Sacred Flame Arena.
The Spectator Stands.
The people of Natlan gave a warm round of applause for the birth of the new Pyro Archon.
However, a white-haired girl's clapping was soft and light, appearing absent-minded.
"Mualani, what's wrong?"
Seeing his friend looking distracted, Kinich stopped clapping and asked with concern.
"Hmph~"
"She's definitely jealous that her childhood friend has become the Pyro Archon while she can only clap from below."
The speaker wasn't Mualani, but a pixel-like little monster floating beside Kinich, whose model looked like a yellow saurian.
"Ajaw, shut up."
Kinich said coldly.
"Tsk~"
"Don't you guys know that the truth hurts?"
"Ouch, Kinich, what are you doing?!"
The yellow pixel saurian named Ajaw was grabbed by the tail by Kinich and thrown away fiercely.
Soon, it disappeared like a star in the distance, vanishing from everyone's sight.
"Alright, I've sealed Ajaw, so we don't have to hear its unpleasant words anymore."
Kinich said, crossing his arms.
"Mualani, what exactly happened?"
"Caelus is your good friend. When he defeated Mavuika, you were the happiest person there."
"Why are you unhappy on the day he's about to become the Pyro Archon?"
A little girl with a bandage on her nose and wearing gloves looked up and asked.
She was Kachina from the Children of Echoes. Although she was small, she was good friends with both Kinich and Mualani.
"Is it that obvious?"
Mualani scratched her head and laughed.
Her smile was a bit forced, lacking her usual energy.
"What exactly is going on?"
"If you tell us, maybe we can help you."
Kinich asked.
"Actually, it's about Caelus."
"I feel like he's changed."
Mualani said.
"Caelus has changed?"
Kinich thought for a moment and then said, "According to the elders in the tribe, the Sacred Flame carries the knowledge of past Pyro Archons and the Ley Lines."
"So after entering the Sacred Flame, the new Pyro Archon can quickly obtain the corresponding knowledge and adapt to their new identity."
"But correspondingly, because they gain the memories of past Pyro Archons and knowledge about the Ley Lines and the Night Kingdom, their personality might change after becoming the Archon."
"However, Caelus hasn't entered the Sacred Flame yet, so logically he shouldn't have changed."
Kinich analyzed.
"Mualani, are you worried that after Caelus becomes the Pyro Archon, his personality will change and he won't be himself anymore?"
"Now that you mention it, even I'm getting a bit worried."
Kachina furrowed her brows and looked up, gazing worriedly in Caelus's direction.
"No, that's not it."
Mualani laughed helplessly: "While I am worried about his personality changing after becoming the Pyro Archon, I'm currently worried about something else."
"Last night, when I went to the hot springs with him..."
Mualani revealed Caelus's plan.
"St-Stop holding the Holy Night of the Return of Flame?!"
Kachina's eyes widened upon hearing Mualani's words.
"Mualani, are you sure that's what Caelus said?"
Even the usually composed Kinich showed a look of surprise.
He clearly hadn't expected Caelus to have such an idea.
This would practically destroy all of Natlan's historical traditions.
"It's absolutely true."
The white-haired girl sighed softly: "I thought Caelus was just joking and kept telling myself that."
"But even now, I'm still worried that Caelus might actually want to do it."
"Your concern is natural. We are also shocked."
Kinich comforted the girl, then stroked his chin and analyzed: "Caelus will soon become the Pyro Archon; his perspective on things might be different from ours."
"Perhaps in his view, stopping the Holy Night of the Return of Flame and the Night Warden War is what's best for Natlan."
"But for us right now, it's still too difficult to accept."
The history of the Holy Night of the Return of Flame is long and has become an inseparable part of the people of Natlan.
As for the Night Warden War, it is seen as a matter of honor by the people of Natlan.
If these two activities were canceled without a sufficient reason, it would inevitably cause strong dissatisfaction among the people of Natlan.
"Yeah, I think so too."
Mualani put her hands on her hips and looked toward the Sacred Flame, muttering, "But for now, I can only hope Caelus was really just joking."
Kachina clasped her hands in prayer: "Please don't let it be real."
At the Sacred Flame.
Under everyone's gaze, Caelus stepped into the Sacred Flame.
The Pyro Gnosis in his hand burst with a dazzling red light, and Archon-level elemental power flooded Caelus's body, elevating his strength to new heights.
Now, he could probably defeat his pre-Archon self with just a glance.
At the same time, many memories surfaced in his mind—memories of the Night Kingdom and the past Pyro Archons.
No wonder the village elders said that after undergoing the baptism of the Sacred Flame, one's personality would change.
After experiencing so many things out of nowhere, it would be strange if one's personality didn't change.
[Emotion Points from Kinich +10]
[Emotion Points from Kachina +10]
As Caelus was digesting the extra memories in his mind, the System's voice caught his attention.
"Why did Kinich and Kachina suddenly give me Emotion Points?"
"Are they that happy to see me become the Pyro Archon?"
Caelus opened his eyes, his vision piercing through the Sacred Flame to find Kinich and the others.
Seeing Mualani standing beside Kinich, Caelus understood the reason.
Mualani, that big mouth, couldn't help herself and told Kinich and Kachina about last night, which is why those two were generating Emotion Points.
"Even the calm and collected Kinich is surprised by my idea, which means my thinking is correct."
"It's time to bring this good news to the people of Natlan."
After digesting the memories he had gained, Caelus stepped out of the Sacred Flame.
The moment he stepped out, he became the focus of everyone's attention.
Seeing this, the host was about to lead the congratulations, but his sharp eyes noticed that Caelus seemed to have something to say.
"Is the new Pyro Archon about to give an important speech?"
The host thought to himself, stopping his movements and quietly watching the newly born Pyro Archon.
"Warriors of Natlan..."
"You no longer need to fight."
Caelus's voice was soft, yet it reached the ears of everyone present.
[Emotion Points +1]
[Emotion Points +1]
"How did the Archon do that? We can hear him even from this far away."
"Impressive, but what did the Archon mean by those words?"
"What does he mean by 'no longer need to fight'?"
"Could it be..."
Some of the cleverer people in the arena immediately realized the implication of Caelus's words.
However, the matter was so shocking that even if they guessed the truth, they didn't dare believe they were right, assuming they must have misunderstood.
But Caelus's next words confirmed their suspicions.
"From this day forth, the Holy Night of the Return of Flame and the Night Warden War—"
"...shall come to an end!"