"You don't need to understand everything. Just know that over the past two days, we've run through both the Overworld and Underworld, bringing their representatives here."
"We only want to tell you one thing: the future of this planet should be left to its people, not borne by you alone."
Stelle walked to Welt's side, her attitude sincere. As a Trailblazer both in and out of the game, her greatest hope was for every story to have a happy ending.
Some might argue: Oh, traditional happy endings are so cliché. For the story to be profound, XXX's best ending is to die.
Stelle might acknowledge such views but wouldn't agree: I go online for positivity, for something healthy, uplifting, and full of sunshine!
Thus, Stelle hoped that in the Belobog arc, there would be no more sacrifices of the "Great Guardian."
"…Left to the people?"
Gepard repeated Stelle's words, his gaze gradually turning vacant. "What if… it fails?"
"Then we face destruction together, hand in hand," Stelle said. "But before that, we'll have countless chances to make a change."
"Hand in hand? Easy for you to say." Gepard's voice suddenly turned cold. "You're off-worlders with the ability to escape at any time. But what about the people of this land?"
"That's too selfish."
Gepard opened his palm, revealing the half-Stellaron glowing brilliantly. As it made contact with his flesh, it showed signs of merging.
Not good!
Almost instinctively, Stelle stepped onto the table, swinging her baseball bat— if Gepard turned into what Cocolia had become, there'd truly be no chance for salvation!
She only hoped the bat would be fast enough. If she could interrupt this, it would all be worth it.
Crack!
Gepard suddenly reached out, firmly grabbing the bat. "Stelle, I recall our last match didn't have a winner."
"This time, we can settle it."
Stelle's eyes sharpened, a surge of energy bursting from within, locking onto Gepard's hand that was merging with the Stellaron!
"Uncle Yang! Drop the field and let everyone help!" Stelle shouted.
Welt, about to step in, suddenly realized, "How did I forget? The power of bonds between companions is…"
"Uncle Yang! Stop narrating!"
Welt tapped his cane on the ground, and the black hole in the interrogation room visibly shrank until it vanished.
The next second, the three inside locked eyes with the group outside, who were munching on popcorn, and the atmosphere grew oddly quiet.
Svarog was holding an oversized popcorn bucket, enough for all seven to share.
"…"
"Uncle Yang dropped the field! Move in!"
March 7th instantly drew her Cloud-Piercer, entering combat mode and charging forward.
The others followed suit, and the scene descended into chaos. The group withstood Gepard's energy waves, piling onto him—grabbing arms, legs, necks, pulling ears, yanking hair…
Gepard watched as an unfamiliar white-haired little girl strangled his neck with such force it nearly choked him out.
This… this wasn't the kind of battle he'd imagined!
But that was the reality. Everyone present was formidable, and even with the Stellaron's power, Gepard couldn't fend off so many hands.
"Uncle Yang, he's too strong! Pry his fingers!"
Stelle was still wrestling for the Stellaron, but Gepard's willpower was too strong. Left with no choice, she called for backup.
But to her surprise, even with Welt's help, they couldn't overpower Gepard.
"Uncle Yang, are you serious? Didn't you say you saved a world?" Stelle said with a look of disdain.
"Hah? Youngsters should respect their elders!"
Welt, enraged, didn't hold back, and with a crack, he broke Gepard's finger.
"…Ow, ow, ow!"
Gepard's muffled cries came from the pile.
"It's not working, he's too stubborn… Dan Heng, tickle him!"
After Dan Heng complied, Gepard's resistance visibly intensified.
Svarog stood dumbly to the side, its analysis system momentarily unable to decide what to do. After observing, it mimicked the others, piling onto the group…
…Gepard's resistance visibly weakened.
"Svarog, you trying to get yourself killed? I'm still up here, you want to crush me?!" Clara roared furiously. "Get off, or I'll dismantle you back home."
Svarog retreated like a scolded child, clearly aggrieved.
Only then did Welt notice Svarog, his gaze lingering. He instinctively loosened his grip on Gepard's finger, causing Stelle to lose balance and crash to the ground. "Whoa! I've never seen a robot with this style before. It's not as grand as Alahato, but this refined design with a 'mecha-suit vibe' isn't bad at all!"
"Let's take a picture…"
On the other side, Seele was busy pulling weapons from under her skirt: a scythe, a hammer, a musket, scissors, an electric drill…
"Seele, what are you doing?" Bronya asked, puzzled.
"Uh?" Seele said awkwardly. "Bronya, hear me out… You know the gap in living standards between the Overworld and Underworld. I just want to personally beat up the Great Guardian…"
Bronya nodded understandingly. "Here, let me help."
…
With one move, Cocolia froze half of Gepard's body. Holding an ice lance, she debated whether to join the mob attacking her boss.
As a subordinate, taking the chance to stab her superior in the back didn't seem… right?
No, no, no, how could I do that? I'm a Shadow Guard of the Silvermane Guards, sworn before Qlipoth's statue to prioritize my mission, no matter the storm.
Even if it means no days off all year, no official rank…
Even if my salary hasn't changed in ten years, with constant overtime…
Even if I'm summoned back during my vacation…
No, no, no, what's all that? As a loyal Silvermane Guard—
—Cocolia suddenly recalled a day years ago, just before dinner, when Serval got a last-minute notice: Sis, why aren't you home yet? I made soup for you.
That night, Cocolia fell asleep alone.
Sometimes, a person's betrayal isn't spontaneous—it's long in the making.
Cocolia raised her ice lance—
Why had Bronya's few words in the Underworld convinced her so easily? Part of it was indeed mother-daughter affection, but… there were other reasons too.
…
Stelle felt Gepard's grip on the Stellaron suddenly stiffen, then go limp.