Under the gazes of the Silvermane Guards, Supreme Guardian Cocolia led a group of strangers out of the city.
Although most of the Silvermane Guards, including Gepard, were worried, under Cocolia's command, they ultimately did not follow, only watching them leave.
Several dozen minutes later, Gepard suddenly felt that the snowstorm in the sky seemed to have grown much stronger.
The Great Freeze that had lasted for over seven hundred years seemed to have intensified, the snow rolling back towards the sky like a constantly dancing ice dragon.
"Supreme Guardian Cocolia should be fine, right..." Gepard was slightly worried.
But thinking about it, Supreme Guardian Cocolia held the lance of the Architects and possessed the power of Preservation. Even in such a snowstorm, she shouldn't be in any danger.
He just didn't know what the Supreme Guardian was doing with those people.
Moreover, he wondered if he was overthinking it, but ever since they entered the restricted area, the weather changes seemed to be getting more and more drastic.
One moment, a blizzard would rage; the next, the sun would shine brightly.
What on earth was happening in there?
Out of his duty as a Silvermane Guard, despite his great curiosity, Gepard remained at his post, not allowing anyone to pass through this checkpoint.
This was the order given to him by the Supreme Guardian. Even if the future Supreme Guardian, Bronya, came personally, he could not let her pass.
Gepard had thought Cocolia's words were just for emphasis, but he never expected that half a day later, Bronya would actually arrive, with a group of familiar and unfamiliar people behind her.
Among them were his own sister and wanted criminals.
"There's no time to explain the details! We've tracked them here and suspect that Mother has been bewitched by the Stellaron! Gepard, move aside!"
In that half a day, thanks to Su Mo, March 7th and Stelle had been well-received. They quickly found clues from the Underworld and began to suspect Cocolia's motives.
Following Su Mo's footsteps while investigating, it didn't take them long to roughly understand the truth.
Although she couldn't believe it, Bronya still wanted to confront her adoptive mother, Cocolia, in person to understand her thoughts.
Therefore, following Cocolia's trail, they had tracked her here.
Faced with Bronya's one-sided story, which cast suspicion on their supreme leader, the rigid Gepard naturally and flatly refused her request.
Although he knew Bronya wasn't that kind of person, he still couldn't make an exception.
Otherwise, if anyone who wanted to become the Supreme Guardian could succeed by claiming the current one was bewitched by a Stellaron without any evidence, wouldn't that open the floodgates for political strife?
Faced with Gepard's stubbornness, although March 7th and the others were at a loss, the resourceful Stelle quickly found his weak spot.
"Gepard, you wouldn't want your big sister and little sister to be tied up by me and given as gifts to Father, would you? Hehehe!"
Holding a photo she had accidentally taken when she met Lynx, Stelle let out a villainous laugh.
It had to be said, this move was not foolproof.
Although he was very worried about the safety of his sisters, when it came to such a major issue, for the sake of the residents in the city, he still maintained his bottom line and did not relent.
Just then, a massive army of Fragmentum monsters suddenly attacked, seeming to want to break through the entire position.
This monster army was more than ten times more terrifying than the strongest one before.
Seeing this formation, Gepard was even prepared to sacrifice himself here.
"All units, with me! Out of the city to fight the enemy!"
As the last line of defense was about to be breached, Gepard led all the Silvermane Guards in a counter-charge.
Stelle, March 7th, and the others were also moved and prepared to help.
Just then, amidst the swirling snow, an incredibly clear and majestic voice rang out.
"Excalibur!"
A golden torrent of light swept through everything, wiping out all the Fragmentum monsters in sight.
This immense torrent cut the blizzard in two, silencing the howling cold wind and the frigid tide.
Then, a golden-haired girl in bright silver knight armor with a prominent ahoge on her head walked out of the now-subsided blizzard and stood before Bronya and the others.
"Miss Stelle, Miss March 7th?" Artoria accurately recognized the girls who also carried Su Mo's aura.
"Miss Saber?! Why are you here?!"
Seeing the familiar face, March 7th greeted her happily.
Back in the world of No Game No Life, she had been cared for by Artoria. Artoria's Avalon had blocked Artosh's divine strike.
"Attendant Artoria, under Master's command, I have come to assist you in the crusade against Cocolia."
Artoria stated her mission directly and showed the mark on her wrist.
Su Mo's blessing was a unique power in this world, almost impossible to imitate.
With March 7th's recognition, the group immediately accepted her.
Not long after, the group arrived near the square.
"As expected of Lord Su Mo! He's so thoughtful, he even matched us with a teammate!" March 7th said cheerfully.
Stelle, on the other hand, rubbed her chin and asked, "With our strength, Father still had to call for backup... I feel like this time's enemy isn't so simple!"
Hearing Stelle's words, Artoria glanced at her.
As expected of Master's daughter. Although they're not related by blood, to be able to react so quickly is indeed excellent.
"You're right. The enemy we're about to face is the supreme leader of this planet, Cocolia."
Looking at the phantom of the blizzard in the distance, Artoria said seriously, "Only by defeating her can this planet survive the impending second Great Freeze."
"It's worth noting that Cocolia has not only borrowed the power of the Stellaron, but for some reason, the Stellaron's own output has been turned up very high... Her power far surpasses that of the Doomsday Beast!"
Hearing this, Stelle puffed out her chest.
Under this blind optimism, Stelle charged forward with her baseball bat.
"That's right! Who's afraid of whom!"
March 7th was also encouraged and charged up with her.
Dan Heng shook his head helplessly and followed with Bronya.
Less than two minutes later, the group had a "GG."
"Avalon!"
In the face of the light that could destroy a planet, Artoria used Avalon in time to block Cocolia's falling star.
If she hadn't been here, the entire team would have likely been wiped out.
"Ptooey, ptooey! How is this possible? We both have a Stellaron, why is she so much stronger than me?"
Stelle patted the dust off herself, her eyes full of disbelief.
Facing Cocolia, she had almost been one-shotted.
They both possessed the power of a Stellaron, yet the other party had a crushing advantage in both energy output and technique.
If it weren't for March 7th's blessing from Su Mo, she might not have even been able to withstand a single blow.
"This power... is indeed terrifying!"
Dan Heng's expression also became completely grave.
Even from his perspective, the Cocolia before them was an exceptionally tricky enemy, her terror almost second only to an Emanator.
To be amplified to this extent just by the power of a single Stellaron was unbelievable no matter how you looked at it.
Even he would probably need to awaken the power of the Dragon Lord to truly gain a combat advantage.
"Mother... then what should we do now?"
Bronya looked at the others, also at a loss.
No one had expected Cocolia to be this strong, even surpassing the entire Great Freeze by herself. If the current Cocolia wanted to, she could destroy the entire planet even without borrowing the power of the cold snap.
With such a huge disparity, how could they defeat the enemy?
Hearing everyone's confusion, a thought stirred in Artoria's heart.
Of course, she knew why Cocolia was so strong. The power personally adjusted by her own Master was naturally extraordinary.
But that wasn't important right now. What was important was how to overcome this problem.
And at this moment, looking at the anxious but unwavering faces of the group, Artoria seemed to think of something.
She took out an amber-textured spear, handed it to Stelle, and then gripped the Sword of Promised Victory herself.
"Why do humans choose to protect?" she suddenly asked.
Hearing this, the straightforward March 7th said, "So we won't be defeated by those bad guys!"
Bronya was stunned for a moment, then quickly gave a firm answer, "To protect the flame of hope!"
Finally, Stelle and Artoria exchanged a look.
"To preserve all that is beautiful."
"To preserve the ideals in our hearts."
None of their answers were the same, but at that moment, the Path of Preservation resonated with extraordinary intensity.
The consciousness of both Artoria and Stelle went blank for a moment. Then, in their mindscape, they saw a giant hammer slowly striking down, and a noble existence with a body like amber.
In that instant, they both quickly realized what this was.
A glance from an Aeon, proof that they had stepped onto the Path of Preservation.
And at that very same moment, Qlipoth, the Aeon of Preservation, brought down the hammer in their palm.
The scattered sparks announced the end of the previous Amber Era and the arrival of the next.
Between the changing of eras, the two Pathstriders who had obtained the power of the Path of Preservation aimed their spears at Cocolia.
"In the name of Preservation, I sentence you, enemy of the stars!"
Without needing to unlock the thirteen seals, with the blessing of the power of Preservation, Artoria, by her own will alone, unlocked all the restraints of the Starry Sword and allowed this supreme holy sword to absorb the energy of the Preservation Path, gaining power far beyond its original version.
Therefore...
"Shatter completely, Excalibur Galatine!"
The light of the stars burst forth, devouring everything in its path.