Scarblade Goddess 78 Chapter 77

"Brr...it's cold in here.".

Otorine nodded and rubbed her hands to warm herself up. While they were treading along cautiously, a frozen obsidian wall had stopped Yumine in her tracks, separating her from the others. Yumine was struck with surprise,

"What the?".

"It's been a while, G.o.ddess Yumine.",

As the distorted G.o.ddess said from behind. Yumine was made to s.h.i.+ft her look abruptly. Through her eyes, she witnessed G.o.ddess Ieva's cold form up-front. Although, she looked quite different, as her dress was ridden in frozen black crystals of the coldest thrones from h.e.l.l. Even her whole aura was seeped in malicious darkness. Yumine looked even more flabbergasted,

"Ieva?".

While for Otorine and company, they couldn't see anything going on through Yumine's side, due to the cl.u.s.ter of crystallized fragments from the chaotic abyss. They tried everything they can with their powerful G.o.ddess powers and capabilities yet, it was no use. As the fragments were indestructable for some reason. In turn, Weissia was p.i.s.sed and convinced,

"Tsk, distorted ice crystal wall I see...".

It appeared a solid frozen material made out of the enigmatic magical element of distortion can't be shattered by any usual means. Returning at Yumine's side, she immediately told her companions,

"Everyone...just leave me here. I can handle this myself. We need to stop Senku fast!".

Otorine grit her teeth but, she just came to a decision,

"Alright Yumi but, please come back!".

Then, Otorine and the others left and continued to move forward. As soon as Yumine's and Ieva's presence were the only ones left at the chilled hallway. They started to bring out their weapons. Yumine unsheathed her pink rapiers, while for Ieva, she had a frozen lance that was unearthed from a frozen core of darkness. Then, they aimed at each other. Though, Yumine started a conversation first, while they were antic.i.p.ating each others movements,

"Tell me Ieva, is that really you? You look different...".

Ieva lunged straight at Yumine but, Yumine dodged her strike in the nick of time. Then, Ieva answered Yumine's previous question with an emotionless look,

"Yes it is I but...I am now a...DISTORTED G.o.dDESS!".

Then, she shot out black ice shards at Yumine from all directions such as Yumine was being barraged by lots of shattered gla.s.s fragments endlessly. Yumine parried those broken projectiles with her intense blade swings of the swift winds. As the waves of falling frozen gla.s.s had stopped, Yumine reasoned out expressively, as she was very much confused,

"Why Ieva? Why did you become a distorted G.o.ddess?".

Ieva just gave another cold stare,

"It's because only Distortion can save and restore my people's shattered souls.".

Yumine a.s.sumed,

"And that's why you had a bargain with Senku?".

Ieva nodded,

"Yes...".

As Yumine heard Ieva's conviction, she was very much p.i.s.sed. She pounced at Ieva, smas.h.i.+ng her rapiers at her opponent head-on. Though, Ieva just blocked it with the long pole of her weapon. Yumine's impact was so strong, it made the floor to have sudden crevices. As their grazing weapons, were holding each other down, the two battling G.o.ddesses' intensified eyes were staring at each other directly. Yumine blurted at Ieva's face up front,

"DISTORTION WON'T SAVE ANYONE!".

Ieva replied with a shout,

"NEITHER DID YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS TRY TO SAVE MY PEOPLE IN MY WORLD!".

That moment, Ieva aimed her hand at Yumine,

"FREEZE BOLT DISTORT!".

Yumine gulped and she was flung away to the wall by Ieva's direct freezing magic attack. As she had gotten up, Yumine felt the intense burn and shock from her left shoulder. Ieva threw away her spear and she made both of her arms to be covered in ice. Thereon, her hands looked-like they were sharp blades that came from the forsaken frozen world of total void. As Yumine was still feeling the severe burn. Ieva seized the opportunity and rushed at Yumine in the speed of light. Then, Ieva dished out swift swings, as she was a living blade of destruction,

"YOU'VE JUST ENTERED MY DOMAIN, FULFILLED YOUR DUTIES AND DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO HELP THE G.o.dDESS IN DISTRESS!".

Yumine just fell silent. She had a hard time blocking her attacks and gotten lots of wounds and cuts all over her proportioned body. As Yumine felt that she could lose the fight, she tried to gamble and swung her blades upward. Thankfully, her attack threw Ieva off-balance and made Ieva to stop with her succesive strikes. As there was an opening, Yumine kicked Ieva away in order to be free from Ieva's lock. Ieva stood up with a desperate look and cast out loud,

"s.h.i.+VAH'S BANE!".

Not much soon, a powerful blizzard had occured inside the frigid hallways. The cold turned even more unbearable. The woos.h.i.+ng gales of the snowstorm made Yumine to have a hard time to stand on her feet. More so, Yumine, was being hit by icicle spear snowflakes, letting her to incur even more wounds. Since, Yumine can't approach Ieva, she tried to question her opponent's reasoning,

"And what about this distortion? How sure are you that this crazy thing can save your people huh?!".

Ieva's eyebrows twitched as she was somehow p.i.s.sed. She snapped her fingers and the crazy blizzard ceased in an instant. Ieva took one step and dashed at Yumine at blinding speed. Yumine was startled but, she just blocked Ieva's powerful slash by letting her rapiers to form an "X" symbol. Yumine was blown away for a short distance but, atleast she was able to withstand the lethal strike. Afterwards, Ieve spread out her crystallized wings of absolute abyss and she pointed at Yumine,

"Even if Lord Senku hasn't proven it yet...".

Suddenly her eyes widened with severe desperation,

"HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO'S WILLING TO HELP ME!".

After that, she let out a crystal tear from her cold eyes. She spread her frozen wings and shot out rapid fragments at Yumine almost endlessly. Though, Yumine was quick on her feet and rushed along the hallway such as she was dodging the rapid shots from a submachine gun. Ieva had a hard time of pinning down the fast moving Yumine, so Ieva leapt and twisted up high. Then, she levitated,

"The higher ups of Celestia Heavens even wanted my world to be destroyed! Just because they branded me as a failure of a G.o.ddess!".

As Yumine heard Ieva's statements, she was engrossed in her thoughts,

"I never knew that the higher ups would be so harsh...".

Thereupon, Yumine reb.u.t.ted strongly,

"But Senku's trying to destroy Celestia Heavens and enslave everyone!".

Ieva grinded her teeth full of raging wrath,

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE BE d.a.m.nED CELESTIA HEAVENS!".

She exclaimed, while she was touching her middle chest tight,

"I BELIEVE HE CAN CREATE BETTER WORLDS AND A BETTER HEAVENLY SYSTEM! EVEN IF I HAVE TO SERVE HIM WITH MY BODY!".

Ieva dove into Yumine such as she was a cras.h.i.+ng frozen meteor. As she had contact with Yumine, the whole place was blanketed in an avalanche. As the mist ceased, everything turned into a winter world. Yumine and Ieva were fighting with their dancing blades of war and grace. The bursts of frozen gales and swift lunges were witnessed, as Yumine and Ieva had a long fight. Their movements were superb as well. Since, their movements can no longer be seen through the naked eye. While their blades were clas.h.i.+ng, Yumine was absorbed in her thoughts as well,

"I guess Ieva's desperate and corrupted by Senku now...".

As soon as their blades had contact with each other and held each other down, Yumine sighed,

"Then, I guess talking to you is just a waste of time.".

Ieva jumped high and crashed down a humongous frozen ice claw at Yumine. Thankfully, Yumine dodged it swiftly. The next moment, Ieva cast out,

"G.o.dDESS BERSERK IEVASHK VALIs.h.!.+".

Ieva's wings grew even larger. Her crystal wings and hands were bursting out freezing blue and black energy from the chaotic realms of absolute cold. Through Yumine's eyes, Ieva appeared to be a G.o.ddess of divine winter who shall bring havoc with her freezing wails and breath. Thereupon, Yumine felt worried and p.i.s.sed at the same time,

"Awwww, great...she's truly desperate now...AND I CAN'T EVEN ACTIVATE MY OWN G.o.dDESS FORM! WHY?!".

Poor Yumine, a G.o.ddess who can't unleash her ultimate form, truly a pitiful G.o.ddess. Yeah, she's really at a disadvantage now. Soon, Yumine composed herself. Her eyes looked serious, as Ieva was stronger than ever before. As the cold winds had stopped breezing throughout the place, Ieva cast out lots of freezing magic all over the place. The sudden freezing winds were felt. There were falling fragments of ice everywhere and Yumine ran through the whole place in order to dodge the projectiles. Next, Ieva vanished. In a split second, she dished out strong lunges and blade swings at Yumine from all directions. Sadly, Yumine failed to block the latter strikes and she incurred severe damages. Yumine was panting and her mouth was bleeding. Suddenly, Yumine cast out,

"b.u.t.tERFREA HEALING! AUTUMN WINDS!".

Her deep wounds were gone but, she was still panting. More so, her feet felt light as a feather and those were swirling with serene energy stream of amber. Ieva floated above the ground and let out a gush of travelling frozen cyclone at Yumine. Though Yumine just dodged those with her amazing footwork. As Ieva noticed that Yumine was approaching near her while dodging. Ieva grinned and cast out, while her hands were ready to unsheathe a j.a.panese blade,

"FAINAL DRAW!".

Ieva's hands wielded a two-feet frozen blade that was surging out powerful blizzard. Afterwards, Ieva swung the blade with quick finesse and precision, in which it was bursting out frozen blade-like projectiles at Yumine. Yumine blocked it with her rapier but, she was thrown away by its powerful force. Yumine still tried to stand on her two feet but, she sheathed her rapiers. She bent her knees and readied to draw her weapons in one quick flash as well. Their determined looks clashed and in a split of a second. They rushed at each other at blistering speed that could not be seen by the naked eye. As Ieva was in front of Yumine, she tried to unleash her destructive blade yet, it was all gone. Thereon, Yumine gained the upper hand and she slashed Ieva's torso in a blink of an eye. The two were side by side afterwards. Not much soon, Ieva fell down, as she took a severed hit and felt immense pain. Though, her eyes was filled with doubts somehow,

"How? Is my resolve weak?".

The atmosphere of the frozen battle had ceased, as the other contender fell already fell. Yumine sheathed her rapiers and she went near to the downed Ieva,

"Err...let's just say...you just lost control of yourself and depleted your whole energy? I think?".

Then, Yumine tried to flatter Ieva, while she was making a snappy gesture,

"R-really though, you could've won if you still had energy in you...".

Ieva didn't express any emotion and just said with her soft tone,

"So I guess I shall face the dire consequences now...".

Yumine touched her own set of lips, while she was guessing,

"That I can't tell...".

Out of the blue, Ieva thanked her opponent,

"Thanks Yumine...".

There after, Ieva fell into deep slumber. Although, Yumine was dumbfounded,

"Uh? Thanks for what?".

Suddenly, the voice of the sarcastic Senku was heard around the cold hallways,

"Bravo Yumi! Bravo! Now that's my powerful G.o.ddess slave!".

Though, Yumine wasn't pleased and shouted to the walls,

"I am not your G.o.ddess slave anymore! Show yourself you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!".

Senku just replied non-chalantly,

"Sadly, you're not the one who will see me.".

In a mere second, he remembered something important,

"Oh yeah and have you heard IEVA'S GENERIC LIFE STORY?".

Yumine responded,

"Yea, I've heard of it. She thinks Distortion can save her destroyed people's souls.".

There was an awkward silence in the air, as Senku didn't reply back immediately. Instead, the sound of controlling his laugh was heard. Though, soon enough, his laugh burst out,

"Hahahaha! Well, partially yes. Since, I was the ONE WHO INTRODUCED this ABSOLUTE ENERGY or let us say virus. That'd mean, I can create the cure or vaccine as well!".

Then, he praised himself,

"Am I amazing or what?! Dang I should start up a business using this idea!".

For some reason. Ieva made a frown while her eyes were closed, as she heard the cold truth from her dear Senku's mouth. While for Yumine, her eyes were filled with immense wrath and pointed at the wall,

"SO YOU'RE THE ONE WHO INTRODUCED TO HER PEOPLE ABOUT THIS TWISTED ABSOLUTE ENERGY! YOU MONSTER!".

Although, Senku wasn't even ashamed,

"BINGO! Wow! My G.o.ddess slaves are really smart Haha! Anywho, toodles!".

Yumine shouted in a jiffy,

"Hey! I'm still not done talking to you! You demon! Ugh...".

Yumine held her forehead, as she had almost gotten a headache from conversing with the trippy Senku. A while later, Ieva opened her sorrowful eyes, while she was still lying down,

"So Senku's the one behind this chaos in my world all along?".

Soon enough, she started to pour out frozen tears of flooding sadness. Her tears didn't stop as, she felt that her G.o.ddess heart was shattered into millions of pieces,

"Why Senku why...I trusted you...I even loved you and offered almost everything I can. Why would you do this to me.".

Suddenly, Senku's voice was heard around hallway once again, although his tone was very insulting,

"Oops sorry! I was kinda busy eating pizza. Dang these things are delish when cold...Just kidding! I heard ya..."

Senku sighed and asked Ieva,

"You wanna know why I would do this to you and your people?".

Ieva pleaded pathetically,

"Please tell me, why?".

Senku took a deep breath,

"Let's just say you and your world are just one of the fuels needed to power up my brand of Distortion.".

Though, he still complimented her, as he was a tricky jester,

"And you've done it well! Nicely done! And goodbye...dang, that sounded too generic...".

As Senku had stopped his broadcast, Ieva put her arm on top of her eyes. Then, she started to cry out loud, as she was a broken lover who had a miserable life. Her droplets of tears were making puddles along the floor, she had regrets for herself,

"So I'm just a tool for him...why was I so stupid and gullible...All I just wanted for my people is to be prosperous than ever before. Why did you trick me Senku...why!".

When Yumine witnessed the poor state and endless weeping of Ieva, she felt pity for Ieva. Yumine went near the crying G.o.ddess who had lost a glimpse of hope. Then, she patted Ieva's forehead to calm Ieva's senses. As Ieva was feeling Yumine's delicate divine touch of Yumine. Ieva looked at her,

"Yumine?".

Yumine tilted her head,

"Hm?".

Ieva responded back sincerely, while her tears were still falling into the ground,

"Could you stay with me here? I a.s.sure you, I won't attack you anymore. Since I hate Senku now. And I'm well beaten up. Also, can we be friends?".

Yumine had second thoughts for a second but, she just made a friendly smile sooner or later,

"I understand...and yes, we can be friends...".

Afterwards, Ieva continued to weep, as she was releasing her pent up frustrations and regrets. While Yumine was soothing her new friend's forehead. Later on, Yumine was deep in her thoughts,

"To think Senku toyed with her life and made her miserable. Also, sorry Ori but, I'm gonna stay here for a while...take care okay?".