"From beyond the heavens?"
Hearing Anaxa say this, both Cipher and Castorice looked surprised.
As Golden Ones, they naturally weren't like others, unaware that more worlds existed beyond Omphalos. But learning that something originated from beyond the heavens still filled them with surprise.
Derick had spent a long time with the Golden Ones, so he didn't need to react like other Omphalos natives.
"But isn't Aquila here? How did that monster appear?"
Castorice asked Anaxa doubtfully.
"Perhaps that monster has a way to evade, or perhaps that sky Titan is a useless fellow. In short, this dark monster arrived just like that. Since it came, it must have had a reasonable way to get here." Anaxa looked at his injured arm.
"I've done countless experiments; even something from the Black Tide wouldn't show no reaction if placed in my arm. And now, with no reaction at all, it only means its composition is completely different from ours."
Just as he was saying this, the voice of the Titan of Reason reached his ears.
"Child of Man, you left half a sentence unsaid. You suspect that the entire composition of Omphalos has problems. The humans, the Titans here, are all fundamentally different from the outside world."
Only Anaxa could hear Its voice.
"Regarding this, I cannot answer you. Although I know worlds exist beyond the sky, I also do not know what the outside world is truly like."
Anaxa remained noncommittal.
"What are you talking about? I don't get it." Cipher listened impatiently, waving her hand. "Anyway, we can't deal with that dark fellow. And there's nothing else we can do. If you ask me, we might as well go back to Okhema now."
"Alright, staying here is indeed a waste of time." Anaxa nodded.
The group turned and walked towards Okhema.
It was already late. Unless Cipher used her powers, it would be impossible for them to return to Okhema.
They decided to camp in the wild.
This presented a problem.
Because Castorice didn't know she was supposed to arrange Anaxa's lodging, and Derick might have guessed but couldn't show it, they were one tent short.
Seeing this, Cipher immediately beckoned to Derick. "Come on, Derick, my tent is quite big. You can come lie down, just like last time."
"No need." Seeing the situation, Castorice firmly dragged Derick into her tent.
Today, I'll sleep with him.
Derick's tent could be left for Anaxa.
Seeing her like this, Cipher pouted and walked into her own tent. She took off her shoes, revealing sturdy calves and full feet. Closing her eyes and stretching, she turned and slipped into her sleeping bag, but her eyes, carrying a predatory glint, remained fixed on Derick.
Anaxa silently occupied Derick's tent. As he entered, Anaxa felt the surroundings quietly fill with the energy of the Titan of Reason.
The conversation within this tent would not be transmitted outside.
"Well? What's your energy reaction?" Anaxa lay on his back, looking up at the tent, and asked.
"My energy's connection within that monster's body is growing weaker and weaker."
The voice of Cerces, the Titan of Reason, came through.
However, it was only a voice; Her form did not appear. For Cerces to transmit Her voice from the Grove of Epiphany without being detected by others was no small feat.
"It seems that fellow's appetite can't be satisfied by a single Titan of Discord. Its target might be other Titans."
"Are you telling Me to be careful as well?"
"No, I mean it would be good if you were devoured by it too." Anaxa's tone was blunt.
"Its body is different from Aglaea's initial description; it seems to have some of Nikador's characteristics. If it devours your Core Flame as well, will it undergo other changes? I'm quite looking forward to these."
"You really aren't afraid of problems arising with the Flamechase Journey." Cerces's tone grew colder.
"Compared to the Flamechase Journey, isn't understanding the fundamentals of this world more important? Perhaps, the Flamechase Journey won't even be needed to resolve the Black Tide of Omphalos."
"Continue your attempts. Child of Man, I remind you, I will not help you again. The Flamechase Journey is currently the only way to save Omphalos. As payment for this intervention, you need to tell the other Golden Ones that if I encounter danger, they must promptly bring My Core Flame back to Omphalos."
"You're not letting me bring it?"
Cerces said to Anaxa, "I worry you'll give My Core Flame to that dark monster."
"Don't worry, I'll be prepared before I try to let it devour Me."
"You truly don't tell a single lie." Cerces's voice grew fainter as Her energy was nearly depleted.
"Wait," Anaxa said to Cerces at that moment.
"What?"
"You have nothing more to say anyway. Just give me the remaining energy here."
Cerces was silent for a moment before a single word drifted over.
"Fine."
Grove of Epiphany.
Cerces carefully watched the calm sky.
She was also aware of Anaxa's thoughts. He wanted to place the remaining energy in his body into the one who could absorb Nikador's energy.
To see if his body could also accept Her energy.
How many variables were there in this Flamechase Journey? She didn't know what the next step should be.
It was supposed to be just defeating the evil Titans and recovering all the Titans' Core Flames for a re-creation. But why were there so many beings with special abilities here?
Wait.
Cerces realized another problem.
Among the intelligence, besides the youth who absorbed Nikador and the monster that devoured Nikador, there was also a cloaked figure attacking Titans.
Releasing Her aura here, wouldn't it attract him?
Cerces did not fear death, but She did not wish to die at the hands of someone who would harm the world.
Even more so, She did not want Her power to become a threatening energy to this world.
Inside Castorice's tent, Derick's gaze shifted to Anaxa's tent.
Today, his avatar had absorbed a bit of Cerces's energy, and some of what was digested had also entered his body, causing a faint trace of the Titan of Reason's energy to be present in him as well.
This energy was very weak; no one besides Cerces could sense it. However, Cerces was maintaining long-distance communication with Anaxa and hadn't focused her attention on Derick.
What had Cerces come here for?
"Derick, are you looking towards Teacher's side?" As he was thinking, Castorice asked him.
"Yes, today's events were too many and too complicated. I'm a bit muddled," Derick said, finding an excuse for Castorice.
As he spoke, he felt an arm wrap around his waist.
Castorice leaned against his back, pulling him into her embrace.
"If you can't think clearly, then don't think about it. With me here, no matter what difficulties arise, we'll face them together," Castorice whispered softly to Derick.
"Mm."
Feeling Castorice's embrace, Derick's chaotic state of mind improved significantly. Lying in Castorice's arms, he slowly drifted off to sleep.
However, before falling asleep, he still checked his body's condition.
Today's gains were somewhat substantial.
A tiny bit of power belonging to the Titan of Reason, and Caenis's assassination techniques.
Her ability to kill Golden Ones was not something an ordinary person could achieve. Her assassination techniques were also extraordinarily exquisite.
The combat skills from Nikador were mainly for frontal combat. In narrow areas, or for ambushing strong enemies, Caenis's assassination techniques were more effective.
The next morning, or as it was called in the Omphalos calendar, the Time of Portals.
Derick and Castorice had just woken up when they saw Anaxa squatting at the entrance of their tent, looking at them.
"You two woke up too late. Prolonged sleep doesn't improve spirit; on the contrary, it makes the spirit more fatigued," Anaxa said to Derick and Castorice.
Derick pretended not to hear. What a joke, who sleeps just to replenish their spirit like you do?
As for his attitude.
He wasn't used to it before, but he was now.
Anyway, a good attitude wouldn't get him any special treatment, and Anaxa would do what he was going to do regardless of a bad attitude. So, Derick couldn't be bothered to show him a good attitude.
Of course, Derick wouldn't do certain taboo things, like calling him Anaxa, or randomly beating up Earth Beasts.
As expected, facing Derick's attitude, Anaxa's tone didn't change in the slightest.
"I have something here that I need you to verify."
After speaking, he tried to stand up. Then, he sat down on the ground with a thud.
Derick and Castorice both stared at him.
Anaxa expressionlessly and slowly stood up.
It's normal for legs to go numb after squatting for a long time.
Anaxa stretched his body and walked into the tent. After a while, he came out holding a stone.
"This stone contains some of Cerces's power. See if you can absorb it?" he said to Derick.
"How do I absorb it?"
"Just hold it in your hand." Anaxa looked at Derick and said, "Of course, if you want to be efficient, you can swallow this stone. Don't worry, I've already smoothed its edges."
"Let's forget that."
Derick had no desire to try such things.
He still took the stone in his hand.
Cipher, Castorice, and Anaxa all looked towards Derick.
Actually, Derick himself was curious. Now that this bit of Cerces's energy existed in his body, would it still absorb more?
As they watched, the energy on the stone gradually diminished.
Cerces's energy truly entered Derick's body.
"Whoa, Derick, it actually worked! You can really absorb Cerces's energy!" Cipher exclaimed.
"It seems so." Derick nodded.
Good heavens, it looks like not just my avatar, but my main body also has to have a bit of a gluttonous nature. It just can't actively devour, only passively absorb, he thought to himself.
An ecstatic expression appeared in Anaxa's eyes, and he stared intently at Derick, instinctively taking a step forward. Seeing him like this, Derick quickly took two steps back.
He was somewhat afraid Anaxa was going to dissect him on the spot.
Cipher quickly pulled Anaxa back. "Hey, hey, hey, don't move, don't move, put your foot back."
Castorice breathed a sigh of relief. She had also wanted to stop her teacher and was thinking of what to say, but Cipher had spoken up for her first.
Anaxa said to Derick, "Derick, feel the flow of the Titan of Reason's and the Titan of Discord's energy in your body. See if there's any conflict."
"No." Derick felt it for a moment, then shook his head. "They are flowing in my body through two different networks."
Although the Titan of Reason's power was vastly different from the Titan of Discord's, after the Titan of Reason's energy entered his body, it still formed its own circulatory system.
"It seems your body can indeed bear the power of multiple Titans."
Anaxa looked towards the Grove of Epiphany, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Derick felt that Anaxa might be thinking of killing Cerces and taking Her Core Flame energy to absorb.
"But then again, if I have enough of Cerces's energy in my body, I could actually gain a rather strong offensive ability," Derick thought to himself.
Nikador's and Cerces's powers were in great conflict, currently distinct within Derick's body. If Derick were to slightly adjust within himself, he could make the two powers merge.
This merging of powers would cause a violent explosion, blowing Derick and his nearby enemies to smithereens. Derick's body had recovery abilities; after being blown up, it would just repair itself.
Thinking this, a strong desire to obtain the Titan of Reason's energy rose within Derick.
"Then Derick, you're quite amazing! We originally thought we needed to take care of you, but now it seems your future strength will be much greater than ours," Cipher said, looking at Derick.
"Going to get a Titan's power and Core Flame will definitely not be simple."
"Yes." Castorice agreed with Derick's words. At the same time, to prevent Cipher and Derick from talking too much, she continued, "We should head back soon and report what happened here to Lady Aglaea. With several Elders of the Senate in trouble, this situation will have a significant impact on the Senate."
Anaxa said from the side, "When we reach Okhema city, you guys go in first. I have my own place to go."
He had returned alone, everyone else dead, although everything was part of his plan. But thinking he would see Aglaea's joyful expression, he still didn't want to meet her.
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