In the dead of night, inside the palace of Solera—where all the angels had gathered to celebrate the conclusion of a mission that had spanned over 340 million years—the presence of Yuta left them staring in shock and terror, having learned from their queen what had transpired. Yuta spoke with a mocking tone as he watched them kneel before him:
"Hahahaha! How obedient you all are! You've heeded the words of your mistress—the leader of the Solera tribe, the Masters of Life."
He made his way toward Queen Solera's throne and took a seat, fixing them with a calm gaze that only deepened their dread and fear.
Solera spoke, her voice trembling with entreaty:
"We offer our apologies, O Venerable Great Creator Yuta, for our improper conduct. It stemmed from our ignorance. We pray for your forgiveness—please, do not destroy my people; they were merely acting under duress."
Yuta listened in silence. He reached for a teacup that had been set out for Solera, but before he could take a single sip, he reduced it to black dust—a sight that left everyone stunned.
With a tone dripping in mockery and contempt, Yuta remarked:
"Very well. I shall forgive you this time, given your ignorance. But who would have guessed that among the very people you seek to protect—the people for whom you've humbled yourself—there are those who wish to kill you by poisoning your tea?" "Lady Solira—a ruler governing a treacherous people—is nothing more than a fool sitting upon a throne of fools. And a ruler ought to rid themselves of such subjects. You know who they are, don't you?"
Solira remained silent as she listened to Yuta's words, then turned her gaze toward her own people, struck with shock. Her horror deepened as the heads of dozens among them suddenly exploded, scattering a gruesome spray of blood, flesh, fat, hair, brain matter, and eyes all around. It dawned on her then that the traitors were, in fact, those she had trusted most.
She looked back at Yuta, who wore a faint, subtle smile—a sight that filled her with dread and terror. Taking a deep breath to clear her mind and steady herself, she offered her thanks. Her followers looked on, visibly discomfited; the very man who had humbled himself to protect them was now the target of those who sought his life—a stark reminder that selfish interests can erase even the noblest of deeds.
"Thank you, Lord Yuta Casiral. I shall never forget what you have done for me, for as long as I live. Should you ever require anything, I shall never refuse—even if it means fighting the entire world, I would do it."
A faint smile graced Yuta's lips as he listened. The words she had just spoken would surely become her greatest regret—a pledge so profound that even the most powerful of leaders would never dare to utter it so lightly. Yuta spoke in a loud, resonant voice, looking toward them—a gesture that filled them with joy and satisfaction:
"Come now, continue your celebrations—and add to them a toast to the death of the traitors! Isn't it fitting to celebrate the downfall of those who sought to shatter your peace and destabilize your lives?"
Yuta's words acted like fuel, igniting their enthusiasm. They cheered boisterously, raising their goblets high:
"Long live Yuto Casiral and the leader of the Solira tribe—long may they live!"
"Long live Yuto Casiral and the leader of the Solira tribe—long may they live!"
"Long live Yuto Casiral and the leader of the Solira tribe—long may they live!"
"Long live Yuto Casiral and the leader of the Solira tribe—long may they live!"
"Long live Yuto Casiral and the leader of the Solira tribe—long may they live!"
Solira's eyes beamed with happiness as she watched her people, who were overflowing with joy. She then turned her gaze toward Yuta, who stood beside her, observing the crowd.
He placed his arm around her waist; she was taken aback for a fleeting moment, then looked at him with a forgiving, slightly embarrassed smile. Together, they continued to enjoy the festivities, immersed in sheer delight.
With a gentle smile, he spoke in a soft, calm tone:
"You must enjoy yourself, Lady Solira. Life is short—no matter how many ages one might live." "You're right, Yuta Caseral. I should cherish these fleeting moments—and thank you, once again, for saving my life when death was all but certain. Who would have thought that those who betrayed me would be my own siblings—the very people I trusted? Hah!"
Yuta offered a faint, gentle smile as he listened to her words, and the two then turned to rejoin the festivities.
Hours and minutes slipped by until the morning of the following day—July 17, 675—arrived. By 8:30 AM, everyone was busy packing up the campsite, preparing to return to the Caseral family estate in time for the Summer Festival, now just three days away.
After half an hour spent gathering their belongings, they boarded the bus, their expressions a blend of joy and relief following the beautiful, yet shocking, events of the past two days.
Checking the bus's storage compartment and finding it full, Yuta remarked:
"Everything has been packed, and the site has been thoroughly cleaned."
He climbed aboard, and the bus pulled away, leaving behind what had once been the Lake of a Thousand Beasts—now nothing more than a massive crater. On the journey home, Yuta overheard travelers and merchants discussing a mysterious pillar of violet energy.
It became clear to him that both his allies and his enemies had taken note of the phenomenon; after all, every entity in the human realm had witnessed it—though not all understood its true nature or significance. He pressed on, accelerating toward the city of Berhais.
Elsewhere, the Black and White Scorpion gazed into a portal, watching as Yuta's bus made its way toward the city of Berhais. He spoke in a tone brimming with excitement, anticipating the completion of an experiment he had spent centuries preparing for:
"Experiment number 000002546, subjects from Group D—1.1 and 1.2—you seem to be enjoying yourselves quite a bit. No matter; only five days remain until the time comes for you to become the very tools that will grant me greater power."
"Just five more days, and it will all be over. It shall be a glorious day for me! Afterward, it will be the turn of the 'Heaven-Shattering Venerable' and the leader of the organization. They will perish by my hands, and I shall ascend as the next leader of the Scorpion Organization. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Meanwhile, Yuta had just passed through the gates of the city of Berhais. The air was filled with the fragrance of fresh summer flowers and fruits, leaving Kiri, Liri, Chloe, and Madeline gazing out at the streets with a mixture of joy and wonder.
In contrast, Siri remained fast asleep in the very last seat of the bus—a sight that cast a shadow of sadness over the expressions of Kiri and Liri as they looked toward her.
Her transformation was sudden, leaving them filled with sadness; they longed to see the old Siri once more, yet that was no longer possible.
Meanwhile, deep in slumber, Siri was locked in an internal struggle within her dreams—dreams that were, in truth, memories of her past lives, now gradually resurfacing.
In a fractured, white void—a realm scarred by shattered expanses—stood a gathering of Rulers. Their faces and forms remained hidden, veiled by mantles of pure light that rippled in mesmerizing, multicolored waves.
Amidst this assembly—surrounded by other Rulers, abstract concepts, and fundamental laws—lay Death (Athena) and Destruction (Higurashi, known now as Siri). They were in a dire state, battered and utterly exhausted, incapable of continuing the fight for even a single second.
Then, the entity known as the Master—or Chief—of the Rulers spoke, his tone firm and beyond dispute, following the transformation of Zhao Li and Alessandra into mere mortals:
"Because of your actions, it has become impossible to slay Zhao Li and Alessandra and claim the power of the Rulers for ourselves. Thus, the First Ragnarok War concludes with your defeat. For this, we decree a punishment befitting your transgression."
"While killing you would not serve our interests—given that you both embody concepts from the narrative of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*—Death, the Supreme Ruler of Death, shall be imprisoned within the Central Continent. As for the Supreme Ruler of Destruction—your accomplice in this betrayal—her power shall be sealed, and she shall be cursed to wander the earth, destined to perish at the age of eleven at the hands of those closest to her." Neither of them uttered a single word; they were too exhausted and drained to even form a syllable. Slowly, their bodies began to fade from existence. Athena, the Ruler of Death, was consigned to the dungeon of the Rulers' Crypt, while the power of Higurashi, the Ruler of Destruction, was sealed away within the Lake of a Thousand Beasts. Stripped of her essence, she was cast into the infinite, ordinary realms—doomed to wander as an outcast, destined to perish in some forgotten alleyway.
.........................
..........................
.......................
Amidst a throng of followers loyal to Marilia, the Supreme Ruler of Life, hung Siri—bound to a wooden cross. Tears streamed down her face, yet no one among the crowd showed the slightest concern.
Though she appeared to be a mere eleven-year-old child, she was, in truth, Higurashi, the Supreme Ruler of Destruction. Knowing that her very existence would invite war and ruin upon their world, they felt no shred of sympathy for her.
"Let me go! What have I ever done to deserve this? For heaven's sake—I trusted you so much, Leader! And yet, you mean to kill me!"
Siri's voice was thick with pleading, sorrow, and despair as she gazed at the leader of the angels and her followers—the very same beings who, only days before, had treated her with such kindness.
Without a word, the leader approached her, a flame taking shape within her palm. Because Siri was rendered powerless by the stones that suppressed her abilities, her captors were entirely confident that escape was impossible. A torch was cast toward the firewood, and Siri screamed in agony as the flames engulfed her. The tribe leader clenched her fists tightly, then turned and left without a word—a stark contrast to her followers, who danced with joy and elation.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Save me! Someone, help me! Please, someone help me!"
Yet, there was no one nearby to come to her aid. Furthermore, neither Alessandra nor Zhao Li were aware of this; she had been placed in an isolated location the moment she was born. Because the angels had been present centuries earlier—when Zhao Li and Alessandra were still within their cocoons—they knew exactly where and when she would be born.
Minutes later, she perished as the fire consumed her entire body.
......................
................................
.....................................
Siri opened her eyes and looked around, finding herself in her own bed. Yuta was resting his head against her stomach. A faint smile crossed her lips as she embraced his head, just as she used to do in the past. Yuta offered a faint smile, his gaze calm as he rested his hand against Siri's cheek.
"How are you, my dear, charming Siri? You seem utterly exhausted. But do not worry—do not let every setback become an obstacle. Sometimes, a setback is precisely what allows you to take a step forward."
Siri remained silent, her eyes drifting toward the ceiling with a tranquil expression, trying to cast aside the dream—a trivial memory she felt deserved to be buried.
With a heavy sigh, laden with both mental and emotional fatigue, she turned her gaze back to Yuta, who still wore that same gentle smile.
In a soft, quiet tone, she reached out to stroke his pale white hair.
"And yet, some setbacks take a long time to heal—to transform into a path that makes one stronger. Some hardships don't build strength; they only make one wish they could destroy the hardship itself."
Yuta said nothing. He simply watched her for a few moments before snapping his fingers, his voice calm as he spoke:
"Perhaps you should rest, my dear Siri. Sleep will be your refuge for now—until the right moment arrives."
Siri closed her eyes, a faint smile touching her lips. Yuta stood up, leaving her to fall into a deep, profound slumber—all while ignoring the gaze of Athena, who watched them both. Yuta spoke, looking at her with a calm, advisory tone:
"Athena, I know you currently view Siri as both your daughter and a dear friend, but you need to act with ease and grace—not with such tension and anxiety. You'll only end up looking foolish. If you want to improve your relationship with her, you should act like a friend, or like a mother who loves her child—not like... well, you know what I mean."
Athena's eyes narrowed as she watched him—until he vanished from sight—letting out a mocking laugh that left her so furious she felt like kicking him, over and over again.
She cast one last glance at Siri, lingering for a few seconds before taking her leave, allowing her some time to rest.
The following day—Saturday, July 18, 675—at 7:30, Siri and Athena sat at the dining table, eating in quiet, amidst a hall heavy with tension.
Athena found it difficult to speak with Siri after recovering her memories; she was still burdened by guilt over everything that had transpired between them over the past millions of years.
As for Siri, she could find no words—as if her mind had been completely emptied of them—so she simply ate in silence, searching for some way to mend their strained friendship.
Athena set her spoon down on the table with a soft click. Siri looked at her for a few moments before returning her gaze to her own meal, then stopped eating as well.
Yet, the situation remained unchanged. Neither spoke to the other; silence reigned, bringing to Athena's mind the last time they had conversed—shortly after she had awakened on the second day of their journey, once her memories and powers had returned.
The inability to communicate was deeply distressing for both of them, stirring a sense of intense frustration.
Finally, breaking the silence, Siri spoke—her voice tinged with a faint, uneasy hesitation:
"It's such a beautiful day to explore the city of Berhais. Wouldn't it be a good idea to make use of the available equipment and go for a bit of a stroll?" Athena's facial expression was quite comical—a mix of shock and confusion—though Siri paid it no mind.
Siri sipped the fruit juice nearby, waiting impatiently for a response. It was clear that an answer wouldn't be coming anytime soon, as Athena seemed completely unable to utter a single word.
Taking a deep breath, Athena looked toward Siri. Never in her life had she felt such intense nervousness and anxiety—to the point where she even began to wonder if she might be attracted to women.
She quickly pushed that thought aside, pretending it had never crossed her mind, and said in a strained, nervous tone:
"You're right, Higurashi... I mean, Siri. It's a good time to walk around the city of Berhais."
Athena looked slightly embarrassed; she was far more accustomed to being called "Higurashi" than "Siri." Seeing this, Siri let out a laugh, prompting Athena to offer a nervous, awkward laugh in return.
Siri then stood up and said, her voice calm and composed:
"Since we've reached an agreement, get yourself ready. We'll be exploring the city of Berhais until noon."
Siri didn't wait for a reply, fully confident that Athena would agree regardless.
As Siri walked out of the dining hall, Athena's gaze remained fixed upon her. Athena reached for a glass of cold water, trying to steady herself. "What the hell is happening to me? Why am I so on edge? Could it be... how utterly repulsive! Ugh! Where are these gross thoughts coming from? I've been an indirect cause of her suffering for millions of years—there's no way I'll be able to look at her without feeling completely awkward."
Athena's tone was laced with deep agitation; she stood up and headed to her room to change her clothes.
As Siri got herself ready, Kiri and Liri watched her in total silence. Despite having been trapped for two thousand years, they hadn't undergone any hormonal or biological maturation, remaining stuck as twelve-year-old children.
Siri didn't pay much mind to their gazes, though she studied their faces with a sense of sorrow. They were used to the gentle, playful Siri—not this quiet, cold version of her who rarely ever smiled.
Breaking the heavy silence, Siri spoke, causing them both to tense up:
"Kiri, Liri—I know you're sad about how much I've changed, but it's beyond my control. I've been through so much that it's become impossible for me to act like a normal child my age."
Kiri and Liri sighed, their expressions filled with frustration and sadness as they listened. Seeing this, Siri's smile turned faint and hollow; she moved toward them.
As she sat down beside them, she realized they were shorter than her—a discovery that left her feeling embarrassed, especially since she had intended to do something that, in her current state, she was far too young to actually pull off. She was taken by surprise when Kerry and Leary embraced her, both of them in tears. Looking at them with a touch of sadness, she returned their embrace with a faint smile. She then glanced toward Athena, who was watching her from the doorway with a gentle smile, before leaving the room and allowing them to continue their family reunion.
After a few moments spent with her family, Siri made her way to Athena, who had been waiting for her impatiently. Together, they set off for the city of Berhais to spend some time there.
Athena watched as Siri descended the stairs—her movements light, yet radiating immense strength and absolute authority—which brought a faint smile to Athena's lips.
As soon as Siri reached her, they left the palace without a moment's delay, heading toward the city of Berhais, where they planned to enjoy their time until midday.
Meanwhile, in the city of Berhais, the atmosphere was filled with joy and happiness. The air was fragrant with the scent of fresh summer fruits and the refreshing aroma of flowers that adorned every corner of the city.
It was a true paradise of blossoms, fresh summer produce, and delightful, invigorating scents—a city perfectly in harmony with nature, reflecting the customs and traditions of a region comprising twelve cities and villages. Amidst the preparations for the summer festival, Siri and Athena wandered about, enjoying fresh summer fruit-jelly tarts—a simple, delicious treat sold at small stalls that also served to showcase the quality of this year's harvest.
Athena plucked two beautiful flowers; she tucked one into her own hair and handed the other to Siri.
Siri gazed at her for a few moments, wiping the sticky remnants of the treat from her hand, before taking the flower and placing it in her own hair with a faint smile. Athena smiled in return, and the two continued their stroll through the lovely districts of the city of Berhais.
As they chatted from time to time, they bought clothes and food to enjoy their time together.
While eating some ice cream, Siri spoke up—leaving Athena momentarily stunned:
"I'll be honest with you: you're the best mother who ever raised me. Who would have thought I'd end up being the child of my old friend? Strange, isn't it?"
Athena gazed at her in silence, then pulled her into an embrace. A faint smile spread across Siri's face as she listened to Athena's reply:
"You're right—you're the best daughter I could have ever asked for."
They continued their journey through the city of Berhais, feeling much more at ease than when they first began, and both thoroughly enjoyed their lovely outing.