Chapter 972: Weng Faluos (19)

""Expansion"... "Beacon"..." Aglaea nodded, "No problem, please make yourselves at home.""

"Having said that, Xing threw down a domain anchor right where he stood, unfolding it before everyone."

""This way Weng Faluos also has a domain anchor—another big step for 'Expansion'.""

""Praise Awei!""

"Danheng let out a soft sigh: "…You mean Agewali, right?""

"Aglaea examined the strange anchor point deployed beside her from top to bottom, unable to discern any craftsmanship, and remarked with interest, "What a peculiar initiation rite. I'm growing ever more curious about your purpose.""

""But for now, please allow me to fulfill my host's duties… the coming conversation will be lengthy, honored guests; let us find a suitable place to listen.""

"The three walked down the stairs, and Xing noticed that the heavenly palace was filled with exquisite big-and-small reliefs, which seemed to depict some ancient ritual—some people bathing, some praying, some holding jars and pouring water. As he walked and looked, Xing felt that the expressions on the figures in the reliefs… were a little too indulgent."

"After passing through a layer of water curtain, hot steam surged out instantly, carrying a faint scent of incense that refreshed the heart and spleen."

"This is a huge bathhouse, its tiled floor extending all the way to the edge of the heavenly palace, with a diameter likely spanning hundreds of meters. The water on the tiles is clear to the bottom, constantly rising with gentle steam, forming a thin white mist in the air. As the mist drifted, the bathhouse's atmosphere grew ever more hazy."

""This place is called the Yunshi Heavenly Palace, the public bath of Aohema. Normally, the atmosphere would be livelier.""

"Aglaea walked to the edge of the bath and said, "Here will do. You two are newcomers, so you must be full of doubts about the Titans, the Golden Descendants, and the Oracles that people speak of. Before answering your specific questions, I'd like to first show you the history of Weng Faluos.""

"——"

"Chainsaw Man"

""Bathing while recounting history…" Denji slightly imagined that scene, a faint blush on his face, "Isn't that a bit… 'that'? Are the people of Weng Faluos always this open?""

""Which?" Pawa asked, chewing on chips indistinctly."

""It's 'that'! I never went to school, I can't describe it.""

""Looking at your lecherous grin, you idiot Denji, I, the great one, naturally know what you mean—what's there to be shy about? You've been dying to see this scene, haven't you?""

""Well, that's how it is…""

""……" Aki Hayakawa set down his coffee, expressionlessly gazing at Denji, "I'm afraid there's no such scene as you imagine; this is a public bath, not a home toilet tub. Moreover, this woman gives me the feeling she's not benevolent…""

""Huh? But she's very kind.""

""She really does speak kindly." Aki Hayakawa didn't deny it, continuing, "But when facing guests who have helped her, even though she calls them 'honored guests' on the surface, she shows not a trace of a smile… like a block of ice speaking to a person, making it hard to suspect she has no ulterior motive.""

"No, she definitely has another motive. Aki Hayakawa thought carefully; if he stood in Aglaea's position, facing an enemy as strong as a Titan, seeking variables would be natural. These extraterrestrial visitors possess technology that would astonish Weng Faluos—if it could be used by Aohema… then humanity killing all the Titans would not be impossible."

"——"

""At the beginning of the legend, the world was a chaos. Then the gods cast down the spark of fire, and the Titans were born from the flames.""

""The three weave fate, the three create heaven and earth, the three shape life, the three bring disaster.""

"In the darkness, countless golden threads spread upward, intertwining in the void. Gradually, those golden threads traced an outline—first the feet connected to the mountains, then the sturdy legs, then the broad chest and drooping head."

"KefaLe"

"That four‑armed giant, which had once stood silent upon the earth, is now using the golden threads as a brush to re‑emerge in this darkness."

"Twelve rays of light lit up in succession around the giant's body, each becoming an ancient symbol. They hover in the darkness, slowly rotating around the giant's form like the markings on a clock, repeating endlessly."

""The Titans' fire kindled civilization, letting all peoples' lives endure forever. But the golden age passed in an instant, and the blasphemous Heichi descended from beyond the heavens.""

"City‑states rose at the Titans' feet, their kings wearing gold crowns and celebrating with their subjects. Yet as he stepped onto the sacrificial bonfire, a sinister crimson streak came from beyond the heavens."

"It was as if someone tore a wound in the sky, letting blood pour down. That red spread with astonishing speed, in the blink of an eye swallowing the entire starry sky, even the moon vanishing."

""Its darkness is deeper than death; the Titans fell into madness, mortals took up arms against each other. Conflicts piled up, the blood‑red hue swallowed the dawn, the gods waged war, and even the sun fell silent.""

""After a thousand years of divine war, only a shattered world and a dark age remained.""

"From sky to mountains, rivers, and seas, orange‑red flames licked the scorched earth, thick smoke rolling up to veil the heavens."

"Under the Heichi's onslaught, amid the ruins of the city‑states, bodies lay piled in layers, indistinguishable as soldier or civilian, foe or kin. Scorched black arms reached toward the sky, like a silent question."

"The wind swept through this purgatory, lifting clouds of ash—what once were human things now mingled with burnt vegetation, drifting toward an unknown distance."

""The fire‑seed will wane, the era of the gods has ended, golden blood falls to the earth, and the oracles echo from afar…""

""Flow, golden blood, gather into a scalding river, flowing toward the descendants of heroes across the world—""

"——"

"fate/Absolute Magic Beast Battle Line"

"In the afternoon, on the terrace of the Uruk palace."

"Sunlight poured onto the golden bricks, the air filled with the sweet scent of dates. Wise King Gilgamesh sat upon the throne, elbow propped on the armrest, cheek resting on one hand; though his bearing remained as arrogant as ever, his face was quite grave."

""Heichi…… Is this why you wished to see me, your King?""

""Yes, yes, King Gilgamesh." Fujimaru Ritsuka stood before the throne, bowing slightly, "The Weng Faluos in the heavens faces annihilation due to the Heichi crisis; considering their civilization resembles that of Uruk, we believe——""

""Quite similar?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, "Are you comparing another world to the Uruk under my rule?""

""Ah… I, I didn't mean it that way.""

"Seeing Fujimaru's flustered, hurried expression, Gilgamesh waved a hand: "All right, I certainly understand your meaning—you're saying that besides the three goddesses and magic beasts, Uruk also needs to guard against the power from beyond the heavens, right?""