Little Gui's livestream.
"Folks, it looks like things are about to blow up!"
"It hasn't been long at all, and the Rosy Celestial Maiden has already set the whole city ablaze!"
"Gotta say, March 7th, you've got some charm on you!"
The scene now returns to the bathhouse.
Earlier, passersby were leisurely soaking in the baths.
But now,
many people have gathered together, assuming postures of prayer.
As you pass by, you can hear their devout and excited voices.
"Rosy Celestial Maiden, just from these words, I can imagine your beauty! You must be the incarnation of Mnemosyne (the Titan of Romance), ensnaring me in a swamp from which I cannot escape..."
"Ah! Beautiful Celestial Maiden, how can I win your heart?"
[Snacks, plush toys, cute clothes.]
Dan Heng sighed helplessly. "...Your view of March 7th is truly innocent."
"Hurry up and ask the important question."
[Have you seen Damionis?]
"Damias? Aminos? No, I don't know what you're talking about, friend..."
"Right now, my heart belongs only to the Rosy Celestial Maiden!"
The chat instantly became lively!
...
"March 7th: No thanks, I'm not interested."
"Little March's popularity has exploded in Amphoreus!"
"I think if this guy were outside, he should follow The Beauty."
"Now's the time to ask, 'Between the Ash Peony and the Rosy Celestial Maiden, who is more beautiful?'"
"I am a Pathstrider of The Finality, dare you say 'Aminos' one more time!?"
...
Inside the bathhouse, there were both fanatical believers and rational citizens.
Meanwhile, Damionis stood at the highest point.
Shouting loudly, "Rosy Celestial Maiden! The world beyond the sky—!!"
Noticing Dan Heng and Stelle catching up to him,
he immediately fled.
"Don't chase me, stay back!"
He even barged into the Garden of Life.
The guards in the garden tried to dissuade him: "This is the Garden of Life, the sacred ground of Schism (the Titan of Reason)! Would you desecrate the divine?"
"Desecrate? You are gravely mistaken! The wise Sisyphus will be proud of me, just watch!"
He went straight to the edge of the cliff.
Next to a large jar.
He said excitedly, "The wisdom promised by Sisyphus should belong equally to everyone."
"I, the explorer Damionis, will today sprout wings and touch the sky—to prove to all the existence of the world beyond the sky!"
The guard said coldly, "That's just a large flying jar. You're seeking your own death!"
"Hah, unleash your mockery to your heart's content. I shall use practice as my shield to break the spears of your doubt!"
Things had actually come to this?
This was something neither Little Gui nor many players had anticipated.
However,
to say they were particularly nervous would be an overstatement.
After all, both Dan Heng and Stelle looked incredibly calm!
It gave off a strong sense of Déjà Vu, like watching a spectacle unfold!
Besides!
With the plot unfolding this close,
forget about Azure Dragon Cleansing the World!
Stelle could simply dash forward and knock Damionis out with her bat.
There was really nothing to worry about.
...
"I'm actually quite annoyed by people who snoop through others' things without permission, especially those who spread what they see around afterward."
"Go ahead, jump! If you can't do it, I'll help you!"
"My suggestion is to just knock him out with a stick, lock him up, and charge him with spreading rumors—preferably for life, so he can't harm anyone else."
...
At that moment,
three options appeared in the bottom right corner.
[Use Clockwork on him!]
[He seems doomed.]
[Can he really succeed?]
Little Gui decisively chose option 1!
She was already used to exploiting glitches in Penacony!
If it worked, it would save so much trouble!
However,
the result was—
[Clockie shows no reaction.]
Immediately after,
another line of text popped up,
leaving Little Gui utterly bewildered!
[Trying to use Penacony's sword to slay Amphoreus' officials? Hah, think again.]
...
"?"
"Clockie won't work, but Clockie's dad will! Just unleash the great Remembrance erasure technique!"
"I've suspected for more than a day that this narrator is Aha themselves!"
"Will Aha suddenly emerge from the narration one day?"
"According to unofficial records, Aha and Yu Ling once had a child named Sampo..."
"That unofficial record is truly wild!"
...
Dan Heng stated, "We can't just stand by and watch him die!"
The two stepped forward,
using comforting words.
However,
Damionis was already consumed by the allure of the world beyond the Sky, and their attempts to soothe him proved futile.
Even provocation was useless.
"No need to waste any more words—Aquila (Sky Titan), bear my wrath!"
He was preparing to take off.
[What should we do, Dan Heng?!]
As this dialogue option was selected, Stelle also seemed ready to take action!
However,
Dan Heng's decision took many by surprise!
It wasn't what they had imagined—"There's no other way, we have to intervene!"
Or directly summoning a massive water dragon to let Damionis experience what zero-frame startup feels like...
Instead, he spoke in a tone that sounded quite "resigned":
"This is a life! There's no other way—tell him..."
[Damionis—]
[You're right—]
[—The world beyond the Sky truly exists!]
The barrage of comments went completely blank for a moment!
It took a few seconds for everyone to react!
A flood of question marks filled the screen!
Even Little Gui was utterly dumbfounded!
What!?
He just said it!?
Was there really no other way?
This... this doesn't seem right?!
...
"?????"
"Wait, was my Teacher Dan Heng's ability banned? Wouldn't Azure Dragon Cleansing the World solve everything?"
"Why isn't there an option to just let him die?!"
"Dan Heng was once Vidyadhara, so perhaps that's why he values life so much."
"Is it possible that Dan Heng did this on purpose?"
"Why does Dan Heng seem a bit clueless in this storyline?"
"Dan Heng isn't as clever as you all imagine. He's just a military officer who appears more composed because he's always been by my side and March 7th's."
"The only time he ever had a flash of inspiration, he caused the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae..."
...
"Dan Heng is far from simple."
Xianzhou Luofu.
Seat of Divine Foresight.
Jing Yuan and Yanqing were watching the plot unfold beside the chessboard.
Seeing the barrage filled with doubts.
Jing Yuan uttered such a meaningful remark.
Yanqing was taken aback.
He blurted out, "General, what does this mean?"
Seeing Yanqing's full curiosity, Jing Yuan spoke unhurriedly, "Before this incident occurred, we had a seemingly free period of wandering, but no matter where we went, we frequently encountered several Chrysos Heirs."
"One could say... that Miss Aglaea was practically having the Chrysos Heirs accompany us the entire time."
"And regarding the information we wanted to obtain, they didn't share everything they knew either. Instead, they evaded the important points and were evasive."
Yanqing pondered, "The Chrysos Heirs have been on guard all along?"
Jing Yuan nodded, "Exactly."
"While we know the Astral Express Crew are good people, the Chrysos Heirs cannot be certain of that."
"In the face of the apocalypse, they are already stretched thin."
"I believe Dan Heng must have noticed this."
Yanqing's gaze darkened, "So that's how it is. Indeed, the Chrysos Heirs aren't as simple as they appear on the surface..."
Jing Yuan, however, smiled faintly, "But Dan Heng has also been gauging their intentions all along."
Yanqing was startled!
"Where can you see that?"
"I feel like Teacher Dan Heng and the others are in a very passive situation right now?"
Jing Yuan took a sip of hot tea.
He said, "With Dan Heng's mind, could he not know what's in the camera? By allowing it so freely, he clearly wants Damionis to create pressure on the Chrysos Heirs through public opinion, forcing them to reveal information about the Sky."
"To break the deadlock, one must find a breakthrough."
"It seems like we are helping the Chrysos Heirs, but Dan Heng also wants to use these people who know this world best in return."
"Furthermore..."
"Here, Damionis wants to fly into the sky. With Dan Heng's skills, saving someone would be effortless."
"But why didn't he act, and even deliberately mentioned saving a life..."
Jing Yuan didn't continue further.
But Yanqing's eyes lit up!
He instantly understood!
"Teacher Dan Heng, he wants to occupy the moral high ground..."
"Under the banner of 'we kept our promise, but human life is more important,' he pressures the Chrysos Heirs... to obtain more information!"
Jing Yuan nodded.
The student is teachable.
"This is called... going with the flow."
"Dan Heng is still that reliable Dan Heng."
Yanqing clenched his fists.
So,
the waters of this Trailblaze journey in Amphoreus run so deep!
It's not as simple as it seems on the surface at all!
Fortunately,
with the General's guidance, the situation has become clear!
"So that's how it is!"
"No wonder Teacher Dan Heng has always remained unperturbed..."
"General, please allow me to send this analysis as a barrage to tell the many players watching the plot!".