"Beep. Intruder detected." A cold mechanical voice rang out. Svarog stood before us, poised defensively.
Beside him stood a little girl with white hair and a red dress. She gently tried to persuade him. "Mr. Svarog, I don't think they broke in on purpose. They don't look like bad people..."
Seeing this, Bronya stepped forward to explain. "Mr. Svarog, I'm the successor to the current Supreme Guardian. I had no choice but to meet you this way."
Svarog's eyes flashed red. "Calculations indicate that you should not be here. Unknown variables added: four visitors from beyond the sky. Analysis result: inconclusive."
"Bronya, what brings you here?"
"We've come for the Stellaron..."
Bronya hadn't finished speaking when Svarog interrupted her. "All information concerning the [Stellaron] is classified at the highest level. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from discussing anything related to it."
Seeing that Svarog was ready to attack, Bronya hurried to explain. "No, things have changed..."
Seele stepped forward and pulled Bronya behind her. "Look at him. Do you really think he's in any state to have a proper conversation with you? You'd better prepare yourself for a fight..."
"Do all your decisions come from those so-called calculations?" Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, Xiao Xi spoke up. "Then why not add a new 'variable' to them?"
"A new variable?" A hint of confusion entered Svarog's mechanical voice.
"The power of visitors from beyond the sky. The power of an Aeon's Emanator."
"An Emanator of an [Aeon]? You are an Emanator of that Aeon?" The red light in Svarog's eyes flashed wildly as he asked cautiously.
Xiao Xi stepped forward and revealed the vast, ocean-deep power of her Path. Then she said firmly, "Hope. I am an Emanator of the Aeon of Hope."
Faced with such a shocking sight, the red light in Svarog's eyes flashed violently. His processor suddenly crackled with static, as if he were under immense strain. Wisps of white smoke even began rising from his body.
"Hey, do you think he's overloaded because he's trying to process too much all at once?" March 7th wondered, leaning closer and murmuring.
As everyone watched anxiously, Svarog soon returned to normal. His electronic eyes glowed red, and his voice was steady and mechanical. "[Stellaron] is this planet's highest-level secret. However, after adding the variable 'Emanator' and performing complex calculations and deductions, the conclusion is that the 'Emanator' can resolve the Stellaron problem. Calculations complete."
"So now you can tell us about the [Stellaron]," Stelle asked curiously.
"Affirmative. I will now show you all available information regarding the Stellaron."
After Svarog confirmed this, Bronya finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mr. Svarog."
"Requesting access to database records. Request approved..."
The images Svarog showed them next recounted everything that had happened in the past.
The first Supreme Guardian, Alisa Rand, activated the Stellaron to fight off the Antimatter Legion's invasion. Afterward, the Eternal Freeze descended upon Jarilo-VI.
Since then, generation after generation of Architects and Supreme Guardians had never given up on fighting the Stellaron and dispelling the Eternal Freeze. But their efforts had made no progress. The [Stellaron] was beyond their power to destroy, and as time passed, things only slid further toward the abyss.
Gradually, the Stellaron's consciousness grew active. It began to corrupt and manipulate the planet's guardians. By now, if the Nameless had not arrived, it would have succeeded.
After seeing the story of the planet's centuries-long struggle to survive, everyone fell silent.
"Then it's time to deal with the [Stellaron], this scourge. According to the coordinates we have, its exact location is..." Bronya said gravely and with unwavering resolve.
"No." Xiao Xi pressed a hand to her forehead and shook her head. "The coordinates you have are useless now. I already scared the [Stellaron] away once."
"Of course, I placed a tracking mark on it earlier. I can take everyone there directly."
As Xiao Xi finished speaking, a huge teleportation array appeared beneath their feet. In an instant, they were all transported to the summit of a snow-covered mountain.
"This is the place."
Blazing golden flames appeared. Xiao Xi gave everyone present an energy shield before flying into the sky.
A scorching wave of flame energy swept across the sky, burning away the clouds that had lingered over Jarilo-VI for ages. In that moment, the planet's endless snowfall vanished.
In Belobog, many people were drawn by the extraordinary sight in the sky. Cocolia calmed the panicked crowd. "Everyone, the Nameless from the train and countless warriors who hope to make this world a better place are fighting hard for its future. Please don't panic. I believe victory will be ours in the end."
High above, a dazzling white-gold flame burned, brilliant as the sun. It took the shape of a phoenix's phantom, let out a clear cry, then plunged downward. Like a shooting star streaking across the sky, it pierced the Stellaron in an instant.
Everyone present heard a howl of unimaginable grief, a sound that seemed to pierce their very souls and send chills down their spines.
Then fine cracks suddenly appeared across the [Stellaron], spreading like a spiderweb. They widened and branched out until they covered its entire surface.
Everyone heard a sharp crack, and the [Stellaron] shattered into pieces like broken porcelain.
March 7th stared at the sight, dumbfounded, her mouth hanging open. She stammered, "Th-that's incredible! Is this the power of an Aeon's Emanator? The Stellaron shattered with just one strike?"
Stelle nodded emphatically, her expression full of agreement. "Yeah! With Xiao Xi around, it feels like our Trailblaze journey just got a lot safer!"
With a soft thud, Xiao Xi landed lightly on the ground. The sound of her feet crunching in the snow brought everyone back to their senses. "All right, everyone. The Stellaron problem has been taken care of. Now we can return to Belobog without worry."