At this moment.
The entire internet is focused on the final battle on Jarilo-VI!
What most people don't know, however.
Is that this battle isn't just happening in the game—it's also unfolding in real life, almost like a live broadcast!
"Bronya! I don't know what's going on between you two. Even if you explained it to me now, I probably wouldn't understand all that complicated stuff. But there are two things I know for sure—"
"First, these guys went through hell to get here, all to seal that thing called the [Stellaron]."
"Second, remember what I said? If anything happened to you, I'd come to save you no matter what."
"So, do you get it? Even if you've been brainwashed by that woman and completely forgotten our promise—I'll knock you out and drag you back!"
With Seele's strong declaration, Bronya faced the most important decision of her life.
A moment later.
Bronya's eyes grew firm.
"Lady Cocolia, thank you."
"But… I'm sorry, Mother. This time, I can't stand by your side."
"You said the depths of humanity are foolishness and cowardice, and maybe that's true. Desperation brings out the darkest parts of people's hearts."
"...But you've overlooked those who struggle to survive and fight in the face of despair. I've seen the light in them—on the frontlines of the restricted zones, in the Underworld, in the corners you've ignored."
"Our ancestors built this city with their own hands, fighting to preserve civilization amidst the howling snowstorms. Even if this world is destined to fall apart, the path to its end should be paved by human hands—"
"—Not by handing our fate over to this cursed thing!"
...
[Chat]
"Wow, wow, wow..."
"Help! These two are too good together!"
"Bronya's speech was amazing!"
"I'm fired up, brothers!"
"It's finally time to fight!"
...
After listening to Bronya's speech, Cocolia's face showed no emotion.
Guinaifen nervously watched the scene unfold.
Her palms were slightly sweaty.
If this really corresponded to what was happening in reality...
She still hoped that Cocolia would come to her senses at the critical moment.
Even if her mind had been eroded by the Stellaron, her love for Bronya didn't seem fake.
Having experienced pain herself, Guinaifen didn't want to see a similar tragedy unfold.
However, some things are ultimately unavoidable.
After a low murmur from the Stellaron, Cocolia finally spoke. "I see... So this is your choice... I understand, Bronya."
"Pity... Pity you won't see the beautiful world. You can't break free from the shackles of your thoughts... Do you know? You were supposed to be... the [Mother] of the new world."
After Cocolia finished speaking, the ground began to tremble.
A frosty aura appeared in her hand.
It then transformed into an ice spear.
"Without breaking the old, there can be no new."
"As the Supreme Guardian, I command you to rise—"
"—[The Engine of Creation]!"
A massive mechanical claw emerged from behind Cocolia, and a robot as large as a mountain awakened from the ice and snow.
Its face lit up with a red glow, and its steel arms swept toward the group below!
Cocolia, holding the ice spear, hovered beside the Engine of Creation, looking down at them.
[Battle Begins]
Guinaifen licked her lips and sighed, "This battle isn't quite what I imagined!"
"Can we even defeat this Engine of Creation?"
"Wait... Cocolia, didn't you say you were abandoning the power of Preservation to embrace the Stellaron? Why are you still using the Architects' power? You hypocrite!"
The livestream chat was flooded with comments agreeing, "Exactly."
Meanwhile.
On the Astral Express.
Himeko was busy!
One screen displayed the satellite imagery of Jarilo-VI.
Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, Bronya, and Seele were engaged in a fierce battle against Cocolia and the Engine of Creation on the silver snow plains.
Amidst the frost and snowstorms, explosions occasionally lit up the battlefield with massive flames.
Welt had already gone down to the surface.
So the tasks of guarding the train and advancing the game's story all fell on Himeko's shoulders.
The battle scenes on both sides were different, but they had reached the same point in time!
Even!
Just as Himeko fired the orbital cannon, the same event happened in the game!
This made Himeko's hands tremble slightly.
Her heartbeat quickened.
It felt like she was manipulating reality!
An indescribable sense of surrealism!
Suddenly.
The satellite imagery showed.
Stelle being struck down from the top of the Engine of Creation by Cocolia, her body engulfed in a violent snowstorm.
Himeko's palms began to sweat.
However, the next moment.
Stelle suddenly reappeared in the center of the battlefield.
Holding a flaming spear.
Her aura was completely different from before!
"That spear... it's a weapon of the Architects..."
"Not only has it been unfrozen, but it's also burning with flames?"
"What exactly happened in that moment?"
Himeko turned her gaze to the other screen.
The game had also entered a cutscene, showing the battle animation.
Himeko's expression grew serious.
"This is the critical moment!"
She had a Premonition!
It was likely that, just like when they faced the Doomsday Beast before!
The game would show, from Stelle's perspective, a fantastical experience from her inner world!
To be continued…
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus