That unsettling prophecy appeared once again.
And this time, its source clearly pointed to the Passage Titan, Janus.
Now that the audience thought about it, when Tribbie had those nightmares back then, the scene she saw was probably this very one.
After her memories faded, because she could no longer remember that the prophecy had been spoken by Janus, her mind must have automatically turned those words into something her mother had said.
But the Titan was the true source of this prophecy.
...
: Here it comes again… one among the crowd will part from the rest.
: I think that's putting it a bit mildly.
: Judging by how these prophecys usually go, doesn't this basically mean only one can survive…?
: This damn prophecy is making me laugh out of anger.
: I seriously can't figure out how this one is supposed to come true.
: Damn it.
: Only one can live? What kind of crap is that?
: The implication is way too obvious.
...
Once again, the audience was faced with this prophecy. The sense of unease instantly maxed out.
In the scene, as the Titan's chanting gradually faded, that Coreflame merged into Tribios's body.
No one knew at this moment whether the BGM was playing because of Tribios's past, because of Janus, or because of that prophecy.
On screen, Tribios collapsed onto the ground. Her red hair covered her eyes, and only two lines of tears could be seen trailing down her cheeks.
Janus presence faded away.
From this moment on, she would shoulder the responsibility of guiding the world.
A bitter tide of emotion boiled within her heart.
She thought of her mother.
"Mother..."
"Did you... see that?"
"I have assumed my duty and stand ready to set out..."
"We will step over the gods' corpses and wander among humanity..."
"And thus, we shall sweep apart Amphoreus' pitch-dark fog..."
"May we... May the world..."
"Follow the myriad paths trodden and reunite at the end of the west wind... where flowers bloom in spring."
"Mother... I shall see you tomorrow."
Tribios whispered through her sobs. She was no longer the adorable little girl she once had been.
Through the words of supporters and the many clues she had gathered, she had long since guessed at her mother's fate.
All this time, Tribios had pretended to be strong, clinging to her belief in reunion.
Wasn't that also a reason she gave herself to keep living? This heartbreaking scene left many emotional viewers in tears.
They remembered how, not long ago, Phainon had asked Tribbie and Trinnon how they could remain so strong and keep moving forward after seeing Trianne's departure.
At that time, Tribbie and Trinnon hadn't answered.
But now, the answer was painfully clear. Because even when they were still truly children, they had already begun losing things.
The Flame chase journey was their mother's final hope for them, and also the only true meaning anchoring them in this world.
Responsibility. Duty. Their mother's expectations.
That was everything. The comments completely broke down in tears.
And just then, a noise came from outside the door.
The disturbance caused by someone tampering with the Coreflame had drawn the guards' attention.
In an instant, heavy footsteps thundered outside!
The sound passed through the door, dull and oppressive.
"Who dares lay hands on the Coreflame! Drop your weapon and surrender at once!"
Tribios startled awake from her sobbing.
She swallowed her grief and wiped away her tears. The soldiers had already set up an inescapable net outside.
But no matter what, Tribios had to take that step.
She pushed the door open. Under the blinding sunlight, dozens of soldiers tightly surrounded the temple entrance.
When they saw that it was the Saintess who emerged, some were utterly shocked, while others revealed vicious smiles, as if they had long expected this.
"The Holy Maiden...?" One soldier cried out in alarm.
"Look at what she's holding, you buffoon! She is the thief." Another soldier barked.
Tribios quietly took in the scene. She knew that among them were supporters of the Saintess, and also those who stood against her.
But at this moment, she didn't want to make things difficult for the soldiers who supported her.
Meeting their gazes calmly, Tribios said flatly, "...Bring it on. Come forth, loyal guards. At least do it properly, pierce me in the chest."
"What?!"
The soldiers who supported her were still hesitating.
But others had already made up their minds. They charged forward with weapons raised.
This was exactly what Tribios intended. With her earlier words, the soldiers who supported her would not be blamed too harshly.
Her thoughts were still churning when blades and spears had already reached her.
Though she had taken the Coreflame, at this moment she could not wield divine power.
Tribios stood in place and gently closed her eyes, as if she had accepted her fate.
This scene nearly triggered Phainon and Stelle into action.
The two instinctively rushed out from either side of Tribios, swinging their weapons and striking down the attackers.
They both knew this was the past. They also knew Tribbie and the others' path would not end here.
But they still made their move! Because with their battle experience, both could tell, if things continued as they were, the Tribios of this memory might truly be killed here.
The soldiers in this memory were no match for the two ruthless fighters.
In just a few swift moves, they were all knocked down. Tribios took a deep breath, then without looking back, ran toward the distance.
Though their minds were full of questions, they still chased after her.
Along the way heavily guarded checkpoints awaited.
And each time Tribios was caught up to, in the end, it was always Stelle and Phainon who stepped in to handle it.
"We have to intervene."
"This is too strange. If something unexpected happens, who knows whether we'll still be able to continue watching this past."
After knocking down another wave of enemies, Stelle said with a grave expression.
"Damn…" Phainon clutched his head, feeling like his brain was about to overload.
He looked at Trinnon and asked, "Lady Trinnon, do you still clearly remember who your allies were back then?"
Trinnon shook her head and said softly, "I can't remember clearly. 'We' only know that in the end, we successfully left Janusapolis."
That made it even stranger.
"While history might be blurred by memories, seeing how the whole city is hunting her down, she clearly had no allies..."
Phainon said with a headache, "Who exactly was helping Tribios escape?"
Stellebao said speechlessly, "Yeah. Just now, several times, judging by the situation, if we hadn't stepped in, Tribios probably would've really died here."
Phainon pondered, "If she pulled it off alone, were we too involved in this process?"
Once it involved the past. Let alone them, even the audience was completely confused at this moment.
...
: Could it be an infinite loop?
: Because of Stelle's arrival, the failed loops kept progressing?
: Otherwise, this is way too outrageous.
: Mimi already went back to the past. Tribios and the Titan can both be seen normally, but this helper can't be seen…
: That's very suspicious.
: There are too many mysteries in Amphoreus… like when we fought Nikador and went back in time.
: Can't figure it out…
: Could it really be an unknown existence?
...
The audience was full of speculation.
And in the scene, the three, still utterly confused, continued following Tribios forward.
On the road ahead, no matter how many obstacles appeared, Tribios alone seemed divinely aided, as if walking through an empty realm, charging all the way to the mountain gate outside the temple.
Once she stepped through that gate, the vast world of Amphoreus would be hers to roam.
"..."
Standing before the mountain gate. Listening to the shouts of the pursuers behind her, Tribios clasped her hands together and prayed to Janus, who had already fallen silent.
Then she raised her head. And stepped beyond the gate.
At that very instant, the image froze on her graceful posture mid-step.
Behind her. Three visitors from the past stood quietly watching her.
They were all waiting for Tribios to give the answer that had puzzled everyone.
Who exactly… Helped her?
Trinnon subconsciously wanted to reach out and grab the hem of Tribios's dress, but carefully withdrew her hand.
Phainon, however, stared blankly at her back and murmured,
"But nothing happened."
"What was making her, or you, hesitate at this moment?"
"If she had known this Flame-Chase Journey would proceed as the Titan foretold, bringing about great suffering and fatalities, including her own..."
"Would she still have chosen to walk through the gate and start her journey?"
Trinnon shook her head. Having lost too much of her memory, she could not give a definite answer.
And just then, Tribios's steps halted in place, as if hesitating.
Her voice suddenly rang out.
"I think..."
"The answer is already within you, and you've made your own decision."
As she spoke, Tribios turned her head and revealed a faint smile.
Stelle was stunned.
"You can... hear us?" Phainon exclaimed in shock.
Tribios still wore that gentle smile, her gaze warm as she looked this way.
But she did not speak again.
"She can neither see nor hear us." Trinnon said softly. "Yet, she knew that one day, someone would return to unveil this dust-covered memory."
"We can never know for sure who helped us back then. But that kindness was forever engraved in our hearts, motivating us to move forward. Time has modified this memory into a special letter, so that we do not forget our original intent."
At this point, the regret in Trinnon' eyes faded. This journey had originally begun to search for lost memories.
Yet now, although there was still no definite answer, she no longer felt regret.
This memory was the most special kind of letter. Written by the Tribios of the past, and sent to her future self.
"If we don't know the answer,"
"Then treat all of this as the future self, who once understood everything, helping her from behind."
"It was the future self who cleared away all obstacles for her, sending her onto a far-away journey."
"Toward the tomorrow where 'we' exist."
Trinnon felt her whole body relax. These words were spoken not only to herself, but also to Phainon.
"Yes…" Tribios' gaze passed through the air. Passed through the three of them.
No one knew where it ultimately fell. But she still smiled and said, "Yes, you'll remember it all, and then find your way back to the gate where everything began."
"Here, I will set sail toward the distant horizon."
"Here, you have traveled far on your way home."
"Ride the west wind and let the wings carry us far away."
This exchange, as if spanning countless years, between Tribios and her self from the future sent chills down the audience's spines.
Past and present. Through twists of fate, such a breathtaking, wish-filled scene had taken shape.
It was too beautiful…
At this moment, what the answer was no longer mattered. The audience was simply immersed in the emotion of this instant.
Feeling this romance that transcended time.
"So this... is your answer." Phainon took a deep breath.
And firmly engraved this scene into his heart.
Just then, the screen went black.
A line of large text appeared.
[Light Calendar 3760, Month of Evernight]
["Janusopolis' Holy Maiden" Tribios bore the Coreflame to quell the world's chaos and became a demigod of Janus.]
[She traversed the "Gate of Infinity," splitting into a thousand messengers to spread the divine prophecy across the land of Amphoreus.]
[After a century of arduous journeying...]
[Light Calendar 3870, Month of Freedom]
[Humanity's Flame-Chase Journey officially began.]
...
From another perspective, Tribios's storyline, at this moment, formed a stark contrast with Mydei's storyline.
When Mydei ascended to godhood and returned to Castrum Kremnos, what he cried out was, Mother, I have returned home.
Now, for Tribios, it was the opposite feeling, Mother, I have left home.