To the Great Mine

Most of the people who had been present moments ago had already dispersed, though a handful of vagrants and prospectors remained.

Some were already acquainted with Jing Yan, while others stayed simply because they believed they had no grievances with anyone present.

"What's going on? Was Mr. Svarog defeated by him?"

One person exclaimed in surprise.

Another person added, "Wait... isn't this the doctor from Natasha's Clinic in Boulder Town?"

"Since when did he become so powerful?"

Jing Yan heard their remarks but said nothing.

"Let's go. We're heading to the Great Mine to check the situation," Jing Yan commanded the Mechanical Vanguard, led by Svarog, at the Robot Settlement.

Immediately following his order, the machines—excluding those that already had vagrant masters—set off with Jing Yan toward the mines southwest of Boulder Town.

Beside him, March 7th and Stelle were stunned.

Just then, Dan Heng, who had gotten lost in Boulder Town, finally caught up and arrived at the entrance of the Robot Settlement's vagrant base.

He froze upon seeing Jing Yan, March 7th, Stelle, and the surrounding Svarog and other mechanical constructs.

"What is this...?"

Dan Heng paused, confused as to why he had only spent a short while wandering through the Underworld, only to return to such a scene.

Have they already formed an insurgent army?!

However, as he looked at Jing Yan, he felt that the mysterious, unfathomable aura surrounding the man had deepened. While puzzled, he couldn't help but think of something.

Jing Yan noticed the anomaly in Dan Heng and paused as well.

He pondered for a moment and realized what was happening, though he kept it to himself.

Clara asked from the side, "Are you alright, sir? Do you have a headache?"

"I'm fine," Dan Heng shook his head.

Jing Yan knew that Dan Heng's past life was Imbibitor Lunae, a member of the Vidyadhara and the former High-Cloud Quintet general of the Xianzhou Luofu.

It was just that after his reincarnation, he no longer possessed the traits of a dragon-person.

However, it was highly likely that he would be able to reawaken that power in the future.

Therefore, it was only natural that his perception was sharper due to the lingering power and bloodline of his past life.

"Alright, that's efficient enough," Jing Yan noted, glancing at the team of Mechanical Vanguard behind him.

In the current environment, the most crucial factor for resisting Cocolia was power.

Specifically, divine power.

Stelle had only managed to defeat Cocolia by relying on the power of the Stellaron within her and the power of "Preservation" she had obtained.

Even so, the people of the Astral Express—and even Herta, a member of the Genius Society and manager of the Herta Space Station—had no better way to handle the Stellaron other than sealing it.

But what Jing Yan sought was to consume it and convert the power of "Destruction" into his own strength.

That was why he needed more.

For now, he needed at least a day to handle the relevant matters.

However...

Before that, he had other ways to acquire power.

One was to increase the favorability others felt toward him, and the other was to obtain the treasure chests and other supplies scattered throughout Belobog.

In the power system here, there were items called Relics; everyone could gain a boost in strength by equipping them.

Beyond that, there were other precious materials in the city, such as components from Fragmentum Monsters, as well as Warp Trotters that could yield Stellar Jades.

As for whether he could consume the "Stellaron," Jing Yan couldn't say for sure yet, but that was something he would address after defeating Cocolia. For the time being, he hoped to utilize every person and resource at his disposal to solve the problem and acquire the assets he desired.

Natasha, the secret leader of Underworld Fire; Seele, the strongest combatant of Underworld Fire; and the Robot Settlement were all, for now, his subordinate forces.

He was currently heading toward the Great Mine.

Of course, there was another reason for doing this: he wanted to establish himself as a leader-like figure.

If others clearly recognized his dominant role in these events, it would be easier to increase their favorability toward him.

Naturally, this wasn't just simple affection, but a form of favorability on a different dimension.

At the Great Mine.

Seele was currently locked in battle with a Stagnant Shadow.

This was a special phenomenon formed after the Fragmentum invasion.

The shadow of a powerful Fragmentum Monster had manifested and frozen in place on the ground.

If left alone, it would not act.

But once touched, the Fragmentum Monster within would awaken.

Compared to other Fragmentum Creatures, the entity within the Stagnant Shadow seemed significantly more powerful, as the surrounding environment took on a bizarre, surreal quality—a manifestation of Fragmentum energy.

When fighting them, one can feel the Fragmentum energy bolstering them.

Furthermore, even if outsiders manage to defeat a Fragmentum Monster within a Stagnant Shadow, if the area is not contained and isolated, Fragmentum Monsters will continue to emerge from it whenever someone approaches.

At this moment, in the Great Mine.

Seele had just used her scythe to parry the onslaught of the Fragmentum Creature, the "Burning Wanderer," but its massive, red crystalline blade fragments descended upon her with scorching heat, burning holes in her clothes and leaving behind numerous small wounds.

Yet, Seele did not retreat, continuing to fight it with all her might.

However, several other Fragmentum Creatures rushed forward. A "Fire-Burning Disaster Shadow," resembling a Silvermane Guard wreathed in raging flames, swung an axe blade with the texture of molten magma toward Seele's back.

Relying on her keen hearing, Seele activated her movement technique and dodged quickly, but a "Thunder-Echoing Creature" immediately appeared, flapping its wings as it darted toward her.

Seele shifted her entire body into a quantum state, phasing through the attack to evade it.

"Damn it!"

"What kind of hellish environment is this!"

Seele couldn't help but curse.

Normally, she wouldn't fear a coordinated attack from a few monsters like these, but the surrounding Fragmentum environment was treacherous.

It induced a sense of dizzying discomfort while simultaneously buffing these Fragmentum Creatures, making the fight far from smooth and dragging out a battle she could have easily resolved in a few minutes.

At this moment, Jing Yan and his group had arrived at the entrance of the Great Mine.

It was chaotic here as well.

Due to the influence of the Fragmentum invasion and the discovery of a small, newly found mineral vein, whoever seized it stood to make a fortune.

However, since the miners who discovered it were of low status and influence, the vagrants arriving here sought to claim it for themselves.

Coincidentally, the members of "Underworld Fire" were busy dealing with the Fragmentum disaster and had not intervened, leading to a brief state of disorder.

But when the people saw Jing Yan appear, they all froze.

Jing Yan turned his head to look into the massive mine pit, where he discovered Seele fighting against a Stagnant Shadow.