The scene shifted.
The view returned to the black-robed swordsman facing the group.
One against five, yet he showed no panic at all. Instead, an overwhelming sense of pressure practically overflowed from the screen.
The greatsword in the black-robed swordsman's hand erupted with ominous purple light.
The Goldweaver in Trianne's hand began trembling violently.
"Wait, something's wrong… Everyone, be careful!"
Before she could finish speaking, countless sword strikes surged toward them.
Castorice and Caelus were sent flying instantly. Only Anaxa, bolstered by the Titan, staggered back a few steps before steadying himself.
He gave a bitter smile. "This is bad…"
The black-robed swordsman's figure was reflected in his pupils.
The swordsman leaped high into the air, already preparing to swing his blade.
"Hundred Realms Gate… open!"
Light burst from Trianne's palm as a Hundred Realms Gate opened behind the black-robed swordsman.
A powerful suction force seized control of the swordsman's movements, attempting to pull him inside.
However, the black-robed swordsman's body was gradually breaking free, about to escape the control.
Castorice reached out, and the authority of Death flew forth from the gate, binding the black-robed swordsman.
Under his fierce struggle, he was finally forced into the Hundred Realms Gate.
Only after the black-robed swordsman completely vanished did Trianne slowly collapse.
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier until she fell into a deep sleep.
[ Is the black-robed swordsman really that strong? Even with the Titan of Reason, Castorice, and Caelus, they were completely overwhelmed? ]
[ He's not that weak. ]
[ ???? ]
[ Holy shit, are they really going to kill off Trianne? ]
[ Nooo, she's my favorite one! ]
[ Is there anything miHoYo won't do? ]
[ Damn it, they're even willing to kill off a cute little loli like her? Is the writer even human? ]
[ Not necessarily. Maybe it looks like she's going to die but she won't. Am I right? ]
[ No, with miHoYo, if it looks like they're going to kill someone, they definitely will—and they'll throw in two more for good measure. ]
[ No!!! ]
— —
Not long after, at the foot of Okhema.
"Whew…"
Only after feeling the light of Kephale once more did Castorice breathe a sigh of relief.
"That was far too close. But thankfully, we've safely arrived in Okhema."
Caelus rubbed his forehead beside her. "I kind of want to hide in the holy city and never leave."
Trianne, however, looked troubled and extremely exhausted. "Ugh… Little Cas, Trianne still… has a headache. I'm sorry… Even though you specifically told me not to open the gate…"
[ I don't want this! Trianne is so cute! ]
[ Trianne saved everyone's lives! ]
[ It's over. I have a bad feeling Trianne really is going to get killed off. ]
[ No need to feel it—she's definitely getting the blade. They've been signaling it from the very beginning. ]
[ No! Please don't! ]
— —
"No, Lord Trianne. If you hadn't stepped forward, we would have already perished in the Grove," Castorice comforted her.
"Trianne feels so uncomfortable… I need to go back and sleep first…" With that, Trianne dragged her weary body and unsteadily left the group.
Watching Trianne's departing figure, Castorice couldn't help but worry.
"Lord Trianne hasn't been in good condition ever since she woke up… Is it really okay for her to go back alone?"
At that moment, after Anaxa had looked around, he remarked, "It's still as noisy as ever… Okhema hasn't changed."
Castorice turned her gaze back to him and asked tentatively, "Are you Teacher Anaxa right now?"
"No need to doubt. That Titan has gone silent. It is I, Anaxagoras of the Intellectual School."
Hearing this, Castorice felt reassured. "Calling himself that way confirms it really is him."
Anaxa: "..."
"Teacher, I'll be direct. Lady Aglaea's mission for us was to find survivors, uncover the truth behind the Grove's disaster, and… retrieve Cerces's Coreflame."
"Hmm, I'm not surprised at all. As you can see, I am both a survivor and someone who knows the full story of the catastrophe. I also carry a Coreflame within me, yet I am completely powerless to resist."
Anaxa paused for a moment.
"So, are you going to present me to Aglaea as your report?"
[ For some reason, this feels a bit funny. ]
[ It strangely hit my funny bone. ]
[ The frail scholar! ]
[ I can't hold it in. ]
"It is my duty. But I don't want to hand you over to her as a captive or trophy," Castorice quickly explained.
"Very well, I won't make things difficult for you. I have no objection to meeting that woman. However, before that, I still have some matters to attend to. Several colleagues from the Grove have families living in the holy city. Before meeting Aglaea, I wish to… pay my condolences to them first."
Caelus, who had been listening for a while, looked confused. "Why before meeting Aglaea?"
Castorice turned to him. "Because Lady Aglaea… probably won't allow it."
Anaxa snorted coldly.
"Heh… Let me guess. Not only will she refuse to let me console the families of the deceased, she'll also lock down all news about the Grove. That woman has always been so cold-blooded. Some friends in the Grove fought alongside me to defend the Coreflame and resist the Black Tide, only to lose their lives. Their families… have the right to know the truth."
[ Something feels off. ]
[ It feels like Anaxa and Aglaea don't get along very well. ]
[ Probably just a clash of ideals. It's quite dramatic—a bunch of Titan heirs being mortal enemies. ]
[ Meanwhile, Cerces calls Mnestia "my beloved." ]
[ Hahaha, that's actually pretty domestic. ]
[ Basically, the two of them just can't stand each other for various reasons. That kind of relationship is pretty normal. ]
— —
With Anaxa on one side and Aglaea on the other, Castorice weighed her options and chose to accompany him personally.
They arrived at the first female family member. She showed surprising strength in the face of her husband's death.
Because she came from Castrum Kremnos, when the new king of the fortress descended, her husband's grudge would be repaid by her spear against the Black Tide monsters.
[ Sigh, it's not death itself that's scary, but death without meaning. ]
[ Reminds me of the families of fallen soldiers—the first question is always whether he defended the nation. ]
[ I'm getting a bit teary. ]
— —
Next was an elderly man.
Seeing the three of them approach, he asked curiously, "Hello there, young people. What brings you to old Febel?"
Anaxa spoke expressionlessly, "Are you the father of Kunane and Atacama?"
Upon hearing his daughters' names, the old man's face immediately bloomed into a bright smile.
"Oh my, yes. What kind of trouble did my two girls get into at school this time—
Ouch, look at me, I'm getting old and muddled. My two wonderful daughters already graduated long ago. They're scholars in the Grove now. Ah, when you get to my age, you keep spacing out and seeing things from many years ago."
[ Damn, it really is Attack on Titan. ]
[ This kind of scene really hurts! ]
[ This feels so painful! ]
— —
Hearing the old man's words, Anaxa simply lowered his head, his expression hidden.
"What's wrong, young man? Why aren't you saying anything? It can't be that my daughters actually caused some big trouble, right?"
The old man immediately put on an angry face. "If they refuse to apologize, just tell me. This old father still has some face with them…"
[ miHoYo really isn't human! Wuuu… ]
[ I've never thought miHoYo's writers were human! ]
"What should I do, my lord? I can't bring myself to say it…" Castorice watched the scene. Although she had witnessed far too much death, it still struck the weakest chord in her heart.
Caelus wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Don't ask me. Can't you see my eyes are red too?"
In the end, it was Anaxa who told the truth. "Mr. Febel, Kunane and Atacama… were killed by the Black Tide."
"Huh?"
"…They fought to the very end to protect the Grove and resist the Black Tide."
The old man fell silent. He slowly turned his back and looked up at the sky.
Looking at the old man's back, Anaxa spoke with apology:
"I am a Chrysos Heir who remained in the Grove. I failed to protect them. Mr. Febel, if you feel anger…"
"What are you saying?" The old man's tone was open and generous, yet his voice still carried a sob. "My Atacama may not have been the prophesied Chrysos Heir, but wasn't she still a hero?"