Collapse, survive

March 7: It must be that hateful voice of the star core. I had a feeling something was wrong when I met that woman Cocolia. They're spying on us!

Danheng: Is that so? Okay.

Danheng: Based on your ideas, we can't expect you to come up with any plans. Now I will arrange the specific action plan for later.

Danheng: Miss Xier has taken hostages and also persuaded the Silvermane Iron Guards to defect. The rest are not a problem... Xing, go easy on her next time.

Star: I understand, but my baseball bat doesn't. (The baseball player is ashamed)

March 7: ...

March 7th: You can shut up now. Watch me, anyone who dares to mess with us will be frozen in place.

Star: Trying to steal kills? You're the support, and you almost hit my butt so many times (heartbroken).

March 7th: When did I shoot you? I only covered for you a few times. You were just rushing too fast and crashed into yourself...

Danheng: Hold on. The weather and traffic are favorable right now (11:23 Beloborg time). The people here seem quite used to rainy days; there are people everywhere. Hopefully, Natasha and the Earthfire team can stabilize the city's population as much as possible and avoid any accidental injuries.

Danheng: I predict that Seele and her team's next goal is to rush straight to Cripple Fortress and carry out a breakthrough decapitation operation. It's a very efficient approach, cleverly utilizing the weather and cover.

Danheng: Expected to arrive at Cripper Castle at 12:30. Jepard will carry out a decoy operation to mobilize the Silvermane Iron Guard led by Shiluwa.

Danheng: The incursion into Cripple Castle, led by Bronya, was also a decoy. I think Miss Seele's real plan is to take advantage of the situation, break into the High Guardian's office as quickly as possible, and capture Cocolia.

Danheng: The role of the pioneering team is to provide support from the sidelines, and they should avoid getting too involved.

Danheng: But there's no need to hold back. I'll do my job of protecting you. Go ahead and do it. This is also a pioneering endeavor.

March 7th: It's over. Danheng is still as capable and reliable as ever. The situation has become clear.

Star: Awesome! Fist * Star Train * Flame!

Danheng: Let's all keep up the good work! You're all doing a fantastic job.

……

Fang Jie read through his pioneering spirit's group chat many times, and combined it with Uncle Yang's illustrated explanation, and tentatively understood that Bellberg's situation was indeed precarious.

Then I'm not in a hurry!

He meant that he needed to get going.

.

P.S.: Eighth update!

Chapter Forty-Three: Not a moment of mourning for Hiluva.

Hiluva has been in Cripperburg for several days now, frantically trying to maintain order in Beloborg and uphold the previous orders.

But when broken down, it boils down to two things: military contraction and expanding the pie.

"That's great. Everyone doesn't have to go to the front lines to fight anymore. They've all come back. Now the streets are full of guards. It's so reassuring. The people who are well-fed and watered are very satisfied."

Hiluva's eyes were red, as if she had been crying in secret, as she looked at the shrewd little round face that was assisting her:

"Don't you think so, Pera?"

Pera pushed up his glasses: "Beloberg, is it going to be destroyed?"

"Haha, why would you think that? Pera, be optimistic, look at the weather, how refreshing! It's raining, many people never see that in their entire lives."

Belloberg has always been warmer than other places, so people haven't realized that the temperature has risen a few degrees; rain is the rare and noteworthy event.

"Then why are the Iron Guards spreading out on patrol? This is clearly a dispersal of forces, not like they're dealing with the monsters breaking out of the rift, it's more like...?"

The security was tight, but it was only for internal use.

The frontline fighters against the rift returned home, no longer facing that boundless otherworld—where countless warriors fought and bled on that brutal front until they completely lost control of their bodies.

Now, these brave warriors have returned home, celebrating with the people of the city, recounting everything they encountered and saw, letting children hear terrifying fairy tales, and spreading children's horror.

As a result, with an abundance of flatbread that people were tired of eating, the city's security improved considerably. However, everyone vaguely sensed that something was amiss. The first day was as joyous as a festival, the second day was as joyous as a festival, and the third day was as joyous as a festival...

Now the Silvermane Iron Guards are needed to go out into the streets and spread across the vast Beloborg. Some of the talents who did not gather outside Cripper Castle are asking what happened to see the High Warden.

It's such a nuisance that most people are still enjoying the celebration.

Therefore, even if I beg, I cannot see him.

Hiluva instructed the Silvermane Iron Guards to refuse all offers of entry, warning that anyone who dared to break in would be arrested.

“Pera, if I knew the reason, I would be happy to tell you.”

Hiluva said things she herself didn't believe; some things were simply not meant to be said.

Just as you can keep a secret, so can I.

"Yes."

Pera looked away, refusing to look at her.

The Great Guardian is gone, just as the Great Guardian's agent is gone.

Then there's Jepard, the Silvermane Iron Guard garrison commander. It's fair to say that the upper echelons of Belloberg have completely lost contact, and internal affairs are entirely dominated by political officials, continuing nonsensical policies.

They completely abandoned the long-standing, costly frontline offensive, withdrew from the front lines of the Rift Invasion, and retreated entirely. The Silvermane Iron Guards, who had been expanding their forces over the years, all returned to the city to stand with the people...

The scene was very impressive.

A group of soldiers, ready to fight at any moment, were scattered and comforted, their morale and spirit restored, as if all sacrifices had been explained—but what purpose was actually achieved?

do not know.

But given all this, the celebration can be explained as follows: to celebrate the return of these meritorious officials to the city, the Silvermane Iron Guards were carefully arranged to receive a welcome from the people, which can be described as showing great care.

This is accompanied by increasingly severe boundary erosion.

"Lord Silva, the erosion of the commercial district has intensified, and some residents have been swallowed up. The Silvermane Iron Guards are currently conducting rescue operations. Because of their ample manpower, the rescue is being carried out very promptly."

"Not bad, the lads are quite alert!"

Thank you for praising them, but that's not what I wanted to say.

Pella finally took a deep breath, looked at Hilva who was looking annoyed and forcing a smile, and asked the question: "Where exactly is the High Guardian?"

This wasn't the first time Silva had been asked this question. There were always some people who could ignore the blockade and come to Cripperburg to question her. If you want to turn the world upside down, take everyone with you. Do you want to eat alone and then smash the pot?

"Don't worry, although I can't speak to Cocolia, and she was the one who drove me out of the Builders back then, I have no reason to rebel against her, and I have no intention of rebelling."

Hiluva rubbed her temples, wondering what had become of the people who had disappeared, including Jepard, and even Jepard himself, and how much longer she had to hold on.

It's only been a few days, and now she's surrounded by traitors and rebels, all surrendering their allies in a flash—as if Langdao has built up his power over the years, and it's time for him to cash in.

Even the people's hearts are on her side, because she really does make big promises, as if she's trying to win everyone over.

Cocolia is a failure as the Great Guardian. She is unpopular and nobody cares... Well, the people around Hilva actually care about her life or death. They would prefer her to be dead. How can you have any respect for a Great Guardian who disappears without even putting up a fight?

Weakness is the most unpopular weakness.

Especially now that the Iron Guards all listen to Hiluva.

Those who didn't listen all retired due to injuries... That's a fact. The Silver Mane Iron Guards' unprecedentedly shameful defeat against the extraterrestrials created an opportunity for Landau, didn't it?

The situation is excellent.

"Report——"

Someone came in a panic to report:

"The lower levels, the lower levels are attacking! They're led by... the prisoner Bronya Rand, and Jepardrandau, along with a monster from the lower levels, and those outsiders..."

Hiluva put down her right hand that was rubbing her temples: "You've arrived."

Pera noticed that she actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Pera knew that those people, because of the outstanding wanted posters, had now become the talk of the town.

"Lady Silva? Please give the order. This is no ordinary rebellion; this time it's for real..."

"What orders do you want? I need to consult the High Warden."

She hasn't given any orders; things have remained unchanged these past few days.

"That was a rebellion, those criminals..."

"Go and arrest them."

"what?!"

"Who are you again? Didn't you want loyalty? Go ahead."

Hiluva remained expressionless, once again arrogantly taking her usual spot in Cocolia's place, looking down with an air of authority at the loyal nobleman whose eyes held a glimmer of hope.

"I need to focus my energy on more important things, especially regrouping the Silvermane Guards."

Pera was truly confused now, especially about the lower levels...

No wonder we haven't heard from Bronya lately; she went to the lower districts. It's been closed off for years; nobody's come up here in ages. I never imagined it was like this…

Hilva remained expressionless. Many years ago, she had calculated that the Star Core was related to the Rift, and she was very close to the truth. Unfortunately, before she could prove that the Star Core was the origin of the Rift, she was expelled from the City Builders.

No, it was precisely because she wanted to prove that she was applying for on-site surveys of the star's core before being dismissed... After all, she had never seen it in person, and all her research was based on historical data and simulations built in the laboratory.

We can only continue our research by seeing it with our own eyes; maybe we can find a way to destroy the rift...

Yes, even a cold wave can destroy it.

Just destroy the star core.

"Ah."

She smiled expressionlessly, and many years later, she finally understood why her punishment came down so soon after the preliminary research report and application were submitted.

Those who have the delusion to access the star core must be punished swiftly, urgently, and severely. Hilva now understands everything and...accepts it.

Every contact with the Star Core has been a disaster. The numerous rebellions in Belloborg's history that ended quietly were not due to the protection of the Grand Guardians, but rather because those people's ambitions all pointed to the endpoint called Truth, and they contacted the Star Core, attempting to seize control and cause even greater disasters, a problem that has persisted to this day.

The path to preserving a world is so narrow that it cannot even be walked side by side; only those most qualified can make the decision.

I'm not.

You are not either.

Hiluva looked at the sky outside Cripper Castle: "This rain, ah, it's just like the records of the old civilization, Pera, do you know? I heard that back then, the thing children liked most and were most likely to get a beating from adults for was stomping on raindrops... Pera, what are you going to do?"

Before anyone knew it, the round-faced girl had gotten very close, holding a document in her hand that concealed a weapon.

Even civil officials should have their own weapons.

"Hilva, what are you hiding? Where is the Great Guardian?!"

Pera pointed his gun at Shiluva, seeking the truth in his own way.

For a moment, Hiluva was struck by a realization, and then, in a daze, said, "Is that so, Pera? You're a good girl, braver than me."

She stood up and, from the position of the Great Guardian, heard no murmurs, yet it seemed as if she were hallucinating.

"But you still need to cross some thresholds. Now, take your weapons and begin your rebellion. If you understand the meaning of rebellion, come forward, defeat me, and command me to tell you everything."

The rebellious singer who clamors to sing praises of rebellion has only gone this far; she stands on the opposite side of rebellion, or rather, she has rebelled against her own rebellious self.

There has to be someone standing here to stop the easy way out. Without screening, how can you prove you're qualified?

Pera wasn't qualified; she didn't have the courage to pull the trigger. She was just a little girl...

He was then ridiculed.

"Can't you even fire a gun? You stupid superiors!"

"who?"

Pera had never heard this voice before. A phantom appeared from the void; it was Seele, who had somehow infiltrated Crepper Keep and left her teammates behind.

The Iron Guards recalled to the city were indeed more troublesome than the previous ones, and it took a lot of time—Jepard's face wasn't so useful, as he got into a fight with a guy named Dunn.

In short, Seele did not find anyone she wanted to behead.

No, Hiluva counts too.

“If you know where Cocolia is, tell me, and I’ll leave you to be dealt with by others.”

Her scythe was more dangerous than her gun, carrying an arrogant killing intent as it faced the unyielding Hiluva.

"Oh, another little girl has arrived. How old are you?"