Memories flooded into her mind like a tidal wave.
Though the pink-haired girl couldn't recall every detail of thirty million reincarnations, every moment from the previous cycle felt like her own lived experience.
In the distant future,
The thriving Oherma,
The Black Tide that swept across the heavens and earth,
And the "Fire Chasing Journey" launched by all the Golden Progeny united against the Black Tide.
Gods fell one by one, and half-gods rose in their wake.
Epic tales whispered to her of Omphalos's suffering and humanity's desperate self-salvation.
The memories ended in her hometown's wheat fields. The girl was pierced through the chest by a pitch-black swordsman. In her dying moments, he slowly removed his mask, revealing a face identical to that of the big boy named Bai E from her village.
When Senexios opened her eyes again, she fully believed the boy's story.
Because this was the final remnant of that girl who had endured thirty million reincarnations, left behind from the previous cycle.
And now,
She had inherited that remnant, witnessing firsthand everything the girl endured until her life's end.
"Acting all cool on your own."
The boy's low voice pulled her back. Senexios turned to see a flash of undisguised disappointment on his face, mixed with resentment and melancholy.
Suddenly,
He seemed to spot something and quickly picked it up from the empty ground with a joyful surprise.
Then,
A relieved smile bloomed across his face:
"Think you can run? Not that easy!"
「Memory Chip」
· A remnant of a 「Girl」's memories, preserving fragments from her life
· Can be completed to obtain 「Remnant Spirit · Girl Elysia」
No acting required.
Elysia, huh?
True name reveal, just like that?
"She..."
Senexios walked to Yi Zhen's side, about to offer some comforting words. After all, if she hadn't refused to believe him, the girl wouldn't have needed to sacrifice herself like that.
"Don't worry, she's still here. She just needs some time to come back."
A faint, relaxed smile appeared on Yi Zhen's face.
"But next time, no more letting her show off alone."
"Senexios, help me out. I'm not gonna spin some romantic tale about this. I prefer straightforward revenge stories! Pay back grudges in blood, settle scores with interest! Join me, and I'll take you... to kill our way out!"
Those three words ignited a fierce spark in Senexios's eyes, like flint striking dry tinder.
She was a warrior, not one for twists and turns. In fact, in Yi Zhen's story, after she ascended to godhood and ruled, her clan fractured into infighting, and she ended up destroying it herself.
So be it.
She'd entrust her talents to someone wise enough to wield them!
"Alright, let's kill our way out—!"
...
Senexios's true peak was still years away.
But as the first numerical monster of Omphalos, she was already showing signs of it.
Her monstrous strength that could tame Wing Beasts, her superhuman balance for riding such exotic creatures.
Add to that the astonishing Spear Technique she'd honed alone.
Camelot's king had teachers; this Sun Thunder Knight was pure self-taught, locking herself away and grinding until she clawed her way to the top of the Golden Progeny.
In this era, few could match this numerical freak.
And those few were all serving in various city-states and clans.
Giokleres, the Mountain Breaker.
Rabinus, the future Lord of the Broken Blade.
Seneca, the Winter Rain Lord from the skies, a fellow Fire Chasing Army knight.
Even they were at least one or two tiers below this Sun Thunder Knight.
A beast who could solo Titans.
Drop her into the national server battlefield, and she'd be a one-of-a-kind female Xiang Yu.
Bringing Senexios back to Janusapolis, this fierce tigress started off skeptical. In her mind, she was just a girl with basic martial skills.
But from Yi Zhen's mouth, she sounded like a monster who could charge through enemy lines seven times over.
Fun fact: There's a girl named Jeanne in Domrémy Village who thought she was nothing special at first, then hit the battlefield and chased the English across the map.
So,
This skeptical tigress tested herself on some bandit strongholds along the way, and only then did she realize she was freakishly strong.
Their defenses couldn't withstand a single charge from her.
Even their hasty formations scattered like startled birds under one assault.
Holy shit, I'm basically Superman!!!
"Turns out I'm really that strong?"
She murmured to herself. Even Lunabis, the Wing Beast she rode, nearly laughed. If you were ordinary, how could she and Solabis have chosen you?
As lords of the skies, Wing Beasts were an exceedingly proud race.
She and Solabis were the apex of their kind, yet by chance they befriended this young Golden Progeny, sensed her potential, and chose to become her mount and companion.
"Senexios, no need to doubt yourself. Among all the Golden Progeny I've seen in my life, alongside Solabis, your potential is the greatest."
"No one among the hundred-plus city-states of this world can compare."
The implication?
Loser girl, perk up! You're the future world's top expert!
"Maybe this talent is the mission fate gave me."
After utterly crushing another large bandit stronghold, the tigress gazed thoughtfully at the distant sky.
Assuming, as Yi Zhen said,
If she hadn't returned to the skies because of the prophecy and shot down Aegler,
But instead used this power to propel Omphalos into the Fire Chasing era sooner.
If she could produce more half-gods, gather them in this time...
Perhaps the future lands of Omphalos could avoid much suffering.
"It starts with this first step."
"My friend I've yet to meet, Tirixipios."
"In this cycle, we'll fight side by side for real!"
...
"The guards have increased a lot."
In Janusapolis,
Inside the saintess's residence,
The now-adult Janus saintess, Tirixipios, pondered her next moves. A decade had passed since interpreting Kephale's prophecy until now.
From an ignorant child, she had grown into an adult, seeing through the priests outside the temple who enshrined her as saintess. They were profit-driven snakes.
Her mother's death was undoubtedly tied to them.
But she couldn't throw away her life avenging her mother.
"Janus still clings to a shred of reason. Perhaps His power is the key to leaving Janusapolis."
The question was how to reach Janus's treasury alone and touch that crucial Fire Seed.
Twenty years without training in martial arts—even an ordinary guard with a spear could pierce her throat or sever her head with ease.
She had no doubt they'd do it, just like they did to her mother.
Perhaps something even worse awaited her.
Before acting, though, she'd prepare a way to end it herself.
Even so, she had to use her life carefully, at least not betray her mother's sacrifice.
"Mother."
"We'll reunite at the end of the fragrant west wind."
"But not now."
"So, please wait a little longer."