Witnessing this scene, Stelle should've been thrilled, but she realized a problem.
She'd been glanced at by three Aeons at once…
Unfortunately, time wasn't on her side. Before she could dwell on it, her eyes rolled back, and she passed out.
As her consciousness faded, Stelle heard several agonizing screams.
"Argh~ Ow, ow, ow!"
Adrian snatched the amber hammer from Qlipoth, giving Aha a thorough thrashing.
"Calm down, I'm just giving you a full-body massage SPA."
"Aha doesn't lose it, but you think Aha's Nanook?!"
Qlipoth watched [Eternity] and [Elation] brawl, noting the sudden absence of THEIR amber hammer.
Hm…
After a moment's thought, THEY conjured a new amber hammer, ignoring Adrian and Aha, and resumed building the barrier.
…
Jarilo-VI, Everwinter Ridge.
Stelle was free-falling at high speed. Regaining consciousness, she adjusted her position and landed safely.
Seeing Stelle unharmed, everyone sighed in relief, especially March 7th, who struck a pose.
"Woohoo! I knew you could do it!"
"Impossible…" Cocolia trembled, sensing the endless imaginary energy surging within Stelle. That strike had clearly pierced her—survival should've been impossible.
"Ugh~" Stelle spread her arms, an hourglass-shaped necklace appearing at her chest. "Told you, [Eternity] doesn't play by the rules."
"Stop being stubborn, Mother! The Guardian's will has made its choice."
"You know nothing of this world's plight… or the fate awaiting it!"
Stelle's lips twitched. "So you didn't hear a word I said. I told you [Eternity] is here…" She held up the hourglass. "See this? Proof of [Eternity]!"
"Hey, what's there to brag about? Did the [Eternity] Aeon personally give it to you?"
"Ouch, undermining me at a time like this." March 7th's jab deflated Stelle's momentum.
Freesna, watching from afar, stood abruptly. "That power… [Eternity] has marked her!"
In the video call, Himeko and Welt were stunned again. "Stelle… got glanced at by an Aeon again? This time [Eternity] Ite?"
"More precisely… two. I sense the turmoil in her power. [Eternity] is only half; the other half comes from the Lord of [Preservation]!"
Silence fell over the call. Though Freesna wasn't looking at the camera, she could still see Himeko and Welt's speechless expressions.
"How long has it been since she was glanced at by [Destruction] Nanook at the Space Station?"
Before Welt could respond, Freesna answered first. "One Amber Era ago. I'm so jealous—she's getting protagonist treatment."
The Church hadn't drawn Adrian's attention in Amber Eras, yet in just a few days, Stelle was glanced at twice by HIM and officially stepped onto the Path of [Eternity].
No way. The more Freesna thought, the angrier she got. She had to recruit Stelle into the Church.
Back at the Creation Engine, Bronya tried to correct Cocolia's warped mindset.
"Even if we're doomed to perish, we'll hold hands and bravely walk into that darkness…"
"No!" March 7th cut her off. "With us here, that ending will never happen."
"Let's go—round two!"
Cocolia was furious, channeling all her imaginary energy. "The Stellaron Core's power is with me! You… are just the old world's dying throes!"
"I'll forge… a glorious new world! Witness the requiem of creation!" She summoned a massive ice meteor, intent on wiping everyone out.
"A puny meteor, shattered with a snap." Stelle scoffed, eager to test her lance's power.
"Lance, charge!"
She dashed skyward to destroy the meteor, but an energy beam whizzed past her ear.
Boom!
Cocolia's hard-earned ultimate was easily shattered. Stelle's face fell.
"No! My spotlight moment!"
"That… was the second move." Freesna retracted her staff, giving Stelle an innocent look.
Stelle: …
"Damn, that elf girl's lethality is too high!" She clutched her chest, unable to withstand the mental blow.
Hm, she'd need to boost her magic resistance.
What if she faced a good-looking enemy using charm tactics? She'd have to train with Adrian.
Why Adrian? Because his eyes burned with desire for [Milk Tea] and [Eternity], with milk tea outweighing even Eternity.
"March, can we get Priestess Sister on the Express?"
"Talk about that later! Wait… you're recruiting her? Normally, isn't it Priestess Sister pulling people into the Church?"
"Doing the opposite—that's the Galaxy Ranger's style!"
…
Adrian adjusted his attire, tossed the shattered grinning mask aside, and returned to the battlefield with a brand-new amber hammer.
After giving Aha a beating, THEY should stay quiet for a while.
If THEY pulled anything else, Adrian wouldn't hesitate to borrow a few cloud-piercing arrows from Lan.
Looking at the amber hammer, Adrian smirked inwardly. He hadn't expected to get the authentic weapon—his old crystal amber hammer suddenly felt lackluster.
Strolling back to Freesna, the battle was nearing its end. Cocolia's energy was fading.
Freesna knew where Adrian had been. She rejoiced—Stelle was Amber Era 2158's first [Eternity] walker. Recruiting her would bring hefty Church rewards!
Cocolia made her final struggle, preparing a last stand.
Stelle gave her no chance. The boss's last HP bar belonged to the Galaxy Ranger!
"Embrace your [Destruction]… no, Cocolia! Embrace your [Eternity]!"
With that, Stelle went back to basics, landing a punch square on Cocolia's face, forcing her out of the Nihilist Mother form.
As Cocolia fell, the Stellaron Core within her could no longer hold back, preparing to self-destruct with her, taking everyone on Everwinter Ridge down with it.
"No! Don't take her!" Years of maternal bond drove Bronya forward, trying to stop Cocolia's self-destruction.
But with shields around, Bronya could only watch as Cocolia inched toward death.
"The Stellaron Core… promised a future! It will… consume all! Urgh~"
With her last strength, Cocolia ripped the Stellaron Core from her body. Suddenly, a silver-white figure flashed by, shattering the shield before Bronya.
"Three moves. The final one."
Freesna casually swatted the Stellaron Core aside, looking at the unconscious Cocolia with a cold expression.
"Your life and death are not for the [Cancer of All Worlds] to decide."
"The moment you slandered [Eternity] with vile words… you should've anticipated the Church's judgment."
"Countless lives lost due to your foolish decision—how could you be let off so easily? Death is already the greatest mercy for you."