Chapter 1204

Aohema

Was that grandiose and absurd performance just now what you've been seeking all your life?

Nakesia lightly answered: "I sacrificed everything for truth, just to have this moment. As I expected, you didn't hesitate at the opportunity for power—just like…"

Aglaea took over his words without expression: "…Flies that love power as they love rot."

"I didn't say that."

"But those last words… you already know them? My arrangements for Bai'e."

Nakesia nodded: "I lost an eye, but my vision is clearer than anyone's. Your humanity will be exhausted… not much different from my walking corpse."

"Yes, after burning for a thousand years, I am already a pile of dead ash. Facing the final great enemy Aigele… only he can blaze a fire to match it."

"Looks like this is our last chance… why don't we break the grudge between us?" Nakesia reached out a hand, "Would you mind letting me resonate with your spark, Aglaea?"

"Please."

Nakesia briefly resonated with Aglaea's inner spark using alchemy, but the answer revealed by the spark was crazier than he imagined.

"This… how is possible? With such a feeble soul… you're truly crazy."

Aglaea said calmly: "Just as you can drag your corpse forward for an unfinished cause, I have my reasons to do this. Before Bai'e grows into the prophesied leader, I must sustain the Fire Pursuit Journey, leading the people… even if it's just an empty shell that can only move a few steps."

"I had anticipated this, but I didn't expect you to have deteriorated to this point…" Nakesia held his forehead, gave a self‑mocking laugh: "Heh… how ironic. If we had communicated like this earlier, we could have avoided many misunderstandings."

"But setting aside our ideological differences, on this matter I have always agreed with you——"

Aglaea understood instantly: "About Bai'e."

"Exactly. He is a natural leader, his ability to read hearts even surpasses yours. I can declare: he is more suited to be a leader than you, and only he can fulfill your mission……" Saying that, Nakesia shook his head with some regret: "…Too bad, he's a man cursed by Moneita. However, according to my guess, his terrifying aesthetic of wearing red and green, flashy as blooming branches, shouldn't hinder your 'Recreation of the World'."

"Congratulations to us, we have reached the same consensus at the end of our respective fates."

Nakesia smiled faintly: "Your reaction even makes me want to take back my previous words."

"——"

"Original God."

"'Oh? Could it be that Bai'e's sense of style is a bit lacking?' Nuoweiya showed some curiosity, 'But the outfit he's wearing looks quite sharp, and his figure is good too—people like him wouldn't look bad in anything.'"

"'Not necessarily. That's because you haven't seen someone truly bad at dressing.' Qianzhi seemed to recall some unpleasant past, pressing his forehead with a pained expression, 'This outfit of his probably benefits from Aglaea, after all, as a "Savior", his outward appearance is also important.'"

"I feel Bai'e's shoulder bears a huge burden—titles like 'natural leader' and 'prophesied leader', loading a millennium‑old responsibility onto a young person's shoulders and telling him: 'If he collapses under the pressure, the world will be destroyed'… Mm, this is really too cruel."

"'You're also the president of the Rose Thorn Society, aren't you? To some extent you too are a 'leader' bearing the expectations and trust of the whole gang; in Fontaine, surely few understand a leader's pressure better than you?' Qianzhi chuckled, lightly tapping the teacup before him."

"Compared to that, my position as leader is much easier, Qianzhi—don't compare me to others."

"Nuoweiya's voice dropped, she lowered her lashes, fingers unconsciously rubbing the teacup's handle, '…Bearing the life and death of an entire nation on one's shoulders—this pressure… perhaps only Funina in Fontaine can understand it.'"

"However, she's doing fine now."

"Yes, everything has turned out for the best." Nuoweiya looked up at the creation vortex in the sky, "So I hope Bai'e will also reap a good ending in the end—becoming a Titan of the next generation… though it sounds noble, I still think it's not as good as just living happily as a human."

"——"

"Aglaea! We're back——"

"Inside the vortex, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded—only to see Bai'e arriving with Star, Danheng, and the others."

"Come welcome our great hero reborn from fire, Star."

"Nakesia looked at Aglaea with deep meaning: 'Hmph, I haven't been criticizing him for just a day—people ought to have self‑awareness.'"

"I sincerely rejoice in this victory……" Aglaea surveyed the crowd, a hint of wistfulness crossing her eyes: "…But among those who traveled with us, it seems Xiedie is absent."

"Seeing the regret on everyone's faces, Nakesia quickly understood: 'It seems she not only fulfilled my proof, but also completed your mission.'"

"Star: 'She clarified her origins and also completed the trial.'"

"Aglaea: 'Although we cannot rewrite fate, I still wrote the final rhyme for my epic…… Master, please recite the divine edict for us. Star, also please offer us this scorching spark.'"

"You are the sole life she kept alive by hand after walking the earth for a thousand years. I think… no one is more worthy than you to carry out this noble duty."

"The ritual was the same as before with Oluonisi: after Tining recited the divine edict, Star sank the "death" spark into the pool. At the same time, the totem symbolizing death in the sky finally glowed with golden light."

"Bai'e looked up at the glowing totem and murmured, 'The constellation belonging to "death"…'"

"Nakesia corrected: 'Strictly speaking… it's "death" and "life". '"

"As the death spark returned to its place, a familiar figure silently appeared within the vortex."

"Bai'e widened his eyes: 'Look! That's……'"

"Xiedie's lingering shade stood still in the depths of the vortex, as usual politely clasping her hands before her; her gaze seemed to cross the boundary between life and death, firmly resting on Star."