"The Nautiluss are the old gods of Amphoreus, once the faith of humanity, now their enemies," Phainon explained. "The Chrysos Heirs, on the other hand, are the people of salvation with golden blood flowing through them, as foretold in the prophecy."

"Then what about that miracle just now?"

"It was a gift from the 'Three Titans of Fate.' Under their blessing, priests can awaken shadows of the past and alter reality."

Tribbie crossed her arms in dissatisfaction. "You make it sound so simple. Don't treat miracles as tools to be used at will!"

Phainon felt somewhat ashamed. "Sorry, maybe I'm not particularly good at storytelling."

"But dry and long-winded explanations aren't good either. Let me think... Right! Virtus and the others are priests of Janusopolis; they must be very good at playing the Lyre. Why not play a song for our two friends?"

To the accompaniment of the melodious Lyre, Tribbie's youthful voice began to echo through the temple.

"In Amphoreus, there is a poem that has been passed down since ancient times..."

"The gods favor the fertile land, flourishing everywhere like fire. Twelve constellations watch like eyes, as giants raise their cups to toast. Three opened the heavens and earth, three wove the threads of fate. Three molded life from clay, and three ushered in calamity."

"They said: The world is too silent. We wish only to see living beings laughing without end. And so, there was me and you, weaving words like carols, giving birth to love and kindred spirits."

"Since then, creation was complete. Who shall bear the weight of souls and grant the world lightness of step? Great Kephale, the all-knowing father; though his stature is mighty, he is willing to lower his eyelids."

"The light of dawn rests heavy on his shoulders, golden blood falls to the earth—merging into a scalding river, flowing through the last descendants of heroes in this world..."

——

Record of Ragnarok.

"What does this poem mean?" Buddha asked, looking completely bewildered.

"Hmm... this is actually quite similar to the style of poems humans used to write for us." Zeus stroked the small patch of short beard on his chin, pondering for a moment before saying, "Broadly speaking, there are twelve Nautiluss in this world who once raised their cups to toast in the heavens. As for phrases like 'three opened the heavens and earth,' they explain the primary Authoritys of the Nautiluss."

"But another matter concerns me..." Apollo the Sun God's gaze darkened as he stared intently at the priests and children playing Lyres on the Celestial Screen. "Hermes, you should be very familiar with that Lyre, shouldn't you?"

Hermes bowed slightly. "Of course. I created the Lyre and presented it to Lord Apollo."

Apollo pointed his hand toward the Celestial Screen. "Then what is going on there?"

"This..." Hermes' expression was very troubled. He couldn't understand why the instrument he created would appear in Amphoreus. If it were just an identical design, that would be one thing, but the crucial point was that even the name of the Lyre was exactly the same.

"Could it be that you've had dealings with Amphoreus before?" Odin's cold gaze instantly cut over like a sharp steel blade stabbing into his chest, causing Hermes to break into a cold sweat. His face turned pale, and he nearly dropped the platter in his hand.

"Absolutely impossible! I have never even heard of Amphoreus, I beg of you all—"

Just as Hermes was about to defend himself, Zeus's hand rested gently on his shoulder. The pressure behind him suddenly lightened, allowing him to breathe a long sigh of relief.

"All right, Odin." Zeus let out a 'hehe' laugh, seemingly intending to dilute the current tense atmosphere. "Hermes has always followed me. I know best whether he has been to Amphoreus. Everyone, if he really had gone there, do you think he would have made it back?"

"...That is true." Odin withdrew his gaze from him. "Amphoreus is easy to enter, but if one wishes to leave, I fear they would be struck down on the spot by the spear of the Titan of Strife."

——

After Tribbie finished reciting the poem, a series of vibrations suddenly came from the ground beneath their feet.

"What's that noise?!"

Several behemoths carrying a large amount of luggage appeared before everyone. They were blue-skinned giant beasts that walked slowly with thick, long necks, resembling a type of pack animal.

"Hahaha, don't be nervous! Our reinforcements have arrived. Everyone, get up!"

Stelle and Dan Heng came to the feet of the Earthbeasts. Their height didn't even reach the creatures' calves. Dan Heng looked up and couldn't help but marvel, "What a magnificent creature."

"These gentle giants are called 'Earthbeasts,' and they are faithful partners to humanity. The mountain road to the Holy City is rugged, so we'll have to rely on them. Earthbeasts have a mild temperament; even a first-time rider can easily manage them. Come, give it a try, and remember to hold the reins tight."

Stelle saw the white carapace protruding from the Earthbeast's limbs and planned to use it as a footstool...

"Wuu-ong—!"

...The Earthbeast let out a dissatisfied cry and, with a gentle shake, tossed her several meters away.

"This is what you call mild temperament?!"

"Haha, I forgot to mention—whatever you do, don't touch the white stone ridges. When the 'Earth' Nautilus blessed them, it stuffed all their bad temper into those hard lumps."

Nodus also walked over at this time and thanked everyone, "It has been a long time since we sat together like that, singing ancient carols to our heart's content. Thank you for helping me remember the peaceful and glorious era. Thinking back now, I was too prejudiced before."

"Perhaps you truly can rescue Amphoreus from the hands of the apocalypse. Just like today, four heroes saved our lives and our faith."

Phainon: "Suffering is harmful; hardship does not make faith noble. Liberating everyone from suffering is precisely the innate duty of we Chrysos Heirs. It is also the purpose for the existence of the only remaining human city-state, the 'Holy City' Okhema."

"Oh, don't make the atmosphere so heavy. Anyway, the Holy City is absolutely safe; everything will be fine once we get there." Tribbie turned back to check on the refugees sitting on the Earthbeasts. "Is everyone sitting tight? Then let's head out—destination, Okhema!"

——

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

"Only one of the six city-states is left now, Okhema? Then I feel like Okhema isn't very safe either..."

Stark sat on the carriage, munching on dry rations he had just bought from the town, saying indistinctly, "Frieren, what do you think the Black Tide they mentioned actually is? Could it be some kind of creature like the Demon Race?"

"I'm afraid not." Frieren shook her head. After watching the few people in the Celestial Screen mount the Earthbeasts, she shifted her gaze and began flipping through the Grimoire in her hand. "While the Demon Race also threatens human territory, they wouldn't drive Nautiluss, who are like 'deities,' into madness. I feel like it's some kind of... 'virus'."