Although Lygus only had a human form and it was impossible to read any expression from his face, at this moment, the audience still sensed a trace of surprise from him.
But soon after, Lygus let out a light chuckle. "Interesting..."
Just a simple word, falling into everyone's ears, made a feeling naturally rise in their hearts, that this guy was definitely a big shot.
At the same time, the audience also understood that Anaxa was about to continue his speech, likely to reveal the truth to the public.
This was exactly the scene they had been anticipating ever since Anaxa appeared!
....
: It's coming!
: Anaxa is going to reveal the relationship between reincarnation and the Titans!
: This will definitely overturn Amphoreus at its very foundation!
: And this is in Okhema, right beneath Kephale, the very place where Amphoreus' divine rule is most deeply rooted!
: Time to show off!
: Can't wait to see the citizens' reactions, and also Caenis and those guys from the Council of Elders.
: I'm dying of anticipation!
.....
In the scene, Lygus did not hesitate.
He immediately turned around and said to the crowd that had yet to disperse, "Elders and citizens, your attention, please! Stay for a moment more, if you will. Anaxagoras of the Grove of Epiphany has an announcement for the assembly."
The audience began discussing among themselves, unsure what Anaxa was planning this time.
But since the ceremonial host had already spoken, the restless crowd gradually returned to their seats.
And Anaxa began his speech.
"Just moments ago, all of you made a decision on the fate of Amphoreus. As a supporter of the Flame-Chase Journey, it pleases me to see the choice you have made."
"But I regret to say that I still harbor doubts about this outcome. Thus, I hereby challenge this resolution!"
Before the crowd could even react, Aglaea had already realized what Anaxa intended to do.
"Heh." A cold laugh escaped her lips as she watched Anaxa's performance.
The blasphemer's voice echoed throughout the hall once more.
"Tell me, who among you dares swear on Kephale's name that Era Nova will truly welcome the fairy-tale ending that the Chrysos Heirs have promised? A beautiful new world free of calamity and madness?"
"...." The citizens remaining in the hall were stunned, completely dumbfounded.
Hadn't Anaxa already taken the side of the Chrysos Heirs? Why was he suddenly turning his spear toward them?
Ordinary people tend to think in black and white, it was impossible for them to follow Anaxa's reasoning.
Seeing no one respond, Anaxa's momentum surged several times over.
It no longer felt like a speech, it felt like a classroom interrogation.
"No one? Must I pick somebody to answer?"
Anaxa's gaze swept across the citizens.
At once, they felt the same terrifying pressure as when a teacher singled them out in childhood. Some turned their heads away, others lowered their gaze.
Even the viewers outside the screen began sweating, recalling the fear of being dominated by a teacher.
But Anaxa had no intention of stopping.
"Very well. You, the one acting so wise and profound, in front of all present here, do you dare swear that it will happen for sure?"
"No? Fine, next. You, the one with ignorance written all over your face... Yes, you. Do you dare swear by it in front of the Titan?"
"Hmph, useless! Your turn, then. With that smug look of yours, you must be confident that the Flame-Chase Journey is the best course to take, right?"
His scolding and insults rang out, yet no one dared to refute him.
Still, someone couldn't take it anymore and snapped.
"Hey! Mind your tongue!" a citizen shot back.
Anaxa replied bluntly. "What, if you dare swear to Kephale, I'll take back what I said. If you can't, then shut up, you useless fool!"
The angry citizen froze mid-retort. Though furious, he didn't dare swear to Kephale that the promises of the Chrysos Heirs were certain.
Under everyone's gaze, he awkwardly sat back down. Anaxa let out a cold laugh and shifted his gaze toward Phainon and Aglaea.
"Phainon, answer me this: Your speech was filled with such passion just now. How confident, then, are you in making this promise?"
Caught off guard, Phainon was completely stunned.
"Professor! What are you doing?"
He didn't know whether to respond.
At that moment, however, Aglaea reassured him from behind:
"Let him continue with his performance."
Though still confused, Phainon obediently remained silent.
Anaxa curled his lips into a smile. His objective had already been achieved.
"Haha! Will you look at that? Even Phainon and Aglaea lack the courage to make such a promise!"
"And what's even more absurd is that no one but I can promise you this new world, and yet the assembly passed the resolution anyway!"
Anaxa's voice grew louder and louder. After berating everyone, he spread his arms wide, stepped into the center, and revealed a wildly arrogant smile.
"But you needn't worry because I knew better than to trust you good-for-nothings. That is precisely why I am here today, to give you one final lecture!"
"Now, listen up, and listen well! I, Anaxagoras of the Grove of Epiphany, hereby declare:"
"Everything that the Flame-Chase Journey promises is true! Phainon of Aedes Elysiae, the prophesized demigod who shall succeed Kephale, will reforge each and every one of us in the new world with his complete, intact memories!"
"The Coreflame-bearing Titans were the Chrysos Heirs of yesterday, and the Chrysos Heirs who carry the Coreflames today will become the Titans of tomorrow."
"All of our souls shall endure for eternity in the miracle of the Worldbearer, and all under Kephale's protection shall step into that new world!"
"This is an undeniable truth!"
With each of Anaxa's words, the hall gradually fell silent. By the end, it was deathly quiet, without even the slightest noise.
The scene flickered.
Phainon.
Caenis.
Aglaea.
Lygus.
And the reactions of many citizens all flashed across the screen.
Phainon was the most shocked and confused of all.
After being pushed by Aglaea into leading the debate, he had thought that today's "surprises" would end there.
He hadn't expected that Anaxa would bring him an even bigger shock, from today onward, he will take the seat of the Worldbearing Titan.
"Ah?? Me? The Worldbearing Titan?" Phainon was completely stunned.
His mind briefly stopped working.
Aglaea let out a deep sigh. But it wasn't because of this truth.
And then there was Lygus. The theoros stood with arms crossed, still wearing that formulaic smile.
No emotion, no reaction. A true observer.
As for Caenis, her expression had already turned dark and grim.
But what she cared about wasn't this truth that could shake Amphoreus to its core.
"What!? Are you saying that we must bow down to you and worship you even in our next lives!?" Caenis muttered in a daze.
But soon, suppressed rage and despair surged up in her heart.
"Enough, you blasphemous imbecile! How dare you try to deceive us with all these lies and falsehoods! How can you prove-"
She pointed at Anaxa, her face twisted, as if she wanted to devour him alive.
Anaxa clearly enjoyed Caenis' reaction. In fact, this was exactly what he had been waiting for.
With a slight curl of his lips, he sneered, "I told you, don't interrupt me! But since you've asked, I shall be kind and indulge you: My statements are based on my experiments on the divine body of Kephale themself!"
"You heard me correctly, everyone! With the tacit approval of Caenis and the Council of Elders, I fused my soul with a god through alchemy and learned the truth behind Era Nova!"
At this point, a trace of self-mockery and indifference flashed across Anaxa's lips.
"I, the vile, wretched blasphemer, deserve nothing less than death for my sins..."
"And the Council of Elders, which granted me consent and aided me in committing this atrocity, should face punishment alongside me!"
At this point… Anaxa had said everything he needed to say.
Not only the citizens, even the audience was stunned.
It wasn't just the reincarnation truth they already knew, but also entirely new information about Kephale and Phainon.
And, above all, the shock of finally understanding Anaxa's entire scheme.
....
: Holy shit! The strategist entered the game himself, outmaneuvering fate! He just blew everything up on the Council of Elders!!
: Ever since learning the truth, Anaxa must've been planning how to drag the Council of Elders down with him.
: Even though he's been acting against the Chrysos Heirs from the start, everything he's done has actually helped the Flame-Chasing journey.
: Not exactly! Anaxa isn't driven by factions, he's driven by truth. Once the truth proved Aglaea's path was right, he chose to help. He only follows truth!
: And why did Anaxa make Phainon take on the Coreflame of the Worldbearing Titan? There was nothing about that in the prophecy.
: He's building momentum for Phainon! A speech alone isn't enough to win everyone over, but once he linked Titans and the Chrysos Heirs, and tied Phainon to the Worldbearing Titan, no one can underestimate him anymore!
: That basically saves Phainon fifty years of proving himself!
: He's paving the road for Phainon!
: He even blew up the Council of Elders to help Phainon deal with his toughest enemies!
: Every step connects to the next! There's no way this was improvised!
: Holy shit, is this Anaxa?! You never know his real goal until the very end!!
....
The comments exploded.
And compared to the audience's shock, the citizens present felt something even more complicated.
At this moment, every single one of them stood frozen, their minds struggling to process the overwhelming information.
"What is this guy even talking about?!"
"Kephale… is part of the Chrysos Heir? No, wait, the Chrysos Heir are Titans?!"
"Blasphemy! This is blasphemy!!!"
"How can a mortal soul be fused with Kephale's soul?!"
"How could the Council of Elders collude with a blasphemer like this?!"
"That's not the point! If this is really the truth, then… then we have to follow the Chrysos Heir and complete the Flame-Chasing journey!"
"The Chrysos Heir are the gods of the next era??!!"
"Kephale above… what am I even hearing?!"
Their thoughts were in complete chaos.
No matter how composed someone was, it was impossible to stay rational under such a shock.
At times like this, people instinctively begin to seek orders. Their gazes wandered in confusion, trying to find someone of higher authority to guide them.
Hoping to follow their lead.
But after scanning the area, they realized that neither Aglaea nor Caenis could meet that need.
In the end, everyone's eyes unconsciously fell upon the Theoros in the center.
Lygus.
This transcendent divine ceremonial observer ignored the citizens' pleading gazes, remaining as calm as ever while watching the situation unfold.
But at that very moment, a woman standing on the Chrysos Heir's side, behind Aglaea, suddenly sensed an opportunity amidst her shock.
"By the gods, even Caenis has betrayed Okhema..."
People needed an outlet, a temporary target to release their emotions and regain a sense of control.
And this woman's shout from within the crowd, instantly gave the chaotic masses a direction.
"Caenis!"
"Execute Caenis!"
"The Council of Elders has betrayed Amphoreus too!"
"They're all traitors!"
In moments like this, public emotions are at their most fragile, and the easiest to manipulate.
Hearing the overwhelming cries of condemnation, Caenis was on the verge of going mad.
She felt an urge to destroy everything. But she forcibly suppressed it, lowering herself to explain to the citizens.
Yet the citizens were no longer willing to believe her.
With no other choice, she could only turn to Lygus for help. Her voice urgent as she pleaded:
"Lord Lygus... As the esteemed Theoros, are you going to simply stand by and allow the Council of Elders to be dragged through the mud!?"