The Engine of Creation's eyes flashed an even brighter red amid the burning amber. Now that Stelle, who held the amber, had been acknowledged by [Preservation], she had wrested control of it from Cocolia!
At Stelle's command, the Engine of Creation hurled the two people on its palm toward Cocolia.
Almost instantly, Cocolia raised ice crystals to defend herself, only for them to dissolve the moment they touched the amber. The pitch-black Greatsword struck her right shoulder at the same time!
Zhang Xiu strained both arms, intending to drag Cocolia down to the ground, but she severed her own right arm and broke free of his hold!
"Get away-!"
A blast of cold air slammed into the two of them, smashing them into the ground!
The cold wind sliced bloody gashes across Zhang Xiu's cheeks like blades, but they healed a moment later. He looked up:
Behind Cocolia, the Engine of Creation's enormous fist was already crashing down!
Its immense force pinned her to the ground, shattering much of the armor covering her body.
But as power surged through Cocolia, two pillars of ice erupted from the ground and forced the Engine of Creation's fist back up!
Her severed right arm had regrown at some point.
A bullet whistled toward her, while Seele slipped behind her like a ghost, scythe in hand.
However, Cocolia saw through her intent. After blocking Bronya's bullet with one arm, she tried to kick Seele.
But purple lightning born out of thin air interrupted her movement, allowing Seele's scythe blade to slice away the flesh at Cocolia's waist.
Before she could attack again, Zhang Xiu was already before her, driving his Greatsword straight through her starry chest.
"Urgh-! Aaaagh-!"
Yet even grievously wounded, Cocolia could still attack.
She grabbed Zhang Xiu's Greatsword with one hand and hurled it away, taking him with it!
Seele, who had been about to strike again, was also blown away by the cold air Cocolia unleashed with a sweep of her hand!
Countless pillars of ice descended from the sky, bombarding every living being there!
Beside March 7th, Zhang Xiu swept away the rising white mist with brute strength and caught sight of Cocolia peeling open her own chest.
She activated the Stellaron's power once more, and a golden sheen instantly spread across her monstrous body.
"This... is salvation...!"
[Prelude to Genesis]
Golden energy rose from the earth and burst from between Cocolia's hands, gathering at her chest into a golden sphere wrapped around pitch-black matter.
Not only that, but for this world-destroying strike, Cocolia rose high into the sky, looking as though she held aloft a golden sun amid the sea of clouds.
"Stelle! Throw me up there!" Zhang Xiu roared, then rushed onto the Engine of Creation's enormous hand without looking back.
As Stelle directed the Engine of Creation, Zhang Xiu was hurled out once more, blasting toward Cocolia like a cannonball!
"I shall forge it with my own hands! A glorious new world!!"
Cocolia raised her right hand high, compressing the golden sphere into a black point of light.
The next moment, that point erupted. Black ice gathered into an enormous, irregular celestial body and hurtled toward the expanse of white below!
[Genesis Finale]
At the sight, Zhang Xiu neither dodged nor flinched, crashing straight into it!
The terrifying energy began destroying his cells the instant he made contact, but it could not outpace the regeneration granted by the power of abundance within him.
The celestial body arrived as promised, bringing collapse to the earth.
Fortunately, Zhang Xiu alone had absorbed a considerable portion of its energy, but even so, everyone present suffered significant injuries from the strike.
"A futile struggle." Cocolia slowly descended to the ground, a trace of contempt showing on her pitch-black face, which had long since lost its features.
But black flames burned away her arrogance. At the front of the group, Zhang Xiu stretched his muscles and joints.
Pitch-black flames were now sprouting across his body, making him look as though he had just walked out of a blazing inferno.
"Didn't see that coming, did you? I have a second phase too."
Every one of the Denizens of Abundance possessed a unique blessing, and after Zhang Xiu's people ate the fruit of the Ambrosial Arbor, their hearts were what received that blessing.
This not only made their bodies stronger, but also put their regenerative abilities far above those of other Denizens of Abundance.
And after the Aeon of [Preservation] had cast a glance upon him, a flame had kindled within his heart.
Now Zhang Xiu had ignited that flame, letting it burn and making his body even more formidable!
"The future you speak of can never come to pass." Holding the amber, Stelle stood resolutely beside Zhang Xiu.
"Cocolia, are you still going to cling to your delusion?" Lightning crackled through Serval's hair as she looked once more at her former dearest friend.
And Cocolia? She had already walked in the direction opposite to Belobog. Having accepted the Stellaron, she could no longer turn back.
"No matter. Then I shall stake everything once more!"
As golden energy rose again, Prelude to Genesis burst forth between Cocolia's hands.
At the sight, Zhang Xiu calmly held his Greatsword upright before him and shared his flames with it.
Just as Stelle directed the Engine of Creation to stop Cocolia, Zhang Xiu stepped forward, sending ripples of flame surging outward!
"Say your goodbyes."
He uttered those words as though addressing Cocolia, but also as though speaking to Bronya and Serval.
The next moment, Zhang Xiu unleashed a black wave of sword energy that pierced the heavens, blasting toward Cocolia high above!
"That's impossible! Aaargh-!"
Her ice armor shattered, her flesh tore, and frost formed over her body once more...
The sound of shattering glass rang out, and her enormous form dissolved into flurries of ice and snow.
Cocolia's original body fell from the sky as well, striking the ground with a thud.
... Amid the frigid air, she placed both hands against her chest, trying to call upon the Stellaron's power again.
"Mother!"
Bronya's eyes trembled violently. She hurried toward Cocolia, only for Seele beside her to hastily catch hold of her.
Cocolia instinctively tried to answer, but she could not open her mouth no matter how she tried. As the Stellaron's power dwindled, its beguiling influence also weakened considerably.
... Did she really have to keep going?
When that thought surfaced in her heart, Cocolia hesitated no longer. Instead, she clamped down on the Stellaron inside her.
Realizing that she had been beguiled to such an extent, she was flooded with profound remorse.
Just as Cocolia prepared to die together with the Stellaron, a pair of pale hands pressed against her chest.
In the blink of an eye, Yaoshi extracted the glowing Stellaron and refined it in her hands, gradually turning it into a seed.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. If any of that had truly come from your own heart, I would have killed you outright. But now..."
Zhang Xiu ended his burning state and walked up to her. "Spend the rest of your life atoning, Cocolia."
Reality was not a game. Without Cocolia, the people of the Upper District would be difficult to appease.
The previous leader had died after going out with the current leader. No matter how anyone looked at it, that would cause unrest.
"Take this. It'll help you in the future." Zhang Xiu took the seed Yaoshi offered him and handed it to Bronya.
Later in the story, Topaz would come to Belobog to collect its debt, and this Stellaron modified by Yaoshi would be enough to pay it off.
Topaz would certainly honor the payment, but once the others in the company saw such a miracle, they would inevitably make trouble for Belobog. Cocolia could then help Bronya deal with them.
If they went too far...
"If someone from beyond your world gives you trouble later, contact me on your phone and have her speak to my wife in person."
Zhang Xiu chuckled and slipped his right arm around Yaoshi's shoulders.
Before you continue