Chapter 317: 92. Survivors
“Running away from home? No, no, no, if I just run away without saying anything, Mother will definitely be angry.”
The language of Ramastia never ceases to amaze; just a simple sentence nearly made Jasmine stand up in fright, fearing that Xu outside would hear her conversation with Ramastia. If her mother heard, she would surely face severe consequences, Jasmine promised.
The key issue is that even Jasmine feels that “running away from home” isn’t a good way to solve problems. It doesn’t address her mother’s concerns for her at all, and she doesn’t want that.
In the surrounding seawater, Ramastia’s voice came again, sounding somewhat resigned as it sighed and then continued,
“Little Jasmine, you really are a fool. Why are you so startled before I finish speaking? If you attract Xu over here, you won’t have a good time.”
“Huh? Then should I… speak a little softer?”
Jasmine glanced around the room, then curled up at the edge of the golden bed and quietly listened to Ramastia’s words. The creature’s voice, playful and childlike, came from all directions, making it hard to discern its exact shape and position.
“First of all, you have completely misunderstood the key factor why Xu doesn’t allow you to go to the ocean. You also don’t know how to resolve both sides of the issue in a logical manner. Xu thinks you’re still too weak and immature right now, and I think so too. Even if you’ve fully mastered your curse and blessing, you’re still far from the mythical rank.”
“The mythical rank… didn’t Mother just mention something about mythical beings? Isn’t that the mythical rank?”
“Yes and no. Mythical beings indicate that all beings of a race are mythical creatures, and even beings that are not mythical can reach the mythical rank, like your mother.”
“Mother?”
Jasmine sat up; only just now did she learn for the first time of her mother’s glorious achievements. While she did not know any of those beings her mother mentioned, they sounded impressive.
“Ah, you see, children from other races often go through a process of worshipping their parents before their views level off, but you probably won’t have that opportunity, as your mother has reached a height that everyone finds hard to look up to.”
“Xu is an incredibly powerful being, and this also shows that life is a miracle. Even I have seen many unforeseen joys within it. When it comes to combat ability, if she says second, no one dares to claim first. In the wars thousands of years ago, she proved that with her significant achievements. When those mythical beings were fiercely battling in the ocean, no one could have predicted that a very irritable Whale Folk existed beneath the depths, and in an instant, they all bore the brunt of Xu’s tsunami-like fury.”
“Your mother was invincible in both ocean and land in her youth, thus being called the ‘God of Destruction’ by other mythical beings. Though she hasn’t reached the level of a true god, it’s still a miracle. However, she grew weary of endless wars and defended the vast coastline, which prevented other mythical beings’ battles from extending into the ocean.”
Jasmine listened, quite confused. Suddenly, she thought of something and looked up to ask Ramastia,
“Then why did you say earlier that Mother went to hit you?”
“You really are bringing up the wrong topic, little Jasmine. But it wasn’t exactly hitting; while she is very powerful, she has no way of dealing with me. The reason she confronted me was something she already mentioned: a human worshipped a ‘false god’ who participated in the war thousands of years ago, while the other true gods did not. She felt angered, believing the deities allowed this bloody war to occur, and thus came to the altar to face me.”
Jasmine felt she had grasped a clue after hearing this. Ramastia referred to the god worshipped by humans as a false god, which immediately reminded her of the goddess related to the moon that her mother mentioned. If that goddess were hated by all other deities, could it be that the mother goddess of human faith was indeed this false god?
Just as she thought of asking Ramastia about this, it seemed the creature had sensed something and interrupted her,
“Alright, alright, we’ve strayed too far from the topic. Do you really want to learn how to sneak away from Xu to find Fisher Benavides?”
“Yes! But, Lord Ramastia, you still remember Fisher-sensei’s name? I thought your relationship wasn’t good.”
Ramasia snorted lightly, its voice carrying a tone of anger and helplessness, as if its homegrown cabbage had been raided by a pig.
“That is indeed the case, but he is important, at least he is very important to us. Well, let me be direct with you. Xu just told you that war is about to break out but didn’t mention when it will specifically happen. In fact, there are several years left before war arrives, and before that, you have the opportunity to enhance your abilities.”
“Of course, improving strength here is purely a false proposition. Your mother also reached her current height slowly while exploring the world outside the trench. You need to leave the trench and see the broader world outside. She has protected you too tightly, which isn’t good for you. That’s why I suggested running away from home.”
Jasmine pressed her lips together, understanding Ramastia’s meaning, and then continued with its words,
“I get it. Mother is worried about that war involving mythical beings. In the years before that, the world will remain calm, which is also my window of opportunity. I can communicate with Mother and ask her to let me leave the trench for the shore first. If when war comes, I am not strong enough to protect both myself and Fisher, I will listen to Mother and obediently stay in the trench or knock Fisher-sensei unconscious to bring him back.”
As she spoke, Jasmine’s eyes grew brighter. The tension from her earlier dispute with Mother began to dissipate little by little. Ramastia smiled and said to Jasmine,
“That’s it! And don’t forget, I’m still here. After ten thousand times of fullness, I will no longer need to fall into slumber. I will help you.”
Jasmine’s expression brightened as she sat up on the bed, eager to seek Xu immediately, but she held back. Mother would probably still be angry. She decided to wait a while before seeking Xu.
“Thank you, Lord Ramastia!”
In the golden hall, Jasmine finished a long string of words, and her whale tail stirred uneasily, splashing the water far away, then the hall fell silent, leaving only Jasmine’s lips pursed from her anxiety and uncertainty.
In front of her, on the golden throne, Xu, wearing a golden crown, opened her eyes. The deep blue eyes mirrored her daughter’s figure, as if contemplating the proposal Jasmine had just made.
A finger of Xu lightly tapped the armrest of the throne; her expression did not show any obvious change, yet this made Jasmine even more uneasy. She secretly stole a glance at her mother and then quietly asked,
“Can… I, Mother?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t it supposed to be no? But I—”
Jasmine shook her tail behind her, closing her eyes, having thought Mother had firmly rejected her request, yet unexpectedly, she actually agreed. Jasmine immediately opened her eyes in disbelief, looking at the still expressionless Xu on the throne, joyfully running to stand in front of Xu, holding one of her hands, excitedly saying,
“Thank you! I will take good care of myself. If the war arrives and I’m not at the mythical level, I will obediently return to the trench and won’t think about going to the shore anymore, okay?”
Xu sighed, grasping Jasmine’s hand back, and with the other hand, she waved lightly, silently unleashing a terrifying force that could pierce through layers of rock and the earth’s veins. That energy spread out, creating a deep crack within the hall, and countless scalding bubbles surged into the ocean, causing Jasmine’s blue hair to fly back.
“Boom!”
“Get behind me.”
At this moment, a terrible heat arose from beneath the earth. Jasmine focused her gaze and saw, deep within the bottomless chasm, lava bubbling over as her mother pulled her behind, gently grasping the seawater. Pure elements from the magma were immediately drawn upwards by an invisible great power toward the soaring palace.
As the murky, high-temperature liquid rose rapidly, it was compacted and struck by extreme pressure, emitting loud shrieks and blinding golden light. Soon, when that mass of liquid reached the hall and came before Jasmine, it had already formed into a set of golden armor and crown suitable for female Whale Folk.
“Mother.”
“I was originally going to wait until you were older to give you this. I really like weapons and armor, so I learned how to forge armor from other races and created armor for Whale Folk myself. Though until now, no Whale Folk can wear armor, that will change from today.”
The glistening golden armor was slowly pushed by the underwater currents to Jasmine’s front, causing golden hues to slowly appear in her blue eyes. Xu lightly kicked the ground, and the entire trench trembled as if an earthquake had struck. The crack that had originally reached down to the earth’s core closed up instantly, vanishing without a trace.
The Whale Folk who had been disturbed awake outside scanned their surroundings with displeasure, and upon realizing the sounds came from the golden palace, they paused before nonchalantly lying back down to sleep.
“It’s nothing.”
“This armor is not only your protective gear but also serves to locate your position. Inside it holds weapons and some knowledge, including how to forge relics, which you might encounter when you go ashore.”
“Did Aunt teach Mother how to forge relics?”
“Yes, I learned it in just a few days. You should be able to learn it as well; relics are just external objects that are pretty useless and break easily. When you make them, you can trade them for some money with other races.”
Xu sat back on her throne. As Jasmine’s fingers slowly touched the golden armor, it instantly melted and flowed toward her body, gradually forming the original shape of the armor on her surface, fitting perfectly to Jasmine’s figure. Even her chest felt completely comfortable.
No one understands Jasmine as well as her mother, and Xu’s simple crafts were already far beyond the level of jellyfish folk above the whirlpool.
“Thank you, Mother. I will thoroughly study weapons and that knowledge. After I get to the shore, I probably won’t go find Fisher-sensei first. I will travel in other places first and focus on improving my strength. I worry that if I go find Fisher-sensei, I will become slack and not complete my goals. Is that alright, Mother?”
“Whatever you want.”
“Alright, then I’ll go?”
Seeing Xu, despite her indifferent expression, was clearly not in a good mood, Jasmine smiled helplessly. The armor on her body turned liquid again, flowing to her forehead and transforming into a golden crown that bound her flowing blue hair. After seeing her mother nod, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she pursed her lips and swam to Xu’s front, opened her arms, and embraced her.
Xu, maintaining her previous posture, was slightly taken aback, her hand movements momentarily revealing some range, and she reached out to encircle Jasmine, holding her in her embrace, just like she did when Jasmine was little.
“I’m leaving now, Mother. Time flows quickly on land, I will work hard to grow strong.”
“Just be safe.”
“Mm, goodbye.”
After saying this, Jasmine released Xu, her tail lifting slightly as she quickly swam towards the outside of the golden palace, passing by those Whale Folk still awake, and headed upwards towards the ocean without looking back, quickly disappearing from sight, leaving only Xu in the golden hall, watching her grow increasingly distant.
Xu placed a hand on the armrest, supporting her cheek. Her expression seemed somewhat cold as her gaze flickered slightly. Only when she felt Jasmine had left the trench did she suddenly speak coldly to the empty space within the hall,
“Ramasia, what exactly do you want my daughter to do? That human, Fisher Benavides, carries the scent of a friend of Jasmine’s father, that rebellious one who liked subhumans, has been missing for so long yet has suddenly appeared. I thought that lunatic had died in the war.”
“What is Fisher Benavides’s true situation? Is he like that lunatic, also an outsider?”
In the golden hall, a frail voice from an old woman softly echoed, expressing denial.
“Xu, outsiders are not the source of disaster but rather the manifestation of disaster. Their appearance here, their chaos in this world, has other reasons. Your husband’s friend is the most special among them and was originally the most likely to resolve the Apocalypse Prophecy, but ultimately, outsiders remain outsiders; they are not the solution.”
In the hall, the old woman’s voice transformed, becoming stable, deep, and filled with a magnetic resonance.
“The Crimson Dragon Queen will rise first, incinerating all that humanity holds in her wrath.”
Then, as if handing off a relay, another frivolous female voice piped in again,
“The Mysterious Child of the Sea will stir up tremendous waves, erasing humanity’s sins.”
Xu’s breath hitched slightly, and her brows furrowed deeply as a dangerous sense of oppression enveloped her.
“Jasmine? The prophecy is related to Jasmine.”
That frivolous female voice morphed into a genderless childlike tone, carrying an unsettling maturity beyond its years.
“The Sky God will make the survivors have nowhere to hide, nowhere to belong.”
A second later, the voices around her completely overlapped, as if a multitude of individuals, of various genders, races, and ages, all spoke in unison,
“The Undying Witch will write their epitaph with magic.”
Xu’s expression grew serious as she looked up towards the ceiling of the hall.
“This is the Apocalypse Prophecy for humanity; humanity’s failure and demise are inevitable. This is also my reason for avoiding battle.”
But Ramasia chuckled, speaking from the shadows,
“Hehe, Xu, who told you that the ‘survivors’ of the dying Sky God are the survivors of humanity?”
Xu’s pupils slightly contracted, and the entire ocean gradually calmed, casting a particularly eerie silence under the moonlight.
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(End of Chapter)
