The comments were speculating about the connection between the Titans and the Paths.
And in the Vortex of Genesis, Stelle had already walked away from the basin in the center towards Phainon and Dan Heng.
Phainon, standing nearby, smiled and asked, "So, did you hear it? About the Titans?"
"A bit too much," Stelle scratched her head. "Feels like I forgot it all the moment I finished watching."
"Hahaha." Phainon liked Stelle's sense of humor, or rather, her optimism.
"Just watch it a few more times."
After that, the atmosphere became much more serious.
"Back to the matter at hand. I want to extend a heartfelt invitation to you: Join the Chrysos Heirs, and aid us in hunting down Nikador and retrieving the Coreflame from the Strife Titan."
This simple young man was completely serious.
Stelle and Dan Heng had no reason to refuse.
Just as the two had discussed earlier in Okhema, their current main objective was to find a way to learn more about Okhema and meet the Titans if possible.
After seeing the two accepting his invitation, Phainon visibly relaxed, his smile becoming brighter.
That joy, born from finding new companions, overflowed so clearly that it felt especially vivid on screen.
Audiences generally had no resistance to a character like this.
Once the agreement was settled. Dan Heng took the opportunity to ask about the history of Amphoreus.
He finally managed to sort out some valuable information.
For example. The first Chrysos Heirs was born a thousand years ago.
From that point on, the chosen ones walked the world.
Then came the Chrysos War... A conflict backed by the gods, yet one that brought much bloodshed and claimed many heroes.
By the time Phainon himself was born, the tale of the Chrysos Heirs had already become little more than legends.
As for the other Chrysos Heirs, according to Phainon, fate would deliver divine revelations, scattering trials before their eyes.
The history Phainon spoke of was closer to a legend or an epic than to recorded fact.
Logically speaking. Someone as important as Phainon should not have been exposed to such incomplete history.
There were far too many missing details. Especially when it came to time, it somehow felt far too short.
...
: Is this history real?
: Why does it sound so off? There are no details at all?
: But judging from what Phainon said, does that mean there were two generations of Chrysos Heirs? One a thousand years ago, and one now?
: And the farthest back Phainon mentioned is only a thousand years ago, does Amphoreus really have such a short history?
: Something's wrong. Nine out of ten levels of wrong, no, ten out of ten.
: But Phainon is really cheerful. Such a great guy!
: Just from his debut scenes alone, I'm liking Phainon more and more!
: Same!
...
The comments scrolled past.
On screen.
Stelle, Dan Heng took a few photos of the Vortex of Genesis and went back to rest.
After seeing the two of them leave, Phainon also turned and left.
A full day of trailblazing had taken a significant mental toll on them.
But no matter how tired they were, it still felt necessary to talk things through before sleeping.
They found a spot and sat down.
But instead of talking about the day's experiences, Stelle rubbed her chin and said, like she was seeing Dan Heng for the first time,
"Today, you talked...."
"...more than you did in the entire three worlds before this."
Dan Heng shook his head helplessly. "Well, since the talkative one isn't around, someone has to take her place."
"But it's been a long day for me too, so let's get through the review quickly."
Stelle planted her hands on her hips and said. "Agreed!"
"All in all, it took us about twenty system hours to figure out the current conditions on Amphoreus and build connections with the locals. A pretty good start."
At this point, Dan Heng's expression turned thoughtful as he continued, "But I feel that there's more to everything than meets the eye... Even the Chrysos Heirs themselves aren't as unified as we imagined."
Stelle by a rare stroke of luck spoke seriously. "We're still looking at things through a clouded lens."
Dan Heng spoke, "Aglaea's verbal attack on us was also quite sudden. There might be a reason behind it.."
Questions were piled up. But neither of them had the energy to think further.
After tidying up a bit, they each lay down to sleep.
Dan Heng pulled over a lounge chair and slept on the balcony.
...
When night fell. Stelle sank into a deep sleep.
A cute murmuring sound echoed within her dream.
"Mi… mi mi …"
The sound followed a similar rhythm.
Stelle, half-asleep, couldn't make out what the source of the voice actually looked like.
"Who's talking?" Stelle asked.
The "mi mi" sound rang out again. But this time, she could understand its meaning.
"...Calm down. Calm down. This time. Next time?"
Stelle was already startled in her dream. What did that mean?
Fragments pieced together into broken sentences?
Even March 7th's sleep-talking would make more sense than this.
"Is that you…"
Suddenly, Stelle had a guess.
"Stellaron?" She asked excitedly.
Could the Stellaron inside her be awakening?!
The "mi mi" voice was clearly startled.
"Mi mi!"
" ...Ron? Stella? Who? You... I... Who am I?"
" ...Broken. Lost. Want... complete.."
" ...Sleep. Go sleep. Disturb... should not."
The mysterious silhouette's intended words grew more and more like an incomprehensible scripture.
But the audience were thrilled. The more fragmented it was.
The more mysterious it became. And the more captivating it felt.
All previous episodes had proven one thing without exception: whenever some cryptic words were spoken to Stelle, they would always culminate in a massive shock by the end.
Before, there was Acheron, in a dream. Now here it was again.
The excited audience began trying to analyze these shattered phrases.
...
: Definitely not the Stellaron!
: It's absolutely from Amphoreus.
: It's probably trying to express that… something shattered?
: So what exactly was it that broke?
: The Chrysos Heirs, do you know about the path of Abundance?
: Speaking of which, Stelle's dreams are never ordinary. This message should be hiding a huge piece of foreshadowing, but we have too few clues right now. I'm afraid we'll have to wait for the story to develop.
: No matter what, take a screenshot first.
: Sigh… if only March 7th were here.
: Little March always spoils the real truth without even meaning to! So sneaky, so dangerous!
: Dan Heng must be pretty helpless too, March isn't around, so it's just him talking nonstop and communicating with everyone else.
: But that counts as a kind of growth too.
: On this journey to Amphoreus, the progress on both Stelle and Dan Heng has really been shown.
: Stelle is becoming steadier, more composed. And as for Dan Heng, there's nothing to say.
...
The comments scrolled past.
And time quietly advanced to the second day. Stelle clutched her head and climbed out of bed.
That voice had echoed in her mind the entire night. After telling Dan Heng about it.
Dan Heng didn't have many leads either and could only set the matter aside for the time being.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door.
The two opened it and took a look.
Oh. One white-haired man, one red-haired man, were standing across from the door like two bouncers.
Phainon and Mydei had come to pick Stelle and Dan Heng to the Marmoreal Palace.
At the first sight of them, Mydei crossed his arms and snorted coldly. "Hmph... Entrusting our fates to two strangers, is this madness or folly?"
He made no effort to hide his distrust of Stelle and Dan Heng.
Phainon smiled, glanced at Mydei, and said,
"Maybe both. You should really make more friends, Mydei."
"Hmph. I don't need friends." Mydei replied arrogantly.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Phainon teased back.
And so the two bickered as they led Stelle and Dan Heng toward the Marmoreal Palace.
Along the way, it almost felt like Stelle and Dan Heng were the extra ones.
The audience watching also burst out laughing.
Putting Phainon and Mydei together really maxed out the entertainment value.
Audience who hadn't had a strong impression of Mydei before also formed a preliminary new image of him through this banter, rather than the stiff first impression from their initial meeting.
Before long. Inside the Marmoreal Palace.
Aglaea and Tibo were already waiting for them.
"Welcome. Phainon, Mydei and the allies of Okhema."
Aglaea adjusted her wording, her expression gentle, her pupils serene.
As if yesterday's events had already slipped past her eyes.
She continued naturally, "Trianne has returned with news: For the first time in many years, we have dispersed the fog around Castrum Kremnos and verified its location."
"The awaited moment has finally arrived for the Chrysos Heirs. Our path forward is now clear: Vanquish Nikador, the violent Lance of Fury, and bring the Coreflame of Strife back to Okhema."
Under Aglaea's plan, Phainon, Mydei, and Stelle became the team for this campaign against the Strife Titan.
Trianne would open the gate that will lead them to Castrum Kremnos and begin their god-slaying journey.
Dan Heng, meanwhile, would remain in Okhema.
Everyone had their own roles. Led by Trianne, the group arrived at an open area.
Compared to Tribbie's calm composure, Trianne was far more lively.
She spoke exactly like an adorable little girl. The moment she opened her mouth, she melted countless hearts.
"It's true Trianne is very playful, but she's the best gatekeeper in Amphoreus. Her Century Gate never fails." Phainon introduced her to Stelle.
Mydei immediately spoke up from the side, "Instead of worrying about gates, why don't you take the time to think about how the three of us are supposed to fend off an entire army."
Phainon instantly spread his hands and teased back,
"That's not like you at all, Mydei. Don't tell me you're scared?"
The two were just about to launch into another heated argument.
At their feet, Trianne, stomping her little feet and rubbing her hands, had already prepared a gate.
"O-okay! Okay!"
"Alright! Century Gate... is opening... soon! Right now!"
Trianne clenched her tiny fists and said cheerfully, "Snowy, De, and newbie Little Gray, are you all ready?"
Phainon and Mydei stopped bickering and nodded solemnly.
Stelle put her hands on her hips. "Let's go slay a god"
"Slay! Slay!!" Trianne loudly echoed Stelle.
But the subtitles for what she said were not "slay a god."
The sharp viewers had already noticed that something was off with Trianne.
Tribbie spoke clearly and methodically. But Trianne, at this moment, could barely even get her words out smoothly.
She really was like a three-year-old child. However, the past of the three red-haired girls hadn't been mentioned before, and the audience knew nothing about it.
After thinking it over, They could only chalk it up to the different personalities of the three, not thinking too deeply about it.
Soon. With Trianne's power, a radiant, glowing gate unfolded.
The three stepped inside.
When the light faded, what appeared before them was an ancient, worn, out city.
"It's quieter than I expected..." Phainon looked up at the sky gravely.
It was daytime in Okhema. But here, it was already dusk.
"It's corrupted... but still familiar." Mydei murmured with a trace of emotion. "This is Castrum Kremnos."
Stelle didn't know the background details and simply listened quietly from the side.
"It seems its condition is already far from optimistic." Phainon surveyed the surroundings.
"Times really have changed. Even Nikador's own lands are on the verge of collapse. I haven't seen any sign of Titankin."
Mydei nodded lightly in response. "If even half of Castrum Kremnos' old might remains, it would mean that Aglaea sent us to our deaths."
"This is the outer city corridor. It used to be heavily guarded by soldiers. Even with the two of us working together, we wouldn't have made it past thirty steps."
Stelle put her hands on her hips and said, "What if you added me to the count?"
Mydei snorted and didn't respond.
"Our journey of Flame Chase begins now. Nikador is somewhere within the city."
Phainon summoned his great sword.
"Let's go. We'll take back the Coreflame of Strife or die in Kremnos."
Stelle summoned her bat, and Mydei clenched his fists.
The audience outside the screen were also watching in tense anticipation.
For the moment of facing the Titan head-on..