Whether Acheron's words were true or false, Gepard had no way of judging.
Deep down, he had always been wary of visitors from beyond the stars.
There was no complicated reason.
The people from the Interastral Peace Corporation had arrived before them. And the first thing the IPC had done upon reaching Belobog was to assess the planet's value and present an astronomical bill—seven hundred years of compounding interest—demanding repayment.
After the cold wave descended, Belobog had lost contact with other worlds, left to battle the cold and the Fragmentum alone.
Neither the cold wave nor the Fragmentum had driven them to extinction. Under the leadership of generations of Architects, Belobog had endured to this day.
They had not relied on anyone else.
They had relied on themselves.
Yet just as the cold wave ceased its former fury and the Fragmentum stopped expanding—just as Belobog was about to welcome a new dawn—outsiders from the stars arrived without warning.
They brought with them a crushing debt from seven hundred years ago, inflated by endless interest.
They demanded repayment.
They demanded that the planet itself be mortgaged to the IPC.
Even now, when Gepard recalled that moment, anger surged uncontrollably within him. A few light words were all it took for them to attempt to strip away Belobog's right to choose.
They had built walls. They had resisted for centuries.
And in the end, because of a debt compounded over seven hundred years, they were to be forced to sell the homeworld they had defended for generations?
Gepard had no goodwill toward outsiders.
He had already witnessed the ugly faces of the IPC employees. To glimpse dawn only to be thrust back into the abyss—such bitterness was hard to endure.
The IPC was an unassailable behemoth.
More dangerous than the Fragmentum.
And the most tragic part was this—
Even if they wished to resist, their resistance would be meaningless.
If not for the recent revival of the ice sculptures, and the Supreme Guardian using that as leverage to withstand the pressure from the IPC, Belobog might already have become…
Where was Belobog's path forward?
The Antimatter Legion was reviving. The madmen who once set Jarilo-VI ablaze were poised to return.
And the IPC waited to reap the spoils.
If Belobog won this war, the IPC would proceed as planned and reclaim Jarilo-VI.
If Belobog lost to the Legion, the IPC would lose nothing. To them, this had always been an unexpected windfall.
Win or lose.
There was no ending that truly belonged to the people of Belobog. They could exhaust everything they had and still lose even the right to choose.
Because of the IPC's arrival, because of the Legion's revival, the wave of crises crashing down one after another had shaken Belobog's will of Preservation.
What were they fighting for?
Did Belobog truly have a tomorrow?
One outcome was death of the body.
The other was death of the spirit.
Had the generations of Architects fought and fallen only to safeguard a future without even the right to choose?
The faith of many who knew the truth had begun to waver.
Some had already lost the will to fight.
Gepard did not know what the correct choice was.
But… he was a Silvermane Guard.
A soldier who fought for Belobog and for Preservation.
No matter what.
As long as the Supreme Guardian continued to issue orders, he would cast aside his doubts and continue fighting for Preservation.
Acheron had likely not expected Gepard to respond that way. Her impression of this planet ran deep, and her emotions were complicated.
"If Kiana heard you say that, she would definitely be very happy," she said.
Regardless of intention, bringing Honkai to this world without the consent of its people had been an act of arrogance.
Kiana knew it had not been appropriate.
But at the time, she had her reasons.
Afterward, she kept this world in her thoughts, constantly worrying about Belobog's condition. She had even left her companion Honkai Beast here to guard against unforeseen danger—almost as if she had taken it upon herself to become this world's protector.
Acheron understood.
She had done it out of guilt.
No matter how others judged the matter, no matter whether it ultimately proved beneficial, it did not change the fundamentally arrogant nature of the act.
"Speaking of which, the concentration of Honkai energy in this world isn't particularly high," Welt said after sensing it for a moment. "It hasn't reached the level that would give birth to a Herrscher."
During his last trip to Izumo, he had been forced into a Herrscher state by the overwhelming Honkai concentration there. Through that experience, he had come to understand something about this new form of Honkai under Kiana's control.
The current concentration here was not high.
It resembled Earth after the Finality war.
If it remained at this level, and no unusual circumstances arose—then large-scale disasters and the emergence of a Herrscher would likely not occur.
"But Honkai energy can merge with other lifeforms. The Voidrangers are no exception," Acheron reminded them again. "The Antimatter Legion on this world has most likely come into contact with Honkai energy. The possibility of mutation is high. We must remain vigilant."
She was intimately familiar with the phenomenon of lifeforms being assimilated and mutated by Honkai energy.
It had happened countless times in Izumo.
Even when they had slain Kami, Honkai had aided them.
Those Kami had been influenced by Honkai.
If Honkai could even affect Nihility, there was no reason it could not affect the Antimatter Legion. In fact, creatures born solely for destruction might be even more compatible with the corrosive nature of Honkai.
Acheron continued thinking aloud.
"If all the Voidrangers on this planet fully transform into Honkai creatures, that would actually be easier to deal with. What worries me is if the assimilation only progresses halfway."
"Why?" Stelle asked curiously. "Wouldn't halfway be easier to handle?"
"Kiana is the source of this Honkai and can control it perfectly," Acheron explained patiently. "She holds absolute authority over Honkai creatures."
"If an enemy becomes a Honkai lifeform, it's no different from walking straight into her net."
"It works like that?"
Stelle suddenly looked enlightened.
So once you're tainted by Honkai, as long as Kiana wishes it, she can judge you at will?
Something like that?
Welt nodded.
During their trip to Izumo, he had witnessed Kiana perform what could only be described as a miracle.
In a single, unheralded instant, the terrifying energy that had shrouded the world vanished without a trace.
Vegetation revived.
Life reappeared.
It had been akin to divine intervention.
"Since you've come regarding the Antimatter Legion and these Stigmata," Gepard suddenly proposed, "would you care to enter the city with me and request an audience with the Supreme Guardian?"
"I don't know much about the specifics of the Voidrangers or the Stigmata," he admitted. "If you wish to investigate further, I recommend meeting the Supreme Guardian personally."
If they truly were not affiliated with the IPC, then in a situation with no clear path forward, introducing a third party might be the correct decision.
Whether their words were true or false—
The situation could hardly become worse than it already was.
Could it?
The group exchanged glances and nodded.
"Then we'll trouble you to lead the way," Himeko said.
...
The journey back was far from peaceful.
Fragmentum creatures and the Fragmentum itself did not simply vanish with the disappearance of the Stellaron.
Thus, the Silvermane Guards still had to patrol daily, eliminating the monsters that drew close to Belobog to prevent them from gathering into a tide.
There were signs that the Fragmentum creatures had also been eroded by Honkai energy. Acheron was no stranger to the creatures of this world's Fragmentum. When she saw those monsters—faintly retaining the silhouettes of Silvermane Guards—seemingly evolved, their methods and weapons altered, she immediately recognized the influence of Honkai.
Gepard's objective was to eradicate these monsters encircling Belobog. So when he saw that enemies had once again appeared along a route that had just been cleared, he did not hesitate. He immediately directed his soldiers to launch an attack.
The Nameless naturally did not stand idly by. They stepped forward without hesitation, assisting Gepard in clearing the enemies blocking the road.
This time, Acheron did not draw her blade. Using only the scabbard and her refined swordsmanship, she dispatched several nearby foes while casually observing these new variants.
With assistance, the enemies that had regrouped there were swiftly annihilated. It took little time and effort to resolve the trouble before them.
"Thank you for your help," Gepard said.
His attitude toward them had clearly grown warmer. If they had been IPC personnel, those people would not have wasted ammunition when the Guards were capable of handling matters themselves. They would have stood by and watched.
To join the fight without hesitation and help ease their burden—these people were at least far more earnest than the IPC.
"You must have come from the city," Welt observed, noting the traces left behind after the slain Fragmentum creatures dissipated. "Clearing the road all the way to the point where you encountered us?"
"We just cleared this route," Gepard replied, his expression turning more somber. "Recently, the outskirts have become extremely dangerous. As you've seen, the safe zone we carve out doesn't last even two hours before the enemy occupies it again."
"So doesn't that mean everything outside the city belongs to the monsters?" March 7th exclaimed.
What safe zone? It sounded more like they were trapped inside a nest of beasts.
"…It's always been like this," Gepard sighed. "We thought that once the Fragmentum stopped expanding, the pressure on the city's defenses would lessen. But with the revival of the Antimatter Legion and these mutated Fragmentum creatures, they've gathered outside Belobog."
"Fortunately, the Fragmentum hasn't continued to expand. For now, these enemies haven't launched direct assaults on Belobog like before. That gives us some room to maneuver."
At least for now, the interior of the city remained safe.
With the disappearance of the Stellaron, the Fragmentum phenomena that had appeared within the city had also stopped spreading.
The worsening trend had been curbed.
But everyone understood that this did not mean the city was truly secure.
The Fragmentum creatures wandering outside and the gradually reviving Antimatter Legion—sooner or later, a decisive battle would come.
"Please, follow me. Belobog is just ahead. We'll arrive shortly."
Under Gepard's guidance, they soon entered Belobog. Along the way, he thoughtfully introduced them to the current state of the city.
Leaving his soldiers at the gate, he personally led the group toward Qlipoth Fort.
With Gepard escorting them—and their attire clearly marking them as outsiders—curious and wary glances followed them along the streets.
When the soldier sent ahead to report returned, he brought news that made Gepard hesitate.
He turned to glance at the people he had brought.
The IPC's envoy was currently at Qlipoth Fort, meeting with the Supreme Guardian.
What he had not expected was that the envoy had overheard the report of these visitors—and, without the slightest concern, had extended an invitation for them to come as well.
"Is something wrong?" Himeko asked.
"The IPC's representative is currently at Qlipoth Fort," Gepard replied.
"Then perhaps we should come back another day?"
"There's no need." Gepard shook his head. "I'll take you there. That IPC representative seems eager to meet you as well."
"Then please lead the way."
The IPC.
Its reputation was polarizing. Within the vast organization were numerous departments and factions. The Astral Express' attitude toward the IPC often depended on which division its representatives belonged to.
Under Gepard's lead, they soon reached their destination.
There, they met the Supreme Guardian—and another young woman who appeared to be waiting for them.
Unlike the reserved Supreme Guardian behind her, this woman's attitude toward the Astral Express was strikingly enthusiastic.
"Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you. Just call me Topaz. I'm an investment specialist from the Interastral Peace Corporation," she introduced herself at once, making her name and identity clear.
"What a pleasant surprise. I never expected to encounter the Nameless of the Astral Express here."
This was entirely unexpected for her. She had not anticipated the Astral Express appearing here so suddenly.
"So you're Miss Topaz. A pleasure," Himeko responded with a smile. "I'm Himeko, navigator of the Astral Express."
One does not strike a smiling face. In response to Topaz's goodwill, Himeko returned the courtesy with grace.
As for the others—
Their reactions aside, Welt's gaze flicked strangely toward the Supreme Guardian. Her appearance reminded him of an old acquaintance.
But then he glanced at Himeko and Acheron beside him.
He thought of Kiana, currently at the space station, and of Sirin, whom he had met before.
He relaxed once more.
Just another counterpart.
He had seen plenty.
Nothing unusual.
Gepard, who had brought them in, looked at Topaz without expression. Yet inwardly, dissatisfaction flared.
This was no different from usurping the host's role.
She had done it deliberately.
"Lady Cocolia, these guests are ones I encountered outside the city," Gepard reported. "They have come because of the Legion—and the marks."
"You've come for the Legion?"
Having allowed Topaz to take the initiative, Cocolia's expression revealed nothing of what had just been discussed between them. But there was a trace of surprise in her voice.
"You've come for the Antimatter Legion that's about to revive?" Topaz echoed, equally surprised.
To her knowledge, that did not fall within the usual scope of the Nameless' activities. Jarilo-VI had only just reestablished communication with the outside world. News of the Legion's revival had not yet spread. She herself had only learned of it after arriving.
There was no reason for the Nameless to have come specifically for this matter.
"As far as I know, this world has only just reconnected with the outside… so there's no reason—"
She paused, realization dawning.
"I see."
Topaz looked at them closely.
"The Stellaron on Jarilo-VI… was it sealed by the Astral Express?"