CHAPTER 38

"Or else this world has no future...",

as Mara followed-up on her statement. When Otorine and company heard that dire command from Mara, they were all speechless. There was a chilling silence afterwards. For Miro's case, he was grinding his teeth, as he was seething with wrath. Though, little Nassus asked with an unsure look on his face, breaking up the deafening atmosphere,

"Destwoy the wowld?".

Soon enough, Miro's fuse burst out. He smacked the wooden table beside him and shouted with grievious desperation,

"WHY! WHY MUST THE PEOPLE HERE PERISH?! THEY'RE INNOCENT!".

Sadly, the hero Gods and Goddesses just looked away with saddened faces. Afterwards, Mara responded to the expressive Miro,

"I guess that's you, Fallen Miro. I'll tell you this, have you seen the past visions of Goddess Ieva and her experiences upon a part of her world? If yes, then, that's your answer.".

Miro replied with a frustrated look,

"I know they had done a bad deed to their Goddess but, do they really need to die? Even the innocent ones?!".

Mara responded back to Miro, but her tone was lower than before,

"I guess you're still not convinced on why the current people of this world aren't worthy of life in this world anymore. Let me tell you something, once you'll see on how their ABSOLUTE ENERGY is made...you SHALL think otherwise, FALLEN...".

Mara sighed, as she was displeased of Miro's reaction. Then, she hung-up on the call. Miro tried to calm his nerves but, he can't brush off the feeling that Mara was too strict and serious on her words. The hero Gods and Goddesses were just silent. While for the youthful Nassus, he was trying to pull out a paper scroll from Miro's pocket, as the kid was curious. Miro shifted his look at the Goddesses and hero Gods,

"Please don't tell me you'll obey her orders.".

Senku replied non-chalantly,

"Sorry but, we can't break those orders...unless ofcourse—.".

Suddenly, the paper scroll dropped to the ground, as little Nassus was trying to grab it. Thereupon, Goddess Shunya told Miro, while she was pointing at the paper scroll,

"Hey, what's that thing you have there?".

Otorine grabbed the scroll and read it silently. As Otorine was finished reading the contents of the scroll in which Miro had gotten from Goddess Ieva, Otorine just looked down. Then, she expressed with a mix of sorrow and pity,

"It's official, the people's fates in this world are sealed, even their own Goddess and the HIGHER-UPS approved of it...".

Afterwards, Otorine closed her eyes for a few moments. Not only that, she was infuriated in her deep thoughts,

"Yet, I don't like it. What's going on head Blade Goddess Mara and Goddess Queen Weissia?".

It seemed Otorine had doubts with the higher-ups desperate decision as well. More so, it appeared that the Goddess Queen Weissia was a very much important Goddess who was even on a higher position than Mara. Since, Ieva needed Weissia's permission as well. Soon, Otorine opened her eyes, she witnessed that Miro walked out with a furious look on his face. Yumine followed Miro who went outside, while she was filled with worry. She was seeing that Miro was walking briskly. The snowy weather was calm. She called unto him,

"M-Miro wait!".

Miro had stopped on his tracks. He turned around yet, he looked very much pissed,

"What do you want Goddess Yumine?!".

Yumine replied expressively aided with hand gestures,

"I know you're angry for head Blade Goddess Mara's and Goddess Ieva's decision but, we can't do much anything about it...But please hear me out...".

Miro crossed his arms and responded with a cold stare,

" 'Kay, what is it then?".

Yumine gulped and replied back with an unsure look on her face,

"Maybe they have a deeper reason, since they wanted to do this.".

As Miro heard that excuse from Yumine, he was even more pissed and furious than ever before. Then, he responded back with a sarcastic tone that would even show disrespect to the Goddesses,

"Hmph! Maybe? HAH! I guess you all GODDESSES AND GODS JUST SEE US HUMANS AND LOWER BEINGS AS LIVESTOCKS FOR THE BETTER OF YOU WORLD!".

When Yumine heard that hurtful statement, she poured out a scarred tear. Then, she denied Miro's cold-hearted words with all her heart,

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!".

Yumine, touched her own chest and proved that her words were true to tell. Soon enough, she poured out more and more droplets of tears. Then, she continued to say to Miro, while she was wearing a weak sorrowful smile,

"We care for our people's sake and I care for you too Miro!".

Miro gritted his teeth, as he heard those evangelistic and bold words from Yumine. It appeared he was filled with sudden guilt, since he felt that Yumine did care for him in a way. Although, he still continued to blurt out those cold statements,

"IF YOU TRULY CARE FOR THEM, THEN WHY ARE YOU AGREEING OF DESTROYING THEM?!".

Yumine was lost for words, as Miro had said those direct statements. The only thing she could do was express with desperate tears,

"I don't know...I know it's cruel and painful but...we just can't interfere with their decision.".

Soon, Miro asked Yumine personally,

"Then, tell me...if it's your and Goddess Otorine's workd, would you do the same?".

Yumine was frozen in fear, as she heard that personal and direct question from Miro. Her eyes were witnessing that Miro's look was deeply serious. Yumine's lips felt cold and numb. She tried to respond back but, she was filled uncertainty,

"T-that's...—.".

"Thought so...since, all of you Gods and Goddesses are all the same...",

Miro interrupted her immediately, as he noticed that Goddess Yumine was unsure of herself. He turned around and continued to tread farther away from Yumine. Yumine clenched her fists and blurted out with expressive crystal tears,

"I'LL DO WHATEVER I CAN TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING!".

She continued to exclaim,

"And Ori will do the same as well! Since, she and I don't want any of our people in our world to suffer!".

Miro was astunned and he had paused on his tracks, as heard those bold and amazing words coming from Yumine's mouth. He cracked out a grin and he had stopped being a cold-hearted person. He turned around and he went towards Yumine. The next moment, he hugged her tight. Then, Miro cried out tears of joy, since he met a Goddess who truly cared for her people and lesser beings in her world. While for Yumine, she was utterly surprised, as Miro hugged her suddenly. Somehow, she felt that Miro's frozen heart and hatred for the Goddesses had ceased. Moreover, their inner hearts were feeling each others sentiments, making them to understand each other more and more. The snowflakes started to drizzle, while the two were embracing each other. The breezing winds weren't cold but, they were filled with sudden warmth around Miro and Yumine. Soon, Yumine felt that Miro's squeeze wasn't that tight anymore, so she grabbed the opportunity and suggested in front of Miro,

"M-Miro I know it's not much and this might not sound good as you'd expect but...w-why don't we ask Goddess Ieva. To let us know more on why she's kinda desperate to destroy her people. I'm sure there's another reason behind it.".

Miro smiled, as he heard that nice suggestion from Yumine,

"Sure, why not...and Goddess Yumine?".

Yumine replied with a dumbfounded expression,

"Hm?".

That sudden moment, Miro kissed Yumine, making Yumine to be even more flabbergasted than ever before. She was shocked but, she didn't refuse Miro's offer. The two of them started to feel each others inner warmth through their entwining and binding tongues. Their hearts were beating fast, they were in complete synchronization, even though they haven't bonded yet. The dancing white petals were breezing along the serene winds, as Miro and Yumine continued to feel each others licorice-filled lips. Their dazzling stares at each other were even more vibrant than ever before. After a while, the two of them had stopped kissing each other. Then, Miro expressed, while he was looking at Yumine,

"I'm glad that I met a caring Goddess like you, you know...".

Yumine blushed once again but, she just pouted and told with a cute irritated expression, trying to scare off Miro somehow,

"Nngh! I'm a dark Goddess ya know. A cruel one to the evil doers who died...".

Although, Miro wasn't scared, as he heard that not so forceful statement from Yumine, instead he just knacked out a relieved smile,

"I'm okay with that...and I'll be sure that I'll not commit another evil deed or even go berserk again.".

Yumine nodded but, she was still having small doubts and questions in her thoughts,

"I hope Miro's okay now. Also, D-D-D-ID WE JUST KI-KI-KISS EACH OTHER BEFORE?!".

Sooner or later, Miro and Yumine went back to the cabin candy house. As soon as they've returned back, they've noticed that Otorine, Shunya, and the little Nassus were playing some kind of board game near the cozy fireplace. While for Senku and Aron, they were leaning on the corners as they were on guard. Yumine told Otorine and her companions that the two of them will be out for a few moments. Then, Miro and Yumine left afterwards. Although Otorine and her friends noticed that Yumine and Miro were holding each others hands when they got out for some reason. After a few hours have passed, Senku turned to look at Aron who was already dozing off while standing. Soon, Senku started a conversation with Aron,

"Say Aron, don't you think...there's something in-between, THOSE TWO?".

Aron had stopped dozing off, as he heard that intriguing statement from Senku,

"Who? Yumine and that FALLEN MINOTAUR?".

Aron touched his own chin, as he was guessing,

"Hmmm, now that that I think about it, maybe there is.".

He had stopped doing that gesture and cracked out a silly grin,

"Though, he's still on mah goodside, since he didn't choose MY Ori...".

When Otorine heard that self-proclaimed ownership of Aron, she just looked uninterested and she continued to play with Shunya and young Nassus. As Senku witnessed that Otorine wasn't even interested to begin with, he just told Aron straight to his face,

"Ya know, Goddess Otorine's not interested in you.".

Aron just crossed his arms and replied,

"Yeah I know, but soon, she will be...".

Afterwards, he cracked out a sinister grin, while he was looking at the dazzling Otorine who was enjoying the game. As Senku saw that Aron was truly desperate to get the hand of Goddess Otorine, Senku just said his sentiments,

"Creep...".

Then, Senku cracked his fingers. While Shunya was playing a board game with Otorine and little Nassus, Shunya heard a mysterious and mesmerizing voice inside her head,

"Leave...the...place...".

Shunya stood up, making Otorine to be surprised. Afterwards, Shunya told everyone that that she'll just leave for a while. Senku, Otorine, and Aron just nodded at her. Then, Shunya left the place afterwards. For some reason, Otorine felt mystified over Shunya's unusual action. It looked-like Shunya was brainwashed or even hypnotized. Really though, they must've forgotten on why they're in this place to begin with and it's not to go sightseeing.

Back at Miro and Yumine's situation, they were traversing along the quiet snowy white plains in order to see Goddess Ieva in her frozen sanctuary. Yumine witnessed that Miro was smiling for some reason, so she tried to ask him,

"M-Miro?".

Miro turned to look at Yumine,

Yes, Goddess Yumine?".

Yumine replied back with a question,

"The people here aren't really related to you but, how come you're so concerned for them?"

Then, she tried to tease him,

"Is it because you found a NORMAL GIRL that you're quite interested in? Hm?".

Miro scratched his head, while he was expressing an absurd-looking face. Soon, he responded to her question but, he was stuttering,

"I-it's not that...and there's no o-o-other girl for me than Yum-Yum-Yum—.".

Although, he had stopped midway, and rephrased his statement with an honest look on his face,

"I mean...I guess it's alright to share it. It's because I don't want innocent people to die, like what I did to my own world before, of going berserk and killing everyone.".

Yumine nodded with a smile and she continued to tread along the cold place,

"I see...I understand what you mean Miro...".

Miro was surprised and he caught up with Yumine,

"Really? Geez, I'm starting to doubt you're really a CRUEL dark Goddess like you said.".

Yumine just giggled,

"Heh-heh! Us Goddesses and Gods come in different shapes and sizes. By the way, how's your mentoring with little Nassus coming along?".

Miro replied,

"It's going swell but, I need to teach him on what are the things he could eat, recalling what he did to that candy house cabin or something..."

Yumine nodded and she suggested something to Miro,

"Oh I see, well I kinda agree with that and please drop the formalities...you can just call me Yumi...".

Then, Yumine giggled once again and they continued to traverse the snowy path. Sooner or later, they had arrived at the entrance of Goddess Ieva's frozen crystal cavern that looked-like a polished igloo. As Yumine noticed that weird looking structure, she asked Miro,

"U-ummm Miro, is this really the place? It doesn't suit Ieva's taste at all...".

Miro scratched his head and explained to Yumine,

"Well, this is what the exit looked-like when Goddess Ieva kicked me out.".

"Uh-huh...",

Yumine said. Though, she just didn't mind the odd-looking design of the place and just entered the weird-looking structure. Miro followed her afterwards. As soon as they've entered the crystal cavern, both of them were shivering in the cold. Since, the whole place was encased in solid ice. Though, the two of them just continued forward. As they've entered the deepest part of the cavern, Yumine expressed herself,

"Brrr...I-i-it's colder here...Ieva really did change drastically...".

Suddenly, Yumine and Miro heard a telepathic voice, coming from the giant crystal shaped like an egg,

"I can hear you, ya know...Yumine...".

Miro and Yumine turned to look at the frozen crystal egg and they had seen that Goddess Ieva was inside the cold shell. Soon, Yumine greeted Ieva with a non-chalant tone but with added insult,

"Oh, it's you, Ieva...amd you chose to LAZE AROUND in your EGG...".

Ieva just brushed off Yumine's direct insult and Ieva just replied normally, through their minds,

"I have my reasons.".

Miro felt tense as the atmosphere turned intense, as the two Goddesses were starting to argue. Then, Ieva said to Miro, using her telepathic powers,

"And I guess you've come back, FALLEN MIRO...".

Miro replied,

"Yeah...".

She let out a sudden cold breeze, coming from her egg, as if she expressed a sigh. Afterwards, she asked Miro, through his mind that even Yumine could hear,

"So are you here to take on my offer then? HERO?".

Miro responded back,

"Uhm nope but rather—.".

Though, Yumine made a forceful gesture that made Miro to pause on his statement. Miro was surprised but, Yumine just gave him a smile and a determined nod, as if she was trying to say, "I'll handle this...okay?". Miro returned the favor with a nod filled with determination. Then, Yumine said straight to Ieva who was inside the crystal,

"We're here to ask more on why you're so DESPERATE UPON KILLING YOUR PEOPLE...".

Ieva replied back, using her telepathy in which Miro could also hear as well,

"Oh? So you're interested to know more huh? While I wanted to tell you about that but, here's a better idea? Why don't I transfer both of you to that REMAINING city's underground absolute magic energy lab or whaever they call it? Hm?".

Yumine responded,

"Okay sure.".

There was the sound of a snapped fingers afterwards. The next moment, Yumine and Miro had vanished from Ieva's sanctuary. Soon, Ieva expressed herself that was filled with some kind of jealousy and envy,

"Hmph! So Yumine had already put a leash on that MERE FALLEN huh...".

Meanwhile, Yumine and Miro were transported to another location. Their eyes witnessed that the whole place looked-like some kind of huge mystical sanctuary. It had magical glowing glyphs and runic rotating gears on the walls. From where they were standing, there was a white carpet along the aisle. At the walls edges, there were flowing streams of violet concoctions that was spewing out eerie miasma. Miro looked at Yumine and asked her,

"Goddess Yum—I mean Yumi, do you know what's this place?".

Yumine replied with an unsure look,

"Ieva said that this is a magic laboratory or something.".

The two of them continued to move forward along the narrow aisle. For some reason, Yumine was having a heavy feeling about this mysterious place. As they've traversed deeper, the two of them had seen something from afar that they couldn't even believe with their own eyes. Miro gulped with a nervous look. As for Yumine, it appeared she had seen something even more terrifying than Miro had seen. Thereon, she uttered, while she was pouring out scarful crystal tears,

"This can't be...".