When Stelle opened her eyes again—
She was already holding a blazing spear.
"Silver Wolf, disengage the Creation Engine." Nanashi's voice rang out.
"Oh?"
Confusion.
But Silver Wolf wasn't concerned about the Creation Engine's risks. With a few keystrokes, the machine's dormant core flared back to life.
Stelle's eyes gleamed as she leveled the amber flame spear at Cocolia, standing in the vast expanse of snow.
"Rules… are meant to be broken!"
The crimson glow within the Creation Engine's eyes shifted—
Turning gold.
It raised its iron fist once more.
March 7th gasped. "Damn it—it's moving again!"
"Lia! Get ready to retreat!" Parker remained vigilant, ready to escape with her.
"No."
Emilia's voice was steady.
She didn't flinch.
She believed in Nanashi.
And so—
Under the tense gazes of all who watched—
The iron fist of the Creation Engine fell.
Its target—
Cocolia.
!!!
Cocolia unleashed a surge of power, desperately blocking the descending blow.
"Flame Spear—Charge!"
In Stelle's grasp, the blazing spear erupted into a ferocious inferno.
Fire rained from the heavens.
Ice shattered.
Cocolia was sent crashing to the ground.
She struggled to rise, eyes filled with disbelief.
"Impossible..." she whispered.
By now, Bronya had recovered.
She knew—
There was no turning back for her mother.
But in Stelle's hands—
A new hope burned brightly.
"Mother, the will of Belobog has made its choice!"
Cocolia's voice was raw, desperate.
"You know nothing of this world's suffering—nothing of the doom that awaits it!"
She roared like a wounded beast.
Yet Bronya stood firm.
"Even if we are fated to perish… we will face that fate together, hand in hand—without fear."
Not a single tremor in her voice.
"No." Stelle's voice cut through the cold air. "As long as we are here, that future will never come to pass!"
Behind her, March 7th and Dan Heng stepped forward, ready to fight at her side.
Cocolia lifted her head—
And raised her arms.
"The power of the Star Core is with me!"
A golden radiance burst from her body.
That was the power of the Star Core.
The world shifted.
The sky—
Turned pale.
The swirling clouds—
Spun into golden spirals.
A colossal stone of destruction began to emerge from the vortex above.
Right then—
"Really?"
A dry chuckle echoed.
Nanashi stepped forward, holding Clara in his arms.
His gaze met Cocolia's without a hint of fear.
"Didn't you notice? I already devoured the Star Core."
"You… what are you saying—"
Her words faltered.
Her breath hitched.
The golden energy surrounding her body—
Vanished.
Like a bubble bursting into nothingness.
The looming stone of destruction in the sky—
Dissolved into mere clouds, drifting away as snow.
Cocolia collapsed.
"Ahhh!!!"
She curled in on herself, screaming in agony.
Then—
Bang!
Her spectral form shattered in an instant.
The power of the Star Core—
Gone.
She stared at her trembling hands, her voice hollow with disbelief.
"The Star Core's power… disappeared?"
A chime rang through the air.
[Ding! Cocolia has been defeated. The Star Core has vanished. The Doomsday Journey has officially ended!]
[Doomsday Ending #1 unlocked.]
[Nanashi received 500,000 Doomsday Points.]
[Silver Wolf received 150,000.]
[March 7th received 100,000.]
[Bronya received 100,000.]
[Emilia received 50,000.]
[Nanashi detected with Star Core remnants—bonus 1,000,000 Doomsday Points awarded!]
—Journey Companion Mission Complete.
Nanashi closed the live broadcast.
Cocolia lay powerless.
In the blink of an eye, she was surrounded.
She lifted her head—
And met Bronya's gaze.
Sad.
Heartbroken.
"Mother…"
"Bronya…"
The power of the Star Core had abandoned her.
For the first time in a long while—
She was herself again.
Bronya choked back a sob.
"Mother… have you finally awakened from your dream?"
"A dream…"
Cocolia let out a bitter laugh.
Yes—
She had awakened.
But it was far too late.
Bronya…
Serval…
Belobog…
The Underworld…
She had thrown it all away.
She had forsaken her family.
Destroyed friendships.
Abandoned her duty.
Her sins were unforgivable.
The power of the Star Core had ravaged her body.
And now, it was crumbling.
Bit by bit—
Her form shattered into golden fragments.
This was the price she had to pay.
The punishment—
Of a Supreme Guardian who had lost her way.
[Powerful outsider… Thank you for saving this planet.]
[We ask you to take Cocolia with you—let her leave this world that once drove her to despair.]
"…"
Nanashi's gaze remained fixed on the void.
Before him stood the spirits of Belobog's past Supreme Guardians.
[Everything… is our fault. She should not bear this burden alone. Please…]
They pleaded with Nanashi.
He sighed. "Well."
Then, he stepped forward.
Amid everyone's confused stares, he reached out and pressed a finger against Cocolia's forehead—just as her body threatened to break apart.
"You…"
Cocolia wanted to speak, but—
She felt it.
A rush of energy coursed through her, mending the damage wrought by the Star Core.
The golden fragments flaking from her body—
Began to fade.
Slowly, her skin returned to normal.
"This is…"
Bronya's breath hitched. Excitement flickered in her eyes, yet she didn't understand Nanashi's actions.
No one did.
"Why would you… save a sinner like me?"
Cocolia looked into his clear golden eyes, searching for an answer.
Nanashi smirked.
"Don't look at me like that. Your former Supreme Guardians begged me to."
"Simply put, they don't blame you for your choices. They regret leaving future generations with a hopeless world."
"The Supreme Guardians…"
Cocolia's expression froze.
"Of course, your sins remain," Nanashi continued, his tone unwavering. "Bronya will carry them with her forever. But as for you—I will take you away from this world. Any objections?"
His gaze shifted to Bronya and the others.
Bronya placed a hand over her chest, her voice steady.
"Thank you. I will never forget my mother's sins. I will dedicate my life to atoning for them and leading Belobog toward a new future."
Nanashi turned to Seele.
Seele, standing beside her, seemed the most reluctant to accept this outcome.
"!!!"
Under Nanashi's scrutiny, Seele tensed up, rubbing the back of her head.
"Well… you did just save me, so… I'll consider it repaying a favor. I agree."
Nanashi raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Seele—who despised injustice—to relent so easily.
For the first time, he looked at her seriously.
And noticed something.
Smooth skin. A well-proportioned figure. But more than that—
That white outfit…
Was that really designed to expose her navel?
"Hey! Where are you looking?!"
Seele snapped, hurriedly covering her stomach.
"So Seele can get embarrassed too?" Natasha chuckled, amused.
"He was ogling at me!" Seele fumed.
Nanashi smirked. So Seele gets flustered that easily?
Natasha glanced at Seele's red-tipped ears and grinned.
"Haha, looks like Seele's finally at that age too."
The brief exchange lightened the heavy atmosphere.
Then Natasha turned serious.
"As the leader of Wildfire, I support Mr. Nanashi's decision. After all, you saved our world."
Dan Heng crossed his arms.
"We have no objections. We're just travelers passing through."
"Um! Um!"
Stelle and March 7th nodded in agreement.
Gepard stepped forward.
There was a trace of regret in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Lord High Guardian—for turning against you on behalf of Belobog's people."
"…"
Cocolia said nothing.
Gepard had done nothing wrong.
It was she who had forsaken Belobog's people.
It was she who had abandoned the Supreme Guardian's oath.
"On behalf of the Silvermane Guards, I approve of this decision."
Only one remained—
Serval.
She looked at Cocolia, her expression unreadable.
Then—
She wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.
And laughed.
"Cocolia, look at you now. If only you had listened to me from the start."
Her words carried a teasing lilt—yet they struck deep.
"Elder sister…"
Gepard hesitated, sensing the sting in them.
But then—
To everyone's surprise—
Serval crouched down.
Gently, she cupped Cocolia's face in her hands.
And smiled.
A warm, radiant smile.
"Leave Belobog behind. Find somewhere else. Throw away the burdens, the pressures. Live—just for yourself."
"Serval…"
Cocolia's voice trembled.
She had betrayed this woman. Driven her away.
Yet, here she was.
Still offering kindness.
"Alright! That's a unanimous vote!"
March 7th clapped her hands, grinning.
"A perfect ending!"
"See? Your daughter, the previous Supreme Guardians, your good friend, the Silvermane Guards you betrayed, and the Underworld you abandoned—they've all spoken on your behalf. You're not thinking of killing yourself now, are you?"
"…"
Cocolia's wandering heart stilled.
A new responsibility anchored her.
Now, she had no choice but to live—with her sins.
To fulfill her best friend, Serval's wish.
To survive.
At the very least…
To witness Belobog's future with her own eyes.
"Let go of Clara."
Svarog's deep, mechanical voice shattered the emotional moment.
His glowing red eyes locked onto Nanashi.
After all—
Nanashi was still holding Clara.
Only now did the others realize.
There she was—perched in Nanashi's arms, her small hands wrapped around his neck.
"Mmm…"
Feeling the weight of everyone's stares, Clara shyly buried her face into Nanashi's chest.
Her tiny, bare feet curled up in embarrassment.
It looked like someone was about to get fined a "three-bedroom, one-living-room" penalty.
With the restoration of her original energy,
Cocolia's body had completely returned to normal.
Every trace of the Fragmentum's corruption was gone.
She now stood quietly at Nanashi's side.
Meanwhile, Bronya had been confirmed as Belobog's next Supreme Guardian.
For the city's future, the group debated whether to make Cocolia's crimes public.
"Master, has the Star Core's influence truly disappeared?"
Cocolia had been under its control for so long—would taking her away from this world truly free her?
"Yeah, the Star Core's power is gone. I ate it."
H-He ate it?
Not digested yet, though.
Lv.5 [Gluttony] could only absorb the Star Core's power slowly. The process wasn't exactly quick.
"However, the cold wave's impact remains. Jarilo-VI's environment has changed permanently."
Nanashi glanced at Cocolia, who stood beside him in her high heels, slightly taller than him.
"But don't worry too much. I'll handle the cold wave's effects soon enough."
Besides—
He still needed those Doomsday Points. Saving the world and farming points?
Two birds, one stone.
"Thank you, Master. For saving Jarilo-VI, for helping Bronya, and for showing kindness… even to a sinner like me."
Cocolia spoke with sincerity.
Her master possessed both great power and an equally great heart.
"Enough with the 'sinner' talk. Just carry it in your heart. You're coming with me—you can't walk around looking miserable every day."
"…"
Cocolia let out a quiet breath, rubbing her face—the same face that had always carried an air of dignity and severity.
But… how did one stop looking solemn?
"Forget it. Take your time."
Nanashi sighed, shaking his head.
It was unrealistic to expect her to change overnight.
His hand brushed over Parker—who was curled up in Emilia's hands.
A cat.
Nanashi finally understood why Yukino liked cats so much.
They were satisfying to touch.
Soft, warm, tender, smooth…
Wait.
Smooth?
Nanashi suddenly looked down.
"..."
Where was Parker?
Why was he stroking something as big as himself?
At the sight—
Parker was gone!
His hand was touching—
Emilia's small hand.
No wonder it felt so smooth.
Silver Wolf narrowed her eyes.
"Nanashi, you've been holding Emilia's hand for a while now. You look kinda like a creep."
"Ah—!"
Emilia flinched, her cheeks flushing.
"I-It's not Mr. Nanashi's fault… Parker suddenly returned to the contract!"
She hurriedly explained, fearing Nanashi might be misunderstood.
"Tch. I was just joking. Don't take it so seriously."
Silver Wolf clicked her tongue, clearly disappointed her teasing had backfired.
"S-Sorry!"
Emilia looked down, as if she had done something wrong.
"…"
Now Silver Wolf was the one feeling embarrassed.
Why did she feel awkward all of a sudden?
Nanashi pulled his hand back, clearing his throat.
Luckily, the others had finished their discussion and walked over, saving him from further humiliation.
After exchanging glances, Bronya stepped forward.
She cast a brief look at Cocolia before announcing their decision.
"We've decided not to reveal my mother's crimes for now. Belobog lies in ruins—we need hope, unity."
"A new challenge begins today. If the people learn that even the Supreme Guardian was untrustworthy, it will only bring chaos."
"Once stability is restored, I will tell them the truth myself."
"And if, by then, they choose to exile me—I will accept it."
Nanashi nodded.
"This is your home. The choice is yours to make."