CHAPTER 39

Miro's and Yumine's very sights were witnessing that the three life-less looking humans were standing inside the huge crystallized diamond pods. From when the three humans were standing, there were purple glowing magical pentagrams. More so, there were floating obsidian and opal fragments around the three. Soon, the purple pentagrams illuminated to their brightest radiance and burst out a very cold air. As the glaring light ceased, there were three pillars of frozen violet pillars that had replaced the humans inside the pod. Rather, the lifeless humans were frozen in an instant. Miro just looked away with disgust and pity, for the case of the three humans. While for Yumine, her knees fell on the ground. Then, she expressed with saddened tears, while she was looking at the awry sight,

"N-no...".

It seemed that the humans were turned into purple cylindrical blocks of ice. Later on, the magic-infused floating monochromatic crystals radiated to their highest brightness. The frozen purple pillars were melting gradually. Instead of making a huge puddle on the slated floor, the purple liquid was streaming along the crevices of the polished floor. As the purple liquid continued to flow along the network, it made a symbol of a menacing Ouroboros. A serpent that was eating its own tail, while it was presenting a form of eternity through it's circular depiction. It appeared, that the city's power source came from the lives of their citizens. In turn, the symbol of an Ouroboros had truly represented the cruel hidden truth about their city. For some reason, Yumine's tears won't stop pouring out, as she had seen much more gruesome and morbid through her divine sight. Through her Goddess vision, she was seeing that the humans' delicate and wispy-like souls had disintegrated and exploded into tiny fragments, as they were melted into purple liquid. It seemed that turning humans into frozen purple pillars, froze their souls as well. Afterwards, when they're being melted down through extreme heat, their souls disintegrate in the process. Yumine was deep in her thoughts,

"This is just too cruel.".

Though, Yumine felt that doing nothing wouldn't save them, so she steeled herself and stood up. She brushed away her tears, and she was now expressing a raging and serious look. She turned to her left and asked Miro,

"Let's end their suffering, Miro...".

Miro had stopped looking away and he replied back with conviction,

"Yeah.".

Both of them cleared their sadness. Soon, Miro and Yumine resumed on rushing along the aisle. They were now clearly seeing the pudgy and putrid-looking mayor at the center. Not only that, his life-less citizens were listening to his motivational yet, twisted campaign speech,

"My citizens, it is that time of the year again, for us to sacrifice one of our beloved ones for the prosperity and survival of this city. Yet, do not fret, for their sacrifices will not be in vain, as their AMAZING ENERGIES shall spread along our sacred waters. In order for us to harvest the ABSOLUTE ENERGY! ".

As Miro and Yumine were almost near the center stage, a magic barrier had blocked them suddenly. There after, Iblyth appeared behind them and she fluttered her dagger-like feathers at Miro and Yumine. Thankfully, Miro and Yumine were able to dodge them just in time. Yumine tried to break through the impervious barrier but, nothing happened. In turn, Yumine was pissed-off in her deep thoughts,

"HOW DO THESE FALLENS GET HOLD OF THESE?!".

Soon, Iblyth brought out her steel fanblade on her one hand. As for Yumine, she unsheathed her pink rapiers. While for Miro, he brought out his portable and extendable steel polearm. The air turned intense as the three of them were ready to clash. Soon, Iblyth expressed herself with a sarcastic smile,

"Sorry but, I can't let you two interfere on this PROSPEROUS RITUAL.".

As Yumine heard Ibyth's foul words seeped in honey, Yumine was furious and she dashed straight to Iblyth's face. The next moment, Yumine released series of lightspeed slashes and strikes. Although, Iblyth just parried them fast using her single fanblade with added finesse. Soon, Yumine expressed her opinions of what Iblyth had said a while a go, while her onslaught and parries of Iblyth were on-going,

"Ritual?! You mean, RITUAL OF KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE?!".

The next moment, Iblyth deflected the next attack of Yumine with powerful force, making Yumine's furies to cease for a moment. Although, Miro approached Iblyth and he swung his polearm at her torso. Sadly, Iblyth was quick on her feet, so, she just leap back for a few paces, using her arms with bird-like wings. Miro and Yumine nodded at each other and they rushed to Iblyth at the same time. As for Iblyth, she just cast out,

"MONSOON GALE!".

Afterwards, Yumine and Miro were blown away to the edge of the divine barrier. They felt a jolting pain as their backs had hit into the invisible wall. Though, they still tried to get up. Iblyth then told them,

"Oh puhlease...Y'all Goddesses do that all the time right? So how come a PRINCESS like me isn't allowed, hm?".

Yumine didn't let out another strike but, she just lowered her head and said with a cold tone,

"I've seen it...".

She gave off a burning stare at Iblyth and Yumine continued to say,

"You aren't just killing innocent people—!".

Her expressive eyes let out sorrowful tears and she exclaimed,

"BUT, YOU ARE ALSO RUPTURING THEIR SOULS! THUS, THEY CAN NO LONGER BE REVIVED, REBORN, OR EVEN LIVE ON AGAIN!".

In a split of a second, Yumine rushed at Iblyth and Yumine swung her rapiers at Iblyth but, Ibyth just parried that powerful swing and using her fanblade. That sudden moment, Iblyth countered by giving a strong kick into Yumine's stomach, making Yumine to be thrown for a few paces. Though, Iblyth noticed that Miro wasn't on the far side anymore. The next moment, Miro emerged behind her and he was about to smash Iblyth using his trusty polearm. Due to Ibyth's amazing reflexes, she was able to turn around fast. She deflected Miro's attack. Then, she gave him a straight-on roundhouse kick, making Miro to be thrown away for a small distance as well. Yumine got up and said more with a grievious expression,

"They can't even return to the cycle of fate...".

Miro was utterly shocked afterwards. It appeared that when humans die, their souls ascend to Celestia Heavens and then they'll be given another path or cycle of fate to take on. Sadly, due to the process of converting humans into tools for creating absolute energy, their very souls were destroyed in the process as well. In turn, they can no longer return to Celestia Heavens and be given another cycle of fate. Then, Yumine let out more crystal tears, as she expressed to Iblyth,

"Do you realize how cruel that is?".

Sadly, Iblyth didn't even feel pity from Yumine's words, instead Iblyth just replied disrespectfully with a devious grin,

"Oh honey, I wouldn't say it's cruel rather...I've helped them by releasing them from their PATHETIC CYCLE...The cycle of living, dying, having ANOTHER HOPELESS WORLD, AND FATE RIGHT?".

Yumine wasn't happy, as she heard Iblyth's heartless statement,

"YOU B*TCH! HOW DARE YOU!".

As for Miro, he gritted his teeth, as he was seething with immense rage due to Iblyth's cold-hearted words as well. He gripped his polearm tight and went straight to Iblyth. He swung his polearm sideways,

"GRAAAHHH!".

Iblyth tried to dodge but, she was was still partially hit by the long polearm. Thereon, she was still able to get away. Afterwards, Iblyth turned to look at Miro next and she started to talk to him,

"And what about you, Miro?".

She facepalmed and said with a sarcastin grin,

"I can't believe you're helping a GODDESS now...And here I thought you hated the Goddesses...".

Then, she took a sneaky glance from head to toe at Yumine who was ready to anticipate her movements,

"Hmmmm, I'm guessing...she had GENEROUSLY gave her WILTED FLOWER and FREQUENTLY USED BODY to you, huh Miro?".

Miro had snapped, as he heard those rude and haughty words,

"DON'T YOU DARE DISRESPECT YUMI!".

Iblyth shifted to look at Miro and she responded,

"Calling her by her nickname...Yeah, you've fallen for a Goddess AGAIN, you gullible minotaur...".

Miro had reached the peak of his wrath. Soon enough, he tried to dish out powerful smashes and blows at Iblyth. Although, Miro's attacks were just missing since, Miro's strikes were very predictable due to his rage. While Yumine was noticing that the enraged Miro was having a hard time hitting Iblyth, Yumine cast out,

"BELLA GRISEIA".

The next moment, Miro was spewing out a mix of blue and violet auras. It appeared that the enchantment of Yumine had made Miro's movements and reflexes faster. In turn, the next swings and blows of Miro were able to hit Iblyth, making Iblyth to be very astonished and get hurt badly. The next swing made Ibyth to be thrown away for a few distance. She got up but, she coughed out blood later on. Although, she was having a devious smile for some reason. Afterwards, she complimented her opponents,

"You got me there alright. Other than that, I can't believe they sent FALLENS as reinforcements. The Celestia Gods and Goddesses are truly hilarious.".

Miro asked her on a different subject,

"What about you? What would you gain from helping the mayor from killing innocent people?".

Iblyth covered her mouth with her fanblade and she replied,

"Oh you already know me, Miro...".

Miro analyzed his thoughts on Iblyth and he responded immediately while he was giving a cold stare at her,

"It's MONEY, MEN, and INFLUENTIAL POWER right?".

Iblyth lowered her fanblade and she made a menacing smile of a demon queen,

"Yes, with those things you could dominate and get any kind of luxuries.".

"What a SHALLOW dream...",

as Yumine insulted Iblyth's hard ambitions. Then, she dashed at a speed of light towards Iblyth. Yumine brandished her rapiers at Iblyth. Yumine let out consecutive hatd-hitting strikes, while she was saying to Iblyth,

"YOU'D TRAMPLE ANYONE'S LIFE JUST TO GET THOSE MEASLY THINGS?!".

Iblyth was able to block most of them but, some were able to pass through, letting her get fresh wounds and cuts. Maybe, due to the damages she had incurred, while she was fighting Yumine and Miro beforehand, her capabilities had weakened. While for Miro, he seized the opportunity and charged at Iblyth as well. Since, Iblyth sensed that she can no longer handle Yumine's fast strikes not to mention the rushing Miro, Iblyth cast out,

"AERO PULSE!".

Suddenly, Miro and Yumine were blown away to the invisible wall once again. Soon enough, Iblyth replied back with a devious smile to Yumine's hard question,

"I don't care, I'll use anthing or anyone just to get anything I want.".

Yumine and Miro stood up. The two of them looked at each other such as they were giving each other signals. There after, the two of them nodded back with determined looks.

"Hmmmm, I wonder what are you two IDIOTIC LOVEBIRDS up to now...Well, no matter, since I'll just BLOW YOU TWO AWAY!",

as Iblyth said with a confident look filled with malice. Sooner or later, she cast out once again,

"MONSOON GALE!".

Yumine and Miro were being blown away once again, although the two of them anchored themselves down on the ground. Then, Yumine cast out loud,

"PHILIA'S ZONE, ZERO!".

Suddenly, the forceful winds had totally ceased. Yumine stared at Iblyth and Yumine gave her opponent a determined smile. In turn, Iblyth was pissed,

"Tsk!".

It appeared that Iblyth can't use her dirty tricks of delaying Miro and Yumine, since Yumine's magic had made the whole atmosphere stagnant. The only thing Iblyth could do was go on offensive. She rushed towards Miro but, Yumine had blocked her attempt. Then, Yumine let out destructive swings and strikes using her sharp rapiers. In turn, Iblyth had no choice but to parry and exchange strikes with Yumine. The two females were having a fiery onslaught, as their blades were clashing. Although, Iblyth can't keep up with Yumine's constant speedy strikes, turning Iblyth to be at a disadvantage. Iblyth took a gamble and let Yumine's next attack to hit her. Though, on the next strike, Iblyth used all of she had to deflect it, making Yumine to lose her constant blade dance. Thereupon, Iblyth was able to leap away safely. She turned to look at Miro from where he was standing yet, he wasn't there anymore. Iblyth gulped and she looked above. The next moment, Miro descended and hit her with his polearm. Then, he jabbed at her stomach, making Iblyth to lose her balance. As for Iblyth, she flung out her feather-like daggers at Miro and Yumine. Although, they just blocked them using their hard weapons. Iblyth was now looking very exhausted and battered. As she was panting, she coughed out crimson blood once again. Iblyth fell on her knees, she tried to get up but, she was too tired. Later on, Yumine calmed her nerves. She sheathed her rapiers and she bent her knees, as if she was ready to unsheathe her rapiers. Then, she cast out,

"JULIETH STINGER!".

She went straight through Iblyth and let out piercing strikes at Iblyth, making Iblyth to feel severe thorny punctures. As Yumine was finished with her onslaught, Iblyth was on her last dying breath. Moreover, Iblyth's ruptured body had deep wounds and those were leaking out crimson blood as well. Yumine sheathed her rapiers, as Iblyth had already lost. While for Miro, his enchanted aura had dispersed. He put away his extendable polearm and he went near Yumine who was near the dying Iblyth. When Iblyth was seeing the blurry appearances of Yumine and Miro in front of her, Iblyth expressed her own regrets,

"Darn...I guess...I should've seperated...you...two...first...".

Yumine reprimanded Iblyth,

"That's what you get for being TOO GREEDY.".

Then, she turned to look at Miro,

"Oh and Miro...".

Miro just nodded,

"I understand my Goddess...".

Yumine unsheathed her left rapier and gave it to Miro. As Miro received her noble weapon, he held its hilt tight using his two hands. He aimed the rapier at Iblyth's chest. Sooner or later, he stabbed her chest, ending Iblyth's be d*mned life. Miro, removed the weapon from Iblyth's corpse. He swung the blade to the side, in order to remove the stains. Then, he gave it back to Yumine. Yumine accepted it and sheathed it back. There after, Yumine expressed her concerns,

"This time, the next moment her soul sets foot on HER JUDGEMENT she'll go straight back to her cell, thanks to what she had done in this world.".

"Oh, I see, cool.",

as Miro said. The next moment, the divine barrier had shattered, as the spellcaster had been slain. In turn, Miro told Yumine with a smile,

"I guess we can save the people now...".

Yumine replied,

"Yeah...".

Afterwards, the two of them were now able to continue their objective. They went straight through the mayor's crowd. Their eyes were seeing that the mayor was at the center stage.

"STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING MAYOR!",

Yumine exclaimed. The mayor was surprised and worried,

"How did you get out? And where's lady Iblyth?".

Miro replied to his sentiments,

"We already took care of her...".

The mayor looked from the distance and saw the fresh corpse of Iblyth down on the aisle. In turn, the mayor gulped, as he felt tense afterwards. Soon enough, Yumine commanded the mayor,

"Now release these poor souls...".

The pudgy mayor replied,

"Or what?".

Suddenly, Yumine sneaked behind the mayor and slit her rapier on his throat. In turn, the mayor turned white and felt scared for his dear life. For some reason, the people didn't react. Since, they looked-like lifeless husks of shell, making Miro to feel an awkward vibe. The next moment, an obsidian meteorite fell near them, creating a strong dust cloud and a huge crack along the floor. Yumine was both shocked and irritated,

"Who is it now?!".

As the cloud dust dispersed, Shunya's appearance was revealed. Although, her eyes and expression looked dead, as the core of the abyss. Her quipao dress was seeped in the hues of deathly nether and irk of darkness. She turned to look at Yumine but, Shunya's cold stare was filled with threatening vibes. In turn, Yumine asked Shunya if she's alright,

"Shunya?!".