Having experienced going through friendship with Kiana, Shi Tian was experienced. The awkward phase right after the 'confession' is best to be left to subside on its own… or so he thought.
His experience with Kiana wasn't like that. She proactively locked in onto his lips, telling that 'awkward phase' to screw off to wherever it wanted to.
"Is it time for a kiss?"
"..?"
Like a clueless lamb to be slaughtered, he momentarily blanked out. Then he realized something:
'Amphoreus is like this…'
The cultural disparity in Amphoreus caught Shi Tian off guard.
In terms of clothing, infrastructure, and political systems, they are reminiscent of the ancient greek. Only he, who lived here for decades, knew of a difference.
Their stance in purity.
An example of it is Okhema's bathing culture which they treat as the most exalted one. Nothing perverted occurred at the shared baths. Anyone who dared defile it would be met with a cruel punishment.
In short, while their atmosphere, dressing styles, and romantic affairs are as open and bold as the ancient greek, they are conservative when it comes to the affair of lifelong partners.
Looking at Hysilens who sported an almost unnoticable hint of embarrassment, she is akin to Herrschers—glass cannons. They have high attack power, but when it comes to doing things, they turn shy.
Of course, once they tasted the man named "Shi Tian", the "glass" part turns into "adamantium"—one dead-set on sucking him dry.
"Mn. If you want, we can do it now."
The Dux Gladiorum's courage took effect. She did not hesitate, keeping her resting face, as her face leaned closer to his. It only took an instant for their lips to touch each other.
The veteran kisser-slash-playboy wasn't unfazed. Hysilens' lips carried a hint of faint sweetness. His mind inadvertently recalled the honey brew specially made by her during the first banquet—a non-alcoholic drink.
Similarly, Hysilens was caught off guard by his lips. She never expected for it to be this… intoxicating.
While the two wisely spent their time, Cerydra was left with her jaws hanging. Trianne had already covered her eyes, leaving a small gap between her fingers to curiously peek at it.
'I knew they had something between them! I knew it…'
The Imperator felt victorious… yet she felt she wasn't.
Since a thousand years ago, the tension between Shi Tian and Hysilens was obvious. The fact he was the one who brought her to Cerydra's side speaks for itself. They have something that connects them together.
An indescribable emotion welled up on her chest, though she could not explain what it was. No logic could hope to do so, unlike the times she spent playing chess.
Finally, there was Kiana who stood there. She looked as if she had expected it to happen from the start.
'I wonder what the others would think about it…'
The fact that Hysilens overtook two of his obsessive students was a scene worth watching, not to mention her aunt who already possessed the urge to taste Shi Tian more thoroughly.
Though Kiana felt a bit jealous thinking of other girls fighting over him, she brightened up at the thought of his 'payment'. She knew full well the flood gates she opened at the time she shared Shi Tian with others.
All she ever wanted is to spend some time with him. To prolong it, she naturally has to keep him longer on the bed for later…
Just then, the world temporarily halted by Remembrance resumed its actions. It was a considerable depletion to the current Shi Tian—a worthwhile one.
Another Century Gate opened. Aglaea and Tribbie stepped out of it. When they saw the ambiguous atmosphere and the frozen looks of the bystanders, the two got curious.
It wasn't until they saw the two acting much closer did they realize the things they had missed.
"Long time no see, Miss Aglaea. You too, Lady Tribbie."
Shi Tian did his usual greetings.
"Pardon me from leaving you out of the events a thousand years ago. I did not truly die. It is all thanks to that performance… and with the help of the Imperator did my plans succeed up to this point."
He explained everything about delaying Amphoreus' salvation as well as the three roles that he had explained to the other Chrysos Heirs.
"Forgotten… Does that mean the world outside of Amphoreus is aware of its anomalies as of now?"
Cerydra saw a crucial point.
"Yes. Aside from two foreign Gods, my companions also called forth power at the level of it…"
From the time Shi Tian entered Amphoreus, it was veiled by Remembrance's power, stripping the rest of the world from its memories. Only when Nihility gazed upon this world—due to Shi Tian himself—was this fragile power broken. Zandar became aware of this 'forgotten cycle'.
The last bit of power cutting it off from his peering was the Remembrance authority obtained by Shi Tian. Without it, he can see everything that happened in this world.
Shi Tian's grand plan is to revert everything back to the state prior to Remembrance's power being broken. It is akin to turning back the time of the entire universe.
In this case, it was the stripping of the universe's "memories" about the 15,015,021st cycle. The level of power, resource, and authority required to pull it off is a huge stumbling block to Shi Tian. Hence, he thought of pulling a part of the required efforts from Amphoreus itself.
Once his realm reaches the pinnacle of Void Refinement Realm, Shi Tian can begin his breakthrough. He would take the risk of fighting while breaking through, ultimately utilizing the power of a half-step Dao Integration Realm to shatter the false infinity by creating Amphoreus and turning it into reality.
There are still a few pesky requirements needed to pull this act off, though it is not his main concern as of the moment.
"During this process, you will see versions of yourselves… ones that never met me, for millions of times."
"Is that a problem?"
Cerydra spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I shall watch my other selves stage a less satisfactory play. It's not a boring endeavor, to say the least."
The others nodded solemnly.
Hysilens caught the emotions within his golden pupils and understood what was going on.
He is worried for her.
Out of everyone here, the one who suffered the most was Hysilens. Her endings were either suicide or that one cycle where Cerydra and Hysilens lived freely as unknown travelers. The influence of Nihility never failed to claim her. Only in this cycle where she met Shi Tian was she able to be spared out of it.
"Trust in everyone, Ghost Fry."
Hearing her words, Shi Tian's worries evaporated. It was this affirmation that he needed to hear.
"This settles everything."
Thus the curtain call to Amphoreus' Act One unfolded.
*****
A/N: Remember how I mentioned there are two arcs in Amphoreus? It's precisely as stated above. One is for this long arc. The other is Tian's breakthrough to the Dao Integration Realm.
After this arc, Earth stuff will be settled next…