Chapter 230: The Last Page of Pangeal
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The water lapped softly against the edges of the tub, its warmth doing little to soothe the tension in her heart. Elara stood up slowly, water droplets sliding down her skin as she reached for the towel. Her movements were almost mechanical, she would have rather remained in the tub if given the chance.
The dim light of the bathroom cast shadows under her eyes, exposing the fatigue that weighed her mind these days. Her usually sharp eyes were dulled with exhaustion.
As a deity, Elara didn't have physical fatigue. The thing that weighed her wasn't physical.
She wrapped the towel around her hair, feeling the cool air prickling her skin as she stepped out of the tub. A deep sigh escaped her lips. The migraine pulsed behind her temples, a relentless drumbeat that matched the throbbing of her heart.
It was a familiar pain, it was from a hangover. But she hadn't felt it when she stopped drinking a month ago, because her mind had him to distract her with. But now he wasn't here.
"Aqua…" The name lingered in her mind, a reminder of the man who had once been Seriphoth, her everything—and now, was someone else.
Elara rubbed her temples, trying to ease the pressure building in her head. The pain had been manageable before, nonexistent even, when she was beside him. But now, when everything had gone wrong—despite saving the world—it had returned with interest.
"Damn it…" she muttered under her breath, her voice filled with annoyance.
She began to dress up, her movements slow, the towel in her head falling away as she put on soft fabric that clung to her damp skin. Her body felt heavy, weighed down by the hangover and the emotional turmoil. After he died, the alcohol had been a crutch, a way to numb the pain, but she had sworn it off a month ago. She wanted to go back to it, but the people around her wouldn't let her.
According to them, it was another layer of agony added to her already tortured soul.
Her heightened senses, after reaching Level 100, only made things worse. Every sound, every flicker of light, and every whisper of movement seemed to grate against her nerves. It amplified the pain in her head. Elara could hear the faintest rustle of leaves outside, the soft murmur of voices in the distance, the steady beat of her own heart.
It was overwhelming, suffocating even. It drove her to the brink of madness.
As she stepped into the hallway, feeling the cold stone beneath her feet, she shook her head off the sounds. The dim light cast shadows along the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere that mirrored the turmoil within her. Her footsteps echoed softly in the silence, a lonely sound just like her.
She was heading toward her bedroom, but she stopped before she could reach it. Her enhanced senses caught her attention—a familiar presence, a pulse of mana that sent a jolt through her mind.
Elara paused, her heart skipping a beat as she turned her head slowly toward the open window to her left.
Through the window, she saw him.
Seriphoth… No, Aquamarine stood outside, surrounded by a small crowd of people. Her eyes grew glossy. The sight of him was enough to make her heart clench painfully in her chest. His figure was tall and muscular, but he looked far different than his Hero image. He had blonde hair that reflected in the sunlight, and blue eyes far brighter than his purple ones.
And yet, he held Sieran in his arms, her closest friend held the man who had once been theirs. Elara's eyes twitched.
Elara felt a pang of jealousy, sharp and bitter, as she watched Sieran hug him. Jealousy not at the fact that he hugged her, but that Sieran had a flexible enough mind to accept him. It wasn't fair. It wasn't that she couldn't accept it, but Sieran could. It wasn't fair that he could still be so close, so warm, so familiar, and yet be completely out of her reach.
Her chest tightened, her breath catching in her throat as she fought the urge to cry out, to demand why this had to be her reality. Why should things be this way?
Why return like this? Why return as someone else, why return as a person who was the exact opposite of the man that she had fallen in love with? And yet… why, after everything, did he still have this hold on her heart?
Elara retreated from the window, her movements slow as she hid behind the frame, her back pressing against the cold stone wall. She couldn't bear to watch any longer. She couldn't stand the sight of them together, knowing that she couldn't be there with him.
Slowly, she slid down against the wall, her legs giving out as she sank to the floor. The stone was cold against her skin, opposing the heat of the emotions raging within her. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she buried her face into it.
"Why…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Why are you making me go through this, O' Goddess? What have I done to deserve this?"
The Goddess, what was the point of calling her when she herself was a Goddess? Elara sighed. She could still feel his presence, still hear the soft murmur of his voice as he spoke with Sieran and the others. It was torture, pure and simple, to be so close and yet so impossibly far from the man she loved… once.
Her heart ached with a longing she couldn't suppress, a pain that refused to fade.
Why did he have to change so much? Why couldn't he have stayed the man she had loved, the man she had once called her own? Why did he have to become something else, something unrecognizable, something that no longer belonged to her?
Why did he become like the Demon King?
Elara squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to keep the tears hidden, to remain locked away where they couldn't betray her. But the pain was too much, it was too overwhelming. A single tear escaped, tracing a slow path down her cheek.
She was strong. She was compared with the Hero, who was blessed by the Goddess. She was the normal girl in that team of superhumans, and yet she rose so high. Elara had always been a strong girl. She had faced countless battles and had stood against enemies far more terrifying than this. But this… this was not the same.
This was not a battle she could win, it was a war she couldn't fight.
All she could do was sit there, alone in the dark, and watch as her heart broke piece by piece while the reality of her situation sank in. The man she had loved was gone. And all she could do was ask herself, over and over again…
Why?
****
The evening breeze was cool as we stood in the garden, waiting out our final moments before departure. My Sieran's arms still lingered around me, offering a warmth that was more comforting than I expected. When she finally stepped back, her eyes searched mine.
"You're really leaving...?" Sieran's voice was soft as she looked up at me with a mixture of sadness and understanding.
I nodded. "It's time. We've done what we needed to here. We've done all we can here. It's time to go back."
Sieran's gaze fell to the ground for a moment, her fingers lingering on the fabric of my sleeve. She didn't want to see me go. When she looked up again, there was a small smile on her lips. "I understand," she murmured, "Will you be back?"
She didn't ask when I'll be back, but if I'll be ever back at all. It pained me to see her ask such a sad question. "I will, dummy. You girls just need time, and you need to understand, no matter the case, I have a new life now… in a new world. I'll be staying there most of the time."
She smiled widely, "I'm glad. You better come back soon. Otherwise, I'll visit you there myself." She said, and hugged me again, closing her eyes. It didn't seem like she wanted to let go until the very last moment. I didn't mind, hugging her back and rather observing the people around me.
The others had gathered around by now, the atmosphere thick with the bittersweet realization that this was the end of our time here. They exchanged quiet words of farewell. Asia and Goddess Galaxara stood a little apart, their expressions calm as they spoke quietly.
"You've shown me so much, my Goddess, I'm grateful," Asia said, her voice soft but filled with genuine respect. "I've learned things I never could have imagined. It's a pity that Aqua wouldn't let me stay here."
Galaxara smiled gently at her. "You have a pure heart, Asia. I can't recall the last time I met someone with such unwavering faith. And do not worry, my child, with him by your side, you'll live for eons. Since your lifespan isn't limited, you can always come to spend time with me."
Asia nodded, her eyes shining. "I will, my Goddess. Thank you. For everything."
Galaxara reached out and placed a hand on Asia's shoulder. A Divine Light rippled out of her palm, cocooning Asia. It was a Blessing. "Stay safe, my child."
Asia smiled, her eyes revealed the sense of fulfillment that she felt. Quetzalcoatl stood nearby to the side, watching the exchange with a thoughtful look. "Damn, maybe I should have blessed someone from this world?"
Galaxara turned to her hearing that, giggling, "It's alright. I'm sure you'd come back here faster than my Hero. You're a Goddess here, after all, the faith from this world will reach you no matter where you are."
"Yep, that was the plan," Quetzalcoatl said, her tone light but sincere. "Thank you, Galaxara. I've enjoyed a pleasant time in this world."
Galaxara laughs softly. "And your strength has been invaluable to us all. This world owes you much."
Quetzalcoatl shrugged with a small smile. "It was a good vacation." More words were needed between them. They understood each other well enough, as fellow Goddesses from the same pantheon now.
Speaking of this world's new pantheon, Ranefer was nearby, chatting with Jasmine. They started off rough, with Jasmine calling her a demon and stuff, but now they acted like best buddies. Jasmine's two siblings/great-grandkids were also nearby, although they just observed.
As they exchanged words, my mother moved toward me and Sieran. Her expression softened seeing the elf hugging me, and I cleared my throat to wake up Sieran. She opened her eyes and blinked when she saw Ai.
"Ah, hello," Sieran pulled back from the hug and said.
"Nonsense, why did you stop hugging him?" She shook her head, as Sieran blinked and hugged me again. Ai giggled, "Take care of yourself, Sieran. I'm glad that at least one of you has some sense left in them. Remember, if you ever need anything, such as more alien invasions, you know where to find us."
Sieran nodded, her eyes misty as she looked at Ai, while still hugging me. "Thank you… mother… for everything. You and your son have given us so much. This world will never forget you."
I watched their exchange, feeling a pang of sorrow as I realized just how deep the connections here had become. My mother and my elf only knew each other for a month, and yet they'd grown so close.
After a few more minutes of chattering, I looked at Ruby. She stepped forward, her expression focused as she prepared to activate her Dimension Lost Sacred Gear.
"It's time, everyone, step back," she said, her voice carrying a hint of sadness. She too had made friends here, after all. Raising her hand, she began to channel her Ether.
A soft, purple mist started to rise from the ground, swirling around us like a gentle breeze. "Dimension Lost… Connect," she murmured. The mist thickened, its ethereal tendrils wrapping around us as the spell took effect. The air grew dense with energy, a faint hum resonating through the space as the world around us began to fade, blurring at the edges as the portal back to Earth slowly opened.
As the mist enveloped us, I took a final look at those we were leaving behind. Sieran stared up at me, slowly canceling the hug. A part of me wanted to wrap my arms around her, to hold her tight and drag her back to my world. But… the other two girls would need her. I can't be so selfish. We shared a sigh as she slowly backed off, the tears in her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
My Goddess Galaxara, with her motherly warmth, offered us a sad but understanding smile. My master Jasmine, the Hero, the Empress of Erebia, stood tall with her two great-grandkids at her side. A weight settled heavily in my chest as the world blurred.
Ruby's voice broke the fuzzy sound of the mist, her tone softer now. "I'm ready whenever you are," she said, her gaze shifting to me. As our eyes met, the mist swirled more intensely.
"Let's go," I replied, my voice firm. With that, the final moments of our time in this world began to slip away.
The mists began to grow thicker… And just as the mist began to obscure everything, enveloping us in its embrace, a loud voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the thickening fog like a knife. "I- I will find you someday… when I'm ready!"
My heart skipped. The desperation in the voice was evident, and I didn't take a second to recognize it. My head snapped in the direction of the sound, and I bloomed my [Jade Perception] to its limits, passing through the thick space-time of the mist, straining to see through the swirling mist that now clouded my vision.
The fog had grown dense, almost impenetrable, but through the veil of purple haze, I caught a glimpse of a figure standing at a window of the castle.
It was Elara, my princess, my first love. Her face was barely visible through the mist, but I could see the tears streaming down her cheeks, her golden eyes wide and dark with a mix of sorrow and resolution.
She had made a choice.
She leaned out of the window, her voice trembling with emotion as she continued, "I… I'll never forget you, even if you've changed! I'm sorry… I will come to you by myself someday!"
Her words cut through the air, heavy with the weight of her feelings, as the mist thickened around us, obscuring her from view. I stared back at her, nodding just before all went purple.
For a moment, everything seemed to slow down, her voice echoing as the last connection to this world began to fade.
As the mist swirled thicker around us, the world of Pangeal began to dissolve into darkness. Elara's voice echoed in my mind, but her figure soon vanished entirely as the mist enveloped everything.
The light dimmed totally, purple becoming black, and at the very last second, I noticed a spark of red… I knew who it was, but I ignored it. The purple mist was replaced by an all-encompassing void, the same gap between reality that I encountered when I came here a month ago.
We were being pulled through the fabric of reality, and the darkness—cold and empty, pressed in from all sides. I remained motionless for a moment. The sensation was disorienting yet oddly familiar, like floating between clouds.
Then, as quickly as the darkness had come, the mist began to clear. The void receded, and the world around us started to form with a purple highlight. The mist lessened, and slowly, familiar shapes of walls and furniture emerged from the fog. Everything was bathed in the warm morning light filtering through the windows.
As the last of the mist faded, we found ourselves back in our house in Japan, the quiet hum of the city outside replacing the silence of the void. The modern contrast with the medieval castle yard was almost jarring, but there was a comfort in the familiarity of it all.
We were back… Back home.
****
The silence of space was decisive, opposing the chaos that had raged only moments before. Sangha stood amidst the debris of Atlanton's moon, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she took in the devastation around her.
The remnants of a planet so vast it used to rival the size of black holes, now floated in massive chunks around her, shattered and scattered across the cosmos.
Around her, the Seven Swords began to stir, slowly pulling themselves up from the rubble. They were injured, their bodies scarred by the month-long battle, but they were alive. Injury was better than death—the fate that the planet ahead had met.
The Storm Bear King heaved a sigh, his voice gruff as he looked around at the destruction. "Well that was a workout," he muttered.
Sangha remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floating remains of Atlanton, the home of the Twelve Gods of Atlanton. Along with the planet, the gods too were gone, their remnant floating across space. Her promise to her master had been made, the foolish evil gods had been annihilated.
The Spear of Stars glanced at Sangha, yawning, as he asked, "What now, Master? Do we hunt down more evildoers, or go on a vacation for once?"
That was a joke. There was never a 'vacation' for the Icy Blooded Sword Sect. He was just being humorous, so he got scared when Sangha's grip on her sword tightened slightly, her eyes narrowing.
"Uh, Master, I'm joking-"
"Vacation" she suddenly said, turning to all seven of them. "Starting from today, I announce a vacation for you all. I... have an appointment. I'll treat that as my own vacation."
Her words hung in the cold, empty space, filled with a resolve that surprised the Seven Swords. What was their Sect Master up to? They opened their mouths, but Sangha cut them short.
"Enjoy your break," she said… Because she wasn't sure if she'd enjoy it.
The Icy Blooded Seven Swords exchanged glances, but no one questioned her further. They simply nodded, as she turned away from the wreckage, leaving the shattered remains of Atlanton behind and shooting through wormholes.
For Sangha too, a new journey was about to begin.
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Master4thWall Note: Well that's that for Pangeal Arc. I enjoyed writing this a lot, and I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much. Unlike The Cursed Gamer, however, the previous worlds will indeed be visited sometimes—and characters from there would also pop up to say hi (or do more).
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I have explosive ideas for the next arc, where perhaps we might even surpass the thrilling Heavenly Demon and Venerable Chapters we saw here. So look forward to it!!
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