"It's quite simple," Phaethon's tone remained flat, yet carried a hint of confidence in control. "Teacher Anaxa—the 'Factor of Reason' as you call him—used vast quantities of Philosopher's Stones as carriers and computational foundation to write a complex logic virus within them."
"Our capabilities are limited; we couldn't do much, only barely execute one simple operation: to forcibly move and lock your administrator control interface from its safe 'higher plane' into the internal system of Amphoreus—right here, before me."
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the violently fluctuating projection, his tone carrying a trace of provocation:
"So? Mr. Lygus, now... do you dare to descend here in your true form, come before me, and take back your control with your own hands?"
...
Meanwhile, on the eastern front of Okhema.
The fires of war burned as fiercely as ever, the Black Tide's onslaught seeming endless.
The "Phaethon" hovering in the air once again unleashed a purifying beam of light, clearing another area below, but the aura surrounding him imperceptibly weakened by a fraction.
Feeling the nearly depleted divine power of 'Trickery' within her, "Phaethon"—or rather, Cipher maintaining Phaethon's appearance—let out a bitter smile, murmuring in a soft voice:
"Tch... this favor is really draining... almost turning this demigod into dried-up cat food."
Cipher flexed her slightly stiff wrist. "I'll have to settle accounts properly with that 'Deliverer chef' later. This time, it definitely counts as three... no, at least five favors! Otherwise, wouldn't I, Cipher, be at a huge loss?"
She listened to the distinctive voice of someone rising from the battle lines below.
"That kid from the Grove, taking matters into his own hands, huh? Transcribing and broadcasting what's happening in the Vortex of Genesis through those slates? Well... it's fine."
As if finally confirming something, she let out a soft sigh, her expression complex:
"To think... everything that guy Phaethon said about there being an 'administrator' outside this world was actually true. This world is even more absurd than I imagined."
Cipher's gaze finally turned towards the direction of Okhema's core area, where the person she cared for was.
Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to over a month ago, to that secret discussion in the Vortex of Genesis that decided the entire plan:
Back then, Phaethon said to her and Anaxa with a grave expression:
"...So, outside this world, there exists an entity observing, even manipulating everything."
"A God?" Anaxa frowned, asking.
"Not a God," Phaethon explained. "It's more like... an 'administrator' with extremely high-level permissions. The Amphoreus we are in is just a system he operates."
"And our final objective... is to forcibly move his administrator control panel from the higher-dimensional plane we cannot reach into the internal system of Amphoreus. As long as I can access that interface, I can obtain higher permissions, access more of Amphoreus's core data. And he, at that point, will truly be reduced to a mere observing 'audience,' unable to intervene within Amphoreus any longer."
"But as you said," Anaxa calmly pointed out the first problem, "he has completely sealed off Amphoreus with extremely high permissions. Even if I can use Philosopher's Stones as a foundation to write a sufficiently complex logical program to affect the system's operation, he might not give us the chance to get close enough to execute it."
"I know a specific point in time when he is very likely to lower his guard, even actively risk connecting his consciousness deeper into Amphoreus," Phaethon's gaze was sharp. "That is the moment when the 'Re-creation' program is about to initiate, when 'Iron Tomb' is about to be born! That is when he is most likely to personally intervene to ensure the 'result'!"
"But you also said he is extremely wary of you and would never expose himself before your true form," Anaxa continued to question. "Yet, if you are not physically present at the Vortex of Genesis, that hard-won administrator interface we moved could very likely be instantly snatched back by him. It's a paradox."
"I have an idea," Cipher, who had been playing with the coin in her hand, suddenly narrowed her eyes, revealing a sly smile. "What if... there are two 'Phaethons' in this world?"
"Two?" Anaxa was momentarily stunned.
"Exactly! One Phaethon 'waits' for him at the Vortex. Another Phaethon 'proves' he is not at the Vortex of Genesis on the battlefield." Cipher said casually, but her eyes sparkled. "As long as he believes it, in his eyes, I AM 'Phaethon.'"
"But if you suddenly vanish from Okhema, that administrator would inevitably become wary too," Anaxa reminded.
"Then let me 'die,'" Cipher's tone was utterly relaxed. "Leave behind some clues pointing to my complete demise and the dissipation of my divine power. Add a little bit of 'Trickery' misdirection, make him and everyone else in this world believe that thieving little cat has permanently left the stage. Wouldn't that work?"
"Cipher, you..." Phaethon started to say something, but upon opening his mouth, he didn't know how to express it. Praise her for the audacious plan? Thank her for being willing to pay such a price? Or try to dissuade her? Any words seemed pale in the face of such determination and sacrifice.
"Alright, alright, 'Deliverer chef,' don't make that face." Cipher stretched, cutting him off. Her tone remained lighthearted, yet carried an unshakable firmness. "This is a super-sized lie meant to deceive the entire world, even gods beyond it! Just thinking about it makes me shiver with excitement! I am a demigod who wields 'Trickery.' How could I possibly resist participating in a challenge of this level?"
She blinked. "So, you don't need to say anything. This deal, I think it's worth it."
...
The memories gradually faded.
Feeling the weakness brought by her nearly exhausted power and the sensation of her form changing back, Cipher knew the plan had likely succeeded.
A hint of indescribable melancholy and anticipation flickered in her eyes:
"So... I maintained the Sacred City's dawn for seven hundred years, and at this world's end, helped the Deliverer complete his scheme against the god from beyond the sky... Aglaea, even if I was a deceiving, thieving thief from start to finish, do you think I can still be considered... a hero?"
She took one last look towards Okhema, her eyes filled with longing and a trace of regret. She whispered softly, as if that person could hear:
"Agy... I wonder if there's still a chance... to see you one last time..."
With that, she took a deep breath, her gaze turning resolute as she looked down at the enemies surging forward once more like a black tide.