Okhema, the site of the most intense battles.

Phaethon floated in the air. The azure blue in his eyes, once as clear as the skies of Aedes Elysiae, had completely faded, replaced by a scorching red, like molten amber—a color that was both fervent and utterly hollow.

That fiery red no longer held any emotion; only a cold, hard resolve remained.

All of Amphoreus was gradually solidifying under his influence. An "amber sea," formed from amber crystals, was rising like an incoming tide, drowning every last shred of life in Amphoreus.

At that very moment, the space rippled—the Astral Express crew had finally arrived at this tragic battlefield.

"You’re here?" Phaethon’s gaze turned to them, his blazing crimson pupils revealing nothing. "You’ve already seen the memories of my past. Standing before me now, have you come to accept my proposal?"

Being able to temporarily avoid the pained and persistent stares of Cyrene and Phainon also allowed him, almost imperceptibly, to breathe a slight sigh of relief deep down.

After all, negotiating with "outsiders" was far easier than confronting one’s own flesh and blood.

Welt stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. His gaze, complex and heavy, rested on that tragic figure standing against the entire world, yet trying alone to bear the weight of it all.

After a moment of silence, he spoke on behalf of the Express crew, solemnly stating their position:

"The Astral Express will do everything in its power to help every world we encounter on our journey."

His voice was steady and powerful. "Amphoreus... is no exception..."

---

While Phaethon was negotiating with the Express crew, a silent conversation was taking place between Cyrene and Mem.

"Little one, remember this well." Cyrene’s voice echoed directly in the ears of Mem, who was floating beside her, carrying a solemnity that brooked no argument.

"Huh? What... what kind of memories are you giving me?" Mem was astonished, feeling the sudden influx of visions depicting a mysteriously magnificent, uncharted realm.

"This is a great tomb I once accidentally discovered, lying in the deepest depths of Amphoreus. Or perhaps... it’s the very core of this ’Demiurge’?"

Cyrene’s voice carried uncertainty, yet was utterly certain. "I can sense something slumbering there. Maybe it’s the consciousness of the ’Demiurge’ itself, maybe it’s the true heart of Amphoreus... I don’t know, and it has never responded to my call. Never."

"But my intuition tells me that something crucial to Amphoreus must be hidden there. Perhaps... perhaps there lies another possibility for Amphoreus."

Her words sped up, carrying a resolve to burn her bridges:

"I will give it my all, try to shake Phaethon’s conviction at this moment, and make him restart his search for the ’Prime Mover of Life’! But I don’t know where my actions will lead Amphoreus—I might change nothing, or I might alter Phaethon’s predetermined answer!"

"But if... if Phaethon’s path of ’salvation’ ultimately leads to an irreversible accident..." Her voice dropped low. "There, in the depths of that great tomb, Amphoreus might have another path to take!"

Finally, Cyrene’s voice was filled with complex feelings of regret and release:

"I’m sorry... for dragging you into this in the end. You were originally a Memoria I created, modeled after myself, the final contingency I prepared to leave for Amphoreus... but... never mind."

It was as if she had let go of something. "’As I’ve Written’ had always been by your side, and I’ve entrusted all these memories and information to you. Whether you choose to leave this troublesome place with the people from the Astral Express, or... step into the fate I’ve pointed you toward, one that might be even more difficult... the decision is yours."

Having completed this final entrustment, Cyrene abruptly raised her head. Her gaze no longer wavered; like two blades tempered countless times, it locked firmly onto the white figure in the sky—Phaethon!

"Phaethon!" Her voice was clear and firm, ringing across the battlefield. "You were right earlier. When we stand in your place, facing the same dilemma as you, we probably would make the same choice—"

"But...! I still choose to stop you!"

"My reason is incredibly simple. Because no matter which of us—me or Phainon—made this kind of self-sacrificing decision..."

Cyrene spoke each word deliberately, her gaze burning. "I believe... you would also stop us, no matter the cost!"

Phaethon was silent for a moment. He knew Cyrene was right; he would stop them.

"So... if saving you is a sin..." An unprecedented radiance began to emanate from Cyrene. She used ’Memoria’ to reconstruct the ’Passage of Time’ within Amphoreus!

Then, without hesitation, she took a step forward!

"Then let me—let me be that sinner!"

That single step shattered all confusion, all hesitation!

At this moment, the survival of the world, the duty of salvation—none of that existed in her eyes. Her entire world now contained only Phaethon!

But it was precisely at the moment Cyrene took that step, resolved to stop Phaethon at any cost—

*Whoosh—!!!*

A massive, stable Infinity Gate abruptly burst open beside her!

From beyond the spatial portal came a crisp, powerful voice, continuing her words:

"A sinner? Little Cyrene... saving Phaethon has never been your responsibility alone!"

The first to leap through the gate was Tribbie—small in stature, yet radiating immense power! Her eyes blazed with unwavering flames, her voice carrying across the land:

"Because—from the very beginning, you weren’t the only one who loved Phaethon! He... is loved deeply by all of us in Amphoreus, too!"

As if to echo her words—

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...*

One by one, figures emerged, bursting through the Infinity Gate, each bearing immense divine power and unyielding will!

Cipher, Master of ’Trickery’!

Cerydra, Keeper of ’Law’!

Aglaea, Guide of ’Romance’!

Castorice and Polyxia, Stewards of ’Death’!

Anaxagoras, Embodiment of ’Reason’!

Terravox, Bearer of ’Earth’!

Hysilens, Chanter of ’Ocean’!

Hyacine, Rider of ’Sky’!

Mydeimos, Vanquisher of ’Strife’!

The twelve demigods of Amphoreus, after traversing thirty million recurrences, had finally gathered here once more... as demigods!