In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 135 Jeragand, consumed by jealousy
"Boom! Boom!"

One explosion after another rang out atop the sacred mountain, sending shivers down the spines of the land.

Faced with such devastating power, among the ordinary people still standing in the snow, only Enya remained, fleeing in terror.

"Stop fighting! Yela! Miss Jian?! Please stop fighting!"

Enya huddled alone behind the colossus of Yeragand, facing a terrifying battle she couldn't interfere with. All she could do was desperately shake the sacred bell in her hand and loudly plead for help:
"If this continues, it will collapse! The Holy Mountain will really collapse! Shelag will really be destroyed!"

"Oh dear, little Enya, don't worry."

However, even while locked in combat with the mace, Yelana maintained her gentle voice, which, through the sacred bell, clearly reached Enya's ears as she spoke:

“I used my power to reinforce the holy mountain, and now this mountain is definitely the hardest place on this land.”

"Of course, you don't need to worry, little Enya. I have also given you power, so there is basically no one on this land who can hurt you now."

"Now, all you need to do is stay here and hide."

The next second, Yera's gentle tone suddenly shifted, and she spoke in a fierce voice that Enya had never heard before, enunciating each word clearly:

"Once I get rid of this wicked woman who stole my best friend, everything will be fine."

Enya cried out in near collapse, "Something's wrong! If you keep fighting like this, something terrible is about to happen!"

"We're a tourist country, are you planning to drive all the tourists away?!"

However, Enya's cries did nothing to stop the fight between Yeragand and the mace. As the battle intensified, Enya, the saintess, was left speechless with despair.

She never imagined that what should have been a "friendly negotiation" in Yela's words would actually be broken by Yela first.

As an observer, Enya witnessed the entire conversation between Jian and Yera.

At first, the atmosphere was quite harmonious. Yera and Jian exchanged information with each other, such as when they met Qi, how long they spent together, and what they did.

As an observer, Enya also learned a lot of information that she didn't know before.

For example, there's the Originium Arts that allow her to travel through time, and the fact that her brother is actually the Emperor of Letania.

However, just as Enya was listening with rapt attention, Yela couldn't hold back her emotions any longer.

As for the reason, it's because the confident Yela actually discovered that she seemed to lose to Jian in every aspect, whether it was in terms of feelings or in terms of importance to Qi!
When Yela mentioned that she only started paying attention to Chen Qi when he officially embarked on the path of the coup,

After a emotionless "Oh," he replied with a slow, unhurried smile:
"I'm sorry, but I was the first person I met when he was struggling in the slums."

“I accompanied him from the slums, fought alongside him all the way, and witnessed him become an earl, an elector, and finally the most powerful emperor on this land.”

“I’ve been by his side from beginning to end.”

From the moment Jian uttered those words, Enya keenly sensed that a crack seemed to have appeared in Yera's perfect smile.

A rift called "jealousy".

Later, the defiant Yera brought up that she had served as the head maid for three years, accompanying Qi.

Later, he even revealed his divine identity to him and helped him win the war of national defense in a divine way.

Upon hearing this, Jian's smile grew even more contemptuous, and he replied with a light laugh:

"Three years? Sorry, I might have won again."

“I’ve been by his side almost the whole time since I met him in the slums. I’ve been his bodyguard and right-hand man ever since.”

"Although I do not possess the divine power of the goddess, I cannot change the course of the battle on my own."

"But to him, I am the person he trusts the most, without exception. He only entrusts me with many things."

Then, Jian deliberately put on an expression that said, "I just remembered," and, meeting Yela's fake smile, said with a faint smile:
"Oh, right, he also planned to make me empress, but I refused."

"After all, how could an ordinary woman like me, without power or divine authority, possibly assume the position of Empress?"

"All I need to know is that I'm the most important person in his heart. As for the Empress's position... I wouldn't mind giving it to someone who needs it more."

Those who need it more?
Even Enya could tell from this pointed remark that it was a sarcastic remark directed at Yela.

Furthermore, Jian's use of the word "Empress" solidified his position as the "Empress" in front of Yela.

The mace practically revealed to Yela that her place in Qi's heart would never be as high as her own.

This made it even harder for Yela to maintain her smile.

However, before Yela completely collapsed, she mustered up one last strong sense of unwillingness and, in front of her triumphant trump card, revealed her "trump card"!
Nayela believed that this was her ultimate trump card, a sure way to win.

"I... I stopped an assassination attempt against Qi! I was even willing to damage my own body to protect Qi's safety!"

She gritted her teeth, staring intently at the unmoved mace before her. Unconsciously, she had transformed from a serene goddess into a powerless challenger against a god.

"You say Qi cares about you the most, but have you ever been prepared to give your life for Qi?!"

Under Enya's gaze, Yera, who was originally very composed, almost burst into tears as she spoke these words.

However, Yera's response was, after a moment of silence, a completely bland reply.

"It seems that the goddess has been staying in the snow-capped mountains for many years and is not very familiar with the outside world."

"The resolve you spoke of to give your life to save Qi is not something you alone possess."

"And if I don't even have this much awareness, do I have the confidence to stand here and confront you, my goddess?"

As he spoke, Jian looked directly into Yela's trembling eyes and said, word by word:

"Let me tell you, Goddess, Qi and I came from the slums and spent seven years together."

"In these seven years, I have shielded Qi from countless assassination attempts, and I have almost paid the price with my life twice."

"The last time, I almost died in Ursus's demonic trap, and Qi was willing to conquer even the demons to save me!"

"My relationship with him transcends life and death; it is a bond that no external force can shake."

"Even if I am just a mortal, you can't use your divine power to separate us."

"This is what I want to tell you today as I stand here."

Despite being a mortal, standing proudly before a deity like Yela, the mace remained neither humble nor arrogant.

Jian himself didn't harbor much malice towards Yera; at most, he was just resentful that the man he loved had a lover who was a god.

But during their conversation, after learning about everything Yera had done for Qi, she had come to accept Yera in her heart.

The reason she said that was simply to prevent Yera from trying to monopolize Qi, which was impossible for her.

But unexpectedly, Jian's words actually triggered Yela's nerves, which were already on the verge of collapse.

As a god, Yera was actually quite young.

In addition, having spent most of her time either sleeping or interacting with the people of Manju Academy over thousands of years, Yera's mental age is actually far less mature than the magnanimous composure she displays.

As an immortal being, Yera may have regarded the people of Shelag as her own children.

But as a young woman experiencing her first love, Yera was far more naive than most people imagine.

When she saw that the beautiful memories she was so proud of, memories she could cherish for a lifetime, were so vulnerable in the face of the mace.

After thousands of years, his only true friend was about to become this woman's possession.

Driven by intense unease, resentment, and jealousy, Yela erupted!

"boom!!"

Another explosive tremor followed, but Yera's resentful and jealous gaze remained unchanged.

After the snowflakes fell, the image of the unharmed mace, along with her unique, disdainful, mocking voice, rang in Yela's ears once more:

"Goddess, is this what you meant by solving problems without using power?"

"Besides, this isn't your limit, is it? If so, I'll be very disappointed."

"I will not hurt anyone who is very important to Qi."

However, Yela, her eyes red with grievance, gritted her teeth and stared at the mace in front of her, which was mocking her, with jealous eyes, and said hatefully, "But I will definitely not let you get away with this!"

"Qi is my dearest friend! No one is allowed to take him away from me!"

"boom!"

Another explosion rang out beneath Jian's feet, but Jian was always able to anticipate Yera's movements and dodge her attacks with simple evasions.

Clearly, Yera wasn't lying; she didn't use her true power to harm the mace at all.

In Jian's eyes, Yela is now more like a little girl throwing a tantrum after her beloved toy was taken away by someone else.

As for her, she was an adult playing with the child and letting her vent her emotions.

If such a simple method can get this goddess to sit down and talk properly again, then Jian would be happy to play along with her.

Unfortunately, although Jian was willing, there was someone who was so concerned that he didn't want her to be in danger at all.

"A mace?!"

Just as Jian was dodging Yela's attack again, a pair of strong arms pulled her into their embrace.

The next second, a protective shield formed by magic completely blocked Yelana's weakened attack!

"boom!"

With the final tremor, Enya, who had been hiding behind the Jeragund Colossus and nearly buried by the snow, cautiously peeked out after waiting for the next attack.

Has Yela finally calmed down?

With this thought in mind, Enya slowly walked out from behind the giant statue of Yeragund, and what she saw before her made her fully understand why Yerag had chosen to stop.

As snowflakes fell, her brother appeared on the sacred mountain without her noticing. He held the mace tightly to his chest with one hand and made a "no passage" gesture with the other, blocking Yera's attack.

And what about Yela?
She was panting heavily, her eyes red as if she were about to cry, staring blankly at what was, to her, an insult.

"...Jian, are you alright?"

Chen Qi lowered his head slightly and asked the mace in his arms with utmost concern:
"Sorry I'm a little late. Did Yera hurt you?"

“…No, that’s not the case.”

Without warning, Chen Qi pulled her into his arms. Even with Yi Jian's composure, a blush crept across her face.

However, when Jian noticed Yera's aggressive gaze from ahead, she immediately broke free from Chen Qi's embrace to prevent the goddess from being further provoked.

But this time, before Jian could even speak, Chen Qi had already raised a slightly dissatisfied question to Yela.

"Yela, what are you doing?"

"Jian is my lover, why are you attacking her like this?"

"And as the guardian deity of Jeragand, why would you do something that would cause panic among the people? This isn't like the loving Jeragand I know!"

“Pray…I…”

However, faced with Chen Qi's question filled with dissatisfaction, Yela, with red eyes, felt an indescribable bitterness and distress in her heart.

My ugliest side has just been seen by my closest friend.

He must be very disappointed in himself right now, right?

But why couldn't she control her emotions and, out of jealousy and resentment, attacked his lover?

All I wanted was... for my only friend to leave me like this...

A flood of unprecedented emotions surged into Yera's heart at this moment, making her feel extremely depressed and extremely irritable.

Finally, in her frustration, Yella, head bowed, responded to Chen Qi's question for the first time with words brimming with jealousy and defiance:

"Don't think that Jeragand is omnipotent!"

"Eragand can be capricious and throw tantrums too! Why do you all think of Eragand as a loving goddess who can forgive everything?!"

"I can't do it! I can't do it!!"

"I……"

Yera gritted her teeth slightly, her jealous gaze fixed on the mace beside her, her eyes filled with even more bitterness.

In the end, Yela chose to vent all her emotions on Chen Qi, the "culprit."

"It's all your fault! You're the one who made me like this!"

Why did I have to meet you? Why did I have to care about you so much?

"Why would you want me to notice you if you just let me live like I have for thousands of years, knowing nothing?"

"That's your lover, right? Okay! Then you can just revolve around your lover!"

"From now on, never come looking for me again!"

After saying that, Yera, who was holding back her tears, simply waved her hand. Before Chen Qi could stop her, a violent blizzard swept past.

When everyone opened their eyes again from the wind and snow, they discovered that Yera's figure had already disappeared.

The only proof that she had ever been here was those two white flowers blooming from the snow.

"...Qi, did I mess up?"

Gazing in the direction Yela had left, Jian slightly raised his head and looked at Chen Qi's lost and forlorn expression, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"—This isn't your fault, Jian."

However, Chen Qi, who had somewhat anticipated this scene, took a deep breath and shook his head with a wry smile, saying:
"In the end, it's all my fault. I should have come to the holy mountain with you instead of leaving you to face Yera alone."

"Now that's it, Yera really hates me. If she wants to hide, there's no way I'll be able to find her."

"...Besides, Yela also said that she doesn't want me to go to her."

However, just when Chen Qi was at his wit's end, he was suddenly hit on the head with a dull thud.

Chen Qi turned his head and saw that Enya, holding the sacred bell, had been standing behind him for some time.

"Silly brother! When a girl says she doesn't want you to go see her, she means she wants you to go see her!"

Enya suppressed her indescribable expression, feeling utterly disappointed in her brother, and could only guide him step by step on how to pursue the angry girl.

“I have the sacred bell that Yera gave me. The closer you get to Yera, the clearer the sound of this sacred bell will be.”

"With this, you're sure to find Yera in Shelag!"

Before Chen Qi could speak, Enya forcefully shoved the Holy Bell into his hand and, with unwavering resolve, solemnly commanded her brother:
"Alright, Qi Shivaish, in the name of the saint, I bestow upon you a sacred mission."

"Go and retrieve Jeragand!"

"Yeragand is the guardian deity of our Sherag. If we lose her protection, the thousands of Sherag citizens will be plunged into peril."

"Yelagand's discontent arose because of you, so it is up to you to resolve it."

"If you can't do it, you... um..."

Enya paused for a moment, but quickly, she came up with a good way to punish her brother.

"From now on, Encia and I will never call you 'brother' again!"

"I'll even team up with Miss Jian to make sure you're never allowed to sleep in the same room with her again! Do you understand?"

Hearing Enya's punishment, which, though not severe, was still unacceptable to him, Chen Qi, with a bewildered expression, obediently adopted a submissive posture.

"I'll go, can't I just go?"

"Even if it means begging, I will help you get Yera back."

(End of this chapter)