Underworld.
The appearance of the crimson greatsword immediately raised the temperature of the entire Boulder Town back to normal levels.
Below the Goethe Grand Hotel.
The accumulated snow on the ground was melting at a visible speed.
Cocolia was momentarily unclear on what had happened.
"Supreme Guardian, the temperature in Boulder Town has suddenly risen!"
Svarog was silent for a moment before saying:
"Analysis of detection results shows that there is an anomalous heat source above the Goethe Grand Hotel, continuously emitting energy."
"Above?"
Pela stood on tiptoe, trying to see the eaves of the Goethe Grand Hotel, but she wasn't tall enough and could only keep stepping farther back.
As she walked, a Silvermane Guard hurriedly pulled her back:
"Miss Pela, please do not leave the plaza! Boulder Town is now completely surrounded and sealed off by Fragmentum creatures. They're standing motionless—I'm afraid they're preparing for a full-scale assault!"
Soon.
Boulder Town's combat forces rapidly consolidated, forming a defensive line centered on the Goethe Grand Hotel.
Automatons, vagrants, and Wildfire members all maintained maximum vigilance.
Cocolia gripped her lance tightly, her expression extremely grave.
Svarog had already confirmed it—the object now embedded in the eaves behind them was Zeig's Judgment of Shamash greatsword.
But he himself had not arrived.
Cocolia climbed onto the eaves, attempting to retrieve the Judgment of Shamash, only to nearly suffer burns.
She could only sigh:
"What an extraordinary weapon. The temperature is extremely high, yet it hasn't burned through the eaves."
Serval stood below and couldn't help asking:
"You have ice protection—can you pick up that sword?"
Cocolia said with regret:
"No, I can't get close."
"I see." Serval nodded.
If even Cocolia, who wielded ice, couldn't touch it, then no one else had any hope.
The Automatons Svarog had sent earlier had also tried, but the attempt ended with one mechanical arm melted away while the Judgment of Shamash remained completely unmoved.
Cocolia was helped down from the eaves by an Automaton, her gaze heavy:
"We're probably in for a grueling battle."
Since Zeig had only thrown the Judgment of Shamash, things on his side were likely dire.
A gust of cold wind swept through like a blade, causing many people to shiver involuntarily.
"Look—look, it's starting to snow again!"
The snowflakes that had previously been evaporating into white mist the moment they fell now descended once more.
The sharp-eyed noticed that what was drifting at the very top wasn't snowflakes anymore—it was falling ice spikes!
Under the glow of the Judgment of Shamash, they were reduced to mere ice shards by the time they reached overhead.
"This is unreal! It's raining ice spikes?! We never got this kind of treatment even when the glaciers weren't cleared!" Pela said in shock.
Before she could finish, roars of monsters came from the darkness.
Several massive Fragmentum creatures were the first to charge into the defensive line!
While everyone desperately held them off, more Fragmentum creatures surged in like a tide from the distance!
The Underworld had finally fallen into a brutal struggle.
Wave after wave of assaults left everyone stretched thin and overwhelmed.
Cocolia wielded her ice lance, gritting her teeth as she battled the Fragmentum creatures. With a raise of her hand, several thick ice spikes shot out and smashed heavily into the monsters.
"ROAR—!!"
Several Fragmentum creatures let out miserable cries and lunged fiercely toward Cocolia again.
"Hiss…" Cocolia quickly sidestepped to dodge.
The brilliance of the Judgment of Shamash had both advantages and drawbacks.
Its presence indeed resisted the blizzard and countless falling ice spikes, even making some ice-based Fragmentum creatures far more fragile.
But Cocolia's own ice spikes were also weakened as a result, slightly reducing her combat effectiveness.
Overall, though, it was still a net gain.
"This is already the second wave!" a Silvermane Guard said through gritted teeth.
"I can see more Fragmentum creatures standing over there—they're waiting for us to exhaust our stamina before charging!"
"How despicable!"
"Why are the enemy's tactics getting dirtier and dirtier!"
The warriors struggled to stay clear-headed and fought with all their might.
But some vagrants suddenly threw down their weapons and gave up.
They tossed their gear aside and plopped straight down on the ground!
This action immediately created gaps in the defensive line. Several Silvermane Guards were quickly attacked from behind by Fragmentum creatures.
"Hey, what are you doing?! Get up!!" Pela spotted the cause and roared at the vagrants on the ground.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys? Several Guards are already seriously injured!"
Those vagrants sat there and sneered self-mockingly: "Heh, is there even a point in fighting anymore? It started with heavy snow, and now it's raining ice spikes—clearly the heavens want us dead."
"Since we're doomed anyway, might as well die comfortably!"
With that, one of them pulled a bottle of fine wine from his bosom—the very same precious stuff Zeig and Serval had smuggled down—and cracked it open to drink freely.
This sight made everyone's eyes nearly split with rage.
Cocolia's brows furrowed tightly.
She recognized that wine—it was one of the rare ones Zeig and Serval had brought down. Many elders couldn't bear to drink it.
"Ah~ So refreshing!"
Soon, that vagrant's cheeks flushed red. He sat on the ground, twisting his body in a drunken fit.
Countless combatants were desperately fighting Fragmentum creatures and had no time to deal with him.
But he stood up unsteadily, swaying with the bottle in hand.
Warriors hurried past him, ignoring him completely.
The man staggered his way behind a Wildfire member who was locked in combat with a Fragmentum creature.
It was a woman, currently wielding a long spear, drenched in sweat.
Suddenly, she felt a scorching gaze from behind and quickly turned her head.
Her eyes met those of the drunken vagrant.
The woman immediately cried out in alarm:
"What are you doing?!"
"Heh heh, can't I just look?"
He drunkenly reached out, trying to touch the woman's face.
Bang—!!
With a dull thud.
The vagrant was kicked hard to the ground.
"You sick bastard!"
After cursing, the woman rejoined the fight without sparing him another glance.
The cold wind howled.
The man sat on the icy ground, clutching his stomach. The alcohol haze had been partially kicked away.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he wailed:
"Waaahhhh… What kind of sin did I commit in my life?! Lived more than half my years and never even held a woman's hand—now on the brink of death, I still get kicked!"
But the battlefield was too chaotic—no one paid him any attention.
As he cried, he wiped his tears. Another graceful figure caught his eye.
Cocolia, wielding her ice lance, was coordinating in battle alongside several other Guards.
Her figure swayed back and forth, making the vagrant's heart itch unbearably.
"This is the Supreme Guardian… I've never had a chance to get this close to her before. She's truly a beauty!"
He couldn't help standing up and walking dazedly toward Cocolia.
In that moment, countless thoughts surged within him.
A strange voice slowly echoed in his mind.
[Follow your heart…]
[I can help you fulfill every desire…]
[As long as… you merge with me…]
The man nodded blankly.
Swoosh—!!
A mass of dark yellow energy shot out from the darkness and plunged into his body!
His head gradually twisted into a bizarre angle as he stared fixedly at Cocolia with burning eyes: "Hahahaha…!!"
A chilling, overwhelming wave of energy erupted violently.
Even the glow of the Judgment of Shamash dimmed under the cold.
A massive, muscular humanoid monster slowly rose into the sky before everyone's stunned eyes. Countless ice crystals formed armor that tightly encased it.
"Hahahaha…!!"
The ice giant, now fused with the Stellaron, grinned ferociously, reveling in the immense power surging through its body!
"So wonderful, so wonderful!!"
Cocolia looked up at the sky, her gaze sharpening. She was immediately shocked:
"The Stellaron… the Stellaron is on him! The Stellaron has found a vessel!"
In an instant.
Heavy snow poured down.
The influence of the Judgment of Shamash became negligible.
"Hahahaha… Cocolia! No—not just you! Everything here, from now on, belongs to me! Hahahaha…!!"
The ice giant laughed wildly and unrestrained.
The entire Boulder Town was rapidly being frozen and encased in ice.
Under the extreme cold, frost formed on everyone's bodies.
Their hearts felt ice-cold as well.
Suddenly, a clear woman's voice.
Shattered the silence.
"Since you've fallen to corruption, prepare yourselves to be slain."
Countless red-and-white feathers drifted down from the sky. The moment they touched the falling snow, it melted away.
Like a magnificent scene, breathtakingly beautiful.
…