LXI

With his entire being suppressed, the Star God Emperor could only helplessly watch as he was entrapped in the Absolute Star God Barrier. Even worse, the Star Gods looking down on him did not have an ounce of regret in their eyes. They looked dedicated to his involuntary sacrifice.

Rokas, placing his helmet to the side, made a cut on his palm and pressed his blooded hand against the barrier… turning it entirely crimson red in an instant. His blood shined with power, glowing like magma.

"What is this…?" Xing Juekong's eyes widened.

"Like any fine dish, the sacrifice needs seasoning." Rokas stated, his lips curling into a slight smile. "What is an act more noble than sacrificing yourself for your Realm, your homeland and your daughters? To sacrifice your very existence to ensure the future of your people… how moving. My heart goes out to your eternally noble soul."

"... This… argh…" Xing Juekong's eyes almost popped out when a rush of crimson blood enveloped him. "AAAAAHHHHH!"

Jasmine looked down, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. The screams of her royal father were like music to her ears. With every passing moment, his appearance and very soul grew deformed.

After seeing through him, Rokas turned back and teleported next to Jasmine. He added his hand in the ceremony, his boundless power strengthening the barrier countless times over. If the Star God Emperor had any chance of survival before… it had faded into nothing with this simple act. 

"I still don't understand why you never left this place." Rokas glanced at her, crossing his arms. "It seems rather foolish to me especially since you were perfectly capable of doing so."

'This was something I always saw as a plothole.'

[System: Shhh, ATG is a perfect story without any flaws.]

"ARGHHHHH!"

"Why?" Jasmine glanced at Caizhi. "Even if I had the ability, my younger sister does not… keeping concealed forever would not have been sustainable. Even if it were, what would be the point of such a life?"

"So, you'd leave your sister all alone?" Rokas questioned, shaking his head. "The Jasmine I know is relentless, unforgiving and stubborn. She wouldn't bend over backwards so easily."

"..."

"Or is it that you wanted to be rescued by your handsome disciple?" Rokas wondered, stroking his chin. "I suppose you did fancy yourself a princess… and every princess needs a fine knight to save her from distress."

"Hmph…" Jasmine crossed her arms. "..."

"If you have something to say to me, don't be shy about it." Rokas chuckled, glancing at Xing Juekong who was smashing his head against the barrier rather madly. "Even if they are the harshest words imaginable, I can take them. If what I did was irreconcilable… then-"

"Thank you."

Jasmine's words were unadorned… yet powerful.

"... It's me who should be thanking you." Rokas countered, smiling slightly. "Every time I was falling into old habits, you set me straight. When I was too lazy to take that extra step, you pushed me forward and further beyond. You… changed my life, Jasmine. I would not be the man I am today without you."

"Even when I pushed you away because of her, you kept your word… til the very end." Jasmine remarked, turning to him. "Even when you already had everything you could want, you…"

"That's where you're wrong, Jasmine." Rokas shook his head, turning to her. "My life would be incomplete without you. You're precious to me. Nevermind the Star God Realm, if every King Realm in the Realm of the Gods was against you, I'd still raise my sword and slaughter everyone who would dare to even think of harming you."

"... You know just the right words to say to a girl, don't you?" 

"..." Rokas chuckled, smiling slightly. "I've had some practice."

"So… who is more precious to you, me or the Brahma Monarch Goddess?"

"You." 

Rokas answered without hesitation.

Jasmine looked at his expression and saw his unwavering gaze, nodding.

"We'll see."

Xing Juekong began to display more draconic traits, growing horns atop his head. Large blazing scarlet half scaled, half feathered, wings slowly sprang out of his back as his screams echoed across the Star God Realm. His arms bulged, expanding and growing terribly ugly scales. His face grew ever so distorted and hideous, growing almost larger than the rest of his body. One arm grew exponentially larger than the other while his back twisted into a crooked form to that of a withered old man. He looked truly… demonic. A twisted creature that resembled his heart more than his previous appearance did.

Above all else, his power expanded several times over… and so did his pain. 

"Argh… sch… REEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

The sounds that began to come out of him had eventually stopped being human all together. Rokas observed rather calmly, his eyes not showing an ounce of remorse. Meanwhile, Jasmine found it hard not to laugh.

"You're looking more like your true self, royal father."

"I feel it… hah… REEEEEEE!" Xing Juekong managed to let out a chuckle between his screams, seemingly going mad. He raised his larger arm, the symbol of a man who only 'trained' with one hand. "Power… hahaha… this is the… REEEEREEEECH… POWER OF A GOD! HAHAHAHAHAHA… ZZZZZAHHHHH!!!"

'I can't tell if it's the worst or best day of his life. Maybe it's just both.'

"This makes your Sword Master's ritual look like a slap on the wrist in comparison." 

"It was not my intention to hurt him… the Star God Emperor, however, is a different story."

"A TRUE GOD… I AM ZCHHJJ… A TRUE GOD!"

Saliva fell from his open mouth which now resembled a shark's as he jumped around in a jolly mood. For him, it may as well have been Christmas. Rokas popped open a glass bottle of coca-cola, having a nice sip.

"ZALALALA… RATATATATATATATA!"

"Pft!" Rokas couldn't help but chuckle, spitting out his drink. "Honestly, even I don't know what is going on in that head of his."

"He seems more reasonable than before to me." Jasmine shrugged.

"More pain…" He licked his upper lips, salivating a whole waterfall. "More pain… more power… REEEEEE!"

After several minutes of continuous degradation… the blood had finally settled in his body and corrupted the very essence of his being. The power he displayed surpassed that of God Emperors… and even that of the Dragon Monarch. For a time, he felt like the most powerful being in all of existence.

Although, no matter how hard he tried, he could not break free.

"Let's begin."

The ritual had officially begun as Rokas used Xing Juekong's memories to perform it. The barrier slowly began to drain away his newfound divine strength… slowly but surely.

"Noo… MY PRECIOUS… MY PRECIOUS POWER… ZCHHHHAAAAAHHHH!" He held his head in his disproportionate hands, feeling a thousands of thorns pierce every corner of his body. His mind shook violently, struck by endless waves of pain. "Father… father… lord… sire…"

Rokas raised an eyebrow as Xing Juekong began to reach out to him.

"Save me…"

Rokas had a nice mouthful of his soda. "Nah, you're good. Think of this as your great final act. For once, you get to do something useful."

"Final act… yes, this is for the Star God Realm. For the future. Hahahaha, I am a martyr!"

'Yeah, his mind went through the window.'

"You set his mind at ease…" Jasmine remarked, glancing at him.

"I was being sarcastic." Rokas turned his sights back to Xing Juekong. "Hmm… do you have no shame, Star God Emperor?"

"… Shame… shame?" The deranged Xing Juekong questioned, tilting his head. 

"Yeah, it seems like a foreign word to you." Rokas engraved the Mighty Heavenly Saber in the formation before teleporting right in front of the barrier. He looked the foul beast right in the eyes… who began to tremble at his presence. "To be prepared to sacrifice the very lives of all of your children for any kind of reason… let alone one as depraved as power… how heartless must you be?"

"A King… must make difficult… decisions."

"Difficult?" Rokas scoffed, stepping around the barrier. "That is a lie and you know it. For even a chance… a glimmer of a slight improvement in strength, you were more than willing to proceed and see both your daughters die. Hell, your son before that. You don't truly care about any of them, do you? Not your daughters, not your Star Gods, not your people… deep down, it's all about you."

"... No…"

"Yes… why do you lie?" Rokas questioned, his act of punishing the Star God Emperor suddenly becoming more… personal. Far more personal. "What kind of father stains his hands with the blood of his own children without so much as shedding a tear? What kind of monster resorts to such a thing… and worse, proceeds to attempt to justify himself? There's no fucking justification. Before God or Emperor, you are just a man. And a man… above all, safeguards and provides for his family."

"Wretched filth like you deserve nothing. No children, no wives, no Realm… no power. Nothing at all."

Rokas looked down at Xing Juekong, who began to tremble even more. He even sniffled slightly.

"Do not be angry… my lord… do not be…-"

"You are the lowest of the low, a rat who wears a crown and crawls around calling himself King. Not only you are a rat but you are also a fool… a man no more intelligent than the shit he leaves behind. Do you truly believe that you could be a True God? From just the sacrifice of two Divine Masters? Fucking idiot. You should smash your deluded head against that barrier a few more times."

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Xing Juekong did as ordered.

"Forgive me…" Xing Juekong glanced at his arms, feeling his power beginning to drain away more rapidly. "Master is wise… master can lead me to the light."

"There is no hope for you." Rokas' stare was cold, piercing through Xing Juekong like a sharp blade. "You will forever be remembered as a fool of a Star God Emperor and the last one. A failure. The doom of a lineage that spanned nearly a thousand millenia. Your legacy will fade into ashes and all that you've strived for will collapse. Even the Star God Realm your ancestors built and you claimed to rule will burn to the ground. In the end… no one will remember any of your fine acts, if there even were any."

"The person to blame… will be you. The last and most worthless Star God Emperor to ever draw breath."

"No… that cannot be me…" Xing Juekong shook his head violently, tears beginning to leave his eyes. "Let me free… let me serve you… ARGH… KEKEKEKE… I… do not want to die… and leave such a memory. My lord, Heaven Punishing Divine Emperor… I beg of you… free me… I can redeem myself… I am certain of it!"

Xing Juekong went so far as to present the Star God Wheel at his feet, kneeling down.

Rokas chuckled, turning away.

"A dog like you ought to stay in its cage."

"No… don't leave me… the light is fading… it's fading… my life… my precious… NOOOOOO!"

The ritual sped up greatly, draining the Star God Emperor of all his newfound strength. He collapsed to the ground and fell headfirst into his pool of tears. Meanwhile the great source of power rushed into Jasmine… its blazing light blinding all. 

[System: When you turn on Discord's light mode.]

'When a vampire sees light…'

There was no explosion as the light slowly faded… only the sound of divine power broke the silence. All of the Star Gods turned as they felt a pressure choking out their very lives. Without even moving a step, Jasmine had made them all kneel. Her long crimson hair swayed with the wind, an unforgiving light shining in her blood red eyes as oceans of killing intent and bloodlust washed over them. Just by so much as glancing at her, one would see the millions that she slaughtered by her own hand.

The only unaffected Star God was Caizhi who looked around confused.

"It seems… that her highness has truly reached a new stage of power." Tumi remarked, bowing his head low. "This… is great news."

"Why is everyone kneeling?"

"Your big sister is going to show them why she is the Heavenly Slaughter Star God." Rokas stated, a rather proud smile appearing on his face. "They're all yours."

Jasmine shared eye contact with Rokas, nodding. 

[Now Playing: Jingo Jungle, cover by AmaLee.]

'Never heard of it.'

[System: You will now.]

Jasmine turned to Moonflower first… blitzing her completely. Before she could blink, Jasmine had already smashed her head into the ground. 

BANG. BANG. BANG.

After stomping her head into the ground several times and creating an exponentially larger hole in the ground, she dragged the Heavenly Poison Star God by her hair and threw her up in the air. Two daggers flashed from her side, burning crimson red.

Slash. Slash. Slash.

In a split instant… her arms and legs were sliced right off. Not only that but her large bosom was also cleaved perfectly, making the once voluptuous Moonflower look flat as a loli. It was then that Jasmine grabbed her by the hair again, holding her in the air.

"Is this the sum of your fighting spirit?" Jasmine scoffed, looking down on the Star Gods. "If so… you're all going to die."

"Your… highness… you would disgrace your ancestors… and forsaken the Star God Realm?" Tumi questioned, shaking his head. "By all rights, you should be the Star God Emperor and us, by extension, your subordinates."

"I would… never serve a petulant child like you." Moonflower uttered with a hateful tone. 

"Who allowed you to speak, you defiled slut?" 

Jasmine drove one of her daggers through the jaw of Moonflower, piercing right through her tongue and then forcing the front of her face to split open in half. Afterwards, her dagger moved down and pierced right through her sacred gardens… shredding them to pieces all while Moonflower was still alive.

'Jasmine… is not playing around.' Rokas remarked, watching her brutality unfold. 'I almost feel bad for that Star God.'

Afterwards, Jasmine tossed her down like a worthless piece of garbage… turning to another Star God right after.

"If you are so determined to serve me… then allow yourselves to be slaughtered!"

The Heavenly Strength Star God was sliced to pieces after several lethal dagger slashes… the Heavenly Demon Star God was cut in half vertically while the Heavenly Sun Star God suffered a similar fate, only horizontally. The Heavenly Soul Star God was the first who tried to fight back, only for his blade to be shattered followed by his spine and every one of his profound entrances.

"No… not my face… AAAAAAAAAA-"

Jasmine sliced and diced the Heavenly Jade Star God's body without cutting anything off… essentially flaying her alive. The Heavenly Charm Star God tried to escape but his legs were slashed clean off, followed by his immediate crippling. Jasmine had performed a terrifying combination of blows, leaving his torso open and revealing his entire rib cage.

"This… is foolishness." Tumi managed to get off the ground, shaking his head. "You've doomed the Star God Realm… for what? Vengeance? This is your home and you would see it burn? Have my teachings been lost on you?"

"No…" Jasmine stepped closer, her daggers coloured red with blood. "I would not have slaughtered them so easily if it had not been for your guidance."

"Heaven Punishing Divine Emperor… you would allow your subjects to perish in such a manner?" Tumi turned to Rokas. "So many powerful divine masters lost… is this the world you wish to create?"

"Please."

Rokas tossed his glass bottle, shattering it against Tumi's face.

The velocity behind the blow had sent him back from several steps.

He raised his hand, drawing in the Star God Wheel. He took a good look at it, observing as the inheritances and their divine power began to return to the wheel… lighting most of its dimmed circles with an incredibly dense light.

"If anything, all these deaths just open spots for more deserving individuals of my choosing."

"Speaking of which… are you hungry after all of that drinking?" Jasmine asked.

"Hmm… maybe?"

Jasmine glanced at Rokas, throwing her dagger right at Tumi's head. It landed… piercing right through his skull. Afterwards, she teleported next to him and withdrew her dagger, tossing him to Rokas.

A dragon head stretched out from his neck, opening wide and crunching right through Tumi with its sharp teeth.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

After chewing him out, Rokas swallowed the Heavenly Origin Star God in his entirety. The dragon head returned to him, making his form perfectly human again. 

"Impressively effortless… you've mastered your ability to transform." Jasmine remarked.

"More or less."

"There's more… yet they've been eerily quiet."

Jasmine then turned to the Star Guards… especially those who were sworn to her.

Before Rokas could blink, blood splattered all over the main hall. Waterfalls of blood were spilled as corpses fell by the hundreds… turning the flood of water crimson red. It was a terrifying sight as the full, unadulterated, bloodlust of the Heavenly Slaughter Star God was let loose. With power that transcended the mortals around her… Jasmine was simply an unstoppable killing machine. 

In the end, all three thousand Star Guards had been slaughtered.

But… that was not enough.

She had turned her sights on the people outside. Ignoring all else, her rage and bloodlust continued to burn. She aimed to turn the city outside into a living hell of blood and fire. Alas, as she unleashed a calamitous wave of profound energy… it was deflected by an even greater power.

"That's enough, Jasmine. You've settled your grievances."

As Rokas stood between her and the city, she froze still and broke out of her bloodlust. It was then that Rokas floated closer and enveloped her in his warm embrace… staining his armour in her blood. Jasmine's eyes widened slightly as she wrapped her arms around him and dug her head into his chest.

"What will you do now?" 

Rokas asked, stroking her scarlet hair. His touch carried a bright light, cleansing her of the blood that covered every inch of her body. The night sky was pitch black, except for the glittering stars in the sky and the full moon which shined directly onto them.

[Now Playing: Ezio's Family.]

'Ah… the classic.'

"When Tumi spoke of home… I did not think of the Star God Realm. I… thought of you. The time that we were separated and I had begun to believe that I had lost you to her… was… unbearable. I had never felt so lost, so defeated. But now…" Jasmine's grip tightened, so much so that even Rokas felt it. A few tears left her eyes as she did not let go. "Whatever you choose your destiny to be, whichever path you walk… I wish to walk it with you. I want to stay by your side, forever."

Rokas smiled, closing his eyes as he wanted to enjoy this moment of peace and quiet.

"Then… it shall be so. Nothing will separate us ever again."

He felt his heart at ease, the worries of the past washing away.

[Jasmine (Fortune X): 7 → 8]