[Announcement: The character PV for Anaxa in 'honkai: star rail' — 'What Crime Have I Committed?' has been released.]
[Shocking!]
[Anaxa's PV is online, quick, notify the Guinaifen Aeon!]
[honkai: star rail's number one streamer is here, everyone move aside!]
Not long after.
That was the release of Anaxa's PV.
Again, not long after.
Streamers like Guinaifen were all summoned over.
Anaxa's entire personal PV wasn't long, but paired with stirring music and the constantly emerging Black Tide Creation, it was thrilling enough.
[The gods will deliver divine punishment upon you, Guinaifen!]
"So what?"
[The gods will despise your very existence!]
"As do I!"
"The notion that 'God loves mankind' is nothing but a childish delusion. Cast aside this naivety!"
After playing the PV on her stream, even after switching back to the game, Guinaifen kept reading the chat and, in a chuunibyou fashion, shouted along with the lines.
[Hahaha, you said it yourself, Guinaifen. I'm going to contact the Cloud Knights. So Guinaifen looks down on Lan!]
[Finally caught you red-handed, huh? Quick, quick, Chang Chang, execute her on the spot, or the Shackling Prison?!]
[Stop, really stop, Guinaifen. The Aeons of 'Ridiculousness' and 'Absurdity' are about to be born.]
[Lol, although I quite admire Anaxa's bravery, he stands opposed to the Journey of Chasing the Fire. I wonder, can villains also enter the gacha pool?]
After Anaxa's release, Guinaifen was still hesitating whether to pull for him.
The special effects and music were indeed hype, but Anaxa was going against the Journey of Chasing the Fire, including Mydei, Phainon, and even Castorice.
Regardless.
From their god's-eye perspective, Guinaifen and the others understood that Aglaea had truly sacrificed and contributed for the Journey of Chasing the Fire; it was absolutely not about using power or controlling citizens as Caenis claimed.
As for Mydei, Castorice, and even Phainon, there was no need to even mention them.
So she decided to watch more before making a judgment.
And she happened to be playing the part about the Citizens Assembly.
After Anaxa took his seat, the decision on whether the Journey of Chasing the Fire would continue rested on the final debater for the pro-swarm side: Phainon.
Before taking the stage, no one believed this youth, who seemed like a mere warrior, could win against Caenis. Even he himself didn't think so.
Until the start of a speech—
Beginning with the plight of his homeland, the Aedes Elysiae, he first moved the audience, even Aglaea.
Then narrating how the Chrysos Heirs stepped forward one by one, sacrificing themselves, depicting the importance of the Journey of Chasing the Fire to Okhema.
Finally, completely negating this absurd debate, thoroughly igniting the fury of the entire assembly!
"Citizens, look well! Aglaea has never failed Okhema's expectations. Should she suffer such immense humiliation just because of the siege and bites of insects?"
"See if the demigod you thought cold still shines with the light of humanity."
"And see if those clad in human skin, slandering with malice, are possessed by the demon of power-lust!"
Having spoken.
After a brief immersion.
The venue erupted into a roaring tide of discussion. Before Guinaifen could even speak, the comment section was already ablaze.
[So powerful? Is this something Phainon could say?!]
[It seems ever since Trianne left, Phainon has been growing more and more into a leader!]
[Everyone is persevering. Mydei guarding the empty city alone, Tiresias's resolute, almost self-destructive determination to depart... all have made our little Phainon grow a lot.]
[Although it's truly inspiring, with just this, can the Journey of Chasing the Fire still continue?]
Although Phainon's speech was inspiring, the vote count still hadn't opened any gap.
Guinaifen watched until the very end, counting by Pottery Shards, but the votes for both sides remained exactly the same.
And the one remaining, final vote.
It actually came to Anaxa?!
"Wait, no way, seriously? The last vote is actually Anaxa's?" Guinaifen widened her eyes.
"This development is way too dramatic." Sushang also shook her head.
Everyone grew tense.
Because so far, Anaxa's stance had undoubtedly been firmly against the Journey of Chasing the Fire; he even had an agreement with Senate.
Walking to the center of the Taranton Scales, in the story, Anaxa seemed still hesitant, which drew dissatisfaction from many citizens around, who began urging him.
In contrast, his attitude was firm, yet he showed not the slightest intention to vote.
[What does Anaxa mean? He wouldn't really not support the Journey of Chasing the Fire, would he?]
[He clearly doesn't get along with Aglaea, and in the PV, he treats the gods as nothing. Feels like he's about to pull a big stunt.]
[Then what to do? No way, Xiao Xia—! If we don't chase the swarm, won't I be doomed?!]
[It's over, could the Journey of Chasing the Fire end here?]
At the final moment.
The reason Anaxa hadn't voted was that he still had reservations.
He wanted to go to the underworld again, to see how to answer Cerces's question, and how he should choose.
Both inside and outside the screen, the tense atmosphere was nearing its peak.
In the blink of an eye.
Anaxa arrived once more at that familiar place, the outskirts of the River Styx.
And this time, what he heard and saw there were no longer countless wandering souls, but the final words of a friend.
Empedocles, Anaxa's former teacher.
"As a sage of the 'Worship Sect,' secular demands forbid me from agreeing with you. But as a friend and mentor to Anaxagoras, I would say..."
"Go ahead, the truth is already in your hands."
"Your lonely path of seeking is about to welcome a new starting point. And when you reach its end, may we meet before the truth."
He pointed at the false starry sky, yet spoke to Anaxa of the world's truth.
"May Cerces defend your thoughts." he said.
"May Cerces defend your thoughts." Anaxa said.
Moments later.
Just as Anaxa's consciousness returned from the underworld.
Countless people held their breath, and in the story, the citizens began to roar:
"What are you waiting for? Vote now—!"
Guinaifen felt sweat forming on her palms.
[Is it coming?]
[How will Anaxa choose?]
[He wouldn't really listen to Caenis, would he?!]
As for Anaxa.
At this moment, he appeared exceptionally calm. He only solemnly declared to the entire Assembly:
"Behold, Cerces. At the center of the world now, I shall write the final step of the proof."
As the words fell.
The scene transitioned to a CG.
And there, the long-waiting Anaxa finally received the answer he sought.
In a daze, amidst the sea of flowers in the underworld, Castorice calmly glanced back. He saw her, saw Castorice:
"Teacher... the proof you wanted, I have completed it."
And so.
He smiled.
Anaxa smiled.
He held his forehead with his hand, beginning to laugh almost maniacally before everyone.
Just as everyone was bewildered.
As stirring voice-over rang out, Anaxa threw out the final Pottery Shard in his hand.
"Thank you, Castorice. The answer is obvious."
Unexpectedly, the final resting place of that ceramic plate.
Was at the feet of Phainon and Aglaea?!
Under the gaze of Castorice and Polyxia in the underworld, Anaxa spread his arms:
"Without a doubt, I choose the 'Journey of Chasing the Fire'!"
The entire assembly was stunned.
Accompanied by Caenis's downfall and the roaring cheers of the entire venue...
"The truth of the world, I have unraveled—!"