Collapse, survive

Upon hearing Danheng's question, the Star Core Spirit stared at him with the look of someone looking at an idiot: "Danheng, I'm not sleepy yet, if you are."

Danheng interrupted her: "I know you're very lucid, but I need you to try and see if you can reproduce the [voice] in your dream."

"..."

Why do we have to do this at this time?

The Star Core decided to play along and closed its eyes...

Although she intended to give a perfunctory answer, she did try to recall the strange dream, and as her thoughts deepened, the voice actually entered her mind at just the right moment:

“Coco...Lia...threat...gradually...the sun...the black sun...is engulfing us...within our bodies…”

Danheng also realized that Xing had made a discovery: "How so?"

“There was a voice calling to Cocolia, as if urging her to do something and pleading for help.”

Xing guessed that she had indeed heard a sound.

"Then it can be confirmed. Of course, the following is just my speculation—the sound you heard may be a message that the star core sent to Cocolia in some way."

Danheng nodded:

"Let's not speculate on why the star core is behaving this way. The star core is communicating from afar... What I want to say is to you. The reason you can hear it is because something inside your body... has resonated with the star core of this world."

Xing proudly raised his head and put his hands on his hips: "Who told me to be so strong, able to contain a [Star Core] within my body?"

Whatever makes you happy, frankly, this isn't a good thing.

Danheng, curious, came over to see what the two were whispering about. She even boasted, "Look, I found out!"

It's Cocolia.

To be precise, it's some kind of afterimage.

"What's that there... some kind of afterimage? It's some kind of energy residue copied from the rift."

Danheng made this judgment.

This illusory afterimage appeared not far ahead, a manifestation of the Rift's ability to mimic reality—she had likely lingered here not long ago, murmuring to herself:

Seven hundred years ago, this was the northern border of Beloborg, and the ancient battlefield where Alisa Rand led the first Silvermane Iron Guards to resist the Legion.

'From the moment the extraterrestrial invaders descended, this world was condemned to death. But Alisa, with the star core… with it, preserved a glimmer of hope for us.'

'It summoned the wind and snow from beyond the walls, it opened the gates to the rift, it destroyed our civilization—'

It left us behind.

"Don't touch it. This isn't a memory bubble; it's being eroded by residual star core energy."

Dan Heng stopped the Star Core Spirit from curiously pinching Cocolia's afterimage's exposed hips in black stockings. "In short, I don't approve of having too much contact with objects in the Deep Rift."

"But I heard her voice."

The Star Core Spirit's eyes were clear as she recounted what she had heard.

"..."

Dan Heng roughly understood, and his expression became natural:

"When there is no other way, the only option is to put yourself in a desperate situation and then live."

"Hehe, that's the spirit of adventure. Even the rational Danheng has his moments of compromise."

March 7th chuckled strangely, winking at the Star Core Spirit, "Well done."

Seele reminded them to stop studying Cocolia's big hips: "Gentlemen, the gates are open. It's a desolate place... at least Rivet Town still retains the atmosphere of the miners' lives."

The desolation is utter; life here is a torment, even breathing.

Let's keep going then.

Before long, they entered through the gate and walked forward, where another full-figured figure appeared from behind.

"Hi~"

A judgment was made on March 7th.

"It's just another afterimage, isn't it?"

“That’s right. The rift here seems to have a special connection with Cocolia; it’s repeatedly recreating her image.”

In Dan Heng's explanation, it is mentioned that he did not stop the star core essence from being pinched.

It's a bit reckless, but this kind of adventure can yield more information.

Her pioneering talent in this field is evident to all.

'Star Core, perhaps you are right. Our ancestors—including Alisa Rand—burned their lives to continue this civilization, then fell silent, their memories scattered by the wind and snow.'

They spent their lives composing hymns praising human courage, yet they had no time to gaze intently at the stars.

'To the more magnificent beings in the cosmos, a thousand years is but a fleeting moment, and the achievements of a tiny race are utterly insignificant.'

'I, I, I'm here!'

Xinghe Jing repeated it, causing March 7 to gasp in shock.

"It sounds like her condition isn't good, it's... getting worse?"

Danheng frowned slightly, as if the closer they got to the star core, the more Cocolia's thoughts leaned towards those voices.

The captive Hilva, who was also listening to these whispers, looked dejected: "Those are the voices of the Great Wardens of all ages, and... some of the Beloborgs, but of course, most of the Great Wardens of all ages."

"what?"

March 7th was shocked, and Seele was also startled.

"You mean, so many of your superiors are with the Star Core?"

Seele felt her killing intent, worn down by the wind and snow, becoming increasingly clear.

"You've all seen those monsters wandering in the Rift, haven't you? They have faces similar to the living, or other things, and they make similar noises, just like this afterimage in front of us. The Rift will repeatedly reappear these to confuse humans."

After all, Hilva had some knowledge of the Star Core, and after accessing more information that only the High Guardians were qualified to know, she understood more.

"Those who have come into contact with the Star Core throughout the history of Belloborg are no exception. Almost every generation of High Keepers, and those they trust, or perhaps... those who have gained their trust, have come into contact with the Star Core in this way, and thus..."

Familiar people whisper in your ear day and night, tempting you into that new world. Tragically, when you die, you are destined to become a part of those voices, unable to resist or stop them.

From the moment she succeeded as the High Guardian of Alisarand, she, like Cocolia at this moment, left behind afterimages, and was even more aggressive.

"Be careful."

Danheng then discovered this new rift creature—the Shadow of the Guardian.

It was too dangerous. He rarely intervened, but he smashed her with a few punches and kicks, and she vanished into thin air with a wail.

The voice even sounded somewhat familiar.

March 7th was still shaken: "This enemy is very different! If I didn't know it was a product of the rift, I would have thought we were fighting humans."

"Yes, unlike the low-level Rift creatures that wreak havoc, it seems to have its own thoughts and can even use sophisticated tactics."

Dan Heng frowned, suddenly realizing a problem.

How many of these afterimages does she have?

Hilva couldn't answer that question. She just stared at the spot where the afterimage had disappeared: "That's the second High Guardian, Svetlana Rand, who succeeded the first High Guardian, Alisarand."

"I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before... Hmm, it's from the movies Schwarzlo showed!"

Xing also felt the name sounded familiar, and then she remembered.

"You've heard of her too? I really wish I hadn't, especially about Alisarand. I hope we don't run into her again."

Hiluva looked grief-stricken, unable to imagine how cruel that scene must have been.

Seele remained expressionless; she neither understood nor needed to hear.

Whether these people are dead or alive, whether they insist on remaining human or have defected to the Star Core and become these monsters...

"There's no time to waste. I have a feeling we're very close to the northern snowfields, and the star core is just ahead!"

……

……

Belloberg is just ahead.

"It's so lively."

Fang Jie walked through the unguarded city gate and entered the twilight rain of Belleburg.

On such a rainy day, people gathered together... and fought so weakly that it was a fight to the death.

"I saw you guys fighting last time I came, but this time... well, at least you're all locals."

"If you don't shout things like 'you can't kill anyone like this,'" Fang Jie scanned the city center and the sealed-off area connected to the lower furnace core. Natasha had maintained order there, preventing the conflict from escalating further.

Who knows what those reckless wanderers and miners from underground will do when they rush up after the gates to the surface open? A blind riot will engulf everyone, ultimately leading to a complete collapse of both the upper and lower levels...

What else is there to divide?

“Ms. Natasha, it’s a pleasure to see you up there again.”

Fang Jie walked over and nodded to Natasha, who had a serious expression and kept her lips pursed.

"It's you."

Natasha gave a weary smile: "I haven't had a chance to thank you yet, Mr. Fang Jie, thank you for everything you've done for... Belloberg. The weather is certainly getting warmer."

She was truly grateful. After Fang Jie left that day, he rarely appeared on the lower level, but the weather was indeed getting warmer, and he must be working very hard.

Unfortunately, these days that were getting better... are now presented like this.

"I'm so sorry you had to witness such an unpleasant scene."

Natasha felt sad; this was not what she wanted... She had thought about revenge before, but it meant paying for everything and facing a failed future.

There will be no victors, no survivors, the world is about to be destroyed, and the rift is still spreading... Those calamities will not distinguish between upper and lower levels, they will kill everyone equally.

"Why should I apologize? It's not your fault, ma'am."

Fang Jie stretched out his hand. The surrounding drizzle stopped, but the distance became even more...exhilarating. The torrential rain washed over the protected Belberg, treating everyone equally.

There was once a war, a mythical war in the history of the planet Yalilo-VI, thousands of years ago, which was intense and protracted, until an early spring completely changed the course of the war.

"You did nothing wrong, and you don't need to apologize to anyone or anything."

Fang Jie watched as the passion, which even the heavy rain could not extinguish, raged on, while many others could only seek shelter from the rain.

Cold and war are always the biggest contributors to the death rate in Beloborg, whether today or tomorrow.

"Don't say things like, 'But is it really worth it?'"

Fang Jie, unsure how to comfort Natasha, had no choice but to choose another method: bringing the subterranean fire to the surface.

She doesn't need comforting.

Natasha looked at him: "I didn't want to hear 'We survived, we crossed the line, we did this and that, was it all really worth it?' How could I say such a thing? Actually, when it really happened, I felt relieved, very relieved. I just... didn't want to disappoint those who had helped me and supported me along the way..."

“I often doubt myself, looking back on what I’ve done, marveling at how I’ve overcome so many difficulties, marveling at how incredibly strong I used to be… and doubting that I’ve lost the courage I used to have, doubting that if I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t be able to replicate that brave version of myself.”

"It is thanks to everyone, to all those who have helped and supported me, that we have been able to get to where we are today. In the long wait that seems to have no end, I feel more relaxed now than ever before. But, I can't help but wonder if I will let everyone down. This sense of ease is inevitably tinged with a little guilt."

Fang Jie listened quietly, not needing any comfort from him. Natasha was a strong person; she would adjust on her own.

Neither the silence nor the speaking lasted long; she had little time to indulge in such luxuries.

Natasha's eyes lit up: "Mr. Fang Jie, you once asked me if I needed any help."

"Yes."

Fang Jie didn't stay on the road the whole time; his decision to rush to her was naturally partly due to this intention.

It's probably all Sambo's fault that things got to this point.

But since he's here, he naturally won't hesitate to show up and take action.

She shouldn't listen to Cocolia; she should listen to Fang Jie.

It's not that I'm listening to the shameful Rand Duck; I'm speaking in the name of the world.

It wasn't like she just did it without telling Seele. She wouldn't have said a word; she would have already groped him and started doing it together.

She uses the fangjie (a type of Chinese scimitar) like a sickle, like a hammer, and ideally, she'd have a sword-drawing theme song as background music, dude.