In the distant past, a pair of twins was chosen by prophecy to become the successors of "death."
But fate played a cruel trick. As the price for apotheosis, they had to personally take the lives of their closest kin.
"It was my sister who willingly offered her own life, placing me upon the throne of the "death" demigod."
"But... I couldn't accept it. For a future she would never witness, we were forced to kill each other. It was simply too unfair."
"So, when weaving the laws of the new world, I broke the boundary between life and death."
As Polyxia narrated, her voice gradually grew firm.
That's right.
She assumed the form of Polykrus and brought Castorice out of the underworld, back to the mortal realm.
Yet fate remained immutable. The Ashen Hand, the twin palms that were originally one entity of death, could only pronounce judgment, never embrace.
Castorice inherited the judgment of the left hand, while what remained for Polyxia was the rebirth of the right.
The half of life remained in the mortal world as Castorice. The half of death was born only to die, ceasing to exist. This was also why no one could ever find Thanatos.
"How laughable. My selfish desire was meant to save a life, yet for you, and for this world, I wrote a fate heavier than death."
Polyxia's wheelchair slid forward, moving along this small path, with Castorice following closely behind.
But facing this absurd fate, she did not blame Polyxia.
Because not long ago, Castorice had already found her own purpose.
"To me, you have done nothing wrong. My life has not been in vain."
"Or rather, all of this made me understand that Thanatos cannot shape all things at will, and the Ashen Hand cannot decree the fate of all living beings—"
"Because the life and death of mortals should never be governed by any will."
Hearing Castorice say this, Polyxia was first taken aback, then her laughter carried a hint of bitterness:
"We... truly have walked an utterly absurd journey together."
"Can the music please stop for a moment? I'm about to shed some little pearls of tears?"
"Why does an original story always leave me breathless?"
"Even after a thousand-year journey of hardship, misunderstood by everyone, unable to touch life, even deprived of the right to embrace... you harbor no resentment towards fate at all, Castorice?!"
"Polyxia is a very gentle person too. Although she disrupted the River Styx, she spent a thousand years alone in the underworld to resurrect Castorice. That was the price..."
"So moving. What a pair of star-crossed lovers!"
As the two conversed, Guinaifen nodded in agreement at the barrage of comments on the livestream.
But fortunately.
Now they had met again.
And this journey should come to a complete end right now.
Not for a long-awaited embrace upon reunion, but for a hand in return, to exact retribution.
Reaching a certain point at the edge of the flower sea, both sides seemed to have reached a tacit agreement.
"The divine authority of Thanatos is destined to be wielded by only one person. As Chrysos Heirs of 'death,' as its demigods, as Titans..."
"Our fated moment has arrived once more." Thus spoke Polyxia.
Just like back then, even if Castorice remembered nothing, her gentleness remained:
"You no longer have to bear the scepter of 'death' alone. After all, it was always meant to be lifted by two hands together."
"Just like before." Castorice said.
"Yes, just like before." Polyxia affirmed.
But.
Unlike that time, both participants in this trial were prepared.
A span of a thousand years: one endured a bitter journey, one waited.
Even Polyxia, who once feared, had resolved herself.
Though it was cruel.
Polyxia lifted her head: "As long as you are here, I will not be afraid. Please grant me the embrace of 'death' and ignite the spark of 'life.'"
Seeing this, with the lingering BGM in her ears, Guinaifen couldn't help but grip Sushang's arm tightly.
Beside her, Sushang was in so much pain she was growing numb, but she dared not cry out because she wanted to watch the story.
"Guinaifen, don't..."
Until Castorice's next words.
"I will, Polyxia. After that, I will reside eternally in the underworld, guiding the River Styx back here, transforming it into gentle rain from the heavens, scattering souls across this underworld soil."
"Life and death will flow once more. This sea of flowers you sowed with your own hands will henceforth carry countless souls, both joyful and sorrowful, forever brimming with vitality."
"Thank you." Polyxia smiled, a rare sight. "At the very end, could you grant me one wish?"
"?"
"?"
"?"
The barrage, moved just a second ago, instantly turned into a sea of classic question marks.
"Of course, what is it?" Castorice agreed.
Polyxia's voice grew solemn: "Please... do not forget me."
"What the hell? What does that mean?"
"Am I hallucinating again? What do you mean by 'reside eternally in the underworld'?"
"That's not the point, is it? The point is Polyxia asked for the embrace of death. This embrace of death... I'm guessing it's not... a physical one, is it?"
"Didn't you say fate would show mercy? Where's the mercy?!"
"I know the answer to this one: sunny, cheerful, positive and uplifting—!"
While the barrage was still scrolling wildly, Castorice and the other had already made their final farewells.
"I promise."
"Even if I must traverse the cycle of rebirth once more, when we meet again in our next lives, before we even know each other's names..."
"I will definitely, tightly embrace you." Castorice pledged.
"Castorice... Castorice. A name as beautiful as its bearer, isn't it?"
As the words fell.
There was no warning at all.
Right here, in this sea of blooming antiling flowers.
In the cutscene, Castorice's hands left Polyxia's wheelchair as she gently embraced her.
In that instant, purple butterflies danced with fragrance, and a great dragon circled around the twins.
Polyxia also smiled and held her.
Quietly.
Silently.
And very beautifully.
A tear traced a path down Castorice's cheek: "I will bring peace to death. Henceforth, stagnant life shall flow once more."
...
Until the scene completely ended.
Just as all attention was captivated by this moment, the map shifted back to Anaxa's perspective.
The time of the fifteen doors was approaching, and the Citizens Assembly was entering the final phase of voting.
Guinaifen, still dazed, didn't even have time to feel sad: "Huh? The perspective shifted back?"
"[Cosmic Shards +500]"
"[Cosmic Shards +500]"
"[Cosmic Shards...]"
Thus.
Xu Qiong heaved a leisurely sigh and switched off Guinaifen's livestream feed; he wasn't planning to watch for the moment.
After all, not much of the story remained. It was time to prepare the concluding content for the current version, and also to open the Anaxa character banner!
Of course.
He couldn't forget the exchanges for version 3.3, because the truly major update was about to arrive!
Dawn will eventually rise!
But turning around, he realized Castorice was still standing there stiffly, her eyes vacant.
"Huh?" Xu Qiong opened his mouth, waving a hand in front of her. "Castorice? Castorice, Castorice? Little Butterfly—!"
"Ah? Oh, oh!"
"Yes, I'm sorry, sir. That was impolite of me..." Castorice shook her head dazedly.
Realizing she had been lost in thought and had even ignored Xu Qiong, she felt her cheeks grow slightly warm.
Castorice explained:
"Because your writing and scene-setting... were too beautiful. So I was captivated for a moment."
"I never imagined a tale of meeting and parting could be written so... enchantingly."
"Hehe~" Beside her, Polyxia also nodded. "Sister is still like this. She gets lost in thought whenever she sees a story she likes."
"But, it's more than that, isn't it?"
Polyxia paused, then said expectantly, "Sister, you actually have something on your mind, right? That's the only time you avoid others' gaze or look into the distance. I wouldn't remember wrong."
Though Castorice's voice held little inflection, one could tell she had indeed become uneasy.
"Little Polyxena, is it that obvious?"
"Alright..." Castorice stole a glance at Xu Qiong.
"Something on your mind?"
Xu Qiong raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Castorice.
Castorice unconsciously intertwined her fingers, twisting them anxiously beneath her skirt.
"Actually, it's not really something on my mind."
"It's just that I feel, since you can write such beautiful stories," Castorice lifted her head gently, "could you also give me some advice?"
"I wish you would teach me how to write some fan-made sequels about everyone."
Xu Qiong blinked.
He looked Castorice up and down again. Seeing her eyes begin to dart away, he realized she was just too shy to ask?
He remembered.
Castorice actually loved fan creation and had even opened hundreds of alt accounts to write stories!
Xu Qiong nodded, then noticed Polyxia was also smiling at him. "Sure, but Castorice, you have to agree to one condition of mine."
"Hmm?"
"What is it, sir?"
Xu Qiong promptly grabbed her wrist. "Accompany me for a stroll outside. Polyxia can come too, if it's convenient."
"Eh?" Castorice looked slightly startled.
Also, Xu Qiong thought, having known each other for so long, their mode of address still felt a bit too formal.
He could have a good talk with Castorice about it.
"No buts, let's go, let's go!"