Chapter 167: Life Within the Casiral Family Estate [Athena and Siri Casiral 6]
Three minutes later, Siri and Athena arrived near the dining area. Liri, observing them, spoke up cheerfully—a welcome sight, especially given the traumatic events of the previous night. It appeared that both Siri and Athena were doing well, and their relationship with the others did not seem strained.
Siri approached the group, offering a faint, slightly embarrassed and nervous smile. Ignoring the gazes directed at her from the surrounding forest, she took a seat.
In a calm, apologetic tone, she addressed everyone:
"I apologize for my actions last night. I never intended to kill you all or destroy the world. My power had taken control of me; today, however, I feel a great sense of relief, as I am finally able to keep it in check."
Kiri and Liri remained silent for a few moments before offering their own apologies to Yuta, who continued eating in silence.
"We are sorry for what happened last night. It was unacceptable of us to accuse you of something you didn't do, simply because we failed to understand your true intentions. We truly apologize for our behavior."
Yuta listened to their words without saying a word, then offered a faint smile as he set his spoon down on the table. He then spoke calmly—a gesture that only deepened their sense of guilt, given that Yuta was being so kind to them despite how they had treated him like a scoundrel:
"There's no need to apologize. After all, your reaction was only natural for someone who didn't know the truth. So, please, just eat and enjoy your meal. We'll be staying here for the rest of the day, and after that, we'll head back to the city of Berhais to prepare for the summer festival."
They then turned their attention toward Seri, who had been eating in silence. A barrage of questions about her well-being followed, leaving her flustered as she tried to answer them all.
Speaking in a quiet, slightly strained tone—which made them feel embarrassed for having overwhelmed her with so many questions—she said:
"I'm fine. I lost control of my power because too much of it surged out in such a short span of time. But now, I can manage it with ease, so there's really no need to worry. I'm doing perfectly well." As Yuta looked toward Athena and Sery, he mused to himself:
"Higurashi, the Sovereign of Destruction, has regained her power; and there is Athena, the High Sovereign of Death—one of the most formidable rulers on our side. With both Death and Destruction, securing a seat among the High Sovereigns is well within reach. And then, of course, there is Tom—a contingency, should the current plan fail."
"Yet, even Tom is no simpleton. He is extremely dangerous; to attempt to kill him would be an act of utter foolishness and naivety. There are so many others, too: Jian Yi, Gowther, Seok, Beatrice, Athena, Jia—even Lucy, for all her foolish behavior, is someone who cannot be underestimated. Am I truly so cursed that I only ever encounter individuals who refuse to trust me blindly, who won't abandon everything for my sake, and who certainly won't make reckless sacrifices on their own accord?"
Jia, Sery, and Athena fixed their sharp gazes upon the forest, sensing a massive power emanating from within—their eyes burning with intense, lethal intent. Siri, however, gazed at them with an indescribable, intense hatred—so profound that she transmuted her spoon into a mist of violet particles. Beneath her breath, she muttered with venomous intent:
"So, it's them—the Masters of Life, or perhaps the minions of the Supreme Ruler of Life. It seems they're intent on finishing what they started. The time for vengeance has arrived. I have perished at their hands countless times over the course of 340 million years—a cycle of death and rebirth that never ends. And yet, I feel a strange sense of joy; my understanding of destruction has grown far beyond the mere act of unleashing global catastrophes. Should I thank them, or kill them? I cannot say."
Siri sighed, her eyes shifting toward Yuta—who was himself watching the forest—as she waited to see what he would do. The days of the "foolish" Siri were long gone; she now viewed Yuta's actions through an entirely different lens, no longer categorizing things as purely "good" or "evil." That said, she still regarded him as her brother.
Breaking the silence, Yuta spoke—his words only serving to irritate those around him, as the situation was already so obvious that it hardly warranted mention:
"We're surrounded on all sides, but there's no reason for any alarm or tension. Understood? Good."
He then turned his attention toward Liri and Kira—ignoring the annoyed glares of Chloe, Madeline, Gia, and Athena, who looked as though they wanted to strike him:
"Liri, Kira—take a defensive stance. Siri, Athena—stay back; for now, remain behind Liri and Kira." "Siri, you still need a fair amount of rest. Your body hasn't yet grown accustomed to your own power; it might take a full three months before you can wield it without suffering any side effects."
A look of displeasure crossed Siri's face as she listened to Yuta. She had been longing for revenge—to kill the very people who had taken her life so many times in her previous existence—yet here he was, telling her to let it go.
How could she possibly agree to that? And yet, Yuta's sharp, unyielding gaze—which left no room for argument—compelled her to accept it without a single word.
Turning his attention to Jia, who was eager for battle, Yuta continued, delivering the same message he had given Siri:
"Jia, you are strictly forbidden from fighting. Your spiritual state remains unstable, and you still require rest. Furthermore, you are currently unable to manifest your 'Wing of Blessing.' On top of that, your body is still utterly exhausted and in need of recovery. Is that clear?"
Jia gritted her teeth in frustration, but she couldn't refute his words. The system continued to indicate that she was unable to manifest her Wing of Blessing—even as a sub-wing—and her body remained completely drained from the grueling training she had endured.
Moreover, she had fought on the island of Jigwa and in the city of Yuspeakers against the Goblin Ruler, Kavlur. Although a month and several days had passed since those battles, their toll still lingered. And, perhaps most significantly, there was the battle she had fought against Vermon Solterk in the city of Yuher Spek.
She agreed to his request, knowing she would need to fully recover her strength before heading to the Celestial Academy of the Immortals—and besides, anything could happen during the break; after all, anything is possible.
A few seconds passed, during which they prepared themselves just as Yuta had instructed: Jiya, Sery, and Athena took the rear, while Kery, Lery, Chloe, and Madeline formed a defensive line. Yuta stood at the front—a plan that seemed incredibly simple, perhaps even trivial, at first glance, yet it held the potential to shift the course of an impending battle before it had even begun.
Yuta walked toward the strongest member of the group—the one he identified as their leader—a figure named Bestem, whose smile was enough to provoke anyone who laid eyes on it.
In a taunting tone that infuriated the leader—and the rest of his group as well—Yuta spoke:
"What a bunch of pathetic fools! To think that for over 340 million years, you've remained trapped here, deep beneath the earth."
"I wouldn't be surprised if you're still stuck in the past, clinging to the mindset of beings from such a distant, archaic era. Oh? What's the matter? Why aren't you answering? Has the cat got your tongue, you poor little angels?"
Expressions of bewilderment crossed the faces of Kery, Lery, and Jiya as they listened to Yuta's words. What did "angels" have to do with the Supreme Ruler of Life? Athena spoke up, answering their question—for there was no point in wasting time searching for information that was both obscure and not readily available:
"By the command of the Master of Rulers—the very embodiment of existence—the Ruler of Life tasked certain angels with a mission: to protect, and eventually kill, the Supreme Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi—known currently as 'Sera'—the moment she reached the age of eleven, which is how old she is now. However, 99% of those angels abandoned the mission, choosing to pursue other interests instead.
They went on to integrate themselves among the existing angels, the Elves, the Dark Elves, and the 'Ascended'—beings who rose beyond their original status as angels. This happened after they betrayed the Ruler of Death and the Ruler of Life of this realm, acting under the orders of their master, Julius I. Two hundred years into their existence, they murdered both Rulers and bestowed their powers upon Julius's followers. They also forged the Sword of Life—which was later stolen by Alzaxia Kluarnia, leader of the 'Light of the Heavens' tribe and great-grandmother to the Elven Empress Veronia, with the help of Alessandra—as well as the Sword of Death, which was stolen by Zao Li of the demons. Somehow, that sword ended up in my possession; I don't know why, and I have no desire to find out.
As for the ones Yuta is referring to now—they are the 1% who remained. To this very day, they have continued to carry out their mission for millions of years, without a single pause or failure.
Regarding the Ruler of Life: the Supreme Ruler of Life managed to create another 'Ruler of Life'—the very one Yuta encountered when he passed through the Imperial Angelic Territories after leaving the Casiral family estate."
Gaia sighed as she watched Yuta, who gazed back at them with immense confidence—for, in the end, he was stronger than any of them. His adversaries were merely followers of a ruler from a fantasy realm, whereas he was the ruler of the entire "Ruler's Path."
A few seconds passed before dozens of warriors emerged—beings whose gender was impossible to discern. Above their heads hovered rings of light; they possessed white wings, pale white hair, and golden eyes.
They were more beautiful than the contemporary angels, elves, or High-borns. Having been cultivated by the Supreme Ruler of Life, they surpassed those other races by a margin too vast to ignore.
Their leader spoke in a calm tone, fixing her gaze upon Yuta, who still wore a mischievous, cunning smile:
"I am Solira, leader of the tribe of Life-Master Angels. You appear to be their commander—a wretched, hybrid entity who has failed to unlock his true genetic potential. Don't tell me you actually thought you would evolve into a High-born? It seems this generation has forgotten us. How amusing! A mere child, ignorant of what lies within him, dares to insult us and act with such arrogance—believing those filthy traitors to be the supreme race among the 'Light-kin' (Angels, Elves, Beings of Light, and High-borns)."
Yuta remained silent, watching them. He was well aware of this; even the Elven Empress, Veronia, had assumed he would evolve into a High-born. Who would have imagined that the granddaughter of the person who stole the Sword of Life from the ancestor of her own greatest enemy would believe her ally to be one of *them*? Truly bizarre. "Yes, I am their leader. My name is Yuta Kasiral—known as the 'Cold Star of the Heavens.' It matters little to me what you think of me, or what you know—or fail to know. What concerns me is the reason you've come. You will never get your hands on them; you would do well to turn back now. As for ignorance—that is a label that applies quite fittingly to you as well."
Solira's expression shifted; her gaze turned icy, radiating a lethal intent. Her forty-five followers mirrored this, leveling their weapons at Yuta and his companions.
Gathering life energy from the atmosphere—a blend of pure aether and elemental forces—Solira spoke:
"It matters not who you are or what you might become, you 'tainted-blood' Yuta Kasiral—the 'Cold Star of the Heavens.' Our mission is to eliminate the former 'Ruler of Destruction,' Higurashi—or 'Siri,' as you call her—in accordance with the customs and traditions of our ancient forebears, established over 340 million years ago. Do you understand?"
Yuta sighed, glancing at Siri, whose rage was palpable as the power of destruction began to seep from her body. He caught Athena's eye, signaling her to render Siri unconscious—a command she executed instantly, without a moment's hesitation.
Yuta then turned his attention back to Solira, who was advancing toward him. For a few fleeting seconds, his expression went completely cold—a shift so intense that Solira instinctively recoiled, retreating several paces to her original position. She stared at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and caution; his power was, quite simply, terrifying. Yuta brought time and space to a complete standstill. Solira stood in shock, staring at her frozen subordinates; she realized that the very fabric of space-time had been halted. Looking toward Yuta, she was seized by intense fear, finally grasping that she was no match for him.
Yuta let out a laugh—dripping with mockery and contempt—as he observed the terror etched across her face:
"Hahahahahahahaha! Solira, why are you so afraid? Didn't you say, just a moment ago, that it didn't matter to you who I was? Yet, here you are, trembling. Why are you so full of contradictions?"
Solira gritted her teeth, fixing her gaze upon Yuta. When she spoke, her tone carried a hint of admiration—an admiration laced with an underlying, palpable tension.
"Manipulating space-time—how fascinating! And yet, we have no choice but to comply. It is the Supreme Ruler of Life, Merilia, who has issued the order. This isn't a matter of choice; it is something we are compelled to do."
Yuta's expression shifted into a feigned look of astonishment as he gazed at her. Misinterpreting this as fear, she offered a confident, self-assured smile.
"Ah, so it was the Supreme Ruler of Life, Merilia, who commanded you to kill the incarnations of the Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi? Truly impressive. But tell me—do you honestly think I care who your master is? How pathetic. That said, I imagine she would be quite pleased to resolve the long-standing enmity with the Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi, and the Ruler of Death, Athena. Wouldn't you agree, Merilia?"
Solira's expression turned to one of utter bewilderment as she followed Yuta's gaze toward the sky. Moments later, the very fabric of reality began to fracture, and the Supreme Ruler of Life, Merilia, emerged.
She approached Yuta—who wore a faint, composed smile—and knelt before him. The sight caused Solira to collapse to the ground in total shock, especially upon hearing the Supreme Ruler's words—words that, to her, sounded like a death sentence:
"How fare you, the Great Architect Yuto—Master of the Path of the Ruler and the Great Creator? What is it that you require of me?" Yuta gazed at her for several seconds before lifting her face by the chin—leaving her momentarily stunned—and planting a kiss on her cheek. This left her even more taken aback than before, prompting him to remark with a mocking tone:
"I've heard the expression 'a kiss of life.' It seems I've just bestowed a kiss upon Life itself—wouldn't you agree? Then again, that's not really what I wanted to say."
He released her and clasped his hands behind his back. She stood there, feeling embarrassed, humiliated, and degraded. Choosing to brush the entire incident aside, the Supreme Ruler of Life let out a sigh, put the matter out of her mind, and returned to the core issue:
"You created this race of angels specifically to hunt down the incarnations of your sister's friend—Higurashi, the Ruler of Destruction. Furthermore, the true reason you've come here is to rescind that very order. Did you really think I hadn't sensed your presence, watching us ever since we arrived? Regardless, that's of no consequence. What matters is what *you* have to say." Merilia, the Supreme Ruler of Life, cast a sidelong glance at Yuta for several seconds, searching for the right words. Finding herself at a loss for what to say, she improvised:
"Yes, I took that action because my sister and her friend incited a devastating war that destroyed numerous ordinary worlds. Furthermore, I thwarted her desire for independence from Zao Li and Alessandra—and I did so without a shred of guilt.
Yet, after all this time, I have come to realize that I was wrong to punish someone who was merely performing their duty to maintain a global order. Therefore, as of today, your mission is at an end. You are now free from the task of guarding the dungeon of the Lake of a Thousand Beasts."
Solira did not utter a single word in response to Merilia; she dared not speak in the presence of the Supreme Ruler of Life. While she felt an overwhelming sense of relief that the burden of this mission had been lifted from her people, that relief quickly curdled into sorrow—for she feared this might be the final day for her and her kin, given that she had insulted someone as significant as Yuta.
Yuta, however, said and did nothing beyond restoring the flow of space-time. By the time he looked around, Merilia had already departed, and Yuta returned to the camp. Having no intention of annihilating her people, Solira took a deep breath and addressed her bewildered soldiers:
"Listen, everyone—our mission is over. We shall take no further action against the Supreme Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi—also known as Sera Caseral... Soldiers, let us return home." Her followers stood in confusion, gazing at her for several seconds before retreating—not out of disobedience, but rather with a sense of relief that the burden of the mission had been lifted from their shoulders.
As she vanished among the trees, a voice called out, calm and steady:
"I hope we don't meet again anytime soon."
Kira and Lira shouted back in anger—a reaction that stood in such stark contrast to their adorable expressions that Athena, Marilia, and Chloe couldn't help but laugh:
"And we don't want to see your faces ever again, either!"
Yuta gently stroked their hair, his tone remaining composed:
"Kira, Lira—calm down. Now is not the time to cause trouble. We're fortunate that Marilia, the Supreme Ruler of Life, decided to reverse her decision. It seems she had a change of heart, or something of that nature."
Kira and Lira nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Chloe and Madeline looked toward Yuta, silently asking for the same treatment—a gentle pat on the head. Yuta laughed at their gesture, which only served to annoy them.
He reached out and stroked their hair, oblivious to the sharp, piercing glare from Geya. Athena, however, sensed that something was amiss; the flow of time and space had become noticeably unstable. It dawned on them both that they had been halted and then sent back—all within the span of a fleeting moment. Yuta spoke as he moved toward Seri, who had fainted. He scooped her up and carried her to her tent, a faint smile playing on his lips. Once they were out of earshot of the others, he remarked with genuine admiration:
"Who would have thought my dear, adorable Seri could act with such skill? I'm truly impressed."
Seri opened her golden eyes, looked up at his face, and said in a calm, steady tone:
"My acting is of no consequence—just a result of experience. But that's not the point. Why did you let me overhear your conversation with the High Ruler of Life, Merilia, and her attendant, Solira? Was this your plan all along?"
An amused smile spread across Yuta's face as he listened to her. He replied, his voice remaining calm:
"More or less. Though, I was just as surprised as you that the High Ruler of Life, Merilia, wanted to mend the rift between you and her twin sister, the High Ruler of Death, Athena. Let's just say half of it was me improvising, while the other half happened naturally—entirely beyond my control."
Seri gazed at him for a few moments before burying her face against his chest. Yuta was taken aback for a second, but then a soft smile graced his features. It seemed that the Ruler of Destruction had, in the end, become quite fond—perhaps even addicted—to her brother's embraces.
Several hours later—at 2:30 PM, to be precise—Yuta sat at the dining table, the meal having just concluded. In a calm tone, he spoke: "We'll be leaving tomorrow at 8:30. There are only four days left until the Summer Festival, which is being held in the city of Berhais this year. We need to head out so we don't miss it."
Elsewhere, Kira, Lery, Chloe, and Madeline were laughing animatedly. Sery, meanwhile, remained quiet, sipping her orange juice with a composed gaze that drew the attention of the others. Yet, no one said a word; they could only feel a lingering sadness for the Sery who once was—the one who used to play, have fun, and laugh. Power, it seems, truly comes at a price.