Chương 105: 102nd Adversary: Intermission
Renacido.
Momo was standing on top of a tall tree and was looking towards the direction of Jara Jungle. From there, she could see humans and beasts working together to construct what seemed like a highway.
"Oh, so this is the famous highway I heard about?"
She turned her head. Her cousin Aeon was sitting on a Fenghuang and was looking at the construction taking place.
"Building a highway that connects the rest of Renacido to the den of beasts, huh? The capital was in an uproar when news of it first broke."
"…..I thought I told you to not use Huan as your private vehicle."
"You do it all the time. Why can't I borrow her from time to time?"
"Huan, drop him."
Huan twisted its body and caused Aeon to fall off its back. Aeon calmly grabbed a tree branch and leaped back to the top of the tree and stood next to Momo.
"You seem angry. If you want to talk, your cousin is all ears."
"I think telling the object of my anger why I'm angry will only make me angrier."
Momo sighed and took a deep breath.
"You were the one who stopped me from inferring with Miko and Luka's battle weren't you?"
"Why are you asking such a roundabout question? You really want to know if I'm the one behind the whole Flameheart fiasco' right?"
"Well, are you?"
"I am."
Momo held her head.
"At least tell me the reason."
"I was asked to by gramps. He and the others had some important issues to deal with that required their utmost attention. Having the three clans at each other's throat was something that would hinder them from properly preparing."
"So he asked you to solve the problem and you used Miko to do so?"
Aeon nodded.
"It wasn't that hard too. All I had to do was stake out the Flameheart Residence and figure out who was at the head of those who wanted a war and approached them. I then gave them the idea that Luka could kill Miko using a Proxy Duel as a front. I told them what to say and do to convince her and the preparations they needed to take to stop others from intervening. I even sent some small fries to give Miko a heads up that he was being targeted, so he could prepare himself before the Flamehearts actually made their move."
"You did all that and you said it wasn't hard?"
"Just another day for me, really."
Aeon said with a shrug.
"And you ask why you're scorned…."
"Hey, I deserve some praise here. Because of this, we were able to confirm Joesph Flameheart being alive and was able to drag him into the open and have him keep everything in check."
"Ah, that reminds me. I understand Luka, but how did you know that you could bait him out using Miko?"
"Oh, that? My father told me."
"Uncle Rihan?"
Aeon nodded.
"It was back when Miko was only a toddler. He said Miko's birth had changed the very core of this world and that Joesph had something to do with it. I never met Joesph even through my Mamushi activities, so I was starting doubt his words. After all, my father is quite a liar. If he spoke seven sentences 5 of those contained some lie."
"What changed your mind? You wouldn't have mentioned the fact that Joesph might still be alive to me way back then if you didn't believe his words."
Momo's was referring to back when Miko's trial was coming up and the tensions between the three clans were high.
"Darwin Flameheart is a monster, Jeffery is a monster, and let's not forget our aunt by marriage. The Flameheart clan is crawling with monsters. And then there's that legend. If that man is still alive and we go to war with the Flamehearts, there's no surviving this. Gramps, Krow, all the branch leaders, and him. Both sides will be eliminated."
"Those were the words that you said. You must've been certain Joesph was alive when everyone else thought he died in the war back then. What made you trust your father's words?"
Momo asked. Aeon smiled.
"Before I answer your question, I must say I now understand why many consider my father the most dangerous person in the Dragna clan, despite Nero and Krow being alive."
He paused as if he was deeply impressed.
"Who else could've predicted Miko becoming Tiamat's Proxy almost 16 years prior?"
"?!"
Momo's body shook after hearing what Aeon said.
"Uncle Rihan predicted such a thing?!"
"Amazing isn't it? This was when Miko couldn't even walk, yet he was able to see the potential in him. It makes me wonder if he knows things about Miko that only Joesph and Tiamat would? As for how, it's anyone's guess."
Aeon laughed.
"Having a father like that makes me sick to my stomach! He really is the Jester dancing in the Devil's Court! Hahaha!"
"Aeon…."
Momo watched her cousin laugh with a concern look in her eyes.
(Your hatred and admiration towards your father scares me sometimes.)
"But I have to give it to Miko though. He surpassed my expectations."
Aeon grinned.
"Who would've thought he would turn the Flamehearts from his enemies to his allies with one move? He's scary in his own right."
Renacido, Miko's base.
Alec was operating a giant computer with a serious expression on his face. On the monitor was a human model with a great amount of information around it. Whenever he clicked on a body part, information on that body part would flood the screen.
"How is it?"
Kirika walked up to him with Gizmo at her side.
"Is the machine working properly?"
Gizmo asked.
"There's nothing wrong with your invention, it's just this might be more complicated than I thought."
Alec clicked an eye icon and the monitor showed Miko floating inside a tank filled with strange liquids. Multiple wires and cords were attached to him. This was a live stream.
"His body is pretty much healed but what concerns me is how it healed. His muscles and joints have become far more durable, his bones have hardened as well, but the biggest change is in his DNA. His genes have mutated again but this time there isn't an ounce of human DNA left."
He turned and looked at the other two.
"This means that Miko is 0% human at this point."
"….It's like he experienced Demonization."
Kirika said.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Here's Miko's current genetic map."
Alec clicked Miko's body and a chart popped up in front of them.
"25% Demon, 30% God, 35% Dragon, 10% Unknown."
"10% Unknown?"
Alec nodded.
"There's a characteristic that doesn't belong to any of the four races. An undiscovered or maybe even forgotten gene."
"Then this is causing the mutation?"
Alec nodded with a serious.
"Is it that grave that you are bothered by it?"
Alec nodded.
"Yeah….How should I dissect him?"
"Huh?....Dissect?"
"Yeah, should I use a scalpel and test his regenerative abilities or should I analyze his blood?"
"You can't do either. This is Miko we're talking about here. Our family."
"Ah."
"…..Don't tell me why you were in serious mode because you were having trouble deciding how to dissect Miko?"
"Cut me some slack. This is possibly the gateway to some great scientific break through. It's natural I would forget Miko was my relative in my thirst for knowledge."
"No, that's just you."
"Well, there goes my plans for the evening."
"I'm serious, you're this close to being a serial killer."
"More importantly, there's the question of whether we should try to prevent further mutation or watch and see what happens?"
"I'll answer that."
Tia appeared behind the three which caught them off guard.
"Which do you wish for, Your Grace?"
Kirika asked.
"Let the mutation continue. This is Miko's wish. He believes there's some benefit from the mutation and wants to gamble on it."
Tia smiled.
"He's quite desperate to win this war and is willing to use everything he can."
"Desperate huh? What about you? Are you desperate as well?"
Alec asked. Tia didn't answer and kept smiling.
"Forgive him, Your Grace. He was born with zero tact."
"It's alright, I don't mind."
Later that day, Miko was stretching in the base.
"I can finally leave that wheelchair and get down to business."
He turned to Layla who was keeping him company.
"Thanks For always taking the reins when I'm in a bind. Renacido probably would've collapsed without you."
"That's some praise, but I'll take it."
Layla said with a laugh.
"Say Layla, if there's anything you want to do you're free do it. There's no reason for you to be bound to me because of a promise to Darius."
"Oh, my. Are you firing me?"
Layla put her hand on her mouth and asked with a sad expression.
"Stop joking around. I'm serious. It feels like I'm tying you down. You're a beautiful and talent woman. There's no limit to what you can achieve. I don't want to be the one to hold you back from living your life."
"I might offend you with what I'm about to say, so I'm warning you first."
Layla cleared her throat.
"Are you stupid?"
She placed her hand on her hip and had a frown on her face as she looked at Miko angrily.
"Hold me back from living my life? If it weren't for you, I would've taken my life after Darius died. You literally gave me a reason to live."
"….Is it because I've merged with Darius?"
"I won't lie, that was it at first. When we just started I was clinging to you hoping that you would become the man I lost."
"And now? Is it different now?"
Layla nodded.
"As we continued to work together I honestly grew to admire you. I see that you're trying your best to change and trying to make everyone you care about happy. You're earnestly trying to live enough for you and Darius."
Layla smiled.
"How can I not admire someone like that?"
"Hahaha…"
Miko laughed with an embarrassed look on his face.
"It's the first I've been compliment so honestly. So I don't know how to react."
Miko suddenly froze.
"Wait, you're not in love with me right?"
"Oh, god no."
"Oi, what's with that reaction?"
"No offense, but you're not my type. I admire you but that's it. I only love Darius."
"I see."
Miko sighed.
"What a relief."
"Relief?"
Layla's eyes started twitching.
"Are you saying that you wouldn't want me to be in love with you?"
"Double standard much?"
Miko said with a laugh.
"To be honest, I treasure you dearly but I don't know if this is my own emotions or Darius'. So if you said you were in love with me, I wouldn't know how to handle it."
"Oh, I can accept that."
The two looked at each other and started laughing.
"The two of us haven't really talked like this before have we?"
Layla asked.
"Well, with Darius being a part of me it felt like we knew each other for an eternity I guess."
Miko sat down on the ground with his legs crossed.
"I have Darius' memories but I guess I should interact with you more since we're partners and all."
"I would love that."
Layla smiled and sat on the ground as well.
"Layla, my goal is to make everyone I care about happy. That includes you, so if there's anything you would want me to do for you then don't be afraid to ask."
He beat his chest.
"I'll gladly destroy or create anything for you."
"That's quite the statement."
Layla started to think.
"Then tell me more about yourself. I'm sure you already know everything about me, down to my sexual preferences through Darius's memories, so I think it's fair I get to know more about you."
"You have a great body by the way."
Miko said with a thumbs up.
"Shut up and get to talking."
Miko laughed and then began to chat with Layla about all kind of stuff.
A few days later, Miko had gathered everyone at the base.
"I called you all here for an announcement."
He looked around the room.
"With the construction of a highway that connects Jara with the rest of Renacido underway, I think it's time we properly talk about the future."
He pointed at himself.
"I've stated this many times but my goal is to create a paradise for monsters and outcasts, but that is only one of my goals. I wish to create a world where everyone I care about is happy. I am no messiah or a savior. I won't hesitate to sacrifice countless strangers for all of your sakes, that's the type of person I am. I'm quite selfish and stubborn, yet you all have chosen to side with me. As such I think it's fair that I inform you of what awaits in the future."
He smiled.
"Hell. You're all likely to experience hell in the future."
Everyone was surprised, Miko continued.
"The reason is because I've joined that kind of battle. A cruel and unforgiving war with no winners or end in sight. And to make it worse, I've officially picked a fight with all parties when I joined this war. It won't be long before people start aiming for my head. The higher we climb the more powerful our enemies will be."
He paused and looked at everyone's expressions. No one seemed to be cowering or worried. They all looked at him with bright eyes. This caused his smile to brightened.
"But don't worry. There might be hell surrounding us but we won't be the ones suffering, I promise this. Even if I must break my body and shatter my soul, I will never allow you to suffer."
"And if something happens that you couldn't prevent?"
Momo asked. This was something she was very curious about. Just how would the current Miko react to losing someone? Miko said it himself, they'll see hell in the future so it would be impossible for him not to lose anyone. She wanted to see if Miko realized this.
"....."
Miko became quiet for a long time. After a while, he spoke. There wasn't any sign of emotion on his face as he spoke.
"I honestly don't know what I would do. I'm sure no one really knows how they'll handle losing someone and I'm the same….But."
"But?"
"To be honest, I would probably snap. I would curse everything and rip open the underworld and bring you back to the world of the living."
"...…"
Everyone became silent. They knew Miko was serious.
"Anyway, let's switch the topic. Because we'll be standing on the grand stage pretty soon, I believe it's time for us to properly organize ourselves. As such, I'm here to issue out titles and roles to everyone."
Miko touched his chest.
"First of all, I'll be taking the official role of Don King. Layla will be my Advisor and next in line should something happen to me."
He looked at the trio.
"Hina, Ace, and Sora are all Dukes. In addition, Ace and Sora are the head of my personal task force in charge of carrying out missions important to Renacido alongside Jason. Hina, on the other hand, is my personal assistant. Of course, you'll still return to your original careers."
"Sounds like a lot of work."
Sora complained. Miko ignored him and pointed at Jason.
"You're head of the task force but your rank is equal to Ace and Sora, meaning you're a Duke as well."
He pointed at Oden and the former guardians of Jara.
"With Oden as the leader, you're all overseers of all beasts in Renacido as well as my personal guards."
"We're honored."p
Oden and all the beasts bowed. Miko nodded and then looked at everyone else.
"Although you've all helped me greatly, you're not officially a part of Renacido but you're all still very much members as well. As such, I'll grant you royal status in the country. You're all welcome to officially join whenever you want. We'll gladly accept you with open arms."
"We'll think about it."
Miko nodded and smiled.
"Alright, the intermission is over! Let's all return to business, shall we?"
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