Harvesting a Stellaron

"Cocolia, you vastly overestimate the power of the Stellaron you wield!"

After Cocolia's strike concluded, the dazzling "Pride" remained in the sky.

In fact, it had grown even more radiant.

"Or rather, you are providing a constant stream of energy to my 'Pride,' and this energy also possesses the power of 'Destruction.' It is just that while this power was once in your hands, it no longer belongs to you."

Jing Yan's words left Cocolia bewildered.

A sliver of fear seeped into her heart.

In her view, her previous strike should have completely obliterated the energy monster in the sky, yet the reality seemed to run contrary to her expectations.

This left her feeling somewhat at a loss.

The reason for this was that Jing Yan had used the power of "Eros" to extract the original sin of "Pride" from Cocolia's body, which contained the "Destruction" power of the "Stellaron."

In other words, Jing Yan had used his power of "Eros" to envelop and capture a portion of the "Destruction" power.

He quickly adapted to it, attempting to control and devour it.

As an Aeon, his perception and mastery of Aeon-level power were far beyond what an existence like Cocolia could ever hope to compare to.

Thus, when Cocolia's strike of Stellaron power was launched toward "Pride," it was caught and swallowed.

At this moment, "Pride" became even more arrogant.

This was the result of both the new pride constantly birthed in Cocolia's heart—which was stripped away and assimilated into the monster—and its fusion with the "Destruction" power of the Stellaron.

"Cocolia, it seems you are not the true master of the 'Stellaron' after all."

"You cannot even subdue the monster born within your own heart, so how can you talk about transforming all of Belobog? Furthermore, you have set foot upon a path of 'Destruction'."

Jing Yan said indifferently.

At this moment, the others nearby reacted and began to coordinate.

Stelle used the power of "Preservation" she had just acquired, plunging her flaming lance into the ground. A warm, fiery shield lit up before the group, dispelling the freezing wind.

Meanwhile, the others began their encirclement of Cocolia.

In the sky, the figure of "Pride" was not only dazzling but seemed to have become somewhat more tangible.

Much like the "Stellaron Hunters"—Kafka and Silver Wolf—who used artificial bodies like Stelle's to house a Stellaron, Jing Yan was analogously using the monster symbolizing the original sin of Pride to house the Stellaron's power.

The "Destruction" power of the Stellaron was being continuously converted into the arrogant power of "Eros." The scorching flames, like the hottest of stars, extinguished, melted, and evaporated the frost and wind below!

"Hmm..." Jing Yan mused, thinking to himself that the original sin of Pride still occupied the lion's share of Cocolia's heart.

So much so that even before he had released the manifestations of the original sins of Greed and Envy, Cocolia was already struggling to hold on.

Cocolia's inner state gradually shifted from calm toward a low point.

Feelings of existential doubt began to emerge.

"How is this possible? The Stellaron, didn't it conclude a contract with me? How could there be an existence capable of resisting the power of a Stellaron?!"

"This monster, what on earth is this monster?!"

Cocolia, suspended in the air, continued to gather power to attack Pride, but she was already quite panicked, and her words were enough to make one sigh.

For while she kept calling Pride a monster, she failed to notice that her own form was, in fact, that of a monster as well.

Under the influence of the Stellaron, she had been transformed by the Fragmentum into the likeness of a Fragmentum Creature.

"Cocolia, you have lost!"

Jing Yan spoke from below.

Upon hearing this, Cocolia's body suddenly froze and trembled a few times. Then, as if bound by invisible shackles, she plummeted from the sky.

[Emotion Manipulation] had taken effect.

Jing Yan thought to himself, a hint of joy appearing on his face.

He immediately followed up with [Verbal Domination].

"Cocolia, it is time to submit."

"Open your heart and surrender the Stellaron power within your body!"

Cocolia crashed into the snow, creating a deep crater.

At this moment, the massive Engine of Creation behind them began to activate.

With the intervention of Mr. Svarog and Himeko from the Astral Express in orbit, they successfully awakened and seized control of the giant mechanical construct.

It stood firm. Previously, under the interference of Cocolia's Supreme Guardian authority, it was the limit for others to simply keep it from attacking, but now, with Cocolia's will waning, control was fully seized by Mr. Svarog and Himeko.

It then raised its fist and smashed it toward Cocolia on the ground.

"BOOM!"

A thunderous explosion erupted from the ground!

The massive mechanical fist, with flames venting from its joints, successfully struck the already weakened Cocolia, rendering her unconscious.

As consciousness faded, the power of the Stellaron began to detach itself.

However, rather than flying out of her body, it began to expand, on the verge of detonating!

"Cocolia has been restrained?!"

"Damn it! What is happening right now?!"

March 7th, Seele, Bronya, and the others moved to check on Cocolia's condition, but they immediately realized what was happening as they saw that familiar, dazzling dark gold light spreading through the scattered snow dust.

That was the power of the Stellaron; having broken free from its seal and Cocolia's constraints, was it about to erupt completely?

"Get back!"

In an instant.

Their instinctual judgment was to move to protect those beside them.

Seele reached out, shielding Bronya beneath her.

Stelle held the flaming spearhead granted by the power of "Preservation" in front of her, guarding March 7th behind her back.

Then, they braced themselves for the impact of the Stellaron's power.

But to their surprise, the power did not spread or release.

A crimson light flashed in mid-air.

Immediately, the figure of a man appeared.

He was a passenger of the Astral Express, Welt Yang.

Sensing that something was wrong below, he had arrived immediately to see if he could salvage the situation.

However, it seemed his intervention was no longer needed.

Because the Stellaron's power had not expanded; instead, it was instantly suppressed, enveloped by a mass of colorful energy.

This was Jing Yan's power of "Eros."

He had successfully sealed, or rather, devoured the Stellaron's power into his own body.

After a long while, the group gradually regained their senses and stood up to survey their surroundings.

Seeing that everything around them remained intact, they let out a sigh of relief.

"The Stellaron—right, where did the Stellaron go?"

March 7th asked aloud.

She then caught sight of Welt Yang descending from the air and said with a smile, "Uncle Yang, why are you here too?"

But at this moment, Welt Yang's gaze was fixed firmly upon Jing Yan.