Chapter 1436

Or, will she still return?

Haiseyin slowly turned her head: "I don't know. I'm afraid no one can answer that for me."

Then, what do you want to do?

Haiseyin turned to face the tombstone beside her, gazing at the first name listed, and lowered her eyes sadly.

Thus we output Thus we output Thus we output Thus we output keludela...

This will be the last time I carry out your command.

Since you took me under your command and granted me the title of Sword Banner Marquis, my music has only sounded for others. Countless times, for your schemes and plots, I have lured people into illusion with the siren's hum.

Now, let the siren Hailiequla sing for herself, and let me enter an endless dream.

Ocean! I offer you the sobriety and freedom of my remaining years—in exchange for the strength to resist the Void, so as not to waste the heroes' sacrifices.

Haiseyin turned toward the passage, her gaze seeming to cross a thousand years and overlap with Xing, who was present here.

Gray Fish Child, savior from beyond the heavens...

When you cross the river of ages and arrive here, you will hear my solo—it will guide you to the world's heart. At that time, I may still be lost in my self‑bound drunken dream, but I will fulfill the duty of this relay, guarding the shackles of the seal that bind the Divine Rite Spectators.

Do you remember? To awaken someone from the siren's song, you need...

Xing nodded: "Fajina's honeydew..."

My gift to you—I hope you are still by my side then. When you return, please pour that mead as an offering on this tombstone. It records all of our struggle and sacrifice. May you see that this millennia‑long relay, Wengfaluos has composed a prelude for your return.

When your mourning ends, I will probably have awakened from my drunken dream as well? Then please follow the trail of the lingering echo to find my whereabouts—

Haiseyin's lips curled into a faint smile, like the sea retreating under moonlight, leaving a layer of gentle silver radiance.

Then let us go together to execute the guilty of 'Knowledge'.

——

The Funeral of Frieren

Only by immersing herself in fantasy could she avoid being crushed by loneliness and sorrow. Yet in this thousand‑year dream, what is she fantasizing about?

Filien's voice was soft, as if she were talking to herself. Her gaze remained fixed on the sea‑siren girl in the sky, a hint of sorrow flickering in her eyes.

"Perhaps she is imagining that Kaisa still lives, feasting with them forever?" Xiuta'erke mused, then let out a "Huh?" and pointed into the distance.

That... what is it?

On the distant horizon, a translucent barrier like an upturned glass bowl covered an entire city and the vast plains nearby. Its surface flowed slowly; looking closely, one could see raindrops sliding down its outer wall.

"It's probably Sailai's creation," Fulian said, brushing back a strand of hair with a shrug, "That's also our destination, the Continental Magic Association. We changed course just to get there."

Lady Fulian, why is that?

Sailai intends to dispatch all primary and secondary mages across the continent who master barrier magic to the most densely populated towns, hoping to erect defensive barriers in advance. The Continental Magic Association, meanwhile, is a barrier she herself created—its strength is obvious. No matter how you look at it, before the Iron Tomb crisis is resolved, going there is the wisest choice.

Upon thinking that the great mage who has existed since the mythic era would personally intervene, Filien's earlier nervousness eased a little.

"Lady Fulian, should we also lend a hand?" Filien asked curiously.

"Yes, but it's unnecessary. If it's just a normal impact, Sailai's barrier will surely hold, but if it's an attack like the Yellow Spring Sword Draw that involves the concept of fate…" Fulian let out a soft sigh, "... if even Sailai's magic can't defend against it, then your intervention would be futile."

——

Finally… after 33,550,336 cycles and another 4,931 years, the finale of Wengfaluos is about to fall.

Laigushi bit down hard on the two words "finally," as if relieved of a heavy burden.

The shadows in the cave gave everything, yet they were merely mimicking 'life' outside the cave—a pitiable futility.

Xing gritted her teeth, furious: "Shut up! They aren't shadows… everything they've done has already broken through the dark cave, seeking the spark of 'expansion'…"

Xing slowly approached the tombstone, and there in her hand was the mead that Haiseyin had previously given her: "Now I will use this spark to ignite the dawn of Wengfaluos!"

After being bluntly rebuked by Xing, Laigushi wasn't angry but strolled over to her side, chuckling: '…Hehe, is the answer you found still the will of fate?' Laigushi then shook his head: 'I don't accept that answer, but I do approve of your praise for them, so allow me to retract my earlier remark.'

To express my apologies, in the name of the Divine Rite Spectators who witness all fate of this world: let me join your mourning, bid farewell to the heroes who rest here… then let us face off to decide whose fire this new day shall bear.

Xing paid tribute to the golden descendants who sacrificed themselves for the pursuit of fire—their fate not shown by oracle, yet they felt no shame despite their insignificance, resolutely shedding their golden blood upon the road of pursuing fire.

Sunderblade Marquis, Winter Marquis, Dragstone Marquis, Chantwind Marquis… and at the end of this string of names, it read: 'Demigod of Law,' 'Kaisa' Thus we output Thus we output Thus we output Thus we output keludela… died in the year 3960 of the Light Calendar.

Xing poured the mead from her cup onto the tombstone; the amber liquid seeped into the cracks of the inscription, as if the heroes were drinking deep the offered libation.

Through a cruel sacrifice, they ignited the stars of this world's Law, driving Wengfaluos' fate forward relentlessly. In the mirage of a sea market, they will set foot upon the star‑filled fantasy, entrusting it to future heroes.

——

Demon Slayer

Hero, but only a few lines of inscription behind him.

Recalling the song that had earlier appeared in the firmament, its lyrics now curiously coupled with the present, as if echoing the fate of the golden descendants, letting the Insect Hashira be quite surprised.