Chapter 3: 2nd Adversary: Tiamat
The holy light before Miko started to mold into the shape of a woman. Soon it disappeared and a beautiful figure emerged from it. It was an enchanting woman. She had glistening azure hair, breathtaking beauty, dazzling slit golden eyes, and a slim yet curvy figure. She was dressed in an azure and gold slit dress, and had gold armlets and anklets. She was the goddess of the sea and the primordial chaos; as well as the first dragon, mother of the first dragons and countless monsters, as well as the oldest recorded god in history.
Tiamat.
"Miko, I like you. You're different from everyone else that came seeking my power."
Her melodious voice could charm even the dead.
"You didn't want the power of a God at all. In fact, you looked down on it."
Her gaze locked onto Miko.
"Do you wish to spit in the face of the Gods?"
She approached him.
"If you do, then we have the same goal."
She stretched her hand out towards him.
"Be my Proxy."
"Nope."
Miko rejected her in a heartbeat.
"?!"
His response shocked everyone except for Tiamat and Momo. Momo sighed and shook her head, while Tiamat kept smiling.
"I figured you would say that. Your reason?"
"Reason? Is there any benefit in fighting in this stupid war?"
Miko folded his arms in front of him.
"If I join the war, I'll be pit against some of the world's strongest proxies in a battle to the death. Not only that, I'll also have to fend off their factions and followers. Not to mention some people hunt down and kill famous proxies to make a name for themselves. As the Matriarch of the clan, you should know l we have quite a few of those people in our ranks."
His brows furrowed in disgust.
"All I see are demerits. Why should I become a Proxy?"
"What about honor?"
Tiamat was gleaming despite Miko's attitude.
"Honor?"
Miko burst out laughing.
"Only fools fight for something as pointless as honor."
He placed a hand on his hip.
"Honor alone cannot satisfy you or those around you."
Tiamat smiled at his response.
"Then what do you seek? What is it that can satisfy you?"
"For me, nothing. I seek nothing, so nothing can satisfy me."
Miko smiled.
"I'm just living."
"I see."
Tiamat nodded and pointed at Miko.
"You've given up on life, haven't you?"
"...…"
Miko didn't respond.
"I know because I've kept an eye on you from your birth, Miko. You've been scorned by everyone outside of your immediate family and was treated like a monster. No matter what you accomplished you would never be praised, no matter how much of a genius you were, you would always be treated like an outcast. That's why from a young age you gave up on trying to accomplish anything."
She shook her head.
"No, you gave up on life itself. You threw away your ambitions, your dreams, and even desires. In other words, you're just a walking corpse waiting to rot."
Miko smiled
"Bingo! You've figured out my life story!"
He started clapping.
"As a reward, you win a big 'Fuck You'. I'm outta here."
He turned his back on her and left.
"Wait, Miko!"
Momo chased after him.
"Momo."
Tiamat called out to her and caused her to stop.
"Y-Yes!"
Momo stooped down to kneel.
"Ah, you don't have to do that. It makes me uncomfortable."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Momo stood up straight and looked Tiamat in her eyes.
"Good, you're quite amazing. I'm proud to have a descendent like you."
Tiamat spoke after examining her from head to toe.
"Thank you for your praise!"
Momo bowed in servitude.
"Ah, you don't have to be so formal. Just act like yourself."
"Is that so?"
Momo sighed.
"That's great because I'm not good with formal talk."
She relaxed her body a little causing Tiamat to smile.
"You're Miko's personal teacher and cousin, meaning that you're one of the few he trusts and would open his heart to. As such, I want you to continue to take care of him in the future no matter how tough things get."
Tiamat's tone reminded Momo of a mother's for some reason.
"You don't have to worry about that. I planned on doing that from the beginning."
"I see."
Tiamat looked satisfied at her response.
"As for Miko, leave him be for the time being. It's better he comes to a decision himself after thinking things through."
"Can I be frank, Tiamat?"
Tiamat was a bit surprised that she was able to address her so casually, despite telling her to do so. But in the end, she was pleased.
"Call me Tia. That's my nickname among the Higher Beings."
"Then, Tia. I'll be completely honest, I don't want Miko to become your Proxy."
"Why?"
Tia didn't get angry and asked calmly.
"Because it's too dangerous."
"True, but we live in a dangerous world. Besides, if he wants to become my Proxy I doubt you can stop him."
"It's just as you say, but these are my personal feelings. However, I won't stop him no matter what he chooses. The clan obtaining your Proxy has been our lifelong dream, so I can't bring myself to ruin that dream. That being said, I won't force it on Miko either. Whether he agrees or refuses, it's his decision. He's a smart kid after all."
"Wise words."
Tia nodded.
"Thanks, but there's someone that might object to Miko becoming your Proxy no matter what he decides."
"Oh? Who?"
"His mother."
Momo wore a serious face.
"Ah…..Yeah, she might be a problem."
Tia showed a wry smile.
(Even I have to admit she can be domineering sometimes. She's very overprotective towards Miko because there have been countless assassination attempts on him since he was born. Just like the rest of the clan, she becomes very unreasonable when angered.)
She thought.
"Leave her to me. I know how to deal with her. The women in the clan take after me, after all."
She smirked and mumbled under her breath.
"After I tell her Miko and everyone in the clan will die if he doesn't accept my help, she won't be able to protest."
"…If you say so."
Momo didn't hear what Tiamat said. Tia nodded and looked around at everyone else that was present.
"So there you have it. I acknowledge Gamiko Dragna the Third as my Proxy. He and I are one, got it?"
"As Your Grace wills it!"
They all knelt in response to Tia's declaration.
"Good."
Tia grinned.
"I'll be staying here for a while, prepare accommodations for me. Oh, somewhere with plenty of alcohol."
"Yes!"
The clan members scattered and went to prepare everything for Tia, but more importantly spread the news.
Miko was chosen to be Tiamat's Proxy!
Tia, of course, knew they would spread the news, but didn't seem to care.
Less than an hour later, Tia was in one of the most luxurious rooms in the entire Imperial Palace, which had thousands of rooms and stretched for several hundred miles if you included the yard.
"Not bad."
She playfully jumped onto the bed.
"Oh! They have Bacchus's wine!"
She noticed a golden bottle near her bed. She got up and picked it up.
"This must have been expensive for mortals."
She looked eager to open the bottle.
"Um…."
Momo, who was sitting in a corner of the room spoke up.
"That's from Gramps collection. He apparently won it from a bet with Bacchus' former Proxy."
"Is that so? I bet he'll be pissed when he finds out I drank it."
"No, I think he would feel honored."
"Child, I'm his grandmother. I know how he is, there's no use lying."
Momo pondered for a bit before speaking again.
"He'll probably try to fight you."
"I think you're right."
Tia laughed and proceeded to open the bottle.
"I remember when I took an apple from him when he was a boy. This was before the Peace Treaty and I was still living in this realm. The little shit bit my finger and refused to let go until I returned his apple."
She spoke with a nostalgic tone despite the way she describe the incident.
"My eldest son, his father, got mad when he found out and threw him in a dungeon, but he escaped an hour later."
"Gramps seemed quite wild back then."
"He still is."
"I guess so….By the way, are you really fine with me keeping you company?"
"Why not? I like you. You're one of the few I've considered making my Proxy, but chose not to."
"Really? Why?"
"Feeling? I don't know. Just didn't feel right, I guess. You also had a lot of emotional baggage back then."
A dry laugh escaped Momo's mouth.
"But wouldn't you rather someone with more authority like an elder though?"
"Don't worry, no one will try to harm you out of jealousy. If they even attempt to, forget your grandfather, your uncles would have their heads."
Tia took a whiff of the wine and her face lit up.
"Besides, all of my grandchildren are out and Miko is thinking by himself. That leaves you."
"All the Branch Leaders are at the annual meeting aiming to improve the empire."
"They're just messing around, trust me."
She gently shook the bottle and a heavenly fragrance covered the room. It was so good it made Momo's mouth felt dry as if she hadn't drank anything in years.
"If I recall correctly, you're quite the drinker."
Tia made two golden cups appear in her hands.
"Do you want some?"
"I-I-I don't know…"
Momo answered while literally wiping the drool from her mouth.
"Well, suit yourself."
Tia was about to put away one of the cups.
"Wait, wait, wait! I want it! Please let me drink it!"
But Momo quickly stopped her. Tia smirked.
"You should've been honest from the start."
She poured out the wine into the two cups and gave one to Momo. When Momo saw the golden liquid in her cup, her body trembled. She slowly placed the cup at her lips and took a sip.
"?!"
Her eyes widened. She started gulping it down until there was no more in the cup. She slowly moved the cup from her mouth.
"How was it?"
Tia saw tears flowing down Momo's cheeks.
"I could die now and have no regrets. My life is complete."
Momo had a tranquil look in her eyes. She resembled a Buddha that had reached nirvana.
"Don't go into the samsara cycle just yet. We still have a lot more drink."
Tia poured more into Momo's cup. Momo's eyes started to water as she looked at the heavenly liquid again. She suddenly got on her knees and prostrated before Tia.
"Holy Mother, Tiamat! Thank you for blessing me with something so heavenly! I promise to worship you forever!"
"Hahaha! No thanks. Just drinking with me is enough."
Momo stood up and the two started drinking and sharing stories.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone