The ancient sigh had yet to fully dissipate when the obsidian female skeleton holding the great book drifted forward. Her hollow gaze remained fixed on the spectral scholar's figure above the badge, an intent filled with sorrow, remembrance, and scrutiny enveloping the space.
«I am the 'Recorder' Amara, keeper of the final chronicle of the fallen epoch.» Her thoughts rustled like turning pages. «This wisp of a soul... bears the imprint of 'Scholar' Isa. She was the last 'backup' personality I separated at our civilization's dusk. She was meant to drift in safe starfields. Why did she fall?»
Li Tianming's heart clenched violently. His sister Li Muqing's alias within the Celestial Realm had been "Isa"! She had been a brilliant young scholar, obsessed with studying Ancient God history and the System's origins.
"She was killed by the Blade of Judgment for seeking the 'Truth of the System'," Li Tianming's voice was hoarse with suppressed emotion. "She discovered the System was not the creator, but... a usurper."
«Usurper...» Amara repeated the word, the great book in her arms trembling slightly. «An accurate description. The System is the 'Usurper' that stole the fruits of our 'Primordial Design' and twisted its essence.»
At this point, the shifting mass of information—the «Lord of Oblivion»—emitted a cold fluctuation: «Emotional resonance is not valid proof. Outsider, demonstrate your worth. Prove you possess the qualification to wield the Rust Sea's Authority.»
Meanwhile, the shadow representing «Possibility» circled silently, radiating curiosity: «Reveal your 'Choices'. Every pivotal choice defines the branch of 'Possibility' you represent.»
The three ancient Lords held differing stances.
Li Tianming took a deep breath, knowing words were futile now. He had to demonstrate power, but not brute force.
He submerged his consciousness into the shred of "Order" he had just consumed, simultaneously drawing upon the colossal power of the Skeleton Heart beneath his feet, and even pulling upon the Rust Sea-homologous aura contained within the K-017 brand on Lia's neck.
These three forces, forcibly blended by his will, converged in his palm. It was no longer pure rust, nor icy white, nor the blue data stream of an artificial life, but a chaotic, ashen-grey energy, within which countless microscopic rules seemed to be born, die, collide, and reorganize.
He shaped it into a constantly spinning Cinder Rune.
"The System uses 'Order' to imprison all things," Li Tianming lifted the rune, his voice resounding through the mental space, "while I, using this power born from the Rust Sea, capable of parsing Order and integrating variables, shall bring to all things... the cycle of decay and rebirth."
He demonstrated that "Corrosion" was not mere destruction, but a process of breaking rigid order to provide a foundation for new life. This was the fundamental concept opposing the System's "eternal, absolute control."
The «Lord of Oblivion's» fluctuations hesitated for the first time. What Li Tianming displayed was not simple power application, but a comprehension touching the source of rules.
The «Shadow of Possibility» churned with excitement. The "Possibility" Li Tianming represented—overthrowing the System, redefining rules—was the extremely low-probability, high-impact branch it longed to observe.
Finally, all "gazes" fell upon the «Recorder Amara». Her connection to Li Tianming's sister granted her the greatest voice.
Amara stared at the Cinder Rune, then at the determination in Li Tianming's eyes, and at the brand on Lia's neck that served as a "bridge."
«The pact is sealed.» She finally declared. The great book in her arms rustled as it turned, three distinct rays of light shooting towards Li Tianming.
One was a dull yellow stream of light that merged into his consciousness—a fragment of the «Authority of Oblivion», capable of eroding memory and the very concept of existence.
One was a dark golden inscription that branded itself onto his divine spark—a fragment of the«Authority of History», allowing him to trace the past and anchor truth.
The last was an intangible fluctuation that wound around his soul—a fragment of the«Authority of Possibility», enabling him to glimpse tiny paths of variables even in desperate situations.
«We grant you temporary Authority, not the power itself. The true power of the Rust Sea, you must comprehend and integrate yourself.» Amara's thoughts carried a warning. «Simultaneously, fulfill your vow—find Isa's complete 'Backup', and make the 'Usurper' pay its due.»
The moment the Authorities settled upon him, Li Tianming felt his perception transform utterly. He could seemingly "hear" the whispers of countless submerged memories within the Rust Sea, "see" fragmented images of events that had occurred in certain areas, and even vaguely perceive several different possible flows of the future for the next few seconds.
And it was at this very moment, through the sensing capability of the «Authority of History», he whipped his head around to look at Lia.
In the vision granted by the Authority, Lia was no longer merely a K-series artificial lifeform. Deep within her soul was entwined an extremely concealed, yet homologous to his sister Isa, and even more ancient, more complete... Divine Seal.
Lia was not just a vessel.
She herself was the most crucial "Backup" that Isa had pre-embedded! A backup of which even she herself was completely unaware!
Lia grew uneasy under Li Tianming's suddenly altered gaze. "What is it?"
Suppressing the turmoil within, Li Tianming spoke slowly, "Nothing. Just realizing the answers we seek might be closer than we imagined."
He looked up, gazing past the Rust Sea into the endless void. Having obtained a portion of the Rust Sea's Authority, sensing the secret deep within Lia's soul, and knowing the System's next pursuit would be even more ruthless.
The true storm was about to break. And he had already grasped the first pieces to overturn the board.