Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2856 - 2857: Leaving The Amaterasu Clan Territory

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After Amaterasu departed, an oppressive silence settled over the scene, thick with lingering awkwardness.

”Well... I suppose I owe you all an apology, and my thanks,” Kireina said softly. ”Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, I never imagined that—”

”Donʼt misunderstand,” Tsukuyomi interrupted, his glare sharp and menacing. ”I acted only because I want you gone from my clan. Leave now, before I remove you myself. And Susanoo, stop this foolishness and return to heaven.” He seized his brotherʼs ear, tugging like a stern parent scolding a wayward child.

”Ouch! What the hell? Oi, onii-sama! Stop that!” Susanoo slapped the hand away. ”Iʼm not a child. Kireina is the one who will help me master the Heart Method. I will become the first god to join the Heart Tribe, no matter what.”

”What? Still chasing such absurd dreams?” Tsukuyomi snapped. ”Only the poorest, weakest beings can grasp that Path. It demands endless suffering and perseverance. None of us qualify.”

”No, you donʼt understand. Iʼm already attaining it,” Susanoo roared. ”I can do this, brother. I need her. Please, let me take her to the heavenly realm.”

”Absolutely not. The Heavenly Realm is forbidden to her, Susanoo,” Tsukuyomi said, fury rising in his voice. ”And you—leave. All of you are permanently banned from our clan and its branches. Especially you, Vampire and Werewolf Princess. Your actions today could shatter the fragile alliance between our clans. Consider the consequences and regret what youʼve done.”

”Eeeh?” Harumi panicked, her voice trembling.

”Thatʼs...” Erika slumped, words failing her.

”Is there truly no way to restore peace between the clans?” Frank asked quietly.

”Only if you possessed the strength of a god capable of defying everyone,” Tsukuyomi laughed coldly. ”But youʼre merely human. Frank, your powers intrigue me, and Iʼve watched you for some time, but after this, do not expect the support I once intended to offer.”

”...I understand. Iʼm sorry,” Frank sighed, his fists clenching tight with frustration. ”In the end, it always comes down to power. Without overwhelming strength, conflicts, suffering, and grudges will never end.”

”Then Iʼm leaving,” Kireina said, turning away. ”That was my plan all along, yet you all insisted on killing me. Who is the real monster here? Still, I appreciate your help, Susanoo.”

”Kireina, wait.” Susanoo stepped forward. ”If I cannot bring you to Heaven, then come to my realm instead. Let us train together.”

”Thatʼs a kind offer,” Kireina smiled faintly. ”Iʼll be very busy, but I accept. Not right now, though. My father must be worried sick. I was dreading the moment he might appear and destroy everything, so I need to hurry before he panics.”

”Your father?” Susanoo blinked. ”Wait... so your father is...?”

”Impossible. Youʼre...” Tsukuyomiʼs eyes widened as he grasped the truth Kireina no longer intended to conceal.

”Wait, what?” Frank looked confused. ”What does that mean?”

”Kireina, youʼre...!”

”No way!”

Erika and Harumi realized it too, shock crossing their faces.

”Iʼm sorry for keeping it from you,” Kireina sighed. ”It wasnʼt something I wanted to reveal. But now that things have reached this point, Iʼll be honest about who I am. Frank, I know you crave strength, and I desire it just as much. Come with me. I will help you become stronger than you ever imagined.”

”Kireina...” Frank walked toward her slowly, nodding with quiet resolve. ”Thank you.”

”W-Wait, Frank! No!” Harumi cried.

”Sheʼs the daughter of the Chaos Gateʼs Boss,” Erika whispered. ”The child of that evil chaos god. Now I understand why they wanted her dead. Itʼs still wrong, but...”

”So everything falls into place,” Matsuo said, stepping forward without fear of the gods nearby. ”I canʼt believe I ever trusted you, Kireina. And Frank, I wonʼt forget this betrayal.”

”M-Matsuo? Weʼre friends, though,” Frank said, sorrow filling his eyes. ”Weʼre pals...”

”Youʼre no friend of mine anymore.” Matsuo turned and walked away without another word.

”M-Matsuo...” Frank murmured, devastated.

Kireina gently patted his shoulder, then glanced at Harumi and Erika. ”It was brief, but I truly enjoyed our time together. I wish things could have been different. I often dreamed of a normal childhood and the adventures we might have shared. I suppose this is enough.”

Anger lingered in their expressions, yet her heartfelt words silenced Harumi and Erika. They said nothing.

”I guess I should go.”

”Yeah...”

The two girls left quickly, vanishing before the others.

Mammon remained a moment longer, meeting Kireinaʼs gaze. ”Iʼll see you later, Kireina. Good luck.”

She nodded silently as he departed, following his sister Harumi.

Before Kireina and Frank could leave, Susanoo appeared in front of her.

”Kireina, give me your hand.”

”Hm?”

She extended it, and Susanoo pressed a glowing, sword-shaped rune into her palm, pulsing with his divine power.

”I grant you my Divine Protection. Though my sisterʼs clan is the largest, there is also a Sword Sect under my guidance,” he explained. ”It lies not in Tokyo, but along the Izumo-Tottori borderlands in the Sanʼin region. Contact me by tapping this rune, and I will bring you there. Many swordsmen train in Kenjutsu there, battling Yokai and other threats. The borderlands draw the most Yokai, especially Oni.”

”I see. Thank you. I want to train, so Iʼll call you soon,” Kireina nodded. ”Then, letʼs go.”

Kireina stepped out, her school uniform reforming through magic as she quietly headed home.

As she walked, bringing Frank along to invite him to her clan, she noticed his deep sadness. He stared at the horizon with sorrowful eyes.

”Itʼs all my fault. Iʼm sorry, Frank.”

”Huh?”

”Do you hate me now? Donʼt hide it. Tell me everything you feel. Iʼll accept it.”

”No, I donʼt hate you,” Frank said gently. ”You were just a victim. Iʼm only worried about Matsuo.”

He offered a small, reassuring smile, recognizing that Kireina had suffered most here.

”Matsuo said those harsh words, but I could sense he still cares deep down,” Kireina sighed. ”He loves you like a brother, yet heʼs torn. He chose his clan over his friends out of fear of being cast out.”

”I see. Then itʼs all right,” Frank smiled faintly, nodding. ”So, Kireina, are you really from the Chaos Gate?”

”Yes. My father is the boss,” Kireina admitted with a sigh. ”Despite how others see him, heʼs a wonderful father I love dearly. Heʼs not a bad person, at least not to me or our family.”

Frank felt surprise surge through him. In the memories of the future, Lord Chaos—the boss of the Chaos Gate—was a vicious, psychotic megalomaniac obsessed with devouring gods and destroying everything.

He had defeated him after an immense battle against multiple enemies, all connected to his own fatherʼs ancient foe. That pursuer had followed him across universes, only to shatter into fragments. One fragment, corrupted by chaotic power, had become the eldritch entity known as Lord Chaos.

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