After reading the bullet-point explanations, Little Gui couldn't help but sigh.
She pinched her nose.
How long are you going to chase me, Cloud Five Blade!
Fortunately,
after witnessing so many stories, her mental fortitude was no longer what it used to be!
She quickly adjusted her mindset and continued with the story.
Arriving at the blacksmith shop.
The master craftsman she had saved earlier was also there.
Talking with Phainon.
"...You still haven't moved past the shadows of the past. Chrysos Heir."
"The weight of the Kindling, if you wish to bear it... you must bury the past and suspend the pain."
Phainon said helplessly, "I'm trying, Hatnus. You know I can't do it, so why keep bringing it up?"
The two approached.
Phainon turned to greet them: "Stelle, Dan Heng! You're back faster than I expected. I thought Aglaea would keep you a bit longer."
"Here, the compensation I promised. I commissioned the most renowned master craftsman in the Holy City to repair your spear."
In the center of the screen.
The complete Cloud-Piercer appeared.
The spear tip was shrouded in white mist, gleaming with sharpness, just as before.
"I apologize again for my rudeness when we first met."
Dan Heng took Cloud-Piercer, slightly surprised: "From appearance alone, you can't tell it was ever damaged. Impressive."
Phainon smiled and sighed: "The person who forged this spear must have been a renowned craftsman too. There's always someone better—I can't even imagine a world beyond Amphoreus."
???
Little Gui, who had just stabilized her emotions, didn't expect such a shocking twist here!
Caught completely off guard!
Even,
she couldn't help but laugh out loud!
"Alright, alright..."
"Now, a craftsman with such skill can no longer forge weapons..."
"Are you satisfied now!"
...
"I'm just here to see Little Gui break down [cute]"
"I was feeling a bit sad, but seeing Little Gui suffer so much suddenly made me laugh."
"That's life for you!"
"Of the High-Cloud Quintet, I only have the standard Dan Heng version, the reincarnated Baiheng version, and the simplified Jingliu version."
"Back then, Jingliu would smile, Jing Yuan didn't have so many worries, and Yingxing didn't spend all day thinking about killing Imbibitor Lunae."
"Doesn't Jingliu still smile now? She smiles like crazy (doge)"
...
Phainon went on to talk about the oracles of Amphoreus.
"The three-phase oracle that descended upon Amphoreus, and the mission borne by the Chrysos Heirs—you must have heard about it by now. For us, pursuing the prophecy is the purpose of our journey. Overthinking it is meaningless."
[Who issued the oracle?]
"The oracle is an oracle precisely because it descended in the form of a miracle. No one knows whose will it truly represents."
"There's also a saying that it was the murmurs of Kephale (the Worldbearing Titan) before its long slumber, that the Heavenly Father sprinkled his divine blood upon the earth, and from then on, the Chrysos Heirs began to be born in this world... Of course, this is just one of many folk legends."
"Please don't dismiss it as unreasonable superstition. Everyone has gone from doubt to belief, and that transformation wasn't easy—many paid a price for it."
Dan Heng asked: "What Aglaea conveyed to us felt more like a collective mission. But as an individual, Phainon, what role do you play in all this?"
"Me? I'm still searching for that answer."
"But if the gods are kind, the Kindling that belongs to me should not be far off."
"—Nikador (Strife Titan)."
"I am a soldier, taught how to fight since childhood. From the day I was chosen by prophecy, I have seen the Spear of Divine Retribution (Strife Titan) as my ultimate goal."
"One day, I will break its spear and claim the Kindling of Strife."
These words once again expanded Amphoreus's worldview!
However,
Phainon's desire to claim the Kindling of Strife still sparked heated discussion!
...
"Strife? Are you sure you're Strife, not Burden of the World?"
"Mydei: Strife is mine, don't you dare take it!"
"Who gets whose Kindling—so you get to pick yourselves?"
"I prophesy! This Phainon is definitely not as simple as he seems on the surface!"
"There's bound to be a twist later!"
"He seems like a cheerful, sunny boy, but it's when such characters fall into confusion, regret, shattering, even corruption that they become the most delicious! [excited][excited][excited]"
"Phainon (future): No matter the cost, humanity will surely overcome the Black Tide!"
...
"Phainon isn't that simple?"
"Of course! The first person we meet is definitely suspicious!"
"This is March 7th's final prophecy, it can't be wrong!"
After Little Gui finished sighing,
she continued advancing the plot.
Bidding farewell to Phainon,
they arrived at a grassland.
Several Earth Beasts were gathered here, occasionally emitting a "buzzing" sound.
In the center of the grassland stood a girl.
She stood there quietly, immersed in admiring everything before her.
"Welcome to the dwelling of the Earth Beasts... though I should say, I'm just passing through myself." Castorice turned around to greet them.
[The air isn't very fresh...]
"Is that so? I find it sweet... the fragrance of life."
"Speaking of which, Miss Castorice, are you also a Chrysos Heir?" Dan Heng asked.
He seemed unwilling to let slip any opportunity to gather information!
"Yes."
Castorice uttered only that single word, her expression turning somewhat somber.
"...Apologies, if you'd rather not discuss this topic, I'll stop here."
"Thank you, Mr. Dan Heng."
The atmosphere,
grew somewhat awkward for a moment.
Fortunately, Stelle was quite good at livening things up.
She approached the Earth Beast, preparing to try feeding it.
"Their feed is quite clean—it's dried red soil. There's some right over there."
Castorice explained,
"For the first feeding, just take a small piece."
And at that moment,
two options appeared for the protagonist!
[Can I taste it?]
[Take a piece of dried red soil crystal.]
Little Gui was taken aback.
This...
Of course, choose the first one!
"Of course you can. But it tastes bitter and isn't easy to digest." Castorice answered seriously.
[...Her earnest tone immediately quashed your wild idea.]
Little Gui shrugged helplessly.
She thought the protagonist was about to create another iconic scene here!
It seems, upon first arriving in Amphoreus, she was still somewhat restrained.
[You gently pick up a piece of red soil from the container. The Earth Beast watches your every move with eager eyes... better not mess this up.]
The Earth Beast bent its long neck, bringing it close to the red soil crystal, seemingly ready to enjoy it.
Right at that moment,
a choice fittingly appeared!
[The Earth Beast lets out a slow but joyful cry. Clearly, it is anticipating the performance of you, the new caretaker.]
[Should it get what it wants so easily? Or...]
[1: Let Dan Heng eat the feed.]
[2: Eat the feed in front of the Earth Beast.]
[3: Feed the red soil feed to the Earth Beast.]
Seeing these three options.
Little Gui was instantly delighted!
She excitedly sat up!
"I think..."
"No one can resist choosing the option to tease Teacher Dan Heng, right!?"
After selecting option 1.
Unexpectedly, Dan Heng directly anticipated it in advance!
"...Don't even think about it."
[Damn, when did he learn mind reading?]
...
"Hahahaha, Teacher Dan Heng's tone here is so funny hhhhh"
"This tone?... I'm satisfied!"
"Teacher Dan Heng probably already got used to the Stellaron spirit's antics hhh"
"Teacher Dan Heng, how do you understand me so well! You have me in your heart!"
"Guessing such an abstract idea accurately is also wild..."
"As we all know, the Trailblazer is the hardest character to OOC"
"Those who don't choose [Eat the feed in front of the Earth Beast] here are this [thumbs up]!"
...
Dan Heng rejected the abstract behavior.
Now Stelle had to step up herself.
[You stare intently at the red soil block in your hand, then look up to confirm the Earth Beast's gaze.]
"...Bzzz?"
[You see confusion... hesitation... and perhaps even a hint of hidden provocation. The big fellow looks down at you, as if saying: Do you have the guts, little one?]
[From childhood till now—though it hasn't been that long—you've never been looked down upon by an animal. Now, there's probably only one way to preserve your dignity...]
[You take a bite out of the red cube. Beside you, the two spectators who witnessed this firsthand let out sounds of disbelief.]
...
"?"
"Are you sure that's what the Earth Beast meant?"
"Can't be looked down upon by Aha!!"
"Grasp that red soil block, refine it instantly!"
"Clean and hygienic, brothers!"
"The Stellaron spirit never disappoints when it comes to making me feel abstract."
"Teacher Dan Heng probably really didn't expect me to do this hhh"
"Yare yare, an unstoppable little glutton~"
"Path of The Voracity, unlocked small!".