---o---
"..."
For a moment, Ron fell silent.
Finding another way for Bronya to embark upon the Path of [The Destruction] was not simple. And if she did embark on it through other means, as a newcomer to the Path, she would find it difficult to reach its depths.
Bronya's idea wasn't wrong. Having Phantylia possess her was indeed the best choice.
After a Heliobus possesses an intelligent lifeform, they become, to a certain extent, completely merged. Many hosts, in the initial stages of possession, will have their actions influenced but can still maintain their own consciousness as the dominant one.
At this time, under the Heliobus's guidance, they can do things they were previously incapable of. A miraculous power will be bestowed upon them, just as the Reignbow Arbiter and the Cloud Knights of old gained unspeakable power from the Heliobi.
Therefore, Bronya's thinking was correct.
If Phantylia truly possessed her, she would, in that instant, gain power equivalent to an Emanator of [The Destruction]. And because it would be the very beginning of the possession, she would, in theory, still have control.
With this, she would be able to step onto the Path of [The Destruction] and cross the threshold that lay before her.
…But it was not without a price.
---o---
Although Phantylia was currently locked in the Moon-Storing Gourd, and was quite submissive when dragged out for interrogation, soft as a little lamb, that didn't mean she actually was one.
Lord Ravagers… these Emanators of [The Destruction] have always been as ravenous, insidious, and cunning as wolves.
Phantylia might maintain a docile facade in their presence, but if she were to leave the gourd and possess Bronya… the situation would be entirely different.
Bronya simply did not have the power to contend with an Emanator. If she were truly possessed by Phantylia, what the Heliobus would bring her would not just be the qualification to walk the Path of [The Destruction], but also the vast, ocean-like will of [The Destruction].
Before Phantylia, Bronya's mind was as small and fragile as a dying candle flame.
Don't be fooled by how thoroughly suppressed Phantylia seemed now. A creature like a Heliobus is incredibly tenacious. Her power had not been exhausted; with just a single wisp of flame remaining, she could easily burn Bronya's thoughts to ash.
By the time Bronya's mind was reduced to cinders in the Heliobus's cold, azure flames, the one walking the Path of [The Destruction] with the Lantern of [Salvation] would no longer be a Knight of Salvation with the intent to broaden the 'New Life' branch and awaken Nanook.
Perhaps Bronya possessed a will resolute enough to resist Phantylia's burning, to hold on and walk the Path of [The Destruction] to its end. But her final outcome would inevitably be to be completely consumed by the possession, reduced to nothing more than smoldering embers.
…Ron was well aware of what happened to other players after they experienced a simulation.
Before this simulation began, Ron had learned from Fu Xuan and Herta about their simulation experiences, which in turn confirmed his own special status within the Life Simulation Game.
After these players completed each simulation, they would gain all the memories from it. Relying on these past experiences, they would receive items they once possessed in the simulation as rewards.
But Ron wasn't plagued by the memories of the simulation. He could even sublimate physical rewards into purely conceptual traits to apply to himself, which was clearly a more advanced and less intrusive method.
So… if Bronya really chose to be possessed by Phantylia, to use Phantylia's power to embark upon the Path of [The Destruction], and was then burned to nothing, what would become of her when the simulation ended?
One must understand that the loading of simulation memories doesn't care whether the player can bear them.
The agony of having one's self eroded bit by bit by a Heliobus, of having one's emotions and consciousness devoured, of having one's soul burned away—it was a process that dragged a person into an endless void, truly annihilating the very meaning of their existence.
If such an experience were to befall Bronya, even if her physical body in reality remained untouched, her spirit would undoubtedly be scoured by that agony from the memory of being burned to nothing, leading to a loss of self.
Although being possessed by Phantylia was indeed the best and fastest choice at present, one that would absolutely allow Bronya to embark upon the Path of [The Destruction], if he cared about Bronya's well-being, he should never let her do it.
And yet…
Looking at the resolute determination in Bronya's eyes, Ron found himself unable to voice his objections.
Ron's concerns were not unknown to him alone. Bronya was naturally aware of what she would face.
But even knowing what lay ahead, she still resolutely proposed this course of action. After stating her goal, she had said, "The memory of a simulation is but a fleeting moment of pain. That pain is far less important than success," and, "The Life Simulation Game gave us different simulation choices, and I want to experience a different life. In the past, it was always you who did things like this. This time, let it be me."
It was hard to imagine that this was the same indecisive girl who was once so weak she would follow Cocolia around crying "Mother."
Her growth was now visible to the naked eye. Ron could feel an aura about Bronya, an aura that seemed as if it could crush any obstacle, no matter what she faced.
Perhaps that was what was called "resolve."
If she truly possessed such a firm and decisive will, then perhaps even Phantylylia wouldn't be able to so easily burn her mind to ash.
After all, the more determined the host's will, the more difficult it is for a Heliobus to devour their emotions and, by extension, influence their decisions, completely possess their body, and turn them into a puppet.
Bronya… perhaps she really could use this dangerous method, like dancing on a blade's edge, to walk the Path of [The Destruction] with the Lantern of [Salvation] in hand.
After a moment of silence, Ron closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
If that was the case, then he would do as Bronya wished.
She had made her preparations and was filled with the same resolve. Ron could find no reason to persuade Bronya to take an easier path. He even felt that one more word of persuasion would be an insult to her determination.
He opened the stopper of the Moon-Storing Gourd. A mass of azure flame flowed out smoothly, gathering like a pool of azure water, shimmering and ethereal. Then, two eyes opened upon it.
"...Why did you let me out again?"
Phantylia's tone was somewhat annoyed. Though she had lost track of time inside the gourd, she could still tell that only a short while had passed.
They had just dragged her out for a half-day interrogation. She had obediently told them everything she could, yet the three of them still unscrupulously beat her up and stuffed her back into the gourd. This was a huge blow to Phantylia.
Did they have any idea how much damage those slaps from Herta did to a child of several thousand years? She still felt dizzy!
Since she was already a prisoner, Phantylia had become a bit listless. She would rather be kept locked in the gourd than be dragged out for another interrogation.
After all, she had nothing to fear. Nanook had already heard her summons and would be arriving soon. As a Heliobus, her body was immortal. The only reason she had willingly divulged information was to get revenge on HooH and to avoid another beating from Herta.
But she had clearly said she would still be beaten. Had she not been a good citizen for nothing?
Since being compliant gets you beaten, and being non-compliant also gets you beaten, she might as well be non-compliant.
Thus, with this thought in mind, Phantylia's current attitude towards Ron and the others was not very good. She even wished they would just beat her up quickly so she could go back into the gourd and sleep until the arrival of her Father and Savior—Nanook of [The Destruction].
But Ron paid no mind to Phantylia's current attitude. He simply pointed to Bronya, who was holding the Lantern of [Salvation], and said in a flat tone, "Possess her."
"...Possess her?"
Phantylia's voice turned strange. The azure flame of her body bounced slightly as she turned to glance at Bronya.
"Are you sure you want me to possess her? Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
"That's right. Possess her."
Ron's tone remained placid, but his lowered gaze seemed to be in deep thought. After a moment, he added, "This is a deal, Phantylia."
"A deal? With me, you have no credit score…"
Phantylia's tone was sarcastic, seeming to allude to what Ron had just put her through.
But Ron didn't get angry at her provocation. He simply cut her off calmly.
"Don't be so quick to refuse. Hear me out, then you can refuse."
"I want you to possess Bronya… and bring her onto the Path of [The Destruction]."
"The branches of the Imaginary Tree can only be trodden by Pathstriders of the corresponding Path. As an Emanator, you should be well aware of what a Path looks like once it's conceptualized and materialized."
"You also know… if you possess her and step onto the Path of [The Destruction], I will have no way of stopping you from leaving."
As Ron spoke, he closed the stopper of the Moon-Storing Gourd and casually tossed it aside. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he loaded the "Way of Salvation" trait.
In an instant, an indescribable aura emanated from Ron. His pupils ignited with a brilliant golden flame, and his piercing, incandescent gaze stared fixedly at Phantylia. In a corner of her body that no one was paying attention to, a faint golden pattern appeared on her azure flames.
"This is your one and only chance to regain your freedom."
"Either be burned to nothing, or take her onto the Path of [The Destruction]. Your choice."
Looking at Ron's golden-tinged eyes, the azure flame of Phantylia's body shrank in on itself.
You've got to be kidding me! This aura, this power…!
This near, palpable sense of danger…
This is clearly a power that only an Aeon can possess!!
One must know, although Heliobi were immortal, their immortality was limited.
Before Aeon-level power, any form of immortality was just a pathetic joke.
Her heart was cursing wildly, but on the surface, she showed nothing.
She didn't even dare to say another word. She floated over to Bronya with extreme compliance and gently flowed into her body like a pool of clear water.
But just as Ron had predicted, Phantylia was no meek lamb, but an insidious wolf.
Though she was being extremely submissive now, her heart was already filled with hatred.
Once she was on the Path of [The Destruction], she would be in Nanook's domain. Even if Ron was truly an Aeon, he would have absolutely no way of setting foot on the Path of [The Destruction].
At that point, everything would be on her terms.
She had already made up her mind. After obediently bringing Bronya onto the Path, she would utterly incinerate Bronya's consciousness. Whatever these people were planning, it would all be reduced to dust in the flames.
With this thought, Phantylia completely merged into Bronya's body. Bronya felt a warm power flowing through her limbs and bones. A scorching heat rose in her chest, and an infinite strength pumped with every beat of her heart to the ends of every vein.
Her aura surged, and in an instant, it had reached the same level as Herta's.
Phantylia had obediently opened all her power to Bronya, allowing her to possess the abilities of an Emanator of [The Destruction].
In the next moment, the reality before Bronya shattered like broken glass. The illusory void and reality were clearly demarcated, the jagged edges of the fracture looking sharp enough to draw blood.
And in the void of this shattered world, an illusory "branch," seemingly wrapped in infinite colors, extended forth. Bronya was standing at its tip, preparing to walk towards its end.
The branch of the Imaginary Tree had materialized before her due to the collision of the Emanator's power and the Lantern of [Salvation]. Ron didn't say much. He just gave Bronya a slight nod, and she then stepped forward without hesitation, her foot landing on the illusory branch.
In the next instant, everything vanished.
The shattered world reassembled itself, as if nothing had happened, returning to its normal state.
But Bronya and Phantylia had disappeared, along with the Lantern of [Salvation]. They had completely fallen into the other side of the world, stepping onto a branch of the Imaginary Tree.
---o---
Watching Bronya leave, Herta couldn't help but frown.
She had wanted to interrupt several times just now, but Ron and Bronya's determination had suppressed her own thoughts.
But now that Bronya had truly embarked upon the Path of [The Destruction], holding the Lantern as she stepped onto the branch of the Imaginary Tree, Herta could no longer hold back her doubts. She looked at Ron, who seemed to be deep in thought.
"So… what do we do now?"
"Although I don't think Bronya can succeed… even if she does, the Lantern of [Salvation] is gone with her. How are you going to complete the 'Guiding Spirit Lantern'?"
"We only have one Lantern of [Salvation]. We won't be able to get our hands on another material of this grade."
Hearing Herta's question, Ron's expression was calm. He turned his head to look at the Furnace of Creation.
"Who told you we only have one Lantern of [Salvation]?"
As he spoke, he stepped forward without hesitation. The brilliant golden flames burning in his eyes began to overflow, dyeing his entire body gold.
"The Lantern of [Salvation] is merely the physical manifestation of the Path of [Salvation]. And as for the so-called Path of [Salvation], there is no one who can forge it better than I can…"
"I will forge myself, and turn 'Ron, the Aeon of Salvation' into the Guiding Spirit Lantern that can break through the veil of fate."
"Don't let Bronya's determination be in vain. Fire up the furnace."