Collapse, survive

March 7th grinned and nodded vigorously: "In other words, Ah Xing—your first [exploration] journey was incredibly lucky!"

The Star Core Spirit immediately revealed a bright smile. Yes, I am such a lucky protagonist!

"It's all thanks to everyone. We're not afraid of any difficulties when we're adventuring together with you!"

She's being modest.

"That's right! A fun adventure shouldn't have so many rules and regulations. Help those in need, make trustworthy friends, and maybe even save the world a few times along the way—"

March 7th looked at her expectantly.

The Star Core Spirit lived up to expectations: "—This is all thanks to the spirit of pioneering!"

"That's it."

Danheng nodded with relief (feeling ashamed).

I really wish there was some exciting and heroic background music playing right now.

In short, although there was a minor incident, with suspicions of deliberate sabotage and withholding information, the outcome was positive, and the new train crew members showed some growth.

Watching her, full of energy, charge ahead again, shouting:

"I am Xing, an unknown visitor, a pioneer, and I have arrived."

Stars are full of ambition.

This is my first "exploration," and it seems to be nearing its end.

Climbing further up these steps leads to the origin of everything—the location of the star's core.

By removing the star's core, Beloberg will be completely freed from its crumbling, false peace, and the planet will be reborn.

However, an end is just another beginning—our train will get back on track and head towards the next destination.

In short, at this moment, right now, climb the stairs—

Go and witness the end of this planet and this journey.

……

……

Everwinter Ridge.

night.

Cocolia stood in the wind and snow, like an ice sculpture, yet not a single snowflake fell on her.

It looks very cold.

While not exactly naked, in this world of eternal winter, they wore only a thin Great Guardian uniform, without even a windproof coat or armor, exposing their skin to the ice and snow.

She did feel cold.

The swirling snowflakes, carried by the frosty wind, obscured her vision.

Her body was already freezing cold, but the biting chill still felt like needles, relentlessly trying to break through her last line of defense.

The warmth from the storage has completely dissipated, leaving only a cold, stinging pain.

Fortunately, she was once lucid and made arrangements.

But that's it.

Cocolia knew that even if she regained consciousness for a while, she would never be able to hold on any longer.

Belloberg couldn't hold on any longer.

Past, future, present.

Thinking of this, the desolation that welled up in her heart was almost colder than the wind and snow she was currently experiencing.

I don't know how much longer I have to hold on, but finally, some faint sounds, sounds beyond the mutterings, are echoing.

Cocolia, you ultimately chose us.

"Perhaps, you are Belloberg's past, that's undeniable."

Why, Cocolia, don't you fully integrate into our group?

"Is he here?"

Do not mention it, do not think about it, do not recall it.

When will he arrive?

He won't come! Cocolia, you've chosen us, we'll give you everything, don't resist anymore...

"No, it's her, she's already here."

Bronya, my daughter, you have come here proudly at the very end, just as I had hoped.

Right there in the plaza where the star core was located, with her back to 'it' and them, Cocolia immediately saw the person who was holding up a light and illuminating the darkness as they walked towards her.

How dazzling! It is a light that can illuminate the future.

Ignoring everything else, Cocolia immediately noticed Bronya.

She was shivering from the cold, but she persevered and made it here.

She can't do anything.

"maybe."

Therefore, there is no need to perpetuate Belloberg's tragedy. Right now, in this very moment, can the undeniable past create the future?

"Come, let us become one, Star Core."

【?……!OK】

"Shhhh-"

In the darkness shrouded by heavy snow, a faint sound of wind breaking could be heard, rapidly approaching at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people.

They are coming.

A tremendous fear gripped Cocolia's heart in an instant. It, and all of them, could not accept this outcome. A sudden surge of erosion caused her already near-limit body to erupt with an unknown power.

Thus, we become "us," bringing everything together to create the future.

"Mother."

Bronya is calling out.

“You’ve come, Bronya, my daughter.”

Cocolia stared at her with her dark eyes. "Have you come to accept our shared will?"

"what is that?"

Bronya had never heard of such a thing. Before Cocolia could tell her the truth, she had contact with Fang Jie.

Unfortunately, even the Star Core got a peek.

Caw! I don't want to see!

At that time, someone was completely unaware of how easy it was for the eccentric Cocolia to talk to, but it didn't matter. In the end, Cocolia changed her mind and sent Bronya away.

After that, the two kinds of erosion became rampant and worthless, and we treated 'them' like a Pikachu on the roadside.

Now, everything is back on track.

"Of course, it's the future they promised, Bronya. A world without poverty, cold, and suffering; a world where people no longer have to beg for survival like prisoners; a world we can protect forever."

"No, Mother, I don't know what you're talking about, but... don't listen to those voices! I'm here to seal the star core! What's wrong with you?"

Bronya already knew so much and knew exactly what needed to be done, but she didn't understand why Cocolia had become like this.

We should cut off one of the sources of all this calamity.

The opportunity is here.

"Bronya, what made you like this? You clearly know the truth, you know the past, so why did you abandon me? Why did you betray me? Did I raise you to be an ungrateful, heartless person?"

Cocolia's voice was distant and hollow, seemingly playing the role of anger, yet she was uncooperative, which was quite awkward and terrifying.

Schwarzkopf was more emotional than she was at that moment.

"For seven hundred years, we have tried and fought, believing that the light of humanity would guide us toward revival. And what was the result? We were utterly defeated!"

Why is it that when faced with an irresistible force, our first instinct is always to resist and plug our ears, instead of listening to its demands?

"That is the indelible folly and cowardice entrenched deep within humanity... Cast them aside, break free of the shackles that bind you! The Star Core will lead humanity toward evolution, just as it once protected us from the Legion's ravages and created Beloberg. That is our past, that is the unchanging source, that is the true guardian. You cannot deny that He will..."

The pioneering team and Seele exchanged a silent glance.

As expected, what stood before them was not just Cocolia, but a part of Belloberg over the past seven hundred years, inheriting an overwhelming dark will.

Regardless of her intentions in coming here, in the end, she was captured by darkness once again.

Perhaps she had her reasons, but at this moment—

Bronya silently raised the gun in her hand: "Shut up, you're not Mother at all! You look nothing like the person I remember, so give it back to me—"

“My daughter, why do you say such things? Don’t you know the whole truth? Then let me tell you everything—about the deal with the Star Core, about the wish I made to it, so that there are no more secrets between us.”

"I said, shut up!"

"--boom!"

Bronya actually fired, aiming at the star core behind Cocolia, or rather, the seal, which had long since changed from a round seal to a square shape, radiating enormous alien energy and creating cold waves and rifts.

"No one will make a wish to you anymore. I will not entrust my fate to you, you scourge!"

Bronya, who had been frail and delicate and needed Seele's care the whole time, suddenly opened fire, as if she wanted to twist Star Core's head off.

If you're not the person I remember, then I'll beat you up until you turn back!

Bronya was actually led astray by Seele.

Seele is still figuring out how to get closer; that energy source is no ordinary thing.

She began to look at Bronya with newfound respect.

“I see… Your choice is… I see. I understand, Bronya.”

Cocolia's tone seemed sad, and her dim eyes no longer held any brightness, but it didn't matter, it was all the same.

"It's a pity, it's a pity..."

The earth suddenly trembled.

"The ground...the ground is shaking! What's happening? It feels so scary!"

On March 7th, as I was trying to aim, I suddenly felt a chill. I couldn't see very far in the darkness; it was terrifying.

A towering figure tore through the ice and snow, shaking the earth and casting an even darker and heavier shadow, making it difficult for those who could see it with the help of a sliver of light to make out its true form...

Everyone looked toward March 7th, which was described as "terrifying."

"Why are you looking at me?"

.

PS: Good morning, noon, and evening everyone. Even after this book is released, I'll still maintain a daily update schedule of around 10,000 words. After all, there are limits to human potential. Regarding extra chapters… I'm currently tallying everyone's monthly votes and donations. The extra chapters will be released on Monday.

Chapter Forty-Six: Flame Spear Pulls Anchor, Sharing the Star God.

A torrent of imaginary energy, surging like a tide, engulfed the surroundings, and a magnificent tremor shook the frozen earth, revealing itself here—

“It is impossible to establish the new without destroying the old.”

Raising aloft an ice-blue spear, the will to freeze everything issues its command:

"As the Great Guardian, I command you to rise—"

"—[Creation Engine]!"

The magnificent palm responded to the call, just as it had always.

I heard the call, and I must respond!

The steel creation was no longer silent; light, amber light, flowed across the crystals on its arm. It descended from the sky and struck Cocolia—not to attack an ally, but to lift it upwards.

The cold wind blows across Yongdong Ridge, the guardian commands the engine to return—