Legend of Sword and Fairy.

"Hey—" Jing Tian set down the wine jar in his hand. "I didn't expect Phainon to be completely fine after absorbing the spark. I thought the spark was like that sword in our family—not something just anyone could use."

Chong Lou didn't respond. His gaze was cold as he watched the Celestial Screen, but his focus had shifted from Phainon to another person—Mydei, the man who kept refusing to become a demigod. Seeing him abandon this path to demigod power, the corner of Chong Lou's eye twitched slightly.

"Incomprehensible. Foolish."

"Who are you talking about?"

"The one who gave up the spark." Chong Lou's jaw tightened slightly. "Treating power that is within reach like discarded shoes—if that isn't foolish, then what is?"

"Oh... but I think it's pretty good, actually." Jing Tian rested his hand on the wine jar. "Look, what's his status? Prince of Suspended Blade. What's a prince's duty? To protect his people. Isn't he doing just fine right now? Why must he become a demigod? Can a demigod help him collect rent or do anything else? Since Phainon wants to be a demigod, just let him."

Chong Lou was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "You are wrong. Power is the foundation."

"Foundation, my foot." Jing Tian couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You say that as if everyone in the world is like you, dying to carve the words 'get stronger' and 'battle' on their foreheads like a plaque. Mydei has his own path to walk. You can't just keep forcing your battle-maniac mindset on others."

"Isn't Mydei a battle maniac?"

"Stop, stop, stop—" Jing Tian cut the air with his hand. "Red hair, you're good at everything, but you have one flaw: you always like to put fighting first. Look at me. Back then, I didn't go around competing for the title of the world's best or martial arts supreme, and aren't I living just fine now? I have wine to drink, meat to eat, and—"

He paused, glanced into the room, and his voice unconsciously dropped two degrees.

"...someone to keep me in check. That's pretty good too."

"Besides, we had an agreement today. If there's any dispute between us tonight..." Jing Tian slammed a jar of wine in front of Chong Lou with a 'thud'. "We'll let the wine do the talking. Whoever drinks more is in the right. I'm not wasting words with you. Drink!"

— —

"Phainon suggested returning to Okhema first to tell Aglaea about what happened, while Xing intended to use the power of the Oronis prayer to restore the devastated Suspended Blade before setting off."

"Before leaving, Xing noticed that Castorice was still standing there, staring blankly at the pile of Nicadori's body that had not yet dissipated on the ground."

"Aren't you coming back, Castorice?"

"Please go ahead, Lord Xing. I will follow shortly. I wish to communicate with Lord Gnaeus one more time... one last time."

"After Xing left, Castorice picked up a fragment of Gnaeus's remains. A golden butterfly was resting on the remains, gradually turning into golden light and dissipating..."

"Lord Gnaeus... Lord Nicadori, can you still hear me?" Castorice called out softly. "I know you only wish to sleep peacefully now. But only you can answer the doubts in my heart... Please forgive my intrusion."

"Please tell me... do you know where Thanatos (the Nautilus of Death) is? I must find it. The half that was stripped from me since birth... must be taken back from its hands."

"Nicadori's remains emitted a faint echo."

"Castorice's voice was somewhat lonely, her brows slightly lowered: 'Is that so... even the Nautilus of 【Strife】 has never faced 【Death】 itself. My long journey must continue, even if I have to walk through every corner of Amphoreus...'"

"I understand. The Chrysos Heirs will certainly honor the agreement and continue your unfinished work. You brought Strife to this world; you shouldn't have had such a peaceful ending... but it doesn't matter. It's just you and me here; others don't need to see you in your final moments."

"In the pens of poets, you will still be the embodiment of madness and corruption, the war god who burned through his glory. But at this moment... I am willing to send you to a gentle land filled with blooming flowers."

"Farewell, Nautilus."

— —

One-Punch Man.

"What does 'the half that was stripped from me since birth' mean?" Atomic Samurai frowned slightly. "Could it be that the current Castorice is not complete, and the other half of her body was taken away by the Nautilus of Death?"

"...I'm afraid so." Child Emperor licked the lollipop in his hand. "Judging by her words, the whereabouts of the Nautilus of Death have been unknown for quite some time. Aglaea and Tribbie have been operating in Okhema for hundreds of years; they surely must have inquired about the Nautilus of Death's whereabouts many times during that period."

Atomic Samurai stroked his chin. "It seems the trouble isn't just fighting the Nautiluss; finding their whereabouts is also tricky... Oh, right. Since there is a sister relationship among the three Nautiluss of Fate, could such a relationship also exist among the three Nautiluss of Calamity? Putting 【Strife】 aside, perhaps we could ask the demigod of 【trickery】."

"The demigod of trickery is Cypher, whom Aglaea mentioned. She seems to be someone who only knows how to hide in the shadows and order her thief spirits to steal. Will such a person cooperate obediently?"

Bang said calmly, "Simple. Aglaea can use her golden thread; she only needs to delay that demigod for a few minutes. After asking about the Nautilus of Death, just let the other party leave. However, that demigod of trickery has been reluctant to join the Flame-Chase Journey. Could it be... because she has some personal grudge against the Chrysos Heirs, or Tribbie or Aglaea?"

— —

"Some time later..."

"Aglaia, they're back!"

"Phainon walked excitedly toward the two. 'We've completed our mission, Teacher Tribbie—no missing arms or legs, just a scorching spark in my palm.'"

"'I can feel the temperature of the spark... Well done, Phainon.' Aglaea's usually calm tone rippled with rare emotion. 'Amphoreus has not seen a new demigod born in a long time. If you can fill the vacancy left by Nicadori, it will be a great encouragement to the citizens of the Holy City.'"

"Phainon paused. 'I... must confess to you. I believe Mydei is the more suitable candidate. He was once the Crown Prince of Suspended Blade, and he spent most of his life fighting alongside Nicadori. He is more worthy of the weight of the word 【Strife】 than I am.'"

"'Naive child, you have considered so much, but you have forgotten one thing—everything you mentioned might be the very reason Mydeimos does not want to take this spark.' Aglaea said, 'I do not doubt his strength and aptitude... He must have rehearsed the scene of becoming a god in his mind a thousand times. But the reason he declines is precisely because he does not want to lead his people down the same path again.'"