"Come on... We have to get out of here. Keep running... and never turn back!"
Phainon's voice exploded in an instant.
The three of them ran in three different directions without even looking back.
They absolutely could not fight the Flame Reaver here.
Because there was no longer any room for error. The slightest mistake, and everything would be lost!
However, just as the three of them split up and fled, several shadows suddenly drilled out of the air and blocked the paths they had to take.
"Clones, illusions... nothing but cheap tricks to help you hide in the shadows."
Phainon raised his blade to block an attack, then gritted his teeth and looked toward the Flame Reaver not far away.
And although the other party was behind a mask, Phainon could still feel that the Flame Reaver's gaze had also fallen on him.
"The Sky... has returned to its rightful place..."
"This world... must... be reset..."
The Flame Reaver's hoarse voice rang out. The path to the Vortex of Genesis had been blocked.
Phainon's heart was already filled with uncontrollable rage. Now, hearing those words, his mind thundered even harder.
Reset the world? The Flame Reaver also wanted to begin re-genesis?
As his thoughts churned, Phainon blocked the clone's attacks and shouted, "The end you seek... is also the Miracle of Genesis?"
"If so, you should be standing alongside the Chrysos Heirs! Why do you hinder us, "Flame Reaver"?"
The words were practically roared out.
"Dusk... has descended as ordained..."
"Must... reset..."
The Flame Reaver's voice was muddled and dazed.
"Tch." Phainon gritted his teeth.
Since things had already reached this point, there was nothing more to say.
The only option was to fight their way out. They absolutely could not fall here.
While Phainon was locked in battle with the clone, Stelle and Dan Heng's situations were not good either. They tried several times to break out of the encirclement, but were forced back again and again by the swarm of clones rushing toward them.
The two of them had already gone through several great battles, and by now, they were at the end of their strength.
Bang!
A loud sound erupted!
Stelle used her flaming lance to block an incoming slash, but because her stamina was failing, she could not withstand the tremendous force. She was sent flying directly backward.
That brief opening was also Stelle's most dangerous moment. The Flame Reaver noticed it.
His main body instantly teleported behind Stelle, and the great sword in his hand came down viciously toward her back.
Stelle, already at the end of her rope, had absolutely no way to block this strike.
Just as Stelle's eyes widened and she stared at what was behind her in horror, a flame descended from the sky!
It smashed down fiercely in front of the Flame Reaver's blade!
Boom!!
A violent explosion erupted, and a raging wave of air swept out in every direction.
The clones blocking Phainon and Dan Heng were swept up by the blast, shattering in an instant.
After being freed from the encirclement, Phainon and Dan Heng raised their arms to shield themselves from the wind and sand while doing their best to look toward the center of the smoke.
A familiar figure was flickering in and out of sight within the dust, blocking the Flame Reaver's attack.
It was Mydei. Mydei used his right arm to block the Flame Reaver's blade, while his left arm had already clenched into a fist. He threw a heavy punch straight at the Flame Reaver!
The fiery-red figure carried the divine power of strife, directly blasting the Flame Reaver away!
Seizing the chance, Mydei turned his head and roared,
"Leave this to Castorice and me."
Hearing this, Phainon almost instinctively wanted to step forward and assist Mydei.
But behind him, a door of light suddenly opened. It was Tribbie's Century Gate!
"Snowy, over here!"
Tribbie was standing in front of the gate, waving both hands with all her might.
In the distance, the Flame Reaver had already steadied himself. Carrying his sword, he walked toward them step by step.
Mydei clenched his fist and urged them again, "...Go!"
Phainon gritted his teeth and shut his eyes. In the end, he let out an unwilling, low roar, then turned around with Stelle and Dan Heng and rushed into the Century Gate.
Although Phainon desperately wanted to help Mydei, this was not the time to be sentimental.
And he finally understood why he had not been able to find Tribbie after returning from the sky.
So she had gone to Castrum Kremnos to bring reinforcements. Mydei had personally come to help them stop the Flame Reaver.
This favor could not be wasted!
As the three of them passed through the Century Gate, the Flame Reaver tried to pursue them, but Mydei stuck to him tightly and refused to let him go.
Not only that, beneath the Flame Reaver's feet, purple liquid kept spreading out, transforming into whips that continuously tried to bind him.
Although Castorice was in the Underworld, she was still helping Mydei obstruct the Flame Reaver!
The appearance of the two of them finally added a glimmer of hope to this desperate situation.
The Chrysos Heirs had not yet exhausted all their options. They still had a final card to play!
And outside the screen, this tightly paced, constantly twisting plot made the hearts of the audience begin to pound wildly as well.
…
: Holy crap! Mydei came too! That rescue was too cool!
: The sense of security is maxed out!
: Mydei and Castorice, these are already the Chrysos Heirs' final trump cards!
: The only one who can stop the Flame Reaver now is Mydei.
: The plot is so tense!!
: No matter what the Flame Reaver's origins are, the journey of chasing destruction absolutely cannot be stopped here!
…
After crossing through the Century Gate, they arrived in the Garden of Life within the Marmoreal Palace.
This place was so close to Dawncloud Cliff. And yet they still had no choice but to rely on the Century Gate to get here.
That damned Flame Reaver had turned this short distance into something as unreachable. Even though Tribbie could no longer use the Century Gate frequently.
After landing, Phainon looked around, but he did not see Tribbie anywhere.
"Tribbie didn't follow us..."
Phainon's heart sank.
"She probably stayed behind to help Mydei deal with the Flame Reaver." Mem spoke in a low voice.
Hearing this, Phainon raised his head slightly, forcing the guilt, self-reproach, and pain in his heart back down once more.
That face once again became more resolute than steel. This was already the second time he had left Mydei alone on the battlefield.
But now was not the time to think about that.
Phainon exhaled a turbid breath and then opened his eyes again.
"Let's go." Both Stelle and Dan Heng could feel the heavy pressure weighing on Phainon.
But at this moment, they had no words that could comfort him. Because they also knew, Phainon's decisiveness and choice were correct.
The three of them hurried deeper into the Marmoreal Palace together.
At this moment, the apocalypse was drawing closer and closer.
The protection that Hyacine had brought down was also gradually beginning to collapse under the assault of the black tide.
The surviving people had no choice but to flee with all their strength while there was still shelter.
But the problem was, where could they flee to?
There was no safe place left in this world.
The Holy City Guards and the Kremnoans formed escort teams, protecting the people as they rushed from Dawncloud to the Marmoreal Palace, and then from the Marmoreal Palace, trying to leave Okhema.
But whether it was those being protected or the guards themselves, their faces were filled with unease.
They did not know where they should go. And during this "flight," the casualties continued to increase.
Beneath the burning sky...
Wailing, battle, despair. These emotions were spreading wildly.
The more prosperous Okhema had once been, the greater the contrast of the disaster now.
The viewers felt their chests tighten as they watched. Some even could not bear to keep looking.
This was the most instinctive reaction people had when facing disaster.
Phainon and the other two were also witnessing all of this.
As they hurried along, they also dealt with some Black Tide monsters threatening the fleeing civilians.
And on the only road leading to Bath Palace, they saw a familiar person lying in a pool of blood, barely alive. Around him lay the corpses of Black Tide monsters.
Chartonus.
This great craftsman had already reached his limit.
"Ah... Returned, Phainon..."
Seeing Phainon, Chartonus gasped heavily and said, Burning... the holy city is. To resist... I did all I could."
"Organizing their escape... the holy city guards are. But... where to flee to, no one knows..."
"Descended from the sky, the rainbow barrier did. Protected the people... but alleviated the fear, it could not."
"One more thing... there is."
"Waiting at the Vortex of Genesis... Lady Trinnon is."
"Kephale's Coreflame is safe... she said."
Chartonus had stayed here precisely to pass the necessary information to Phainon.
"Great Craftsman, retreat..."
Suppressing the pain in his heart, Phainon urged him, "Come with us to the Vortex."
Chartonus refused Phainon's suggestion. He staggered to his feet.
His gaze passed over Phainon and looked toward the Black Tide swarming in again from the distance.
"Died... I should have. Kept me here... the power of the rainbow light did."
"But if destined... inescapable, death is... Why not... leave behind some glory?"
The great craftsman swayed as he walked toward the Black Tide. He had no weapon, only clenched fists.
"For battle... these hands were not meant..."
"But, if to protect the holy city's future, they are needed..."
"To the final moment... I will fight!"
With that roar, Chartonus plunged into the Black Tide.
Another old friend had left. Aside from leaving his highest respect in his heart, Phainon could do nothing more.
His mind was still grieving. But his feet had already moved before his consciousness.
The goal was clear. Rush to the palace and enter the Vortex of Genesis.
As Chartonus' roar disappeared from their ears, they had already passed through the now-empty baths and arrived before the palace.
The Flame Reaver's clone emerged once again. They did not know how this guy had escaped the obstruction of three demigods and still managed to block their path.
But they no longer had the heart to wonder. Because this time, everyone, even the viewers, had almost gone numb.
The Chrysos Heirs' determination to begin re-creation was so firm. And the Flame Reaver's determination to stop re-creation was just as firm as theirs. Almost unwavering unto death.
...
: Just what is making this guy so unyielding?
: I can't understand it. The Chrysos Heirs are doing it for re-creation, but what about him?!
: Why is he so determined to stop re-creation? You're not even part of the Black Tide!
: How did it turn out like this?!
: He's like a cockroach. No matter what, they can't shake him off!
...
The viewers could not understand.
And on screen, facing the harassment from the clones, Dan Heng stepped forward and said calmly:
"Phainon, take Stelle to the Vortex of Genesis. I will stay here and hold them off."
"Don't hesitate, Phainon, you still shoulder the mission of the Era Nova."
"We don't know if the Flame Reaver has any clones up ahead... Stelle, stay close to Phainon and keep him safe."
Stelle almost immediately said, "I'll stay with you!"
Dan Heng shook his head and responded seriously, "Someone has to buy time."
"And I don't intend to say goodbye forever to anyone. Don't worry. I'll do everything in my power to survive."
With things said to this point, Dan Heng's determination was already clear.
And the Flame Reaver's was even clearer.
"You'd better do what you said, Dan Heng." Stelle took a deep breath and spoke.
"Mm." Dan Heng nodded gently.
Phainon and Stelle turned and left. Dan Heng raised his head, directly facing the many Flame Reaver clones surrounding him.
A flute sounded in the background. Horns grew from Dan Heng's forehead, and he transformed into the appearance of Dan Feng.
The water inside the hot springs began to surge. Facing this unfamiliar power, the Flame Reaver spoke words outside of riddles for the first time.
"This power... Unfamiliar... Who... are you...?"
Dan Heng narrowed his eyes. He raised his right hand, and a golden spear spun in his palm.
"A passing traveler. I am a Nameless"
The water surged, turning into waves, and rushed toward the Flame Reaver.
On the other side, Phainon and Stelle finally arrived before the door of the chamber.
A Holy City Guard and a Kremnoan warrior were stationed here. They had not gone to participate in disaster relief or the work of protecting the people.
They had something more important to do. They had to ensure that when Phainon returned, this room had not been invaded by monsters.
For this, Krateros had made arrangements and set up a defensive line here. Chartonus, whom they had met on the road, was also part of that defensive line.
After Phainon returned, their mission was complete. After giving Phainon a military salute, the two of them rushed to the front line and joined the battle.
Afterward, Phainon and Stelle pushed open the door and walked in. From Dawncloud onward, the background music had been exceptionally sorrowful.
And only when they stood in this room, looking at Phainon and Stelle from behind, did the viewers suddenly feel the source of that sorrow.
In the first episode, it had also been in this very same place.
Here, there had been Phainon and Mydei's duel, Anaxa and Aglaea's argument, Hyacine and Castorice's laughter, and Cipher's sly, clever little smirk.
But at the end of this journey, only Phainon and Stelle were left here now.
So it turned out that along this journey... they had been losing people all along.
Amid the sorrowful melody, one of the doors inside the room was opened. Trinnon, who had been hiding inside, walked out together with a round, chubby fellow.
It was Bartholos. Or rather, Zagreus.