Phainon understood everything.
The Dream of Taiyi, endless cycles.
He had originally thought this was just the first act, but he never imagined the script had already been read countless times.
The only thing left to calibrate time was the constantly climbing crimson number.
"Body Melt: 71.831%..."
"So, this scene… has been performed many times already?" Phainon's voice showed no ripple of emotion.
Mydei shook his head, letting out a soft sigh,
"Not entirely. Each cycle, the general process is similar, but you… the speed at which you see through the truth, it's getting faster and faster."
Phainon lowered his eyelids.
So that's how it is.
The previous "me," in order to allow the current "me" to step onto the correct stage, even instructed companions to hide the truth.
This meant that the key to breaking the situation could only be grasped by his own hands.
He raised his head, his gaze piercing through layers of barriers.
"Aventurine has already set up a sufficiently grand stage."
The corner of Phainon's mouth curled into a cold, fanatical arc.
"Then, borrowing his stage shouldn't be too much, should it?"
Just at this moment.
"Buzz—"
His terminal vibrated slightly, and a message from Stelle appeared on the screen.
"Gather at Clockie Plaza, share information."
Phainon's expression sobered, and he turned.
"Let's go."
"Our companions are waiting for us."
—
Clockie Plaza.
Himeko, Welt Yang, Stelle, March 7th, and the profoundly powerful Acheron had just finished exchanging information.
They were waiting here for that familiar yet mysterious figure.
The next moment, three figures walked out side-by-side from deep within the corridor.
The one leading them was still in familiar black robes.
But his face was no longer concealed.
A face so handsome it was almost surreal was thus exposed to the light and shadow of Penacony.
"Partner!"
Stelle's eyes suddenly lit up, and she was the first to rush over, her hanging heart finally settling back into place.
March 7th subconsciously raised her camera, but her finger froze on the shutter the moment she focused.
"I… I didn't believe what Stelle said before… This, the contrast of this face is too great! Are you really Phainon?"
The most intense reaction in the entire scene, of course, came from Welt Yang.
The moment his gaze met "Phainon's" face, his entire world was muted.
That face… that face extremely similar to Kevin Khaslana's!
A memory he had buried deep in another universe, like a demon breaking free from their shackles, clutched his heart!
No!
That's not right!
Welt suppressed his emotions, his gaze sharp as a needle behind his glasses.
The aura was wrong.
The essence of the soul of the person before him was completely different from that man who bore the weight of civilization; he was merely… an alternate-world counterpart.
Just like Himeko, just like Seele and Bronya, just like Miss Acheron… his reason was frantically warning him, but the memories of being repeatedly played with surged relentlessly.
He remembered this guy on the train, repeatedly and intentionally saying things related to "Kevin," constantly pushing the limits of his cardiovascular system.
Turns out he wasn't acting.
He just had this face!
What was this? A cosmic-level prank?!
Welt Yang felt his temples throbbing repeatedly.
How… how did this guy know those things?
Forget it.
He ultimately suppressed the churning blood pressure, and asked in as steady a voice as possible:
"Are you alright?"
"I'm very well, Mr. Welt." "Phainon" smiled slightly, that cold face coming alive with the smile, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of feline cunning, "Sorry to keep everyone waiting, let me introduce you."
He pointed to Mydei beside him: "Mydeimos, don't let his 'I'm not to be trifled with' look fool you; he's actually a male mom whose worrying rivals that of a real mother."
Mydei's mouth twitched fiercely, and he turned his head away, too lazy to cooperate with this shoddy performance.
"As for the other one…" "Phainon's" voice drawled, with a hint of playfulness, "Cipher, when you go out with her, be sure to keep a close eye on your wallet."
Cipher clicked her tongue, "I'm a recognized Jazz Aristocat, alright?"
Before he finished speaking.
In the plaza's broadcast, an impassioned voice rang out.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Penacony's most astonishing and grandest show ever is about to begin, the Interastral Peace Corporation cordially invites everyone to Clockwork Studios Theme Park!"
A performance capable of changing Penacony's landscape officially began.
"See?" Himeko's eyes narrowed, making a decision,
"If the actors and audience can't make it, wouldn't Aventurine's arrangements be in vain?"
Welt Yang nodded in agreement: "Let's go, everyone—it's time for us to uphold the path of 'Trailblaze'."
The group headed towards the opulent theme park woven with light and shadow.
Clockwork Studios Theme Park, Main Stage.
When everyone arrived, Aventurine's image once again enveloped all the giant screens.
This time, the elegance in his voice was gone, replaced only by the gambler's madness of staking everything!
"The Family's defenses are impregnable? But even the strongest dam cannot withstand decay from within!"
"A grand 'death' will be staged here!!"
His gaze, burning, pierced towards Stelle.
"As for you, the inferior stone of the Architects… you are worthless!"
The moment the declaration fell, Aventurine's figure plummeted from high above.
The already shattered Aventurine Stone in his hand, accompanied by the roar of his faith, erupted with a brilliant light that engulfed everything!
"I will bet! I will gamble! I will win!"
"I let fate turn the roulette, I stake everything, traversing death to find life!"
"All for—the Amber Lord!"
Aventurine, wearing a mask, transformed into judgment.
"Oh dear," Phainon let out a soft chuckle, "that big black thing really can't be summoned. But…"
His five fingers spread slightly, and Invasion Dawn floated in his palm, the cold glint of their spear tip even more dazzling than Aventurine's light.
"To play with you, it doesn't seem necessary."
The next instant, his and Mydei's figures simultaneously evaporated from their original spots!
Boom!
Mydei's iron fist, wrapped in pure destructive will, directly tore through space, appearing before Aventurine!
Aventurine's pupils constricted, and he crossed his arms in front of him.
Clang—!!!
The impact was not a roar, but an extremely sharp hum, as if space itself was wailing.
But this time, "Phainon" did not launch a frontal assault.
He casually walked around to Aventurine's flank, and the Invasion Dawn in his hand did not stab out, but merely tapped Aventurine's head with the spear shaft, not too hard, not too soft.
Thump—
"Sounds good? Good head then!"
Aventurine's movements froze.
The Trailblaze Crew seized the opportunity; Stelle's flaming lance transformed into an enraged dragon, March 7th's ice arrows condensed the air, and Welt's miniature black hole twisted Aventurine's center of gravity.
"Phainon's" figure once again turned into a flash of lightning, darting past Aventurine.
He glanced at his empty hand, "Oh dear, I missed. I actually didn't manage to steal that stone."
The entire stage became a hunting ground custom-made for Aventurine.
And "Phainon" was the trickster elegantly deconstructing the traps.
Suddenly.
Himeko's briefcase emitted the precise whirring of gears.
The stage lights above exploded, revealing an orbital cannon hidden in the night sky.
Boom—
A laser beam heavily struck Aventurine.
Fortunately, under Preservation's protection, he was unharmed.
Aventurine coolly smiled, one hand on his forehead,
"Slow-playing a strong hand, putting on an act… you all are making me a bit impatient!"
Aventurine's voice carried genuine anger.
"To have my fill, everyone—I will stake all my chips!"
"Discarding rationality is true gambling!"
He suddenly tossed a golden chip high into the sky!
At this moment, the sky changed.
The sky was covered by an endless golden torrent, billions of giant chips, magnified countless times, transformed into a golden doomsday meteor shower, indiscriminately falling upon the entire park!
Wailing, trembling.
Just then.
A figure stepped forward.
Acheron.
Her right hand gently rested on the hilt of her blade.
In an instant, the dream world lost all their colors.
The tumultuous apocalypse turned into a silent black and white photograph.
Time froze.
One strike could sever this absurd high-stakes gamble.
However, just as she was about to draw her sword.
Another figure appeared silently before her, one hand gently pressing down on the back of her hand.
It was "Phainon."
He had appeared before her at some unknown moment.
A hint of surprise flashed in Acheron's eyes.
She saw the "Phainon" before her reveal a pair of cat ears.
"Meow~"
A playful meow echoed in the dead silent grayscale world, appearing remarkably out of place.
"Don't rush, big sister. Your blade will still have their time to be used."
"Phainon's" voice became delicate, with a cunning smile.
"The warm-up for this show ends here. Next, let everyone witness what true 'trickery' power is."