The day after the "Star Flash" event concluded, an unimaginably luxurious caravan descended from the sky onto Star Town.
Rows of Floating carriages, each bearing the insignia of the Holy Fire Crown, landed neatly on the grand square in front of the Administration Hall.
Every carriage was exquisitely decorated with clusters of flowers, resplendent ribbons, and glittering Crystals complenting each other. Attendants in elegant robes disembarked one after another, and the rhythmic thrumming of Spiritual Energy resonated through most of Star Town.
Deep in sleep, Rod was abruptly woken by a slap from Molly.
"Get up! That’s the lody of the hero’s sonata, the Heroic Envoy from the Supre Council!"
Groggily opening his eyes, Rod saw Molly’s ribbon-like clavicles and the soft, quivering flesh, he asked, "What’s going on? I’m so tired, let sleep a bit more."
Molly showed no rcy and slapped him hard again.
And then he was fully awake.
"Molly."
While hastily getting dressed and rushing toward the square, Rod still felt a vague pain and couldn’t help but complain.
"Ease up a bit, can’t you wake up more gently? What if sothing goes wrong?"
Clad in a light blue Military War Departnt uniform, Molly said solemnly, "Your Spiritual Energy and body are in harmonious resonance, as long as your Spiritual Energy continues to grow, all your physical ailnts will be healed, and pain is the quickest way to wake up."
Rod was slightly annoyed but couldn’t argue, so he just grumbled softly, "You’re cuter without the clothes, though."
A blush crawled across Molly’s delicate face, but it quickly disappeared behind her serious expression.
"The notice ca last night, if you hadn’t insisted on making such a fuss for so long, there’s no way we would’ve missed it."
Rod eyed her askance and said, "Really? Who was the one screaming ’don’t stop’ all night long?"
Molly’s stern face was impassive as she briskly walked past him to the door, but Rod saw from behind that her ears were red.
This girl, truly cool on the surface but warm at heart.
Upon reaching the square, Rod was startled by the grandiosity and splendor of the ceremony.
The square had beco an ocean of flowers, with countless flashes of Spiritual Energy refracting all around. A large group of ushers, fanned out like peacocks, awaited his arrival in formation.
"What is this all about?"
As Rod was about to step out, he pulled his foot back and whispered to Molly, who was waiting for him by the door.
Molly’s eyes sparkled, her tone unusually buoyant, the earlier embarrassnt gone as if whisked away into the clouds.
"This is the Trolian Hero awarding ceremony, you’ve been awarded the Trolian Hero Badge."
Only then did Rod understand, never before had he been the central figure of such a grand ceremony. Seeing this lavish spectacle, he couldn’t help but say, "Isn’t this a bit wasteful?"
"No, it’s necessary," replied Molly, her voice filled with an unprecedented yearning.
"Ceremonies provide people with confidence, and heroes bring hope."
Rod’s heart tightened, understanding that so matters couldn’t be judged by their surface alone.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, rubbed his cheeks carefully, then stepped out of the door, presenting his best appearance.
As he arrived at the square, a thunderous cheer imdiately rang through Star Town.
O’Hara, Conrad, Beowood, Anna, Vivian, Velas, and other familiar faces all cheered for him. Beyond them, even more unfamiliar but equally enthusiastic faces joined in the sa chorus of voices.
Rod recalled how all the significant figures he rembered acted on the big stage, mimicked their smiles, and with a similar grin, he walked forward while waving to everyone.
The Envoy on the celebration platform was impressed and couldn’t help but whisper in admiration, "Good, truly our hero!"
The surrounding attendants also praised him; they had been worried that Rod’s youth might make him falter, but he was unexpectedly composed and perford admirably.
His deanor alone justified the Trolian Hero dal.
Then, the solemn award ceremony officially began.
The ushers opened the pre-prepared Spiritual Crystals, and the skyward glow made the square seem blessed by the Heavenly Gods, with Rod at the center like an emissary of the divine.
Then ca a deluge of petals, ribbons all fluttering down amidst the prolonged and pure lody of the hero’s sonata. The Envoy elaborated on all the contributions Rod had made for humanity and personally awarded him the Trolian Hero Badge.
Amidst the endless cheers, the Envoy said, "Lord Rod, this is the summon from the Supre Council, please return to the Royal City imdiately, the King awaits you."
Rod asked softly, "Is it beginning?"
A glint flashed in the Envoy’s eyes as he spoke in a hushed tone, "Yes, not just the Holy Fire Project. So people will inevitably have to pay the price for what they’ve done."
A smile at last spread across Rod’s face.
"Good, I’ve been fed up with that lot for a while. Let’s go; I can’t wait any longer."
----
The celebration concluded after one clock hour.
After bidding farewell to everyone, Rod boarded the Floating carriage.
With a mighty neigh, the white Spiritual Horse swiftly vanished beyond the fires.
The Spiritual Horses were swift, following the cleared route and quickly returning to their starting point.
And so, after five months and thirty-three weeks, Rod finally returned to the Royal City.
From midair, as he saw the magnificent expanse of the Giant City, Rod was filled with countless emotions.
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