Stelle: Divine Key, Draw!

Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th returned to the hotel.

March 7th hummed a tune enthusiastically as she sorted through the photos she had taken that day.

With the Starry Sky Camera, taking pictures had become much more convenient for March 7th. She could shoot on-site and get the photos immediately, and the results were excellent.

She no longer had to go through the old hassle of picking through them after returning, then printing them on film.

"Hehe~ hehe~ This one's nice, and this one too."

As she looked through them, March 7th spotted a photo that left her utterly speechless.

"Stelle."

Dan Heng and Stelle saw March 7th's wordless expression.

"What's wrong?"

March 7th took out the photo and showed it to them.

In the photo—

Stelle held a Trash Can Lid in one hand while supporting a trash can with the other, peering inside.

At the sight, Dan Heng fell silent as well.

Uh... what kind of hobby was that?

Stelle scratched her head sheepishly.

"Hehe, well, March, you know... Didn't I buy two Trash Can Scratch-offs from Ye Yun a couple of days ago?

So, you know..."

March 7th rolled her eyes at Stelle.

"You should be more careful from now on. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were a beggar."

Stelle hurriedly nodded and promised there would not be a next time.

As for whether there actually would be one, that depended on Stelle's self-control.

Dan Heng checked the time.

"Let's get some rest first. Tomorrow morning, we'll go look for that Supreme Guardian again."

Nothing happened that night.

Early the next morning, Stelle sprang out of bed with a Carp Leap.

After washing up, she came out into the hallway.

March 7th and Dan Heng were standing not far from Stelle's door.

"Morning, March, Dan Heng. Why is it so noisy downstairs?"

The moment Stelle stepped out of her room, she heard a commotion coming from the lobby below.

Dan Heng thought for a moment.

"Let's go down and take a look."

When the three arrived in the lobby, they saw the silver-haired woman they had briefly met in the office yesterday leading a group of Silvermane Guards as they surrounded the entire hotel.

The moment the three appeared, Bronya noticed them.

Bronya coldly read out the Arrest Warrant.

"Brazen criminals, by order of the Supreme Guardian, you three are to be taken into custody."

The three were surrounded on all sides.

March 7th helplessly spread her hands.

"Here we go again, here we go again! The thing that happens once every three worlds."

Dan Heng looked around, his gaze settling on the Rift Passage nearby.

"Ahem."

Dan Heng coughed twice to draw Stelle and March 7th's attention.

Once both of them looked at him, Dan Heng signaled with his eyes toward the Rift Passage.

Stelle and March 7th immediately understood.

Dan Heng then murmured under his breath.

"Infer three things from one example

The ruler's command is absolute

Rely on the city and fight one last battle!

The instant Dan Heng finished speaking, Stelle directly activated the unleashed form of Divine Key: Judgment of Shamash.

"Divine Key! Draw!"

Stelle swung her sword, and searing flames swept through the surrounding Silvermane Guards, knocking them all down.

Even Bronya was forced back more than ten meters by the heatwave.

After delivering that strike, Stelle decisively sheathed her sword and ran.

By the time Bronya recovered, Dan Heng, March 7th, and Stelle had already entered the Rift Passage.

Bronya's cold brows furrowed as she immediately gave the order to pursue.

"Everyone, follow me! After them!"

Pela beside her looked anxiously at the Rift Passage.

"But... Lady Bronya, that's a Rift Passage!"

Bronya's resolve was unwavering.

"We cannot allow these criminals to escape justice!"

With that, Bronya led the Silvermane Guards into the Rift Passage.

Relying on her familiarity with the terrain, Bronya led a large group of Silvermane Guards and blocked off March 7th, Dan Heng, and Stelle.

Seeing the situation, the three had no choice but to use their full strength.

Under the combined force of the three, the Silvermane Guards quickly lost their ability to fight.

Stelle looked at Bronya and Pela, who were the only ones left, and pointed Divine Key: Judgment of Shamash directly at them.

"Come at me together. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to you!"

Bronya and Pela were both extremely tense. The three of them were simply far too strong.

Especially that Little Gray Fur wielding the Flame Greatsword—her destructive power was terrifying.

But with things having reached this point, Bronya and Pela faced Stelle.

Sampo, hiding in the shadows, was utterly stunned.

No, sis, your combat power and the script were seriously not lining up! Weren't you supposed to be the ones facing a desperate situation?

What was going on? You were practically beating someone's future Supreme Guardian into a breakdown!

And that line you just said was totally something a final boss would say, hey!

No, no, this couldn't continue. He had to step in quickly, or the whole script would fall apart.

Several Special Smoke Bombs were thrown out, knocking out Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, Bronya, and Pela.

Sampo slowly stepped out.

"Good thing Old Sampo came here to keep an eye on things."

Sampo first took the five of them and tossed Pela near a Silvermane Guards sentry post in the Overworld, letting her return to deliver the message.

Then Sampo took Stelle, Bronya, March 7th, and Dan Heng to the Underworld.

Over on Ye Yun's side—

He brought Hook to an Abandoned Restaurant near Boulder Town in Rivets Town.

Ye Yun went into the kitchen to take a look. The equipment inside was still in good condition, but there was no gas.

Ye Yun bought a gas tank from the system and connected it to the stove.

He turned the knob, and flames rose up.

Outside, Leos was playing with Hook.

As for the surrounding Fragmentum Monsters, a single Prairie Fire from Leos turned every one of them into ash.

The conditions were crude. After thinking about it, Ye Yun decided to make some chicken soup, then cook some Noodles in it later for Chicken Noodle Soup.

Ye Yun had originally wanted to make Spicy Stir-fry Pot.

But Hook was a child who had hardly ever eaten oil or salt growing up, and Ye Yun was afraid her stomach would not be able to handle Spicy Stir-fry Pot.

The rich aroma of chicken soup filled the entire kitchen.

Not far from the kitchen, a girl in a red coat and bare little feet was searching the area for supplies.

"Medicine, medicine... Let me see if there's any here."

The girl was Clara from the Robot Settlement.

Clara had come out this time to look for medicine. Recently, Fragmentum Monster activity had intensified, and many people in the settlement had been injured.

There was not enough medicine in the settlement, so Clara had brought several robots to Rivets Town to search for supplies.

As she searched, Clara heard laughter and cheerful voices.

"Master Leos, run faster!"

Clara looked up.

"Huh? Isn't that Hook?"

Clara had not expected to run into Hook here.

"Hook! Hook!"

Hook, who was sitting on Leos's back, heard someone calling her name and told Leos to stop.

Hook followed the voice and quickly spotted Clara beside a pile of debris.

"Clara! My Clara!"

Hook slid off Leos in a flash and charged toward Clara.

Clara and Hook hugged each other, and Hook was delighted to see Clara.

"Clara, why are you here?"

Clara held up the medicine in her hands.

"I came to find some medicine for everyone in the settlement."