Even Without Svarog, We Can Still Defeat the Stellaron

The group made their way past the vagrants sprawled across the ground, with Seele continuing to lead the way.

The enormous entrance to the Mechanical Settlement soon appeared ahead of them.

A massive metal gate stood at the entrance to the Mechanical Settlement. As they approached, the patrolling soldiers stationed there immediately locked onto them, the indicator lights on their heads turning red in unison.

Everyone instinctively drew their weapons and prepared to fight. After all, robots weren't like vagrants who could be reasoned with. If they said they'd hit you, they really would, without a moment's hesitation.

Without breaking stride, Seele walked straight up to the robot in the lead, gave her name, and told it to contact Svarog.

The robot scanned Seele. The red light in its eyes flashed twice, then it stood down and opened the passage into the settlement.

"Whoa, Seele. You've got that much pull in the Underworld?" Stelle looked at her in surprise. Apparently, her earlier claim that she "came often" hadn't been an exaggeration.

Seele remained calm. "Doesn't matter how often I come. That lousy robot inside just won't listen to reason."

"But that shows persistence pays off," Stelle said seriously from the side. "At least you can come and go from Svarog's turf freely now, right?"

Seele stopped in her tracks and glared back at her. "If you can't say anything helpful, don't say anything."

Trading barbs, the group followed Seele straight into the depths of the Mechanical Settlement.

At the very back of the settlement, a towering robot was already standing in front of the platform, waiting.

When he saw Seele, the red light in his eyes flickered briefly as he completed the identification process, but he said nothing.

Seele was long used to his attitude. She stepped forward and got straight to the point.

"Svarog, this time is different." Her tone was solemn. "The current Supreme Guardian, Bronya, is determined to deal with the Stellaron once and for all. The Upper District is mobilizing the Silvermane Guards, and Wildfire is willing to help too. I hope the Mechanical Settlement won't stay out of it this time."

The red light in Svarog's eyes flickered repeatedly, as though he were retrieving data to run a simulation.

A moment later, he delivered his conclusion.

"Calculations indicate that even with the conventional combat forces of the Silvermane Guards, Wildfire, and the Mechanical Settlement combined, the probability of successfully suppressing the Stellaron remains below acceptable standards." His voice was flat. "Acting rashly would only result in the extensive loss of Belobog's remaining resources and population, leading to its ultimate destruction."

Seele suppressed her anger. "Bronya has made up her mind, and we have the Nameless helping us now. This is our best chance!"

"Short-term changes are insufficient to overturn seven hundred years of accumulated data." Svarog's logic was unshakable. "Determination and emotion cannot replace probability."

"Your calculations missed something."

Bai Luoming walked out from the back of the group and stood beside Seele.

"The people here to deal with the Stellaron this time aren't just from Belobog." He met Svarog's gaze. "There's also us, the Nameless of the Astral Express."

Svarog turned to him, a red light sweeping over Bai Luoming, March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng.

"The database contains no complete combat records for the four of you. Existing information cannot prove that you possess the power to change the outcome of my calculations. Without a way to quantify unknown variables, I refuse to undertake a high-risk operation."

Bai Luoming offered no further explanation.

He looked around, his gaze settling on a massive stone pillar standing nearby.

He raised a hand, signaling the others to take a few steps back.

Then he walked up to the pillar. Without any unnecessary movements, he simply raised his arm and slammed a fist into it.

A muffled thud rang out.

Spiderweb cracks spread up and down the sturdy stone pillar from the point of impact, and then the entire pillar crumbled on the spot. Large chunks of stone crashed to the ground, breaking into even smaller pieces.

The tremor put all the nearby Automaton Soldiers on alert, several red beams locking onto Bai Luoming in unison.

The dust that rose up made March 7th cough and retreat two steps. She looked at the pile of rubble, then at Bai Luoming, and couldn't help saying, "Did you have to make such a huge mess? If we'd known, we would've backed up farther."

Bai Luoming shook his hand, brushing the debris off his fist.

"What do you think of that strength?" He looked at Svarog. "We have two more companions on the train who haven't come down. They're both stronger than me."

He was naturally referring to Himeko and Welt, but there was no need to explain too much to a robot.

Svarog stared at the rubble covering the ground, the red light in his eyes flickering wildly at an unprecedented rate. He was clearly incorporating Bai Luoming's powerful punch into his calculations as a new variable.

Seele noticed that, for the first time, he hadn't immediately rejected them. She was just about to press the advantage when hurried footsteps sounded from the passage on the side of the platform.

"Mr. Svarog!"

A little girl came running over, clutching repair parts. It was Clara.

When she saw the shattered stone pillar and the Automaton Soldiers poised for battle, her little face turned pale. She thought the two sides had come to blows.

Without time to think, Clara rushed in front of Svarog and spread her arms, shielding the towering robot behind her.

"Big brother, big sister, and Sister Seele, please don't hurt Mr. Svarog!"

Seele rubbed her brow helplessly and explained, "We're here to discuss working together, not to dismantle him."

March 7th hurriedly put away her weapon and gave Clara a friendly smile. "Don't be scared, little girl. We're here to deal with the Stellaron disaster."

"Clara, move aside."

Clara looked back at the towering robot, then at the rubble scattered across the ground. She shook her head repeatedly and remained in front of him.

Svarog didn't forcibly move her aside. With the little girl standing between them, he continued stating the results of his calculations.

"Even accounting for the destructive power of the unknown variable, the success rate has not reached the acceptable threshold for defeating the Stellaron."

Seeing that Svarog still refused to budge, Bai Luoming lost interest in continuing the discussion.

He took March 7th's hand, turned around, and walked away.

"Huh? We're not talking anymore?" March 7th hadn't caught on.

Bai Luoming spread his hands. "No. Communicating with a robot is too much trouble. We'd be better off going back and getting some sleep to recharge."

Stelle immediately nodded in agreement. "Exactly. No wonder Svarog gives Seele such a headache."

"But Svarog's information..." March 7th still wanted to try.

"What, are you going to beat up the person most important to Clara right in front of her?" Bai Luoming shrugged indifferently. "Besides, even without Svarog, we can still defeat the Stellaron."

Dan Heng calmly added, "And Svarog's information isn't that important. The files Bronya gave us already contain everything currently available. You just didn't read them."

March 7th fell silent and could only follow the group out.

Seele looked back at Svarog and Clara, who was still standing in front of him. In the end, she stamped her foot, turned, and hurried after the others.

The depths of the settlement fell quiet again.

Svarog stood before the pile of rubble, the red light in his eyes still flickering without pause.