~One Punch Man World~
"The sun."
This was the first thought Tatsumaki had when she met that gaze.
—That was a light more scorching than the sun.
Until that light dissipated, Tatsumaki's heart couldn't calm down. Instead, it was immersed in a feeling of immense awe.
This was the Star God of 『Preservation』? Just a single glance from its gaze was enough to illuminate all things. Even though they were in different worlds, the sense of shock was indescribable.
Starting from the first glimpse of Destruction, regarding the Star God's... the more curious Tatsumaki was, the more she understood, the more she realized how insignificant she was.
Although she wasn't very willing to admit it.
"Tatsumaki, how do you feel facing His gaze?"
Atomic Samurai wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked cautiously.
He remembered that when Tatsumaki first faced Nanook's gaze, she subconsciously activated her shield. The activation of her psychic power in that instant almost destroyed a building of the Hero Association—fortunately, that glance was very brief, and the sense of threat vanished instantly.
Otherwise, who knows what Tatsumaki might have done in response?
Unlike Nanook, Qlipoth's gaze not only lacked hostility but also had a certain solid, warm feeling that filled one's heart.
"What feeling could there be? It's just a deity from another world, what does it have to do with me?"
Tatsumaki raised her chin proudly, trying hard to put on an expression of complete indifference.
"Uh... you're really stubborn,"
Atomic Samurai secretly muttered in his heart.
Perhaps even Tatsumaki herself didn't notice that her black high-slit long dress was already clinging tightly to her body due to cold sweat, outlining curves that made one's blood surge. Her exposed fair thighs trembled slightly, and her small, high heels made an uneasy tapping sound on the floor.
—
「 He clenched the giant hammer in His hand and slowly brought it down.
"Boom!"
The entire universe echoed with a dull thud at almost the same moment. Countless people raised their heads and looked towards the vast, boundless deep space.
"The Amber King's hammer has fallen... A new era has begun!" 」
「 .....」
~Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World~
"Is this the gaze of that deity..."
Frieren raised her head. Although she was in a different world, the Star God's gaze couldn't penetrate the light curtain to see the galaxy, but she seemed to feel the earth-shattering impact when the giant hammer fell...
"It's so warm, Frieren-sama."
Fern raised her hands. Although there was nothing in her palms, a warmth seemed to be generated out of thin air, flowing from her hands into her body.
Although this wonderful experience was very brief—lasting only about a few seconds—the solid, heavy feeling left a deep impression.
"This might be a manifestation of some kind of blessing... as a reward for facing the Star God's gaze directly."
Frieren lowered her head and pondered,
"To bestow blessings across different worlds, this is probably something even the Goddess cannot do."
"He was probably born many, many, many years earlier than our Goddess..."
"It's a pity that although His power is strong, it cannot overly influence our world."
Stark showed a regretful expression,
"If Star God could help, the Demon King would probably have been eliminated long ago."
"No, Stark, you should be glad that the Star God's power can only stop within the light curtain,"
Frieren said seriously,
"If the Star God's power is truly as they say... perhaps before the power of 『Preservation』 descended, our world would not have escaped the disaster of a Stellaron."
—
「 Stelle opened her eyes again. At this moment, she had returned to the ice and snow battlefield of Jarilo-VI.
The lance that had pierced her chest and abdomen had disappeared, replaced by the Flame Lance she held tightly in her hand.
Stelle landed steadily in the palm of the Engine of Creation, but this giant not only didn't attack but instead followed Stelle's will and slowly placed her on the ground.
Perhaps it was the resonance of the will of 『Preservation』, Stelle gained the authority of the Engine of Creation.
"Stelle, that's great! Fortunately, you're okay!" March 7th said happily.
Everyone saw that Stelle was not only still alive and kicking but also had a new weapon they had never seen before. Although they didn't understand what had happened, they all breathed a sigh of relief in unison.
Stelle turned her head and gave them a reassuring look.
Just this sideways glance silently indicated to everyone that she was now... terrifyingly strong.
Facing Cocolia floating in mid-air, Stelle resolutely raised the Flame Lance in her hand towards her.
"This is impossible..." Although Cocolia's face was completely dark, hearing her voice gradually tremble was enough to imagine how terrible her expression was at this moment.
"That Flame Lance..."
"It seems the will of 『Preservation』has made a choice..." Bronya exclaimed.
"No! This is impossible!" Cocolia let out a hysterical roar, "You know nothing about the plight of this world, nothing about the ending that awaits it!"
"Yes, Mother..."
"But even if we are destined to walk into destruction, we will walk into that darkness hand in hand, bravely—" Bronya glanced at Seele beside her. There was no wavering in the girl's voice. 」
「 .....」
~Demon Slayer World~
"Are you still going to resist at this point?"
Himejima Gyomei said with tears in his eyes,
"It's too stubborn. If she was willing to let go of her obsession with the Stellaron, there might still be a glimmer of hope."
From the moment the Engine of Creation began to obey Stelle's commands, the Hashira realized that Cocolia had no chance of winning.
The power of the Stellaron was indeed strong, but Stelle, who had been glanced at by the Star God of 『Preservation』, had already undergone a complete transformation.
Even though they were in different worlds, the Hashira could feel her vibrant vitality from the momentum of Stelle pointing her lance towards the sky.
"People like this won't wake up until they are on the verge of death,"
Shinobu Kocho sighed,
"What's more, in order to achieve the world promised by the Stellaron, she has sacrificed countless people... Whether it's the Silvermane Guards or the people of the Underworld, they were all abandoned because of her obsession."
"At this point, if you tell her that the future she pursued by sacrificing countless lives is a fleeting illusion, an empty void... she cannot imagine it, nor does she dare to imagine it—she cannot accept such a fact."
"So... even if she knows this path leads nowhere, she will go through with it regardless. Perhaps, only death can make her face reality and completely walk out of the void..."
Shinobu Kocho showed a regretful and sad expression.
Although she didn't approve of Cocolia's actions, she couldn't guarantee that she could do better if she were in that position.
Without wearing the crown, you will never experience the heavy burden that can crush one's mind.
...Perhaps Oyakata-sama can understand Cocolia's difficulties better than she can.
—