[Get up! Get up!]
The " Years " began. On March 7th, she Mimi opened her eyes, just as Mimi flew to her with milk tea in her arms, ready to recite her self-created wake-up call:
"Hey, hey, hey, one, two, three, hey, hey, hey, one, two, three... Oh, you're awake? How are you feeling?"
"Has the trial already begun?"
On March 7th, looking around, the two of them were in the " Holy City of Prophecy," Janusapolis, with the magnificent temple behind them.
"Wow~ This holy land is so beautiful!" March 7th exclaimed. It's a pity that the "trial of Years " didn't load her camera, otherwise she could have taken a few pictures from different angles to remember the moment.
Suddenly, the Titan's whispers, which they had never heard before, reached their ears.
Titan's words were indistinct, each syllable emerging from behind the mist seemingly tipped with frost—frost symbolizing " Remembrance."
"He has chosen you."
The powerful sound pierced through the golden mist, reached the distant, unseen mountain walls, reflected, and then echoed into their ears.
March 7th and Mimi seemed to catch a glimpse of... a baby crying in the echo.
"Wasn't it said that Teacher Ye Yan would be the examiner? Where did he go?" March 7th asked.
Even though it was her first time seeing this " Years " Titan, Mimi felt a strong affinity for it, and the words just came out:
" Oronyx, listen to me—you're tired, aren't you?"
"Throughout the long Years, you have been guarding the fate of Amphoreus. People draw strength from ' Remembrance,' and every ripple of that memory rests on your shoulders."
"You no longer need to bear this alone, Oronyx. From now on, someone will support ' the Years ' for you, and that's why we're here."
"Then... come forward."
A silver-white portal suddenly appeared, and March 7th and Mimi stepped through it.
But to their surprise... they were met with a fierce blow from the 'enemy' as soon as they entered.
Fortunately, with the protection of the " Six-Phased Ice," neither March 7th nor Mimi was injured.
"Wow... are you kidding me?! A sneak attack?!"
Enraged March 7th conjured a weapon, only then recognizing the 'enemy' ahead.
Indeed, walking towards them was none other than the nameless swordsman, the Flame Reaver, who had come with the Black Tide to hunt for the Titan's Core Flame!
No one knows his true identity; he possesses incredible power, and his swordsmanship is nearly flawless.
Madness and obsession intertwined on its blade, destroying both the Grove of Epiphany and the Aedes Elysiae.
Beside March 7th Flame Reaver were a group of creatures whose appearance was indescribable and extremely bizarre.
March 7th didn't know was that the original form of those ugly creatures was the memetic life form of Garden of Recollection.
The reason they became so distorted is that they were formed by encountering " Eternity " and were fused together, with winged serpent rudiments, canine forms, and half-human forms, enough to deceive and confuse.
Their twisted rationality went completely mad in the Black Tide, and their intense self-defense impulses were unconsciously tinged with a layer of fantasy.
"Ugh... what is all this nonsense?!"
In a panic on March 7th, he drew his bow and shot. The " Six-Phased Ice " seemed to have a miraculous effect on those ugly creatures. Once hit, they could no longer move and then dissipated.
"Hey, this 'Trial of Years ' is basically just a combat event for half the day!"
Meanwhile, the Garden of Life
On March 7th, when Mimi and Mimi were participating in the " Years " trial, Castorice invited Xing to this place.
Xing felt inexplicably familiar with the situation. She had originally intended to take the initiative to contact Castorice to help resolve the " Hand of Ashen Gloom " problem, but she ended up being the one in a passive position.
Suddenly, light footsteps came from behind Xing, one step, two steps...
"Please stand still, then slowly turn around..."
Xing wanted to turn her head, but caught a glimpse of purple flashing across her cheek, and then...
A cool sensation penetrated her skin and then seeped into her meridians.
Thump... thump... and my heartbeat slowed down...
Ah, Curiosity feeling.
At this moment, Xing only wanted to close her eyes. Her senses, other than sight, became more acute, and she sensed a purple Ocean...
"... Excuse me."
A faint fragrance of an unnamed flower wafted into Xing's nostrils... The lingering scent was so sweet that she gradually Enigmata the meaning of breathing.
Xing discovers she is still alive—or, to be more precise, her "death" is not complete.
The initial chill was fleeting, replaced by... the sensation of fingertips, and a tremor of fear that ran down her slender arm.
Castorice's trembling fingers gently stroked Xing's cheek, causing a slight tickle.
"..."
Castorice seemed immersed in the process, "Such... vibrant life..."
" Castorice, you are trembling."
"Back in the Grove, I wondered why you weren't affected by my curse. Now it seems it truly is the supernatural ability of an extraterrestrial traveler..."
Castorice withdrew her hand. "My behavior just now was abrupt and rude. If it offended you, I humbly request Your Excellency's forgiveness."
"I was just thinking... if someone's soul really did leave their body, as an 'embalmer,' perhaps I could trace its whereabouts."
"Oh?" Seeing Castorice suddenly bring up this topic, Xing immediately became interested. "Did you discover anything?"
"Sorry, not yet... Perhaps I overestimated my abilities."
"But... Your Excellency, may I try again? This time I'll increase the contact area slightly, and the result might be different..."
Xinghuo nodded quickly. "Is this for real? I'll try a few more times!"
"I have never touched a living person in such a way. I hope you will forgive any impoliteness on my part..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Castorice placed her palm on Xing's cheek again, and this time, her trembling subsided somewhat.
"... ah."
At the same moment, a passage automatically appeared before Xing's eyes:
"At the end of the sea of flowers, the souls of the living will warm your fingertips..."
"After the embrace, comes an ' Eternity ' separation."
bass!
Instantly, Xing's head felt like it was about to explode, and that cold notification sound rang out again:
" The Hand of Ashen Gloom " has been included... Collection failed!
"Did you... find anything?"
Suppressing her doubts, Xing looked at Castorice.
"I... I think I've caught something."
"Huh?" Xing was taken aback. "No, they actually found something inside me?"
"Go find... Thanatos..."
"Just one line of clue? Are you kidding me?"
Xing stood there stunned, unable to help but complain out loud, "Give her more guidance!"
"I apologize, Your Excellency Xing, I was a bit too hasty." Castorice thought the words were directed at her and quickly bowed in apology.
"Ah... no, I wasn't talking about you..."
Upon seeing this, Xing subtly informed Castorice of the synergy between " Eternity " and the various Titan.
"Your target... is also Thanatos?" Castorice, somewhat surprised.
Xing nodded.
"Well... although we lack clues at the moment, I will do my best to find Thanatos and bring back its Core Flame," Castorice assured Xing.
"I... know my words were inadequate. But I hope you will remember this promise."
Xing was even more confused. It couldn't be that serious... She just couldn't understand the connection between " Eternity " and "death".
Hmm... only by experiencing true "death" can one comprehend " Eternity "?