Chapter 84: March 7th's Moment of Glory

Whoosh—!

Cocolia charged toward Bronya.

Everyone's reaction was a beat slow.

No one had anticipated that Cocolia would attack her own daughter.

"Got you!" Cocolia wore a cold smile.

Her hand was about to touch Bronya's neck.

Among those near Bronya, only March 7th had a chance to intervene.

However, Cocolia had already learned from their previous battles that as long as she was prepared, the ice arrows from the pink-haired girl were ineffective against her.

As long as... as long as she could seize Bronya!

Cocolia gritted her teeth, full of resolve.

Then, March 7th punched with her fist wrapped in ice.

Cocolia: "?"

Thud!

The heavy icy fist directly knocked Cocolia away.

"Heh, heh... This ice-element showdown is my victory!" March 7th raised her iron fist, wearing a confident smile.

"No, that's clearly physical damage," Dan Heng said with a blank expression.

"Damn it!" Cocolia landed awkwardly, stumbling back.

Then, a sharp scythe flashed.

"Fade away with the butterflies..."

That light figure danced like a butterfly, surrounding Cocolia with countless blades, as if cutting through space itself.

"Echo of the Old Days!"

Snap—!

Numerous slashes exploded simultaneously, further damaging Cocolia's already battered body.

Compared to Seele's elaborate line, Dan Heng's was much more concise.

"Pierce!"

His spear added another wound to Cocolia's body.

"Will of Preservation!" Stelle charged with her fiery spear, flames roaring.

"Damn you—!" Cocolia let out a desperate scream, swinging her ice spear fiercely at the charging Stelle.

Clang—!

The heavy fiery spear was knocked away by Cocolia.

"Wha..." Cocolia was momentarily stunned.

"Just kidding." Stelle's bat appeared in her hand again. "I still prefer using this."

A bat swung directly into Cocolia's cheek.

Thud!

A purple earring flew off.

Cocolia staggered back, her body cracking, teetering on the edge of collapse.

"The Stellaron... promised a future..." She murmured her final words. "It will... engulf everything!"

Bang!

A gunshot.

A bullet pierced through her chest.

Cocolia's body froze.

She looked toward Bronya.

Bronya slowly lowered her smoking gun, her hand trembling uncontrollably, emotions surging within her chest, causing her heart to ache.

"Bronya..."

Cocolia reached out toward her daughter.

In that moment, the madness faded from her eyes.

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A young girl sat on her mother's lap.

A cool arm wrapped around her neck, giving the girl an indescribable sense of security.

Her mother's voice was gentle and deep, telling her an old folk tale—its ending was not a happy one, but the girl loved it nonetheless.

"Mother... why couldn't Lord Glehr have a happy ending like Catherine?"

"Do you want him to be happy, Bronya?"

"Lord Glehr is a good person. Good people deserve to be happy."

Yes...

From that day, I knew you would endure many hardships in the future.

But you would eventually overcome them and become a better guardian than I...

Bronya, I...

--------------------------

"Mother!"

Bronya threw aside her weapon and rushed forward.

But she could not grasp her mother's hand again.

Cocolia gave a gentle smile, reminiscent of a warm afternoon when she told stories.

Then, that smile shattered into countless beautiful fragments, carried away by the wind.

"Bronya... I'm proud of you..."

Cocolia's final words were like floating snowflakes, lingering around Bronya.

"...Is it over?" March 7th blinked.

Dan Heng nodded. "It's over."

Bronya collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Seele stood beside her, silent, simply staying close.

In the distance, Gu Tang walked over slowly.

"Gu Tang! You finally made it back!" The Express crew rushed toward him.

**Ding! You've survived a fierce battle with Dan Heng.**

**Dan Heng's affinity increased by 15.**

**Ding! You've survived a fierce battle with March 7th.**

**March 7th's affinity increased by 15.**

**Ding! You've survived a fierce battle with Stelle.**

**Your affinity with Stelle increased by 15.**

"You looked so cool piloting that giant robot and beating up Cocolia!" March 7th said cheerfully, patting Gu Tang's shoulder hard.

"Keep it down, March 7th, keep it down," Dan Heng reminded her, looking at Bronya kneeling in the snow.

Don't let Dan Heng's internal thoughts mislead you; occasionally, he's still a calm and resourceful young man.

Gu Tang also looked at Bronya.

Bronya's tear-streaked, beautiful face made his heart ache.

Because he had just remembered... he hadn't had a chance to take her away!

Cocolia's fuel had just slipped through his fingers.

"Speaking of which, even though I got the power of Preservation, Gu Tang stole all the spotlight," Stelle said, crossing her arms and pouting.

Gu Tang looked at Stelle. "No, you activated the Engine of Creation."

"Huh? Really?" Stelle was surprised.

"Yes, I repaired the Engine, but for some reason, I couldn't start it," Gu Tang nodded. "It wasn't until you drew the fiery spear that the Engine truly started functioning."

"I see... It must have responded to the will of Preservation as a creation of the city," Dan Heng analyzed, rubbing his chin.

"Hehe, I didn't think I was that strong," Stelle scratched her head and laughed.

"That's great; now our whole Express crew has done something," March 7th said with satisfaction, hands on her hips. "Stelle activated the Engine of Creation, Gu Tang piloted it, and I stopped Cocolia's sneak attack at the last moment!"

".........Aren't you forgetting something, March 7th?" Dan Heng reminded her.

"Oh, right." March 7th clapped her hands. "We haven't contacted Himeko and the others."

".........I've already contacted them. Himeko and Welt will come soon to seal the Stellaron," Dan Heng sighed.

By the way, the reason Welt didn't appear with Gu Tang was that he accidentally moved too much inside the Engine of Creation and strained his back.

He's now icing it on the Express.

Also, Himeko's satellite has safely returned to space.

Gu Tang wouldn't damage something borrowed from someone else.

Of course, the satellite was intact, but the Engine of Creation...

"Is that big robot unusable now?" Stelle asked, looking at the distant Engine of Creation.

The massive Engine knelt on one knee, covered in damage, with armor peeled off, revealing its inner workings.

"Well... it probably won't start again. After all, the Engine wasn't originally designed for combat," Gu Tang shrugged.

"An ancient large machine as the cost of sealing the Stellaron—it's already a light price," Dan Heng said, crossing his arms.

"Exactly, the people of Jarilo-VI aren't in a hurry to use it anyway; it's fine, it's fine," March 7th said with a smile.