"『The rear is now secure』… Is this your handiwork?"
The blond man gave Phainon a mocking smile, still dragging a corpse of the Lance of Fury legion behind him.
In contrast, Phainon visibly relaxed upon seeing who it was. "Stop mocking. You know exactly who the enemy is."
As Phainon spoke, more Lance of Fury legion soldiers appeared behind him.
The blond man casually grabbed one of the twisted creatures in hand and hurled it toward the legion. In the next instant, his figure blurred with extreme speed, red light bursting from his fist.
A single strike wiped out the pursuers.
Even so, he didn't forget to taunt. "Carelessness will get you killed, 『Deliverer』!"
But the battle wasn't over so quickly.
While he spoke, even more legion soldiers converged around the group.
The blond man cracked his knuckles. "All small fry. It'd be easier if you and I just fought to the death—the shockwave alone would shatter them."
Caelus pointed at himself in confusion. "Huh? You mean me?"
The blond man's brows furrowed. "Who are you?"
"Shut it, Mydei! Do you want the Sacred City destroyed in an instant?" Phainon's shout cut off their exchange.
[Crush the Stellaron vessel? That could probably blow up all of Amphoreus.]
[Destroy the Sacred City in an instant? Looking at this, the Golden Descendants must all be pretty strong.]
[This Kalpas guy is so cocky!]
[Question: Is being cocky a crime?]
— —
Phainon, Caelus, and Dan Heng were already formidable, and now they had this golden lion king joining them.
They steamrolled through with ease.
Seeing no more enemies, Phainon immediately went to the massive Hattonus. "Are you alright?"
"Phainon…" Hattonus slowly raised his head, speaking at an extremely slow pace.
"Good that you're okay…" Phainon let out a breath of relief, then turned to the blond man. "As for you, Mydei… If I remember correctly, your duty is to protect the citizens, isn't it?"
Mydei shrugged and glanced at Caelus and Dan Heng beside him. "What do you mean? Are you saying one of them here doesn't count as a citizen?"
[Hahahaha, I'm dying.]
[Phainon and Mydei? They love bickering this much? Oh no—Bronya and Seele vibes, but now it's Belobog vs. Amphoreus edition!]
Caelus tilted his head toward Dan Heng's ear. "The names here just keep getting weirder."
Phainon gave a cold snort. "Dodging the question. Aglaea told us to shelter the people—did you just let that go in one ear and out the other?"
"You left out half the sentence: 『Protect the citizens, eliminate foreign threats』—her exact words. Take down Nikador, and the crisis in the Sacred City resolves itself." Mydei countered.
"Speaking of which—since you clearly don't consider those two over there 『citizens』… they seem to fit the definition of 『foreign threats』 pretty well."
Dan Heng frowned slightly. "What are you implying?"
"The three priests of Janus share one mind, one face, linked senses. Every move you've made has already been exposed to the eyes of Okhema. You seem to trust him quite a bit? I'd advise you to think twice."
Hearing this, Phainon's temper flared visibly. "Picking a fight with allies at a time when the house is on fire—what do you think you are?"
"From the moment we met, I've told you all: past or future, the people of Castrum Kremnos will never agree to shake hands with you…
—I, Mydei, as successor of Castrum Kremnos, cannot act unilaterally on this matter. Moreover, at this point, it's even more necessary for me to remind you esteemed guests that your host isn't exactly renowned for hospitality."
[Whoa, is this guy Mydei being serious?]
[If you're taking him seriously, you've already lost. Characters who start off playing the black-face role always get a big reversal later—MiHoYo's playbook is crystal clear to me by now.]
[True. Star Rail characters are rarely surface-level. Just look at Aventurine—plenty of tears coming your way later.]
[And Mydei specifically mentioned the host. I feel like he's actually warning the Express crew.]
— —
"Enough… This isn't the time for infighting. The mad king hasn't retreated… We must stop him, Golden Descendants…" Hattonus, from the side, put an end to their argument.
[Hahaha, that inverted sentence.]
[Inverted sentence usage—I don't have it.]
"I haven't forgotten the main task. Step aside. I can handle what's ahead." Mydei looked at Phainon. "As for you… Nikador is in the Marble Celestial Palace. Aglaea told me not to interfere anymore. Go ahead… 『Deliverer』."
Phainon crossed his hands over his chest. "I don't need you to tell me."
At that moment, Mydei turned to Caelus. "By the way—what's your name?"
Caelus rolled his eyes. "Hey, not telling you!"
"You call that a name?" Mydei raised a brow. "Isn't it pretty weird too?"
[Hahaha, Mydei did that on purpose, right?]
[Artificial respiration incoming!]
[He's pretty petty.]
[Caught some weird points.]
[Got roasted right back.]
— —
After dividing tasks, Phainon led the Express duo forward, while Mydei held the Sacred City's gate alone—blocking ten thousand.
Not long after.
Phainon and the three arrived at a marketplace. Though it was in chaos.
Fortunately, Tribbie had already evacuated the crowd early.
And not far away, a large wave of Lance of Fury legion was still roaming.
Faced with this, Phainon hesitated. "This is Marble Market—the Sacred City's important residential and living area. If we force our way through, it'll cause unnecessary casualties… But our reinforcements have arrived."
At that moment.
Purple butterflies fluttered into frame.
A purple-haired girl in a white dress, white lace stockings wrapping her long legs.
She quietly approached the three but deliberately stopped five steps away.
The camera gave her a close-up: butterflies danced endlessly around her, an indescribable aura even shifting the filter.
[Holy—beautiful!]
[Seele crying in the bathroom!]
[So many butterflies. That filter.]
[New waifu alert? Thanks MiHoYo, I'm eating well.]
[That kind of effect—one look and you know she's terrifyingly strong.]
[Why does she seem kinda… vacant?]
[She's gorgeous!]
[Big C!]
— —
"Lord Phainon. And… the two guests." The girl gave a slight bow. "Welcome to Okhema."
Dan Heng watched her calmly pass through the Lance of Fury legion and couldn't help but wonder. "These enemies… aren't moving at all?"
Phainon didn't answer Dan Heng. Instead, he showed off a bit of literary flair. "When I heard your footsteps, I thought my heroic epic hadn't even begun before Death wrote 『Final Chapter』 across it… Miss Castorice."
"An epic that ends abruptly at its opening might astonish many. But today, Lord Phainon… Okhema needs you."
"Even the Sacred City's 『Undertaker』 says so—guess that means I live through this battle?"
"Mm… That is not for me to decide. All I can do is remove obstacles and guide you to the descent site of Nikador, Titan of Strife. The two guests—please come along as well. Follow behind me… and maintain five paces of distance."
Caelus leaned toward Dan Heng's ear again. "Why do these two talk so weirdly?"
Dan Heng said nothing, just shook his head.
[Dan Heng as always.]
[Kinda missing March 7th!]
[March 7th is the team's lubricant!]
[March 7th, oh my March 7th—how much longer until you reunite with everyone!]
[Hope it's not too long. I still want to see the trio together more.]
— —
Following Castorice's steps, though enemies surrounded them on all sides, under the aura of her deathly shade they couldn't move an inch.
The journey was unexpectedly smooth.
Of course—except for the part where Caelus insisted on clowning around and tried to squeeze right up beside Castorice, nearly getting himself killed on the spot.
Finally, when the group reached a narrow passage, two Lance of Fury soldiers blocked their way.
Castorice could have easily dealt with them, but the two soldiers just had to run their mouths—prompting Phainon to raise his greatsword and send them straight to Nikador.
As the two fell, Phainon spoke softly. "As you wished."
"Lady Aglaea said your time is very precious—it should not be wasted on pointless conflict." Castorice advised from the side. "I can let them rest in peace."
"That's what I wanted to say—no need to waste your power on these small fry. Let's go. Time to face 『Strife』 directly."
"Over there…" Castorice pointed toward a building atop a high mountain. "You must become birds and fly into the final battlefield."
After a brief exchange between Phainon and Castorice, she left the group to stay behind and protect the citizens' property in the market.
…
Phainon and the three continued forward. "Ahead lies the Marble Celestial Palace. The Lance of Fury, Nikador… he's right there."
Suddenly, a furious roar erupted from the Marble Celestial Palace.
Caelus rubbed his head. "Dan Heng, you hungry?"
[Hahaha, Caelus thought it was a stomach growl.]
[Hahaha, wonder what March 7th would've roasted him for—sigh!]
[Dan Heng's classic ignore.]
[Dan Heng: Pretending I didn't hear!]
Dan Heng paid Caelus no mind. "A terrifying war cry. That's the Titan?"
Phainon nodded. "That war cry once flattened battlefields, crumbling everything in its path—splitting my enemies and comrades alike. People were as fragile as reeds in a gale.
Back then, my limbs trembled, weapons slipped from my hands, and all I could hear was my own frantic, shameful heartbeat…
Fear—that's why people revere the Titan of Strife. Any warrior who can still take a step forward after facing its terror will never again be shaken by any trial that challenges the weapon in their hand.
You two—if you wish to turn back, this is your last chance."
Caelus shrugged. "No worries. I've died several times already."
[Where? Just once in Belobog when you got stabbed, right?]
[Penacony probably counts—Huangquan's slash.]
[Xianzhou didn't have one.]
[Xianzhou death is real death.]
After Phainon's pre-battle rallying cry, the three set off together on the path to subjugate Nikador.
— —
After an unscientific flight, the three arrived before a massive waterfall curtain.
Dan Heng: "Utter silence…"
Phainon explained. "Nikador uses silence as his arrogant war drum. Beyond this water curtain… lies the battlefield."
As they passed through the curtain, Caelus clutched his head in pain. "Who's crying out? My head hurts—feels like it's splitting…"
[Whoa—first time I've seen the Stellaron vessel react like this!]
[Feels kinda off somehow. Not sure why.]
"Hold on! Recall your faith, everything you cherish—if you can't, imagine death instead. That might actually keep you alive!"
Hearing Phainon's words, Caelus shook his head to clear it. "Keep going."
The three stepped into the palace and saw Nikador… and it saw them, charging straight at the trio.
A grand battle was about to begin.
Flashy moves, exaggerated effects—viewers were thrilled.
Most crucially, the abundance of water sources here made it Dan Heng's natural home field.
He summoned countless massive water dragons with Cloud Hymn, leaving the Titan of Strife completely helpless.
Perhaps a last burst of strength—right as Nikador prepared to throw a decisive strike, countless golden threads descended from the sky, binding its movements.
Everyone looked up.
A golden-haired woman descended from above.
She stepped on the golden threads and landed lightly. "Begin."
At her word, Phainon swung his greatsword and felled Nikador.
But the next moment, the golden-haired woman poured cold water on them. "This is not Nikador's true body—only one of its many divine vessels. The Coreflames is not here."
Outside the celestial palace, the invading monsters sensed the divine vessel's demise and began to withdraw.
Trianne quietly followed behind the monsters.
— —
The camera slowly panned upward from a low angle, naturally giving the golden-haired woman a series of close-ups.
Mature, sexy, intellectual, onee-san…
[So beautiful!]
[Gorgeous!]
[So big! I mean the Marble Celestial Palace is huge!]
[Holy—this is too much, no—too beautiful!]
[But what's up with her eyes? They look vacant, like zero desire, zero want.]
[Golden Kafka?]
[Don't say it—Kafka plays with threads too!]
[Such overwhelming maternal energy, bro—I genuinely love this one!]
— —
The golden-haired woman gave a slight nod. "My name is Aglaea. To Okhema's two new allies—welcome to Amphoreus. This welcome banquet may not be elegant, but it has helped us dispel our doubts. From this moment forward, you are esteemed guests of the Sacred City—honored visitors of the Golden Descendants."
"Her eyes…" Caelus shot Dan Heng a meaningful glance.
"Somewhat unfocused. Could it be…"
Aglaea spoke without evasion. "Curious about these eyes? I am not blind—on the contrary, I see far more than ordinary people.
Those who carry golden blood always possess traits beyond the common. In me, it is 『senses』. I no longer need light to measure the world. The wind carries messages along golden threads, delivering countless strands to my fingertips.
Just like right now—your virtues flow toward me as a warm current, pleasing my skin."
"She talks so poetically…"
Dan Heng couldn't help but comment dryly, "Indeed. On par with Sunday."
[Oh no—Dan Heng actually responded!]
[Oh no—not only responded, he roasted!]
The following plot left Phainon somewhat dejected, though his lines remained vague and misty, leaving people puzzled.
Okhema had successfully repelled the Lance of Fury legion. Phainon prepared to complete what he was meant to do and left the task of explaining everything to Aglaea.
"You two—once you're tired of the story, come find me at Marble Market. No matter what, I owe you a treat."
With that, he left the Marble Celestial Palace.
Aglaea smiled faintly. "So—where should we begin?"
— —