On the other side.
Imperator reclaimed the consciousness that Cartethyia had brought back and quickly organized all the gains from this trip.
"Sentinel, is there anything else you need me to do?"
Cartethyia brushed aside a strand of golden hair hanging by her cheek. Her gaze was distracted, her mind completely not on Imperator.
She hoped the Sentinel had nothing more for her to do. She wanted to hurry back to find the Laureate.
"Yes!"
Imperator's answer went against Cartethyia's wishes:
"Cartethyia, through my exchange with the Jinzhou Sentinel, I finally remembered that I seem to have hidden something important inside Septimont's central beacon."
"When I confronted Leviathan before, in order to prevent my memories from being devoured by it, I separated all the related memories of this object, to the point that I no longer remember what is inside."
"Therefore, my Resonator, I need you to help me retrieve the item I placed within Septimont's central beacon."
Hearing this, Cartethyia nodded. Secret joy rose in her heart—fortunately it was Septimont, so she could go together with the Laureate.
As if remembering something, Imperator added another reminder:
"By the way, when you head to Septimont this time, remember not to mention my name."
Cartethyia looked puzzled:
"Since it's retrieving something you left behind, Sentinel, why can't I mention your name?"
"Because they do not believe in gods."
It was somewhat embarrassing to say. The main reason Septimont did not believe in gods was largely because of Imperator itself.
During the previous Black Tide outbreak, the main pressure was on the Ragunna side. Septimont did not have many powerful Remnants, so Imperator's attention was focused almost entirely on Ragunna.
For Ragunna, Imperator enlightened the Queen of the Night Lorelei, enlightened Cetus the Tidebreaker, and personally stood guard.
For Septimont, it only left behind the Lioness of Glory, almost completely relying on the people of Septimont to strengthen themselves. They even developed a gladiatorial culture to cope with the occasional Black Tides.
The difference in treatment between the two could be described as that between a biological son and an adopted son.
"Additionally, the Black Tide surge period in Septimont's hunting plains is approaching. At that time, a large number of Remnants will appear. I hope you can help them more on this matter."
"Remnants?"
Cartethyia's eyes lit up upon catching the keyword. She immediately nodded:
"Understood!"
[Main Quest: Shadow of Glory has been activated.]
...
[Main Quest: Shadow of Glory has been activated.]
[Quest Description: The saintess in the high tower left without saying goodbye. Chase the traces she left behind and head toward the land illuminated by glory.]
[Completing the main quest Shadow of Glory will grant rewards: Radiant Tide20, Lustrous Tide10, Astrite1600, Shell Credit100000.]
The night passed quickly. The Montelli merchant caravan slowly entered the borders of Septimont. What greeted their eyes first was a vast plain between canyons, with two enormous statues eroded by wind and sand standing on either side of the road.
In the farthest distance, Septimont's representative landmark—Capitoline Hill—could be seen.
Retracting his gaze, Noah repeatedly pondered the content of the main quest description.
The saintess who left without saying goodbye? Was it referring to Cartethyia?
As he thought this, Noah suddenly felt a pair of hands covering his eyes. A mischievous voice came from behind:
"Laureate, guess who I am?"
The hands suddenly let go. Noah turned his head and saw a bright and charming smiling face:
"Of course it's me, the righteous knight, Cartethyia!"
"Naughty."
Noah smiled, his mood relaxing.
In the original plot, the wandering Cartethyia detected Threnodian frequencies in Septimont's location and went there to investigate, only to be trapped by Cristoforo into the script world.
Rover pursued the missing Cartethyia, arrived in Septimont, met Lupa, and discovered a strand of Cartethyia's frequency wrapped around Lupa. However, Lupa did not know Cartethyia.
To investigate further, Rover accepted Lupa's invitation and participated in the gladiatorial tournament together, becoming the champion. During this, Phrolova entered her dreams to hand over the script, and she gradually discovered the strange aspects surrounding Lupa...
This time's main storyline, aside from Septimont still having the gladiatorial tournament, was almost completely different from the original plot in every other aspect.
Not only had he arrived in Septimont ahead of time, but through reporting, he had also allowed Ephor Augusta to cremate Mya's body from the plot earlier. He had even kept Cartethyia by his side.
He wanted to see what tricks the Fractsidus could still pull off this time.
"Laureate, look quickly! It's people from the Fractsidus!"
A cry of surprise pulled Noah out of his thoughts. His eyes lit up with excitement:
"Fractsidus? Where are the Fractsidus?!"
"Over there. There are five ordinary craftsmen."
Following the direction Cartethyia pointed, he indeed saw a small Fractsidus squad wearing masks in the distance.
An opal long spear immediately materialized in Noah's hand:
"I'll go deal with them and be right back."
...
On the other side, inside Cristoforo's script world.
Most of Septimont in the script world was submerged by Black Tides. White or black Waveworn traces could be seen everywhere.
"Playwright——"
At the top of Capitoline Hill, the highest point in Septimont, "Avidius" let out an impatient low roar:
"In your fake script, I have already reenacted the submersion of Septimont over and over again without end! Yet every time the harvested mental will is too little! Too little!"
"Hehe, Lord Leviathan, an excellent script is worth repeated refinement, isn't it?"
Cristoforo's figure appeared out of thin air beside Leviathan. He removed his hat and gave Leviathan an elegant bow:
"In fact, you also know that in the cradle of this script, your recovery speed is far faster than you expected."
"So please do not be impatient. The moment Avidius obtains the laureate and enters the central beacon in reality, I will replace reality with the script."
"At that time, the destruction of the entire Septimont and the descent of the heavenly kingdom shall serve as a congratulatory gift to welcome your full restoration."
After these words, the Leviathan opposite him became even more restless:
"All these vague empty promises you speak of mean nothing to me. I want you to take some actual action."
"Oh? What would you like me to do?"
"Fleurdelys!"
Leviathan growled a name:
"I sensed her. My most perfect creation, Fleurdelys. She has come to Septimont. I want you to bring her into the script."
"She carries most of my power. As long as I devour her, it will accelerate my recovery."
Hearing this, Cristoforo's eyes shifted as a plan formed in his mind. He then asked:
"What is the current combat level of your creation?"
"Overlord class."
"Are you certain?"
Leviathan answered with absolute certainty:
"Although I don't know how she survived, Imperator is already dead. The frequencies of her body and consciousness cannot be perfectly fused. She is definitely in a broken state right now."
"If she dares to use her full power, my strength will immediately suppress the portion of Imperator's power within her body and destroy the balance inside her."
"Therefore, she is only Overlord class. You can rest assured and capture her."
Upon receiving this answer, Cristoforo was overjoyed.
A double Resonator of both a Sentinel and a Threnodian. Capturing her alive would definitely become the Fractsidus's finest research sample.
As for Leviathan, not a single person truly wanted to help it.
The corner of his mouth curved into a mocking arc as he lied without changing his expression:
"No problem. I will soon offer her to you."