Illya's Truth

"So, keeping Sky and Cole away from each other is a good idea... and a bad one...?" Ruby asked.

She had been leaning against a wall for a while, just listening to everything as we discussed what to do next.

"If Sky and Cole meet in this city, I guarantee you there would be nothing left of it. Cole isn't afraid of casualties." Illya said.

"So, you're saying that having Sky here is a danger to my people?" Ruby asked.

Illya was far too fierce and intelligent to let her words counter her argument.

"I guess if you were an idiot, that would be what I am saying. What I really meant, though, is that the only reason your city is still standing right now is because of my efforts, and Sky's efforts. I killed your pathetic leader and saved your leadership, Sky brought useful people to you and is even stopping Cole from melting your civilization based on a mere accusation that Sky is here. You are very lucky that it's going in this direction. Had you exiled Sky and told Cole, he would've put his sword through your skull before you could react." Illya said.

"I don't follow. By having Sky here, in this city, you're saying that he wouldn't destroy it. But, if he knew Sky was here, then he would?" Ruby asked again. Illya laughed and called Ruby stupid under her breath.

"Let me explain it one more time, slower I guess. The reason Cole hasn't destroyed everything you know is that Sky is here. Cole doesn't want to lose Sky in the debris, so if he knows that he is at least in a city on Earth, he wouldn't destroy it unnecessarily. Cole knows that destroying a city Sky isn't in would result in Sky revealing himself. If Cole doesn't know if Sky is in this city or not, he won't destroy it. Sky's presence here is keeping you alive, which surprised me when you told me you wanted to exile him. To ask for death so willingly is stupid." Illya said... which felt ironic...

"I couldn't care less about his empty threats. I have an army, and Cole is just one man." Ruby ignorantly said.

"Don't make fun of her too much. Ruby wasn't there to witness our fight, Illya." I told her. Illya chuckled and Ruby shot us confused glances.

"I suppose no ordinary human could fathom the strength of Deities, let alone three of them in one room. Simply put, Sky, Dani, and I are your only hope in terms of defense. I'm surprised you have the balls to treat us so poorly. I'll make this even more simple for you. There wouldn't be an army if Cole seriously fought. There wouldn't be an army if Dani seriously fought. There wouldn't be an army if Sky seriously fought. We are miles upon miles upon your pathetic imagination in terms of power. We have the ability to completely shut out all opponents, and Cole is just as strong, if not stronger than us." Illya sharply said, fixating her gaze on Ruby's dumbfounded eyes.

"Do you understand now? Our displays of strength on that Isle weren't just for show. It was because we needed to overpower one another. That was fighting at both of our full strengths. And Cole is more powerful than that, allegedly." I told Ruby without making eye contact with her.

"And you, Sky, you're supposed to be the most powerful? With only one arm? I don't understand your powers." Ruby asked him.

"I don't know where they went, that's why. I'm not anywhere near full strength, but I'm positive that I would only need one arm to take you on, at least." He said with a smile.

"So if I let you out now, then everything would be okay? Cole would see you and wreak havoc." Ruby said with an annoyed tone.

"I'm not saying that. I'm fine where I am right now, for another three days, until my System Awakens." He said again.

"Fine, then I'll leave you here. You two are so troublesome..." Ruby said, turning and walking toward the staircase.

"What is the best course of action, Illya?" Lia asked her after staying silent during the conversation.

"You want my honest opinion?" Illya asked her, to which she nodded.

"We are absolutely fucked." Illya said, stretching her body out.

"What?! What kind of advice is that?!" Lily got mad at her reply, and Illya shrugged.

"What, do you want me to lie? Simply put, with our current level and my status as a Former Deity, we couldn't win against Cole, let alone Eirikr. We are powerless at the moment. Unless Avie wants to make a surprise appearance after hiding for so long, or we can get Umbra or Hikari to get on our side, then we are trapped." Illya casually said.

"Umbra...? What does she have to do with this?" Ruby turned her head back toward Illya.

"What do you think? Umbra is a girl on the same level as Avie's power. With her, we could fight Cole." Illya said again.

"I never knew that... I only took her for the leader of Karia, yet she's that powerful?" Ruby said as well.

"Huh? Umbra is the leader of a city? So, that's what she's doing nowadays..." Illya said again.

What the hell was going on here?

"Why didn't you tell me that you knew Umbra?! I could've asked her what to do with you." Ruby annoyingly said at Illya.

"Because her opinion would've been to kill me. It was safest to keep my mouth shut." Illya said, lying down in her bed.

"Illya... just who are you? You seem dangerous on your own..." Ruby muttered.

"Not as dangerous as the other person in this cell. The only difference is that I had more connections than him. You want to ask Umbra what to do with me? Save that question, and ask her if she would train Sky Asterio to be strong enough to fight Cole." Illya mentioned.