Deepest in his consciousness, there was an endless golden rice field.
This is... Aedes Elysiae?
The wind brushed by, stirring up layers of golden wheat, carrying the warmth of the sun.
Phainon reached out, wanting to touch the incredibly familiar rice stalks.
However, his fingertips passed straight through them like a phantom.
All of this was, after all, an illusion.
The next moment, at the edge of the horizon, a living black tide surged forth, opening their maw to completely devour this last pure land.
"Hoo—!"
Phainon suddenly sat up from the bed.
His chest heaved violently, each breath exhaling a scorching white mist.
The scene before him, from a scorched wasteland of the apocalypse, returned to the metal ceiling of the train compartment.
Beneath him was a warm bed.
He was still alive.
Phainon looked around; the room was empty.
On the bedside table, there was a cup of water, still warm, and a beautifully arranged meal.
Under the plate of food, a small note was pressed.
It was the Conductor's unique fluffy handwriting.
"Phainon, remember to eat when you wake up! The Conductor will personally supervise you!"
This note, like a solid anchor, pulled him back to reality.
"What exactly am I…"
Phainon murmured to himself, the last memory in his mind being of burning everything to strike at that high and mighty god.
Then, he saw a drop of golden blood.
A drop of blood!
"Heh heh…"
"Heh heh heh heh…"
He slowly raised his hand, covering the mask on his face, the uncontrollable laughter of joy escaping through his fingers.
"So you… can also bleed, Nanook!"
As long as it can bleed, it's not untouchable!
As long as it can bleed, it can eventually be killed!
As long as I'm not dead, there are countless more opportunities to charge towards the Aeon of Destruction!
Phainon slowly got up and walked to the train window.
This time, his gaze did not look out at the brilliant starry sea.
He just stared quietly at his reflection in the glass.
A brand new black robe, and that… golden mask.
Aha of Elation.
Phainon didn't even bother to think about why that mad Aeon would choose him.
To understand a madman, one must first be a madman oneself.
"Perhaps… it saw my determination to slay a god?"
Phainon kept murmuring to himself, looking at his reflection.
"After all, what could possibly please that madman more than using the power of Elation to kill an Aeon who wields Destruction?"
He forcibly stopped this dangerous line of thought; he didn't want his way of thinking to be assimilated by that ultimate mischief-maker.
With a thought, the system panel unfolded before his eyes.
The originally purely gray interface was now tinged with a touch of gold.
Name: Phainon
path: Destruction, Elation
Authority: Destruction, Make-believe reality(Elation)
Weapons: Dawnbreaker (Broken Invasion Dawn), Moonblade (Ritual Sword), The Fool's Mask
Faction: Destruction, Masked Fools
Current Emotion: Calm
Current Ignitable Core flames: 8128
Current Collected Elation: 0
Collected Elation?
His gaze finally fell on the detailed explanation of Authority.
Make-believe reality: Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha...
Good news: There's a note.
Bad news: The note is a mockery from a god.
"…"
Phainon stared expressionlessly at the line of maniacal laughter, and after a moment, he smiled.
It wasn't anger, nor the annoyance of being played, but a kind of wild, gleeful smile, as if meeting a worthy opponent.
"After I take down Nanook, you're next."
He closed the panel, his chaotic thoughts gradually becoming clear.
The next stop is Jarilo-VI.
He wanted to go there to verify some conjectures and, incidentally, figure out what this "Masked Fool" identity was for.
Sampo… excellent!
And, I need more power.
Far greater and purer Destruction power than before.
Four hundred million Embers… it's still far, far too little.
Where else… can I obtain… Phainon's head throbbed intensely, countless memory fragments surged, and the expression beneath his mask once again became ferocious.
Finally.
He found a memory unique to his previous life.
A name, clearly presented in his mind!
"Xianzhou Loufu… Lord of Destruction Phantylia!"
"Haha…"
"Hahahahahahahahaha!"
Phainon could no longer suppress it, laughing maniacally.
"How could I have forgotten you!"
"Don't you love interesting and beautiful Destruction the most?"
"Then, when I bring this Destruction to you, completely intact…"
"Will you still be able to smile?"
After a long while, the laughter beneath the mask abruptly ceased.
After laughing, he reached out, his fingertips gently pressing against the cold window.
Phainon recalled the nightmare he had upon waking.
Aedes Elysiae, the golden rice field, and the pink-haired girl who always smiled while telling his fortune.
The moment this thought flashed.
A golden ear of wheat miraculously condensed between his fingertips.
It exuded the scent of sunshine, real and tangible, as if freshly picked from the fields of his homeland.
"Impossible!"
Phainon's pupils constricted sharply.
The ear of wheat existed for less than a second before turning into golden specks of light at his fingertips, slowly dissipating, leaving no trace.
This… how could this be?
The next moment, a preposterous yet incredibly real thought flashed through his mind.
The power of Elation?
Using my most cherished, most painful memories to create miracles out of thin air?
"Aha—"
Phainon wasn't angry, but rather had the smile of someone who had found amusement.
"So this is how it's played?"
"Using the deepest pain to create the most beautiful illusion… this is truly… too interesting."
"Amphoreus… tomorrow."
Phainon looked at the reflection in the window, the Golden Descendants's face slowly emerging, incredibly real.
"Mydei, Aglaea, Cipher, Teacher Tribbie, Teacher Anaxa, Castorice, Hiyacine…"
He recited each name, already etched into his soul.
"Wait for me…"
"I will return very soon… to fulfill all your wishes!"
Phainon slowly turned around, picked up the meal tray from the bedside, and devoured the food.
The next moment, he pushed open the door to the observation car.
Hearing the movement, Welt Yang put down his tablet and looked at Phainon.
"Are you awake, Phainon?"
Current Collected Elation: 0
The system panel appeared abruptly; Phainon glanced at it, not thinking much, and just slowly spoke, "Yes, Welt…"
He paused, then said in a calm tone: "Captain!"