Chapter 149: Zero Rated Power
The morning's events had concluded perfectly.
On the surface, it had not only diverted the Stellaron's attention but had also successfully announced the engagement.
Beneath the surface, it had filled in plot holes and laid groundwork for future drama.
Once Silver Wing brought over the 'little duck' from the Honkai world, she and Caelus would not only solidify their status as lovers, but even
upgrade to fiancé and fiancée.
When facing the newly arrived 'little duck,' Seele's actions and words, and her feelings for 'Big Brother Caelus,' would be centered on
giving up Big Brother Caelus for her sister, Bronya.
Everything, absolutely everything, was now interconnected!
After Belobog's grand drama of deception, a feat Sambo highly praised, combined with a series of continuous manipulations,
it led to one outcome, and he wasn't sure if it was good or bad.
Caelus had delved even deeper into the Path of Elation!
The power of Elation he could wield now rivaled, and even surpassed, the combined might of Stelle's total power from the dual Paths of Destruction and Preservation.
This troubled Caelus. If he continued to walk the Path of Elation at this pace, soon, when unleashing his full power,
it would be difficult to conceal his identity as an Emanator of Elation.
What if, during their trailblazing adventures, he was mistaken or slandered as a Masked Fool? How could he have any fun then?
Therefore, in the future, he would try to fight using system items as much as possible.
The Tarakudo Mask and the Wind Clow Card. The Wind Card was superior to the Tarakudo Mask in combat.
As the highest-grade elemental card, Wind was practically omnipotent.
Wind, inherently formless and colorless, was capable of shaping into all sorts of things: solidifying into swords, shields, hammers, or spears, providing both offense and defense, and even transforming into wind tentacles to entangle enemies.
Speaking of 'wind tentacles,' Caelus's thoughts immediately took a leap.
Perhaps he could have Sister Wind transform into tentacles and join his narcissistic bedroom play, attempting a true 'wind from an empty cave' experience?
Caelus felt as if the Path of Lust and Torture was beckoning him, its gates opening wide.
However, considering that Clow Card spirits possessed self-awareness, it was probably best not to give Sister Wind too much of a 'surprise' in this initial phase of acquiring them. They could discuss it once they were more familiar.
As he mused, Caelus sighed, a look of profound distress on his face.
'A-Tong, is there something wrong with you? Why do you always provide items that lead one to depravity and down the wrong path?'
Caelus righteously questioned the system.
The Tarakudo Mask had corroded his diligence, while the Rubber Fruit and Wind Clow Card tempted him to break through the lower limits of his integrity.
After an eerie silence, the system responded, trembling.
[Is there perhaps a possibility that your method of use is problematic?]
'Impossible, absolutely impossible!'
Caelus immediately channeled Cao Cao, speaking with impassioned fervor.
If abilities weren't for indulging in kinky pursuits, then their meaning would be directly reduced by half!
The Water Card could also be used for tentacle play. If Caelus remembered correctly, the Water elemental card was a super cute, little mermaid sister.
Based on this, it could be inferred that Clow Reed, who created the Clow Card spirits in the form of childlike girls, beautiful girls, and intellectually elegant older sisters, must have been an ultimate pervert!
[Group Chat: A Family of Love and Affection]
[March 7th: @Uncle Yang @Big Sis Himeko @Dan Heng Everyone, come out! Major news, major news, major news!]
[Himeko: What's happened? Why are you so excited, Little March?]
[March 7th: Caelus, he's engaged to Bronya!]
[Himeko: ??? (Pom-Pom Shocked Emoji)]
[Dan Heng: ??? (Pom-Pom Shocked Emoji)]
[Welt: ??? (Pom-Pom Shocked Emoji)]
[Welt: Old man, subway, phone.jpg]
[Does the Grey-Haired Trailblazer Dream of Pure Gold Trash Cans?: That's right, I'll have a wife very soon! (Stelle Posing with Hands on Hips Proud Emoji)]
[Pure Gold Trash Can Is Mine: Ahem ahem, everyone, let's not get too agitated just yet. Here's the situation.]
Caelus reiterated Silver Wing's words, with March 7th occasionally chiming in to confirm that these were all 'Bronya's' original statements.
[Himeko: So that's how it is.]
[Dan Heng: A form of political marriage, then?]
[Welt: The things Caelus gave were indeed immeasurable in value to Belobog.]
The three of them were not like March 7th and Seele; they easily saw through the engagement to its underlying meaning.
Bronya herself hoped to compensate Caelus this way, while Belobog's political stratum hoped to use this method to maintain the Grand Guardian's close relationship with Caelus, which was, in any case, also the Grand Guardian's own wish.
Caelus would continue his trailblazing journey with the Express in the future and would not interfere in Belobog's internal affairs, leaving no future worries.
Analyzing the situation purely from a profit perspective, although Caelus was still the one taking a loss, he at least received a certain degree of compensation.
However, matters of emotion clearly couldn't be viewed from a purely utilitarian perspective.
Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng all understood this engagement, and thus didn't know what to say, as Caelus had already agreed to it.
[Himeko: This Bronya truly is…]
Himeko, who was on the Express drinking coffee and handling Stellaron matters, felt a pang of emotion.
This style of action, should one call it deeply loyal and highly responsible? Or irresponsible towards oneself?
[Dan Heng: What about what happens after that?]
[Pure Gold Trash Can Is Mine: We'll talk about what happens later, Big Sis Himeko. Can we establish a Domain Anchor on Jarilo-VI?]
With a Domain Anchor, as long as the Express wasn't too far from Jarilo-VI, they could use it to teleport back.
Each teleportation required energy consumption, and the specific amount depended on the actual distance; it wouldn't be like in the game where they could just roam freely.
If they were star systems apart, several jumps away, then it wouldn't work.
[Himeko: Of course, I've already told Pom-Pom.]
Although setting up a Domain Anchor consumed more than two-fifths of the energy for one trailblazing journey, and Caelus was the main force among the main forces in this trailblazing, Himeko wouldn't refuse such a request even if he wasn't.
[Pure Gold Trash Can Is Mine: Oh, and Big Sis Himeko, Bronya... the parallel world Bronya, she
wants to leave with me, to board the Express and find a way back home.]
[Himeko: Is that so? It seems our team is about to expand again.]
Himeko had first learned of the parallel world Bronya's existence from Welt. She also found this strange phenomenon of dimensional travel peculiar.
Encountering Seele at Herta Space Station and Bronya on Jarilo-VI—both were Welt's 'acquaintances.'
Analyzing the combined intelligence, the Stellaron was undoubtedly the most likely culprit behind these special crossing-over phenomena.
When they had encountered Stellarons before, they had never encountered such a situation, had they?
Could it be related to that energy called Honkai?
Was Honkai chasing Welt?
No way.
Himeko's face showed signs of deep thought.
Due to Caelus's engagement with Bronya, the Express crew planned to stay on Jarilo-VI for a few more days.
Next, Belobog was about to hold the Grand Guardian's inauguration ceremony. After Bronya learned that there were still Express crew members waiting outside, she invited Himeko down to visit and be a guest.
Although Himeko thought it would be nice to go and have some fun, if she did, Pom-Pom would be left all alone on the Express.
Himeko decided to meet Bronya via video call with Caelus and offer her congratulations. She planned to watch the ceremony's live broadcast from the Express with Pom-Pom using a satellite.
…
Belobog once again welcomed its own morning.
At five or six in the morning, a time when most people would normally still be in bed, today they were up early, walking in twos and threes into the streets, gathering in the Administrative District plaza.
Before long, it was a sea of people, with even the periphery of the Administrative District plaza packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.
The chill morning air was ignited by the people's fervor.
The boisterous Hook was holding her 'Digger Machine,' wanting to defeat a gigantic tin monster and rescue the citizens it had 'eaten.'
Clara quickly stopped the little girl charging at a bus, while 'Dark Hook, the Great' prepared to fight for justice, only to have the 'wicked old witch' Natasha grab her by the scruff of her neck, sealing her fate.
Lynx and Serval, the two sisters, had not come to the plaza. Instead, they opened a window on the second floor of the Mechanical House, eating sweets and chatting, amused by the bustling scene.
Oleg and Gepard, once again in their Silvermane Guard uniforms, led the newly incorporated Wildfire and Silvermane Guard teams in maintaining order at the scene.
The Astral Express crew, including Welt, found a suitable spot, chatting as they awaited the official start of the speech.
'Silvermane Guards, attention!'
Amidst the Silvermane Guard Herald's resonant shouts, Seele and Pela led their teams, filing out of Qlipoth Fort in an orderly procession, escorting the noble silver-haired maiden onto the podium.
As Bronya made her appearance, the crowd below instantly grew even more boisterous, with applause and cheers erupting simultaneously.
'Ah, is it starting?' March 7th instantly perked up, playfully craning her head to watch.
'It's a bit hard to see like this. Caelus, don't move.'
Pressing Caelus's shoulder, she lightly leaped up, and her snow-white, jade-like legs, adorned with blue leg bands, straddled Caelus's neck, riding on him to get a better viewing angle.
'You're heavy, get off!'
Even as he said this, Caelus still held onto Stelle's thighs, reluctantly giving her a piggyback ride this one time. Next time, he'd get his turn to ride.
'Her Excellency Bronya Rand's inauguration speech is about to begin! Citizens, please remain quiet and assist in maintaining order!'
The plaza, holding tens of thousands of people, instantly fell silent. Bronya gazed at the crowd below.
After all, the reason Belobog had pulled through, besides Caelus and his companions, was largely due to the Silver Wing's efforts.
Yet she had merely visited the Underworld once, and without truly understanding how, she had inherited a Belobog whose challenges had already been tidied up, along with an unprecedented level of unity. Bronya felt somewhat unworthy.
But the Silver Wing had refused without hesitation.
'I will be leaving with Caelus to embark on adventures. You are the one who will lead the people into the future, Grand Guardian. This is your inauguration ceremony.'
With 'her own' words echoing in her mind, Bronya took a deep breath.
'Citizens of Belobog, please hear me—!'
'The reason we can gather here today, to celebrate this moment together, is because of the heroes from beyond the heavens, who vanquished Cocolia, the betrayer of Preservation!'
Her gentle yet resolute voice resounded throughout the plaza.
Although she had no prepared speech, Bronya had reviewed the main points with the Silver Wing.
In the current situation, Bronya naturally wouldn't reveal the truth that the Stellaron, summoned by the First Grand Guardian, had brought about the Eternal Freeze.
Despite her complex emotions and reluctance, she could only follow the Silver Wing's pre-arranged groundwork and pin all the blame on Cocolia.
All of this was for the sake of Belobog!
Surely, her mother, if she knew from beyond the grave, would agree?
Bronya's words caused tens of thousands of people to turn their gaze towards the Trailblaze Squad, their collective stares almost making Stelle fall backward.
The crowd subtly erupted in good-natured cheers.
'But heroes do not only come from beyond the heavens.'
As Bronya's voice rang out, the plaza instantly fell silent once more.
'Over the past seven hundred years, countless heroes have been born. Every person who fought against the Eternal Freeze and the monsters, every person who strived for tomorrow—they are all heroes!
'It is the collective effort of all of us that has allowed Belobog to enter a new chapter in history!
'The snow clouds scatter, and the harsh winter will soon end!'
A few strands of golden light pierced through the sky diagonally, cautiously seeping into the leaden-white heavens—a sign that the sun was about to rise.
Bronya's tone was calm: 'As I once said, no matter what, the sun will always rise again!'
'Friends, let us, together at the dawn, praise the rising sun! Praise our city, which is about to ascend like the sun itself!'
'Together, praise this unyielding Belobog!'
When Bronya's final words fell, the entire plaza instantly erupted, with boundless cheers and applause breaking out.
'Praise the sun!'
'Praise Grand Guardian Bronya!'
'Praise Belobog!'
Then, following Bronya's inauguration speech, a minister announced the engagement between the Grand Guardian and the hero, Caelus.
From a political standpoint, this was meant to bestow upon Caelus the honor of 'Grand Guardian's Husband,' using the people's adoration to draw Caelus, who brought the Extreme Cold Crops and Hundred Flavored Mushrooms, closer to Belobog.
Caelus was invited onto the high platform for the speech. Stelle, clutching Caelus's leg, wanted to go with him but was firmly held back by March 7th.
Knowing Caelus's contributions to Belobog, the people of both the Overworld and Underworld cheered and offered their blessings. However, a small portion of the crowd whispered among themselves.
Bronya and Caelus held hands, her pretty face flushed.
Sensing her soft, delicate hand sweating nervously yet gripping his tightly, Caelus led Bronya forward. He raised his hand, and the plaza instantly fell silent.
'Everyone, on this special day, Bronya and I have prepared a gift for all of you...'
'A gift?'
'Yay!'
'Time for a feast!'
Some enthusiastic people cheered.
Bronya paused, squeezing Caelus's hand tightly, her eyes silently asking him what he intended to do.
This part wasn't planned at all!
She hadn't prepared any gift either!
'Everyone, please look!'
Caelus gave Bronya a mysterious smile, then pointed his hand towards the sky.
At this moment, at Qlipoth Fort, on the Grand Guardian's Palace balcony.
Silver Wing, concealed, watched the scene below, a faint curve on her lips.
Her fair hand, like white jade, rose, and a pure amethyst-colored cube appeared in the Silver Wing's grasp.
The grey-haired beauty tilted her head slightly. At that very moment, sunlight, having traversed ice mountains and snow peaks, fell precisely into her autumn-water-like pink and silver eyes.
A sapphire-blue figure materialized from a phantom quantum state. Seele, gripping the Tiger Talisman, achieved balance between Quantum and Imaginary energies.
Black raven feathers flew out from the shadows. Raven, Seele, and the Silver Wing together, infused Honkai Energy into it, their whispered murmurs overlapping.
'Kalpa of the Karma, Zero Rated Power—Shatter the Heavens, All Things Reborn!'
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