The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

　Russell gripped the arrow of light, whose meaning was unclear, feeling the power within it—enough to tear stars apart—and its unwavering promise.

　He looked up in the direction where Onpharos might be, his gaze becoming even more determined.

　No matter what lies ahead, no matter what power he needs, he will eventually return. Even if it costs him his own life.

　The apothecary did not appear, but Russell still felt a gentle glance, though he felt that the apothecary's gaze was a little too intense.

　He looked up, intending to ask the pharmacist more questions, only to see...

　……

　In a distant corner of the universe, where even starlight seems faint.

　A cat, entirely black and languid in its posture, sits elegantly on a soft, star-studded cushion, much like a human.

　With one front paw as nimbly as a human finger, it twirled the pages of a miniature script composed of flowing light and shadow, while its other paw contentedly licked its paw pads.

　When it turned to a certain page, its vertical pupils, which seemed to contain a galaxy, lit up slightly, and the tip of its tail curled up happily.

　"Meow~"

　It let out a satisfied squeak, as if it had tasted the finest catnip. "This new script... [Saving the World from Decay]... is so much more interesting than that boring destruction storyline from before."

　……

　Chapter Sixty-Two: Gifts from the Gods

　Russell's gaze abruptly shifted from the vast expanse of stars to a fixed point.

　Before me was not a compassionate healer, but a majestic being constructed from billions of dazzling amber crystals.

　He hangs silently in the universe, as solid as a mountain, devoid of any life force, yet radiating a scorching, ancient warmth originating from the depths of the Earth's core. The feeling of this power…

　"Soteria!"

　Russell blurted out. The faint yet tenacious will to protect that city-state, built by the hands of the benefactor, flowed in every brick and stone just like the immense power that now enveloped him!

　"It's Him!"

　Russell was deeply shaken. This deity had gazed upon Sotheia! He had answered the prayers that mortals had built with their own hands and faith!

　Just as he was about to ask a question, a hammer-like sound, seemingly originating from the very source of the universe, resounded loudly!

　clang--!

　The voice was not loud, but it carried a profound and calming quality that penetrated the soul, disregarding the laws of the vacuum and directly imprinting itself deep into Russell's consciousness.

　The sound of the hammer also heralded the beginning of a new chapter in the Amber Age.

　As the echo reverberated, Russell's abundant heart pounded violently within his chest! An invisible force enveloped and tempered it.

　The emerald-gold heart underwent a dramatic transformation—its edges and corners gradually emerged, becoming crystal clear, and finally transforming into the core of a pure life-carved amber!

　A warm, orange-yellow light surged within, and his immense protective will and original abundant power merged perfectly, constructing an unprecedentedly strong barrier.

　"The power of preservation!"

　Russell clearly sensed the transformation. This blessing from the Star God finally gave him the confidence to stand firm when facing the previously murderous deity.

　At this moment, the heart has transcended the ordinary organ and become a symbol of its essential existence—abundance as its bones and protection as its armor.

　The eyes formed by the amber divine crystal seemed to flicker slightly, then, like mountains sinking into a sea of ​​stars, the enormous body silently dissipated.

　Before he could catch his breath, a chilling will, as cold as the depths of the universe, silently descended. Russell looked up and saw the phantom of an emperor constructed of billions of faceted crystals appear before him.

　His face was expressionless, like a frozen river of time. His indifferent gaze swept over Russell without lingering, yet it landed precisely on the depths of Russell's consciousness—focusing on the existence of the drooping branch.

　【Fu Li...】

　A sense of awe and reverence surged through A-Chui's consciousness.

　The Crystal Emperor glanced at it only once, and the phantom vanished like melting ice. A miniature cone of light fell silently, hovering in front of Russell.

　The image sealed within the cone of light is the eternal moment when the Pharmacist embraces him, its edges etched with a cold record: [Their Embrace].

　The light cone touched Russell's fingertips and instantly merged with them. A cool and clear feeling flowed through his body, and past memories, like gemstones brushed clean of dust, became clearer and sharper than ever before.

　Just as Russell was trying to understand this gift of memory—

　boom!

　The starlight in the universe suddenly went out! Absolute darkness devoured everything!

　"Ha ha ha ha--!!!"

　A piercing, manic laugh, seemingly capable of tearing apart reason, exploded from every corner in every direction! It was like a billion clowns screaming in your ears!

　Russell's heart skipped a beat, and the amber core instinctively emitted a protective light, barely managing to withstand the mental storm. He looked up sharply and around, but could only hear its voice, not see its form.

　"Aha! Look!"

　The owner of the voice was overjoyed, as if he had discovered a cosmic joke. "This poor little guy has been treated like an exhibit by the gods, and he's gotten so scared that he keeps looking up! Hahaha! This is hilarious!"

　Russell forced himself to remain calm, his gaze sweeping intently through the darkness. Finally, at the edge of his field of vision, he caught a blurry outline—a gigantic "hand" made of pure energy.

　It supports a "mountain" made up of countless twisted and grotesque masks, with countless faces laughing and crying around it, exuding a pure, chaotic atmosphere of joy.

　"What? So happy you can't speak? Hmm?"

　The figure—Aha, the Star God of Joy—looked down at Russell with great interest, while the laughter of Masked Mountain merged into a noisy torrent. "A little fellow like you, favored by the five Star Gods, wouldn't it be a waste if you didn't come to us, the Masked Fools, for amusement?"

　Come on! Embrace joy, and laugh away all your troubles!

　Russell took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and maintained a gentle yet firm smile on his face. He bowed slightly to the indescribable being: "Honorable God of Pleasure, your laughter... is full of vitality. It is my honor to have your favor."

　"But I am now a messenger under the Abundant Medicine Master, walking His destiny. I believe that in the vast sea of ​​stars, there are surely talents more suited to the path of pleasure than I am, waiting for your discerning eye."

　"Aha?"

　Aha's voice suddenly rose, as if he had heard the most outrageous joke, causing the entire Mask Mountain to tremble violently, "Rejected?! Aha was actually rejected?! Waaaaa... How embarrassing! Aha's heart is broken!"

　The fake crying instantly turned into even more maniacal laughter, "Hahaha! This is so hilarious! An Envoy of Abundance who has been greeted by five Star Gods in turn has solemnly refused Aha! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

　Countless masks turned toward Russell in unison, as if they were all watching him.

　"Aha, I've made up my mind!"

　Aha's voice was filled with excitement, "Aha wants to be your friend! Yes! Friends! It would be a huge loss not to be friends with such an interesting person! I'm sure you'll bring me a lot of fun after this."

　Surprisingly, Russell felt no malice in this chaotic declaration, but rather a hint of the childlike, purely amused nature of Onphalus's scheme against the Titan Zagreus.

　"I'd love to be your friend,"

　Russell responded cautiously and sincerely, "It is my honor."

　"Oh my! Those words are so touching, Ah-ha is practically shedding tears!"

　Aha exaggeratedly "wipes" non-existent tears, "Oh, wait, Aha has no eyes, and no face! Hahahaha!"

　The piercing laughter rang out again, and Russell's amber core vibrated slightly. The protective warmth emanating from it gradually helped him adapt to the mental noise.

　"Ah, friend!"

　Aha's voice suddenly drew closer. Although the distance remained the same, Russell felt as if the Masked Mountain was already within reach. "Aha has a question that has been nagging me to know!"

　"Excuse me."

　Russell remained calm.

　"Tsk tsk, that seriousness, just like that kind old pharmacist!"

　Aha clicked his tongue. "Aha wants to know—in that 'new world' you're desperately trying to build back to… is there room for laughter? Is there any fun to be had?"

　Russell's pupils constricted slightly.

　"He knows Onphalus! He knows my plans!"

　His shock was fleeting. How could mortals possibly comprehend the power of a star god?

　He straightened his back, and in his jade-green eyes, the Jianmu mark and the amber heart reflected each other. His voice was clear and firm, piercing through the noisy laughter: "Naturally! Laughter is the thread that mends wounds, the flame that pierces through the gloom."

　"My ideal new world should not only have the burden of survival and abundant vitality, but also a pure happiness and joy that comes from the bottom of one's heart, as sweet as honey! Everyone can smile freely, that is true revival!"

　"..."

　The commotion at Mask Mountain froze eerily for a moment. Then, two crisp "slap" sounds rang out, as if Ahab was slapping himself (if he had any face).

　"Oh dear! What a blunder! A huge blunder!"

　Aha's voice was full of regret, "If only I had run to Onpharos to find you back then! I was only thinking about having fun, and I never thought I would miss such a treasure as you! A bountiful messenger who understands the true meaning of pleasure!"

　"Waaaah... Aha has become the number one source of amusement! Hahaha! Aha has lost face. To punish himself, Aha has decided not to watch any more amusement for three seconds."

　The annoyance was instantly drowned out by even more unrestrained laughter.

　Laughter echoed in the darkness for a long time until starlight seeped back in. Before Aha's figure completely faded, an exquisitely crafted candy box covered with comical cartoon smiley faces floated lightly to Russell's side.

　"Aha, I absolutely love your answer! I love it so much!"

　Aha's voice lingered with a hint of joy, "Since we're friends, how could Aha let you leave empty-handed? Here you go!"

　The candy box landed in Russell's palm, its surface warm to the touch.

　"This is filled with the sweetest laughter, the purest joy, and the sweetest happiness in the entire universe! It's inexhaustible! Even the saddest person can taste the sweetness of happiness after eating one!"

　Aha's voice faded into the distance, "Since you're going to follow that good-natured path, then for Aha's sake, scatter these seeds of joy on every inch of ground you tread! Let this miserable world also taste the sweetness! Ahahahaha—!"

　The maniacal laughter receded like a receding tide. The vast starry sky reappeared, as if everything had been a dream.

　Only the heavy candy box in his hand, exuding an enticing sweet aroma, testified to his encounter with the god of pleasure. Russell opened the box, took out a rainbow candy, and put it in his mouth.

　The sugar granules melted instantly. There was no explosive sensation, only a warm and light feeling, like the happiness of being embraced by the purest kindness, spreading from the tip of the tongue to every part of the body, washing away all fatigue and gloom.

　His tense lips involuntarily turned up, forming a long-lost, genuinely relaxed smile.

　"Thanks……"

　Russell whispered, "Take good care of the candy box. It's not just a gift, it's a weapon."

　In the future, when he faces souls crushed by pain, this sweet spark from the star god will become the first ray of light to ignite hope and spread warmth.

　……

　Chapter Sixty-Three: Abundant Harvest in the Style of "Remembering the Decaying".

　"The name of the Envoy of Abundance, Huai Xiu, has quietly spread among the stars."

　Inside the Grand Divination Office of the Immortal Ship [Luofu], a young diviner presented the results of his divination using the Jade Omen, his voice filled with disbelief.

　"The Qiong Guan Array has undergone seven rounds of deduction, and all the hexagrams have been revealed—great fortune."

　The diviner in the main seat paused slightly, gazing intently at the suspended hexagram projection. Emerald-gold patterns of light flowed, forming an unprecedented auspicious omen.

　"Great fortune?"

　Her voice was cold and clear, "Targeting a Bountiful Envoy? Did you get this deduction from a mistake?"

　"I have verified it repeatedly, sir."

　The diviner's forehead was beaded with sweat. "Absolutely no mistake. The name 'Huai Xiu' first appeared among the refugees who had benefited from it, when Cripper proclaimed the new Amber Age."

　"The divination indicates its whereabouts... It is still separated from the immortal ship by an endless sea of ​​stars, and the intersection is far away."

　The diviner pondered for a moment, his fingertips tracing across the light screen: "There must be a reason behind such auspiciousness. Forcibly prying into the future trajectory of the envoy will come at a price that neither you nor I can bear."

　"Since it is not an urgent matter, there is no need to waste the life of the diviner. Let us observe the situation and investigate his actions carefully."

　The news, like a gentle breeze, brushed against the taut nerves of the Immortal Ship Alliance. Doubts didn't dissipate, but the auspiciousness of the Qiong Guan Array acted as a subtle buffer. Until the specific details of [Huai Xiu]'s deeds arrived piece by piece, like pieces of a puzzle.

　"He healed the Azure Star, which had been completely devoured by the breeding swarm!"

　A Yunqi officer who had just returned from beyond the borders excitedly reported, "It's not a revitalization distortion, it's a true ecological restoration! A century of ailments has been eradicated, and all living beings have regained their health, but not a single person has achieved immortality!"

　"Danlun Temple! Those ascetic monks who laid down their butcher's knives!"

　Another strategist in charge of intelligence added, with surprise in his eyes, "It is said that [Huai Xiu] personally visited Danlun Temple and used his abundant power to purify the lunar madness and bloodthirsty impulses inherited in their bloodline!"

　"Now that the rings that suppress their bestial nature are no longer around their necks, they have become true walkers of abundance, following in the footsteps of [Remembrance] to spread healing!"

　The diviner listened to his subordinate's report and pondered for a moment.

　He heals selflessly, yet grants longevity cautiously; he purifies evil, rather than assimilates into it. This is indeed quite different from those bountiful people who use the name of the benevolent Medicine King to plunder.

　"This auspicious omen may originate from this."

　She whispered.

　……