"And so began an unprecedented sauna battle!"
The bathhouse sprite appeared at just the right moment. "Their decision was unparalleled; their intense will caused the steam to tremble, and their aura, carrying the steam, soared into the sky, blotting out the sun and making it impossible to see..."
"Since we can't see the live match... and we're just killing time anyway, why don't you listen to a story about the 'King'?"
"Do you remember the legend of ' Georios's Lion Hunt' that an old soldier mentioned? The protagonist of the story... the lion king, was not actually a local tyrant; there was also a sword-faced antelope that could rival him."
Long before the Golden Age, the two beasts were already locked in a fierce battle on the Tretos Plains. The lion saw the oryx as its meal, while the oryx viewed the lion as a high wall of contempt, oppression, and hardship, which it vowed to topple with its horns...
"And so, for tens of thousands of years, the two wild beasts began their struggle and pursuit in the wilderness—"
"But as everyone knows, on the land of Amphoreus, some lives die at dusk, some at dawn, and some—they are destined to die in the midday sun!"
"Finally! The most intense moment of the day has arrived, and a powerful destiny has arrived—"
The footage was broadcast live to the center of the bathhouse, where Phainon and Mydei began their long sauna heat endurance challenge.
In this situation, both Hyacine and Tribbie remained silent.
"They really did... make a complete fool of themselves."
Aglaea couldn't see Amphoreus's future at a glance, and her face showed a rare change in expression.
"This is what happens when someone overestimates themselves and challenges the Kremnosians," Mydei said.
"I mean... your little game has caused quite a few people to suffer as a result."
"... We will send those bathers who were stunned by the murderous aura away."
Phainon, who was lying on the ground, reacted again, still trying to explain his recent defeat, "This... isn't fair..."
"You're dressed... much more lightly than me..."
"... Fully armed and diving into a hot bath, is this some new trend?"
"Don't stare at me like that... He issued the challenge. The word 'escape' doesn't exist in Kremnos's dictionary."
"Alright, shall we end this farce here? Warriors, it's time to get moving."
After recovering, Phainon and Mydei escorted the unconscious bathers away from the scene of the crime...
In this escort contest, Phainon narrowly won with an astonishing 27-25 advantage.
Meanwhile, somewhere unknown to the public, a shocking farce involving milk tea is unfolding...
"Coming to the bathhouse fully armed, only to drink milk tea? Are the Amphoreus infected with a memetic virus?"
A virtual projection of Silver Wolf appeared beside Ye Yan, and the next second, she took a cup of milk tea from Ye Yan's hand.
"Tsk... Amphoreus is hopeless. The Astral Express Crew should hurry to the next station."
"Oh? You're interested in the ' Church of Eternity ' again?"
Silver Wolf stumbled upon hearing this, almost forgetting this point! To reach " Dual-Phase Paradise," one must first pass through the star system where the Church is located.
"I don't want that kind of thing..."
Silver Wolf rubbed her face. There was no way she could ever go to that Church, not even with the Aether Cartridge from Punklorde!
She glanced at Ye Yan, Ye Yan seemed to have never mentioned his hometown... Could this special " Eternity " Emanator have been born in that vicinity?
Ye Yan had another idea. Since the Dual-Phase Paradise and the Church of Eternity were located close to each other, why not have Blake bring the entire Church to join the Dual-Phase Paradise?
Based on the relationship between " Eternity " and " Elation," there's no need for Aha to speak... Well, mainly because Aha is too humiliated; what say does He have in the Dual-Phase Paradise?
Getting into the Dual-Phase Paradise is actually very easy; all you need to do is cast your gaze in that direction, and the Church will have a legitimate reason to do so.
Meanwhile, at the Cloud Stone Heavenly Palace, on the other side of the bathhouse
"Ah... the Journey of Flame-Chase is truly arduous and long," Aglaea remarked.
"... However, thanks to the two of them, the somber atmosphere dissipated."
"Although we just experienced a farce, it's unusual for the Cloud Stone Heavenly Palace to be so quiet. Let's continue with our previous itinerary."
Tribbie looked at Hyacine, " Little Hyacine, are you coming too?"
"It's rare to see such a spacious bathhouse... I was hoping to relax a bit after my surgery, so thank you for Ms. Tribbie's invitation!"
"Then let's go to the biggest bathhouse!"
Nowadays, only a hot bath can relieve their stress. The three of them quickly went to the Chrysos Heirs's exclusive hot bath, changed into bathrobes, and Hyacine first tested the water temperature.
"Hmm~ The water temperature is just right!"
"So, is this what it's like to enjoy the entire bathhouse?"
Hyacine picked a bunch of grapes from the fruit plate, put them in her mouth, and her eyes immediately lit up. "Mmm~ So delicious!"
"But, Ms. Tribbie... aren't you going to soak in the water with me?" she asked.
"'We' won't, after all, we've become little kids."
Tribbie shook her head. Faced with such a comfortable bath, all she could do was sit on the platform and swing her legs.
"Please forgive her. Due to Janus's blessing, she can no longer tolerate the temperature of this pool."
"Hmm..."
Tribbie smiled slightly at Hyacine, "Are you Curiosity about 'us,' Little Hyacine?"
"I am a little Curiosity, but my intuition tells me... maybe it would be better to change the subject?"
"What's there to be nervous about? It's not something that can't be said! Actually, a long, long time ago... we were mature adults just like Aya," Tribbie emphasized deliberately.
"But for various reasons, 'we' took over Janus's divine authority and obtained the power of the ' Passage '... In exchange, we paid the price of a split soul."
Aglaea continued, "Each time the ' World-Splitting Gate ' is opened, the impact of the schism on Tribbie and the others deepens."
"From body to mind, we are regressing step by step towards infancy."
"Actually, 'we' don't know what the end will look like. In short, that's why 'we' have become like children."
After Tribbie finished speaking, Hyacine immediately thought of something:
"Then... didn't you... the enormous ' World-Splitting Gate ' that you opened above Okhema during your battle with Nikador...?"
"There's no way around it; the Journey of Flame-Chase is destined to be anything but smooth sailing."
"Perhaps... there is a way. The core subject of the School of Wisdom Seeds is the soul, addressing its depletion, or replenishing the soul that has already dissipated... As long as we continue our research, we might make new discoveries."
As Hyacine spoke, she encouraged herself, "Yes, we will do our best."
"Your first reaction was actually a negative? No wonder you're a disciple of that Anaxa."
I look forward to your good news, Hyacine.
"Haha~ Now I have another reason to look forward to tomorrow..."