novelraw Chapter 317: 92 Remnant
Chapter 317: 92 Remnant
"Run away from home? No, no, no. If I run away without saying anything, Mom will definitely be very angry..."
Lamashtia's words were truly shocking, a simple sentence nearly causing Jasmine to jump up in fright, terrified that Xuan Shen outside would hear her conversation with Lamashtia. If her mother heard, she would definitely be in for a miserable time, she guaranteed it.
The crucial point was, even Jasmine felt that so-called "running away from home" was not a good method to solve the problem. This couldn't truly resolve her mother's concerns for her, and she didn't want to do that.
In the surrounding seawater, Lamashtia's voice transmitted once more, only to hear Him sigh somewhat helplessly and continue,
"Little Jasmine ah, little Jasmine, you really are a fool. Why did you get so easily startled before I even finished speaking? If you attract Xuan Shen over, you won't have a good ending..."
"Eh? Then I'll... keep my voice down?"
Jasmine surveyed her surroundings in the room, then curled up on the edge of the golden bed, quietly listening to Lamashtia's words. The other party's voice, as tender and playful as a child's, came from all directions, making it impossible to distinguish His exact shape and location.
"First of all, you haven't grasped the key factor why Xuan Shen won't let you leave the ocean whatsoever, nor have you figured out how to logically solve the problems on both sides in a way that follows a logical course. Xuan Shen feels you are currently too weak and immature, and even I feel the same... Even if you have completely mastered your Curse and Blessing, you are still too far from the Mythic Rank."
"Mythic Rank... did Mother mention something about Mythical Species just now? Is that the Mythic Rank?"
"Yes, and not entirely. Mythical Species means that all living creatures of a race are Mythical Creatures. Even creatures that are not Mythical Species can reach the Mythic Rank, for example, your mother.""Mom?"
Jasmine sat up. Only just now had she learned for the first time about her mother's glorious battle achievements... Although she didn't know any of the existences her mother mentioned her fighting, they sounded like they were all very formidable.
"Sigh, you know that children of other races' views of their parents will always go through a process of idolization to slowly treating them as equals, but I'm afraid you won't have such an opportunity, because the height your mother has reached already makes it difficult for everyone to look up to."
"Xuan Shen is an incredibly powerful person, which also simultaneously illustrates that life is a miracle. Even I frequently glimpse many unexpected, pleasant surprises within her that I hadn't foreseen. In terms of combat ability, if she claims second place, no one would dare claim first. In the war thousands of years ago, she already proved this with illustrious military achievements. While those Mythical Species were fighting fiercely over the ocean, nobody expected that an extremely hot-tempered Whale-kin resided on the seafloor. As a result, in an instant, they all suffered Xuan Shen's tsunami-like wrath..."
"In her youth, your mother was practically invincible on both land and sea, and thus she was titled 'God of Destruction' by the other Mythical Species. Even though she hasn't reached the level of a True God, it must be said that it is a miracle. However, feeling weary of endless war, she resolutely defended the vast coastlines, thus preventing the war of other Mythical Species from spreading into the ocean."
Jasmine listened with much confusion, then abruptly thought of something. Lifting her head, she inquired of Lamashtia,
"Then, what Lord Lamashtia mentioned just now about Mother going to beat you up... why?"
"...You truly know which pot to open that shouldn't be opened, Little Jasmine. But it doesn't count as a beating; although she is very powerful, she can't really do anything to me. She actually already explained the reason to you just now. A 'False God' worshipped by humans participated in the war several thousand years ago, whereas the other True Gods did not participate in the war. She consequently felt enraged, believing that the Gods had indulged in this war where blood flowed like rivers, thereby storming to the bottom of the altar and directly facing me..."
After hearing this, it was as if Jasmine had grasped a clue. Lord Lamashtia referring to the deity worshipped by humans as a False God instantly made her associate it with the deity connected to the moon her mother mentioned. If that deity was antagonized by all other Gods, could it be that the Mother Goddess humans worshipped was this False God?
Thinking this, just as Jasmine wanted to question Lamashtia regarding this matter, He seemingly anticipated it and spoke first, interrupting her,
"Alright, alright, we're straying way too far out-of-topic. Do you want to hear how you can reasonably slip away from Xuan Shen and find Fischer Benavides?"
"Eh... yes! But Lord Lamashtia, you actually remember Teacher Fisher's name, I thought you didn't have a good relationship with him?"
Upon hearing this, Lamashtia snorted coldly, His tone carrying a tinge of indignation and helplessness as if His own home-grown cabbage had been rooted by a pig.
"That's true, but he's very important, at least to us... Fine, let's just speak frankly. Xuan Shen only told you that war is approaching, but she didn't provide a specific timeline for when. Actually, there are still quite a few years before the war breaks out. You still have an opportunity to elevate your abilities before it hits."
"Of course, improving your strength down here is a completely false premise. Your mother also achieved her current heights after leaving the Ocean Trench and slowly fighting her way through her travels around the world. You need to leave the Ocean Trench and see the broader world outside. Her shielding you too tightly is actually bad for you. This is also why I suggested you run away from home."
Jasmine pressed her lips together. Already making sense of Lamashtia's meaning, she continued off His words,
"I understand. Mother is worried about that war involving Mythical Species. In the few years prior to that, the world will remain peaceful, which is the window of opportunity I can fight for... I can communicate with my mother, to let me leave the Ocean Trench to go ashore now. If when the war comes I still haven't grown strong enough to protect myself and Fisher, I will heed my mother's words and obediently stay in the Ocean Trench... or maybe even knock Teacher Fisher out and bring him back."
As she spoke, Jasmine's eyes brightened increasingly. The oppression from her quarrel with her mother just now gradually melted away. Lamashtia began to laugh, telling Jasmine,
"That's pretty much it. Also, don't forget I'm still here. Once the 10,000th Fullness Period passes, I won't have to fall into a deep slumber next time, and I will assist you."
Jasmine's expression brightened up. She sat up on the bed, eager to go find Xuan Shen immediately, but she restrained herself. At this point, her mother was probably still in a fit of pique. She resolved to look for Xuan Shen after some time had passed.
"Thank you, Lord Lamashtia!"
Within the golden palace, Jasmine finished a long string of words, her whale tail behind her twitching uneasily, sending the water current inside the palace far off. The hall then abruptly settled into silence, leaving only Jasmine's lips pursed out of uneasiness and uncertainty.
Before her, upon that golden throne, Xuan Shen wearing her golden crown opened her eyes. The figure of her daughter reflected in the same deep blue eyes as Jasmine's, evidently contemplating the proposition her daughter had just presented.
Xuan Shen tapped a finger gently upon the armrest of the throne. There was no distinct change in her facial expression, which increasingly perturbed Jasmine down below. She sneaked a peek at her mother, then asked in a quiet voice,
"Is it... possible, Mom?"
"It is possible."
"You can't? But I... Eh?"
Jasmine swished her tail, shutting her eyes. She thought her mother had resolutely rejected her plea, never expecting she would actually agree. Jasmine instantly opened her eyes in disbelief and gazed up at the still expressionless Xuan Shen on the throne. Exceedingly ecstatic, she darted up to Xuan Shen, grabbed one of her hands, and said excitedly,
"Thank you! I'll definitely take good care of myself. If I haven't reached the Mythical Rank by the time the war arrives, I'll obediently return to the Ocean Trench and won't think about going ashore anymore, okay?"
Xuan Shen exhaled a sigh and grasped Jasmine's hand back. With her other hand, she gave a gentle wave, silently unleashing a terrifying force enough to pierce through rock strata and leylines. The force propagated continuously, tearing an exceedingly deep fissure within the great hall. Countless scorching bubbles wildly surged into the ocean instantly, blowing Jasmine's long blue hair to fly backward.
"Rumble-rumble!"
"Stand behind me."
At this moment from beneath the earth, terrifying high temperatures continually radiated. Jasmine took a closer look, only to see from deep within that bottomless chasm, magma deep within the leylines was continually spewing something. Her mother had already pulled her behind herself. With a gentle clench toward the seawater, the pure variant elements within the magma were instantly drawn by some invisible great power, flying reversely towards the palace above.
During its rapid ascent, that turbid, high-temperature liquid was continuously crushed and beaten by high pressure, issuing violent hissing sounds and golden divine light difficult for the naked eye to look at directly. Very soon, when that clump of liquid, carrying cooling steam bubbles, arrived within the great hall before Jasmine's eyes, it had already taken shape, becoming a set of golden armor and head crown made for a female Whale-kin to use.
"Mom..."
"I was supposed to wait until you grew a bit older to give you this. I really liked weapons and armor, so I learned the method to forge armor from other races, and devised the armor to be worn by the Whale-kin myself... Heh, although no other Whale-kin besides me would wear armor, it won't be that way after today."
That golden armor shimmering with golden light was slowly pushed to Jasmine by the seafloor's current, allowing a bit of golden radiance to slowly surface in her azure eyes. Meanwhile, Xuan Shen merely gave the floor a light kick. Instantly, the entire Ocean Trench trembled as if an earthquake occurred, and the fissure that had originally split down to the crust's core snapped shut again in an instant, no longer leaving a single trace.
The Whale-kin outside, woken by the clamor, surveyed their surroundings indignantly. Upon discovering the sound emanated from the Golden Palace, their expressions froze, and they nonchalantly lay back down to sleep.
Well then, nothing to worry about.
"This armor is not only an item to protect your safety, but also an item for me to locate your position. Inside, I have stored weapons and some knowledge, including how to forge Relics or whatnot, which you might encounter after going ashore."
"Eh, did Aunt teach you how to forge Relics?"
"Mn, I learned it after a few days, so you should be able to learn it as well. Relics are merely external objects. Fundamentally, they are of little use and easily break. Once you've crafted them, simply use them to trade with other races for some money or something."
Xuan Shen sat back onto her throne. As Jasmine's fingers slowly came into contact with that set of golden armor, the armor instantly melted and flowed onto her body. Bit by bit on the surface of her body, it assembled into the shape of the original armor, perfectly fitting Jasmine's figure, without her chest feeling tight at all...
Nobody understood Jasmine better than her mother, of course. For Xuan Shen, crafting this casually was already far beyond the level of the Jellyfishman Race above the Sea Vortex.
"Thank you, Mom. I'll study the weapons and knowledge diligently... After going ashore, I likely won't go search for Teacher Fisher first. I want to travel to other places first to concentrate on elevating my strength. I'm afraid that if I go to Teacher Fisher's side, I'll slack off and won't be able to accomplish my objectives. Is that alright, Mom?"
"Do as you please."
"Mn, I'll be off then?"
Looking at Xuan Shen in front of her, who although expressionless, clearly wasn't in a very good mood, Jasmine smiled rather helplessly. The armor on her body melted back into liquid flowing towards her forehead, transforming into a golden crown that bound her fluttering blue hair. Seeing her mother nod, she didn't leave immediately. Instead, pursing her lips, she swam up to Xuan Shen, opened her arms towards her, and hugged her mother in her embrace.
Maintaining her previous posture, Xuan Shen was slightly taken aback. The actions in her hands displayed magnitude for the first time. Simultaneously she reached out and hugged Jasmine, pressing her against her bosom, just like she did when she was a child...
"I'm leaving, Mom. Time on land passes very quickly; I will try my hardest to grow stronger."
"...Just be mindful of your safety."
"Mm, see you."
After uttering this sentence, Jasmine released Xuan Shen's body. Giving her tail a slight upward swish, she rapidly swam out of the Golden Palace, passing all those Whale-kin tribesmen who were still awake. Without looking back, she swam upwards towards the Ocean's surface, her figure soon vanishing. Only situated in the Golden Palace, Xuan Shen remained, her gaze following Jasmine as she travelled further away.
Resting a hand aside the armrest once more, Xuan Shen buttressed her cheek. Between the slight glimmerings of her gaze, her expression appeared rather cold. Only when she sensed Jasmine had departed the Ocean Trench did she suddenly speak up into the emptiness of the great hall in a cold tone,
"Lamashtia, what exactly do you want with my daughter? The human, Fischer Benavides... He carries the scent of Jasmine's father's friend, the rebel who favoured demi-humans. To think he's reappeared after being missing for so long, I thought that lunatic had already died during the war."
"What's the full situation with Fischer Benavides? Like that lunatic, is he also an outsider madman?"
A gentle, elderly voice of an old crone echoed softly within the golden hall, expressing disagreement.
"Xuan Shen, outsiders are not the origin of disasters, but a symptom of them. There is another reason entirely for their appearance here and for them bringing Chaos to this world. That friend of your husband's was the most unique of them all, and was originally the one possessing the most hope to solve the World-Ending Prophecy. But outsiders are, ultimately, outsiders; visitors are not the answer..."
Within the great hall, the old crone's voice shifted anew, becoming composed and deepening. That deep male voice was exceedingly magnetic,
"The crimson Dragon Queen shall be the first to rise, incinerating all of humanity in the fires of wrath..."
Thereafter, as if passing a baton, another coquettish female voice resounded once again,
"The mysterious Son of the Sea shall raise tremendous waves, purging humanity's sins..."
Xuan Shen's breathing stalled slightly, her brows furrowing deeply. Her surroundings bristled with an extremely dangerous oppressive pressure.
"Jasmine? The prophecy is connected to Jasmine..."
That coquettish female voice transformed to a genderless childish voice, yet bearing maturity far beyond its age,
"The God of the Sky will leave the remnants with no place to hide, leaving them with no refuge to speak of..."
A second later, the surrounding vocal chorus completely overlapped, much like ten thousand people—various individuals of countless genders, races and ages—spoke in harmony in an instant,
"The Undying Witch will employ Magic to compose for them an epitaph."
Xuan Shen's expression grew stern as she looked at the ceiling above the great hall,
"This is humanity's prophecy of destruction. Humanity's failure and demise are inevitable; this is also the reason I sought out to avoid the war."
Lamashtia chuckled, however, from the shadows,
"Heh heh, Xuan Shen, who told you the 'remnants' the God of the Sky exterminates are remnants of humanity?"
Xuan Shen's pupils contracted slightly, and the entire Ocean slowly grew serene, contrasting the world under the moonlight with a remarkable dead stillness.