts here with a single stroke of his sword; their bodies all fell into the lake, which is how it got its name. As for why it's a forbidden zone—well, there's a legend that says millions of years ago, after Zhao Li and Alessandra..."
"...a war broke out between the 'Upper Rulers' and the Rulers of Death and Destruction. The Upper Rulers sought to seize power from Zhao Li and Alessandra—intending to kill them and become the absolute masters of our world—but the Rulers of Death and Destruction flatly refused, insisting that the right to govern should remain with those who had brought the world into existence." "After centuries of war, the Ruler of Death was imprisoned, and the Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi, was slain—her powers and memories sealed away within the dungeon of the Lake of a Thousand Beasts. It is said that the crimson moon is a sign that the seal is on the verge of breaking, and that the Supreme Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi..."
Kira listened to Yuta's words with rapt attention, then let out a sigh—one heavy with annoyance at the actions of the Supreme Rulers. Yuta offered a faint smile and patted him on the head.
In a calm, steady voice, he added:
"Well, go on—have some fun with the others."
Kira nodded in agreement and headed toward his sister, Seri, as well as Chloe and Madeleine, who were playing a game of tag. Seri herself was sitting near the lake, occupied with some task.
Meanwhile, Yuta and Athena began setting up the camp. Athena kept a sharp, watchful gaze on her surroundings, while Jiya busied herself arranging a table, chairs, and various other items.
Nevertheless, Yuta remained unconcerned, knowing that whatever was destined to happen would unfold—and that if it ran counter to his own goals and interests, there would be consequences.
Half an hour of labor went into setting up the camp, and once it was complete, Athena and Gaia settled into a sunny spot to take a well-earned rest.
Elsewhere, Sery sat by the lake, lost in thought, her eyes glowing with a faint violet hue. Yuta reached out and stroked her hair, snapping her out of her reverie; she turned toward him and offered a gentle smile.
Yuta gazed at her for a few moments, smiling back, then asked in a tone of feigned bewilderment while glancing toward the lake:
"Are you alright, Sery? Is something on your mind? You're acting a bit strange. If someone has taken over your body, they'd better come out—I want my mischievous, adorable girl back. There's only one of her in this entire world, after all."
Sery looked at him for a few seconds before realizing how she must have appeared. She laughed at Yuta's tone, feigning a touch of sadness:
"Hahahaha! Yes, I'm fine—no one has taken over my body. It's just... I feel like I've been here before, though I can't recall when or why I might have come. It's a very strange sensation, hard to put into words."
Yuta listened in silence, though inwardly he wore a faint smile; his plan was unfolding exactly as he had intended. He spoke in a calm tone, though inwardly he thought:
"There isn't much time left. The Lake of Ruin will herald the end of peace and the beginning of the long-awaited destruction."
Turning to Siri, he said in a gentle voice:
"Don't worry, dear Siri. It might just be déjà vu, or something else entirely—but rest assured, it's perfectly normal. There's no need to be afraid."
Relief washed over her features; she stood up, embraced him, and said:
"Thank you, brother."
She left immediately, leaving Yuta gazing toward the lake. Jiya watched him, her expression cold and filled with deep wariness regarding their current surroundings.
Glancing toward the trees out of the corner of her eye, she spoke in a calm, measured tone—prompting a faint smile from Yuta:
"This place feels suspicious; it seems we aren't alone. So, wouldn't it be better if you confessed why you've come here—'Great Architect' Yuto?"
Yuta's eyes narrowed with a flicker of annoyance as he looked at her. After their visit to the Market of Mysteries and their encounter with the venerable Stefan Telmore—the great merchant of tales—it stood to reason that she would have discovered his true name. He spoke while lying on the ground, indifferent to her sharp gaze—a look that demanded answers to her questions:
"You're right. Someone has been watching us since we arrived, and they clearly want to keep us away from something. But what could it be? If your intuition is correct, it's inside the lake, isn't it, Gia? You've figured this much out—try deducing the rest based on what you know about this area. Don't count on me; after all, I'm hardly your loyal assistant."
Gia looked at him in silence. He was right—she had indeed suspected that something lay hidden within. Furthermore, she hadn't expected him to tell her anything to begin with, though there was no harm in trying.
She spoke again, watching as Yuta Caseral rose to his feet with a faint smile:
"Should we find out what it is, or just ignore it? You seem quite intrigued by the lake, Yuta Caseral."
His smile remained as he listened to her. He then began walking toward the campsite, where Athena had finished preparing a meal:
"I'm not sure. Let's just ignore it for now, Lady Gia; the time isn't quite right to take any action."
As they headed toward the camp, Athena's voice rang out, announcing that lunch was ready—prompting Gia to set the matter aside for later:
"It's time to eat! Come along, everyone."
Without a moment's hesitation, Sira, Kira, Lira, Chloe, and Madeline made a beeline straight for the dining area. They sat down, waiting for Gia and Yuta to join them, while Athena began placing food onto their plates—though she felt a flicker of annoyance at the pair's sluggishness.
Looking toward the lake with a curious gaze, Chloe remarked:
"There is something of remarkable power inside—it feels strange, yet somehow familiar. I don't recall ever sensing it before, though. Don't you agree, sister Madeline?"
Madeline's response left both Gia and Athena bewildered; they couldn't fathom what the "Supreme Ruler of Destruction," Higurashi, might have to do with any of this.
"You're right—it is incredibly familiar. But where have I encountered it? I can't quite place it... though, I suppose it doesn't matter. If it's truly familiar—and not just another one of those deceptive, false senses of recognition—then this could be something quite extraordinary."
Sera sighed as she listened, her eyes fixed on the lake. A strange, intensifying sensation took hold of her, urging her to plunge into the depths of the water at once. Yet, she couldn't; the others would never allow it. The lake was far too dangerous—it was, after all, a strictly forbidden zone for a reason. Yuta spoke, breaking the silence as he took a sip of water. Athena and Gaia both looked at him, their expressions revealing a desire to understand the intent behind his words:
"When Ji Yao Li created the world we inhabit, he was severely wounded. This made it highly probable that certain entities either manifested within the beings he created or had their physical forms reconstructed by him—simply because his condition at the time prevented him from bringing every original entity into existence from nothing."
"Of course, these remain mere myths—the kind that can neither be proven nor disproven. Yet, if this were true, it would mean that this world is home to many such beings. This is likely the source of the sense of familiarity you both feel; it could be a manifestation of other entities, or perhaps something else entirely. Ultimately, these are just hypotheses—they could be right, or they could be wrong."
Chloe and Madeleine remained silent for several seconds before Chloe spoke, sounding somewhat embarrassed:
"You're right about that. The idea of 'derivation'—or being modeled after something else—is quite common. In that light, the sense of familiarity my sister and I feel makes perfect sense."
Meanwhile, Athena and Gia kept their eyes on Yuta, who had already begun to eat, seemingly indifferent to their gazes. They were trying to discern his true intentions; while Gia lacked knowledge of many critical details, she was nonetheless gripped by a strong sense of suspicion—a feeling that something was fundamentally amiss.
Athena, however, was well-versed in the reasons behind their arrival, as well as many of Yuta's plans for the next three years. This left her trying to fathom what he intended to do once that period had elapsed, and precisely how his plans concerned Siri, Liri, and Kira.
She eventually began to eat in silence. After all, speaking openly about Yuta and his objectives would have been an incredibly foolish and naive thing to do.
Yuta let out a cold, inward laugh as he watched them, both clearly bewildered. Yet, he knew that the time was fast approaching when many intriguing truths would finally be revealed.