Chapter 171

As if she had been granted approval, Cocolia was so excited that she couldn't contain herself. She couldn't suppress the upturn of her lips and continued to pull Bronya up the hillside.

Continuing forward, the two soon came to see a huge building.

At first glance, it looks more like a human-shaped mechanism than a building, completely different from the rigid buildings in the city. It is a relic left by the "Architects".

Cocolia's journey ended here.

Bronya, what would you think if I told you that that world could really come to pass?

She turned around and looked at her daughter with eyes full of anticipation.

Bronya seemed completely stunned by the shocking question, her shoulders trembling slightly as she lowered her head.

Cocolia saw this as proof of approval. Overjoyed and thrilled that her ideals had been recognized, she grabbed Bronya's hand and passionately declared...

"He once promised me that the ideal new world would eventually arrive. But rebirth comes at a price: erasing all traces of the old world's decay, abandoning meaningless, feeble existence... This is the price priced by the 'Stellaron,' that mysterious entity that can bring Eternal Freeze at will."

Cocolia became more and more excited as she spoke, and towards the end, she even pulled Bronya's hand up to the sky, as if she could touch her ideal world at will.

"Look at the future He promised, Bronya! Once His promise is fulfilled, we will no longer have to spend our lives guarding a wasteland destined for Destruction. You and I will witness a new world rise from the ruins."

Hahahaha!

Bronya burst into uncontrollable laughter, as if she had heard the funniest joke. Cocolia's smile also came to an abrupt halt with her laughter.

Bronya, having finally finished laughing, wiped away her tears with her fingers and then snapped her fingers.

"Let's end this tedious brainwashing session here. I'm tired of hearing your rhetoric."

A burst of flame shot into the sky, and a swirling crimson vortex swept Bronya away like a storm. Startled, Cocolia immediately retreated a few steps. As the flames gradually died down, a young man emerged from the firestorm.

"Elation aura... Just who are you!?"

He couldn't care less about the shock of his beloved daughter suddenly turning into a man.

Finally sensing the Path doom, Cocolia shouted angrily, and the long sword formed from solid ice that instantly appeared in her palm turned into a merciless flash of light, slashing directly at his neck.

However, a crisp sound rang in her ears. Her counterattack was easily caught by Bai Jun's right arm. That was a sharp blade formed from condensed ice! Even the toughest Fragmentum Monster couldn't withstand such a heavy blow, yet it was blocked by the opponent's right arm, which was not equipped with any armor.

Accompanied by a clanging sound like metal clashing, as she stood there stunned, a shock struck Cocolia's abdomen.

"Elation? No, no, no, I am who I am, the one and only 'Sun'."

Cocolia was sent hurtling into the sky like a punching bag, while Bai Jun raised his chin with an air of cleaving through the sky, his raised finger proclaiming his identity.

Chapter 209 The Platonsanks's Lightning

The timeline of Bai Cocolia's arrival at Everwinter Hill, disguised as Bai Jun and following Bronya, has been significantly rewinded.

"Put your hand on me, and I can impersonate you and accompany Cocolia to the Stellaron. It'll also give me a good look at what that woman is really thinking."

Bai Jun took out an exquisite fox mask from the inside pocket of his clothes and gently handed it to Bronya.

The location is Bronya's bedroom.

The table was set with luxurious, sweet, and soft delicacies, unlike those in the Underworld, but the two of them had no interest in them at all.

"Huh? Is this really okay!?"

After hearing Bai Jun's plan, Bronya didn't touch the mask first. Instead, she opened her eyes wide and, for the first time ever, displayed an impolite attitude.

"Don't worry, I won't use this trick unless it's absolutely necessary."

Bai Jun nodded reluctantly. Every time he recalled his experience at the space station, the painful lesson was still vivid in his mind... In short, unless the situation was exceptional, he would not have used "The Mask of a Thousand Faces" this time.

"No, I'm not questioning your abilities, Bai Jun, it's just..."

"Don't look so worried. It might sound shameless, but I'm incredibly strong—strong enough that no one on this planet can easily harm me. Hmm, maybe that's a bit of an overstatement?"

Bronya bit her lip, stammering as if she wanted to say something.

Bai Jun easily saw the source of Bronya's inner conflict and shrugged with a smile to comfort her.

"R-Really?"

"Of course it's true. Who would joke around with their own life like that?"

Bai Jun's cheerful smile dispelled Bronya's worries.

Only then did Bronya finally let go of her burden and reach out to touch the fox mask without any suspicion. She had expected something strange to happen, but the opposite was true; the mask did not react at all and looked no different from an ordinary mask.

"Is that all...?"

"Yes, a simple touch will suffice."

In response to Bronya's tentative question, Bai Jun simply nodded and then put the mask on his face.

Crimson flames erupted from around Bai Jun like fluttering butterflies, and Bronya, caught off guard, was directly engulfed by the vortex of flames.

Strangely, Bronya didn't feel the burning pain of the flames. Instead, she felt a warm and peaceful sensation, like sunlight shining on her. Before she could recover, the crimson flames gradually faded, and the figure that suddenly appeared in front of her startled Bronya so much that she stood up abruptly.

"... Bai Jun!?"

"It's me. Don't get so worked up. I just told you I could impersonate you, right?"

Bai Jun closed his leaden-gray eyes and explained with a hint of helplessness.

The girl's voice that came from beside her was both strange and incredibly familiar. Bronya stared blankly at herself, who looked exactly like her, as if she were reflected in a mirror. It took her a long time to accept the reality that the other person was Bai Jun.

Even if you're mentally prepared, you'll still be deeply shocked when you actually see the reality.

Because they look so alike!

Whether it's appearance, clothing, or even temperament, everything is perfect and flawless... No, that's not right. Bronya always felt that the version of herself that Bai Jun had transformed into had a breathtaking charm, far more elegant and aloof than herself, and she also had a kind of approachable quality that made people want to get closer to her.

These qualities are, to be precise, the charm that Bai Jun himself possesses. In other words, the only thing that seems to distinguish him from Bronya himself is that the version of Bai Jun he transforms into is more charming.

Ah, I feel a little sad. But, but... Bai Jun is so cute now!!!

"Well? Bronya, can you spot any flaws?"

"No, no, nothing! There's absolutely no flaw!"

Seeing Bronya staring intently at him, her cheeks flushed with an inexplicable blush, Bai Jun, feeling puzzled, tilted his head, swaying his waist-length silver hair, looking as beautiful as a goddess in a painting.

Bronya felt a warm rush in her nasal cavity. Afraid of embarrassing herself, she quickly covered her nose and forced a dry laugh to brush it off.

"That's good. By the way, Bronya, I suspect Cocolia is taking you to the location of the Stellaron, the far north of Belobog. Remember to inform the others to act ahead of time... I have a feeling there's going to be a good show this afternoon."

Bai Jun stroked the corner of his lips, his squinting eyes curving into a smile.

"Gua--!"

"Hey? Bronya, what's wrong...?"

Completely bewitched by Bai Jun's resemblance to herself, Bronya, in a state of confusion, collapsed with a nosebleed. Bai Jun quickly got up to help her, "Don't, don't come any closer, it's too close, ugh--!" As a result Bronya fainted again, causing a new wave of commotion.

But let's shift our perspective to the present --

Cough cough cough!

Cocolia struggled to her feet from the thick snow, clutching her injured abdomen and spitting out blood.

Wow, so fast!

The man's speed was so fast that it was beyond her visual perception, and his strength was so terrifying that a single punch almost overwhelmed her consciousness.

If it weren't for the thick layer of snow cushioning her fall, Cocolia would have thought she would have fainted in the crater she had just been in.

"Who... who are you... wait, are you the man from this afternoon?"

Cocolia to see the other person's face clearly, was shocked to discover the truth.

Cocolia recognized Bai Jun standing opposite her as the bastard who had interrupted her plans at noon earlier that day, just as she was about to succeed. She had initially thought it was a coincidence and planned to settle accounts with him later, but unexpectedly...

It was no coincidence; Bronya's rescue was precisely because of this man's deliberate actions.

In other words, his beloved daughter Bronya had already made ample preparations to break ties with him, or even become his enemies, long before they even met.

"Heh heh heh heh... How surprising! So that's how it is. I was hoping to win Bronya's heart with sincerity and facts, but it seems it was all just wishful thinking on my part... In that case, let's go!"

What began as a suffocating gasp, then a bitter laugh that sounded like a lament, transformed into a raging roar, and finally into a Destruction howl. It was as if Cocolia, betrayed, had completely extinguished the last vestiges of emotion in her heart, and she raised her lance high.

"After I kill you, the next one will be my precious daughter, and those vermin in the Underworld who bewitched her. Before the new world arrives, I will wipe you all out of the old world! As the Supreme Guardian, I command you to rise— Engine of Creation!"

As Cocolia's roar echoed through the mountains, a tremor like the rumble of the earth swept over them in an instant. A "crack" sound came from the side, and a black shadow covered the sunlight in the sky. Bai Jun looked over calmly.

The mountains trembled, the snow covering the ground scattered, and what looked more like a humanoid mechanism than a building rose from the ground, breaking through the mountains from bottom to top, standing majestically behind Cocolia like a giant god.

This enormous mechanical creation, which has been dormant for thousands of years and whose head is so large that it cannot be seen even when looking up, is the giant machine Engine of Creation left behind by the ancient Architects.

Upon sensing the lance in Cocolia's hand, a lance symbolizing the first Supreme Guardian, Alisa Rand, the giant's joints creaked and he immediately swung his fist at Bai Jun below.

Before the fist even reached the ground, the force of the punch had already shattered the earth on the spot.

The swirling storm scattered the surrounding snow, and the falling fists caused the earth to rumble, shaking the entire mountain range.

The aftershocks of the destruction unleashed Destruction wind pressure, stirring up a blanket of white dust that stretched for kilometers, obscuring all human presence.

"Is it resolved...?"

Cocolia's gaze darted back and forth through the snow and mist, searching for Bai Jun's figure. Emotionally, she prayed that Bai Jun would die directly under the attack of the Engine of Creation, but rationally, she told her that such a powerful opponent could not be dealt with so easily.

This proved to be true.

"The power is not bad, barely reaching a third of the level of Divine Monarch. However, the speed is as slow as a snail. I could take a nap before that fist lands. You don't actually think you can defeat me with something like this, do you?"

Finally having the chance to fulfill his wish of loudly reciting the villain's lines from "the thing I want to do most in my life," Bai Jun sat on a nearby collapsed building, resting his elbow on his right leg, which was crossed, and idly commented.

"It was just a test, stop being so smug. The true power of the Engine of Creation far exceeds your imagination."

Cocolia clicked her tongue in annoyance, narrowing her purple eyes dangerously like a venomous snake. Then, she aimed her lance at Bai Jun, and the Engine of Creation once again propelled its powerful body, capable of destroying mountains at will, as she raised her iron fist high.

"Spare me, my personal aesthetic sense is perfectly normal, I can't appreciate that lump of iron's solo performance."

Bai Jun jumped down from the three-meter-high rubble, stretching his stiff shoulders.

"Alright, this pointless farce should end here. It's also a good opportunity for me to test 'that'."

The languid attitude vanished from his azure eyes, and under Cocolia's puzzled gaze, Bai Jun revealed a dangerous smile.

"... Let me think... what was that called again? Oh right, if I remember correctly, it was called..."

A faint arc of electricity gradually danced in my hand, growing stronger and transforming into a current as thick as a finger, its pure white and turbulent color tinged with a majestic crimson.

The thunder grew louder and louder, and a crimson storm of lightning gathered in his palm. It was said to be the absolute power wielded by the ancient dragon king Platonsanks, who was said to have been destroyed long ago and who was now sitting in the rift between time and space at the center of the storm.

Its name is --

"Platonsanks's Lightning."

Bai Jun waved his hand, and along with the space and earth distorted by the crimson light, dazzling lightning stole all the colors from the world.

The condensed crimson lightning engulfed the behemoth, and the Engine of Creation was reduced to ashes in an explosion.

The lightning and wind pressure that erupted caused Cocolia was looking up, to close her eyes.

The entire Everwinter Hill trembled, and the mountain range even roared in fear.

What followed was a sudden downpour of fly ash.

Standing a full fifty meters tall, this ultimate weapon, forged from the hardest metal in Belobog and imbued with the power of "Preservation," had its upper body easily obliterated, turning into a pile of scrap metal that crashed onto the mountainside.

"The commotion was a bit too much. I remember there was some deliberate suppression of its power, right? No, I should say the power of this move itself was extraordinary. Although it still can't compare to 'The Sun,' it's still quite exaggerated."

Bai Jun admired the state of affairs he had created and nodded in satisfaction.

(Who exactly is he...?)

I understand what the other person is saying, but why... does my mind go completely blank?

If the Engine of Creation had simply been defeated, Cocolia might have been able to admit that an unimaginably powerful enemy had finally appeared. But what exactly was happening before her eyes? The Engine of Creation, on which she had placed such high hopes, was being destroyed so easily, as if it were a toy.

Shocked to the point of speechlessness by the overwhelming power, Cocolia struggled to suppress her trembling body, her eyes filled with fear and incomprehension.

"Mother! My dearest mother!"

The familiar voice made Cocolia instinctively look over, and she saw the real Bronya staggering towards her as she walked through the Corridor of Fading Echoes.

"Have we already won? Yay!" The Astral Express Crew behind her cheered and ran towards her.

Why them...? How did they get through the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone, and how did they find their way here?

There seems to be only one explanation.

It seems that Bronya has completely taken control of the Silvermane Guards's army, and her plans have been exposed.