Mydei had even already considered the future.
He feared that he might fall into madness like Nikador, so he entrusted the only weakness to his close friend Phainon.
And at this moment, the audience, who had previously fallen into contemplation because of the mountain dweller's story, were instantly overwhelmed by an even more surging wave of emotion.
The barrage of comments immediately exploded.
...
: Mydei…
: Too shocking. In this whole episode, the characterization of Mydei is already practically perfect!
: From the initial avoidance to now bearing everything…
: Mydei's mother wanted him to be free, but because of responsibility and honor, Mydei gave that freedom to all the Kremnoans, everyone except himself.
: The epic feeling is off the charts!
: A kingdom of two thousand years ended in Mydei's hands, yet also gained rebirth through him! The epic scale is truly maxed out!
: Didn't expect him to become the spiritual symbol of his people in this way.
: Mydei was even worried about following in the footsteps of the Strife Titan, so he gave his weaknesses to Phainon!
: Wuwuwu, I'm crying so hard!
: Why is every Chrysos Heir so good!
: The friendship between Phainon and Mydei is really so inspiring!
: Mydei revealing the weakness of his immortality is also entrusting his most sincere trust!
: He's way too cool, Mydei!
: With a leader like this, a final king like this, the Kremnoans are truly blessed!
: I wonder if this is a flag!
: Wuwuwu, probably not! Please don't let there be a scene where Phainon kills Mydei! That would be too melodramatic!
: Mydei was already very strong before becoming a demigod, I don't believe anyone can defeat him!
...
One comment after another scrolled by.
On screen, after entrusting the aftermath to Phainon, Mydei stepped toward the Vortex of Genesis.
"Go now. Your battlefield calls. Send that flame-thieving hyena to their death."
"But if you find yourselves with no other recourse, then pray to that blade in the sky..."
"...And loudly call out the name of the new god."
Behind Phainon, came Mydei's voice. The audience was completely captivated by how cool this scene was.
That guy Mydei, from his very first appearance, he's been relentlessly cool all the way until now.
The comments gradually became covered with all kinds of praise for Mydei's coolness.
And Phainon had already left the Vortex of Genesis.
Not long after. Inside Castrum Kremnos, the sounds of fighting were filled everywhere.
Stelle and Phainon, who had already regrouped, stood in the city with bewildered expressions.
"That's the sound of an all-out war. Not the kind of ruckus Professor Anaxa can raise on his own."
Phainon murmured. The sounds of fighting coming from all directions told him that those battling here right now were far more than expected.
Not understanding what was going on, the two stepped into the city.
Before long, on the road leading to the inner city, they saw dense crowds of figures.
Among them were the wounded, warriors, and the dead …
"No way... A Kremnoan?"
Phainon had just parted with Mydei, and he was certain he hadn't heard anything from him about the Kremnoans coming to reinforce them.
Could they have been sent by Aglaea? Phainon and Stelle exchanged a glance, both filled with confusion.
The two walked up to a Kremnoans man leaning against the wall.
He had clearly gone through a fierce battle, severely wounded, utterly exhausted, weakly leaning there.
"I didn't think she'd manage to send the Kremnoans to assist. Brave warrior, what's the situation on the front line?" Phainon asked, performing the Kremnoans salute with one hand.
The exhausted soldier merely lifted his head and glanced at Phainon. After seeing his attire clearly, he weakly squeezed out a few words through his teeth:
"...An Okheman? Why are you here...?"
Phainon was taken aback. "What...? Didn't Aglaea tell you? We have been instructed to assist you in trapping the Flame Reaver."
Upon hearing Aglaea's name, the exhausted Kremnoans man spat disdainfully. "Aglaea... That vile usurper! bah!"
After speaking, his expression changed. Clutching his chest, he lowered his head.
The aura around him grew weaker and weaker. With what seemed like the last of his strength, he murmured: "Our king... will be back soon... He'll be able to... deal with you... and that black-robed..."
His voice grew softer, finally fading in his throat.
The next second, his body convulsed and collapsed to the ground, head drooping, dead from his wounds.
Stelle and Phainon stared blankly at the corpse on the ground.
Along this long corridor, everywhere lay Kremnoans just like this man.
Some, after resting enough, would stand up and drag their heavy bodies back toward the city.
Others, who had endured bitter fighting, carried back comrades who were gravely wounded, or already lifeless, laying them down here before picking up their weapons again and returning to the inner city.
Men, women. People of different ages had all gathered here. They were not sent by anyone.
Phainon and Stelle stared in shock at these battered remnants.
Some had already gone blind, yet still murmured that they could continue.
Some lay on the ground on the verge of death, clutching the Kremnoans flag, calling Mydei's name, hoping he would ascend to godhood.
Others held their comrades' bodies, cursing Aglaea and the people of Okhema.
While Mydei intended to sacrifice himself for his people, these people, at this very moment, chose to take up blades and spears and charge back into the already fallen Kremnoans, wanting to personally reclaim their homeland.
Their glory remained, though stubborn, unwilling to bend.
Yet undeniable.
"But why… They shouldn't know this information."
"Aglaea can't command the Kremnoans, much less send them here to die!"
Phainon couldn't make sense of it at all.
Mydei's ascension hadn't been announced to his people, so where did they learn of it?
And Anaxagoras's plan, the war with the Flame Reaver, the arrival of the black tide… all of this…
"The Senate…" Just as Phainon's mind was in a storm of thoughts, someone beside him suddenly spoke.
"?!" Phainon stared at Stelle with wide eyes.
"The only ones who could know this information and pass it to the Kremnoans can only be the Senate."
Stelle said matter-of-factly, "The only ones with both motive and capability are that bunch."
That's right.
Stelle's words immediately clarified the issue.
Only the Senate would go out of their way to send the Kremnoans to their deaths and stir up conflict.
Phainon understood the implication at once.
"So… we absolutely can't lose." Phainon took a breath and drew his greatsword.
The Senate likely believed they were no match for the Flame Reaver, deliberately trying to use a crushing defeat and the feud with Kremnoans to plunge Okhema into internal strife, thereby seizing the power in Aglaea's hands.
Yet in the face of this conspiracy, Phainon was unexpectedly calm.
Only victory, only completing the plan, mattered!
Stelle also pulled out her bat.
The two of them sprinted toward the arena in the inner city.
Along the way… They saw countless Kremnoans locked in desperate combat with the invading creations of the Black Tide.
No one knew who was commanding these Kremnoans.
But they had consciously pulled their defensive line inward, tightening it layer by layer.
They had actually managed to forcibly block the Black Tide creations!
However, the cost was extremely heavy. On the short stretch to the inner city… The ground was covered with the bodies of Kremnoan soldiers.
From an aerial view, the soldiers forming this defensive line were visibly dwindling.
Yet the atmosphere on the battlefield was not shrouded in death or fear, rather, an even more frenzied fighting spirit filled the air, along with the Kremnoans' coarse curses.
"I can still... fight..."
"You must become king..."
"That sound... It pierces my ears..."
"You bastards, get out of our home!"
"Glory to the Godshield Brigade!"
The war cries of the Kremnoans mixed with the twisted noises of the Black Tide monsters.
Phainon and Stelle kept charging forward. Any monsters they encountered were cut down with ease, like crashing into a speeding truck.
Soon… The arena was right before their eyes.
Inside, there weren't corpses of soldiers from both sides covering the ground, but the only ones still standing were Tribbie, and at the center of the arena, Anaxagoras, who was locked in a frantic battle with a black figure.
"Snowy! Little Gray!"
When Tribbie saw them rushing over, the anxious look on her face instantly eased a little.
"Tribbie! Sorry, we're late!"
Phainon looked into the arena, his gaze tightening.
That black figure… was clearly the Flame Reaver.
So fast?!
He had originally thought they could ambush the Flame Reaver here, but hadn't expected the enemy to have already charged in!
"There's no time."
"Phainon, the plan has been forced to begin. Whether it succeeds or fails, everyone must retreat immediately, no one can stay." Tribbie said worriedly.
"Leave it to us!"
"Stelle, let's go!!"
Phainon said no more, locking his eyes firmly on the Flame Reaver in the distance.
Almost instantly, the three of them dashed toward the Flame Reaver!
The camera kept pushing forward, following the backs of the three as they sprinted.
Then it passed them, arriving at the very center of the battlefield.
Oppressive, silent music began to play, the BGM belonging to the great slaughter!
In the arena, Anaxagoras held a uniquely shaped weapon, something like a musket yet also like a gun blade, struggling to hold off the Flame Reaver.
Phantom images flashed from all directions, thrusting at Anaxagoras from tricky angles.
But this seemingly frail scholar displayed astonishing combat experience.
He weaved among the phantoms, dodging what he could and using the gun blade to block the Flame Reaver's real strikes.
Though battered… He actually managed to hold on!
The spectators were completely dumbfounded.
How was this cold, sharp-tongued professor so ridiculously strong in combat?!
He could really fight!
Bang! With a violent clash, the Flame Reaver brought down a head-on slash. Anaxagoras blocked it with his gun blade, but was sent flying backward.
After landing awkwardly, Anaxagoras caught sight of the three rushing in from the corner of his eye.
"Finally." He let out a breath of relief.
At that moment, Stelle, charging in front, grabbed Mem's hand and flung him forward.
" Mem... It's all yours!"
Mem split apart midair, landing at the center of the frame, then spread her arms wide.
"Mem~" A wave of pink ripples instantly swept across the entire arena.
The ruined buildings visibly reversed, returning to their former state.
Even the sky turned a clear blue.
Mem's power carried this area back into the past.
The Flame Reaver crouched slightly, great sword held horizontally before his chest, surveying the changing surroundings with an aggressive stance.
"…Hm." He showed little emotion.
Like a ruthless machine of theft, after a slight adjustment of posture, he suddenly burst forward, his entire body turning into a black shadow rushing toward Anaxagoras.
"Repent in the memories of the dead - Executioner!"
Phainon shouted angrily, swinging his great sword to meet the charge head-on.
Two equally massive great swords collided on screen.
Countless sparks flew.
On either side of the frame, Phainon gritted his teeth while the Flame Reaver's face remained unseen, they stood locked in fierce opposition.
Bang!
But this clash lasted only a second. A tremendous force surged through Phainon's blade, sending him flying backward.
Two phantoms emerged almost simultaneously from both sides of the Flame Reaver's shoulders, one stabbing toward Phainon, the other toward Anaxagoras.
At that very moment, the Flame Reaver felt a chill behind his head.
Turning, he saw that at some point Stelle had leapt high into the air, bat in hand, bringing it down with overwhelming force.
"Take this swing!!"