"Cifera... what brings you here?" Seeing Cipher, Aglaea's lips lifted into a gentle smile.
"Me?" Cipher raised an eyebrow. "Seamstress, you haven't truly forgotten what day it is, have you? It's time for the shift change, oh demigod who governs the holy city."
"While those tedious administrative documents can all be pushed onto you to handle, 'that place'... isn't something just anyone can manage properly. A demigod must be personally present." She shrugged, her tone carrying a note of matter-of-factness.
"Time passes so quickly... it is indeed the rotation period." Aglaea nodded slightly, then fell into thought. "According to the previously established schedule based on the order of becoming a demigod, the next one should be..." Her gaze naturally turned towards Tribbie, who was listening quietly nearby.
Noticing Aglaea's look, Tribbie just smiled, hands on her hips, and shook her head. "Now, now, Aglaea, don't look at us. If we strictly follow the order of becoming a demigod, after the 'Trickery' demigod, there is now a newly ascended demigod."
"Teacher, you mean..." Aglaea understood immediately, looking towards Stelle beside her. "This new 'Time' demigod?"
...
A short while later, Aglaea brought Stelle and the accompanying Dan Heng to a rather special district within the holy city of Okhema.
It was closer to the core of the Dawn Device. The architectural styles varied, and the air was filled with a vibrant, mixed scent of various beings.
"Stelle, I understand you may not be keen on facing mountains of administrative documents daily," Aglaea's tone was gentle yet carried an undeniable gravity. "But as the demigod on duty for this rotation, your essential duty is to properly govern this specific district."
Dan Heng observed the surroundings, keenly sensing an unusual aura. He asked on Stelle's behalf: "Is this district particularly dangerous? Why must a demigod govern it personally?"
"Not because of danger," Aglaea shook her head gently, explaining. "But because... this district is mostly inhabited by the relatives and kin of the various demigods, or the Golden Descendant heroes."
"This includes Dromases in human form, small chimeras of various shapes, sirens requiring specific environments, and so on. Because the racial composition is too complex, ordinary administrators truly find it difficult to coordinate. Therefore, it has always been managed personally by the demigod on duty. Only with a demigod's prestige and power can harmony be maintained here."
Stelle looked around curiously: by the roadside, a fluffy little chimera with wings and horns was obediently lining up to buy a snack; not far away, a tall, rock-skinned, steady humanoid Dromas was walking past slowly; by the street corner fountain, several sirens with dewdrops shimmering in their hair, their voices ethereal and beautiful, were softly singing... She looked at this fantastical scene and thought that if this were in a game, it would at least be a major version event giving out over a thousand Oneiric Shard.
By now, the surrounding people and beings had also noticed Aglaea, gradually gathering around, their curious gazes falling on the unfamiliar Stelle beside her.
Looking at these diverse residents, an idea suddenly sparked in Stelle's mind, as if she had thought of something brilliant. She stepped forward, clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Esteemed neighbors of the district!" She cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound more authoritative. "I am Stelle, the 'Time' demigod who will be managing this district for the foreseeable future!"
She looked around at the faces filled with curiosity, confusion, or calm, and announced clearly:
"They say a new official brings three fires! Today, I also announce three important matters!"
She raised her first finger. "First, starting tomorrow, every household must place a trash can outside their door!"
Then came the second finger. "Second, every household must throw at least one bag of trash into their door's trash can every day!"
Finally, she raised her third finger, her tone tinged with the excitement of impending wealth. "Third, and most importantly—all, and I mean ALL, the trash cans on this street, their ownership belongs to the 'Time' demigod, which is me!!"
"Mi mi, mi!" Mem flying beside her also timely waved its little fist, as if cheering her on, or emphasizing the seriousness of this rule.
"..."
The scene fell into an eerie silence. The air seemed to freeze. All the residents, whether Dromases, chimeras, or sirens, stood frozen in place, their faces filled with bewilderment and disbelief.
"Pfft..." A barely suppressed laugh broke the silence.
It was Castorice.
Realizing everyone was looking at her, her cheeks instantly flushed crimson again. She hurriedly waved her hands in explanation. "S-Sorry, Lady Stelle! I absolutely don't mean to laugh at you! It's just... the way you just made the announcement was, um, really... really too cute..." Her voice trailed off into a whisper.
"Ai..." Aglaea watched this scene, raising a hand to gently massage her forehead, letting out a long sigh.
She was beginning to doubt whether entrusting the heavy responsibility of managing this special district to Stelle was truly a wise decision.
...
At the Worldbearing Altar, six Coreflames slowly rotated around the center, while the seventh Coreflame awaiting submission hovered quietly in Mydei's hands.
Mydei stared at his close friend before him, his voice low and solemn. "Deliverer, are you truly decided on giving the Strife Coreflame to me?" This was his final inquiry.
Phainon met his gaze and shook his head, he gave a carefree smile and said. "This was always the Coreflame belonging to your Kremnos clan. The usual competitive banter is one thing, but would I truly covet this power that should rightfully be inherited by you? Moreover..."
He lifted his eyes towards the slumbering giant shadow in the depths of the altar, his tone carrying a certain conviction. "I am the prophesied Savior. Somehow, I have a feeling that the final 'Worldbearing' Coreflame might be my destined end."
He changed the subject, leaning closer with a touch of mischievous curiosity. "Speaking of which, given our friendship forged in life-and-death battles... can't you secretly tell me, what wish are you planning to make when you become a demigod later?"
Mydei let out a soft snort but didn't avoid the question. His gaze turned towards the distance, as if already seeing that city shrouded in darkness. "It's no secret to tell you, Deliverer. My wish is... to obtain a divine body akin to Nikador's, nearly indestructible."
"I remember you used to despise that kind of..." Phainon was taken aback, his eyes full of surprise.
"That was then, this is now." Mydei interrupted him, his voice resolute and leaving no room for doubt.
"If I wish to single-handedly establish an outpost against the Black Tide amidst the ruins of Castrum Kremnos, to buy more time for you, for Okhema, then choosing an immortal body is the most rational, the safest option."
"Do not worry for me, Phainon. In my heart, there are already things more important, more worthy of guarding than so-called 'preservation.'"
Having said that, he hesitated no longer. Stepping forward, he submitted the Coreflame symbolizing Strife.
In that instant, majestic divine power erupted from within him! Blood-colored energy, like living crystals, glowed faintly from beneath his skin.
Mydei's aura surged layer by layer, far more powerful and profound than when he was a mortal hero.
"This... is the power of a demigod?" Mydei slowly clenched his fist, feeling the surging new power within, yet a flicker of complex understanding passed through his eyes.
"No wonder Aglaea and the others always refer to themselves as 'demigods.' Power, perception, recovery... all aspects are indeed far beyond before, but in essence, I am still myself. Compared to a Titan's divine body, it feels slightly inferior."
Before setting off for Castrum Kremnos, Mydei suddenly stopped. With his back to Phainon, his voice was low and serious:
"Deliverer, you must be careful."
"Careful?" Phainon didn't understand.
"At the very end of hunting Nikador, its abnormal action of pointing the Blade of Fury at the Dawn Device has always puzzled me. I can't pinpoint the exact nature of the anomaly, but a certain intuition warns me..."
Mydei turned around, his gaze piercing, fixed tightly on Phainon. "Phainon, you must maintain the highest degree of vigilance towards that 'Worldbearing' Coreflame."
...
The ruins of Castrum Kremnos. The aura of the Black Tide was denser than ever, as if countless whispers echoed among the broken walls and pillars.
"Before that Kremnos Crown Prince arrives here, you need to leave, Cyrene." The voice of Khaslana #33550335 rang out in the shattered royal court, deeper than usual, carrying an unyielding finality.
The flame within him had not been extinguished. Instead, after Phaethon cleansed the original Destruction anger from him, it burned even more fiercely and purely.
It was no longer an out-of-control, all-consuming fury, but a controllable, precisely directed power of destruction.
Khaslana's spearhead had quietly turned towards the Destruction Aeon, Nanook—who sought to spread destruction across the realms, sitting high above upon the starry sea.