Seeing Phainon's actions, Dan Heng asked tentatively, "Do you know its movements?"
Phainon gave a slight nod.
"I didn't have time to explain to the two of you earlier, but Teacher Anaxa and I have long harbored concerns about the Black Tide and have already made preparations.
We can talk about the details on the way. The opportunity is fleeting—we must seize the moment."
Just then, an Okhema scout arrived before the group.
After relaying Aglaea's message, Phainon still intended to confront the black-robed swordsman.
Dan Heng noticed Phainon's impulsive mindset and proposed a compromise: he and Hyacine would remain in the Abyss of Fate, while Phainon would take Tribbie, Trinnon, and Caelus back to Okhema first.
This way, both sides could support each other if anything developed.
A slightly calmer Phainon nodded.
"I'm counting on you all. Partner, Teacher Tribbie, let's go!"
——
The scene shifted, and the group had already returned to the holy city of Okhema.
At this moment, Aglaea had regrouped with Phainon and the others.
They began sharing their battle plan.
After all, the black-robed swordsman's strength was overwhelmingly powerful. Without a foolproof strategy, rushing into battle would be no different from suicide.
Moreover, they had lost the only two Titans standing with humanity—[Reason] and [Time]—in such a short period.
With the situation having reached this point, Phainon began relaying Anaxa's findings.
...
Not long after listening to the explanation, Tribbie let out a long breath, her face full of disbelief.
"It's not only hunting Titans, but also stripping away their Coreflames…?"
Phainon continued explaining, "Exactly. It's eerily similar to the Flame-Chasing Journey… Teacher Anaxa believes the appearance of the Flame Reaver may be a sign of the Black Tide spreading further."
Aglaea rested her chin on one hand, thinking for a long time.
"Regardless of whether the inference is true or false, it's far more aggressive than we imagined."
"But this madness is also our opportunity. Since Coreflames are its target, humanity can lure it into a trap."
Phainon laid out the next part of the plan.
"While we were heading to the Abyss, Teacher Anaxa had already taken Cerces's Coreflame and left the holy city ahead of time to set up the battlefield."
[Anaxa feels a bit overpowered, huh?]
[Well, he is a sage, so of course he's overpowered.]
[From the moment I saw how Anaxa acted, I knew he was special—especially that arrogance, you know? But arrogance needs real ability to back it up.]
——
In contrast, Aglaea's brows were tightly furrowed.
"Tell me, why are you all so confident that the outcome won't be yet another lost Coreflame?"
Phainon smiled slightly, as if he had anticipated her question.
"Because this time, a great power from beyond the heavens stands with us as well…"
He pointed at Caelus beside him.
"The key lies with him!"
Caelus blinked, clearly understanding who Phainon was referring to.
He looked down at his own chest.
"I have a Stellaron. Can it pass as a Coreflame?"
[Hahahaha, when it really counts, it's you!]
[Phainon: Time to deploy the surprise force.]
[Jing Yuan: Please pay the copyright fee, thank you.]
[Stellaron impersonation?]
[Black-robed swordsman: Finally killed this Stellaron spirit, but this one is ridiculous—actually has four forms. Huh? What's this shiny thing it pulled out? Doesn't look like a Coreflame?]
[Honestly, so far the only one I think could fight the Flame Reaver is Longdan.]
——
Phainon smiled and shook his head. "We still need your other companion."
At that moment, Mem suddenly popped out.
"Oh… are you talking about me?"
[I'm dying! She actually said a complete sentence!]
[I feel like it's still related to the Titans. The more Titans die, the smoother she speaks.]
[Could Mem actually be the final big boss? Are the Titans seals? Does the Flame Reaver have some huge connection with Mem?]
At this point, Aglaea had also roughly guessed the truth.
"I see. Phainon, the 'battlefield' you mentioned earlier… could it be Castrum Kremnos?"
"Precisely. Everyone surely remembers the astonishing miracle that my partner and his companions performed during the Battle of Nikador, awakening Castrum Kremnos's past." Phainon continued explaining the plan.
"This is the key to victory—we will repeat the old tactic. Using Oronyx's power to open the Gate of the Past, we lure the enemy deep inside… then 'seal' the Flame Reaver within the labyrinth of time."
Aglaea seemed quite satisfied with the plan.
"Not bad. Oronyx has already fallen, and Janus's divine power now belongs to Okhema. As long as we can retrieve the Coreflame, that swordsman will have no means of escape.
Rather than a bloody frontal battle, we win through ingenuity—a very clever approach."
She turned to Mem with a smile.
"Little one, can you do it?"
"Memmi (You mean throwing the black guy into the past and locking him up, right? With the memory fragments, opening the entrance is no problem, but the rest…)"
Mem put her hands on her hips and looked at Caelus.
"Memmi (I can only say—believe that with me and Caelus together, we can do anything!)"
Caelus patted his chest. "That's right, we are unstoppable!"
"Mem (Yes! Do you feel everyone's eager gazes? On such an important occasion, we can't let them down!)"
Seeing the group's confident appearance, Aglaea informed them of another special situation.
The Senate planned to convene a citizens' assembly ahead of schedule. At that time, the Chrysos Heirs led by Aglaea would have to face questions from the people.
For now, she had already sent Castorice to the Senate to stabilize the situation.
The purpose of Aglaea sharing this was to let everyone know that Okhema had truly reached a state of internal troubles and external threats.
Therefore, they must capture the Flame Reaver in one decisive strike and secure a complete victory.
Only then would the Chrysos Heirs have a strong hand when facing the Senate's challenge.
After the pre-battle mobilization, Caelus noticed a problem.
"Isn't someone missing?"
"You mean Mydei? He's dealing with another difficult issue right now." Phainon forced a smile, hiding the worry beneath it.
"Don't worry. That man will never be absent from this battle."
——
In the Vortex of Creation.
Mydei prepared to undergo the trial.
The voices of past memories still echoed incessantly in his ears.
The next moment, Mydei suddenly opened his eyes.
Just as he was about to take a step forward—
"You really are here." Phainon's voice sounded from behind him.
Mydei slightly turned his gaze. "I heard you're about to set off on an expedition soon."
"That's right. This will be an incredibly difficult battle. The destination… is still Castrum Kremnos."
"So you came to pray to the deceased Nikador?"
Phainon shook his head. "No, quite the opposite. I came to tell you…
This time, just leave the front lines to us. The battlefield you must face… also cannot be lost."
"Hmph…" Mydei let out a cold snort.
"Have you heard the story of the 'Mountain Opener' Geokles?"
"It seems you've spoken with Chartonus. That name belongs to the legendary mountain folk, right?"
"Before we part, let me say a few more words." Mydei began recounting the story to Phainon.
A long while later.
Mydei finished telling the tale of the Mountain Opener.
"That is Geokles. His merits and faults will be judged by others. But history still honors him as the 'Mountain Opener.' Why do you think that is?
The reason is simple—because he took action. He used his own hands to carve out change. He didn't try to make everyone understand him, nor did he waste time in the dilemma of pleasing both sides.
He burned away the shackles called 'tradition' with a great fire, then forced everyone… to step toward the rolling tide of a new era."
After hearing the story, Phainon understood everything.
"You've made up your mind, haven't you?"
Mydei did not deny it. "Soon, I will leave Okhema to fight the darkest forces of this world and bear… Nikador's fate."
The next moment, he looked gravely at Phainon and entrusted his most important secret to the man before him.
"So listen carefully—if one day we meet again on the battlefield and I stand against the Flame-Chasing side… remember to stab the tenth thoracic vertebra from behind. That is my only weakness that can kill me."