[Something's off. The camera angle was way too obvious—it was aiming straight for Mydei's back weakness.]
[This scene is definitely a major flag.]
[Besides Mydei himself, only Phainon knows about it. Right after Mydei told him, we get this meaningful shot. The cinematography says it all.]
[So the online theory that the Flame Reaver is actually corrupted Phainon is true?]
[Yeah, it's hard not to think that way.]
[But I have a question—what if it's just a red herring?]
[I don't think it is. miHoYo usually does this: when they give such obvious hints, it usually plays out exactly as people guess.]
[Right, otherwise they wouldn't make the shot so blatant.]
[So what kind of hellish joke would this be? If the Flame Reaver really is Phainon, why would he turn dark?]
——
Accompanied by the sound of an electric guitar, the plot reached its climax.
Mydei hurled the long spear formed above his head, sending it hurtling toward the Flame Reaver.
Boom——
After a violent explosion, countless crystals turned to powder and scattered across every corner of Castrum Kremnos, as if announcing the return of the city's true king.
Mydei grabbed a handful of the powder and scattered it.
"Bear witness… Castrum Kremnos welcomes a new god."
[That strike pierced the stars!]
[No wonder the Astral Express could be shot down.]
[Way too cool!]
——
The scene shifted to the voices of Okhema's citizens in discussion.
"Look, the warriors have returned!"
"But… is the rumor true? Oronyx has fallen?"
"Just like the Senate said—with a great enemy at our gates, the Chrysos Heirs will only cause more chaos instead of caring about the people's safety…"
"In the end, the Coreflame of 'Strife' still went to the people of Kremnos…"
"How noisy." Mydei couldn't help shaking his head.
The expedition team had safely returned to Okhema, yet the voices of controversy around them never ceased.
Even Phainon rarely chimed in. "The atmosphere… feels a bit delicate."
"It's probably… because of Oronyx's departure," Tribbie explained.
"In the eyes of the world, Oronyx has always been a generous Titan. It bestowed miracles and allowed people to gain benefits from the past…"
Phainon shook his head. "But they don't know that the Titan's 'generosity' was never voluntary. Regardless, the Titan's death is a done deal. We must return Oronyx's Coreflame."
"Heh…" The corner of Anaxa's mouth twitched.
"Going to see that woman again so soon. Looks like my ordeal is far from over."
Seeing this, Phainon used some high-EQ wording.
"Teacher Anaxa, perhaps… you should rest somewhere first? There are already a mountain of matters that require Aglaea's decision. If the two of you meet right now—to put it bluntly, it might split her focus.
Just… try to behave yourself a little more. You know what I mean."
[Whoa, telling his own teacher to behave? Snowy!]
[Not even polite to his teacher, huh kid.]
[Looks like this lineup is five bottles of Screaming.]
[Hahaha, "Screaming" is killing me—it really does feel like that.]
[I'm done with you guys and your five bottles of Screaming. I can't get it out of my head now.]
"Unfortunately, that's not up to me. The moment I stepped into the holy city, I was already in her prison. Who told me to have a Titan living in my head?" Anaxa played along.
"Don't worry, I don't want to ask for trouble."
With that, he left the group alone.
Caelus had been watching for a while and finally spoke up. "He and Aglaea really don't get along?"
Phainon's expression turned visibly helpless. "Well, that's putting it mildly. Don't worry, you'll understand these relationships sooner or later."
At that moment, Mydei, who had been silent, spoke.
"Dealing with Oronyx's Coreflame probably doesn't require my presence. I'll take my leave—I have some personal matters to handle."
Before his words even finished, he hurriedly departed.
Watching Mydei's retreating figure, Tribbie sighed.
"Dee… after completing the trial, his back somehow looks even lonelier."
"Yeah. So much has happened in just these past few days…" Phainon suddenly changed the subject.
"Teacher Tribbie, you've looked deep in thought since earlier. Did Trinnon send some news?"
Tribbie replied calmly,
"Yes… she found Trianne. In the mountain ravine outside the temple. Unfortunately, it's bad news."
"Please accept my condolences."
"It's alright. Besides Trianne, they also found another person at the scene… When Trinnon and Hyacine arrived, he was already no different from a corpse. He endured countless slashes and stabs, then jumped off a thousand-foot cliff, all to carry Trianne's body out of the black-robed swordsman's grasp."
Phainon's eyes brightened.
"There was actually such a brave warrior? Can his identity be identified?"
"It was…" Tribbie paused, then smiled. "Krateros."
[Whoa, that old bastard who kidnapped Trinnon?]
[Ah? Well, expected yet unexpected.]
[I was just thinking it might be him. After all, he kidnapped Trinnon and failed the Vortex of Creation trial. I wondered if the story would give him a chance at redemption.]
[Came out of nowhere!]
[Krateros, you didn't even get to see Mydei become the new king of Castrum Kremnos!]
[Bro, he's not even dead yet. Why are you panicking?]
——
Not long ago.
"Stop!"
The Flame Reaver looked at the newcomer—an old man in frail condition who had already lost his left eye—and let out a light snort. "Heh."
"You want this girl's life? You'll have to step over my corpse first." Krateros stood in front of Trianne.
"Ridiculous… Can a body of flesh and blood withstand even a single strike?"
Krateros's eyes were resolute, without a trace of fear. "'Better to die in battle than return in disgrace'—I was born a son of Kremnos. When have I ever feared death?"
"I have no interest in an empty shell that has lost its divine power… But answer me, child of Strife. Why do you raise your shield for her?"
"Hmph… As the foremost champion of the Godshield Legion, I once held this round shield and escorted the king against the Black Tide countless times… Pathetic butcher, how could you understand its weight?"
"Pity." The Flame Reaver raised its shattered greatsword. "Then perish like rusted iron."
Krateros thumped his chest hard.
"I couldn't ask for more! Let me enjoy the libations and incense of my descendants, and the highest glory!"
As he spoke, he charged forward to meet the black blade.
"Come! For Kremnos, for my king… for Amphoreus!"
[So awesome. Such a simple scene was enough to establish a side character.]
[miHoYo has always been good at writing supporting roles.]
[That old man is a real man.]
[Didn't Aglaea ground him? Did I miss something? This feels like a plot hole.]
[As expected, there are comments like this. Can't you use your brain? Where would Aglaea have the time to enforce that? And since Mydei already took the trial, hasn't Krateros's goal been achieved?]
[Exactly. If they kept Krateros grounded, wouldn't that be deliberately opposing Castrum Kremnos?]
[There are always comment gods who can't even do basic logical reasoning. This kind of blank space is easy to figure out. There really are all kinds of people.]
[Comment gods, all kings in their own minds.]
——
At the same time, in the Cloudstone Celestial Palace.
The group who had stayed behind in Okhema wore grave expressions.
They looked at Trianne, who had completely turned into a doll.
"We foresaw the cruelty of parting a thousand years ago. Today we simply taste it once more," Aglaea said solemnly.
"But Lady Aglaea… I don't understand. What drained Lady Trianne wasn't life itself…" Hyacine couldn't hide the sorrow on her face.
"She really seems… to have become a doll? I don't understand…"
"Don't be sad, Hyacine." Trinnon slowly turned around.
"Trianne simply used up the time she borrowed from Janus. Her soul rode the west wind and flew ahead to a world without sorrow."
"If such a world really exists… have the people from the Grove already arrived there?"
Aglaea patted Hyacine's shoulder.
"It definitely exists, Hyacine. Remember? The oracle that guides the Chrysos Heirs was left behind by Kephale before her silence. She deeply loves her creations and would not lead us astray with lies."
The next moment, perhaps to distract Hyacine, Aglaea inquired about Krateros's condition.
"What about that old Kremnos general? How is he?"
"The Twilight Court did everything they could, but they could only… barely keep him alive. I used the Sky Priest's methods to let him walk again. But if one day light completely vanishes from Okhema… let's hope that never happens."
Even though it was already a miracle to have saved Krateros, Hyacine was still filled with self-blame.
[Miraculous recovery, Doctor Hyacine!]
[He can survive even that? Is Krateros too tough, or is Hyacine's medical skill too strong?]
[He can still walk after that? Truly a miraculous recovery!]
[Thank goodness he didn't die! Thank goodness!]
[Light vanishing from Okhema… heh… then it definitely will!]
[He survived a thousand cuts and stabs? Give me back Trianne!! miHoYo!! Doctor Hyacine, please treat a dead horse like it's still alive!]
[It's useless. This is energy exhaustion, not physical injury. She can't be saved.]
——
Dan Heng quickly comforted her. "This is already a miracle. When we found Krateros, he was practically indistinguishable from a corpse."
Aglaea nodded.
"As parting draws near, the golden threads loosen, and the heroes have returned with spoils of war. Everyone, take this chance to rest and prepare."