Chapter 1039

Inside Ophyrus, Xing's private bath……

As soon as Xing opened their eyes, they saw Mimi floating before them.

Her little cutie suddenly appeared.

"You're awake~ If you don't wake up, people are afraid the giant's light will bake you!"

Dan Heng walked over and glanced at Mimi; he couldn't understand what Mimi was saying, only feeling her chatter non-stop "Mimi": "It's been excited since just now... what did you feed it?"

"It seems it doesn't need to eat anything."

Mimi angrily put her hands on her hips: "What are you saying! No matter how you say it, I'm... I'm a cute little animal!"

"Hmm? Thinking about it... when was the last time I ate? I can't remember..."

Dan Heng let Xing not need to translate what she said; he came over to remind her that time was almost up, and the Golden Heirs should already be ready at the Genesis Vortex core.

Xing arrived at the Genesis Vortex core; indeed, the Golden Heirs had all gathered. Seeing the two witnesses arrive, Aglaea also reminded him that the return ceremony could begin.

Xiaodie looked around: "Lord Wandi is not present..."

"He already gave notice in advance, Miss Xiaodie. I told him, healing his wounds is the top priority— a comrade's promotion ceremony is something they experience only once in a lifetime, no need to worry too much about it."

Bai E strode to the edge of the pool, placed his hand on his chest: "I'm ready."

Tingning nodded, and after chanting a long prayer, she solemnly said: "Aolixie's Bai E—please step forward."

"Together with*us*—"

Bai E closed his eyes, his voice rang out in sync with Tingning's, echoing deep in the Genesis Vortex core:

"The solemn twelve Titans, the pillars supporting the world—"

"We seek divinity here to fill the world's cracks—"

"To infuse the flesh with golden blood, and for the oracle to willingly exhaust and dry up—"

"Offer the fire seed, Golden Heirs."

Bai E nodded, stepped forward solemnly, placed his hand on the spring water; as the light from his hand separated, the fire seed belonging to Strife gradually detached from his palm, bursting forth with brilliant light. It was like a carefully polished amber, slowly sinking into the water.

The stationary stars in the vortex core also flowed again with the fire seed's return, the star belonging to the Spear of Heavenly Punishment was lit up……

——

Fate/Babylonia Absolute Magic Beast Battle Line

"This, this... is it all gone?"

Ishtar floated midair, arms crossed, a hint of confusion flashing in her pupils: "Has Bai E become a demigod? I feel like nothing happened; is this ritual too simple? I, the goddess, thought it would be like that glittering guy, a seven-day, seven-night sacrifice."

Gilgamesh coldly snorted, "An idiot is an idiot— even to watch the fun you use your poor brain to evaluate me? You think everyone's like you, just sitting on the sky boat throwing stones, or for a few gems fawning over humans?"

"Huh?! You say who's fawning?!' Ishtar instantly bristled, she swooped down from midair, pointing at Gilgamesh's nose and shouting: "I am the goddess of Venus! Jewels and wealth should be offerings to me... Do you understand offerings? Forget it, you this copper-smelling nouveau riche won't understand."

"Huh..." Gilgamesh also sneered at her remarks, but didn't intend to keep arguing with the foolish goddess. He turned his gaze back to the sky, focusing on the youth named Bai E.

As the king of Uruk, he appreciated Bai E's qualities as a warrior and employed him. But if he wanted to become a demigod, that's another matter.

"This kid still has a long way to go before becoming a true demigod."

"Eh? King Gilgamesh, don't you have high hopes for Bai E?" Merlin asked, smiling and raising his eyes.

"No, quite the opposite, I am very optimistic about him, but the timing is not right now." Gilgamesh supported his left cheek with one hand, speaking lightly: "On the path of Strife, Bai E is merely a seedling not yet grown, insufficient to bear the mission imposed by this fire seed. If he wants to inherit the fire seed, he likely needs to join the army and fight for another ten or so years."

Mashu murmured softly: "Ten or so years... can Aohema wait that long?"

Ishtar shrugged: "There are still many fire seeds uncollected; surely there is one compatible with Bai E. For example, reason, sky, negative world... those should suit him better than the Strife fire seed, right?"

——

"The fire seed has returned, but Bai E feels no change; he looks around, his inner unease growing: 'Why is the vortex core so silent? Have you also faced similar situations?'"

"Aglaea said without changing expression: 'You're too impatient, Bai E. Don't let us doubt this decision.'"

As they spoke, a phantom resembling Gnaeus slowly emerged from the vortex core, silently observing Bai E.

"Xiaodie startled: 'Gnaeus... your lordship?'"

"He's probably not someone you know, Xiaodie—that's the embodiment of the oracle, an echo of Titan divinity. It's here to examine the Golden Heir who will succeed divine authority." Tingning explained.

After the Titan's echo carefully observed Bai E, it uttered a few incoherent words; through Tingning's translation, everyone learned that the Strife Titan had acknowledged Bai E's strength and character, but his will still wavered.

"If you wish to continue Nicadoli's resistance and oppose the indefinable Heichi, you must undergo the divine trial, proving you possess an indomitable will… crush your deepest-rooted fear..."

"Crush... my inner fear?" Bai E nodded, resolutely: "Then come on—no matter what you plan to use to hinder my advance, I am already prepared."

"For the tomorrow of the prophecy, I will become the god that Ophyrus needs."

"Come with me, Aolixie's Bai E..." The Titan stretched out his hand, gesturing for Bai E to follow his steps: "... You will cast off your mortal coil in fear, then be reborn as a god from suffering."