---o---
When Bartholos saw the man in black appear, it immediately sidled up to Cipher and whispered, "Boss, this guy doesn't look like an easy opponent! Could he be the mastermind?"
Cipher frowned, her eyes fixed on the man before her. "Who are you?"
The man in black did not answer. He simply raised the straight sword in his hand, aimed it at Cipher, and muttered to himself, "Coreflame... must be recycled... the world... must be restarted."
With that, countless afterimages shot out from the man's side, brandishing their straight swords as they slashed toward Cipher. Startled, Cipher hastily swung her Yamato to parry. After a short exchange, she found herself at a disadvantage.
Cipher was shocked. Where did this vicious fellow come from?
To say he was the mastermind, she had her doubts. The way the man spoke gave off the impression that he lacked much in the way of rational thought. This didn't seem like someone capable of framing Fu Zhu.
And just as Cipher and the man in black were fiercely clashing, high above in the sky, Lygus watched the scene unfold, feeling a genuine sense of admiration. He began to applaud Cipher.
"Truly worthy of the Demigod of [Trickery]. To disguise herself as Fu Zhu to maintain his directive for this world, while also using this 'false identity' to draw out either me or Fu Zhu himself... a truly excellent plan. But it's a pity. Fu Zhu has already been my prisoner for a thousand years. The only one you could possibly attract is me."
From the moment Cipher had prepared to execute this plan, Lygus had known every detail.
Although Cipher's impersonation of Fu Zhu, which allowed the directive of Eternal Day to once again override his directive of Eternal Night, was a source of irritation for him, he could not, according to their agreement, take the initiative to expose the lie or kill Cipher.
Left with no other choice, he could only modify the base code of the Black Tide creatures, allowing them to attack Cipher without affecting the grander scheme of things.
He could not make a move, but that didn't mean the Black Tide creatures couldn't target a Chrysos Heir.
Unfortunately, Lygus discovered that after disguising herself as Fu Zhu, Cipher had acquired some of Fu Zhu's abilities, such as his commonly used weapon. Although it couldn't open spatial rifts like the original, it was a near-perfect replica in terms of combat.
With Cipher possessing the Yamato, the Black Tide creatures he had sent were fundamentally incapable of harming her. For a time, his plan had hit a dead end.
But!
Lygus was in no hurry. As long as his opponent wasn't Fu Zhu, he had absolute confidence. Time within Amphoreus was worthless to him.
That man in black was his backup plan!
"Khaslana, allow me to lend you a hand."
Lygus made a small adjustment on the Scepter System's interface, slightly reducing the erosion Khaslana's body was enduring.
In an instant, Cipher, who had already been losing ground, was sent flying by a single slash from the man in black. She crashed through several massive boulders, and golden blood spewed from her mouth like it was free.
The man in black, straight sword in hand, strode calmly toward Cipher.
"Hand over... the [Coreflame]."
Cipher weakly raised her hand, handing over the [Trickery] [Coreflame].
"Here, here you go. You've really got me scared."
The moment the man in black reached out to take the [Coreflame], Cipher shot up and vanished in a flash. In the next second, the [Coreflame] in his hand transformed into a can.
Watching this from the sky, Lygus couldn't help but shake his head.
"Khaslana, you have been too severely eroded by the corrosion after all. Otherwise, you would have seen through such a simple trick at a glance. But no matter, this does not hinder my plan."
Lygus was certain. Cipher could run for a while, but she couldn't run forever.
He had already foreseen three possible outcomes for Cipher.
First, she is killed by Khaslana. With her body's death, the lie can no longer be maintained. Eternal Day will be dispelled the moment she dies.
Second, the other two Nameless Guests arrive. They fail to save her in time but manage to secure the [Coreflame]. Eternal Day will still vanish.
Third, the two Nameless Guests successfully rescue Cipher. But he believed they would still be able to see through the lie. Eternal Day would vanish all the same.
"No matter which outcome, Eternal Night will once again envelop Amphoreus!"
Lygus was completely confident in this. However, he was more inclined toward the latter two possibilities. He had no desire to let the [Coreflame] fall into Khaslana's hands again.
As for whether those two Nameless Guests would arrive in time, he wasn't worried in the slightest. With that detestable MK2000 bred by Fu Zhu, such a distance was but an instant for them.
And things unfolded just as Lygus had predicted. After the man in black realized he'd been tricked, he immediately pursued in the direction Cipher had fled.
The heavily injured Cipher knew she couldn't possibly escape, so she immediately took out the [Trickery] [Coreflame] and gave it to Bartholos.
"You have to run! Take the [Coreflame] back to the dressmaker woman and the others!"
Bartholos nodded, immediately turned, and fled. Cipher, meanwhile, ran in the opposite direction to buy Bartholos time.
---o---
Not long after, in the Holy City of Okhema.
Dan Heng and Stelle were resting in their guest room, waiting for news from Aglaea and the others.
Suddenly, the door was thrown open. The two of them turned their heads in unison to see Aglaea and Tribbie standing at the entrance with expressions of pure panic. Behind them followed a deep purple "monster."
Before Dan Heng or Stelle could ask, Aglaea stated bluntly, "There's trouble. Cipher, the one I mentioned to you before, is in danger and is being pursued. If you two would..."
Aglaea hadn't even finished her sentence when Dan Heng and Stelle stood up in unison. "We'll go save her." x2
Cipher was, at present, the only Chrysos Heir who had seen 'Fu Zhu' with her own eyes. No matter what, she could not be allowed to die before they got information about Fu Zhu from her!
However, Stelle was a little worried.
"How far away is Cipher? Can we even make it in time if we leave now?"
Tribbie quickly replied, "Don't worry. It's a bit far, but with MK2000, we can definitely get there in time. Phainon is already waiting outside."
Aglaea also nodded and explained to the two, "I must guard the Holy City, so I cannot leave. I can only rely on the two of you and Phainon."
Dan Heng and Stelle had no objections. The former immediately stood up and started walking out.
"No problem. We'll leave right now."
"Alright. I'll have Bartholos go with you. He is Cipher's assistant and knows her exact location. He will lead the way."