Amidst the warm rain, the gray-haired girl's eyes welled up with tears.
Jiang Liang stared, stunned. Before he could even speak, Stelle's next sentence burst out:
"Stelle has drifted through half a lifetime, regretting only that I never met a worthy liege! If Milord does not disdain me, Stelle wishes to acknowledge you as my adoptive father!"
Although standing there holding the greatsword looked incredibly imposing, Stelle felt that was secondary. The overwhelming sense of power she had just witnessed was what truly shook her.
She wanted that kind of power too. She wanted to be among the top-tier powerhouses on the Astral Express. She wanted to wield a greatsword too!
"Why are you kneeling? Are you alright?"
Just as Stelle finished speaking, March 7th and Dan Heng arrived. March 7th anxiously checked Stelle over, patting her here and there, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming Stelle hadn't suddenly burned out or something.
As for Bronya and Cocolia...
They were having their final tender moment. Cocolia was near death, so out of basic human decency, March 7th decided to let Cocolia have some pleasant memories in her last moments.
She and Dan Heng didn't feel it was right to interfere with the mother and daughter's final time together.
"I'm fine... I just... invoked a spirit earlier, and now my legs are weak."
With her companions present, Stelle naturally couldn't keep kneeling and lose face by kowtowing a couple more times. She reluctantly stood up.
If everyone could see Jiang Liang, she wouldn't mind shamelessly clinging to his leg and shedding a few tears. But hugging empty air just doesn't feel right.
Seeing Stelle temporarily extricated from the "adoptive father" predicament as March 7th peppered her with questions, Jiang Liang sighed in relief and turned his attention to the second weapon that had appeared in his hand.
[Equipping: The 12th Divine Key, Jizo Mitama.
Weapon Description: Possesses the power of the Herrscher of Corruption. Can corrode all worldly things through contact. Corroded items will temporarily belong to Jizo Mitama. Has special effects on souls. Can enter the Stigma Space to awaken special powers.
Dispatchable Character: Stelle.
The dispatched character will enter the current Stigma Space together with the Host. Please continue your efforts!]
"Hmm?"
There's a dungeon too?
Gripping Jizo Mitama, Jiang Liang could indeed sense the existence of another space within it. But the feeling this space gave him... how should he put it?
This space feels... somewhat unfriendly.
Decision made. Later, I'll drag that gray-haired girl named Stelle along and wreck this Stigma Space together.
However, before Stelle could finish dealing with March 7th and Dan Heng, Jiang Liang suddenly felt his vision blur. When he came to, he found himself in a different space entirely.
Appearing alongside him in this space was Stelle, who had just been about to explain to March 7th and Dan Heng why her hair color had suddenly changed and how she'd wielded a greatsword to defeat Cocolia.
"Did you pull me in here?"
Finding herself in an unfamiliar place, especially with this god-tier proxy, Stelle scratched her head, feeling a little apprehensive. Could it be that things aren't over yet?
"No way. That person [Cocolia] is already on her last breath. If it's not over, we'll just beat her up again."
"Right... then let's continue."
Stelle plopped down onto her knees again with a thud. Under Jiang Liang's astonished gaze, she opened her mouth, then couldn't utter a word, starting to fidget awkwardly. "The books I read said kneeling is the highest form of etiquette when asking for a favor... but after kneeling this time, I realized... we haven't even told each other our names."
If her first kneel was driven by an unhesitating craving for power, her second kneel came after her rationality had returned, naturally leading to some embarrassment.
If you're not embarrassed, then I am. But it's fine. Now that you're embarrassed, I'm not anymore. Jiang Liang pressed his lips together, suppressing a laugh internally.
"Forget it, forget it. Good thing no one saw... I'm Stelle. And you?"
"Call me Kevin Kaslana... no, wait, just call me Jiang Liang. That's my real name."
The experience of dying hundreds of times had made Jiang Liang habitually throw out fake names. But thinking about it, perhaps being honest and using his real name would be better.
Stelle nodded, about to stand up, when a voice suddenly echoed around them.
"This city cries out... The power of Preservation fades... Even the firmest will can be shaken... You are but mere passersby, yet you have shouldered the fate of this world."
Jiang Liang followed the voice and saw, not far away, a small girl, less than a meter tall, watching them.
But before he could speak, he felt Stelle poke his arm. Turning around, he saw Stelle making a throat-slitting gesture with her finger.
The meaning was clear: Should we just take out this stranger who inexplicably appeared, saw her kneeling, and is now muttering to herself?
"I am the will of the past Guardians," the girl continued, clearly addressing Stelle now. "During the battle with Cocolia, your will was ignited. At that moment, you possessed the determination to preserve everything. Therefore, you should have entered here and seen me."
"My inner will of Preservation?"
Stelle understood, glancing at the composed Jiang Liang, another question arising in her mind. "Then why did you only show up after the battle ended?"
"At that time, I intended to bring you here. But just as I prepared to act, your soul seemed to transform into someone else entirely—impossible to pull, impossible to move... until now."
The Guardian Will turned its head. "Until now, when both you and the person beside you were pulled in here together. Regardless, I must thank you for saving Belobog, for saving this planet."
"So, what was the original purpose of pulling me in here?"
"To touch the Amber. To see if the Preservation ignited within you could attract His gaze. As long as you can lift the Amber, the Will of Preservation will continue within you."
The Guardian Will pointed towards a lance standing before them, seemingly forged from molten gold. Apart from its color, it looked unremarkable, simply standing there.
"However, the battle is now over. Your inner Will of Preservation is far less intense than before. Touching it now... you likely won't be able to lift it."
"Can I try?"
Jiang Liang suddenly spoke up, his hand naturally reaching out and grasping the lance's shaft.
He had a feeling. If he willed it, the lance would readily accept him. Even just standing here, he could feel the lance emanating an aura of affinity towards him.
Or rather... the lance seemed very fond of the will contained within the Kevin Kaslana character card.
"You may. As long as you do not become disheartened or disappointed upon failure."
The Guardian Will seemed surprised but agreed nonetheless.
She hadn't sensed the same intense will in this person as she had in Stelle earlier. She only agreed out of politeness.
"Let me state beforehand, someone without the Will of Preservation cannot possibly draw forth this lance containing—"
Before she could finish, Jiang Liang pulled upwards.
With almost no resistance, the lance was drawn free.
The next moment, Jiang Liang felt the gaze of a heavy, imposing presence pierce through countless light-years to glance at him.
Guardian Will: "..."
(Author's Note: Realized a bit late the scheduled post didn't go through, had to post manually.)