Silence fell over the training room for a moment, leaving only the sound of Anon's faint sobbing.

"It's all because of that Flame Reaver..."

Rikki sat on a nearby chair, her expression terrifyingly grim.

"Trianne used the Gate of a Hundred Worlds twice because of it. If not for that thing, Trianne could have lived a little longer... It's all its fault." Rikki's fingers gripped her drumsticks tightly, her knuckles turning white from the excessive force. "If we let it be, Tribbie, who succeeded the role of Gatekeeper, will one day end up in the same situation."

Rana squatted silently in another corner of the room with a lollipop in her mouth. Her cat-like heterochromatic eyes were downcast, making it impossible to read her emotions.

"Rana... are you sad too?" Soyo asked softly.

Rana didn't answer. She just silently took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked down at the plastic stick in her hand, which had been bitten into a crooked shape.

"...The sweetness is gone." she muttered softly. "Amphoreus... only bitterness is left."

—

Honkai Impact 3rd.

"Is Trianne... dead?"

Thinking of the scene where the Flame Reaver's sword pierced Trianne's chest, Pardo hugged herself in fear. She seemed to smell the bloody scent that emanated when that heavy sword cut through flesh.

Her teeth chattered, and even her voice became intermittent.

"No... she's a demigod, she'll definitely be okay... ha... how could a demigod die so easily...?"

"The Flame Reaver was after the Ember, but Trianne didn't have the Ember in her body at all. The Ember is inside the Genesis Vortex. He... he had no reason to kill Trianne, right? She must... she must still be... alive, right?"

As her body trembled violently, tears began to roll down the young girl's cheeks one by one.

"Elysia, she... she will definitely live, right?"

Elysia didn't speak. She closed her eyes and simply reached out to hug Pardo, who was trembling like a frightened kitten.

"You have to believe in Trianne... Pardo." Elysia whispered in her ear. "She already made a prophecy, didn't she?'See you tomorrow'... this is both the prophecy she left behind and a blessing."

"..."

Beside them, Kevin fell into silence. He pressed his hand against his forehead, feeling a needle-like pain in his head for a moment.

Is it the departure of another companion?

To this day, he had experienced countless losses. Each loss was like a blunt knife, repeatedly cutting into his already riddled soul until the sense of pain became dull and numb.

Only... the thought of Phainon's state when he learned this news made a familiar chill crawl up his spine.

Although he knew that partings would always happen and that Phainon, who bore the name of 'Salvation,' would one day embark on a long and lonely road, all of this came far too suddenly... it was simply too fast.

—

【Some time later, at the Chongyuan of Fate.】

【"Ugh... where is this..."】

【Tribbie slowly opened her eyes and found everyone sitting around her with worried faces.】

【"Xiao Hui, Xiao Bai? And..." Tribbie supported her forehead, her thoughts churning for a moment. "Wait... where's Trianne? Is she back?"】

【Phainon shook his head with a solemn expression: "When we arrived, we only saw the two of you lying by the roadside..."】

【Hyacine: "Danbao and I also searched the vicinity... but we couldn't find any trace of Lady Trianne."】

【"What about that black-robed swordsman?"】

【Fury instantly climbed onto Phainon's face. He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth: "...Damn it! It really was that guy."】

【"We were still one step too late. The Ember of Oronis... has likely met with disaster."】

【"Her divine power was nearly exhausted. Now... the resonance is negligible."】

【Stelle suggested: "We must pursue that black-robed swordsman."】

【"That the two masters are safe is already a blessing among misfortunes. Everyone, we should set off immediately and split into two groups: one team will stay at the Chongyuan to meet with Aglaea's reinforcements and search for Master Trianne's whereabouts. The other team will follow me to pursue the Black-Clad Swordsman and reclaim the Ember."】

【Dan Heng asked: "Do you know its movements?"】

【"I didn't have time to explain to you two before, but actually, Master Anaxa and I have long had concerns about the Black Tide and have made preparations. We can discuss the details on the way. The opportunity is fleeting; we must hurry."】

【Just as Phainon finished his deployment and was ready to set off, a scout from Okhema arrived just in time.】

【"Report! Lord Phainon... ah, and Lady Tribbie, Lady Trinnon! It's good that you're all alright!"】

【Phainon: "Did Aglaea send someone?"】

【"Exactly! Lady Aglaea is already aware of the situation, and she sent a message through me—'Phainon, I understand that the swordsman is of great significance to you. But if you rush in without a long-term plan, those who will die in vain for it... will likely be far more than just you alone.'"】

【Phainon could not deny it: "...Of course. 'Hatred is the poison that kills heroes'—I have no intention of fighting alone. If that swordsman is truly related to the Black Tide, he is not an opponent the Chrysos Heirs can afford to underestimate."】

—

Akame ga Kill!.

"Aglaea is right about that. The priority is indeed not to continue chasing the Flame Reaver, but to first plan and deploy for subsequent attacks that may occur." Najenda said in a deep voice, "...The most important thing right now is still to complete the Flame-Chase Journey."

"But one Ember has already fallen into the Flame Reaver's hands?" Mine said, sitting on a chair and holding a cup of freshly brewed hot tea. After experiencing Trianne's departure just now, her face was clearly much more haggard.

Najenda nodded noncommittally: "True, but if the Flame Reaver's ultimate goal is also the Ember, then it will eventually come to Okhema and have a direct conflict with Phainon and the others. In other words, the current strategy is... to wait for the enemy to come to us."

"But what if it doesn't attack Okhema and only ambushes those who go out on the Flame-Chase Journey?"

"Aglaea is guarding the Holy City. With her strength as a demigod, even if she isn't the Flame Reaver's match, she can still use the power of the golden thread to stall for a while." Najenda analyzed, "If it were me, I would probably arrange for Castorice, Stelle, Dan Heng, and Phainon to form a team to go out and hunt for Embers, paired with a Tribbie for anytime-transmission contact. Tribbie can transmit information to Trinnon, who remains in the Holy City, at any time, and if they encounter the Flame Reaver and are outmatched, they can escape at any time."

"The key point still lies with Aegle. It's time to open the passage between the outside world and Amphoreus. If the Flame Reaver hadn't appeared, the Flame-Chase Journey could still proceed in a stable and orderly manner, but now... we must establish contact with the Astral Express Crew."