Solar system, Earth.
'All diagnostics, normal.'
Bronya checked up on the cross-legged Shi Tian. It has been a year since Shi Tian secluded himself to enter the Formlessness realm of the Blade Mantra.
Everything was fine up until the anchoring of his Karmic Severance Sword. His Divine Mind (i.e., consciousness) suddenly flew out of his body. The commotion was so large Kiana was alarmed instantly.
They tried to pinpoint where his consciousness went. All of the Sword Conference's participants were summoned to hold a collective meeting.
They were able to find out a 'connection' originating from Shi Tian's stigma space. It extended far beyond the solar system's imaginary barrier.
Surprisingly, it was extremely tough. It cannot be affected by a Divine Sword at all. Fu Hua discovered later that it has got something to do with the "Past" aspect of the temporal dimension.
The greatest expert of it happened to be Kiana. She studied the connection, intercepted information, and gradually discovered the entire story.
Right after Shi Tian anchored his Karmic Severance Sword in his stigma space, thereby attaining Formlessness, a temporal dimension leading to this world's "Past" opened. It sucked his Divine Mind inside and sent him to another world within the Tree. Details about that world, Amphoreus, revealed itself in Kiana's eyes.
She also discovered the gaze of an Aeon lingering on him at that time.
Fortunately, the 'connection' tying Shi Tian's divine mind and his stigma space acts like a return point. He can pull back at any time—to return to Earth. Only, he chooses not to.
Hence, the verdict was to examine Shi Tian's state on Earth annually. They will simply wait for his return.
"Amphoreus." She uttered the name of that foreign world under her breath. "A world of stories…"
Bronya heard about Amphoreus' plight. A world created out of a cosmic-level supercomputer known as the Scepter. Due to one person's agenda, it has repeatedly faced Destruction. One hero regressed countless times to find the right answer—to save the world.
For all the bad reasons, it reminded her of Seele's experience… as well as the 'chaotic' second disciple of Shi Tian, Griseo.
The two experienced a 'time loop' in excruciating ways. Only, they have it lighter compared to the man from Amphoreus. Heck, even Kevin hasn't experienced such a mind-numbing event.
Fifteen million cycles. One thousand years per cycle. That was fifteen billion years—surpassing the theoretical age of the universe in Shi Tian's past life (13.8 billion years old).
Speaking of Griseo…
"His two disciples are surprisingly... unhinged."
About three years ago, a fight occurred. The main ringleaders were Mei, Queen Mei, and Griseo. They found out about the 'hack' to Shi Tian's dual cultivation sessions, the Nine Yin Locking Seal.
Who expected for his two disciples to actually go crazy over it?
There was even Theresa who got reeled into the catfight. Though it was because she got caught that this catfight was forcibly torn off. Add to that the angry Kiana, it was over before they knew it.
Unbeknownst to the Big Duck, Shi Tian is busy staging yet another self-sacrificial play in another world…
*****
Okhema's tranquility was grinded to dust. A series of events left the Holy City breathless.
First was the Theologos' assassination. Eyewitnesses report a beam of light falling from the sky. It shattered the Theologos', Lygus', mechanical body.
However, that was merely a minor event compared to what happened next.
The conquest of the Ocean Titan, Phagousa, ended in a pyrrhic victory. Thousands of lives were lost. Half of the finest Chrysos Heirs fell forever to the ocean, never to be heard of again.
Deeming herself unfit of becoming a ruler, the Imperator has formally stepped down. She appointed Aglaea as her successor.
It is important to note that the Dux Gladiorum never showed up with Cerydra again. Rumors state that the two had a falling out.
While many opposed the Imperator stepping down, there were also a lot who looked forward to it. Okhema's atmosphere is in a complete mess, far from the years of tranquility it once had under Cerydra's banner.
Since then, the Imperator was never seen again.
"Rest for a while, Agy…"
"I am fine, Teacher Tribbie."
Inside the office, Tribbie stood behind Aglaea. The latter's remarkable physical prowess as a Chrysos Heir meant nothing in the face of Okhema's current chaos.
It has been a month since the Cerydra stepped down. The mess she left still hasn't ended. It is estimated it will take years to slowly fix it.
"Our insiders at the Council leaked Caenis' plans to reclaim the governing power in my hands. It has to be dealt with first."
"Mhm. Tell us when you need the Century Gate."
At the mention of the Century Gate, Aglaea recalled the widespread 'depression' amongst Tribios' avatars.
"How was Teacher Trianne?"
Tribbie's shoulders shook. She shook her head.
"She still refuses to go out."
Everyone thought that the biggest event was the pyrrhic victory over Phagousa. They did not know about "Merlin's" existence—a Memetic Entity solely visible to the destined Demigods.
Cerydra made no efforts to hide his death. They were shocked when they heard of it.
The ones hit the hardest were Trianne. Along with her were half of Tribios' remaining avatars. Trianne, especially, cries whenever she walks around Okhema. She spent the most time with him, listening to his stories.
It wasn't an exaggeration that Shi Tian was close to almost three hundred avatars. His sudden death caused a widespread depression amongst them.
"That's right. Have you heard about Lady Seliose's actions?"
Aglaea recalled the instructions left by Cerydra.
Terravox and Selioses will challenge their respective Titans at some point. They are the finest of the finest, the cream of the crop of Cerydra's Chrysos Heir Legion.
Upon Cerydra's departure, Seliose returned to her birthplace along with her two loyal steads. She was to challenge the Sky Titan, Aquila, who is among the deeply corrupted by the Black Tide.
This time, it was Phagousa's conquest that inspired the Dawn Knight's slaying of the Sky Titan, not the other way around.
All because of Shi Tian's existence.
"...I was about to tell you that." Tribbie replied. "Everyone that went to the Sky Fortress… died."
Aglaea's face froze.
The Sky Fortress' fall marks the first failure of the Flame-Chase Journey. Yet, it could not stop the spark started by Cerydra's conquest of the Ocean Titan; nor Tribios' ascension as Janus' Demigod.
"The Flame-Chase Journey must continue…"
"Tribbie!"
Hurried knocks came from the door. It was Trianne. Her reddened eyes could not conceal her tearful look. She held an opened envelope in her hand.
"Goldie has left something!"
Aglaea and Tribbie looked at each other. The two decided to follow Trianne.
Soon, they arrived in front of Cerydra's room.
Aside from the typical bed room, there was a pile of neatly stacked wooden boxes. An unfurled floor carpet and the empty compartment below revealed everything there was to it.
Counting it, there are a total of twelve boxes in total. Two of them are empty, with the rest stuffed with clothes commissioned from Aglaea. A white 'card' is left on each box.
Strangely enough, she pinpointed which box was hers—for Tribios.
One side of the card reads:
To the bearer of Harmony's wings.
Once flipped, it states:
Make your way to tomorrow's dawn.
The other nine boxes contained the same.
For Aglaea, it was:
To the one blessed by Beauty;
Keep doing what you love.
"Tribbie. Look at this."
Once the clothes were removed, an item was revealed at the bottom. It was a small silver ring embedded with a dazzling ruby.
This discovery prompted Aglaea to check what's underneath hers.
To her surprise, it was a modern sewing machine. Its entire body is constructed out of pure gold. An instruction manual was located alongside it.
"A legacy..?" Tribbie muttered.
Aglaea glanced at the remaining eight boxes. She felt a certain annoyance—irk—towards the one for 'Erudition'. In the end, she held back from looking at what was inside.
"Keep it here for now, Teacher Tribbie. I have a feeling… this is for the future."
*****
A/N: We fell short by around 18 PS for the bonus chapter.