FOR THE first time in Neoma's third life, she felt small.

The Moonglow coming out of the black jaguar was no joke. It seemed to be greater than her Papa Boss's Moonglow.

And the Moon Priest's divine power is stronger than the former saint, too.

"Come down, loser,

" the Moon Priest (in the form of a black jaguar) said to the Sun Priestess arrogantly.

"I don't enjoy looking up at a snot-filled crybaby like you.

"

The Sun Priestess, in the form of a glowing peacock, laughed.

"What do I do?

" she asked sarcastically while obviously looking down at the Moon Priest.

"I enjoy looking down ON a lunatic like you.

"

"Then I'll just have to make you come down,

" the black jaguar said, then he roared.

It was the most piercing roar that Neoma had ever heard in her whole life.

And she wasn't the only one who felt that way– even the nature seemed to be affected by the black jaguar's growl.

An earthquake occurred, and the ripples suddenly grew big enough to become a tsunami. She was about to create a Dome to protect her and Trevor because she was sure the waves would wash them away. But much to her surprise, the giant waves suddenly stopped and remained suspended in the air.

She had a feeling the Moon Priest stopped it.

Crazy. That dude is crazy strong.

She further realized that she was correct when the black jaguar roared again.

This time, the beautiful peacock dropped to the ground, and the spot it hit turned into a crater in an instant.

Damn.

Now that the peacock fell from the sky, it also lost its blinding glow.

The sky had turned dark once again, and the moon reappeared while shining brighter than before.

Ah, the Moon Priest won.

"You lunatic haven't changed at all,

" the Sun Priestess, still in the form of a peacock, said as she stood up.

"Did you wake up when Lord Yule entered a deep slumber?

"

"I woke up because I heard you started a stupid game without me,

" the Moon Priest said, then he stood up in front of the peacock while looking down at the latter. Ah, yes. The black jaguar was at least thrice the size of an adult jaguar.

"Now this is how our eye levels should meet.

"

"Hah!

" the Sun Priestess let out a sigh of disbelief.

"Lord Yule is a modest being. I wonder how his children became arrogant.

"

"You just haven't seen our lord during his youth,

" the black jaguar said, then he put one paw on top of the peacock's head.

"Hey, loser. Don't start a game without me. Let's play again.

"

The peacock scoffed.

"We're not children anymore, you lunatic.

"

"Are you afraid of losing to me again?

"

"You can't provoke me,

" the Sun Priestess said haughtily.

"I'm no longer a child. Moreover, I don't remember our childhood memories anymore.

"

"Is that so?

"

"Yes.

"

"Then I guess our record would remain in my favor: 10, 017 wins for me and 9,993 losses for you.

"

"I won 10, 003 times, you damned cheater!

"

The black jaguar.

"Ah, so you remember.

"

"Get your paw off of my head!

"

"`Kay,

" the Moon Priest said, then he did as he was told.

"Now that you remember our record, let's play a game.

"

"What kind of game?

"

"It seems like you're trying to protect that stupid block of ice from Lord Yule's descendant.

"

Neoma's ears perked up. Oh, they're finally talking about me.

"The little de Moonasterio here is being arrogant to think she could melt Delwyn's ice on her own,

" the Sun Priestess said.

"I heard from the Nature itself that the First Star received a Fire Dragon as her Soul Beast.

"

"Her?

"

Neoma froze when she realized the pronoun that the Sun Priestess used when referring to her. She knows I'm a girl!

"Even if her Soul Beast is here, it's useless if it can't use Fire Breath,

" the Sun Priestess continued in a haughty voice.

"If I'm not mistaken, the little de Moonasterio here is only nine years old. Since her Soul Beast's growth depends on the age of her physical body, then it will take nine more years before her dragon becomes an adult.

"

Neoma's eyes opened wide. Nine years?! Then does it mean my poor Mama Boss has to spend nine more years trapped in a block of ice under the Black Ocean?!

Should she just find another Fire Dragon to save her mother?

"Unfortunately for the little de Moonasterio, her Soul Beast is the only Fire Dragon left in the world.

"

Neoma gasped in disbelief. Tteokbokki is the only one who can save Mama Boss?

She almost lost hope when the Moon Priest spoke.

"Three years.

"

"Three years?

" the Sun Priestess asked the Moon Priest.

"What do you mean by that?

"

"I will raise Ne-Ne's Soul Beast in three years' time.

"

Neoma was surprised to hear the Moon Priest use the pet name that Yule came up for her. Lord Yule probably talked about me with the Moon Priest.

"If I succeed in raising Ne-Ne's Soul Beast into an adult dragon who could use Fire Breath, then I win,

" the Moon Priest said playfully.

"But if I fail, I lose. And if you win this time, I will never ask you to play a game with me again.

"

"Are you for real?

" the Sun Priestess scoffed.

"I haven't heard of a Soul Beast growing into an adult form while their host is still a child.

"

"Yes, it's unprecedented,

" the black jaguar admitted.

"This is also the first time I'm using this kind of method.

"

"Then why do you sound so confident if the method you'll use is only experimental?

"

The Moon Priest scoffed.

"Have you seen me fail at something I do for the first time?

"

"I freaking hate you, lunatic.

"

"We both know it's a lie,

" the black jaguar said casually before smoothly changing the topic.

"So, will you play with me?

"

"I will accept it if you tell me the method you'll use first.

"

"That's cheating, but since it's you, I'll tell you,

" the Moon Priestess said, then he laughed softly before he spoke again.

"It's the same cheap trick that you and your precious Yoan have used to screw me up in the past.

"

The peacock took a step backward as if she was startled.

Neoma, on the other hand, felt her heart thump against her chest loud and fast, as if she was palpitating– all because of the name that the Moon Priest mentioned earlier. 'Yoan?' Why does it sound familiar?

"How did you know that, you lunatic?

"

"Is there anything I don't know about a loser like you?

"

"Don't you dare touch my Yoan–

"

"I won't, if you play with me,

" the Moon Priest said while snickering.

"Who knows what I'll do if I get bored while I'm here?

"

"Fine, let's play your stupid game,

" the Sun Priestess said, then her peacock form turned translucent. Why did it look like the Sun Priestess while running away from the Moon Priest?

"Little de Moonasterio.

"

Neoma glared at the Sun Priestess.

"What?

"

"See you after three years,

" the Sun Priestess said haughtily.

"The next time we meet, I won't be in this form.

"

"And when that time comes, I won't be this weak,

" Neoma retorted.

"I will pay you back for what I received tonight.

"

The Sun Priestess smirked.

"Little bitch.

"

"Old hag,

" she snapped back.

After a short exchange of insults, the Sun Priestess finally disappeared.

"Put her down,

" the Moon Priest, who was now facing them after the Sun Priestess disappeared, said to Trevor.

"I need to heal her. A

"sunburn

" from the loser isn't a joke.

"

She couldn't believe it.

Did he just call the attack that almost roasted me a mere

"sunburn?

"

Trevor gently put her down without questions asked. It was rare for the demon boy to be this quiet and obedient. He must have felt the pressure from the Moon Priest's overflowing divine power as well.

Anyway…

Her thoughts got cut off when she stood in front of the black jaguar.

It was taller than her!

"You shouldn't have picked a fight with the crybaby loser,

" the Moon Priest scolded him. Then, he closed his eyes and gently put his forehead on her forehead.

"If we compare the three of us with animals, then the loser and I would be whales while you would be nothing but a shrimp– a shrimp that would get crushed when the whales fight.

"

Neoma wanted to retort but as soon as she felt the cool aura that hugged her body, she felt sleepy right away.

Yeah, I'm nothing but a shrimp.

***

MY DAUGHTER picked up another weirdo.

Nikolai stared blankly at the face of the naked man in front of him.

He just suddenly appeared in my office and stopped the time here.

Because of that, Geoffrey Kinsley, Dion Skelton, and Jeanne Audley were all frozen as if time had stopped for them. Only he could move and talk.

I received the report from Trevor that they returned with another person, but I didn't expect to have an esteemed guest.

Silver hair, blue jeweled eyes that shine like diamonds, pale skin. The man looked like Yule's younger brother. Moreover, the divine power leaking out of the individual was more powerful and holier than the saint's.

Thus, he could only think of one identity that this vulgar man could possess.

I've met him when I called my Soul Beasts by their real names for the first time.

"The Moon Priest,

" Nikolai said bluntly.

"Why did you return with my daughter?

"

"First of all, I have a name,

" the Moon Priest said lazily while yawning.

"Call me 'Manu.'

"

"Alright, Manu.

"

"Uh, don't you think you should add a title before my name?

"

He just stared at him blankly.

"I call Yule by his first name only.

"

"I see, Lord Yule's blood is indeed flowing in your veins,

" he said while shaking his head.

"Did you know your daughter picked up a fight with the Sun Priestess?

"

Ah, he knew Neoma was a girl.

"Did my daughter win?

"

"Of course, she didn't,

" the Moon Priest snarled, then he put a hand on his hip.

"Your daughter is as weak as a baby compared to the Sun Priestess.

"

He frowned, but he couldn't refute that. After all, he knew that the Sun Priestess was one of the strongest beings in the East Continent. But that didn't mean Neoma would stay inferior to the Sun Priestess forever.

"Why are you here?

" he asked, changing the subject.

"Why do you think I'm here?

" Manu asked lazily. Then he snapped his fingers. After that, a white robe with the crest of Yule hugged his body. Thank goodness this man finally covered himself.

"Nikolai de Moonasterio, have you forgotten my other title aside from being the Moon Priest?

"

"Ah,

" Nikolai said when he realized why the Moon Priest was here.

"I almost forgot that you're the 'King of the Soul Beasts.'

"

***

EXTRA: Interview with Manu, the Moon Priest.

Manu: sola_cola, did you forget about my character?

sola_cola: *shaking, vomitting, sobbing* I d-didn't forget you… how could I???

Manu: So, why did you introduce me early, then never mention me again? Is my existence a joke to you???

sola_cola: *avoids his gaze* You weren't needed in the story until now.

Manu: You're lying!

sola_cola: …

Manu: You skipped a wholea$$ mini arc where I was supposed to be one of the main characters!!! Why did you skip it???

sola_cola: B-Because your mini arc has nothing to do with the main story! I don't want the readers to think I'm dragging the plot!

Manu: *glares at me* My story with Dominic Zavaroni and Nichole de Moonasterio is pivotal! You should still include it, so the readers would understand how certain individuals get chosen to be

"children

" of the main gods! Stop making excuses! You just don't want to write an arc without Neoma! Forget about her– the world doesn't revolve around her!

sola_cola: NEOMA IS THE MAIN CHARACTER, SO THIS WORLD NATURALLY REVOLVES AROUND HER!

Manu: I DON'T CARE– JUST WRITE MY FUCKING STORY!

sola_cola: *sobs violently*

***

Hi. You may now send GIFTs to our Neoma. Thank you~

***

Please ADD my story to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>