Inside the script world.
Through the Threnodian's words, Cartethyia finally learned the origin of this script.
In the past, during the time of the second Dark Tide outbreak in Rinascita, some people from Ragunna immigrated to Septimont. Mya and her parents were among them.
Septimont at that time was deeply corrupt. Mya, who endured cold eyes and contempt, could only support her family through gladiatorial tournaments, and thus fell in love with combat.
However, the gladiatorial tournaments of that era had long been polluted by power and money deals and conspiracies. Mya became a pawn.
With her average strength, she was pushed forward under packaged hype. Her manager made a fortune using her victories, while the Senate wanted to use her to divert the public's anger toward the upper class.
Mya did not know how to face the audience that had deviated from the original spirit of the competition, nor did she know how to cooperate with ugly conspiracies and put on performances. Influenced by the Threnodian, her spirit gradually collapsed.
The Threnodian wanted to pollute Septimont's central beacon through Mya and bring down the Dark Tide. But Mya, who realized the Threnodian's scheme, stabbed the sword into her own chest and jumped into the sea to commit suicide before her spirit was completely polluted.
No one in Septimont knew that the girl upon whom they had poured countless malice had used her own life to save this city.
"Compared to the people of Septimont who have long forgotten Mya, the script the playwright wrote for the deceased is much more poetic and romantic."
"What poetry and romance is there in the story of a person being forced to death?"
"You, Mya, and all my daughters, my creations... why do you always resist in vain!"
Leviathan gazed from afar at Cartethyia opposite it, its voice sharp and piercing:
"Septimont, Rinascita—when have they ever shown you any kindness? I am your mother, your mother!"
"No! You are not. Those who raised me were always the people of this land, not you."
Cartethyia panted heavily and swung out two more dazzling sword lights, completely shattering the approaching Dark Tide creations:
"If the gods raise a butcher's knife against the innocent, then I will also raise my sword against the gods!"
As her voice fell, Leviathan flew into a rage and frantically summoned even more Dark Tide creations to drain Cartethyia's strength.
When it had eroded Imperator back then and obtained the method to cultivate Resonators, every step had been done according to Imperator's standard answers. Why wouldn't its Resonators listen to it?
Suddenly, it seemed to sense something. Cristoforo's figure appeared beside it.
"Lord Leviathan, there is good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"
"Bad news first."
"The bad news is that a small change occurred in reality. The gladiatorial tournament ended early, and Avidius was not replaced by Mya's role."
Cristoforo continued:
"But the good news is that Avidius still obtained the championship and is heading to the Vale of Glory. Prepare yourself. I will assist you at any time to descend from the script onto Avidius. You can directly pollute his consciousness."
Excellent! Leviathan was overjoyed.
It would soon be able to invade Septimont's central beacon through Avidius, bring down the Dark Tide upon the entire real Septimont, harvest the collective spirit of everyone in Septimont, and restore its original power.
"Then what are you still waiting for!"
...
Vale of Glory.
This place was the final resting place of countless heroes in Septimont's history—a solemn and mysterious burial ground. However, many heroes' bodies could not be brought back, so only their weapons stood here forever.
Influenced by the Glory Lion Statue, these mottled blades would whisper the former aspirations of their owners.
Becoming the champion of the gladiatorial tournament and listening to the voices of these predecessors alongside the revered Glory Lion Statue was a tremendous encouragement for every person of Septimont.
"I feel like... this isn't my first time here?"
Avidius pressed one hand tightly against his head. It felt as if a black fog shrouded his mind, and the faint throbbing pain made him extremely uncomfortable.
"Take a deep breath, Avidius. Dizziness is normal."
Augusta, leading the way ahead, cleared out some suddenly appearing Young Roseshroom Tacet Discords and officially led the two into the Vale of Glory on the mountainside.
In a wide open area, countless dust-covered and rusted weapons were densely planted. Behind them was a wide and steep yellowish-brown mountain wall, like a silent monument.
"Ephor, what do we do next?"
"Follow me."
Following Augusta's guidance, Avidius walked to a sword, pressing his hand on the hilt.
A look of pain appeared on his face again. His originally distinct pupils turned completely black, and his entire body suddenly became covered in Dark Tide erosion marks. The horrifying sight disappeared in an instant.
Hearing a sharp intake of breath beside him, Avidius turned his head and saw only Lupa taking a step back, vigorously rubbing her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's nothing. I think I saw things for a second."
Lupa took a deep breath, patted her chest, and a smile returned to her face. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw Avidius in front of her turn into another tide-eroded appearance again.
This time, it lasted a full three seconds before returning to normal.
"Ahhh... Avidius!"
The happy puppy was no longer smiling. With a terrified expression, she retreated to Augusta's side:
"Ephor, did you see anything?"
"No."
Augusta smiled faintly:
"Contestant Lupa, it is normal to have some illusions when coming to the Vale of Glory. A qualified gladiator cannot be scared by hallucinations."
So it was just an illusion?
Hearing Augusta's words, Lupa felt slightly relieved and reluctantly convinced herself that she must have been affected by the frequencies here.
After composing herself, the trio—Avidius, Lupa, and Augusta—formed a line and followed the steps of the Glory Lion Statue forward.
Imperator had once placed Septimont's central beacon inside the mountain, but only those who won the gladiatorial championship and gained the recognition of the Glory Lion Statue could enter Septimont's central area.
The harsh conditions had left even the former Leviathan helpless.
As the Glory Lion Statue stepped in front of the steep mountain wall, the thick rock seemed to be triggered by some mechanism and slowly opened with a rumbling sound.
"Go in."
At Augusta's command, Avidius and Lupa stepped inside the mountain without hesitation.
Noah, disguised as "Augusta," followed closely behind. Just as he was about to enter, his head seemed to hit an invisible air wall, making a thud sound before being bounced back.
"Old Horse, you really made it strict."
"Righteous One, do you need help?" A heavenly voice sounded in his mind.
"No need."
Rubbing his forehead, Noah used his imagination. Soon, a champion medal appeared on his chest.
Inside the mountain.
One step forward, and the light from outside was completely cut off, leaving only the unique tranquility inside the mountain.
Following the straight path beneath their feet, there was a small blue glowing sphere wrapped in multiple suspended rings, emitting a mysterious halo. It was the core of the central beacon.
"So beautiful!"
Lupa couldn't help but exclaim. However, Avidius standing beside her had no such leisure.
He only felt the faint throbbing pain in his mind suddenly intensify, as if countless fine needles had deeply pierced his nerves.
Endless whispers surged in like a tide, madly invading the depths of his consciousness. Those disordered low voices gradually dismantled his sanity.
His pupils turned completely pitch black. Large amounts of tide erosion marks appeared all over his body. Gray-black coral grew inch by inch from his skin, climbing up to his cheeks.
Amid the endless whispers, his memories went into a frenzied rewind—from the gladiatorial tournament, to the Senate, to crossing the bottom of the Manes four times.
Finally, at the starting point of his memories, there was a pair of hands writing poetry.
"Ah!"
A heart-wrenching roar echoed through the mountain passage, startling Lupa so much that her tail instantly stood straight up. She turned her head and saw Avidius's horrifying appearance, her eyes widening in shock.
"Illusion... illusion...."
The next moment, Avidius violently threw his spear. It traced a path through the air and accurately smashed into the central beacon's core sphere.
The small sphere that had been emitting a charming halo completely dimmed. A massive amount of Dark Tide far exceeding its volume sprayed out from within.
Was this also an illusion? Lupa was utterly stunned.
The black waves surged out like a raging flood, rapidly spreading along the straight passage. Lupa had no time to confront Avidius and hurriedly retreated.
"Avidius, what have you done!"
"Hahahaha, hahahaha!"
"Avidius" laughed wildly. It beckoned with one hand, and the spear that had pierced the central beacon's core was instantly retrieved. The sharp spear tip pointed straight at Lupa—and at the belatedly arriving Augusta.
"The singing procession of the fallen heavenly kingdom will soon spread from Septimont to the entire Rinascita. You are fortunate to be the first to receive the blessing and become the most devout believers!"
As the words fell, black waves carrying countless fallen frequencies roared toward Lupa, but were suddenly blocked by a layer of cyan barrier.
"What!"
Seeing the familiar cyan barrier, Leviathan's pupils shrank sharply. Its gaze fixed deadly on the fiery red figure:
"Augusta, you—no, you are not Augusta!"
"You're not Avidius either, right?"
After a teasing remark, Augusta's figure changed and returned to a white casual-clothed silhouette.
Noah grinned at Leviathan, cracking his knuckles with a crisp sound. His gaze suddenly sharpened, pointing straight at the Threnodian's face:
"Leviathan—your time of misfortune has arrived!"
...