The bat hovered 0.01 centimeters above Sampo's skull—
—and Stelle showed no mercy. Youth has no price tag; her "100% Headshot Mod" was already installed.
Sampo burst from the snowbank, hands raised. "Easy there, heroes!" He ducked as Stelle's bat cratered the ground where he'd lain. No hesitation at all?!
"Whoa, Belobog yeti!" Stelle gasped. By all logic, that glittering snow pile should've been a hidden treasure chest full of Stellar Jade. Had she spawned a roaming elite mob instead?
"Yeti?" March peeked over, baffled. Was this some secret "Contemplate Winter" cultivation technique?
"Friends! Let's lower the weapons!" Sampo flashed his trademark grin. "Name's Sampo Koski—"
"Got it. 'Driver.' Take us to the nearest five-star hotel." Stelle waved imperiously, already drafting her "Frostpunk Luxury Tour." As universe-renowned Trailblazers, they deserved at least a warm bed. Her frostbitten legs regretted earlier fashion choices.
"Budget's tight…" March grumbled. If they had funds, they'd be sipping Soulglad at Penacony, not freezing their astral butts off on this signal-dead rock.
Sampo opened his mouth to protest—since when did numbers equal justice?!—then eyed Dan Heng's glowing Cloud Piercer. …Okay, maybe numbers DO win.
"You know the way to the city," Dan Heng interjected before the duo could spiral into "Belobog Yeti Cultural Exchange Symposium."
Sampo shrugged. "A businessman needs compensation—"
"I'm a college student."
"Even newborns pay here."
"(Raises bat)(Charges energy)(Chants Stellar Hymn)"
"Fine, fine!" Sampo surrendered. "This way—quietly. Wouldn't want the Silvermane Guards noticing."
"Why? We're upstanding citizens." Stelle smiled innocently, bat resting on her shoulder—still dripping Fragmentum guts.
"Wait…" March narrowed her eyes. "He's the criminal here, right?"
"Ah!" Stelle gasped, channeling Anming's wisdom. "By Trailblaze Law, you're now our prisoner."
Sampo: "???"
Thus, the "heroes" marched their "captive" toward Belobog, March fashioning handcuffs from rope.
Belobog Wilderness - Meanwhile
Dear Acting Supreme Guardian Heir,
Please rate today's excitement level:
A: Alien superhero crash-lands with swordplay straight from holo-flicks (+3 "ET vibes!")
B: Meteor transforms into city-annihilating weapon (+8 "Belobog Fried Extra Crispy")
C: Meteor girl brakes via face-first kissing (+??? Mental whiplash)
D: Space Romeo & Juliet make out during apocalypse (+10086 Sugar overdose)
Final Score: Critical! One more glance would trigger diabetes-induced combustion.
Bronya stood frozen (literally and metaphorically), cheeks pink, as the reunited couple ignored the arctic wasteland—and her existence. She tactfully studied the snowflakes.
Meanwhile, Silver Wolf's ship sensors blared:
[ALERT: SAM's biometrics spiking. Hormone levels suggest…]
"Ugh. Mute."
Liuying pinned Anming to the snow, their breaths mingling in frosty clouds. Years of loneliness dissolved into desperate kisses. Her tears melted paths down his face as she whispered between breaths:
"Wore the ring… every day…" She trembled, flashing the firefly-shaped band on her finger. "Waited… to say yes…"
Anming clasped her gloved hand, words failing. They'd never needed them anyway.
When oxygen ran low, Liuying finally pulled back—flushed, radiant, alive.
"I've been waiting," she breathed, snowflakes caught in her lashes. "Waiting for you… to marry me."