Chapter 844 CALYPSO
AN HEIRLOOM.
That was what Calypso, the Holy Sword, was worth to the de Moonasterios.
It was the sword that was passed down to every emperor who ascended to the throne.
To simply put, it was a symbol of power.
[And this is the sword that I used to kill my father when I seized the throne by force.]
Perhaps, it was the reason why he didn't like summoning Calypso.
But since it was the older Neoma's request, Nikolai did as he was told.
"That's the sword that Nero used to kill me in the first timeline."
Nikolai flinched. "As expected, this weapon should disappear from the world."
"It's amusing how your feelings for Calypso don't change, Father," the older Neoma commented. "In the first timeline, you gave Nero the Holy Sword even though the law dictates that only the emperor could wield it. And as soon as my brother received Calypso, he used it to kill me."
Nikolai held the sword tighter.
[I will not give Calypso to Nero until he officially takes the throne.]
It wasn't like he didn't trust his son.
[But it's better to be safe than sorry.]
"Father, how do you use Calypso?"
"To slice and stab the enemies."
"Oh, Father," the older Neoma said while shaking her head in disappointment. "That was how Nero used Calypso, too." She put a hand over her chest. "He stabbed me here. Fortunately, he missed my Core."
He had a feeling that the older Neoma was purposely reminding him of the fact that Nero killed her in the first timeline AGAIN AND AGAIN.
But, of course, he just sucked it up.
[I deserve to be reminded of how incompetent I was as a father.]
"But that's not how you utilize Calypso, Father," the older Neoma said. "Calypso doesn't like blood. The more you stain the blade with filthy blood, the more elusive he becomes."
[My daughter is talking like Calypso is a real person…]
"Father, Calypso is a weapon made for the de Moonasterios," the older Neoma said in a voice that reminded Nikolai of his teacher when he was a young boy. "The de Moonasterio is a bloodline produced by the union of the Moon God and the Light Goddess. Aside from the fact that they are both major gods, do you know what else they have in common?"
"Me, unnie!" Monik said excitedly while raising her hand. "I know the answer!"
Nikolai pointed his hand to Monik politely, allowing the child to answer instead of him even though he had an answer of his own.
"Alright, child," the older Neoma said. "You may answer the question."
"The Moon God and the Light Goddess both have the power to purify Darkness more than the other gods could!" Monik answered enthusiastically. "That's why the God of Eternal Darkness, the one who created the Absolute Darkness, hated the Moon God and the Light Goddess. His hatred was then extended to the de Moonasterios who inherited the Moon God and the Light Goddess' power!"
"Very well," the older Neoma said, nodding. Then she turned to Nikolai. "Father, the Moon God and the Moon Goddess created Calypso to help the de Moonasterios fight against the God of Eternal Darkness. They knew they wouldn't be around to help our clan directly, so they created a weapon that contained their combined powers. It wasn't strong enough to defeat something as strong as the Absolute Darkness. Even so, that power is enough to get rid of something as puny as the Second Calamity."
Nikolai looked at Calypso with suspicious eyes. "Really? I thought the Holy Sword is sharp and good for stabbing and slicing the enemies. I didn't know it was powerful."
"Well, the de Lucas have raised the Crown Princes and the emperors all this time," the older Neoma said. "They adore the de Moonasterios, but they also fear our power. Hence, they kept the secret of Calypso from the rightful heirs until they themselves have forgotten how powerful the Holy Sword truly is."
"If Nero and I failed to use Calypso in the first timeline, then…"
"That's right, Father," the older Neoma confirmed. "It was me who awakened the true power of Calypso. And, yes, I stole Calypso after Nero died."
That was hard to hear.
[My son died early, too. That means Neoma suffered alone for a long time.]
"You didn't steal it," Nikolai corrected his daughter carefully. "You're a de Moonasterio, too. If Nero passed away without an heir, then it was only natural that you became the next successor to the throne."
It was why a 'Spare' existed between two royal children.
"Since the world was ending back then, I assume no one cared about the laws of the empire during that time," Nikolai said. "Hence, you didn't steal Calypso. It's a family heirloom, so you have the right to wield it."
"Thanks for saying that, Father," the older Neoma said indifferently. "Anyway, please try to awaken Calypso now. The Second Calamity is dangerous because it kills Non-Mana users. It won't affect people like you, but the innocent citizens will be affected the most. That was how the empire started to crumble in the first timeline."
Ah.
That sounded horrible.
[But it also sounds like I was no longer around when the Calamities began.]
So, Nikolai wasn't only a worthless father back then– he was also a useless emperor.
[I won't let history repeat itself.]
"Yes, that's what you need, Father," the older Neoma said, then she chuckled. "I was so pissed when I grabbed Calypso for the first time. I guess my unadulterated anger awakened the Holy Sword."
If it was just anger, then Nikolai had plenty of it in his heart.
After all, his wrath towards the crows was immeasurable.
"Calypso, wake up," Nikolai said. He could see his eyes turn glowing red from his reflection in the Holy Sword's blade. Then he stabbed the blob of Darkness that floated his way using the sword. "Wake up and devour these stupid, filthy things."
And what do you know?
Calypso, the Holy Sword, suddenly glowed brightly.
***
"NOONAS, hyungs, I finally made it!" Greko announced happily. "Please sprinkle my fairy dust to ward off the weird vapor!"
Paige noona.
Juri noona.
Jeno hyung.
Xion hyung.
His siblings, who were all wearing the face masks that Trevor hyung made for them before, turned to him at the same time.
"It's here!" Greko said, raising a big jar full of glimmering golden dust. "Aurora said that my fairy dust that I mixed with Moonflowers and her magic will fight the bad vapor. And Aurora said we should hurry because the vapor is out to get the civilians!"
"Good job, Greko," Paige noona said, patting his head affectionately. "We will protect the people of the empire until our Princess Neoma comes back."
***
[FUCK THIS shit.]
Neoma's plan wasn't 'planning.'
Although her entire body/soul was engulfed in flame, she could feel that the Eternal Flame was trying to burn her 'heart.'
Well, it wasn't really her physical heart per se.
She just didn't know what to call the center of her soul.
[It's as if the Eternal Flame is trying to erase my existence, and it also wants to make sure that I won't get reincarnated again.]
What a fucking nuisance.
"Is your plan not working?"
Tsk.
Commander Yoan was still there, watching Neoma with soulless eyes.
"I'm getting there," Neoma lied with a straight face, standing up while still being burned alive. At least, she could move now. "Gosh, this is a humbling experience. I thought I was OP until this fucking Eternal Flame humbled me quickly."
"It took the first Neoma two weeks before she was able to move while being burned alive by the Eternal Flame," Commander Yoan said indifferently. "During that time, the gods who were watching were all shocked that Neoma managed to move after "only" two weeks. She was called a rare genius that was only born once in a thousand years."
Oho?
"But you managed to slightly tame the Eternal Flame and move your body while being burned alive after only two hours," Commander Yoan said, his face lighting up. "What should we call you, young princess?"
"I don't really mind if you call me a rare genius," Neoma said, shrugging. "There's only one title that I desire."
"And that is…?"
"To be called the true 'Lady of Leisure.'"
"Ah, my condolences then," the commander deadpanned. "A person like you could only rest after they died. Most of the time, you can't even rest peacefully."
"Wow, thank you so much for the support, Commander."
Commander Yoan stood up.
And woah.
Since Neoma had a height complex, she got good at calculating other people's height with her naked eyes.
[This commander is around nine feet tall.]
Of course, that wasn't really tall considering that the giant race existed in their world.
However, this commander was still very tall.
"I'm not that tall yet," Commander Yoan said as if he could read her mind. "Since only a piece of my soul was left here, I couldn't come in my full form. That was the case for the Neoma that you've met earlier."
Neoma gasped in disbelief. "You mean the giant Neoma is taller than seven feet?"
"Humans who go through Divinization usually grow at least thirteen feet before they ascend to the Upper World."
[AT LEAST thirteen feet tall?!]
"No!" Neoma said sternly, stomping her feet on the ground. She knew that she was acting childish. But she should be allowed to act that way since it was one way to divert her attention from the pain she was suffering from. "I will never be a god if it means growing more than six feet tall! That's my limit! I'll break my kneecaps if I grew taller than that!"
"Neoma, you need to be a god if you want to protect the people you love in the world."
Gosh, why was the commander ruining the mood by acting so serious?
It wasn't like Neoma wasn't taking the test seriously.
She simply refused to act like it was the end of the world by acting the way she usually did. But that didn't mean she didn't care.
How could she forget that many people were waiting for her return?
"You don't have to remind me what I need to do, Commander Yoan," Neoma said in a serious tone, matching the commander's mood. "Plus, I'm a rule breaker. You can't expect me to follow the rules, duh."
"Then you leave me no choice."
"And what do you mean by that?"
"Let's fight," Commander Yoan said casually. "Let's see how strong you are for you to act haughtily in front of me."
Seriously?
This commander was going to fight her while she was being burned alive literally?
Heh.
"Hey, don't misunderstand, Commander," Neoma said while cracking her knuckles. "Whether it's in front of you or not, I'm still arrogant as hell."
***
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