Chapter 1280: with translation of chapter title

Aglaea's bead bracelet slowly sank into the golden pool.

"I will take my final bath… in the warm, dazzling gold."

——

Harry Potter.

So Aglaea's prophecy was fulfilled in this way…

Ron let out a deep sigh, staring blankly at the bead bracelet slowly sinking into the golden pool against the sky, watching it vanish from his sight, as if that were the only way he could bid farewell to Aglaea.

At first he thought Aglaea falling into the bath already fulfilled the prophecy, but it wasn't until now that the prophecy was truly verified.

"It seems these prophecies are all literal, with no hidden twists or metaphors," Harry frowned slightly. "And the prophecy concerning Wandi… dies from a back wound."

To the three of them, both prophecies foretold death, but Wandi's was far more chilling than Sai Fei'er's. After all, Wandi only revealed his weakness to Bai E—meaning that in this life Wandi must be killed by Bai E.

Will they finally clash swords?

Aside from the path where Wandi is corrupted and infected by Heichi, Harry can't imagine any reason for the two to kill each other.

"But we could think differently." Hermione seemed to notice Harry's worry and reminded, "Since this life's Wandi is destined to die at Bai E's hand, that means before their next meeting, Wandi won't die at anyone's hand—neither Heichi nor the Fire Pursuit Journey walkers can bring about Wandi's death."

"Similarly, since the prophecy is literal, as long as Sai Fei'er always keeps a coin in his hand and never falls into a state of having only 'cents', Sai Fei'er will be fine."

Ron slapped his thigh, the gloom on his face vanishing: "Yeah! That's right!"

Hermione lowered her head and thought, "Since the prophecy's outcome can't be changed, I think we can use human intervention to delay the 'prophecy moment' as much as possible."

——

Faintly, Bai E seemed to hear Aglaea's voice.

"From now on, Bai E, you will embark on an irreversible journey. Light departs because it awaits the rise of a sun. One day, you will no longer step forward out of fear…"

"…but to return dawn to the world." Bai E slowly lifted his head, "…it is right before us."

The platform was rewound by the stars to above their heads, and now they could only go through the gate behind them to the outside.

"Bai E, Aglaea…," Feng Jin, seeing Bai E's sorrowful expression, tried to comfort him.

"I know." Bai E suppressed the pain within, gritting his teeth, word by word, "I… know…"

The group passed through the Miracle Orb to the outer rim of the Dawn‑Dusk Eye, where the celestial mural crackled with lightning and rolling dark clouds.

"The celestial mural… reflects the world's end…"

Xing couldn't help but worry, "Why is it like this outside now…?"

"The celestial mural has long been severed from the world's weather; nothing that happens here will affect the ground… I hope so," Dan Heng said. "Aigle is the eleventh fire seed of the Fire Pursuit Journey. And the final KefaLe fire seed is enshrined at the council center of Dawn Cloud Cliff."

"We are only one step away from completing the miracle. Mortals will grasp their own destiny…" Bai E looked up at the Dawn‑Dusk Eye constantly collapsing, massive structures beginning to fall into the golden pool below, "…provided we can escape this place!"

"Feng Jin—what about those two winged beasts?"

"I'm trying to locate them, but the winds and clouds on the mural block the senses… If those two lords are still… we could borrow their wings to escape!"

"But for now we can only rely on our own legs. Keep moving forward…"

Because the exterior of the Dusk Eye kept collapsing, the group had no choice but to circle back inside, and with Feng Jin harnessing the fire seed's power, they successfully opened a rainbow bridge leading to a floating platform.

Only by returning to the dome of the Cloud Fortress can they sense those two winged beasts.

However…

The floating platform beneath them began to shake violently, accompanied by a nightmarish screech coming from below the group!

"What? What's that sound…?"

"Everyone—once the platform stops, we rush to the exit… not a second to hesitate!"

A cold bead of sweat slid down Dan Heng's temple: "That sound is… how could it…?"

Seizing the brief pause as the platform halted, Bai E waved sharply at the few behind him: "No time to speculate—run!"

——

Fullmetal Alchemist.

"Wait… no way?"

Edward stared dumbfounded at the sky thick with black clouds.

The chilling screech that came from the heavens made everyone's hearts instantly rise to their throats.

"Brother, could it be… Aigle isn't dead? But its eyes were clearly blown out by Bai E!" Alphonse's voice echoed in the hollow armor, trembling slightly, "Impossible… brother, this can't be… right?"

Aigle's neck was cut in half by Bai E, making survival impossible. Even if it survived, it couldn't see anything, having lost its only eye!

But that screech isn't deceiving, and the bizarre celestial signs…

The black clouds over the city hadn't dispersed before gathering again. From just that, Edward guessed Aigle might truly be alive.

But the question is… how did it survive?

Even the golden pool can't dissolve its body?!

This is beyond Edward's comprehension, bordering on the incomprehensible—like a demon from hell crawling out of a mire, crazily trying to drag everyone into hell.

——

Just as the group prepared to leave, the floating platform beneath them suddenly accelerated, soaring upward.

A huge figure streaked across the outer rim of the Dawn‑Dusk Eye, constantly emitting a shrill screech.

"Titan? But its fire seed already…?"

The massive wind pressure pinned everyone in place, and Feng Die looked up in astonishment: "Could it be, Sainei…?"

Suddenly, the massive figure appeared above the group!

Seeing it about to slam into Titan, Bai E yanked Feng Die and Xing sharply backward, barely dodging the oncoming impact!

Aigle's body seems to be undergoing some incomprehensible transformation.