This thing...
To him as Leon, it was unfamiliar, but to the fleeting "Fuli" he once was, it was unexpectedly familiar.
An incomplete "Aeon Authority".
Unlike the "Authority" that the remnant soul of "Tayzzyronth" handed to him before dying, this "Authority" could be invoked.
The "Propagation Authority" on Leon was just for show; its only function was to make the "Swarm" think he was one of their own, their Emperor. However, if things went smoothly, it should be completely useless after today. No, that's not right. I shouldn't say useless; I should say its utility would skyrocket.
This microscopic "Authority" was useless when the "Propagation" Authority still existed, but once the "Propagation" Authority was truly gone, its use would be immense. Its value would practically shoot up in a straight line, becoming a key item. If nothing unexpected happened, Leon would use this to become the straw that breaks the camel's back after "The Propagation" truly ceased to exist.
Question: After "Tayzzyronth" dies and the "Propagation" Authority shatters, who is closest to, or even has the possibility of mastering, the Path of "The Propagation"?
Answer: Leon, who has a remnant of the "Authority" on him.
The death of "The Propagation" they seek is a death like that of "Ena". Not the complete destruction that "Nanook" seeks. Just like "The Order," the "Path" is still there, but also not there.
Under this premise, as long as Leon exists, "The Propagation" can no longer birth any calamities. Because he has become the final line of defense. Although not once and for all, it directly suppresses this Path so it can never raise its head again.
Under the suppression of this "Authority," future Pathstriders of "The Propagation" who want to climb up must first cross him. This means, unless he has the will to take over the position of the Swarm Emperor, this Path of "The Propagation" will never produce another "Emanator" in this lifetime.
The great disaster of the galaxy will end in his hands.
Returning to the "Trailblaze Authority".
This "Trailblaze Authority" is different from "The Propagation". Let's put it this way: if it weren't incomplete, it would allow Leon to directly ascend to the seat of an "Aeon" once more. Undoubtedly, this "Authority" will be of great use in this operation.
But where on earth did it come from?
Leon recalled carefully, then remembered the time he left the Astral Express not long ago. At that time, he felt something extra in his body; thinking about it now, it was probably this.
Pom-Pom's parting gift? Interesting.
Leon hadn't expected the Conductor to drop loot for him when he left. That damn Pom-Pom, hiding such a big thing in secret and not saying it earlier. Hoarding it like a dog guarding food—what did he take this Navigator for!
"What's wrong with you?"
Herta, seeing him dazed, couldn't help but speak up.
"Nothing, just realizing that years of accumulation have finally borne fruit."
Past events...
"?"
Leon had been a Nameless for at most a few months; could this be called years of accumulation?
"Let's talk about the change you mentioned. Since we've already deduced where this power of 'The Trailblaze' came from, there's naturally no need to dwell on this topic."
"Can you really not feel it?"
To be honest, Herta couldn't explain clearly what it was either. Leon's reaction made her doubt whether "Lan" had actually dropped loot for him. That "Hunt" Aeon dotes on him so much; could this plan actually fail?
"Uh, is the change you're talking about related to 'The Hunt'?"
The first thing Leon felt was "The Hunt". It was just that the appearance of "The Trailblaze" was a bit too surprising, causing his gaze to subconsciously focus on it.
"Yes."
Herta nodded.
"Remember when we first met?"
After saying this, Herta realized that the time they had known each other was actually quite short. Even though when they were together, it felt like she had known him longer than Ruan Mei.
"What about it?"
What does that mean? Why ask this suddenly?
"When I invited you to test the Simulated Universe for the first time, just as you entered, 'Lan's' data avatar showed abnormal attention to you."
Bringing up past events, Herta paused and said: "So before coming here, I tried applying 'Lan's' data to you."
Her gaze was fixed tightly on Leon. With her saying that, Leon indeed felt a sensation of "Lan" from his body.
He nodded, "So?"
Not much change, but this hazy feeling seemed to have been felt somewhere before. Where was it? Leon pondered.
"You, the person involved, are asking me 'so'?"
Herta evidently felt that he should be able to understand the nature of it clearly just by sensing it.
"If you are asking what nature this is..." She thought for a moment and gave an example, "Have you heard of the 'Illusory Moon Game'?"
"'Illusory Moon Game'?"
Never heard of it; it's a child I don't know.
"Something created by that 'Elation' Aeon. The winner in the 'Illusory Moon Game' will be personally blessed by Him, receiving a bizarre and unbelievable reward like 'One-Minute Aeon'."
Herta introduced it briefly.
"What? Such a channel to reach the sky in a single step actually exists?"
That damn "Aha" holds silver parties and doesn't invite him?
"Reach the sky in a single step?" Herta scoffed, "I really like a certain saying: 'All gifts have long been marked with a price by fate in the dark.'"
"Meaning this 'One-Minute Aeon' reward is fake?"
Leon also felt something was off; this was a bit ridiculous, could it be true?
"No, it's real." She shook her head.
"Real?"
If it's real, he believed it even less.
"Then the galaxy could survive until now? The winners are all people of noble character?"
"One-Minute Aeon". The gold content of an "Aeon" is too high, even if it's just for one minute. With this power, one can do whatever one wants. If Herta wasn't lying, in the face of such immense power, Leon really didn't believe that in this world full of madmen, no one would have improper thoughts. Goddammit, if it's rigged, just say so.
"Who knows," Herta didn't care. "Records regarding the winners of the 'Illusory Moon Game' have always been scarce. The only thing certain is that this 'One-Minute Aeon' reward is indeed real. The reason I mention this is because in my preset, your current state should be about the same as a 'One-Minute Aeon'."
She felt Leon should now understand the nature of it.
"'One-Minute Aeon'?"
Hearing this, Leon calmed his mind and carefully sensed the so-called change again. After a while, he arrived at the answer.
—A complete and intact "Authority of The Hunt"!
Because Leon's connection with "The Hunt" was too deep, he was just one step away from "Lan's" level. And judging from the fact that "Lan" was willing to be on call and allowed His Avatar to be used by him at will, it could be seen. This last missing step was a straightforward predetermined relationship. Just waiting for "Lan" to pass the throne to Leon whenever He felt it was appropriate.
So this was why Leon didn't notice the change immediately. No wonder there was a sense of familiarity. Becoming the "Remembrance" Aeon before relied on this stuff, so how could it not be familiar?
After thoroughly figuring out this change, Leon felt that Herta using this "One-Minute Aeon" example to describe it was indeed flawless. It could even be said to be apt. Because he only had one chance. Only one chance to launch a badass attack with the identity of the "Hunt" Aeon.
Once used, this temporarily borrowed "Authority" would be gone.
First, one must understand a point: Matters of "Aeons" can only be interfered with and changed by "Aeons".
So their kill-steal plan:
At the end of the "God War," when "Qlipoth" swings the hammer to shatter the "Propagation" Authority, find a chance in the dark to secretly steal the kill, using "The Hunt" or "The Finality" to make up for the last missing part. The former relies on raw stats, the latter on mechanics. But regardless of which one, there is a necessary premise, which is an "Aeon" entering the field.
Originally, they were betting on Leon's "Finality" ability, betting that "Terminus" would place a bet to help him, helping him reflect the currently modified past onto the future. But no one knew what "Terminus's" attitude was; the uncertainty risk was too high.
Therefore, Herta couldn't help but think. Aside from the possibility of betting that "Terminus" would place a bet, was there any other way to achieve what they were about to do?
Herta thought for a long time. She tried to find a way that was ninety percent sure in this Swarm Disaster plan. In the end, she didn't find it, but she also found it. There was no ninety percent surety; it eventually returned to betting. But this bet made her feel it was ninety percent sure.
Thus, Herta decided to make preparations on two fronts. Bet on "The Finality", and also bet on "The Hunt". The essence of both is connected; whichever bet succeeds, that plan will be used.
For "The Finality", Herta felt the probability of "Terminus" placing a bet was at most no more than fifty percent. While "The Hunt" had to be at least eighty percent.
So, before coming here, Herta applied the "Hunt" Aeon's data to Leon; simply put, hacking the account and inviting the god to play as a substitute. From the current results, Herta evidently won the bet.
"Lan" indeed did not brush off Leon's face, directly allowing him to become the "Hunt" Aeon of the past. This, of course, isn't permanent. Under the circumstance that the Path already has its master and its master is not dead, it cannot be permanent. So Leon is destined to only be a trial card.
He has only that one chance. One chance to mobilize the entire "Hunt" to shoot an arrow with the identity of "Lan". One chance to injure an "Aeon" and shatter "The Propagation"!
If not success, then death!
"En, I understand what you're saying."
After realizing the change in himself, Leon nodded to Herta.
However, strictly speaking, it should be two chances. After all, the surprise of "The Trailblaze" also counts; it can also give him a chance. It's just that Herta doesn't know.
Except for attacks launched by borrowing these two "Authorities", everything else is ineffective against "Aeons", and superpowers are mostly control-oriented. Leon must cherish them well. This time is the hardest of the hard, not comparable to the level of small fries from before. Facing an "Aeon", one careless move really means a crash.
"Good that you know."
Herta raised her hand, signaling to cut the formalities between the two.
Thump, thump, thump.
As they conversed, powerful stomping sounds came continuously, getting closer and closer; just listening, one knew it was footsteps that could only be produced by a scale of hundreds of people upwards.
Sure enough.
The gears of fate began to turn at this moment.
Before long, a massive, fully armed army marched into this Du System, which had nothing but insects. The Du System, this place had no minerals, let alone any rare resources; apart from insects, it was just insects, completely devoid of invasion value. When the Corporation saw such a place, they ignored it.
Precisely because of this, one couldn't help but start wondering why this army came to this Du System.
"This army belongs to Iladisina."
Herta knew that Leon, this crude martial artist, would absolutely never actively learn any history, so she began to explain to him on her own accord.
"Their leader is a 'Self-Annihilator'."
Leon listened quietly to Herta; he indeed didn't know these things.
"The occurrence of the tragedy of the Swarm Disaster can completely be said to have been caused by this leader alone."
Herta's eyes held a bit more solemnity.
"But unfortunately, he was ultimately just a puppet of fate."
Then why did this leader come to this Du System? Leon was just about to ask this when he heard Herta speak up a step ahead.
"'Self-Annihilators', these existences of 'The Nihility', mostly want to find something to prove they are alive; this leader is no exception."
Herta narrated the entire sequence of events of the Swarm Disaster history to him from beginning to end.
"This leader suffered from a 'defect'; his 'memory' could only be stored for three days. After three days, everything in the past would become a blur."
Oh my, I know this question, suppose you give me three days of light!
It's just a clumsy imitation. Both are three days; it's likely a homage. Leon thought for a moment and had a curious point, so he asked: "Three days? Is it really only three days?"
"If he can only store three days, how did he survive until now?"
Deducing backwards with this logic, if it had been like this since childhood... having parents is fine, but without parents, how did this person survive? Wouldn't life's common sense have long been forgotten?
"How would I know!"
Herta glared at him, always asking questions that didn't follow the routine.
"Then let's change the question. I see this Du System is unprofitable. The reason this leader led troops to attack the Du System, is it because he has some obsession with the Du System?"
The Du System is purely a poor, remote backwater; few people even know of it. Yet this leader specially led troops here; can it really be called a coincidence?
"No, but it's about the same," Herta shook her head and answered him. "The reason this leader came to the Du System is because he received a raving."
"'He initiates conquest, he establishes civilization, he finally finds the lost self.'"
She spoke word by word, her voice echoing in the silent environment.
If a story is full of tragedy, then we certainly hope to see the appearance of someone who can rewrite these tragedies.
If the figures of those heroes only exist in worlds far different from ours, then we will personally become them, and then bring them into this world.
"So why did the world become like this?"
"You ask me, I don't know."
Looking at the Giant Saver team constantly arresting cosmic criminals in space, and the Ares Enforcement Armor, as well as the Special Investigation Squadron constantly judging evil...
Caelus felt his brain crash in that instant.
"Does this world have Giants of Light?"
"Are you referring to the one next door, over fifty meters tall, who can beat up a destruction fleet in one breath, called Nexus?"
"Haha, then it's time for me, this Kamen Rider, to enter the stage!"
____
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