There is a legendary prophecy circulating in the world.
A righteous knight will become the Resonator of the divine, bring the divine back to the human world, and restore the human world to prosperity.
Finally, the bell of fate rings.
This chosen knight steps out of her small hometown, embarking on an adventurous journey, yearning to fulfill the ancient prophecy, longing to return with honor and light.
Towering mountains temper the knight's courage; biting cold winds forge the knight's will. The knight travels to the ends of the earth.
The help of companions forges the knight's spear; the hopes of the people turn into the knight's warhorse. The knight sweeps away all destined enemies.
The honor borne condenses into the knight's laurel; the echoing oath crowns the knight with holy light. The knight audiences the great divine.
The bell of fate rings once more.
The dark tides are the divine's scales, the mad murmurs are the divine's sharp teeth, the terrifying body is the divine's true form.
The legendary prophecy is a venomous lie.
The righteous knight is the creation of the false god.
The true god has been corrupted, and the demon has descended upon the world.
The knight's laurel becomes the shackles binding the knight's shell. The knight's holy light becomes the burden suppressing the knight's soul.
The knight's spear is dulled by the black rain, the knight's warhorse is crushed by the chanted murmurs.
But she—
Still has the courage tempered by high mountains, still has the will forged by cold winds.
The knight breaks free from the shackles, the knight liberates her soul.
She bears hope, she rejects fate, she presses forward without hesitation.
When the divine raises the slaughtering blade toward the weak, she swings her sword at the divine.
She is knocked down again and again; the repeated traces of falling are the applause of hot blood striking unyieldingly. She charges again and again; the howling high winds by her ears are the hymn sung by life with fearlessness.
She melts into fire, forging the blades of the three rights.
The ascending human rights sever the absolute of fate; the uniting alien rights pierce the curtain of lies; the salvific divine rights penetrate the false god's heart.
The evil creation embarks on the journey.
The righteous knight has no return.
...
Before dawn, it is always exceptionally dark.
"She is willing to wear glory, eternally falling into the abyss."
In Cartethyia's hands, the puppet representing the knight and the puppet representing the Threnodian collided together, falling in unison:
"There is no more fitting ending than this. The Threnodian will be eternally trapped by Their own creation, with the cost merely the death of this creation that should not exist in the first place."
"No, this ending is too hasty."
Noah shook his head, exhaling heavily:
"We want to see the ending of this story as—Knight Cartethyia, victorious!"
"There won't be such an ending!"
Cartethyia's voice uncontrollably amplified:
"Even if we can defeat the Threnodian after regaining power, what then? They are immortal. Even if you kill Fleurdelys's body, Their will would instead gain freedom."
"As long as They find a new body again, in months at the shortest or centuries at the longest, They will grow strong once more, endangering all life in Rinascita."
"From the moment ten years ago when those innocent people died in the Black Tide I brought, I should have died. Now, using the life of this evil creation to exchange for Rinascita never being threatened by the Threnodian again—isn't that very fitting?"
"..."
Looking at Cartethyia collapsing in tears again, Noah remained silent for a long time, until she slightly calmed before speaking:
"Before coming, I had already thought about it for a very long time."
"I once asked myself, if one day, to protect the lives of most people, it was necessary to sacrifice the lives of a few, would I make that choice?"
"The answer is no. Anyone—I won't abandon!"
He reached out, propping up the fallen knight puppet in Cartethyia's hand, gripping it tightly, his gaze steady and resolute:
"The guilt toward those lost in the Black Tide, the pain of puppet identity, the worry about the Threnodian's threat..."
"If these intangible things can decide your life, then—so can I! I insist on you living wonderfully!"
"If the Threnodian will make comebacks again and again, then I'll defeat Them again and again. If They come a thousand or ten thousand times, I'll defeat Them a thousand or ten thousand times!"
"No, don't do this."
Cartethyia broke free from Noah's hand, wiped her tears, stepped back, forcing a cold posture:
"Laurel bearer, actually, you and I have no real relation. There's no need for you to stop me like this. From any angle, it's not worth it."
Noah countered:
"Then what about you? You also have no relation to those you want to save, right? You didn't think about whether it was worth it."
"..."
Cartethyia's heart shook, speechless, only turning her head away to avoid Noah's eyes, speaking lowly:
"Laurel bearer, you have your persistence, and I have my decision. I'm very touched by your intentions, but... please... don't stand in my way anymore."
"It seems no matter what, I can't persuade you." Noah's voice sank, then became relieved.
Cartethyia was, after all, the Cartethyia whose will even the Threnodian could hardly erase.
Once she made a decision, unless someone had the ability to go against her will, it was impossible to stop her request.
And such ability, Noah happened to have.
Switch character—Cantarella.
"Cartethyia, let me tell that story once."
The abrupt words caused Cartethyia to pause, subconsciously lifting her head, only to see deep purple jellyfish floating out from around Noah's body, forming a magnificent illusory sea.
Cantarella's resonance ability, Dream in the Sea, can cause the target to fall into an illusion woven by herself.
In an instant, Cartethyia's eyelids grew heavier, Noah's figure became increasingly blurred, only hearing the latter speak softly:
"The ending you told is too careless. This time, let me tell a better ending!"
As the words fell, infinite drowsiness dominated Cartethyia's body and mind. Her eyes closed, she fell into slumber, caught in time by Noah.
Wiping away the moisture at the corners of the girl's eyes, Noah positioned Cartethyia in a relatively comfortable posture leaning against the garden's stone pillar.
Under the Dream in the Sea resonance ability of character Cantarella, the girl sank into the dream she longed for, sleeping very sweetly.
"Righteous knight, Cartethyia."
"I have received your call for help—"
"Next, it'll be solved in my style!"
After whispering softly, Noah no longer hesitated, turning and gliding away toward the Tower of Ascension.
Soon, he met Cantarella just outside the tower, retracting his gliding wings and landing beside her:
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"You two aren't sleeping either. I've been waiting here for you."
Seeing Noah fly back, Cantarella showed no surprise, instead casually asking.
"Why are you back alone? Where's Cartethyia?"
"It's a long story. Let's go. We'll head to the Tower of Unity together, and I'll explain as we go."
Noah briefly recounted the matters related to Cartethyia to Cantarella. The latter furrowed her brows tightly:
"I didn't expect her to have such determination."
Cantarella sighed, then looked at Noah:
"So, what do you plan to do now?"
"To avoid complications from delay, I plan to insert the alien rights sword into the stone pedestal and directly start the battle with the Threnodian Leviathan."
Hearing this, Cantarella lowered her head, feeling the Sentinel power in her body that she hadn't fully mastered yet, her gaze somewhat hesitant:
"Just the two of us—can we really defeat the Threnodian?"
"You don't need to go. I alone am enough."
The moment the words fell, Cantarella sharply raised her head, looking at Noah, unable to speak for a long time.
"You want to face the Threnodian alone?"
Her eyes held some indescribable complexity, her words becoming earnest:
"Noah, taking everything on yourself will make me feel like the entire weight of Rinascita is pressing on you alone. I want to help you..."
For some reason, seeing Cantarella speak in this manner made Noah inexplicably think of Yangyang's figure.
"Like this, wait for me a bit longer." As if thinking of something, Cantarella hurriedly spoke:
"The saintess trials of the Fisalia Family across generations have caused many fragments bearing Sentinel Imperator's power to scatter here. I can collect these power fragments and gather them into the divine sword, becoming your aid..."
"No need."
Noah refused:
"Even without that sword, I can defeat the Threnodian."
"...I like your confidence and decisiveness."
Cantarella gazed deeply at Noah, her voice softening:
"But I am truly worried about your safety. My heart is beating especially fast right now... I'm very afraid that you won't come back."
"If... this time we really can defeat the Threnodian, then..."
"Stop!"
Noah's eyelid twitched as he interrupted Cantarella, who was about to raise a flag:
"If you want to help, take Cartethyia away."
"Take her where?"
"Whisperwind Haven, Egla Town."
The alien rights sword in his hand was thrown out, precisely hitting the center of the stone pedestal in the Tower of Unity.
"There's one more thing."
Noah took out ten portions of dishes and handed them to Cantarella:
"There are two kinds of food here. Every half hour, eat one portion of each."
"Ah?"
"Eat quickly. This is very important to me."
[Jinzhou Jinzhou Maocai (Golden Ingredient): Increases all Resonators' crit rate by 28% for the team, lasts 30 minutes, price 12000 Shell Credits.]
[Crispy Roasted Pigeon (Golden Ingredient): Increases all Resonators' defense by 50% for the team, lasts 30 minutes, price 12000 Shell Credits.]
The alien rights sword on the stone pedestal in the Tower of Unity buzzed and trembled. The fused authority and the frequency formed by the Threnodian's power condensed into a black-purple orb, flying toward the central high tower like a meteor.
The Threnodian Leviathan was already impatient.
Noah's gaze sharpened as he unfolded his gliding wings, flying toward the central high tower without any hesitation.
Passing through the Path of Bestowal, passing through the gates of the Holy Spire of Confluence, gravity inverted, he fell toward the ceiling.
[Limited Banner "Yet Also Dances Lightly After the Tide" has opened.]
In the vast hall, black-purple thorns tightly wound and bound the exquisite and lovely girl's body in the center. She opened her eyes, looking toward the youth landing not far away, suddenly hearing a praise by her ear.
"Fleurdelys, you did very well!"
The black-purple thorns slowly retreated. The human light in the girl's eyes completely dissipated. Her body rapidly changed, in the blink of an eye becoming a giant over two meters nine tall.
They lowered Their gaze, eyes holding only lofty contempt and coldness.
"You have come, defier."
[Limited Banner "Yet Also Dances Lightly After the Tide" has closed.]
"Wrong title."
Noah landed steadily and stood straight, arms spread. Four weapons shone with brilliant light behind him.
The Last Dance, Ages of Harvest, Red Spring, Emerald of Genesis.
"You should call me—Godslayer."
As his heart beat rapidly, Noah's face raised an excited smile, yet his eyes were filled with undisguised sharp killing intent:
"Leviathan, how do you want to die?"