Chapter 27: The Turning Point of Sadness and Tragedy part 2

[Third POV]

After a long day of killing monsters, Miko and Yamato finished their dungeon exploration and went back to surface.

They exchanged the magic stones they collected and stashed the valis with them.

When they both are walking home to their base, a beam of light appeared.

The direction of pillar of light was at the direction of their household.

Miko and Yamato were wide eye because they felt something is wrong.

The strength they had was disappeared and sealed.

Which means...

"TAKEMIKAZUCHI-SAMA!!"

Miko yelled and run towards the direction of the house. She is crying as she run, because she knew exactly what is happening.

She knows when a god or goddess is in the brink of death, their arcanum activates to save themselves and will be send back in heaven. At the same time, their followers will lose their powers and their falna will be sealed.

When Miko reached the house, she was terrified and dumbfounded on what she was seeing.

The base was ransacked and destroyed. the walls were full of holes and sword slashes. There are many cracks on the floor and the Sakura she planted has fallen down.

Then she went inside the house and everything in there was an absolutely mess. Many of the furniture and ornaments were broken and the safe where they stored all of their valis was open and the money was stolen.

Miko then run towards Takemikazuchi's room and entered it. Miko's heart sank when she saw the room was full of blood and sword slashes, and the ceiling and wall had a huge gaping hole.

She then gets the gist of the attack when she looks at the other wall. the writing of the phrase "All Hail Ishtar" was written in blood.

Miko's forehead is full of veins and her eyes crazily dilated. Her body trembled and she clenched her fist firmly. She gritted her teeth anger and every fur in her tails stand up.

She felt an overwhelming and unbridled rage. Rage that was flowing in her bloodstream and was spreading throughout her body.

When Yamato catch up and entered the room where Miko was, she was horrified and kneeled to the ground.

"N-no way, Takemikazuchi-sama is gone?"

"Yeah...."

" And the only one left here was you and me?"

"Yes...."

"Is there anything worth living for, is there?"

"No... there's nothing we can do anymore...."

"You mean there's nothing we can do to avenge Takemikazuchi-sama?"

"..."

"Hey... answer me, Miko-san. What do we do now?"

"I DON'T KNOW, OKAY! *sob* I don't know *sob*"

Tears flooding from Miko's eyes and was felt worthless because of her uselessness and stupidity.

If only she was smarter on saving Haruhime that time, no one had to die because of her.

She blamed herself for the misfortune that her familia had experience and felt responsible for their death.

Both of them mourned at the death of their god for hours. However,

"Ara~ What do we have here. It seems our little fox is at her breaking point, is she?"

""!!""

Miko and Yamato quickly looks at the direction of the voice and were surprised at the person who came.

"Freya! What are you doing here?" Miko asked the silver haired goddess who came from the hole on the wall.

"Well, I saw a pillar of light from the tower and it was located at your place. So, i decided to pay a visit to check the place" Freya replies at Miko's question

"Do you have something to do with this, huh?"

"Goodness gracious, no. Why would I need to someone's God and to stoop that low is something I won't do. Even if I like to torment souls, I don't have the audacity to do that to a fellow God" Freya defended herself.

"Then what do you want from us?" Miko was still suspicious and asked Freya for her intension

"I want to ask a favor" Freya shrewdly said

"What favor? Are you going to ask to be your slave or something?" Miko said in disdain because she knew where this is going

"What?! No? Goodness, how far did you fall this time, dear little fox. I ask you to kill someone for me"

"Huh?! Kill? Are you insane? Our falna had disappeared and our powers were sealed. How can we kill someone without a falna" Miko frustratedly rebukes Freya's favor.

"I know that you lost your will to fight right now, but I can give you two a hand."

"Huh?" Miko was confused on what Freya was talking about.

"I can reawake your falnas and regain your powers, but in exchange, you two will become my followers."

"..." Miko was speechless on what she should do.

"Well, what you do say. It was that simple of a deal, wasn't it?" Freya said as she extends her hand to Miko

"Miko-san, I think it is a good idea. We should accept so we can avenge Takemikazuchi-sama" Yamato wants to persuade Miko to accept the deal.

"She's right you know. I can help you avenge your fallen comrades. In fact, it was perfect that it was the favor I am going to ask"

"!!" Miko was surprised and looked at Freya in the eyes

"Come with me and we will destroy the Ishtar Familia together" Freya finally said she wants to say to Miko.

Miko clicked her teeth and grimace in frustration, but she finally holds Freya's hand and accepted the deal.

Meanwhile at a certain part of the red-light district, the love district.

Business was booming in the brothels and hotels of the district. Many adventurers come and go with a smile in their face after having fun with the prostitutes.

In one brothel in particular, which near the Ishtar Familia's base, is where a yellow-haired renard was kept. She sat there feeling sad and depress, because she was there when it happened.

She witnessed the death of Takemikazuchi at Miko's base. She saw how her goddess and her followers beat up and killed the weaken and helpless God. She also saw Takemikazuchi's last smile to her before he ascends back to heaven.

She felt guilty that he was ascended back to heaven, because she was forced to use her level-boosting magic at her comrades to fight the lone god.

All she can think of was Miko's sadness and rage. She surely will find out about it and feel distraught at the tragedy was left in their base.

Then the door and a grey-haired amazoness cat woman appeared at the doorway. Haruhime was startled but when she turns around, she was felt relieved.

"Ah, thank goodness. It's just you..."

".... Ghislaine-san"

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[Haruhime's POV]

The grey-haired woman named Ghislaine steps in my room with a small pouch on her hand.

"Ah, how do you feel, Haruhime-ojousama. Here, I brought you snacks for you. Aisha-san told me to give it to you when you feel bad." she said as she gives the pouch of snacks to me.

I received the snacks. However, I could only look at it gloomily.

"Is something wrong, ojousama?" Ghislaine asked when me when she saw me feeling down.

"Ghaislane-san, why do we have to kill Miko-san familia. Is it wrong to take someone's life?" I solemnly said to Ghaislane who then sat next to me.

"We have to. They invaded our turf." she nonchalantly said

"But... can't you just drive them away? Tell them that they shouldn't come in this place?" I tried to reason out with Ghaislane, but she couldn't understand and only replied. "That can't do, Ishtar-sama will be displeased. She ordered us to guard you and kill anyone who tries to take you away"

"I see..." I could only look down in sorrow.

'I see, Ishtar-sama was the type of person who can't let her properties stolen from them. However, I feel bad that Miko-san had to suffer the consequence of her actions severely'

"Don't feel bad, Haruhime-ojousama. As long as they stay away from the district, I will not cut them down" She tried cheer me up, but seems it is not working for me.

"But... "

*BOOM*

Before I could say my words, a huge explosion and screams resounds from a distance.

"W-what happened. Ghaislane-san" I asked

"Stay here" Ghaislane-san ordered me to stay put and rushed outside.

"Ghaislane-san, wait!!" I yell her name, but was ignored and I was left alone.

I tried to look out the window and saw the whole district was on fire. Then a flash of pink lightning trickles out from ensuing chaos. I was horrified on the damage was done outside and sub-consciously knows who was responsible for it.

'Miko-san? But it's impossible. with Takemikazuchi gone, her falna should supposed to be sealed by that time. Unless...."

While I was contemplating her thoughts, a presence suddenly appeared behind me. I noticed the presence and quickly turns around.

When I turned around, I saw Miko covered with blood and scars. Her whole face was shadowed with a single red dot glowing on the eye socket. A strong sense of wrath and bloodlust oozes out of her body and she raised her katana in the air.

"Miko-san?! What are you doing here?" I panickily backs away from her while trying to ask her why she is in my room suddenly.

Miko-san didn't answer my question and just silently raised her katana at me. She is about bring down the sword when...

*SLAM*

"OJOU-SAMA!" Ghaislane-san burst in the room and unsheathes her long sword.

"Ghaislane-san!"

"[Longsword of Light]" She quickly dash towards Miko-san in a blink of an eye and was about to slash Miko-san

"[Trace On]" Miko-san mutters and a shield suddenly materializes from thin air.

*Claaaaaaaang*

The sword and shield collided together and a loud metal noise echoed in the room.

"Oh? Your shield can block my attack?" Ghaislane-san looks surprised

"[Disperse]"

When she mutters something, she vanished from our sight.

""!!"" Both of me and Ghislaine-san were surprised and we look at our surroundings, searching to where Miko-san went.

Then I saw a silhouette right behind Ghislaine-san. It was Miko-san about to slash Ghislaine-san with her katana.

"Ghislaine-san! Behind you!" I yelled to warn her.

She then lowers her stance and quickly sweep kick Miko-san .Then she grabs her legs, spins Miko-san around and threw her to a wall, knocking her out in the process.

She then lifts me up and carry me like a princess. Then she jumps through the window and fall from the third floor. We landed safely and run towards the Ishtar Famila base.

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[Third POV]

When Ghislaine and Haruhime made it to the Ishtar base, they were shocked to see that the base was on fire and destroyed. The followers of the Ishtar are dying left and right.

Then the followers of Freya invaded the base, ransacking every building in the base.

One in particular was Yamato who mercilessly cutting through the group of amazoness. She also has red pupils as Miko. She emotionlessly slaughters every opponent faces.

When she is about slay one of the amazoness, Ghislaine came to save the amazoness from Yamato.

"Mikoto-san, please stop this. Don't kill anyone please." Haruhime pleads Yamato to stop murdering the Ishtar familia.

"..." However, Yamato didn't reply and just stared at the two persons in front of her.

Then Ghislaine's ear twitched and grabbed Haruhime away. A person then plunges to the spot where Haruhime was.

Ghislaine then roundhouse kick at Miko. Then she mutters [Disperse] to vanish and reappears beside Yamato.

"Miko-san! Mikoto-san! Please snap out of it! You guys are not yourself!" Haruhime yells at the two persons in front of her.

""..."" Miko and Yamato didn't reply and emotionlessly stares at them. The color of their Iris was dull and lifeless.

"Please wake up you two!" Haruhime pleads even further, begging them to come back to their senses.

"It's no use, dear little foxy. These two will never listen to you" A voice then comes out, but it is from someone else. A two figure then manifested from behind Miko and Yamato.

It was Freya and Ottar.

"Who are you? State your name?" Ghislaine holds out her hand to protect Haruhime while asking the identities of the two new individuals.

"My name is Freya, the goddess of beauty and this is Ottar, my follower and a level 7 adventurer" Freya introduced herself and Ottar.

"I see. However, I don't understand why are you here? State your purpose?" Ghislaine asked again.

"Ara~ We are here to settle a score with your dear goddess. She plans to eliminate me using that renard friend of yours and I decided to kill her off so she can't use her device or whatever it is" She explained.

"Why do you have to use Miko-san and Mikoto-san to kill me? What did you do to them?" Haruhime yelled as she demands to know what happened to her two friends.

"Ara ara~ I was asked too much questions today. Fine, I'll tell you. I mind controlled them, dear. Just to kill you and the whole Ishtar Familia." Freya reply to Haruhime question.

Haruhime was dumbfounded and Ghislaine grit her teeth.

"Anyway, I have business with Ishtar. Mikoto, Miko, kill those two for me please"

""Understood"" Yamato and Miko answered monotonously

"Have fun you two~" Freya and Ottar then left and went to Ishtar's castle.

"Hey! Hold it ri-" Before Ghislaine can stop the two individuals from leaving, Miko suddenly appeared in front of her and was about slash Ghislaine.

"[Howling]"

Ghislaine then roared loudly after chanting. The roar blasted Miko away but Yamato dodges the attack.

Miko recovered from the attack and returned besides Yamato. Then Yamato held up her two arms and start to chant something.

"I respectfully speak to you, my War God that can break through anything, lead me from the precious heaven...."

"!!"

Ghislaine felt in her intuition that Yamato is doing something dangerous.

"Haruhime-ojousama. Please use the level-boosting skill on me" Ghislaine requested Haruhime her assistance and she nodded, then starts chanting.

"Grow. That power and that vessel. Breadth of wealth and breadth of wishes. Until the bell tolls, bring forth glory and illusion."

While Haruhime is chanting, Ghislaine rushes towards Miko and Miko did the dame.

Ghislaine unsheathes her longsword and readied herself to strike. Miko then snaps her finger, bringing out two katanas and also readied to strike.

*Whoosh* *Whoosh*

*Ching* * Clang*

The two combatants collided blades and then they traded strikes after strikes.

While the two are fighting, the two supports kept chanting their magic.

"Grow. Confine divine offerings within this body. This golden light bestowed from above."

" Give my petty body divine power of your grand body. Rescue them light of purification, sword of crushing evil."

*Cling* *Clang*

Miko keeps on teleporting, while Ghislaine predicts and parries her strikes.

"Into the hammer and into the ground,"

"Sweep sword of suppression, sacred sword of conquest. It arrives here now by my order."

Ghislaine noticed that Yamato is about to finish chanting, so rushed towards her. Miko tried to stop her, but Ghislaine grabs her arm and spins her around.

"May it bestow good fortune upon you."

"Descend from heaven, rule the earth"

A purple pillar appears in between Haruhime and Ghislaine.

"[Grow]"

When Haruhime and Ghislaine saw something is happening, Haruhime finished casting the boost and Ghislaine throws Miko towards Yamato.

"[Shinbu tousei]"

Both Haruhime and Ghislaine got pull to the ground, as gravity around them became heavier.

However, since Ghislaine already threw Miko towards Yamato, both of them got hit one another and the magic was cut short.

Ghislaine recovered from the effect of the magic and rush towards them.

When Miko and Yamato got up, they were confused on where are they.

"Ghislaine, stop! They ate not mind controlled anymore!" Haruhime noticed that and told Ghislaine to stop.

Ghislaine stopped and looks at Haruhime. "What do you mean, ojousama?"

"I mean look at them, they are disoriented and confused" Ghislaine then looks at the two persons in front of her.

"Good lord, what the heck happened. My head hurts"

"Where's Freya? How the heck we got here so fast?"

Miko and Yamato asked as they have no idea what happened.

"Miko-san! Mikoto-san!" Haruhime calls out to them and they noticed her.

Yamato waves and was about to approach Haruhime, but Miko stops Yamato.

""Why are you two here? Where are we?" Miko asked coldly but Ghislaine asked her back. "I was going to ask the same thing, why are you here?"

"We were about to start our mission to infiltrate the love district but we were knocked out and we don't remember what happened since then" Yamato explains what happened.

"I see. It's like you two were put into mind control to kill Haruhime and me"

"What?! Why would we do such a thing. We made a condition to Freya that we will kill the Ishtar Familia, except Haruhime, but I guess she broke our deal then. Shet! Why did I trust her?! I'm such an idiot!" Miko is in a deep state of stupefaction and contemplates on her irrational action.

Then a huge shadow was cast down at the middle crowd. Yamato was first to noticed and was surprised on what she sees.

"MIKO-SAN, LOOK OUT!" Yamato pushed Miko out of the way. Then a huge person plunges from the high grounds. It was Phryne and was about to ground pound the group below.

Miko was pushed away, Ghislaine grabbed Haruhime away, but Yamato was left vulnerable and was crushed flat by Phyne when she slams heavily to the ground.

*SMASH*

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The group recovered and looked at the source of the disturbance. When the dust was settled, the huge and wide Amazoness was revealed.

"Kukukuku, I see that I missed three bugs with my lovely smack attack. Oh well, at least got one instead" Phryne maliciously laughs at the scene.

Miko was confused and look below here, when she did, she was baffled and horrified.

She saw Yamato's body was crushed under Phryne's feet and was completely dead on the ground.

"MIKOTO-SAN!!" Haruhime solemnly cries out to Yamato who was killed by Phryne

"Grrrrrrrr!!!" Miko is in a state of absolute madness and wrath. Her bloodlust was all over the place.

"Kukukuku, looks like pink b*tch getting worked up, kukukuku" Phryne mockingly laughs at the angered Miko.

Phryne then charges forward but not towards Miko, but instead towards Haruhime. Ghislaine noticed and grabs Haruhime away to evade the charge.

However, Phryne caught Ghislaine and separated her from Haruhime. Then she tossed Ghislaine to a nearby wall and was knocked out.

"You fox! Start chanting your level-boosting magic or else I will kill you!" Phryne threatens Haruhime and was forced to chant the magic.

While Haruhime was chanting, Miko manifested in above Phryne and was about get struck down.

*Whoosh*

*Cling*

However, Miko didn't connect to Phryne's head and was blocked by a huge axe. Then Miko was thrown off towards Ghislaine because of the momentum of the axe's swing.

"Kukuku, don't get ahead of yourself, pink b*tch. Wait till I level up to your level, kukuku" Phryne chuckles and Miko doesn't understand what she said.

"[-grow]"

Haruhime started to glow and Phryne as well, she felt a tremendous power surging to her.

Ghislaine recovers from being knocked out and stood up. She then looks at the powered-up Phryne in horror.

"Oh no....."

"KUKUKUKU, FINALLY! I CAN SMASH YOU TWO B*TCHES IN PIECES!"

Phryne roared in success as she charges at both Miko and Ghislaine.

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Hello everyone, Author-san here

Surprise! Did you expect the reveal?!

Well? Do you like it? I hope so.

I said I was going to reveal it in the end of the volume, but I changed my mind.

Well, technically we are about to be close at the end of the volume anyway, so technically it's still counts.

I know that Ghislaine wasn't an Amazoness, but at least she looks like one. I was planning an origin story about her as a bonus chapter that explains why she was in the Ishtar familia in the first place.

The next chapter will be the finale of "The turning point of sadness and tragedy"

So that's all, I hope you like the chapter

Bye