"Snowy…"
The Vortex of Genesis retained its tranquility. Trianne stood beside the stationary water fountain. She was very surprised when she saw the constellation for 'Oronyx' suddenly light up. Cipher's 'trickery' was undone the moment her power became unstable due to the Black Sun's interference with the Dawn Device. Add to that the beating she experienced from Flame Reaver Phainon.
That surprise swiftly drifted away from Trianne. All that matters is the success of Phainon's divine trial. Aquila was dead, allowing Hyacine to return it instantly. Only the Worldbearing Titan, Kephale, remained.
"Lady Trianne."
"Renny."
Cyrene walked over beside her.
"How are things outside?"
"Dire." Cyrene shook her head, her usual brilliance dimming. "There are monsters all over the Holy City. The people outside had to retreat to Okhema. Casualties are occurring left and right…"
If there was one word that could describe the current Okhema, it would be "cooked".
The Black Tide continued popping up everywhere in Okhema. The corruption brought by the Black Sun summoned forth dead people's arms, dragging everyone else onto the black pool they came from. Having two Aeons cause trouble in a single world is too overwhelming.
Tribios' avatars are swiftly dying. Shi Tian's divine artifacts are losing their superiority.
"But there's no need to worry." Cyrene shifted her gaze towards the Worldbearing constellation. "I know he will be able to do it."
"Um."
Pitter-!
Patter-!
The unusual sounds of droplets caught their attention. They turned around and saw a small-scale rain of pitch-black ink. Trianne tugged at Cyrene's sleeves, to which the latter sandwiched the [Author] card between her fingers.
It didn't take long before a light-blue haired girl rose from it. Pitch black ink crawled onto her snow white skin.
Her eyes locked onto the [Author] card held by Cyrene.
"...Teacher."
"Excuse me. You should not be an enemy?"
"No, I am not."
Griseo stepped out of the ink pool. It receded into her shadows, becoming a part of her. She stopped right in front of Cyrene and Trianne.
"The gift he left you is special." Her attention was suddenly taken by something else. "Use it now. Someone's coming."
Griseo's words marked a Century Gate's emergence. The Flame Reaver Phainon stepped out of it. The sheer pressure emanating from him was enough to buckle the two girls' knees. Griseo stood still, her eyes staring at him with disapproval.
"Teacher is the brightest Sun you will never be. The collapse of the soul may be prevented through eternally burning anger, but it will never be the brightest Sun."
Although Phainon met Griseo for the first time, her words stirred a frown in his face. He never claimed to be the 'Sun', the Deliverer required by Amphoreus, but hearing it from someone else feels is another thing.
"Your teacher… could it be him?"
The image of the wise and cunning sage popped up.
"En."
Griseo's shadow turned into a pool of ink. Before long, a carbon copy of the ethereal Shi Tian stood in front of them.
Her simulated Path was that of Harmony. It granted her power far surpassing her divine mind alone, but it came with a cost. She cannot manifest a power contradictory to Harmony's nature.
The most convenient form of Shi Tian she found was his most dazzling:
The time he bore the Core of Origin and held Earth's wishes in his palms.
"Use it."
Griseo faced the stunned Cyrene. Trianne, who was beside her, could not remove her eyes from the familiar acquaintance.
"Okay!"
Phainon's eyes narrowed. His figure turned into a dazzling crimson light. Cyrene's activation of the [Author] card fell short to his speed.
He was about to reach her when…
Clang-!
…Mei blocked his swift charge.
Her long purple hair fluttered along the wind. Sparks flew between their swords. The two repelled each other, sending both flying backwards.
Mei happened to stop right beside Griseo. Their eyes met, holding a different 'taste' of 'Shi Tian'.
The entire Path simulation relied on his attainments in the Remembrance Path. He used Amphoreus' simulation as a basis to create his own, allowing divine minds to descend outside the solar system while bearing the power of Paths.
To these two obsessive students of his, it was nothing short of Shi Tian being 'inside' them.
'Nihility… the powerlessness that results in meaninglessness.'
Mei was too familiar with the concept of Nihility. Her self-inflicted depression that lasted decades stifled her soul. The thought of never being able to do anything rid her of her purpose in life. Nihility's essence is powerlessness.
This time, she refuses to indulge herself into it, wielding it as a blade instead!
Shiing-!
Phainon saw her cleaving attack. The 'power' injected into it far surpassed the likes of Titans. He desperately roused his burning rage, utilizing the power of Destruction to counteract Nihility.
Their fight resulted in a large black-red tear appearing on the Vortex of Genesis. The ground shook.
"Stop it, Senior."
Griseo's flat voice resounded. She pointed towards the black-red tear caused by Mei's attack. It seeped pitch-black fluids, bearing the sensation of Nihility. Mei's attack called forth the Black Sun's influence into this place.
Fortunately, Cyrene's summoning never stopped. The [Author] card in her hands shone a pale pink light. Her blue eyes widened in surprise.
'Haven't I summoned Sister Artoria..?'
The stationary Shi Tian turned into a pure white crystal. It flew straight towards the pink light emitted by the card. To Cyrene's surprise, the pink light shot straight to her.
In a magical girl-esque manner, her appearance changed after a glaring white light. Her stature became taller. Her ears turned sharper, like that of an elf's. Her chest grew bigger and her attire turned into a pure white gown.
Her pupils sported nothing but confusion.
Griseo gave her a satisfied nod before letting out a remark:
"This method is safer."
Phainon, who had just dealt with Nihility's influence, stared at the transformed Cyrene in his sight.
For some reason, he felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity coming from her. Mei keenly watched his next move, intervening when necessary.
"You now bear the image of the Herrscher of Human Ego. She wielded the Core of Origin, just like my Teacher, and used her wishes to turn over a civilization's calamity. You should be able to 'sense' the memories that come with it."
As Griseo had explained, Cyrene sensed several instinctive actions she had an urge to do.
"Is eating desserts a part of it?"
"Yes."
"..."