Anaxa's steps did not falter at all, as if Lygus had only asked a common question about the weather.
His gaze swept past the thin mist swirling at the edge of the cloud-covered cliff, its edges tinged with gold by the morning light, and then fell upon the hazy outline of the Dawncloud Cliff in the distance.
"" Eternity "?"
Anaxa repeated the word, a mocking smile curving her lips, a smile that was cold and devoid of any reverence for the gods.
"A cage that is both the grandest and the most ' Nihility '."
Cerces's consciousness flickered slightly, seemingly finding a hint of interest in the mortal's straightforward assessment of " Eternity."
Lygus —or rather, Ye Yan, disguised as Intellitron —maintained a perfect listening posture, his simulated gaze focused and profound.
"You ask me how I view ' Eternity '?" Anaxa's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the cool morning air, carrying a chilling insight into the essence of things.
"It is not the opposite of 'death,' Lycurgus; they are two ends of the same chain."
"Or rather... ' Eternity ' is merely another form of 'death' that has been infinitely stretched."
At that Anaxa stopped and turned to face Lygus, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if trying to pierce through the intricate metal shell and see its inner essence.
"Think of the Kephale. Its 'fall' was a death process, so long that mortals mistake it for some kind of static state."
"But no matter how long the process, it will eventually come to an end."
"The so-called ' Eternity,' if it exists, is nothing more than an indefinite extension of the process of 'death,' with no end in sight."
"I refer to the above situations collectively as... Eternal Death."
Cerces looked at him, " Eternal Death Eternal Death, eternal death?"
Anaxa, and continued speaking:
"No change, no end, only endless, frozen 'dying'."
His tone carried an almost cruel clarity. "What is the meaning of such an existence?"
"Stars will die out, civilizations will cycle, and even the universe itself may face heat death or collapse."
"The pursuit of absolute ' Eternity '? That's nothing more than life's fear of its own brevity and fragility, a cowardly fantasy that refuses to acknowledge the ultimate question of 'death'."
"The answer is obvious: it's nothing more than a stubborn rock trying to go against the current, before it's finally washed away."
At that Anaxa slightly raised her chin, carrying a natural skepticism towards the unknown and authority:
"I don't believe in God, and I don't respect God at all. Because if gods really exist, they are nothing more than beings that are more powerful and more ancient, whose 'death' process is stretched to an unimaginable length."
"They may be able to control fate, to bestow blessings or Calamity, but can they escape the most fundamental laws of this world?" Anaxa countered.
Can they prove that they are not in an incredibly long process of 'fall'?
A deity named " Eternity "?
At that Anaxa chuckled softly, a laugh filled with doubt about its very nature. "Perhaps He Himself is the most tragic embodiment of this state of ' Eternal Death '."
call--
A sudden gust of cold wind blew through the Garden of Life, whipping up Anaxa's robes. The warm milk tea in his hand was now steaming in the dim light.
Like the brief and vibrant lives of ordinary people, they seem so insignificant, yet so real and heartwarming, under the grand themes of " Eternity " and "death."
He looked away from the briefly silent Lygus, turned and continued walking towards the summit of Cloud Cliff, his words echoing in the wind:
"For me, the very nature of finite life, its brevity, and its certainty of death, imbues every breath, every thought, and every struggle with irreplaceable value."
"Embracing this finite journey and facing the inevitable end is far more real and courageous than indulging in the illusion of ' Eternity.'"
If there truly is a god who governs " Eternity," then His very existence is perhaps the greatest irony of the "meaning of existence."
Upon hearing this, Cerces let out a long, soft sigh that only Anaxa could perceive, a sigh that seemed to be both a lament and an approval.
As for Ye Yan, who was playing the role of ' Lygus ', there seemed to be a fleeting glimpse of starlight and death in the depths of his non-existent eyes, before returning to a profound calm.
He followed in silence, and no one knew what kind of turmoil was brewing in the heart of this Aeon who held the power of " Eternity " at that moment.
"Ah... Your insights into ' Eternity ' are so unique; no wonder Goldweaver calls you a ' Grand Performer '."
"Let's continue our previous topic. Both scholars and priests have made pronouncements regarding the fall of Kephale."
At that Anaxa crossed her arms and said, "Perhaps the gods are just too arrogant, believing they are not qualified to communicate."
What do you mean?
" Cerces, a comrade of the Father in mythology, now resides in my mind. If I were to ask him a question, Kephale would surely have no reason to refuse."
"Oh..." Cerces uttered a sound that was difficult to decipher.
"That makes sense. But what if the revered god Worldbearing still refuses?"
Anaxa scoffed, "Ha~ that just proves that the myths fabricated by the Amphoreus are less than a joke."
"Then why not give it a try? I would love to see your theory come to fruition and see what kind of change it will bring to this endangered world."
"Because you are absolutely right about one thing: if Titan is already finished, it has no way of responding—"
Lygus's words had completely dissipated in the crisp air of the Garden of Life, the sky above, which had been dotted with sparse morning stars, was suddenly swallowed by an unimaginably huge shadow.
It wasn't that dark clouds were gathering; the gentle breeze flowing through the Garden of Life froze instantly.
All sounds—birdsong, insect chirping, rustling leaves—seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, vanishing without a trace, leaving only a vacuum-like silence.
At that Anaxa raised her head, her pupils suddenly contracting.
The stone hand of the " Worldbearing " Kephale is slowly descending from the high sky. Its surface is covered with deep grooves and flows with a dim yet magnificent golden light.
Its sheer size was so immense that it blotted out the sun; the mere shadow cast by its movement enveloped a vast area of the entire city-state of Okhema.
An oppressive feeling swept over them, and the exotic flowers and plants in the garden bowed down under the invisible pressure. Even Cerces's invisible divine sense began to fluctuate.
The giant hand's target was crystal clear: the Garden of Life where Anaxa was located.
Amidst this terrifying scene that made the world lose its color, Lygus's intricately crafted mechanical body remained completely still.
He simply turned slightly to the side, facing that Anaxa, and with the utmost elegance, bowed and made a gesture of 'please'.
"Your Excellency, please."