Phainon did not even glance at Cipher, merely stating, "Just like the countless versions of her I knew in the past... cunning, yet naive."
Cipher drew a deep breath and looked at the white-haired young man. "Since you have watched the same scene play out countless times, then tell me..."
"Next... will you carve the [Trickery] Core Flame out of my chest?"
Phainon glanced faintly at Cipher. His eyes were indifferent. "...That depends on your attitude."
"At least so far, in the cycles where you asked that question... the ending was not so cruel."
"Hmph... then thank you very much."
"But I still believe that this time, you will not catch me—" Cipher forced a faint smile. "No one can catch me. I stopped running for [Escape] long ago."
Phainon's tone remained cold. "Whether you believe it or not, I will tell you this: it is the wrong decision."
The atmosphere grew extremely tense. Just as Phainon was about to make a move against Cipher, Anaxa spoke sharply.
"...Silence!" He looked at Cipher. "Leave, Sephalia. Give us some privacy."
Then, beneath Cipher's puzzled gaze, Anaxa calmly addressed Phainon.
"You have gone too far down this path. It is time to discuss another possibility."
"Perhaps the road you walk is not one of salvation at all. Perhaps you are simply dragging this world into a sea of flames."
"For the sake of our former bond as teacher and student, turn back."
"I do not care how many times you have tried, because there is one thing I now understand clearly—"
He slowly drew his weapon, his expression solemn.
"The savior's obsession in your heart has made you no different from the gods you speak of with such cold contempt."
"Those children of mankind you swore to save... in your eyes now,