Chapter 1029

So… have you made your resolve, Aolixie's Bai'e?

…

Bai'e took a deep breath: "I'm ready. The two of you, I will share the burden of divinity with you… I am willing to make the necessary sacrifice."

Aglaea nodded satisfactorily: "Very good."

"Finally, we've waited for this day, Xiao Bai. This is what you've always wanted, right?"

Bai'e: "Looking back, if the oracle hadn't found me… I would surely still be wandering aimlessly. Right now, the meaning of my existence is to devote everything to the mission of the Golden Lineage."

"I have never doubted your resolve." Aglaea declared solemnly, "Tomorrow at the same time, the Golden Lineage will gather at the Genesis Vortex to return the Spear of Heavenly Punishment, Nicadoli's spark."

"Remember, this is not an immutable ritual of the priests. No one knows what price mortals must pay to bear the divine authority of conflict; your path remains full of variables. Make good use of the remaining time to rest, Bai'e."

"I understand. See you tomorrow."

——

Honkai 3.

"Starting tomorrow, Bai'e must prepare to cross from human to demigod—not just Bai'e, I can't help feeling excited for him as well." Meibiwusi's pair of emerald-green vertical pupils contracted slightly, as if examining some novel experimental specimen.

"If we liken the Titan to the emperor‑rank collapse beasts of our era, then this clump of spark is equivalent to a collapse factor. Early sparks should also have undergone experiments merging with ordinary humans, right?"

"The results probably weren't good." Hua said lightly, "The mortal physique is still far from that of the Golden Lineage; early on there must have been many failures, leading people to conclude that only those with golden blood could perfectly fuse with it."

Meibiwusi said intriguingly, "What intrigues me most is whether the ritual of fusing the spark, like the early collapse surgeries, involves some kind of screening? If Bai'e does not fuse with the spark… will he die?"

"Oh? You sound a bit eager." Eden lightly shook the cup in hand, "... The risk certainly exists; the Titan's power is too vast for a mortal vessel to bear divinity—it's like dancing on the edge of a cliff. And even if perfectly fused, it would likely entail some unknown cost."

Aglaea erodes humanity, while Tipra reduces her body to a childlike form—what about Bai'e?

——

"Really, it's utterly calm, as if nothing had happened."

"Watching the people in the bathhouse leisurely at ease, Danheng couldn't help but admire: 'To be able to quietly enjoy oneself in such a chaotic age, the mentality of the Onfallos people is truly transcendent.'"

Bai'e walked over from behind them: "... All thanks are due to Aglaea and Teacher Tipra. Under their protection, the citizens have been able to fully enjoy peace." Bai'e looked around: "Where did Wandi go?"

"He's exhausted; he went back to rest first."

"If not for your help, the outcome of this battle would truly be hard to predict—thanks, you must be getting tired of hearing it by now? But we still ought to—" Bai'e turned his gaze to the pink unknown creature floating on Star's shoulder, "... Ah, but thanking you—this might be the first time? Thanks for the help, Mimimi… Miss?"

"What's next?"

"Tomorrow at this time, Aglaea will summon us to go to the Genesis Vortex to perform the ritual of returning the spark. Although her original words only mentioned the Golden Lineage… if I invite you to attend, she surely won't refuse."

"This ritual—anything we should watch out for?" Danheng asked cautiously.

"According to Aglaea, no one can predict what will happen. Since each Titan's divine authority is unique, I hope you two can be there to give me some confidence."

Star patted Bai'e's shoulder: "Don't worry, I'll definitely come support you, Old Bai."

"Hahaha, it's a promise." Bai'e laughed, saying, "Before the ritual begins, this time is free for you to use as you wish—rest well… I'll also spend some time organizing my thoughts. See you later, friends."

Star and Danheng watched Bai'e leave the bathhouse.

"Can you feel it, Star? He seems preoccupied." Danheng said.

"How do you sense that?" Star scratched his head.

"Body language, and… microexpressions." Danheng let out a light sigh, "No wonder—what he's about to undergo is too extraordinary. Although the Titan is merely a local deity of Onfallos, to ascend from human to another kind of being… the process is hard to imagine."

"We should also think about ourselves." Star reminded.

"... Indeed, the series of events that happened earlier were too rushed, leaving us no time to ponder our current predicament. The carriage is scrapped, we can't contact the train crew, plus the ban on the extraterritorial realm… Once Bai'e's ascension ritual ends, we should also carefully work out these troubles."

——

Azure Archive.

"I can't figure it out! Since Danheng and Star can't reach the train crew, why didn't the train crew try to contact Star themselves? If they can't get through, just pilot a spaceship and crash in!"

At Chai Master's stall, thinking that the train crew still hasn't let others enter Onfallos to help Star, Lu Bamu Ai Lu is furious, puffing her cheeks and jabbing her chopsticks hard into the bowl of ramen.

"All right, little Ai, even if you're angry don't take it out on the food?" Mutsuya rested her chin, smiling at Ai Lu, "Chai Master only charged us for one bowl of ramen but gave us enough for four; if you waste your share, you'll go hungry tonight… we don't have money for late‑night snacks."

"This… I certainly know." Ai Lu took a deep breath, returning to her usual pose she considers dignified, "If I were Himeko, as the president of the train crew! No… wait, the navigator, I would of course unhesitatingly drive the train to Onfallos to rescue my own crew members—that's how to be a mature and reliable boss."

Kayako let out a long sigh: "Has the president considered what to do if the entire train is trapped in Onfallos, unable to communicate with the outside world?"