My future projection pointed towards Amphoreus. I am very certain it won't end with just an Emanator-level treatment. It is my opportunity to reach the Dao Integration Realm. Even a hundred percent access to a Path isn't comparable to it!
I set my sights on something else:
Amphoreus' core.
Years of analysis revealed three requirements to get inside it:
One, to let Cerydra obtain the Core Protocol upon the sacrifice of a Demigod.
Two, to die in the eyes of the world.
Three, for my cause of death to lay on Cerydra's said sacrifice.
'Death' does not mean my true death, but rather, the death of the Memetic Entity "Merlin" in everyone's memories.
I am walking in this world with my Divine Mind, but certain mutations caused my Divine Mind to have another "layer", a Memetic Entity.
These entities are special lifeforms born out of memories. The prime example of it is the goddess of this world, Demiurge.
Originally, the Scepter (i.e., supercomputer) is a complete whole. It is once a part of Nous' body responsible for computing the Prime Mover of Life. It is abandoned by Nous later on, though it remained true to its purpose.
Lygus placed a Stellaron (lit. Cancer of Worlds) inside the Scepter and blew its "head" off. This caused it to steer from its original objectives—heading towards the Path of Destruction.
Someone told the destroyed "head" a story, however. Each story slowly 'revived' it in the form of a Memetic Entity.
I am similar to her, but not entirely. My identity as a 'Memetic Entity' is akin to a layer of skin. Once peeled off, my Divine Mind will be exposed in this world. I don't know what will happen,but I am left with no choice.
Thousands of souls, we can keep safe inside Rhongomyniad. Talanton will view them as "dead", thus completing Cerydra's trial. It is within his authority to complete a divine trial. After he's dead, we can resurrect these souls with a brand new body. Talanton won't be able to rescind his decisions by then.
But her single chance to obtain the Core Protocol, Amphoreus' administrator permissions? The Scepter decides that.
Fooling the Scepter takes more than fooling a mere Law Titan.
Merlin, the Memetic Entity, truly has to die. The ones holding "memories" of Merlin are Cerydra, Hysilens, Tribios, and Aglaea. They all have to believe in Merlin's death to kill my Memetic Entity side. Otherwise, this Memetic Entity "layer" won't die.
Only then will Amphoreus grant her a one-time use of the Core Protocol.
Since I am the sacrifice, an inevitable connection will be formed between me and Amphoreus' core mainframe. I will seize that time to invade the Scepter and create changes that will lead to Amphoreus' liberation from the false infinity—to my Dao Integration opportunity.
This entire experience made me feel how it feels to mingle with enemies one to two major realms above yourself.
I can't imagine 30% of my power to fight against Aeons, yet I am doing it now.
The cost of that… is another self-sacrificial act in the eyes of others.
Compared to being forced to accept one tragic ending after another—something they did in the original Amphoreus' fate—it is a loss I am willing to accept.
"It is my turn to ask you, my dearest Imperator. Kill me or kill them. Choose."
I waited for the ending to come.
*****
Ruthless and decisive.
That was how people perceived the Imperator. She will never hesitate to sacrifice a small portion of her army to win the war. Astoundingly, many are willing to be her sacrifices, especially the Chrysos Heirs.
For the Era Nova, the end of the Flame-Chase Journey centering around Chrysos Heirs, they are willing to pave the path for the future.
Cerydra wasn't just a ruler.
She gave them a purpose.
Her status had long surpassed most people.
If there was someone who can still see the sliver of her mortality—humanity—there are only two.
One is the Dux Gladiorum, Hysilens.
The other is her loyal minister, Merlin.
For the former, she promised endless feasts. Cerydra went beyond the oceans and aimed at the sea of stars high above. All to grant Hysilens conquest over oceans.
As for the latter, Cerydra broke the pacts to herself.
Blind trust.
It was something she avoided as a ruler. She will never blindly trust someone. Hysilens was a slight distance away from it…
But not Merlin.
Cerydra placed a blind trust upon him. The one and only minister that accompanied her from her humble beginnings.
That is how special his position is.
"You shall complete your conquest in the ocean at the boundaries of this world, and eternally slumber on the sound of tides."
The first time Cerydra heard her prophecy from Tribbie, her heart sank.
She, the glorious Imperator, the one above hundreds of thousands of men, is destined to fall at the ocean's embrace?
Unacceptable.
She held no trust over prophecies… but remained wary of it.
Artoria's prophecy is a huge lesson to her. Was her sole option to accept her impending death?
Cerydra could not accept it as easily as Artoria.
Then came Talanton's divine trial.
"The laws of the world dictate that one must sacrifice something to gain something of equal value."
It became the final string that snapped inside her.
What was glory when her life could be dictated by beings higher than her? She wasn't a chess player at all, but a damned chess piece!
In the original cycles, Cerydra had no one to confide to. Her "wise" image slowly degraded into a "tyrant", a perfect reflection of her declining mental health.
This time, it is different.
She summoned Merlin and confided her worries. Cerydra might have joked around him as a king's jester, but her attitude says otherwise.
When it all came to performing a grand performance, he answered to her calls.
"I, Merlin, will help you to the best of my abilities."
The plan to set the world into a huge stage began. They acted as if the thousands had truly died, when they did not. Their souls nestled on the divine lance that once served as a world's anchor.
With the Lion King, a bonafide Divine Spirit, her authority reached the realm of gods. Matching Thanatos' power is but a trivial thing.
She was terrifyingly strong that Cerydra held a doubt.
'Why would he choose this way?'
As a ruler, she never hesitates to take the straight path when accessible. Roundabout strategies take place due to wariness and uncertainty towards the enemy. They could have punched Talanton straight to the face.
Upon hearing Shi Tian's "betrayal", the answer presented itself.
He wanted her to gain the Core Protocol!
Cerydra's inner conflict exploded. She was stunned, not knowing what to do. Sacrifice her life, that she can do. Sacrifice the very person who was there since the beginning of her journey?
Her gaze turned towards Hysilens. The moment she met her gaze, Cerydra saw nothing but pure darkness. An overwhelming sense of fatigue.
Cerydra could tell that she is one step away from crashing out.
Just as things remained in a standstill…
Psshk-!
A decisive stab to Shi Tian's back ended it all.