The icy wind of the northern icefields hurled snow and sleet against Kai's face, yet it did nothing to quench the fury burning in his eyes. The meteor-iron wrench hummed and vibrated in his grip. Inside the pocket watch, the resonance of two Starcore fragments erupted into brilliant blue light, surging up his arm like a tidal wave and illuminating every rune etched into the wrench.
Inside the control cockpit of the giant mech, Victor sneered and pressed the attack command. The shoulder cannons roared to life, violet lasers condensing into a blinding beam that shot forward with apocalyptic force, straight at Kai.
"Brat—turn to ash together with your dragon!" Victor's roar echoed through the vast ruins via the loudspeakers.
Kai's pupils shrank. Starcore energy surged wildly through his body. He twisted sharply to the side—the laser grazed his cloak and slammed into the ice wall behind him. In an instant, shards of ice exploded outward as the entire wall collapsed, filling the air with snow and mist.
"Ironhammer, cover me!" Kai shouted, kicking off the ground and launching himself like an arrow toward the giant mech.
Ironhammer answered at once. He swung his ice-breaking axe with both hands, hacking viciously at the small mechs closing in. The axe blade tore through steel plating, ripping open a grotesque crack. His thunderous roar rang out as dwarven brute strength was unleashed—every swing sent metal fragments flying amid shrieks of tearing steel.
But there were simply too many small mechs. Like sharks drawn by blood, they poured endlessly through the entrance. Artillery fire rained down, blasting craters into the ice. Ironhammer was soon forced back step by step. A laser scorched his arm, and he grunted in pain—but he never loosened his grip on the axe, refusing to retreat even a single step.
Seeing Ironhammer trapped, Kai's heart clenched. He pushed harder, accelerating again, and in moments reached the feet of the giant mech. Its metal shell was cold and unyielding, etched with chilling patterns. Kai raised the meteor-iron wrench and poured every last drop of Starcore energy into it. Blue light flared to its absolute limit, nearly burning his palm.
"Break!"
With a furious shout, Kai smashed the wrench into the mech's leg joint.
Clang—!
A deafening crash rang out. Sparks erupted as thick metal plates buckled inward. The massive mech staggered, swaying violently, almost collapsing.
Inside the cockpit, Victor's expression changed. He had not expected Kai's strength to reach such a level. He immediately adjusted the controls, lifting the enormous metal foot and stomping down toward Kai.
Prepared, Kai leapt backward, narrowly evading the fatal blow. The foot smashed into the ground, cracking the ice as debris flew.
"Interesting," Victor said, a cruel thrill creeping into his voice. "But the game ends now."
He pressed another button. The mech's rear hatch opened, and dozens of missiles screamed into the air, trailing blazing exhaust as they shot toward Kai and Ironhammer.
They were far too fast to dodge.
Kai stared at the incoming missiles, his heart pounding. Instinctively, his hand pressed against the pocket watch. In his mind echoed the words he had heard during the Sacred Tree's transmission:
The mission of the Starcore is to protect, not to destroy.
Protect…
Kai's gaze hardened with absolute resolve. He stopped trying to evade and instead released all the Starcore energy within him. The power of the two fragments intertwined, forming a massive blue energy shield before him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Missiles slammed into the shield in rapid succession. Explosions roared, blinding light flooding the ruins. Shockwaves flung nearby small mechs into the air, their shattered remains scattering across the ice.
As the smoke cleared, Kai knelt on one knee, gasping for breath. The shield had vanished. His face was deathly pale, his Starcore energy nearly exhausted.
The giant mech advanced slowly. Victor's cold laughter echoed once more. "Out of strength? Then die!"
The cannons realigned. Violet light began to gather again.
Kai looked at the growing beam, yet a faint smile crept onto his lips. He raised the meteor-iron wrench. Its blue glow was weak—but stubbornly alive.
"Victor… do you really think this is all the Starcore can do?"
Before Victor could respond, the pocket watch in Kai's chest began to shake violently. The light of the two Starcore fragments intertwined, condensing along the wrench into a slender blue blade of energy—cold, razor-sharp, and terrifying.
This was… the fusion of magic and technology.
Victor's face drained of color. He stared at the blade in horror. "Impossible… This is impossible!"
Kai ignored him. Summoning the last of his strength, he hurled the meteor-iron wrench straight at the mech's cockpit.
The energy blade sliced through the air with a piercing shriek. In an instant, it punched through the mech's armor and stabbed directly into the cockpit.
Shhk—
The laser's glow vanished.
A scream echoed from within.
The giant mech froze mid-motion, shuddered, then collapsed heavily onto the ice—silent and lifeless.
The remaining guards were struck with terror. Dropping their weapons, they fled in panic.
Kai could hold on no longer. His vision darkened, and he collapsed onto the frozen snow. In his fading awareness, he saw Ironhammer stumbling toward him. He also saw the guardian dragon slowly open its eyes, amber pupils gleaming with quiet relief.
The blizzard still howled—but warmth filled Kai's heart.
He knew they had won another battle.
But it wasn't enough.
Five more Starcore fragments remained to be found, and a final confrontation—one that would decide the fate of both worlds—still awaited them.