Chapter 584: Consequences and Conflicts [1]

[One Week Later]

[Unknown Location, Akasha]

In a bunker far away from the reach of anyone, a TV ran a program with a female news anchor at a low volume.

"The death toll from the infamous Dragon Attack has reached fifty thousand. Most of the dead bodies have been recovered from the rubble, and the Church has already assured a proper burial for all of them."

Footage of a once prosperous city appeared. Entire districts had been reduced to fields of broken stone.

Collapsed towers leaned against one another like fallen giants. Smoke still rose from places where the fires refused to die.

"Among the confirmed casualties are more than eight thousand children, twelve thousand soldiers, and hundreds of awakened individuals who were scattered across multiple areas."

The broadcast lingered on the ruined skyline for several long seconds before the anchor spoke again.

"As for the battle itself..."

She hesitated, a clear look of fear remained etched on her face.

"...there is still no confirmed information regarding the outcome."

"No official statement has been released concerning the whereabouts of the First Dragon, nor the individuals who confronted it."

"The governments of every major kingdom have refused further comment."

"The kingdoms ruled by humans have all collectively come out to blame the late Azraiah..."

The television continued speaking, but inside the bunker, no one was listening anymore.

Oliver leaned forward and picked up the remote to turn off the television. He let out a sigh and turned his head.

Inside the bunker were all those who were being persecuted by the royalty of many kingdoms.

The kingdoms wanted to offer ’them’ as a sacrifice to Morningstar so they could keep themselves safe.

...Everyone who was close to Himmel was now treated like a criminal.

On the far end of the room, Christina sat quietly with her eleven ears dropped low.

The woman looked five years older than before, with a streak of white hair mixed with an unnatural blue.

When the Goddess used her and Nymeria’s bodies as vessels to descend, it changed them. A divine intervention was never done without a cost.

"Any news about Himmel?" Oliver asked, standing up from the sofa he sat on. "It’s been a week."

Christina shook her head and let out a dry cough.

"We don’t know where he is," she mumbled. "We can only be sure he is safe because Epione said Liraz is with him."

Oliver remained tight-lipped, his gaze wandering around the room.

Maps were pinned across the walls, with red circles marking cities that had fallen under martial law.

In his group, he alone was strong enough to go out and search such places without the fear of getting caught.

Rubbing his face, Oliver walked towards a bed that was placed on the side.

On the bed lay a young man who looked just like him. It had been a week, and Aimar was still unconscious.

"How is Shyamal?" he asked, turning his head back to Christina.

"Nymeria is looking after her," she replied. "She should wake up soon."

The only people inside the bunker were Oliver, Christina, Aimar, Shyamal, and Nymeria.

The rest of the group had scattered to their respective families.

It was Christina’s idea to send them away so their own families could protect them.

Oliver leaned back against a wall and slowly rubbed his eyes.

"I think Morningstar won’t be around for a while."

"Innana told me," Christina replied. "He is busy with something."

"...."

"...."

A silence lingered between them that soon turned awkward.

Despite sharing a past and having a relationship like brother and sister, they were both conflicted among themselves.

And to make it worse, they both blamed themselves for not saving Himmel.

"I think we should consider all three human kingdoms as enemies," Oliver said after a while. "They are actively trying to portray Himmel as evil and Morningstar as some god."

"...They were always like this," Christina replied. "Even three members of the Akasha Household have openly stated that they stand against him."

A faint cough suddenly came from the hallway, making them both turn immediately.

Nymeria slowly walked into the room while supporting herself against the wall.

She looked no better than Christina. The divine possession had left countless silver cracks beneath her skin.

Her once-vibrant red hair had faded in several places into pure white.

"She woke up."

Oliver immediately straightened.

"Shyamal?"

Nymeria nodded. "Only for a few moments."

"What did she say?"

Nymeria remained quiet for several seconds. "...She asked where Himmel was."

"..."

Christina fell silent and slowly got up from the chair. She walked towards Shyamal, and the other two followed right after her.

Once they reached the room Shyamal was in, Christina took a deep breath before opening the door.

But her breath immediately stopped when she noticed another woman sitting with Shyamal.

The platinum-haired woman slowly lifted her gaze.

Her lifeless grey eyes met Christina’s furious stare without the slightest ripple of emotion.

"...You finally arrived."

The next instant, a golden light flew out of Christina’s body and swiftly changed into the body of a woman.

Innana moved with lightning speed, grabbing Esmeray and slamming her hard against the wall.

The impact behind her strength was so great that it shifted the bunker from its place.

"Y-you!!" the Goddess of Love roared in fury. "How dare you show your face before me?"

Esmeray kept looking at the woman despite a drop of blood trickling down her lips.

"What makes you think I am afraid of you--"

In a fit of rage, Innana didn’t even listen to her complete explanation.

Crack!!!

Grabbing Esmeray by the neck, she twisted it unnaturally.

But it had little effect on the woman, who fixed her neck without even the slightest sign of pain.

"Why so much anger?" Esmeray asked, tilting her head. "Was it not you who let Morningstar escape?"

"It was you!!" Innana snapped. "You broke the kingdom, you let him escape!"

"Was it me who attacked the one who was just about to kill the dragon..." Esmeray looked into the eyes of the Goddess without fear. "...You attacked--"

"Because you made a puppet out of Azreal!!" Innana did not let her finish her words. "I don’t know what witch magic you used, but it was him--"

"Do you love Himmel, or do you love the idea of Himmel being Azreal?"

"H-huh?"

Her question caught Innana off guard, making her go blank for a second.

"You knew Himmel’s life was on the line. You knew your attack could kill me, destroying your chance of defeating Morningstar...."

Esmeray kept speaking as though she were merely stating facts.

"...Yet you still attacked me without a second thought."

The grip Innana had on Esmeray weakened, both mentally and physically.

The platinum-haired woman slowly landed on her feet with the same lifeless look on her face.

"So, I will ask you once again," Esmeray continued. "Do you love Himmel, or do you love the idea of Himmel being Azreal?"

"...."

Innana fell silent. If it had been any other day, she would have answered without hesitation, but now she was doubting herself.

’...Did she ever love Himmel because of who he was?’

"Furthermore, how are you so sure I made a puppet out of Azreal?" Esmeray wasn’t done breaking the Goddess. She continued, "It could have been a realistic illusion for all you know."

The room became so quiet that even Shyamal’s shallow breathing could be heard.

"...No." Innana slowly shook her head. "It wasn’t an illusion."

Her voice had lost all of its earlier confidence.

"I felt him."

Esmeray remained expressionless.

"So?"

"So?" Innana repeated.

Her brows slowly furrowed.

"You think I cannot recognise the soul of the one I..."

Her words stopped, and Esmeray quietly watched her. "You what?"

"I..."

Again, no words came out of her mouth to justify the reason behind her sudden attack.

"It was your own foolishness that put Himmel in danger," Esmeray whispered like a devil sitting on her shoulder. "Your presence harms him more than it helps, and if I were you... I would have left him for his own good."

"...."

Innana didn’t say anything else. All she did was lower her head for a long while.

"Is Himmel fine?" Christina, who was standing just a few metres away, couldn’t help but ask.

Esmeray looked at her with a hint of pride.

"Of course, he is. There is nothing that can kill my son without my permission."

Her words pissed everyone present off, but they couldn’t say anything to refute them.

Right now, she was the only one who knew about Himmel’s whereabouts.

Finally, Shyamal slowly got up from her bed and walked towards Esmeray.

Despite the enmity between them, she was still ready to lower herself just to know more about Himmel.

"Where..." Shyamal whispered, her voice much hoarser than she expected. "Where is he now?"

Esmeray looked down at Shyamal, and slowly a small smile formed on her face.

"Right now..." she said painfully slowly.

"Himmel should be battling against Gods and Outer Gods just to find his way back home."