"Miss Seele!"
"I think I've met someone who looks a lot like you!"
Little Gui's livestream.
At this moment.
Ahead on the path of the Marmoreal Market stood a girl.
Her voice was cool and clear, leaving behind clusters of purple stamens wherever she passed.
"Lord Phainon. And... two guests."
"Welcome to Okhema."
As her words fell,
Little Gui's entire screen was coated with a layer of purple filter!
Petals and light rain drifted past continuously.
Purple butterflies fluttered about.
Under this powerful visual effect, the enemies on both sides stood completely still, utterly silent!
The livestream chat instantly erupted!
...
"Wow!"
"There's another expert?"
"These effects!?"
"When I see spatial effects like this, I know she must be terrifyingly powerful!"
"Good news: Seele got buffed! Bad news: She was reborn in a place called Amphoreus and joined an organization called the Chrysos Heirs."
"A glimpse of what's to come! This should be the effect of a Technique—I can't even imagine what her ultimate looks like!"
"At this moment, a welder from the city district picked up their makeup..."
...
"These enemies... they're not moving?" Dan Heng seemed to sense the woman's special ability.
And Phainon also appeared respectful, saying, "When I heard your footsteps, I thought my heroic epic hadn't even begun before Death would write the words 'The End'..."
"Miss Castorice."
"An epic that ends abruptly at the beginning might leave people in awe."
Castorice's tone seemed devoid of much emotion,
merely stating simply:
"But today, Lord Phainon... Okhema needs you."
"Even the mortician of the Holy City says so—does that mean I'll survive this battle?" Phainon asked again.
"Hmm... that's not for me to decide. All I can do is clear the obstacles and lead you to the arrival site of Nikador (the Strife Titan)."
"You two guests, please come along as well, follow behind me..."
"Please keep a distance of five steps."
Little Gui took a deep breath.
Feeling that this cool, clear voice, paired with the BGM and this filter, carried an indescribable sense of pressure!
What exactly is Castorice's ability?!
I'm reminded of an old friend!
No,
Not just reminded!
She's right here!
I just happened to switch to Acheron during the last battle.
The current situation is:
In the streets and alleys of this market,
Two women are strolling leisurely along a red carpet.
While both sides are lined with humanoid monsters, all completely motionless!
Once they pass by,
The monsters instantly lose all signs of life!
With each step, lotuses bloom; petals dance and flutter.
All sorts of starkly contrasting meanings seem to achieve an extreme conflict at this moment!
...
"Wow..."
"Acheron matches these effects so well!"
"The River Styx and the Yellow Springs, my friend!"
"She's so beautiful, I love her!"
"Goodness! With these two walking together, I feel like my Jade Abacus can't handle it—the moment the camera gets close, the screen starts glitching!"
"I thought it was my phone's problem—I'm dropping frames [stunned]"
...
Little Gui quickly took the chance to snap a few screenshots!
But then,
Oops, I got too close!
The screen was instantly swallowed by darkness.
Subtitles appeared.
[The chilling aura emanating from Castorice makes you uneasy. It feels as if a vast expanse of darkness is about to engulf you...]
[Now is not the time for risks. Perhaps you should follow her advice and keep a safe distance.]
Dan Heng asked in surprise, "Their hostility has vanished?"
Castorice replied calmly, "Even strife hesitates in the face of death. I... am the shadow of death."
Wow!
Such a beautiful big sister is actually connected to death?
But with precedents like Acheron, it's still somewhat acceptable.
They continued until they reached the end of the marketplace.
Two enemies who appeared even more powerful stood there.
"Hmm... there are also enemies who cannot be suppressed by aura alone."
"The scent of blood and filth... you are a finger-servant of the Hand of Shadow (Death Titan)?" came a weak voice.
"...I am no one's servant," Castorice shook her head.
"Deny and evade all you want. You clearly come from the world of the dead."
"Okhema, Chrysos Heirs, a bunch of cowards. Loyalty and honor forged us. Deceit and weakness molded you."
Phainon retorted, "Fortunately, you're not my history teacher. How much credibility can the words of someone lost in madness hold?"
"But if loyalty and honor drive you to stand here—then draw your weapon. I will grant you a warrior's end."
[Battle Begins]
Little Gui looked at the four characters still in her party and couldn't help but sigh, "I thought we could try out Castorice here. Ah, what a shame!"
"Probably still have to wait a while to see what Castorice's special effects look like..."
Soon.
The battle ended.
Castorice said, "...Lady Aglaea mentioned that your time is precious and should not be troubled by pointless conflicts."
"I can grant it peace."
Phainon turned her head, "That's what I wanted to say too. No need to use your power on these small fry."
"Let's go. It's time to face strife head-on."
...
"It seems Aglaea is the leader of the Chrysos Heirs."
"The Supreme Guardian of Amphoreus (not really)."
"Are we going to have to fight her later?"
"Thinking about it, among the Chrysos Heirs who haven't appeared yet, only that golden-haired woman fits the leader's aura. Aglaya is almost certainly her!"
"That big sister just has an aura that feels untouchable!"
"Even an existence like Castorice addresses her as Lady Aglaea? Just how strong is she?"
...
They arrived at the cliff's edge.
There was a winged mechanism here.
And on the distant mountain cliff.
A magnificent palace stood atop the peak.
"In the distance is the Marmoreal Palace, the Spear of Heaven's Wrath, Nikador (Strife Titan)... is there."
As Phainon's words fell.
A thunderous roar erupted!
Three options immediately popped up for the protagonist.
[1: What was that sound?!]
[2: Mom, I'm scared...]
[3: Dan Heng, are you hungry?]
...
"People who don't choose the options teasing Teacher Dan Heng in the Amphoreus storyline are like this [thumbs up]"
"Too bad Dan Heng has learned to selectively ignore them now (sad)"
"Every time he doesn't react, I start missing March 7th. Dan Heng is a bit too boring [sigh]"
"Hahahaha, I wonder what March would say if she were here..."
"Another day missing March!"
...
Phainon gazed at the distant palace and sighed, "That battle cry once swept across the battlefield, crushing everything in its path, felling both my enemies and comrades alike. People were as fragile as reeds in a fierce gale."
"And at that moment, my limbs trembled, my weapon slipped from my hands, and all I could hear was the frantic and shameful beating of my own heart..."
"Fear—this is why the Strife Titan is revered. If a warrior can still take a step forward after facing its terror, no trial thereafter will ever shake the weapon in their hands."
"You two, if you wish to retreat, this is your last chance."
Stelle placed her hands on her hips: [It's fine, he's died several times already.]
This time,
Dan Heng responded.
With a cold expression, he said, "That's not the same..."
Phainon nodded slightly. "It seems the two of you have indeed weathered countless dangers."
"We have no interest in the baptism of Titans. Offering aid to unfamiliar worlds is simply the duty of a Trailblazer."
Phainon's eyes lit up faintly upon hearing this.
He remarked with admiration:
"Trailblaze... intriguing. In your world, that must also be a Titan revered by thousands, I presume."
"There's no need to further confirm your resolve. We are about to face the embodiment of strife in battle, yet beneath the threat of a suspended blade, your will shines even brighter."
"Let us depart. In the era when Kephale, the Worldbearing Titan, had not yet fallen silent, none could stand as its foe. Now, it falls upon us to take up the mantle of the divine and protect the people of Amphoreus—"
"Join me, and become Heroes!"
...
"Haha, I'm really curious how shocked Phainon would be if he knew how vast the universe outside is and learned about the concept of the Trailblaze Aeon!"
"Phainon seems a bit chuunibyou (doge)."
"This feels exactly like the pacing of a traditional adventure game..."
"Could it be that we're here to save the world! What kind of Trailblazers would we be if we didn't help in times of trouble? Let's fight and enjoy it!"
"A Hero cannot shrink from battle. If you haven't retreated, then neither do we have any reason to."
"There will always be beings of the earth who dare to face the might of a Titan!"
"Won't it be over after defeating the Strife Titan? We're speedrunning Amphoreus at this rate!"
"Can't be helped, that's just how capable we Trailblazers are!"
...