The Knights’ actions are swift and decisive. Their cavalry split into two before surrounding the group of civilians-ssh-warriors.

  “One per horse!”

  Some who bnked out stared on the towering horses. Only those who fought for their life immediately understood the knights’ commands.

  Seeing others climb on top of the horses, everyone else did the same. Phainon rode st. Artoria stayed behind.

  The in-command of the knight squadron suddenly got off the horse. The huge bck robe could not hide his rge build and armor. His hand is pced on the longsword on his waist.

  “Identify yourself.”

  The man spoke to Artoria.

  “I have been fortunate enough to witness the King of Knight’s splendor. The Imperator decred her to be dead a thousand years ago. Who are you?”

  He did not hesitate to take off his hood. Artoria saw the familiar face.

  “You are… Sir Fortunado?”

  “This can’t be…”

  Her clear answer pgued him with confusion. He is none other than Cerydra’s loyal Chrysos General, the one who led the two-thousand-strong battalion of their finest.

  The campaign against the Ocean Titan was very tragic. Less than a thousand lived in their battalion.

  Nobody expected for their Imperator, Cerydra, to revive the fallen from the dead. Their final memories had been them fighting against the abyssal sea sirens. They did not rejoin Okhema’s army.

  Cerydra established the Bck Knights with them as the personnel. They were also bestowed with gifts, making their physical might stronger than their prime.

  Even after death, they trusted their Imperator, and as such, they went through hundreds of campaigns over the course of a thousand years.

  Artoria’s presence in the war, especially the second one, is extremely strong. Everyone saw a beam of light cleave through the entire city-state in half.

  Her “death” a thousand years ago was something many honored. They did not doubt Cerydra, nor did they ask why she did not ‘revive’ her.

  Seeing Artoria now, in flesh and blood, confused Fortunado.

  This silent standoff was broken when Phainon hopped off from the horse.

  “Sir! She’s someone who helped us fend those creatures! She’s not a person, I can vouch for that.”

  Fortunado shook his head.

  “It is not that, kid.” He turned his gnce to Artoria. “Will you fight with us again?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “That is enough.”

  He did a standard salute—a half-bow with his right hand on his chest.

  “Get back. We will never mistreat the King of Knights.”

  Phainon looked back and forth between the retreating Fortunado and Artoria.

  “Big sis, you know them?” He asked curiously.

  “A long story. You will know about it when the time comes.”

  After persuading him, Phainon returned to his seat. Artoria waved everyone off.

  “To succumb into fate… she did what I could not.”

  A relieved smile appeared on her face, disappearing into motes of golden light.

  *****

  Cerydra listened to Fortunado’s report. From the successful rescue of the destined Demigods of Kephale and Oronyx up to their meeting with Artoria, he said them all.

  She fell silent for a while before dismissing him. Her straight look remained… until ughter broke out.

  The high-pitched and elegant tone matched her tearful joy.

  “You… to think you will copy his story down to the very end..!”

  The Zero Requiem entailed killing Lelouch vi Britannia to obtain a newfound peace. He drew the hatred of the world so that the cycle of hatred will end in his death.

  Merlin chose his script while performing.He sacrificed his ‘life’ for the Core Protocol, a one-time use chance that can change the entire world.

  Lelouch’s ending wasn’t death. In a twist of fate, the power he gained (i.e., Code) granted him immortality. He lived on after these events, just that he became a vegetable until a while ter.

  Seeing Artoria is the equivalent of ‘Merlin’ still living somewhere.

  It took a long while to catch her breath. Cerydra wiped off the tears on the corners of her eyes.

  “...so you’re still here.”

  That low mutter let out everything she felt.

  She didn't even care if she had to nurse a vegetable, so long as it was Merlin… Shi Tian. However, she knows her role in ‘their world’.

  In the book he left, Cerydra must embark on the role of a commander unbound by all the chains in the world. It is why she established the Bck Knights and offended every single force on Amphoreus’ surface.

  Her actions singlehandedly saved a huge portion of the survivors now. She assisted the Death Demigod in completing her final journey in Styxia. Finally, she and the Bck Knights defeated the Strife Titan.

  ‘Letting the little pink one stay…’

  *****

  Phainon, Cyrene, and the other survivors stayed inside Styxia. Its gloom and eternal night is the same as the rest of Amphoreus. They could rest assured of their safety, however.

  Styxia has the traces of the Tower at the Edge of the World. The Lion King left it and the gifts as permanent markers in this world.

  “Speaking with their leader…”

  “The Imperator.” Cyrene finished Phainon’s thoughts. “She used to be the Holy City, Okhema’s leader.”

  “She’s that big of a deal? I wonder what she looks like…”

  The two arrived inside Cerydra’s exclusive study. Phainon’s gaze darted left and right. He only saw an “empty” seat behind the desk.

  “Strange. Where is she…”

  Cyrene kept tugging at his sleeves. He saw her point downwards… and there he saw the Imperator. She stood behind the desk, taking one of the books on her bookshelf.

  Phainon’s initial impression about her was shattered.

  Sensing his gaze, she turned around and faced him.

  “This Imperator does not tolerate disrespect about her height.”

  “U-uhm…”

  “No need to expin yourself. I will pardon you once.”

  Cerydra’s words made him heave a sigh of relief. Phainon’s rather comical, straightforward reactions renewed her impression of him. She sat on the chair, her head barely above the desk.

  “Janusopolis has been destroyed by the Bck Tide.” Cerydra paused before directing her gaze towards Cyrene. “You are the destined one to inherit Oronyx’s Corefme. You will stay by our side until you are ready to undertake the divine trial.”

  Phainon naively listened to Cerydra’s words, not knowing it is basically “house arrest” spelled backwards.

  Cyrene did not say anything in regards to this.

  “And you, the Deliverer who will lead everyone to the Era Nova.”

  “Ah? Who, me?”

  He pointed his fingers towards himself.

  “You will enter the Holy City and make a name for yourself. Kephale’s Corefme y dormant inside the Dawn Device. It is the st Corefme to be returned, second only to Aqui’s, hence you must fulfill your duty.”

  Fearing it wasn’t clear enough, Cerydra stated one st time:

  “You, Phainon, a vilger from Aedes Elysiae, is the one destined to inherit Kephale’s Corefmes, the Worldbearing Demigod.”