According to Gnaeus, the previous king of Castrum Kremnos, Euripon, in order to consolidate his rule, attempted to strip away Nikador's divinity and store it within vessels.
In doing so, he could make Nikador's divine body immortal.
Caelus looked at Gnaeus in confusion. "How do you know all this?"
"It's simple… Because the fragmented soul of the Strife Titan Nikador is stored inside these statues. The call I heard… came from them.
Reassemble its soul and let its divine core become whole once more. Only then can it regain the dignity of a Titan, and only then will you have a chance to defeat it head-on."
Now that they knew the source of everything, Castorice chose to stay behind to hold the rear while Caelus and Gnaeus worked together to prevent the birth of the immortal divine body and restore the honor of the Strife Titan.
After Gnaeus explained the procedure, Caelus completed the recombination of the divinity as instructed. However, everything was still not over.
"Where do we find the missing piece of divinity?"
Gnaeus was silent for a long while. "I was wrong. That final fragment of divinity was never lost… I know where to find it now."
The two of them arrived before an altar. At that moment, Castorice also returned to the group.
"Is it almost done, Lord Gnaeus?"
"Mm… Only this final step remains." Gnaeus slightly turned his eyes, glancing at Castorice and Caelus. "I don't know when, but from beyond the distant horizon, the Black Tide was born — it slowly approached the borders of Amphoreus. Nikador was the first Titan to come into contact with it.
In the struggle against the Black Tide, its sanity began to fade… At its peak, the Titan could reduce entire archipelagos to dust with a single swing of its sword, yet it could not sever the root of the corruption.
It fought the Black Tide with sheer will, but ultimately fell. Before its divinity was completely polluted, it stripped away a part of itself…"
"Could it be…" Castorice also caught the implication in Gnaeus's words.
"The part of divinity it stripped away — the part it most wanted to preserve intact — was its 「reason」. The Titan believed that its 「reason」 would one day answer the call and return to the god's body… to fulfill the mission it was meant to complete."
At this moment, Caelus looked at the countless corpses lying around that looked exactly like Gnaeus and finally understood. "These are all… previous versions of you?"
[Wait, what? Understood what?]
[So all these corpses are Gnaeus. As Nikador's reason, he kept trying to return to the divine body, but he was constantly killed by these people and the mechanisms.]
[Countless attempts, with a success rate infinitely close to zero!]
[Uh, how should I put it… Judging from the fact that Nikador is still immortal right now, Gnaeus must have failed. If the protagonist hadn't obtained the power of memory and returned to the past to break the deadlock, the consequences would have been unimaginable!]
[Maybe in the future, the entire main cast will end up lying here too.]
[Future saving the past, huh!]
[Gnaeus is really miserable. There probably isn't anyone more miserable than Gnaeus, right?]
[There is, bro. You have to believe in miHoYo. There definitely is.] [Lower your expectations. It's definitely going to be the kind of misery that's utterly devastating. Don't worry — your old miHoYo can do anything!]
— —
Gnaeus glanced at the corpses on the ground. "They represent countless failed attempts. With your help, I can finally bring an end to all of this."
"Lord Gnaeus… What are you planning to do?"
"Courage, glory, perseverance, sacrifice — they are all my other selves… From the whispers of the soul fragments, I have already reached a conclusion — Nikador's soul has already rotted. There is no longer any possibility of redemption."
"How do we stop it?"
"There is only one path. The seal binding the divinity has already been lifted. As long as we complete the soul-forging here, Nikador will be restored to completeness. You will fight against a Titan that is nearly at its peak. At the same time, the glory of slaying a god will bloom before your eyes."
Castorice asked with concern, even though she could already guess the outcome. "Then what about you, Lord Gnaeus?"
"I will return to the origin and become a fragment of Nikador's divinity. The corruption will probably devour me? But in order to end this madness, this step is unavoidable."
"You're willing to sacrifice yourself for a future… that you yourself cannot witness?"
"That is my origin, my mission. I am not a mortal, nor do I fear death — even so, do you still intend to weep for me?"
"All partings in this world are sorrowful, my lord."
The corner of Gnaeus's mouth beneath the mask curved slightly. "We haven't known each other for long, but I have already learned much from you. Then, before I leave, let me teach you one last lesson —
Do not loathe your talent. Do not hate death. The reason journeys are great and epics are magnificent is precisely because all things must eventually come to an end."
[What? So this is the final lesson?]
[What final lesson?]
[Final lesson?]
["I weep for the departed" plus "final lesson"? Alright, alright, so this is how we're playing it?]
["The reason journeys are great and epics are magnificent is precisely because all things must eventually come to an end." You can use this when writing essays. Bonus points.]
— —
Castorice gave a bitter smile. "As the embodiment of 「Strife」, yet you're telling me about the magnificence of the world? How ironic…"
"Only when placed beneath strife can civilization grow. Humans are born hating suffering, but only suffering can teach people to stand tall…"
In order to strengthen Castorice's resolve, Caelus stepped forward. "If we must fight you… then so be it."
"He understands the meaning of battle better than you. Perhaps he can become your inspiration." Gnaeus's gaze fell upon Castorice. "If you die beneath my spear, then you will no longer need to try to understand these words. But if you can bury me… promise me that you will treat the Coreflames as kindling, ignite a great blaze, and continue fighting against the Black Tide."
"I… on behalf of all Chrysos Heirs, accept your request."
Seeing the determination in Castorice's eyes, Gnaeus spoke with great passion. "I am the Lance of Fury, Nikador — the messenger of turmoil, the embodiment of Strife! Remember — I am the scar that this world needs!"
Suddenly, a golden bolt of lightning pierced through Gnaeus's body.
In that instant, he merged himself into Nikador's already corrupted divine soul.
The past and future of the entire hall began to intertwine.
Caelus slightly turned his head and saw the figure of Dan Heng holding a spear.
Dan Heng, Phainon, and Mydei were desperately fighting against the present-day Nikador.
Phainon smiled excitedly. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"They're back."
The Nikador of the future thrust his spear toward Caelus, while the Gnaeus of the past blocked the strike for everyone.
"Defeat me — Grant me an end befitting a warrior!."
In the next moment, a pair of golden wings grew from behind Nikador.
Phainon and Caelus exchanged a glance. In the end, all five of them charged forward together.
...
With the support of extremely dynamic action scenes, the battle that lasted only a minute or two felt like a grand feast.
The fight was so intense that the sky darkened and the earth shook — the special effects were maxed out!
Finally, just as they were about to defeat Nikador,
the 「Lance of Fury」 still launched its strike toward the Holy City at the very last moment.
Fortunately, Aglaea seemed to have anticipated this long ago. "My teacher — now!"
Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon appeared in time to protect the Holy City…
The attack of the 「Lance of Fury」 failed, and Nikador's form was also about to dissipate.
"No need to swing your swords anymore…" Phainon looked at the already dissipating Nikador and sighed. "From now on, there will be no more 「Strife」 in this world."
After the battle ended, only a single Coreflame remained in front of Nikador's dissipating body.
Phainon mentioned that the Coreflame must be inherited by someone.
However, both Phainon and Mydei were qualified to inherit the Coreflame.
But Mydei, in a very casual manner, gave the only opportunity to Phainon.
Phainon walked up to the Coreflame and slowly absorbed it into his body.
Dan Heng asked with concern from the side, "Are you alright, Phainon?"
Phainon moved his body. "I don't feel any changes. If anything… it feels much easier than I imagined. I thought bearing a Coreflame would require paying a much greater… price."
[One Coreflame has no price. Once you have more, then there will be a price.] [So? There are only 12 Coreflames in total. Did you think there were a lot?]
"Let's go. Return to Okhema. Bring the news of victory to the two demigods."
Just as everyone was about to leave, Castorice seemed to still have something on her mind.
Both Mem and Caelus could tell that Castorice had gained some insights from this journey.
"Please go back first, sir. I'll catch up shortly. I want to communicate with Lord Gnaeus one more time… the last time."
Caelus naturally understood. He nodded toward Castorice and left the area first.
Castorice picked up a fragment of Gnaeus's remains.
"Lord Gnaeus… Lord Nikador, the Strife Titan… Can you still hear me?
I know you only want to rest peacefully now. But only you can answer the doubts in my heart… Please forgive my disturbance.
Please tell me… Do you know where the Death Titan Thanatos is? I must find it. The other half that has been taken from me since birth… must be taken back from its hands."
The voice of the Titan Nikador echoed in her ears.
"Is that so… Even the 「Strife」 Titan has never faced the true form of 「Death」. My journey must continue, even if I have to walk every corner of Amphoreus…"
The Titan's voice sounded once more.
"I understand… The Chrysos Heirs will definitely honor the agreement and continue what you left unfinished.
You brought strife to this world. You should not have had such a peaceful ending… But it doesn't matter. Here, there is only you and me. Others do not need to see your final moments.
In the poet's writings, you will still be the embodiment of madness and corruption, the war god who burned away his glory. But at this moment… I am willing to send you to the gentle land filled with flowers. Farewell, Titan."
— —
Some time later, Phainon brought the Coreflame to Aglaea and Tribbie's side.
Even so, Phainon still believed that Mydei was the most suitable person to become the demigod of Strife.
However, Aglaea saw through the truth in one sentence — Mydei did not give up inheriting the Strife Coreflame because of Phainon. He probably did not want, from the bottom of his heart, to let Castrum Kremnos walk the same old path as before!
Thinking of this, Phainon could only accept it gladly.
— —
On the other side.
Dan Heng and Caelus were outside the bathhouse, watching the people inside playing and roughhousing with no sense of crisis at all, as if the end of the world had never come.
"It's really peaceful, as if nothing happened."
Caelus couldn't help but shake his head. "Someone is bearing the weight for them…"
"To be able to calmly enjoy pleasure in such chaotic times, the people of Amphoreus truly have an extraordinary spirit."
"It's all thanks to Aglaea and Teacher Tribbie. Under their protection, the citizens are able to enjoy peace to the fullest." Phainon appeared behind the two of them.
"Where did Mydei go?"
Dan Heng replied, "He was very tired. He went back to rest first."
"Without the help of you two, the outcome of this battle would have been uncertain. You must be tired of hearing words of thanks, right? But I still have to say it — ah, but saying thank you to you should be the first time? Thank you for your help, Miss Mem…?"
Caelus brought up a more relevant topic. "What are the arrangements for next?"
"Tomorrow at this time, Aglaea will gather us to go to the Genesis Vortex Core to perform the Coreflame return ceremony. Although her original words only mentioned the 「Chrysos Heirs」… if I invite you to attend, she definitely won't refuse."
"Is there anything we need to pay attention to during this ceremony?"
"According to Aglaea, no one can predict what will happen. Because each Titan's divine authority is unique. So, I hope the two of you can be there to give me some confidence."
"Calling us over means there's an appearance fee!"
"Then let's just put this bill on Aglaea's tab for now? Her nickname is 「Goldweaver」 — sounds very wealthy, right?
You can do whatever you want in the time before the ceremony starts. Rest well… I also need some time to sort out my thoughts. See you later, friends."
Caelus and Dan Heng watched Phainon leave the bathhouse.
"Can you feel it, Trailblazer? He seems to have a lot on his mind." Dan Heng noticed something was off.
Caelus was curious. "How did you sense that?"
"Body language, and… micro-expressions. It's understandable. What he's about to go through is far too special. Although Titans are only local gods of Amphoreus, the process of ascending from a 「human」 to another kind of existence… is unimaginable."
Caelus sighed. "We also have a lot to think about."
"Indeed. The series of events that happened before were too packed together. We didn't even have time to think about our current predicament. The train car is scrapped, we can't contact the crew, and there's also the prohibition against the world beyond the sky…"
"My consecutive login streak is going to break!!"
Dan Heng actually agreed with Caelus this time. "Mm. We can't even send a message to March to clear your daily tasks for you. Once Phainon's ascension ceremony is over, we should carefully think through these troubles.
As for now, let's go back to the Bath Palace to rest and regroup."