Fate's Joke
"So, the next step is [time] and [Strife], right?"
Anaxa frowned slightly. During the time that Sera had been away from Amphoreus, he had done a lot of things, including but not limited to: going to Aedes Elysiae to bring Phainon back, investigating the Twelve Titan and the Core Flame based on existing information, probing the rules of the world, and so on.
He was naturally aware of the situation of the Titan Nicardoli, the immortal Titan whose mind had been corrupted by the Black Tide. The Titan who once single-handedly suppressed the Black Tide was now in a rather pitiful state.
The trouble lies here: Strife's immortality prevents them from obtaining the Core Flame. Without resolving its immortality, they will never be able to acquire the Core Flame of Strife.
"Don't worry, they already know Nikador's weakness."
Cyrene smiled and took out the Core Flame of [Years] from somewhere.
"The Core Flame of Oronyx!"
Tribbie's eyes widened in surprise.
"Xiao Lian, how did you get it?"
"On my way back to the Grove of Epiphany, I stopped by the Abyss of Fate and took it from Oronyx."
Cyrene didn't go into details, but simply glossed over it.
"This is truly... astonishing."
Aglaea gently touched her chest with her left hand, her lifeless eyes fixed on the Core Flame in Cyrene's hand. She could tell, of course, that Cyrene wasn't lying.
Oronyx, who had previously loathed these Chrysos Heirs, would so easily bestow the Core Flame of [Time] upon Cyrene.
Ti Ning performed the ritual again, just like in that Anaxa. After casting the Core Flame, Cyrene became a demigod of [Years].
Cyrene held the Book of My Own in her left hand and the ceremonial sword in her right, raised the ceremonial sword and shouted.
"Alright! Let's go and conquer Nikador in one fell swoop!"
Count me in.
Castrum Kremnos Prince Mydeimos, also known as the Mydei, stepped forward from behind.
"It's time to set Him free."
Guided by Aglaea, Cyrene found the Blade, handed him the blueprints, and asked him to teach Phainon before the group began their march towards Castrum Kremnos.
Well, only Mydei, Firefly, and Cyrene Lian went.
Cyrene gave the two a brief introduction to Nikador's situation.
"So, He didn't fall... Then I should defeat Him and give Him the ending a warrior deserves, instead of going mad like this."
Mydei clenched his fists and walked towards where Nikador was.
"I will fight Him, so please restore Nikador to its wholeness!"
Cyrene opened the Book of My Own.
Are you ready?
He looked at the Firefly beside him.
"Um!"
"Ah, Sera! I'm sorry... I don't know why I fell asleep just now."
Castorice groggily opened her eyes, feeling a mix of panic and shyness when she saw Sera, her mind instantly snapping back to reality. She had actually fallen asleep because she felt so safe!
However... this is not a dream, but the real reality...
Castorice silently tightened her grip on Sera's hand.
"It's okay, if you're sleepy, just get some sleep. I'll be here the whole time."
"No need, Sera Excellency Sera, I am already awake."
Castorice gently shook her head, rejecting Sera's suggestion.
"Alright then."
Sera nodded, her golden eyes meeting Castorice's.
There's something I need to tell you.
"Your Sera, please speak."
Seeing Sera's serious expression, Castorice also became serious and straightened her expression.
Your curse stems from incompleteness.
Thanatos's power is death and life.
Do you know Styxia?
There's a fable over there.
The dragon swallowed the princess who had taken pity on it, and the queen was overcome with grief. She then summoned an alchemist.
They set up an array to mold the scattered flesh and bones of the dragon into a newly reborn princess.
But the reborn princess has been possessed by the dragon's soul, and in order to seek revenge, the dragon devours everyone in Styxia.
Death devoured everything.
"And then what happened?"
Castorice had a strange feeling in her heart, so she couldn't help but ask.
"That's the end of the fable; it has long since become distorted with the passage of time."
"And... Castorice, if such an alchemy truly existed, capable of bringing the dead back to life, would you use it?"
"..."
Castorice was silent for a moment, then gave a firm answer.
"I can."
Heh~
Just like your sister.
"My... sister?"
Castorice's mind went blank, but a feeling in her heart told her that she might actually have it.
"Yes, your sister, Polyxena, now the crippled Thanatos."
The "death" demigod from the previous cycle.
The trial of death is taking the life of your loved ones.
Unable to bear your departure, she allowed you to be reborn in Styxia when Re-Creation, but she herself died incomplete, leaving the River Styx without anyone to ferry her across.
The souls of the dead wander in Styxia.
Sera's words struck Castorice Die like a thunderclap.
The self she loathed was born from the love of her closest relatives; everything she fled from... was the only remaining tenderness from her loved ones.
"I see..."
She who brought "death" was actually a miracle of life; fate... what a cruel joke.
"I see."
Castorice made up her mind; she would embrace her destiny and fulfill her innate duty—to guide death.
Because of her absence, souls could not enter the Underworld, so she became the maid of death, guiding souls across the underworld.
"Don't rush."
Sera stopped Castorice's thoughts from wandering further and tightened his grip on Castorice's hand.
"I'm here for you. I can't bear to see these farewell scenes. Leave everything to me with confidence."
"Good..."
Castorice's eyes took in Sera's smile, and she trusted Sera's words without hesitation.
"Come with me."
Sera pulled Castorice into the Gate of Janus. He analyzed the Core Flame of the Passage from the core layer, so he was able to use it.
"This is... the Gate of Janus?"
Castorice's eyes widened slightly in shock. The Gate of Janus was Tribbie and the others' power, and Sera was actually able to use it. As expected of Lady Sera!
In less than 0.1 seconds, Castorice accepted all of Sera's actions and words.
Opposite the door were the ruins of a collapsed tower.
That was the dilapidated tower of Styxia, the place in the fable where the princess was resurrected through alchemy, surrounded by a small sea of flowers bathed in moonlight—that was Antilin.
Castorice's senses grew stronger and stronger. She gently brushed her hand across the sea of flowers, her movements softer than the slightest breeze, causing the flowers of Antilin to sway gently.
"Sera, please begin... I am ready."
Reluctantly, Castorice released her grip on Sera's hand and walked towards the place she sensed in her heart. She stood there facing Sera, her hands clasped in front of her, a gentle smile on her face.