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"Cocolia, just as I mentioned before, Stellaron merely fulfills humanity's desires... Do not resist its voice; let us listen together and embrace our shared will!"
Cocolia turned to gaze at Bronya with her eerie purple eyes. Although visually striking, they evoked an unsettling feeling.
Those violet irises seemed tainted by something, radiating intense negative emotions.
Clad in a white dress, black stockings, and knee-high boots, Cocolia also adorned her shoulders with green accents... adding a vibrant touch to her attire featuring blue ice crystal patterns on a white background.
Both Bronya and Pela wore the uniform of the Silvermane Guards, complete with medals hanging from their chests.
These medals symbolized their status as successors to the Great Guardians.
Unlike Pela, Bronya's tall stature made the military uniform particularly commanding, exuding an imposing presence even from afar.
She resembled a cold, unyielding sword.
This sight made Bochang inadvertently recall Serval and imagine how she would look as part of the Silvermane Guards, clad in this uniform.
"Come to think of it... might it be inappropriate for us to leave without saying goodbye?"
Bochang's thoughts momentarily drifted.
Dan Heng didn't pause; he continued walking ahead. However, March 7th and Stelle stopped with the black-haired youth, scanning their surroundings before focusing on the restrained Stellaron high above them.
That container was constructed by the ancient Architects to control the World Cancer.
Unfortunately, its effectiveness was minimal, unable to fully hinder Stellaron's influence.
March 7th muttered, "So, Stellaron is indeed here."
The pink-haired girl remained quite familiar with such entities.
Noticing that everyone behind him had halted, Dan Heng hesitated briefly, unsure what they were doing. Nevertheless...
The stoic little azure dragon did not stop. He pressed forward.
From the fragmented information left by Ei within the rift earlier, Bochang and his companions deduced that Cocolia was attempting to indoctrinate Bronya with her own beliefs... This seemingly cold and steadfast Silvermane Guard opposed the Great Guardian's methods, making her a potential ally they could win over—a valuable source of combat strength.
Therefore...
Instead of launching an immediate attack, Dan Heng chose to disrupt her influence verbally. "Cease your manipulation, Cocolia. Stellaron is not as ideal as you imagine; its true goal has always been the destruction of this world..."
"Nonsense!" Cocolia would not tolerate anyone questioning her path. "Stellaron promises a future without poverty, cold, or suffering—a world where people no longer struggle for survival, a world we can protect forever. It is futile to resist! What do outsiders like you understand?!"
Cocolia turned, glaring fiercely at Dan Heng.
For several days now, Stellaron had been warning Cocolia about threats approaching this planet.
From that moment, Cocolia began conducting secret investigations.
She discovered evidence suggesting that information related to Stellaron at Qlipoth Fort had been tampered with.
The Great Guardian then set traps, quietly waiting for the culprit to fall into her snare. Unexpectedly, before the perpetrator could be caught, Belobog's shield barrier was shattered.
Following their investigation, the Silvermane Guards headed straight towards the northern outskirts of Belobog.
Although it remained unclear how these gradual threats learned of Stellaron's location, once...
realizing the pests were closing in on Stellaron, Cocolia couldn't simply stand by. She swiftly decided to bring Bronya to where Stellaron was stored.
Her reason for not involving other Silvermane Guards was straightforward: they were too slow. To prevent the pests from reaching Stellaron first, Cocolia needed unmatched speed. Bringing ordinary guards would only hinder her progress.
Cocolia needed to act swiftly, and bringing ordinary Silvermane Guards would only slow her down.
While there were indeed powerful individuals among them, she had to consider the possibility that some might turn against her once they learned of her plan. Therefore, it made sense for her to rely solely on Bronya's assistance.
Even if Bronya disagreed with her scheme, having just one dissenting voice wouldn't cause significant disruption.
Of course...
Cocolia still hoped Bronya would stand by her side.
With arms crossed, Dan Heng stated, "We may not know what promises Stellaron has made to you, but based on our understanding, it is merely a deceiver. Trusting it will only bring misfortune upon yourself."
"Are these the wanted criminals?"
Bronya, initially appearing somewhat uneasy, instantly grew serious upon seeing Dan Heng.
Dan Heng shook his head and extended his hand.
"I have no intention of engaging in conflict with you. Hand over Stellaron, and we will ensure it is properly..."
Before the stoic little azure dragon could finish, Cocolia interrupted, "Outlanders, there's no way we'll surrender Stellaron to you."
Upon hearing the term "outlanders," a peculiar expression flickered across Bronya's eyes. She knew these individuals did not belong to Belobog.
In fact, they didn't even hail from this planet.
Earlier, Cocolia had explained that the fugitive was an extraterrestrial being. Belobog possessed intelligence on such beings, but since the Antimatter Legion's attack seven centuries ago, no extraterrestrials had visited again.
After making her stance clear, Cocolia turned back to Bronya.
"I've given you ample time, Bronya. I've revealed all the truths to you—the deals involving Stellaron, our shared wishes, and between us...there are now no secrets left."
For many years, Cocolia had grappled with how to reveal these truths to Bronya.
The appearance of Dan Heng and his group undoubtedly hastened her decision, compelling her to make a firm resolve.
"Bronya, from childhood until now, I've never forced you to comply with my will. No matter what...you always have a choice—as before, so it remains today."
"Choose, daughter. Are you willing to believe me and face the new world together, or will you stop me?"
A rare tenderness flickered in Cocolia's violet eyes.
The Trailblazer squad listened intently to Cocolia's words.
Regarding the proposed offensive, no one seemed hurried.
Bronya turned around, took a deep breath, placed a hand over her heart, and looked at Cocolia. "Lady Cocolia... Thank you for raising me and granting me the right to choose. However... I'm sorry, Mother. This time, just this once, I cannot stand by your side."
"You claim that at the core of human nature lies ignorance and cowardice, and I won't dispute that. However, humanity also possesses its shining aspects... I cannot forget the sight of soldiers fiercely battling monsters to protect Belobog, nor can I abandon the citizens here."
"Our ancestors built this city with their own hands. Even if our fate is destined for destruction, it should be determined by humans themselves... not by handing over our destiny to this seed of calamity!"
Bronya gazed at the restrained Stellaron.
From Cocolia's description, the young successor of the Great Guardian knew that Stellaron was the origin of sin. Cocolia intended to use the very source of evil to end everything, but Bronya could never allow it.
Bochang, along with March 7th and Stelle, approached Dan Heng's side.
It was clear that Bronya and Cocolia had reached an impasse.
A confrontation was imminent.
The Trailblazer squad prepared themselves for battle.
"So... your choice is... I see." A hint of resignation tinged Cocolia's voice. "Understood... Bronya."
"What a pity... You won't get to witness the beautiful new world; you couldn't break free from the shackles of your mind... Did you know, Bronya? You could have been... the mother of the new world."
A trace of sympathy flickered in Cocolia's eyes—a condescending gaze that made everyone deeply uneasy.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble violently, causing people to struggle for balance.
"The fate of Belobog has been sealed, and as for you all... you shall become the foundation stones of the new world!" With a downward sweep of her hand, Cocolia seemed to sever any remaining emotional ties with Bronya—or perhaps with Belobog itself. "Without shattering the old, there can be no birth of the new. As the Great Guardian, I command thee to rise."
She pointed at them, gathering the power of ice within her palm.
As she finished speaking, a crystalline ice spear materialized in her hand.
"CREATION ENGINE!"
With a flourish, the blonde newcomer pointed her sword skyward and soared amidst the howling gales, ascending straight into the clouds—her garments billowing like those of an ethereal immortal.
A colossal arm tore through the snow, emerging behind Cocolia... It was an immense robot, just as Bochang had envisioned, significantly larger than the Doomsday Beast.
"What...what is that?!" March 7th recoiled, startled.
Bronya explained, "This ancient machine belongs to the Architects! Be careful!"
Pausing briefly, the successor of the Great Guardian continued:
"I'm not yet sure what your true intentions are, but since you're here for the Stellaron... we can temporarily consider ourselves allies."
While Bronya didn't fully trust Bochang and his group,
given the current situation,
it was entirely impossible not to cooperate with them.
On her own, Bronya doubted she could defeat both the Creation Engine and the Great Guardian—Cocolia.
Even with the addition of the four members from Trailblazer Squad,
she still felt their chances of victory were slim.
Dan Heng reassured her, "Don't worry, we come in peace."
[Dating Options activated.]
[Option 1: Let's blast 'em! While the Creation Engine hasn't yet risen, unleash a powerful shot first. Capture this heroic moment by shouting, "March! Get ready for photos!" — Completion Reward: Randomly obtain the power of one out of twelve talismans.]
[Option 2: Fighting is less fun tDan Hengcing. As others engage the enemy, stand at the rear and perform a dance to boost morale, saying, "Go ahead, I'll cheer you on from behind." — Completion Reward: Acquire Skill - BGM. Each time you dance, background music will automatically play around you.]