The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

Boom! Unparalleled warmth and power instantly enveloped her, dispelling all the chill and pain.

The will to preserve and protect resonated strongly with the destiny she was forging. At that moment, she drew not only a weapon, but also the unyielding belief of a world.

At that very moment, Xing saw the guardian star god named Kripper. After glancing at him, the star god struck the hammer again in Beloborg, announcing the start of a new Amber Age.

When she reappeared in reality, standing atop the Creation Engine, the protective flames burning around her contrasted sharply with the deathly coldness surrounding Cocolia.

Even the ancient creation engine seemed to have recognized its true guardian, its enormous metal hand catching her firmly and lifting her up. The Star General's Flame Spear pointed at the Mother of Illusion in the sky, his gaze blazing.

"You...you know nothing about the struggles of this world! You know nothing about the weight it bears! You have no right to lecture me!"

For the first time, Cocolia's voice wavered violently. The false power brought by the Star Core revealed its cracks in the face of the true power born to protect.

“Even if destruction is the inevitable end,” Bronya’s voice rang out firmly as she stepped forward to stand beside Star.

"We will join hands and step into this together! Instead of sacrificing everything to obtain a hollow promise!"

"Moreover, with us here," Xing's voice was filled with undeniable power, "that kind of ending will never happen!"

The battle resumed and became even more intense.

Cocolia, unleashing her full destructive power, launched an incredibly ferocious attack, even suppressing Xing, who had gained new power, at one point.

But how could the will to protect be so easily broken? Just as Xing was struggling to hold on, the massive iron fist of the Creation Engine came out and shattered Cocolia's destructive breath, giving everyone a precious chance to catch their breath.

Xing's mastery of protective powers grew increasingly refined; she could even summon massive magma shields to intercept and melt incoming meteorites in mid-air. The glimmer of hope seemed ever closer.

This instilled unprecedented panic in the Star Core. A vicious plan instantly took shape.

[Cocolia, my loyal vessel… it is time for the final fusion. Open yourself completely, let me inherit your essence. Your unfulfilled wishes will be fulfilled by my own hands.]

"No! I can still fight! The new world is just around the corner!" Cocolia retorted in a fit of rage, trying to maintain her last shred of autonomy.

But she greatly underestimated the malice and power of the Star Core.

[Still stubbornly clinging to your delusions? Fool!] The Star Core's voice turned sharp and cruel.

"What do you mean by that?" Cocolia questioned the Star Core in her mind.

[You thought the deal was salvation? It was nothing more than prolonging your planet's acute death into a slow, agonizing torture! And I am your planet's executioner.]

Isn't it foolish to discuss with the executioner how to pardon one's own condemned prisoner?

[To discuss a new world with me, the one who controls the path of destruction, is the most foolish fantasy of your life!]

"What...what did you say?!" Cocolia's attack stopped abruptly, her body trembling violently with shock and fear.

Her will is being forcibly eroded and erased by the star core.

[And you've already lost. Faced with these ants, you're utterly defeated and worthless.] The cold, electronic voice declared ruthlessly.

[Why not become a part of me, and witness with your own eyes the end of this world—the only new world, after utter destruction!]

"No...it's not like that...you promised that the new world would have everything that we don't have now..." Cocolia let out a desperate scream, a lament as her personality was being torn apart. "No new world? Only...destruction?"

[Destruction is rebirth! Of course, as a reward for your sacrifice, once everything is over, I might be able to use your fragmented memories to recreate a Cocolia, allowing her to appreciate this desolate new world I have created!]

[Now, surrender and accept your glory!]

"No—!!!" This was Cocolia's final cry, filled with endless regret and despair.

[Behave yourself. You've always been just a puppet I've used. This is just a further step in that process.]

Then, her eyes dimmed completely, and all of Cocolia's emotions and will were completely swallowed up.

The people on the platform watched in shock at this horrific scene. Bronya's face was drained of color, and the immense grief and anger made her almost unable to stand.

[Alright, the unpleasant interlude is over.] 'Cocolia'—or rather, the Star Core—slowly raised its head, its eyes filled only with a cold, inhuman light.

It stirred its new body, its voice distorted and hoarse. [Gentlemen, you have indeed forced me to step in myself. Now, let's begin the true final act.]

"What did you do to my mother?!" Bronya's voice trembled with extreme anger as she raised the gun in her hand.

[It's just clearing out a failed, paranoid, useless old personality.] Star Core said in a nauseating, feignedly loving tone, [But my dear daughter, you need not grieve. I possess all her memories and emotions; I can love you and understand you even more than she did.]

Although you lost that stubborn and strict mother, you can have a mother who loves you even more. I can still be your guide and mentor in life.

I can do everything your mother did, and even better.

[I need a witness to share this magnificent epic of destruction with me, and you are the perfect candidate. What do you say? No questions asked…]

"Shut up!" Bronya pulled the trigger, the bullet whizzing past the star core's ear. "You monster that parasitizes the planet's flesh and blood! You have no right to tarnish the name of Mother! Get out of our world!"

[Ha...useless anger.] The Star Core controlled Cocolia's body. [You are the ones who should leave. However, before destruction descends, being able to disgust you all is this trash's last bit of value.]

Without saying another word, it unleashed all the power it had gained after devouring Cocolia!

The sky suddenly darkened as an enormous meteorite, burning with pitch-black flames, tore through the clouds and crashed down on everyone on Everwinter Ridge with the force to destroy everything!

The scale of the attack far exceeded any previous one, and an atmosphere of despair enveloped everyone.

However, just as the world-destroying meteorite was about to devour everything, a gentle yet incredibly resolute emerald green light appeared out of nowhere directly in front of the meteorite.

In the light, a young man with silver hair and blue eyes quietly appeared. His expression was calm, and he lightly tapped the air with the long spear made of grass and wood in his hand.

"Abundance should not be allowed to be destroyed and trampled upon."

He spoke softly, not in a roar, yet it contained supreme power. A vast and boundless life force surged toward the meteorite like a tidal wave.

The enormous mass, composed of pure destructive energy, was rapidly melted and decomposed under the onslaught of this extreme vitality, like snow exposed to sunlight, transforming into the most primitive energy particles and dissipating into nothingness.

In the blink of an eye, that devastating threat vanished.

Russell hovered in the air, his emerald spear pointing at Cocolia, who was controlled by the star core. His eyes were indifferent, like a god looking down at an ant.

"To be able to portray deception and betrayal to this extent, you are indeed 'outstanding' among all the star cores I have ever seen. But this is all I can praise you for."

His voice was calm, yet carried an air of authority that seemed to freeze the space around him: "Besides, your self-righteous schemes and the meager strength you rely on are worthless in my eyes."

"You are the cancer of civilization, the source of suffering, and a stubborn disease that must be thoroughly eradicated."

He pronounced, his gaze finally settling on the star core: "What kind of skill is it to bully these children fighting for their homeland? If you think your power is unstoppable, that you've reached the point where you can destroy this world..."

Russell's spear unleashed a life-giving radiance that illuminated the heavens and earth, and the oppressive aura of the Envoy of Abundance was fully unleashed, directly extinguishing the destructive pressure of the star core.

"...From now on, your opponent is me."

……

8k words today, time for bed. My daily routine: asking for monthly votes, death threats, follow-up reading, favorites, and subscriptions. Goodnight everyone.

Golden Branches and Wails: Leave of Absence Statement, August 24, 2025

Because I'm returning to school on August 24th, which will take a whole day, I definitely won't have the energy to update. Forcing myself to update won't produce anything of high quality. So I've chosen to rest for a day.

所以8月24日请一天假休息，从8月25号起算依旧保6k。今天23号仍正常更新。

So be it.

The Golden Branches: Chapter 117 The So-Called Truth

The Star Core, controlling Cocolia's body, emitted a sharp, explosive sound the moment it saw Russell—a sound born of instinctive fear.

It clearly realized that the being before it was its true natural enemy, an existence it could absolutely not contend with.

Escape was its only thought at that moment.

It suddenly turned around, attempting to use Cocolia's remaining power to tear through space and escape.

But Russell simply raised his hand calmly, a faint emerald light flashing at his fingertips. The Mother of Illusion, who hadn't escaped far, was instantly frozen in mid-air, as if tightly bound by invisible vines, unable to move.

The power of abundance, gentle yet irresistible, has locked down all its escape routes.

[No! No! You can't do this!] The star core screamed in despair, [I just wanted to fulfill my mission! To let all things embrace the end, return to the imaginary! What's wrong with that?!]

“To argue with you is an insult to abundance. Cancer like you should have been wiped out of this world long ago,” Russell’s voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

The long spear made of grass and wood in his hand burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light.

That light was not destruction, but the condensation of ultimate life force, an absolute affirmation of existence itself. "Though the night is not yet deep, let it quietly disappear."

He didn't use any force; he simply sent the spear out gently, as if brushing away dust.

The emerald green light gun instantly traversed space and precisely pierced Cocolia's chest—not aimed at her broken body, but directly at the star core itself.

click-

A clear and crisp cracking sound echoed across the silent snowfield, as if the whole world held its breath. Immediately following was a shrill, distorted wail emanating from the star core.

A massive and violent destructive energy surged wildly from the cracks like a burst dam, attempting a final counterattack.

The power of abundance melts ice and snow like warm sunlight; all the overflowing destructive energy is purified and decomposed the moment it touches the emerald light, turning into the purest basic particles that return to the world.

Finally, a silent explosion occurred. There was no shockwave, only a soft, yet all-encompassing, emerald-green glow that rippled across the entire sky.

At the center of the light, Cocolia's original form was gradually stripped away from the ice crystals and distorted energy.

Russell waved his hand gently, and countless radiant flowers of abundance appeared out of thin air, tenderly supporting her gradually cooling body and slowly presenting it to Bronya and the others.

Her eyes regained a brief clarity, and she focused her gaze with difficulty on Bronya's tear-streaked face.

“Bronya…I was wrong…” Her voice was barely audible, yet filled with endless regret and relief. “You were right…Go on your path…”

Before she could finish speaking, her last vestiges of consciousness vanished like a candle flickering in the wind, leaving behind a faint, relieved smile on her lips.

The body, drained of all its life force by the star core, turned into specks of golden dust, like embers that had been burned out, slowly dissipating and ultimately leaving only a faint, warm ripple on the snow-covered ground.

With the complete annihilation of the star core, everyone clearly felt that the biting cold on Everwinter Ridge seemed to have lessened, and there seemed to be a faint warmth in the air.

"Wow! Mr. Russell! That's amazing!" March 7th was the first to jump out, his face full of amazement and lingering fear. "That really scared me to death! If you hadn't arrived in time, we really wouldn't know what to do!"

Russell smiled slightly, lightly tapped the ground with his fingertips, and the surrounding snow melted instantly, revealing the dark soil underneath. Several tender green shoots even broke through the soil at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Don't belittle yourselves; you've done very well. Although there were some ups and downs along the way, the result was ultimately good, wasn't it?"

Xing strode forward, stretched out her hand decisively, and looked at Russell with bright eyes: "Reward! Candy!"

Russell was amused by her straightforward action, and as if by magic, he produced the Joyful Candy Box, grabbed a handful of colorful candies, and placed them on her outstretched palm: "Alright, alright, this is a reward for the great hero who saved the world. However," he gently reminded her, "the sweet taste is more delicious when shared with everyone."

Xing looked at the mountain of candy in her hand, blinked, and first eagerly stuffed two into her mouth. Then she carefully counted the rest and fairly distributed two candies to each of Danheng, March 7, Bronya, and Seele.

"Does that mean we've completed our mission?" March 7 asked happily as she unwrapped a candy. "Mr. Russell has completely destroyed the star core, so we don't even need to take it back to the train!"

“The crisis is not completely over, March.” Dan Heng calmly shook his head and analyzed, “With the star core gone, the cold wave will gradually subside, and the rift will stop expanding. But the rifts that have already formed and the monsters that have bred within them will not disappear immediately. Rebuilding our home will be a long and arduous process.”

“Not only that,” Russell added, gazing into the distance, “don’t forget that the Star Core used extreme cold to freeze the antimatter legion.”

"Although most of the legions have been annihilated, some powerful individuals have survived within the ice. As the climate warms, they will gradually awaken. The challenges facing Belloberg in the future remain severe."

His gaze finally fell on Bronya, who was standing silently to the side: "Of course, with Bellberg's resilience, I believe you can handle it."

“Mother…” Bronya murmured softly, and Seele held her hand tightly, offering silent support.

"Your mother chose the wrong path, that's a fact." Russell's voice was calm yet powerful. "And you, you are about to become the new Great Protector, the fate of the entire planet will rest on your shoulders."

"What you need is reason and strength, not to wallow in sorrow. The remnants of the future antimatter legion must be dealt with by your own strength; you cannot forever rely on extraterrestrial visitors."

“I understand… Mr. Russell.” Bronya took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions, her eyes gradually becoming firm.

“But…” she paused, then turned to the crowd and posed a somber question, “How are we going to explain all this to the people of Belloberg?”

"Regarding what Mother did, regarding this lie that has lasted for seven hundred years... I... I need to hear your opinions." She especially turned her gaze to Xing, who was holding the flaming spear.

Xing thought about it carefully for a while and gave a clear and affirmative answer: "Tell everyone the truth. The reason we can unite is because we face the harsh truth. Hiding it will only breed greater suspicion and rifts."

"But...is this really okay?" Bronya's eyes were filled with struggle. "To reveal everything about my mother, to expose this centuries-old...deception?"

“A lie will always be exposed eventually, no matter how perfectly it is disguised,” Russell said. “When it is revealed by others, the damage will be devastating.”

"While it may be painful for you to take the initiative to reveal this, it will also demonstrate your sincerity and responsibility as the new leader. People crave a trustworthy and sincere leader, not another politician who weaves lies. Of course, this is just a suggestion."

Seele immediately objected: "But! If people know that even the High Protector has betrayed them, who will they trust? This could cause chaos!"

Bronya looked again at the spot where her mother had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time. Finally, she raised her head, her eyes still filled with sorrow, but also with a greater sense of resolve:

"The High Guardian Cocolia was forcibly controlled by the Star Core and turned into a puppet. However, she broke free from the Star Core's control at the last moment. She clearly realized the mistakes of the previous High Guardians in failing to destroy the Star Core, as well as all the wrong things she had done."

"By disrupting the star's core at the cost of self-destruction, they bought us the opportunity for final victory."

"With the help of extraterrestrial travelers, we have finally defeated the source of this calamity that has shrouded Beloborg for seven hundred years. Everything will be settled."

"From this day forward, this is the new history of Belleberg. What do you think is the truth about Everwinter Ridge?"

Seele looked at Bronya in surprise. Although this explanation embellished the process, it did not completely cover up Cocolia's mistakes.