Ironclad: How can hand-crafted knight belts not be considered genius?

Various celestial bodies flashed past the spaceship at high speed. Jiang Ning focused intently on the front, and the spaceship's speed continued to increase.

The data stream flowed through Izzy's eyes, rapidly scanning for obstacles ahead and synchronizing the information with Jiang Ning via Zeya.

"President Jiang Ning, we expect to arrive in Belleburg in about one system hour."

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, completely immersed in the excitement of racing the spaceship.

"Okay, got it! Full speed ahead!"

…………

As Xing swung his bat, he successfully delivered the final blow to the rift remnant before him, and the rift creature ultimately dissipated into imaginary particles in the wind and snow.

The group, panting heavily, recovered their strength and adjusted their condition.

"Phew—finally...it's gone..."

March 7th let out a long sigh, placed his longbow beside him, and slumped over.

"It's just Cocolia's echo, yet it's so troublesome... If we really have to deal with that unreasonable old woman, can we handle it?"

"Huh...? I didn't mean to demoralize the troops~ I just said it casually..."

Realizing what had happened, March 7th awkwardly scratched his head, his eyes automatically darting away guiltily.

"It's okay... I can take on ten more!"

Xing held the baseball bat high, flicked her long hair that fell over her shoulder, and looked very confident.

"I really envy your mindset..."

March 7th rolled her eyes at Xing without saying a word, then looked nervously at the long ladder in front of her.

"It seems... there's only this last step left?"

"Um."

Seele nodded and took a step forward.

"That staircase... there's only this last section left."

Dan Heng twirled his spear in a flourish, his sharp gaze fixed on the top of the stairs.

"No matter where it leads... it's probably the end of this journey."

Upon hearing this, March 7th raised his hand and put it on his hip.

"That's such an ominous thing to say! I don't want this to be the end of our journey. I hope our journey will never end!"

The declaration of March 7th was shattered by the wind and snow, but Seele's expression became solemn.

"In other words... Bronya, and the fate of the Upper and Lower Districts... are now ahead... in our hands..."

Strange… I thought I would be scared or nervous, but I'm not. My only feeling right now is… unreal…

March 7 looked back at Seele with some disbelief.

"Hey, seriously? Why are you saying such discouraging things too?"

Dan Heng crossed his arms over his chest, his tone flat.

"The train travels through world after world, and we are merely passersby, simply witnesses to the stories..."

We always try to avoid being swept up in the waves that determine the fate of the world, yet there are always times when we are not in control of our own destiny…

March 7th gave a playful smile and spoke to Danheng.

"In other words... your first 'exploration' trip was incredibly lucky~?"

Dan Heng didn't reply, but just stared silently ahead, but Xing suddenly interrupted.

"Speaking of which... we're almost at the final boss, so why hasn't Brother Jiang Ning arrived yet?"

A brief silence fell over the room.

Dan Heng sighed and spoke.

"No matter what, the die is cast, and we have no way out."

March 7th took a step forward and stretched.

"Oh dear~ why did you make the atmosphere so scary?"

The journey of "exploration" doesn't have that many rules and regulations to begin with~

Help those in need, make friends with worthy companions, and incidentally save a few worlds along the way~

Let's go! Save Belloberg from being driven to despair by that wicked woman!

The cheerful cheers on March 7th managed to dispel some of the suffocating feeling that was pressing down from the end of the stairs.

The wind and snow became unusually quiet here.

It was no longer the howling, raging winds of Panyan Town, but a deathly stillness, stagnation, and a heavy, oppressive cold.

It was as if all the snow and wind of the entire Beloborg, the destiny of being frozen for seven hundred years, and the malice accumulated in the "Star Core" had all converged at the end of this heavenly staircase leading to the mountaintop.

The group climbed the steps, their footsteps making only a very soft rustling sound on the snow-covered stone steps.

The higher you go, the thinner the air becomes, and the colder the swirling snow and wind all around.

But the wind and snow could not deter their determination to save Belloberg.

…………

At the summit of the snow-capped mountain, Cocolia stood in front of the fixed "star core," looking up with piety and trust in her eyes.

Bronya, behind him, was clutching her forehead, looking extremely pained.

"No...no...!"

This is not what I want...!

Cocolia turned her head slightly, her tone flat and cold, devoid of any warmth.

"Do not resist Him, Bronya."

Look at the world He promised—a world without poverty, cold, and suffering!

A world where everyone can be happy, and no one will beg for survival like a prisoner!

A world that we can protect...

As she spoke, Cocolia closed her eyes, as if she were carefully comprehending something, while continuing to preach her ideas, desperately trying to get Bronya to accept the will from the "Star Core".

Word after word, like fine needles, pierced Bronya's brain along with the will of the "Star Core" invading her.

Bronya had a splitting headache and was desperately resisting the will filled with despair and destruction taking over her consciousness.

Her world was spinning, the heavens and earth were constantly turning upside down, and her tense mind was on the verge of collapse...

"Enough with the brainwashing, witch!"

Seele's angry shout came from behind, pulling Bronya back to reality from her dazed state.

Bronya broke free from the illusion of the "Star Core," lowered her hand, and turned around in disbelief to look at the familiar figures behind her.

"...Seele?!"

Cocolia crossed her arms, her eyes filled with danger and warning, yet she remained calm.

"So they still came..."

I thought this storm would bury you all…

Seele frowned, raised her hand to summon a scythe, shielded Bronya behind her with one hand, and pointed the blade directly at Cocolia.

"You wish! We won't fall until we defeat you!"

After saying that, she turned her head to look at Bronya.

"Bronya! I don't know anything about you and your mother. Even if you explain it to me right now, I probably won't understand any of that esoteric stuff!"

But there are two things I am very clear about!

First, Xing and his group went through countless hardships to get here, all for the purpose of sealing that thing called "Star Core".

Second, do you remember what I said? If anything happens to you, I will definitely save you!

So… no matter what kind of spell that woman cast on you to make you forget our agreement, I'm still going to knock you out and take you back!”

Bronya listened quietly, her brows furrowing involuntarily, her emotions a complex mix.

"Seele..."

Watching this sentimental scene unfold before her, Cocolia sighed and spoke coldly.

"Is that alright? I've given you plenty of time... time to say goodbye."

Bronya, state your choice...

Will you join me in protecting Beloborg and creating a world without pain? Or will you join these rebels... to fight against me?

Bronya closed her eyes and struggled silently. After a while, she opened her eyes again, and there was no longer any struggle or reluctance in them.

"I'm sorry, Mother, I can't agree with your point of view!"

The people of Belloberg would never want to live in such a world! I will never entrust the fate of Belloberg to such a scourge!

If protecting everyone in Belloberg means being your enemy... then I will stand here and defeat you!

After saying that, Bronya decisively drew the sidearm from behind her and pointed it directly at Cocolia.

Cocolia closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

"I see... Your choice is..."

I understand, Bronya.

It's a pity... you won't see the beautiful world, you can't break free from the shackles of your mind... do you know that? You should have been... the "mother" of the new world!

As soon as she finished speaking, Cocolia suddenly attacked, her frost spear, filled with a chilling aura, instantly solidified and flew rapidly towards Bronya.

With lightning speed, Seele swung her scythe and slashed it down, shattering it into a pile of ice crystals.

A fierce battle—the battle that would determine the fate of the entire Belleburg—finally took place on the mountaintop.

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