Cocolia was dumbfounded. Seriously?
How did the Creation Engine switch sides? Who's the real Great Guardian here?
Stelle felt the surge of power. "Creation Engine, serve me!" She raised her hand, syncing with the Creation Engine to swing at Cocolia.
Boom!
Cocolia, caught off guard, was sent flying by the massive mechanical arm.
As the snow settled, a force lifted Stelle to stand atop the Creation Engine.
Everyone else was stunned.
"Way… way bigger than Svarog by a million times!" March 7th marveled at the Creation Engine's sheer size.
"Is that the point?" Himeko didn't get it. "Since when did the Creation Engine belong to [Eternity]?"
Feeling multiple gazes on her, Bronya, equally baffled, averted her eyes. "I… I don't know why the Creation Engine obeys Stelle. By all logic, Mother's words should've controlled it."
"Hmph! I've figured it all out!"
Stelle stood with hands on hips, relishing the high ground's commanding view.
What nonsense Great Guardian? The Galaxy Ranger was the real deal!
If she recalled correctly, Adrian had gone to the restricted zone on the first night, helping Gepard and the Silvermane Guards clear out Voidranger constructs.
Having been to the restricted zone, she didn't believe Adrian could've missed the Stellaron Core. Who's to say he didn't sneak to Everwinter Ridge afterward and tinker with the Creation Engine?
Could it be… Teacher Adrian foresaw this moment? Truly worthy of the Milk Tea… no, an [Eternity] Emanator. Terrifying!
"Hey… ever think about how we feel? Let me up there to try it!" March 7th shouted, but Stelle, high above, didn't hear.
"The battle's not over. Stay cautious."
Dan Heng warned. That single strike from the Creation Engine couldn't have disabled Cocolia's fighting ability.
Sure enough, as Stelle reveled in her moment, an ice spear shot toward her at blinding speed. Dan Heng sensed danger, but it was too late to block with Cloud-Piercer.
Just as everyone thought the spear would pierce Stelle…
Clang!
The ice spear shattered. Only then did they notice a faint black shield around Stelle.
"Haha, the heavens won't let me fall!" Stelle laughed, scanning for Cocolia.
"Not a one-hit KO, huh…"
Cocolia's cold voice echoed from behind them, her figure suddenly appearing.
"Whoa! You've got teleportation too?" March 7th jumped.
Noticing the faint red glow from the grinning mask on Cocolia's arm, Dan Heng sensed something.
A [Mask of Fools]… How did it end up on Cocolia?
Could Sampo be behind this?
Boom!
In a blink, Cocolia appeared before Stelle, kicking her off the Creation Engine.
Stelle didn't panic, performing a perfect 720-degree spin in midair, landing in a textbook superhero pose.
"Ow… that hurts!" She clutched her reddened knee, maybe overdoing the flair.
"Ouch~ That really stings! Why isn't [Eternity]'s blessing kicking in now?" Stelle griped in pain, and the others, still in the dark, had a revelation.
"I see! It's a blessing from Teacher Adrian!"
March 7th felt relieved. She'd been worried about how to deal with Cocolia's shield, but now it was fair—they had a defensive skill too!
"Wait… Doesn't that mean neither side can hurt the other?"
Bronya pinpointed the issue. Based on the fight, Cocolia's blessing was no weaker than theirs.
"Not unreasonable. Now it's about… whose power lasts longer."
"Don't be so absolute. On the bright side, we won't take fatal damage." Stelle pointed to her unscathed self as proof.
"What's the point of overthinking? Trust Adrian! Let's go!" Himeko drew her scythe and charged at Cocolia without hesitation.
"Better play it safe." Despite his words, Dan Heng adjusted Cloud-Piercer's spearhead magnification. With Cocolia wielding both [Elation] and [Stellaron Core] power, this would be tough. Adrian said the upgraded Cloud-Piercer had a [One-Hit Kill] mode, but he figured it wouldn't be needed.
"Even without the Engine, with its power… I can still crush you!"
Cocolia swept Himeko away with a single strike. Resonating with the Stellaron Core, ice crystals enveloped her body as it merged with her. Her human form vanished, replaced by the Nihilist Mother of the Hopeless Gale—a Phantom of Ruin.
Freesna, not far off, took it all in.
"Listen… this power surges… it sings…"
"The Stellaron Core's promise is this world's only hope…"
"Seven hundred years ago, it drove out the Antimatter Legion! Today, it will erase your existence as well!"
A blinding golden light flashed, and Voidrangers spawned at an alarming rate, countless constructs pouring out.
"Ugh, playing dirty, huh? Calling reinforcements!" March 7th groaned.
"Tch." Dan Heng gritted his teeth, about to activate the so-called [One-Hit Kill] mode, when a deafening roar and blinding white light flashed.
All Voidranger constructs, along with the Void's corruption, were annihilated in a single second.
"Guardian consumed by the Stellaron Core. If you anger a [Lord of Extinction], their wrath will swallow galaxies…"
"Care to guess what happens when you anger an [Eternity] Emanator?"
As Cocolia reeled in shock, the Stellaron Core within her grew restless, then lost its glow.
"I said three moves would suffice." Freesna returned to Adrian's side. "That was one."
"How… The Stellaron Core's power was suppressed?"
"Don't get distracted!"
Stelle seized control of the Creation Engine again. She'd been silent, secretly charging up, waiting for Cocolia's opening.
Boom!
The grinning mask cracked, and Cocolia was blasted back again.
"Did it work?" March 7th peeked out.
"Hm… doesn't seem like it." With a Stellaron Core in her own body, Stelle could sense Cocolia's vital signs.
…
Somewhere in the cosmos, Adrian, in hourglass form, and Aha watched the show through a virtual screen.
"Aha's pissed! You hid two tricks behind my back!" The mask fumed.
"You know me—I love tinkering with little toys." Adrian answered honestly. "Besides, you let your guard down, loosening the barrier just enough for that kid to find an opening."
Seeing Adrian confront THEM, Aha had relaxed its hold on the shield, distracted by their chat, lowering its strength to an Emanator's level.
"No worries, she'll use three moves at most."
"Ugh~ What can Aha even say…" The mask flipped upside down, suddenly struck by an idea:
"This planet suffered the Legion's invasion, and [Preservation] did nothing… Doesn't that count as dirt on Qlipoth? If we take this to the Company, it could revive this planet."
"Too clever. It's a shame you're not #85 in the [Genius Society]."
"I feel like you're tricking Aha, but I've got no proof."