Chapter 424 - The End & The Beginning

"But I do regret hurting you and your mother…"

Alinea stared in surprise at the Black God before her eyes turned wistful and she shook her head; a smile curved her lips. 

"I should hate you— but I don't," she told him. "You might have hurt me, but I cannot ignore the fact that your ultimate goal was for my father's happiness. You've set him free. Also, it's a fact that without you, I won't be here."

It was Czernobog's turn to look surprised. It was as if he had long since accepted the fact that he'd be hated and was unprepared to be told otherwise. "You…"

Alinea reached out a hand to cup his face and used her thumb to wipe his tears as she smiled up at him. "You've reached your goal grandfather. Go and get reincarnated. You owe me a lot when you remember and we see each other next…"

Czernobog's surprised expression vanished and his handsome countenance softened considerably as he looked at her. "Grandfather will go and find you next time then," he promised softly as he let go of the sword. 

Alinea took the weapon, smiled one last time at the Black God and vanished from the place. When she opened her eyes, she was back to the present where her husband continued to fight with her mother. 

"General," Midas and the other called in surprise, but she already had an idea why. 

In her hand was a sword made of miasma— the weapon her grandfather handed her. It was also the key that would seal her mother once more. 

"I'm going," she said without looking back and she vanished, leaving only an after image in her wake. 

Yuuka screamed as she stopped in midair and raised her hand. By now she had lost rationality and was just attacking based on instinct. It didn't matter who, she looked like she just wanted to destroy. The space around her warped and Ryuu frowned as he watched her carefully and then his eyes widened upon seeing dark arrows coming from the warped space surrounding her. 

One, two, three, four— up to ten arrows made of miasma appeared and shot towards him, catching him in surprise. He had thought that her power was only brute strength even if her whole body was surrounded with dark energy. 

But it was alright… 

Unexpected it might be, but the power was not enough to make him change neither his tempo nor the amount of energy he was using. He flicked his hand and the arrows were easily devoured by his blue flames. 

Harbinger of Catastrophe…

The name might give anyone an image of the end of the world, but it was not really what it meant. Ryuu felt frustrated that he also had been fooled by Czernobog. When he had realized the real meaning of catastrophe, it was already too late. 

However, whether it was good that he didn't realize it or not, he was still conflicted. 

Yuuka repeated her attacks, alternating in between with her arrows and fists. But all were for naught. The Flame Emperor of Heaven just blocked them easily as if he was dealing with a child. 

"Ryuu!"

Upon hearing Alinea's voice, he then flicked his hand again to produce a huge wall of flames to stall Yuuka for a few seconds. With the mass of blue fire suddenly blazing in front of her, Yuuka backed away with an angry expression. 

"Ali, are you…"his voice trailed off as his wife appeared next him and he saw the sword in her hand. 

His ċhėst constricted as if he was feeling the pain that she must have been feeling in her heart. Alinea's hands would dye red with her own mother's blood, and he worried about her state of mind. 

As if reading his thoughts, she smiled reassuringly at him. "I'll be fine," she said, and he had no choice but to step back and let her do her task. 

But before she turned to face her mother, he pulled her against his ċhėst and kissed her surprised lips. "I'll be here," he told her, and she smiled as she nodded. 

"I know, thank you," she retorted as she gave his arm a squeeze, and he let her go. 

He flew far from them to give space, but he remained vigilant, ready to destroy any stray weapons from Yuuka. He would have his wife's back. It was the only way he knew how to ease her burden.

Alinea looked at her husband as he flew a distance from her and her mother and smiled thankfully at her. He returned her smile, but she saw worry in his eyes and she sighed. It seemed despite being a warrior, in the eyes of the people she loved and who cared for her, she was still a fragile princess. 

And she agreed with them at some point…

But today… Today would be a very painful day, but it would also be the last that they would feel anguish. She would make sure of that. She would fulfill the one last task everyone had given her. 

Alinea's eyes focused on the diminishing wall of blue flames in front of her and shift her hand to ready to battle against her mother. As soon as the wall disappeared, dark arrows shot towards her and she swung the sword and parried them away in great speed. 

She would not drag this battle on. 

Alinea raised her sword and summoned her energy. The air around her thickened as rose colored aura surrounded her body making her glow. Her body felt incredibly lighter since the dark energy within her was removed. For the first time since she was born, she was able to utilize the divine power that was supposed to be hers. 

Yuuka who had advanced towards her after shooting the arrows halted in midair after seeing her power. The wild look on her face vanished as she stared wide-eyed at her, the glow in her eyes vanishing as she seemed to recognize her energy. 

"A-Alencica?" Yuuka called out in a trance as she continued to look at her.

Alinea's eyes filled with tears. She was not expecting her real reunion with her mother to be like this. But it couldn't be helped. 

She smiled as tears fell from her eyes and she raised the sword, her body shifted as she took an attacking stance. "Yes, mother, it's me," she choked her answer as she sped towards her. 

Hearing her acknowledge her name, Yuuka's face looked surprised, and then she relaxed as a smile spread on her lips. As Alinea rushed towards her with the sword, she opened her arms and welcomed her. 

THRUST… 

Alinea's eyes were blurred with tears and she started to tremble as she realized what she had finally done. She had already prepared mentally but still… 

A warm embrace wrapped around her and she turned her face up. Yuuka smiled down at her as she hugged her. She let go of the sword and wrapped her arms around her and held on tight. 

"Mother!" 

Yuuka's body started to glow and she raised her hand to brush the stray hair from Alinea's face. In spite of the sword piercing her heart, she smiled at her. 

"The curse…is over now…" she said in between breaths. 

Alinea nodded. "Yes. It's finished," she confirmed and Yuuka's smile only brightened.

"Your father…completed his promise…" she said in wonder and Alinea cried harder as Yuuka's body started to disperse before her. 

"Yes he did. Yes he did,"Alinea said as the light grew stronger and then she was gone, leaving Alinea hugging nothing but air. "It's over…"