After landing beside Cyrene, the golden light faded.
Accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps, a tall, imposing figure emerged from the dying glow.
It was a young man.
His white robes were as pure as snow, his golden armor outshone the sun, and the sun emblems on his pauldrons flowed with a molten lava-like luster under the starlight.
The utterly contradictory auras of divinity and destruction merged perfectly within him, creating a suffocating sense of pressure.
He slightly raised his eyes, the intricate and magnificent Kephale patterns in his pupils slowly rotating.
His right hand hung casually at his side, grasping a greatsword nearly as tall as he was—Dawnmaker.
Its tip hovered just above the nonexistent ground, radiating a heart-stoppingly cold gleam.
Cyrene’s breath caught for a moment.
This image, this face, had been seared into her retinas from countless days and nights spent staring at a screen.
“Phainon?!”
The exclamation escaped her throat uncontrollably.
Hearing the name, the young man ahead paused slightly.
The destructive aura in his eyes swiftly receded, and the originally harsh lines of his face softened.
He gave Cyrene a gentle nod.
[Recollection successful.
Character name: Phainon]
A cold, mechanical voice interjected at the right moment, breaking Cyrene out of her stupor.
[The recollected characters are reconstructed based on your memories.
Their existence originates from you; they are your sharpest sword in this world, your sturdiest shield, and your most trustworthy companions.]
“Cyrene, it’s been a long time.”
Just as the System’s explanation finished, Phainon’s warm, gentle voice sounded.
He raised a hand toward Cyrene, offering her a warm smile.
His movements were so natural, as if they were old friends who had just parted yesterday.
But Cyrene flinched as if scalded by that warmth, instinctively shrinking back.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself before pressing the gacha button, even though she knew this was a “recollected” character…
When the character who shared the deepest bond with “Cyrene” in the story truly stood before her, the sheer impact of the dimensional wall shattering still caused her brain to short-circuit.
This was Phainon!
The Phainon who had endured over thirty million cycles to save Amphoreus, the one who ultimately confronted a god!
“I…”
Cyrene opened her mouth, but her tongue felt tied in knots, rendering her unable to speak.
Slightly flustered, she lowered her head, staring at her bare toes as her fingers restlessly twisted the hem of her skirt.
I’m not the Cyrene from Amphoreus.
How am I supposed to face him?
Anxious thoughts flooded her mind.
Phainon seemed to notice the girl’s distress.
With a flick of his wrist, the Greatsword “Dawnmaker,” which radiated a terrifying aura, dissolved into countless golden motes of light.
Then, Phainon began to walk slowly toward Cyrene.
When he reached her, Phainon stopped.
A broad, warm hand then gently rested on Cyrene’s slender shoulder.
Feeling Phainon’s hand, Cyrene stiffened before slowly raising her head.
Her gaze met Phainon’s eyes, which reflected a starry river.
They held no scrutiny, no distance, only acceptance.
“Cyrene, there’s no need to be nervous.”
Phainon’s voice was soft, as if afraid of startling something.
“I originate from your memories, so I know everything.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Cyrene’s distinctive diamond-shaped pupils.
“No matter how you’ve changed inside, you are still Cyrene.
Just think of me as a newly met companion.
Is that alright?”
After speaking, he deliberately took half a step back, creating a social distance that made Cyrene feel safe, then solemnly extended his right hand.
“Hello, I’m Phainon.
I look forward to working with you.”
[He’s right.]
The System’s voice echoed flatly in her mind.
[The Phainon before you is an independent individual generated from data streams.
He understands the current situation and knows your mission.
You don’t need to be bound by the original story’s relationships.]
Listening to Phainon’s gentle words and the System’s explanation, Cyrene’s tense nerves gradually relaxed.
She took a deep breath, calming the frantic pounding in her chest.
That’s right, she thought.
The System said the characters I recall will be my most trustworthy companions.
If we start doubting each other from the very beginning, what’s the point of talking about trust?
With this thought, Cyrene extended her hand and grasped Phainon’s large, calloused one.
The moment their palms touched, an inexplicable sense of security spread through her arm and throughout her body.
She forced her lips into a reasonably natural smile:
“Hello, I’m Cyrene.
I…
look forward to working with you too.”
After the brief handshake, Cyrene quickly got down to business, asking Phainon about his current state.
Once she finished her questions, Cyrene stroked her chin, thought for a moment, and said:
“You said your current strength is severely diminished?
You can only use a small fraction of your power?”
“Yes.” Phainon nodded.
“I’m now left with only the most basic application of my original abilities.”
As he spoke, he made a grasping motion with his fingers.
Hum—
The air vibrated as golden particles instantly converged, and the greatsword Dawnmaker solidified in his palm once more.
Though its presence was still imposing, Cyrene keenly noticed that the glowing runes on the blade were much dimmer than when it first appeared.
“But don’t worry.”
Phainon twirled the sword with one hand, the heavy greatsword moving as lightly as a branch in his grasp.
“My physical prowess is still intact.
Combined with Dawnmaker, I’m more than capable of handling a few ordinary Black Tide Spawns.”
Seeing this, Cyrene looked up and asked the System:
“System, what’s going on?”
[Due to your current low energy level, you cannot sustain the arrival of a character at their full power.]
The System’s response remained as airtight as ever.
[But this is not irreversible.
After you obtain “Memory Imprints,” you can infuse them into the character.
As Memory Imprints accumulate, the character’s strength will be gradually unlocked.]
“Got it.”
Cyrene nodded, her eyes filled with contemplation.
“So, I just feed him ‘Memory Imprints’ like experience books.
Classic character progression.”
Understanding the core gameplay loop lifted a weight off Cyrene’s shoulders.
She glanced around at the eternally unchanging starry sky.
Though magnificent, the bone-chilling loneliness was deeply unsettling.
“System, I accept the mission to save the world, and I’ll collect those Memory Imprints.
But for now, can you please let me out?”
She rubbed her arms, which were starting to feel cold.
“Staying here too long could make anyone depressed.”
[Correction: I have not confined you here.
You have always held the highest authority over this space.]
[Simply think “Exit Physical Data Space” to return to reality at any time.]
Cyrene stroked her chin, her gaze shifting to Phainon standing silently nearby:
“What about him?
Can he leave with me?”
[Phainon is a character you have recalled; he is considered part of your Soul.]
[Therefore, he can freely enter and exit this space, as can any other characters you recall in the future.]
“I understand.”
Seeing this, Cyrene nodded in satisfaction, then closed her eyes.
“Exit Physical Data Space.”
The moment the silent thought concluded.
The familiar sensation of weightlessness washed over her again.
The river of stars before her rapidly receded, her vision swallowed by thick darkness, as if her entire being had plunged into the deep sea.
But this feeling lasted only a brief instant.
The next second, the solid touch of the ground returned.
The scent filling her nose was no longer the cold vacuum of space, but the faint, sweet fragrance of her bedroom.
Cyrene opened her eyes.
Powder-blue curtains, a messy double bed, and the ceiling light that was now off.
She was back.
“Phew…
This place looks much more comfortable.”
Cyrene let out a long sigh, muttering to herself.
Just then, the air beside her suddenly rippled like water.
Space distorted, and a tall, slender figure stepped out from the ripples.
Phainon stood in the bedroom, his ornate attire and the Great Sword in his hand clashing jarringly with the girly, pink-themed room.
Before Cyrene could comment on the incongruous scene, the System’s voice abruptly exploded deep within her mind.
[Initial guidance complete.]
[Anomaly Detector activated.]
Bzzzt…
A faint electric crackle sounded.
The translucent blue panel reappeared before Cyrene’s eyes.
The previously empty interface had now transformed into a circular radar map.
At the radar’s center was a green light dot representing herself.
And not far from the green dot, to the southeast, a glaring red dot was flashing frantically.