⋰　****FINDINGS　⋰

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BACKGROUND DETAILS

🕰️ Timeline Context

• Advanced technology, including biometric verification and holographic systems.
• Astral Enforcers serve as space law enforcement.
• A complex system of High Lords and military control.

🏰 Key Locations

• Space-Time Prison (时空监狱) is just mentioned in the story, but it suggests a place where you can't escape, and it shows that Sylus has exceptional abilities.
• Feathers Star is a corrupt, vice-ridden planet under the Overlord's oppressive rule.
• Overlord's Fortress is the center of control and influence on the planet.
• The artificial garden within the fortress, where Sylus interacts with the beasts.

🐉 Sylus's Nature & Powers

• Sylus is introduced as Philos' most wanted criminal and the only individual to escape the space-time prison (时空监狱).
• The Brooch is a significant artifact that links various events later. The material is said to be centuries old. </aside>

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SPEECH AND INTERACTIONS

• Sylus's speech is characterized by a "低沉慵懒的声音" (low, languid voice) — a man of confidence and nonchalance, in control and unbothered by the chaos around him. 😁
• Sylus uses the game of chess to toy with the Overlord, both metaphorically and literally. Shows his strategic mind and ability to manipulate situations to his advantage.

"A cage is no place for beasts." — Sylus Disdain for confinement and control. It can be a reference to his own experiences as a prisoner, both in the space-time prison and as the Dragon of Philos, which is similar to being a powerful, caged beast. Sylus is a rebel, and this line shows his contempt for those who hoard power and use it to control others.

• Sylus seems to be affecting caged beats with his gaze, looking into their eyes. This seems to awaken their primal instincts, untamed power, and desire for freedom. Another reference to the Dragon of Philos.

"Ah, lucky number thirteen" — Sylus Sylus's inversion of the fact that 13 has traditionally been unlucky. This number also followed him in his MWT code HDS-7213.

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SYLUS CHARACTER & DEVELOPMENT

Sylus is portrayed as a powerful, enigmatic figure with a reputation that precedes him. He stays calm and collected, even in dangerous situations. He manipulates others both physically and psychologically. This is evident in his interactions with the ship's crew and the Overlord, where he uses his powers to instill fear and assert dominance. (Speculatively) This suggests that he has a deep-seated need to be in control.

(Speculative) His right eye appears to have the ability to scan and connect with the bestial gazes, allowing him to understand and maybe influence their emotions. This suggests a unique connection with untamed aspects of nature.

(Speculative) Despite his outward confidence, Sylus's actions hint at underlying vulnerability and past trauma. His need for control and dominance could be a defense mechanism to protect himself from past betrayals or losses. His interactions involve a power play, where he maintains control to avoid vulnerability. He seems to be the type of person who tries to keep others at a distance to stay in control and avoid getting emotionally involved.

The contrast between the classical music and the aroma of coffee in Sylus's spaceship, and the chaos he leaves behind, shows his preference for elegance, order, and beauty in his personal space, despite the chaos he causes around. The spaceship AI notes that the target location is "forever shrouded in darkness," and Sylus's approval of it as a "fitting choice" is the first mention of his preference for the nocturnal lifestyle.

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SYMBOLISM AND FORESHADOWING

• As shown by his question about fashion trends, Sylus is trying to adapt to a new timeline. If he escaped prison on Philos, maybe in the future or another timeline, he doesn't know what's currently considered the norm in fashion on Earth.
• Diamond Throne vs. Sanctuary Throne in Myth: </aside>

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CHRONOLOGICAL PLACEMENT

• The anecdote happens after Sylus escapes from Philos's space-time prison but before he appears in the main story. For now, I see it as the first event after the Dragon's Arc. </aside>

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SPECULATIONS ABOUT LORE・STORY PLOT・FINAL DESTINY

• This paragraph here feels like a strong hint that Sylus might already possess and be using the Eye of Aether. Here's the reasoning:

  Sylus impatiently flicks his finger, and the comms channel is abruptly cut off. The cabin then unveils a massive, holographic interstellar map.

  • We have a physical object - a holographic interstellar map.

  The floating orb suddenly convulses violently, its tiny lights breaking free and scattering across the map. They gradually regroup and point to a small planet.

  • We read about a floating orb — but what exactly is it? The orb's lights scatter across the map and regroup to highlight a small planet — a destination.

  The map zooms in on the destination beneath the Eye of Aether.

  • "Beneath" implies vertical alignment without necessarily being physically connected. And what's floating above the map at that moment without touching it? The orb and its tiny lights — suggesting the orb could be the Eye of Aether.

  It's (i.e. the destination mentioned in the previous sentence) encircled by holographic particles in constant flux, which indicates strong energy fluctuations.

  • The strong energy fluctuations could be linked to the Chronorift Catastrophe on Earth, which happened at the time the Eye of Aether scanning the map. This made me wonder if the Eye seen in the sky in MC's flashback is actually the Eye of Aether — and that Sylus was using it to search for a certainAether Core. It could be the Core inside MC's heart, the one on the auction, or another undisclosed one — but it feels more likely that he was searching for her. That would explain the "touch of melancholy in his gaze" — he finally found her, thanks to the Eye of Aether.

  The Overlord stashed it away in the vaults beneath the Northfall Mountains…

  • Now, we don't factually know where the Northfall Mountains are. But here's what got me thinking: if the vault was on Earth, wouldn't the narrative have mentioned the planet's name? Like, why name only a specific mountain range and not the planet, unless it's assumed we (and Sylus) already know the setting?
  • Unless Sylus casually knows every single star system and planet like the back of his hand, it feels more likely that the Northfall Mountains are located somewhere familiar to narrative and him at this moment of time — i.e. Feathers Star.

  I'll also quickly mention the distinction between "beneath" and "underneath," since it really shaped my interpretation.

  • From what I understand (and how it's usually explained in English dictionaries), beneath simply means that something is lower than another object without being physically attached. For example, clouds are beneath the stars — they're aligned vertically but not touching. If the Eye of Aether is the orb floating above the map, then the map zooms in on a location beneath where the Eye is positioned — again, no direct connection is required.
  • By contrast, underneath usually implies more physical closeness or contact — like wearing a sweater underneath a coat. If the text had said underneath, it would suggest that the Eye is physically part of the map — almost like a pinpointed location.
  • But since the word used was beneath, it leaves room for the interpretation that the Eye and the destination are in different phys.ical planes.

  You are allowed to spank me for nitpicking 😁

  That's why I read this scene as Sylus already possessing and actively using the Eye.

  I know there are other theories, too — like the Eye being connected to Caleb, the 6th LI, or maybe not tied to anyone specific at all. I get where those ideas come from! But some clues still seem to hint at its connection to Sylus, especially since the eye-shaped identity appeared in his LAR story release graphics (and not in any other LI's graphics so far). I also believe that the Eye seen in the sky, the one outside MC's window, and the one in the Nest are the same entity. I shared evidence supporting these two theories on Reddit about four months ago, if anyone's curious!

• Sylus can communicate with the beasts through his eye, enhancing their desire for revenge against their captors. This interaction could be a symbol of his own struggle against confinement (Invisible Tether?) and his desire to unleash his full potential.

• Sylus encounters the thugs 13 times. This is the second mention of this number in his stories, so it strengthens the notion that he is generally unlucky.

• The Invisible Tether may allude to:

  • Potentially harmful consequences of Sylus overusing his powers, acting as a power-regulation system.
  • Internal restraints or possible remnants of prison control mechanisms.
  • The theory, that overuse of his abilities could potentially harm or even kill MC if he shares parts of the same Aether Core with her.
  • Quantum Entanglement Limitation. Prevents complete energy dissipation. Maintains systemic integrity.

• Sylus'sBlack-Red Mist might be a form of Quantum Technology. While the narrative doesn't explicitly support these scientific principles, the mist could:

  • Manipulate physical objects.
  • Demonstrate non-local interaction capabilities, influencing systems over long distances.
  • Pass through solid barriers.
  • Respond to Sylus's mental commands.
  • Transfer information instantly (entanglement).

• Unanswered questions

• (Predictions before the Abysm Sovereign announcement are outdated but may be fun to read. Or it may foreshadow the third myth 0_0)

See all the speculations in one place!

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01｜High Alert

02｜Absolute Suppression

03｜Mysterious Visitor

04｜Out Of Reach

05｜Judgement of Fate

06｜Journey Begins