"Please follow me."
Bronya smoothly interjected, gesturing for the two to proceed toward Qliphoth Fort.
Anming held Silver Wolf's hand as they ascended the grand staircase to meet Cocolia, Belobog's current Supreme Guardian.
"It's like a wedding," Silver Wolf suddenly remarked with a soft smile. Walking up the long steps, meeting her beloved at the end—what a romantic scene.
In her dreams, she had never dared imagine such a beautiful future. Just being able to quietly watch Anming was happiness enough, like the countless nights she had cried silently into her pillow, burying the tears deep in her heart.
Anming tightened his grip on her hand. Her fingers were soft, yet he could still feel the faint traces of her time as Molten Knight.
Over the years as SAM of the Stellaron Hunters, Silver Wolf had fought often, but she had never once used Anming's transformation device in battle.
In her heart, Anming should never be tarnished. Let "SAM" bear the infamy of the Stellaron Hunters. To her, Anming would always be the hero who saved the world.
A hero should never carry any sin.
"There will be a wedding... When the time comes, the whole world will know you're my beloved."
"I don't need others' approval for that."
Silver Wolf smiled sweetly. She didn't care what outsiders thought—just as Anming had never rejected her for being a cyborg.
All she needed was Anming's love. That was enough.
She didn't need understanding or blessings. True happiness was something only she could know.
Holding Anming's hand, Silver Wolf cheerfully climbed the steps. Just watching her silver hair sway in the sunlight filled Anming with warmth.
Memories of their time together on Glamoth played in his mind like a film—those beautiful summers could never be forgotten.
It's so good to see you again.
Gazing at Silver Wolf's profile, Anming couldn't help but smile.
This gentle, loving Silver Wolf—how could he keep the truth about the simulations from her?
He resolved to tell her everything once they left Qliphoth Fort. Even if she transformed into SAM and pummeled him with her iron fists, it didn't matter.
There could be no secrets between them. That was their promise.
Anming and Silver Wolf were each other's everything.
Bronya walked ahead, stealing occasional glances at the pair. Though she understood love in theory, this was the first time she had truly seen it.
She had thought love had no tangible form, yet today, she witnessed it—more beautiful than any novel's description, as if plucked straight from a fairy tale.
She imagined they must have shared an extraordinary past, surviving trials of life and death, overcoming countless crises before finally reuniting.
To say she wasn't envious would be a lie. But with Belobog's future at stake, how could she spare thoughts for something as fleeting as love?
"The Supreme Guardian awaits ahead."
The Silvermane Guards pushed open the heavy doors. Bathed in sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows, Cocolia stood with her back to them, her gaze fixed on the two "Nameless" visitors.
A flicker of emotion passed through Bronya's eyes, but she said nothing, simply stepping aside to let Anming and Silver Wolf approach.
Anming leisurely pulled out his phone. Unskippable cutscenes like this should be Stelle's job—newbies need the lore.
As a veteran, his only concern was sticking close to Silver Wolf.
[Windblade]: Where are you guys? Did a trash can hit you halfway?
[Kafka's Dog]: Anming, tell me—can a man who walks on thin ice his whole life ever lift the lid of a trash can?
Anming stared at the screen. Did Stelle's ancient trash can lineage awaken the moment she set foot in Belobog? In a few days, would she ascend as the God of Garbage?
Should never have let her near one. Only Kafka's Spirit Whisper could save her now.
[March's Camera]: We met your past-life lover. Confess! How many beauties have you dreamed about behind our backs?
[Pom-Pom Middle Finger.jpg]
Anming broke into a cold sweat. What did March mean? Surely Fu Xuan hadn't dragged the Qiongguan Matrix to Jarilo-VI to hunt him down...
No way. Even the Master Diviner's calculations couldn't be that accurate.
So far, he'd only dreamed of a firefly-like girl and a peach blossom-like girl. The third was still en route.
[Windblade]: Have you forgotten our mission?! My burdens don't matter—what matters is resolving the Stellaron crisis and saving Jarilo-VI! As Nameless, how can we let gossip hinder our path? Come, it's time to save the world!
[Kafka's Dog]: You're right, but... drama first.
[March's Camera]: +1.
[Dan Heng]: [Pom-Pom Sigh.jpg]
"What's wrong?" Silver Wolf blinked curiously, sending Anming into further panic. Was the harem war about to begin? A reenactment of the Aeon War?!
"My Nameless comrades are too busy slacking off. Guess I'll have to handle Cocolia myself," Anming sighed dramatically, his eyes weary. Why must the plot forcibly detain him for 15 minutes?
"Handle?"
"Ah—I mean, convince her through dialogue. Extract key clues."
Anming corrected himself. If he could talk Cocolia down, that'd be ideal—but with the Stellaron's influence, persuasion seemed near impossible.
Unless he had simulated Cocolia's past, uncovering an angle to reach her. As things stood, no amount of speechcraft would prevent a fight.
After all, why would Cocolia listen to him? Unless...
Anming paused. Would Spirit Whisper work here? But that'd be less "persuasion" and more "hypnosis."
And burning lifespan for something so trivial? Not worth it.
After weighing the options, Anming decided against it. With his current strength, he could bulldoze through Jarilo-VI anyway.
No rules could bind absolute power.
What was a Stellaron against him and Silver Wolf's combined might?
Silver Wolf tilted her head, unbothered by complexities. The Stellaron Hunters' usual approach? Eliminate all obstacles.