Day three.
At the World Core, everyone stood in silent reverence.
The Sky Core Flames was held by hyacine, slowly rotating, emitting a pure and warm glow.
She walked forward, step by step, returning the Core Flames.
Buzz—!
The Sky's imprint was lit.
Phainon, in this reincarnation, stood in the center of the crowd, his gaze gently sweeping over each familiar face.
Aglaea, Anaxa, Mydei, Stelle, Dan Heng, hyacine, Tribbie, Castorice... these companions he cherished with his life, were about to face their final parting.
"From now on,"
Phainon's voice echoed in the empty World Core, clear and firm, "the battle that will decide Amphoreus's fate officially begins."
He raised his right hand, the cold, pulsating countdown numbers on the back of his hand, like a death knell, entering their final frenzy.
10... 9... 8... "After I leave, another me will return here." Phainon's gaze finally fell on Stelle, his ice-blue eyes filled with trust and entrustment, "She will lead you all to begin the next reincarnation."
"Stelle, Dan Heng, everything is in your hands."
7... 6... 5... Mydei stepped forward, he snorted coldly, and said in his usual flamboyant tone: "Hey, Deliverer, don't be so sentimental, making it sound like a life-and-death separation! Next life, I'll wait for you to come back for a one-on-one fight, don't make me wait too long!"
4... 3... Hearing this, Phainon's face showed a relieved smile, "Indeed, it's not a life-and-death separation."
Aglaea nodded slightly, her eyes reflecting his figure, her voice carrying the solemnity of a leader and an eternal promise: "We will wait for your return."
2... Stelle remained silent, until the last second, she nodded forcefully, declaring word by word: "We will wait for you at the end, not one less!"
1... Phainon's gaze finally met hers, and he nodded gently, "Mm... it's a new beginning."
0.
The moment his voice fell, Phainon's body turned into data, like dandelions scattered by the wind, gently dissipating into the air, leaving no trace.
The next moment.
A completely different, deep and serene aura descended.
Phainon's figure appeared out of thin air where Phainon had vanished, his gaze calmly swept over everyone, finally pausing for a moment on Stelle's worried face, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
At the same time.
A scorching sensation that could incinerate all things appeared out of thin air, and a charred figure in a black robe also quietly appeared in the World Core.
"Time... is up..."
The Flame Reaver's hoarse voice sounded, he dragged his broken body, walking step by step towards Phainon, and solemnly handed over a crescent ritual sword.
Seeing Phainon accept the ritual sword, The Flame Reaver spread his arms, and a twisted yet relieved smile was squeezed out from his shattered face.
He stepped forward, actively meeting the blade he had handed out.
There was no dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh, only a soft sigh as soul and authority merged.
Pfft—
The ritual sword pierced through his chest without any obstruction.
"I believe you... will definitely... be able to do it..."
Accompanied by his final entrustment, The Flame Reaver's body did not fall, but transformed into billions of burning ashes, like a reverse blizzard, all rushing towards Phainon, merging into his body, and branding itself onto his soul!
Rumble—!
The entire World Core began to violently collapse under the impact of this terrifyingly extreme power, and space shattered inch by inch like a mirror!
Phainon's body erupted with golden light like a divine blazing sun, and infinite power roared and merged within him.
"Hurry!" Stelle reacted the fastest, grabbing her companions beside her, and Dan Heng immediately unleashed his power to protect everyone.
The group rushed out of the rapidly collapsing World Core without hesitation.
Phainon, however, stood quietly at the center of the collapsing world.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the panel that appeared in the void.
[Current available Core Flames to ignite: 805,208,044]
—
At the same time.
In the seam between Amphoreus and reality, an abstract space composed of data and cold logic.
Lygus sat elegantly before a Starry-studded chessboard, his fingertips gently caressing a black chess piece.
He slowly raised his eyes, looking at the empty seat before him.
The next moment, countless bizarre data streams began to converge, slowly constructing a human figure.
Phainon's figure sat down opposite the chessboard, his expression calm.
"Lord Phainon, you spent three days in Amphoreus," Lygus spoke leisurely, "but here, only thirty seconds have passed. Isn't the difference in time interesting?"
Phainon ignored his boastful remarks, merely raising his eyelids, his gaze coldly fixed on him, and spoke indifferently:
"White to move first?"
"It should be so."
Before he finished speaking.
The chessboard suddenly expanded, their black and white squares transforming into a deep starry field.
Lygus made a "please" gesture: "I thought you would construct a more intricate scheme, using your authority of Omniscience and Omnipotence. It turns out that your ultimate trump card is still to place hope in this current incarnation of you, and those two unanalyzable Flame Reavers."
"Mortal emotions and chaotic variables... this game is not very profound."
Before Phainon could speak, two faintly glowing white chess pieces flew out of his pocket on their own, hovering beside Phainon.
They were Mydei and Hysilens, whom Lygus had turned into chess pieces.
Seeing this, Lygus shook his head, his contempt unconcealed in his eyes: "Meaningless resistance. Chess pieces are still chess pieces; they can never resist the rules, nor can they jump off the board. They are merely decorative comforts in your losing game."
"Is that so?" Phainon stared intently at Lygus, a cold curve on his lips, "I said, if you can't even see the full picture of the chessboard, then from the moment you sat down, you've already lost."
"Lost?" Lygus's tone was full of contempt, "This incarnation of Phainon has merely merged with the power of the Flame Reaver, foolishly attacking the core of the scepter again... Oh, he has already gone. However, this time, what awaits him is still a destined failure..."
Phainon said no more, merely extended a finger and picked up a white chess piece from the board.
"Can the game begin now?"