"Is that Amphoreus? It looks quite beautiful."

Through the Astral Express's window, Yunli looked outside. The shape of Amphoreus, resembling '∞', felt novel and stunning to her.

Such a design indeed possessed a unique kind of beauty.

Even Castorice, Firefly, and Cipher, who were originally natives of the Amphoreus, found the shape of Amphoreus refreshing.

After all, they had never left Amphoreus in their entire lives.

The last time they left, they were thrown out by Lygus before they even had a chance to get a good look at it.

Now, returning to Amphoreus, they could finally examine its shape carefully.

Derick, on the other hand, had seen Amphoreus's design in a game before, so he wasn't too surprised by it.

"Next, how should we proceed? Should we all go at once, or split up?" Himeko asked Derick and the others.

Derick looked at Amphoreus and said to Pom-Pom, "Conductor, what if we just fly the Astral Express and ram it straight into Amphoreus? We can aim for Lygus and use him as a speed bump."

Hearing Derick's suggestion, Pom-Pom immediately put its hands on its hips in disapproval.

"Didn't you say that Lygus is on the level of an Emanator? Are you trying to get the Astral Express destroyed? You... it's a good thing you didn't get on the train and become one of the Nameless. Otherwise, you'd probably be competing with them for the title of the worst Nameless."

If the Nameless were in real danger, Pom-Pom wouldn't hesitate to use the train to ram the enemy. But Derick's proposal was to have the Astral Express initiate the attack, which Pom-Pom would absolutely not do.

How awful! Even Aha and Akivili weren't this bad.

"Alright then, it seems we'll just have to go together. On one hand, we'll directly restrain Lygus. On the other, we'll enter Amphoreus and take care of all the code," Derick said to the others.

Screwllum nodded in agreement. "Mr. Derick's battle plan is feasible. I suggest that Herta and I release a false signal to Lygus from the front, while Miss Silver Wolf conducts a hacking attack from the shadows."

Screwllum's skills were superior to Silver Wolf's, but as a member of the Genius Society, Screwllum was a much bigger target. At the same time, Silver Wolf had more experience with hacking intrusions, so Screwllum was confident in letting her handle things from behind the scenes.

At this moment, Herta frowned slightly as she observed the situation on Amphoreus.

"Ms. Herta, what is it?" Derick asked, seeing her expression.

Herta studied Amphoreus and said, "I have a feeling there's more to this situation on Amphoreus than just the Imperial Scepter. This Lygus fellow might have other secrets."

"Then how do we investigate him?"

Herta pointed towards Amphoreus. "Regardless, let's restrain that Lygus guy first."

"Alright."

Derick and the others opened the hatch of the Astral Express.

Herta, Screwllum, and Derick, as the first group, flew towards Amphoreus.

On Amphoreus, this giant Imperial Scepter, Lygus looked at the Astral Express parked in the sky.

Those Nameless... why have they come here?

Was their arrival a coincidence, or did they have other plans? Especially at this critical moment when Irontomb is about to be born, could their presence cause an accident?

Just as Lygus was pondering this, Derick suddenly appeared before him.

Seeing Derick, Lygus's brows furrowed.

He stepped forward and said to Derick in a stern tone, "Why did you come back? Banishing you was already an act of great mercy. By returning now, are you truly forcing me to carry out an annihilation?"

As Lygus spoke, Derick suddenly sensed an attack coming from the side.

This Lygus guy... was he already planning to kill me while saying all that?

Thinking this, Derick easily dodged Lygus's attack.

Lygus was surprised to see Derick effortlessly dodge his attack. The guy's strength had really improved significantly; he was countless times stronger than when he was on Amphoreus.

Just as he was about to attack again, the figures of Herta and Screwllum appeared before Lygus.

"Hey, machine-man, trying to cause trouble with the Imperial Scepter is a big no-no," Herta said to Lygus.

Seeing Herta and Screwllum, Lygus's expression changed completely. His confidence in handling Derick despite the surprise turned into obvious panic upon seeing Herta and Screwllum.

Facing two members of the Genius Society, Lygus thought that even if he revealed his trump cards and hidden identity, he probably wouldn't be confident in dealing with both of them.

"Given the situation, I can only speed up the calculations for Irontomb's birth."

Lygus thought to himself.

His clone would deal with Herta and Screwllum, while his main body could perform other actions.

Besides, this was his home turf.

As long as he could delay Herta and Screwllum...

Just as Lygus was thinking this, another aura shot towards him, aimed directly at his soul.

Lygus hastily dodged, only to see a purple-haired woman holding a long sword standing behind him.

This power... it's an Emanator!?

An Emanator of Nihility, no less.

Acheron's appearance was far beyond Lygus's expectations.

As fellow members of the Genius Society, the actions of Herta and Screwllum were somewhat predictable to Lygus. But the strength and methods of this suddenly appearing Emanator of Nihility were something he couldn't possibly foresee.

Derick, you rascal! It's only been a short while since you left, how did you connect with so many people and bring them here?

If I'd known you could do this after leaving, I never should have let you leave Amphoreus. Even if I couldn't find a way to kill you, I could have sealed you away until the end of time, until the universe itself perishes.

Lygus's thoughts couldn't be known by Derick, but if Derick knew, he would only look at him with a mocking gaze.

You threw me out back then for your own convenience. Now that I'm back, your regret is worthless.

Lygus put on a calm facade and said, "Everyone, are you planning to solve the Amphoreus situation with brute force?"

"Why not?" Acheron pointed her blade at the ground beneath her feet.

"If you try anything funny, or start any other trouble, I will sever Amphoreus with my blade and turn all your plans to dust."

Lygus said to Acheron, "You'd better think this through. If you destroy Amphoreus, Derick's friends on Amphoreus will also disappear."

"But your ideals will disappear as well. Do you want to take that gamble?"

Acheron's tone was unyielding.

Now it was a matter of who would lose their nerve first.

Acheron and Lygus stared at each other.

In the end, Lygus backed down.

He simply didn't have the guts to gamble against someone who walks the Path of Nihility.

After all, Lygus was well aware of how terrifying Nihility was. For someone walking that Path, who knew how much of her reason and emotion remained.

If she really did slice Amphoreus in two, any dispute between Derick and Acheron would be a problem for later.

His own desire to birth Irontomb would be utterly shattered.

Lygus stood perfectly still, making no move with his body to show his stance.

In any case, with Amphoreus's calculations proceeding, Irontomb's birth was inevitable even if he did nothing. The very creation of the world of Amphoreus had already determined its end.

His inaction wouldn't change anything.

Seeing Lygus's posture, Acheron nodded lightly and said to Derick, "Now, you all can enter Amphoreus."

"Okay, I understand."

Derick nodded.

Lygus looked at Derick, about to say something, when Feixiao also appeared before him.

"You mechanical-head, don't think you can say nice things to our faces while secretly plotting something. Just now, I've already mobilized the power of the Hunt. If you move, no matter where or when, the arrows of the Hunt will strike you."

Feixiao said with a pout.

Seeing Feixiao appear, Lygus's shock compounded.

Derick, just how many factions did you bring back with you!?!?!?

Four Emanators to deal with me alone? What did I do to deserve this honor!?

Lygus said to Feixiao, "General Feixiao, I have never had any dealings with the Xianzhou Alliance. Moreover, I have no intention of making an enemy of the Xianzhou. Isn't your appearance here a bit... inappropriate?"

"There's nothing inappropriate about it."

Feixiao pointed a finger at Derick.

"This is my only student, the next General of the Yaoqing Xianzhou. His business is naturally my business," Feixiao said, her voice filled with pride.

This time, Lygus's body truly stiffened.

He never could have imagined that Derick would become the next General of the Yaoqing Xianzhou after just one trip out.

"This is truly beyond my expectations."

Lygus's smile was incredibly bitter.

Derick had achieved far more in this single trip than he had by staying on Amphoreus, guarding the Imperial Scepter and running calculations.

Derick shot Lygus a triumphant smile, then said to Feixiao and the others, "Teacher, Sister Acheron, Mr. Screwllum, Ms. Herta, I'm going to Amphoreus to see my friends first."

"Alright, I'll keep an eye on Lygus here and make sure he behaves."

Feixiao assured Derick.

"Thank you, Teacher." Derick thanked Feixiao and then led Castorice and the others from the Amphoreus back to Amphoreus.

The others weren't natives of Amphoreus, so Derick planned to stabilize the situation first before bringing them in to explore.

As Derick led Castorice and the others in, he also revealed that he, too, possessed the power of an Emanator.

Lygus's mind went completely blank.

Before, whether it was Herta, Screwllum, the mysterious purple-haired woman, or Feixiao helping, it could all be attributed to Derick's good connections. This was still within the realm of Lygus's understanding.

At least, it was within a reasonable range.

But now, Derick himself becoming an Emanator... that was truly beyond comprehension.

Lygus now had a genuine premonition that his plan was doomed to fail spectacularly.

Five Emanators 'attending' to him alone... what had he done to deserve such an honor!

"We're finally back! Let's hurry to Okhema to see Aglaea and Sister Tribbie. I hope they've been doing well."

Descending mid-air and looking at the familiar world of Amphoreus, Cipher shouted in an excited tone.

Actually, Aglaea and Sister Tribbie went through a coup, but I took care of it.

Derick thought to himself.

"Yes, after we get back this time, I must copy down everything I learned outside and send it to the Divine Enlightenment Tree Garden," Hyacine also said excitedly.

Polyxia simply transformed into her dragon form mid-air, carrying everyone on her back as she flew straight for Okhema.

Derick and Castorice stood at the very front, hand in hand.

Cipher, looking unwilling to be left out, quickly came to Derick's other side and took his other hand.

Firefly watched from behind, and after a moment's thought, she quietly tugged on Derick's clothes, and the group huddled together.

As they were gathered together, Derick and the others descended above Okhema.

Looking at the scene below, Polyxia said anxiously, "It's all Black Tide down there! Okhema and Blade's Edge City are under attack by Black Tide monsters."

Hearing Polyxia say this, Derick and the others weren't too worried. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves.

"Perfect timing. Now that we're here, we can have a good fight."

"You're right." Polyxia realized, and excitedly charged downwards.

On the walls of Blade's Edge City, Aglaea watched the approaching Black Tide, her expression grave.

"Mydei, Phainon, are you ready?"

"Don't worry, we're ready," Phainon and Mydei nodded seriously.

At that moment, Tribbie pointed to the sky and said to them, "Wait, Aglaea, Phainon, Mydei, it looks like we have reinforcements."

Attacks of various energies rained down from the sky, wiping out the Black Tide monsters.

"It couldn't be that pitch-black monster helping us again, could it?" Tribbie muttered to herself, then realized something was off.

"Wait, that's the Strife Titan's attack, that's the Reason Titan's energy, that's the Death Titan, the Ocean Titan... All of them!"

As she said this, the others also realized and looked to the sky with anticipation in their eyes.

"Derry, Castorice, Firefly, Cipher, they've all returned!"

Tribbie said loudly.

After she finished speaking, the attacks from the sky ceased. A great dragon descended, and Tribbie and the others knew it was Polyxia.

Seeing the people on Polyxia's back, Tribbie and the others broke into happy smiles.

They were finally back!

______

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