[Oh no, the foreshadowing is here.]
[This is basically the same as "I'm leaving my back to you."]
[There's a difference. Leaving your back to someone doesn't mean you'll definitely die. Revealing your own weakness does.]
[Damn, I'm so scared right now!]
Phainon nodded solemnly. "It's a deal."
Mydei walked forward without looking back.
"Go on, head to your battlefield and deliver death to that fire-stealing hyena."
Suddenly, he paused.
"But if you are ever pushed to the brink, pray to the blade in the heavens—and loudly call out the new god's name."
[Bro, that was kinda cool!]
[Isn't this just Lan?]
[You're way too cool, man!]
[Lan: What the hell is this rare specimen? Gotta take a closer look. If he dyes his hair white, I could give him an Emanator position.]
[Could the third Path be Hunt?]
[Doesn't seem like it. There's still quite a gap compared to Amphoreus and the Xianzhou Luofu.]
——
The screen went black. No visuals, only the deafening roar of raging battlefield flames.
Footsteps grew increasingly urgent.
Phainon and Caelus were sprinting deep into Castrum Kremnos.
Corpses of Kremnos's people lay scattered everywhere around them.
The two pressed onward as the sounds of battle grew louder and more intense.
Tribbie had already been waiting for them.
"Once we retrieve the Coreflame, Janus's Secret Path will open. Everyone must escape immediately—do not linger.
The rest… depends on our teamwork."
"Remember what Mydei said—on the battlefield, cast aside all distractions…" Phainon gave Caelus a slight nod.
"Go, partner—today, fate will stand on our side!"
In an instant, the three charged toward the center of the battlefield.
The camera surged forward rapidly along with their steps.
Anaxa had been fighting the Flame Reaver with a shotgun for quite some time.
[A frail academic?]
[Holy shit, this gunman can actually fight!]
[So Teacher Anaxa has been holding it off alone all this time?]
[Hahaha, a close-quarters gunner. As expected of Teacher Anaxa.]
[One ranged glass cannon versus a close-combat boss, and he held on this long? I can only say the Titan of Reason's value keeps rising!]
——
"You finally made it." After blocking the Flame Reaver's sword strike, Anaxa retreated dozens of meters backward.
Caelus keenly caught the opening—this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
While running, he pulled out the quill pen. "I'm counting on you… Mem!"
"Mem~"
Mem appeared following the quill's afterimage and immediately opened the gate to the past city.
The Flame Reaver looked at the suddenly changing scenery around it.
"Repent in the memories of the fallen!!!" Phainon summoned a greatsword. "Executioner!"
Seeing the plan succeed, Anaxa raised his weapon again and charged at the Flame Reaver first, muttering,
"You really kept us waiting… If you hadn't come soon, this Titan might have sacrificed me."
Cerces's figure emerged beside Anaxa.
"Hmph, frail child of man… Keeping your whole body intact under that blade is far more exhausting than unraveling the ultimate truth."
However, the Flame Reaver gave them no chance to catch their breath. It raised its shattered black greatsword and swung down at Anaxa.
Clang——
A harsh metallic clash rang out.
Phainon raised his greatsword and blocked the Flame Reaver, his eyes burning with vengeful fury.
Yet he didn't let anger cloud his judgment and immediately commanded,
"Human wave tactics… we'll divide and conquer!"
When Caelus heard "human wave tactics," he felt right at home!
Surviving countless life-or-death situations on the Trailblaze journey and coming out unscathed was basically thanks to "human wave tactics" with four people!
Caelus drew his flame lance and unleashed a barrage of attacks on the Flame Reaver.
However, this time Caelus really didn't bring enough people.
The only ones who could count as combat power were Phainon and himself, while Anaxa provided occasional suppressive fire from the side.
"Teacher, get ready to move! We can't hold much longer!" Phainon forcefully pushed away the black blade that nearly struck his brow.
"Quiet, I know what I'm doing!"
Before Anaxa could finish speaking, the Flame Reaver left a clone in place and instantly appeared in front of him, casually knocking the weapon from his hands with a single strike.
Everyone present cried out in alarm.
The Flame Reaver thrust its ritual sword toward Anaxa.
But Anaxa seized the moment and snatched Cerces's Coreflame back from the Flame Reaver's grasp.
The Flame Reaver sensed something was wrong and yanked twice, but the Coreflame wouldn't budge.
"Finally… got it!"
[Flame Reaver: What the hell?]
[It's kinda funny how it's pulling so hard but can't get it out.]
[Notice the label here—it's the Coreflame of Time.]
[This is killing me. Who still dares call Teacher Anaxa a frail scholar?]
[Phainon, your teacher really is your teacher!]
Seeing the Coreflame about to be pulled away, the Flame Reaver suddenly increased its strength.
But Anaxa, as if he had predicted the move, took the Coreflame of Time at blinding speed.
The Flame Reaver staggered backward a couple of steps from the momentum.
"Hundred Realms Gate—open!" Tribbie seized the fleeting opportunity.
A great gate transported everyone from the past city back to reality.
But before they could even catch their breath—
Unexpectedly, the Flame Reaver's dagger tore through space and stepped out into the air…
Anaxa immediately turned and prepared to pull the trigger, but the Flame Reaver had already closed in on the group.
Fortunately, a wave of blood-red crystals spread through the air and successfully pinned the Flame Reaver in place.
"How pathetic, 'Deliverer'."
Hearing the voice behind him, Phainon froze for a moment, then let out a relieved chuckle. "Heh, why didn't you descend from the sky?"
Beneath the Lance of Fury, a figure slowly walked forward, stepping on crimson crystals with every stride.
"This city already belongs to me… why wouldn't I use the front door?"
The immobilized Flame Reaver had just freed its arms when even more crystals flew toward it.
[Mydei really is cool from start to finish!]
[This is literally a protagonist's entrance, isn't it?]
[It's just too cool, okay.]
——
Mydei walked to Phainon's side. The two exchanged a knowing smile, then turned their sharp gazes forward.
Crack——
The crystals encasing the Flame Reaver shattered.
A great battle was about to erupt.
...
Even with Mydei's help, the fight was still far from easy.
At this moment, the Flame Reaver unleashed a terrifying surge of power.
Countless phantom clones appeared behind it, each performing different sword strikes.
The next instant, sword edges came raining down.
No one present could tell exactly how many strikes the Flame Reaver had unleashed.
Only an endless storm of blades poured toward the group.
[Whoa, this ultimate move! It's kinda broken!]
[Wait, this villain is actually this cool?]
[Not gonna lie, both the Flame Reaver's outfit and weapons look awesome. This villain's design is really something.]
[The cooler it is, the more it means something big.]
——
"It's time to end this."
The Flame Reaver, floating in the air, casually waved its hand.
Countless clones surged toward the group.
Mydei charged ahead, smashing one with each punch, but their sheer numbers overwhelmed him. He was knocked back several meters by the Flame Reaver's true body and barely stabilized himself.
At that moment, the Flame Reaver raised its blade and summoned several more clones, aiming straight for Mydei's back weakness.
Fortunately, Phainon saw the danger and blocked the lethal strike with his greatsword.
Mydei seized the opening and sent the Flame Reaver flying with a powerful punch.
He raised his right hand high. Countless crystals gathered in his palm, slowly forming a long spear.
"Heroic souls of strife, heed my command… I am the 'Lance of Fury'… This is the necessary pain of this world!"