Phaethon gazed at him quietly, his eyes that had witnessed the rise and fall of over a hundred thousand cycles held not a single ripple.
He spoke slowly, "If a deer runs for its life to escape a lion's pursuit, does its behavior become ignoble?"
"If a hermit crab hides in its shell, fearing to be devoured by a predator, does it deserve to be called a coward?"
His gaze seemed to pierce through Mydei, reaching towards the vaster, more merciless laws of the universe.
"Life merely struggles to survive, using every method it can conceive. No matter how pitiful or wretched those methods may seem to an observer... every effort life makes to perpetuate itself is, in its very essence, correct. It is worthy of respect."
"This..." Phaethon's tone remained steady, yet carried the weight of mountains, "...is the ultimate answer regarding survival that I found... at the end of over a hundred thousand cycles."
Silence hung in the air.
Mydei opened his mouth, only to find that all his arguments based on honor and rules seemed utterly pale and powerless before this raw philosophy of survival, born from countless sacrifices and struggles.
...
What Phaethon did not say was this: the moment he first clearly formulated the thought, "continuity itself supersedes all else," within the endless recurrence a, he faintly sensed his connection to the scepter that was Amphoreus deepen abruptly.
This connection was profound and ineffable. Originally, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to so casually "delete" Phainon's attack imbued with the power of destruction.
But as he repeatedly prioritized the continuation of the world or his companions above all else, a certain authority seemed to grow quietly.
Now, aside from the underlying frameworks like the Black Tide and Re-creation which he could not directly touch, almost everything in the world had become a "variable" he could reweave.
With a mere thought, he could make Cerydra no longer the Empress of the land, but a princess of the deep sea sirens.
He could make Hysilens lay down her sword and become the String Monarch who presided over melodies and laws.
He could even, on the foundation of Aglaea becoming the "Romance" Demigod, give a gentle nudge and make Cipher a revered "Reason" Sage within The Grove.
This power was immense, nearly that of a creator god, yet it was so clearly external in origin.
Where did it truly come from? Phaethon could not be entirely certain, having only vague conjectures based on scant clues, pointing towards that supreme existence amongst the sea of stars.
Still, for the present, perhaps... this was a good thing?
At the very least, it meant he would have significant room to maneuver regarding the next eternal recurrence's descending "prophecy," to guide the story towards a direction perhaps less tragic.
...
Eternal Recurrence #108,643.
Tribios, having traversed Black Tide-corrupted wastelands and perilous city-states through immense hardship, finally arrived at the walls of Okhema, carrying the Coreflame of the Passage.
Gazing up at the towering cloud-piercing walls and the radiant Dawn Device at its heart, her weary face lit up with a glow of hope.
Tribios softly repeated the prophecy she firmly believed in: "If one can safely deliver the Coreflame of the Passage before the Dawn Device of Kephale, and devoutly return it... one will gain recognition, become the Demigod who wields the 'Passage,' and for this world on the brink of destruction, initiate the prophecy of 'Re-creation'..."
"Mother, can you see?" she whispered, "I am about to... succeed. We shall ultimately become the hope that saves the world."
She lowered her head, staring at the Coreflame in her palm, beautiful like a swirling dark blue nebula, her companion for nearly a century.
"Thank you," her voice softened, carrying reluctance and gratitude, "Though I don't know if you can truly understand my words... several times on this journey, during truly fatal crises, it was you... quietly using the power of the 'Passage,' opening a lifeline beneath my feet, carrying me away from danger, wasn't it?"
The Coreflame burned silently, offering no reply.
"No answer? Hmph, figures... a Coreflame doesn't have a mouth."
She smiled self-deprecatingly, but her eyes grew even more resolute. "But every time I was truly in a hopeless situation, a lifesaving 'Infinity Gate' would always appear beneath my feet at just the right moment. That can't be a coincidence, can it?"
She took a deep breath, suppressing the last trace of attachment in her heart. Her gaze became firm and resolute.
"Finally... farewell, 'Passage.' May your power truly open a door leading to dawn for this world."
Cradling the Coreflame in both hands, she walked step by step towards the Dawn Device radiating warm light.
Light Calendar 3870, Month of Freedom.
With the Coreflame of the Passage formally submitted to Okhema and "converted" into corresponding authority bestowed upon Tribios, the Flame Chase Journey of humanity in this cycle began in an unprecedented manner.
...
[>>> Eternal Recurrence #108643: Observed subject Asterion utilizing unknown methods to severely interfere with and reshape the experimental process.]
[A large number of critical experimental parameters have been abnormally altered. The permission level invoked by these modifications is extremely high, speculated to possibly originate from a high-level entity marked as ███.]
[Warning: Detected high-dimensional energy reactions related to an Aeon intensifying outside the Amphoreus world barrier... Relevant fluctuation data has been recorded and archived. Continuing to execute observation protocol.]
...
Eternal Recurrence #2,825,638.
The center of Okhema. The Dawn Device emitted an eternal, warm radiance, illuminating the surrounding hall as bright as day.
Eleven Titan Coreflames of various forms, containing the power of different laws, hovered like stars surrounding the moon on the platform before the machine. Only one final step remained for them to gather completely.
Cyrene stood alone at the edge of the platform, holding the Coreflame of Time that flowed with ripples of time.
Her fingertips trembled slightly, her face somewhat pale. Her gaze lingered on the eleven coreflames of hope delivered by her companions.
"Cyrene, what are you still hesitating for? As long as we submit this final Coreflame of Time to the Dawn Device, our mission is complete."
A gentle voice sounded from behind. Tribios #2,865,638 — the teacher who had always played the guiding role — walked slowly to Cyrene's side, her eyes filled with concern and a hint of confusion.