Established Pinnacle: The Enigma

Despite her expression being null, everyone could see the pain in her eyes, steps and heart. It was so much so that she felt suffocated, she could barely walk and she was always dizzy as well, from the pain she felt.

Without her expressions, she closely resembled a living doll. And unlike Joy, who still had ways to show emotions even without manually doing so through expression, she was now completely impassive and dead inside.

"This can't go on anymore, we have to do something." The lizardman Deity King shook his head, his name was Oris, lord of the Dessert Lizardmen of this area.

"True, we have to do something." Mew, another Deity King and lord of the catfolk agreed. They could not bare looking at the young Joyce suffer so much, especially after she was suddenly losing all emotions.

"What can we do?! Even the weakest Ancient Deity could kill tens of you, let alone them, who seem experienced at fighting and quite powerful!!" Rani roared at the two old men, they were her friends and rivals, how could she watch as they throw their lives away?

But...

"It's fine, we were already close to being Ancient Deities ourselves long, long ago, we just had a couple more years to go. But thanks to her, we got higher talents and far greater strength.

"Even right now, I feel like I could fight an Initial Ancient toe to toe. Two years have gone by, I'll just force myself to ascend during the  battle." Mew said without much thought, nor care about his life and safety.

He then moved before Joy and bowed, knelt down on one knee and requested, "Allow me to become the shield of the Empire as I defend you and our people. Please!!"

Oris slapped Mew's shoulder quite hard, and also knelt down, "You are not fit to be a shield, be her blade instead. Allow me to become your shield and protect our people. Please!!!"

" " Please!!!! " "

As if they rehearsed it a long time ago they begged one more time with lowered heads. This was what it meant to be Devout, dying for their goddess, dying without regret, and dying like true warriors!!

Joyce was dumbstruck. She did not know what to do, she was panicking. This was the first time she has been around this much death ever since she was born. And she was never taught how to go through such situations.

She wished her usually composed sisters, Athena, Louise and Joy were here. Cheryl would probably be better at soothing her. And even Mimi could probably solve this situation much better than herself.

She thought she was prepared, but she never knew how painful it was to watch your own child die, one that you painstakingly put in effort to nurture. Your people that you spent five years getting to know, dying right before your eyes.

And most importantly, the scene of your most trusted aides, literally begging you to give them permission to go die. She was experiencing everything right now. And as she went through them, she grew, as right now, she knew.

And as for these people, her most trusted aides, who want to die as well, she wanted to die with them, but she knew it was useless since she cannot truly die. Another form of torture for her young soul.

She could just revive them, but since she was running away, who knew if she would find a corpse to revive when she came back. Or whether their souls would be spared. They were dealing with a Demon and a Devil. Professional soul devourers!!

"No... No. Don't go, Don't leave me, don't leave us, please. I... I beg of you... I don't want... to lose you too..." For the first time ever, for the first time since she came here, Joyce cried. The tears of a True Goddess fell down her eyes on this very day.

Her expression was null, but tears still rolled down her cheeks like a broken dam. She had broken down. Her defenses crumbled. There was nothing else she could do. Her situation was hopeless, and thus she despaired.

She knew that her sister was trying very hard to eat away at her pain by exchanging their feelings, but even then, her grief was too much that it spilled out from the null expression of hers. It spilled out of both of them.

This pained the two old man but they still knelt down and did not dare raise their heads, afraid they would take back their determination to die for her right now.

"I'm sorry." Rani said and gave Joyce and neck chop, putting her out gently. The two old men were shocked, but when they looked up, they saw the old hag in tears as well, with a determined expression.

"GO, JUST FUCKING GO YOU USELESS BUNCH OF TRASH!!!" She roared at them, releasing a powerful sound wave that pushed them back, afraid that she would be the one begging them to stay if they did not go now.

The two took no offense to her actions and words, as they instead bowed once again, took off a necklace and bracelet respectively and gave it to her.

"This is for her, a keep sake. And a form of apology." Mew said before flashing off and transforming into a giant black cat that blocked the way of the likewise giant Devil, the shape of a humanoid monstrosity.

"....."

Oris did not say anything and just flashed away, appearing before the Iron carapaced Ancient Demon King. His body grew three meters tall, along with spikes and having a jaggery back, tail and teeth.

"Stupid... idiots... Make sure to survive, and... return to us." Rani said before leading everyone forward. There were still 300 million Dessert people alive so far. That was way better than a clear zero.

"I'm sorry, for being this weak... my lady. I am really sorry. I really am... Sorry. Sorry. Sorry." She muttered in tears and a beoken tone, to herself while hugging Joy. This was a lesson she will never forget for the rest of her life.

It has been a few nights and Joyce stood at the top of a cliff. She was out for two nights, maybe because she was stressed and tired, but it was still better than being unconscious for a whole week.

Ever since then, she stood alone on one of the cliffs and watched the gigantic humanoid cat and humanoid lump of darkness throw hands at each other for hours on end. Her gaze blank and quite empty.

Even now, she was watching, watching so intently as if she was waiting for something. The other remaining Dessert man looked on with sadness and despair. None knowing what to say to their goddess.

Losing their people was painful, but they could not bare seeing the child who they spent five years taking care of, the powerful Deity that changed their lives and the guardian star of their Empire, so down and depressed.

But they could do nothing about it. Even Rani was missing now, saying that she was scouting the sorounding area. It's been three nights she was gone, but no one was worried about her at the moment.

Who coukd kill her now? Nobody.

Boom~

Bang~

Boom~

Boom~

Bang~

The battle between Mew and the Devil was getting heated up. The giant cat threw a casual punch at the lump of darkness, but it just went through the devil once again, dealing absolutely zero damage.

Bang!!

And in return, Mew recieved a punch on the face, sending him flying towards the large building that used to be the castle of their Empire, at vast speed. Dealing him much intended damage thanks to the impact.

Boom!!

"Hahaha, aren't you a weak little cat? Trying to fight for survival, go on, keep struggling. I won't kill you till you ascend. Even if it means I'll fight for a hundred years, I'm already used to that. So come at me little guy!!!" The lump of darkness said with a high pitched voice of excitement and craziness.

"You crazy bastard!!!" Mew shouted as he stood up, and threw another punch at the lump of darkness, he used his Unique skill alongside it, bringing down heavy pressure with it, enough to drag entire planets down with the punch.

"Hahaha... HAHAHAHA!!!" The lump of darkness only laughed even more hysterically as it ignored the increased gravity, instead, it formed another fist with its darkness and started using him as a punching bag.