"Or what? Do you need me to eat it directly?"
Thanatos still wore an expression of disbelief. Fu Zhu felt helpless and, at a loss for words, came up with another reason to explain himself.
"I just wanted to study the Coreflame, a brief touch is all I need. There's no other reason, honestly."
Thanatos reluctantly accepted his explanation. The fact that Fu Zhu didn't need the Coreflame was good news for her; it meant she could continue to exist until her sister came looking for her.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. You can figure things out here in the Nether on your own."
Having made contact with the [Death] Coreflame, Fu Zhu prepared to leave. He would leave the task of collecting the Coreflames to the Chrysos Heirs; after all, that was the mission Lygus had designed for them.
As for him, he planned to give Lygus a massive surprise at the very end.
However, this surprise plan still needed some refinement. Lygus had his eyes on him now and would surely be on guard. He needed to find a way to make Lygus lower his guard.
Mulling this over, Fu Zhu subconsciously started walking in the direction of the Nether portal. But after just a few steps, he suddenly heard a faint call for help.
"Buddy… a little help…"
Fu Zhu paused at the sound. He looked up in the direction of the voice and saw a young man with golden hair lying at the edge of the sea of Wither Roses, his fingers clutching a single stem.
Without even needing to get close, Fu Zhu could see the [Wither] debuff in his status bar.
[Mydeimos, Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos]
The Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos?
Fu Zhu was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected to run into the Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos in the Nether, and in the form of a soul at that.
Fu Zhu walked over and helped him pull his hand away from the Wither Rose he was clutching. Once the [Wither] debuff ended, Mydeimos seemed to feel a bit better, but he remained on the ground, unable to move.
Just then, Thanatos approached in her wheelchair. Mydeimos's figure was blocked by Fu Zhu, so she couldn't see him. She could only ask the back of Fu Zhu's head, "What just happened? I thought I heard someone call for help."
"Yep."
Fu Zhu stepped aside, revealing Mydeimos's form.
Seeing Mydeimos, Thanatos looked surprised. "Mydeimos of Castrum Kremnos? How did you die again? And looking so weak, too."
Hearing someone call his name, Mydeimos strained to turn his head and look at Thanatos in her wheelchair. He searched his memory for a moment before confirming that he didn't know her.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?"
Fu Zhu looked at Thanatos with the same curiosity. Wasn't she confined to the Underworld? When did she get the chance to go out?
Then again, Thanatos had just used the word "again." Could it be that Mydeimos could revive endlessly? Was he the one Castorice mentioned, who possessed an ability similar to his own?
Thanatos didn't want to reveal her identity to a stranger. As for Fu Zhu, he had recognized her directly, so there was nothing she could do about that.
"I've seen you around a few times."
Fu Zhu walked over to Thanatos's side and asked in a low voice, "Just like that?"
Thanatos nodded, replying in an equally hushed tone, "He is the Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos, and also a Chrysos Heir. His golden blood grants him the ability to constantly revive. When I was still in the Underworld, I often saw him running back and forth. It's no wonder he's here now, especially since the Nether has replaced the Underworld."
Chrysos Heir!
Fu Zhu latched onto that term. He had unexpectedly met another Chrysos Heir so soon. He just didn't know if this was the one Lygus had set up.
Mydeimos lay on the ground for a while longer, his once-faintly-ethereal form gradually solidifying. Only then did he find the strength to climb to his feet. Seeing Fu Zhu and Thanatos standing together, he brushed off the nonexistent dust from his body and introduced himself.
"Although I don't know how you learned my name, allow me to introduce myself again. Mydeimos, Crown Prince of Castrum Kremnos."
Fu Zhu nodded at him and gave his own name, "Fu Zhu."
Who would have thought that upon hearing his name, Mydeimos would look at Fu Zhu with surprise. "You're that Fu Zhu?! The one who champions the protection of all Chrysos Heirs and is feared by the major city-states?!"
Fu Zhu was amused. He crossed his arms and muttered, "I didn't think I was that famous. That lord from back then was really something."
Mydeimos nodded in agreement. The fact that Fu Zhu's name had spread so far and wide was all thanks to the lord Fu Zhu had killed. However, he then sighed with a hint of regret.
"I just didn't expect that even someone as powerful as you has passed away… I was originally thinking of inviting you to Castrum Kremnos for a couple of drinks."
"Dead?"
Fu Zhu chuckled and shook his head. "Don't go around saying things like that. I'm not dead."
Mydeimos was stunned for a moment, then looked at Fu Zhu more closely.
It was just as he said. Fu Zhu's body looked completely different from his own current state; it was as solid as a physical body.
Mydeimos thought of a possibility. He stared at Fu Zhu in astonishment and asked, "Did you enter the Underworld with a physical body? How is that possible…?"
Fu Zhu shrugged without offering an explanation. The result was right there in front of him.
Seeing that Fu Zhu was unwilling to elaborate, and unable to figure it out himself, Mydeimos decided to drop the matter. He then turned to look at Thanatos, who was beside Fu Zhu.
"And this young lady is…"
Thanatos hesitated for a moment. Now that the Underworld had been replaced by the Nether, more of the deceased would be arriving in the future. Mydeimos would be far from the last. She would be seeing him often.
Thinking this, she decided to reveal her identity.
"My name is Thanatos. You can also call me the Titan of Death."
"A Titan?!"
Mydeimos's eyes went wide. He never imagined that the legendary Titan of Death would have the appearance of a little girl. However, he quickly pushed his surprise aside and asked about a more pressing matter.
"Since you're the Titan of Death, do you know how I can leave the Underworld? This place is different than before. The passage I used to take for my revivals has completely disappeared!"
"Ah, this…"
Thanatos looked troubled. To be honest, ever since the Underworld was replaced by the Nether, she had no idea how to leave either.
At this point, Fu Zhu spoke up, addressing Mydeimos, "Simple. Just walk through the Nether portal to get out. That's probably the only way out of the Nether."
"Nether portal?"
The unfamiliar term left Mydeimos scratching his head.
Fu Zhu was in a good mood, so he beckoned to him.
"Come on, I'll take you out. I happen to have some questions for you on the way."