And so, as Cerces prepared to launch a second attack, as Anaxa's alchemical barrage was about to strike home, under the watchful and vigilant eyes of Phainon, the Trailblazer, and the others...
Khaslana did not attempt to block. He did not try to dodge. He didn't even spare another glance at anyone present. His figure vanished like ink being wiped away, disappearing in a faint ripple of spatial disturbance through a direct teleport.
He left no words behind. Not a trace of reluctance.
Just like that, cleanly and decisively, he left the battlefield.
...
"He... he just left?" The Trailblazer blinked, somewhat incredulous, staring at the spot where Khaslana had vanished. "One second he's fighting us to the death, the next he just... disappears like that?"
Phainon sheathed his greatsword, his brow still furrowed as he tried to analyze this unusual behavior. "Perhaps... he felt fear as well. After all, we now have a true Titan as our ally." He looked towards Cerces's luminous avatar, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty. "And, thinking back to the fight just now, he spent so much time just dealing with you. Maybe his strength isn't as unfathomable as we imagined?"
Hearing this, the Trailblazer's attention was quickly drawn to the Titan who had just aided them.
They looked at Cerces with curiosity. However, when their gaze clearly caught Cerces's kind, compassionate countenance and bearing, their heart gave a sudden jump. An absurd thought tumbled out:
"No way... Shouldn't the Aeon of Hunt, Lan, really come over to Amphoreus and launch a few 'Reignbow Arrow' to show his regard? You... look way too much like the Aeon of Abundance, Yaoshi."
"Lan? Yaoshi? What do these terms mean?" Cerces's luminous form wavered slightly, showing some confusion, but she did not dwell on these unfamiliar titles. Her tone became serious and urgent.
"Mortal children, now is not the time to discuss appearances. I can clearly sense an exceptionally vast Black Tide surging violently towards The Grove."
"Huh? That fast?" Phainon was startled upon hearing this, his face full of bewilderment. "According to the intelligence we received earlier, that escaped Black Tide was at least half a day away from reaching the Grove's outskirts..."
Yet before his questioning voice could fade, Cerces had already drifted to the edge of the Throne of Enlightenment platform. She extended a finger, pointing into the distance.
"There is no more time for doubt, mortal children. Black Tide creations are at our gates. And, as I said... it is 'a massive wave'."
Everyone followed her pointing finger. In that instant, everyone's breath caught in their throats.
From the peak of the Grove, the view was exceptionally clear.
They saw, on the distant horizon, a surging, pitch-black tide with no end in sight, spreading towards The Grove at an alarming speed, like darkness devouring light!
It wasn't hundreds or thousands, but a densely packed, tens-of-thousands-strong flood of Black Tide creations! Their twisted forms trampled the earth, and wherever they passed, even light seemed to be sucked away.
"How could... this number..." Hyacine's face turned pale, her voice trembling slightly. "The intelligence said... it was clearly just a small, scattered remnant of defeated troops..."
Cerces's luminous form swayed slightly in the wind, her voice calm as she revealed the truth: "That black-clad swordsman who just left carried an exceptionally dense aura of the Black Tide upon him. I'm afraid... all these filthy creatures around the Grove have been drawn here by him, this beacon of the Black Tide."
Phainon watched the rapidly approaching, all-submerging black tide, then turned sharply, his gaze firmly landing on the Trailblazer.
"Partner! The situation is critical. I must go to the front lines immediately to intercept the first wave of Black Tide creations, to buy time for the evacuation! You and Teacher Trianne must immediately organize all the scholars in The Grove and evacuate them via the Infinity Gate to the Holy City of Okhema!"
"Allow me to accompany you, Phainon." Welt Yang stepped forward, his cane striking the ground, his eyes behind his lenses steady and resolute. "Facing an enemy of this scale, an extra ounce of strength is always valuable. I wish to lend my modest power."
"I will also help with the evacuation. Mr. Yang is right; every bit of strength helps." Hyacine also stood up bravely.
There was no time for lengthy debate. A simple division of labor was completed instantly. Trianne, the Trailblazer, and Welt immediately followed Phainon as the four of them rushed down from the Throne of Enlightenment, throwing themselves into the tense tasks of organizing the evacuation and holding the front line.
At that moment, only Anaxa and Cerces's avatar remained at the empty summit of the Throne of Enlightenment.
"Titan," Anaxa said, his gaze sharply fixed on the light-constructed Cerces. "Faced with this sight, do you have a good strategy to repel the enemy?"
"Oh?" Cerces's luminous form seemed to ripple with a subtlety, carrying a hint of amusement. "So the Sage, who has always lacked reverence for Titans, would also seek a Titan's aid in a time of crisis?"
"But unfortunately," her tone shifted to faint regret, "my true form perished completely in the distant past. What remains here now is but a wisp of a lingering soul, clinging on by depending on the Coreflame of 'Reason'."
"If you faced a single, powerful foe, I could still gather power for a surprise strike. But facing these tens of thousands of violently surging, disaster-like Black Tide creations... my remnant power likely cannot meet your expectations, Sage."
"Hah, as I thought." Hearing this, Anaxa's face did not show much disappointment or annoyance. Instead, it seemed to confirm a suspicion.
He chuckled lightly, adjusted the sleeves of his scholar's robes, and turned to walk down the steps, preparing to establish a defensive line using his own strength.
"Interesting." Cerces's voice sounded again, with a trace of curiosity. "Mortal child, from your tone, you do not sound despairing. You sound... as if you have another plan? Could it be you are hiding some unknown power? Like the protagonist in that popular novel named *One Punch God-King* in the Grove's library?"
Anaxa, who had already descended several steps, paused. Without turning his head, he let out an impolite snort of laughter:
"Hah. Read fewer of those far-fetched novels and more proper serious classics, Titan of 'Reason'."
His voice regained its usual calm and certainty, carrying a nearly arrogant confidence:
"I have no hidden power. I simply believe in the humans of Amphoreus. I believe that 'Imperator' of Okhema would never idly watch the people she swore to protect be so easily devoured by the Black Tide."
...
"Huff... huff... Hold on a little longer... just delay them a bit more..." Phainon was leaning on his sword. Before him, the Black Tide creations continued to surge like an unceasing tide of darkness.
Their collective shrieks and scrabbling sounds merged into a wave of despair for everyone in the Grove.
Welt stood at his side. The Star of Eden in his hand was already radiating with unprecedented brilliance.
Even the space around it had begun to distort slightly from the excessively immense gravitational force.
Welt looked gravely at the seemingly endless flood of monsters. Deep in his eyes behind his lenses, he was already beginning to weigh whether to use his true power.