Breaking the Shackles

The figure in black didn't speak, or rather, he simply lacked the ability to speak normally; all he could utter were a few fragmented words.

Without pausing, Black Calamity raised Dawn's Early Light and slashed at Phainon with his sword.

bite--

Phainon blocked Black Calamity's slash with Dawn's Early Light. He could see that Black Calamity's swordsmanship was different from his own; Hei E was relying entirely on instinct to swing his sword. Therefore, Phainon could now assert that...

"You will not be me in the future. I have... surpassed you, surpassed the original 'fate'!"

I will be... the blazing sun that never sets!!!

Flames, as intense as those from a solar flare, ignited on Phainon's body. He spread his wings, flew into the air, and swooped down towards Black Calamity, brandishing his sword.

Those fiery strands of hair made Phainon, who was swooping down with his sword, look like a meteorite falling from the sky.

The Black Calamity's fire seemed to have been slightly reduced, and the flames, far more intense than the Phainon's, transformed into the Black Calamity's blade and swung towards the Phainon.

Phainon's sword clashed with Black Calamity's flames, and Hei E's flames engulfed Phainon Black Calamity's body, but he paid no attention to his body being burned by the flames.

He believed that his conviction would never be weaker than pure hatred; he wouldn't! How could he not withstand the fire that another version of himself could endure? Since 'he' had done it, he could do it too.

Even though his body felt like it was being cut by knives, as if he were being torn apart by a thousand cuts, Phainon still gritted his teeth and persevered. He swung his sword again with all his might. The earth moved with him, trapping Black Calamity in the soil, but in less than a second, Black Calamity burst out of the ground with Dawn's Early Light raised.

"Use them to my advantage!"

Phainon no longer resisted the pain of the burning flames, but instead tried to bear the weight of those flames that even the sun paled in comparison to.

Fortunately, Phainon managed to carry the flame in the last second before his body collapsed. The price was only a slight breakage of his body.

"It's just a negligible price to pay, isn't it?"

A smile appeared on Phainon's broken face as he spoke softly to his companions.

"The demigod of the future, Worldbearing, won't fall here!"

I will also walk into tomorrow with Sera, with Aedes Elysiae, and with all the people of Amphoreus!

You... are... different from me.

Black Calamity raised Dawn's Early Light towards Phainon. His voice was hoarse from being burned by flames, and his words were broken and intermittent.

"Pick up... the Dawn's Early Light... kill me, or... be killed by me."

Don't let... him... down...

"I will."

Phainon raised Dawn's Early Light, the blade reflecting his eyes, which were ignited by flames.

"In the name of Khaslana, Amphoreus —will march toward tomorrow."

Swords clashed, the two Dawn's Early Light not much different, both imbued with the painstaking efforts of their forgers. The only thing that could determine the victor was Phainon's constant burden.

He took over the Core Flame from Black Calamity, along with his... hatred. Black Calamity's hatred was simple: he hated his own powerlessness.

That fire went out. But another, even more intense flame began to burn! And it would never go out again.

"Well done..."

Caius... Lanna...

May you... always fight... and always win...

Black Calamity's chest was pierced by Dawn's Early Light, and his black clothes were burned away by the flames, revealing his shattered body, which resembled a stone statue.

"I will carry your share... onward."

Phainon closed his eyes briefly, then reached out to help Black Calamity close his eyes, but... he was already being gently carried by the wind towards the azure sky.

Cyrene sat on the city wall, humming a song softly. Beside her was another version of herself, smiling, gradually transforming into a crystal flower.

Cyrene knew her story; they had met before. But she remained only a memory, an image, from beginning to end.

"I am the Spear of Divine Retribution, Mydeimos, the necessary pain of this world!"

Mydei unleashed his final attack, then looked confidently at Phainon. He was about to say something, but upon seeing the situation on Phainon's side, he simply whispered a word.

"HKS!"

They didn't say anything more.

The Chrysos Heirs are no longer who they once were; they... without exception, have defeated another version of themselves.

But the oppressive feeling from the sky grew stronger, Chrysos Heirs knew... the real battle was just beginning.

In the sky, a giant purple cocoon slowly took shape.

A pair of hands gently shattered the outer shell, and the Chrysos Heirs members immediately recognized who it was.

Seraphis.

It was him.

Surprised?

Sera tilted her head slightly and smiled.

"Don't hold back, only by defeating me can you achieve victory."

The expressions on everyone's faces varied, but they all already guessed what Sera had done.

"That's right, I used a little trick to turn Amphoreus's 'Fate' into an attackable boss, and the only price was that I was the vessel of 'Fate'."

In this world, only I possess this ability, so I guess I'll just have to play the villainous boss for a bit~

Sera spread her hands, feigning helplessness, in an attempt to ease the silence among the Chrysos Heirs.

"Sera..."

Phainon's expression was complicated.

He chose to bear everything to protect his family. And now he's being asked to raise a sword against them?! What a joke!

"Hey--Stop!"

Sera pressed down with her left palm, while her right index finger pressed against the center of her left palm.

"I know what you want to say, Khaslana."

Don't overthink it, you're actually helping me!

I'm trapped by "fate," and by breaking free from "fate," you're helping me solve my problem!

"But..."

How could he possibly do it?

"Alright, do you see the chains that appear and disappear around me?"

That is the manifestation of "fate" in my life. Break free from it, break free from my shackles!

Okay?

Phainon opened his mouth, as if to say something. But silence still filled the air, and finally he spoke softly.

"Good."

After a myriad of thoughts and countless words, Phainon could only manage a single, "Okay."

"Cyrene."

Sera called softly.

"I know, Little Sera."

Cyrene put her hands behind her back and gave Sera a bright smile.

"Then break the shackles of Amphoreus's 'fate,' sons of fire."

The internal time flow rate of Amphoreus is several system hours ago...

Kiana, Dreamseeker, are you there?

Sera closed her eyes, feeling the core gently calling to her.

"In."x2

Are you really going to do this?

What if they fail...

No, I believe them, just as I believe you.

Besides, you don't seem to doubt that they've failed, do you?

Sera opened her eyes again, smiling as she looked at the two people in front of her. Beside the three of them was the Cocoon of Finality.

"Hehe, just asking, is that how it is in comics?"

Kiana touched the back of her head.

"Then... I'll leave it to you."