Death... and me

2743  Out!

Romario's mind was a mess. 'How is she here?! I totally left her inside the Hibernation Chamber in suspended animation! No one knew that that place even existed!' Because he was too afraid, he hadn't even noticed Rean, Roan, or anyone else there. His head was still against the floor, so he wasn't seeing them either. Juliana's expression didn't improve one bit by that sight, though. Instead, a cold smile appeared on her face as she began to talk. "Now then. Try to picture this event. There I am, going to bed to sleep; everything is normal. Yet, the next time I open my eyes, I'm inside of some shit capsule, freezing to the bones, and hundreds of years in the future. Tell me, Romario. What do you think about this event? Does it ring a bell?"

"I... I just didn't want to lose you, so..." Romario tried to explain.

Juliana nodded, still smiling. "Didn't want to lose me. Yes, yes, yes. How could I be so idiot? That's definitely a great reason!"

She got down and continued to speak to Romario, now even closer. Her soft voice didn't carry any of the usual gentle tones but felt more like the Underworld calling Romario to pay a visit. "Then try to picture this. I came out, and then, right on my side, I found another of those shit capsules, chambers, whatever. Guess what I found inside?"

Romario froze for a moment. Of course, he knew who was inside the other hibernation chamber. "T-Tamires?" His daughter... but from a relationship from the time of the Ruins of the Stars.

"Tamires, uh?" Juliana thought about her. "Such a nice girl. And guess what? I found out she was YOUR daughter. Can you believe that? You, who was single, the man who told me he had never had a relationship in his life, had a daughter. Not only that, it seems like this daughter had been frozen in time for countless years, too."

"I-It's complicated," Romario raised his head a little, trying to speak.

"Did I say you could look up?" Juliana's tone changed to cold again.

Romario promptly put his head on the ground once more. "Sorry, my love."

"Well then," Juliana continued. "That makes me wonder. Just how many years would I be left in that place? After all, a certain someone similarly left his own daughter in that condition for so long, right? Perhaps the Universe itself would be gone by then? Who knows?"

"I'm sorry," Romario tried to speak again. "I truly only had the best intentions in doing that. I have too many things to do!"

Juliana nodded. "Oh! Seems like this idiot here is getting in your way, right? Perhaps it is time to put me to sleep once again so that you won't worry about me, right? How could I be so inconsiderate as a wife..."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..." Romario wanted to cry already. If she left the hibernation chamber and even managed to come to this place, she absolutely had the power or someone powerful enough to help her. Besides, she now knows everything, too.

Juliana then got up once again and looked at Rean and the others. "You, get out. Romario and I will have a very, veryyyyy long conversation. Isn't that so, my love?"

Romario wanted nothing more than to flee at the moment. "I..."

Rean and the others quickly took several steps back, nodding vigorously. Even Roan didn't dare to refute. "T-Then we will leave you two alone..."

As they walked out of the residence, they heard a few words from Juliana. "You know, Rean told me that someone at your cultivation level would have a very strong body. However, even for someone with a Body Cultivation Technique, their bodies could only get tough if they circulated their Divine Energy or actively kept their bodies in that state. Fortunately, we are husband and wife, so you absolutely don't need to keep your defenses that high because of me, right, my love?"

Everyone felt a chill running through their bodies as they accelerated their steps. As for whatever was going to happen to Romario, they could only hope it wouldn't be so bad to the point of killing him.

*Bang!*

10:41

To bad all he got was a kick that sent him flying back once again. Juliana still hasn't given him permission to circulate his Divine Energy, so his body is still quite fragile.

Around one hour later, their group was called back into the residence, just to see an Angel who seemed to have already lost his soul. His body was also in quite a terrible condition as it was obvious he hadn't tried to defend himself at all during the past hour.

"A-Ahem..." Rean tried to speak. "Are you still alive, father?"

A tear fell from Romario's eyes as he bitterly smiled. He would rather fight the entire Universe than go through this again. "I... I will manage..."

Juliana seemed refreshed, patting Romario's shoulder. "What is it, my love? You seem... discontent?"

Romario quickly shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no! I'm happy! I'm very, very happy!"

"Hmph! I thought so," Juliana finally let go before turning back to Rean. "Son, bring her out."

Rean knew who Juliana was talking about. In fact, during the hour they stayed outside, Rean had already talked to Tamires in the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm, so she was just waiting for the moment to come out.

*Zush!*

Tamires appeared and looked in Romario's direction. "Dad!"

"Tamires!" Romario quickly ran to her, trying to hug the girl.

*Bang!*

To bad all he got was a kick that sent him flying back once again. Juliana still hasn't given him permission to circulate his Divine Energy, so his body is still quite fragile.

"You are disgraceful! How could you do that to me?! How many years has it been now? Hundreds of millions? Billions? How could you!" Tamires complained nonstop.

Romario tried to explain that he did it to save this Universe. "I couldn't possibly get you involved, so I had to put you in suspended animation. Your father just didn't want to get you hurt."

Tamires then pointed at Rean and Juliana. "And yet, you looked well enough to start a new family while I rotted in that chamber, right?"

"Things... didn't go as expected..." Romario knew he had no way out anymore.

And as always, any Golden Tickets and Stones are welcome. ;)