Cyrene's expression was equally grave. She clutched the Coreflame of 'Time' tightly and shook her head. "I... I don't know either.
I have never heard of the existence of a 'Sky Father'... And Oronyx's state just now... Who was that prophecy even for?" She felt a wave of inexplicable unease.
"Problems... just keep piling up," Phainon took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "But we don't have time to dwell on these mysteries now, Cyrene."
His gaze turned towards the portal of time. "The Coreflame of 'Time' is in our hands. Come, let us go together to embrace the unknown miracle foretold by the prophecy, to burn away all the filth and darkness in this world..."
He stepped towards the portal, his voice resolute. "And then... become the first spark of the new world... a flame representing hope."
However... just after Phainon and Cyrene passed through the portal of time, an extremely soft sigh came from a corner that should have been empty.
"A prophecy... from 'Fuli'?"
...
Meanwhile, on the eastern front, at the Janusopolis military position led by Phaethon.
The fires of war raged, with energy beams and the roars of the Black Tide weaving together into a chaotic symphony.
"Teacher, Phaethon... he's really as monstrously strong as ever," young Jacob managed, fending off a lunging Black Tide spawn while stealing a glance at the sky.
There, a figure hovered mid-air, energy that inspired dread coalescing in his hands. Every swing was like divine punishment, calling down torrents of purifying light that scoured the earth, clearing vast swathes of land.
"It's just... when we waved to him earlier, why did he seem... to not react at all?" Jacob added, somewhat puzzled.
High Priest Vittorio, fighting beside him, let out a helpless sigh. "Jacob, he is the prophesied Deliverer, bearing the fate of the entire world. It's best we address him respectfully as Lord Phaethon."
He wiped grime from his face and continued, "As for waving... perhaps the battlefield noise is too great, or he is wholly focused on the fight, with no attention to spare.
Our greatest support for him is to do our own jobs well and hold this position!"
High in the sky, Phaethon once again precisely locked onto a dense concentration of the Black Tide below. The strange greatsword in his hand erupted with even more dazzling light as he uttered a short, forceful phrase:
"Ex... calibur!"
Another massive pillar of light, thicker and more blazing than before, shot from the tip of his sword and slammed ruthlessly into the Black Tide below, once again triggering violent explosions and purifying radiance!
...
At the same time, within Okhema, Aglaea, who was busily directing citizens in constructing defensive works and allocating resources, suddenly felt the communication slate she carried vibrate urgently.
Thinking it was a report from a defense team, she quickly opened it.
However, the sender displayed on the screen gave her a slight pause—it was Anaxa.
The message was concise: `I need your help.`
Aglaea almost instinctively wanted to reply with her habitual retort, `Why should I help you?` but her fingers hesitated.
She glanced at the smoke of gunpowder spreading outside the city walls, took a deep breath, deleted her original words, and replied: `Fine. Special circumstances. What do you need me to do?`
Anaxa's reply came quickly, but its content was unexpected: `I need you to use the authority of 'Romance,' with the clearest threads, to broadcast a live feed of what is happening at the Vortex of Genesis to Okhema and all places that can still receive a signal.`
Aglaea was stunned, her brow furrowing tightly: `Broadcast the Vortex of Genesis? What are you trying to do? At a time like this?`
Anaxa's reply carried his usual simplicity: `Not trying to do anything. I merely believe that the final efforts of heroes saving the world should not proceed unknown and unseen.`
After a pause, another message arrived: `Moreover, the process of elucidating the ultimate truth of 'Re-creation' to the entire world... wouldn't it lose more than half its meaning without an audience to witness it?`
...
The Vortex of Genesis.
"And you... why are you here?" Phainon's voice was like ice, his sharp gaze locked onto the data-stream projection that suddenly appeared at the very center of the Vortex of Genesis.
"Answer my question! Lygus!"
Cyrene immediately went on guard as well, instinctively moving half a step closer to Phainon, her ceremonial sword rising slightly.
"Ah... the Vortex of Genesis finally welcomes the last two heroes of this world."
Lygus's voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, sounded as if he had been waiting for a long time. His projection turned slightly to face them.
"Just as every magnificent epic, written according to the established prophecy, is destined to have its final words penned here."
"And just as every cycle's calculation, designed from its origin, is fated to reach its conclusion here."
He explained as if everything was under his control, addressing the tense Phainon and wary Cyrene with an air of leisure:
"There is no need for such tension, NeiKOS496 (Phainon).
My presence here is not to obstruct, but for a singular purpose: to witness with my own eyes the 'Miracle of Genesis' spoken of in the prophecy."
"You never showed any interest in the Flame-Chase Journey!" Phainon refuted sharply, anger burning in his eyes.
"When my companions and I were running around, bleeding, and sacrificing to gather the Coreflames, you never offered a hand, not even once!
And after Phaethon joined the Council of Elders, you, a so-called 'Theoros' who claimed to support the Council, promptly vanished, watching from the sidelines with cold indifference!"
His tone was filled with distrust. "Now, you, an Antikythera who has upheld 'Neutrality' to the end... why this sudden 'concern' for the mission of the Golden Descendants?"
Phainon's voice grew even colder. "And... don't call me by that strange string of letters and numbers!"
"Those minor details are unimportant," Lygus's voice remained infuriatingly calm.
"I believe... you who have walked to the world's end must have long been aware of this world's numerous anomalies. Aren't you the least bit curious about the truth of Amphoreus?"
He let out a soft chuckle, a laugh utterly devoid of warmth, carrying only the appreciation of a researcher facing a perfect specimen.
"Heh, as a reward for your successful arrival here, allow me to unveil this final mystery for you both. It is the 'prize' you have earned."
The expressions of Phainon and Cyrene grew even more severe. They sensed that what they were about to hear would be a truth brutal enough to overturn everything.
"This is a moment worthy of being remembered by the entire universe!" Lygus's voice suddenly rose, carrying a tone of fanatical proclamation.
"After thousands upon thousands of cycles of calculation, the experimental field named 'Amphoreus'—a planetary supercomputer originally belonging to the Aeon of Erudition—has finally produced its long-desired perfect result!"