The swarm of bugs filled the sky like a dense storm cloud, blotting out all light as it surged forward.
Among them, four fully-grown Giant Stings loomed ominously through the haze, their massive silhouettes faintly visible as they approached Jarilo-VI.
And behind them, the Swarm Mother—the true horror—was steadily drawing near.
The air grew thick and oppressive.
Dan Heng let out a soft sigh, shaking his head gently.
"It really has come to this."
Meanwhile, March 7th was anxiously explaining the strength of the approaching Swarm Mother to Bronya, forcing a cheerful tone.
"It's okay. We've got Yevenko and Tom, right? Even if it's almost at Emanator-level strength, they should… probably… hold their own for a bit."
She turned her gaze expectantly toward Yevenko—then blinked in surprise. Her eyes widened slightly as she spotted a black-haired young man walking over with Tom in tow.
"Yevenko, why did you turn back?"
Yevenko shrugged slightly, explaining with a calm voice,
"Turning into Tom is one of my abilities, but unfortunately, it's exhausted right now. It'll probably be a while before I can use it again."
Earlier, he'd transformed back abruptly while still aboard the snow-plane, nearly causing him to tumble out when his human form no longer fit in Tom's tiny seat. Fortunately, Tom had quickly pulled out an umbrella and floated them safely to the ground.
On the bright side, his control over Trailblaze powers had improved significantly, so at least the freezing winds of Jarilo-VI no longer bothered him much.
Topaz raised an eyebrow at Yevenko's sudden human appearance, feeling somewhat startled.
She had only ever seen him in Tom's form until now and had assumed they belonged to the same species. Clearly, Tom alone was the anomaly.
But then again, Yevenko being able to become Tom was itself anomalous. Topaz began to wonder—perhaps if there were two Toms, there really might be a slim chance against the approaching Emanator-level Swarm Mother.
Admittedly, Tom's bizarre powers had initially shocked her. Crushing a not-yet-adult Giant Sting with a mere flyswatter wasn't something easily forgotten. She had even considered that Tom possessed Emanator-level strength, but his prolonged battle against Cocolia suggested otherwise.
Clearly, that estimation had been overly optimistic.
Bronya glanced at Yevenko's human form without much reaction.
Or rather, after experiencing countless emotional shocks in such a short time, she had no room left to feel anything else. The appearance of another obstacle only deepened the gloom in her silver-gray eyes.
"You should all go. Belobog has resisted for so long, but it seems our fate was always destruction."
She stared at the Giant Sting high above. It had initially been heading toward Belobog, but upon sensing the Stellaron, it swiftly changed course toward their current location.
Hopelessness gradually filled her expression.
"Ah… I suppose I'll never get to see the new Belobog."
"I've let down my mother—and my people."
March 7th felt her heart clench painfully. Even she struggled to maintain her usual smile, forcing the corners of her mouth upward.
"Bronya, we'll think of something. How about using the Astral Express to evacuate everyone on Belobog to another planet?"
Dan Heng crossed his arms, calmly but bluntly interjecting,
"Leaving aside the problem of time, every inhabitable planet in the universe is already occupied. Your idea is too unrealistic."
He silently considered awakening his hidden strength, but even then, he could at best hold off the Swarm Mother. The rest of the swarm would remain unaddressed.
Despair loomed heavily upon everyone, mirroring the dark swarm flooding the sky.
Seeing this, Topaz sighed softly, accepting that the debt owed to the IPC was likely lost forever. If she lingered any longer, she might even lose her chance to escape. It was time to leave.
She had already done enough by activating the military factories and deploying her personnel to defend Belobog—something she wouldn't normally do, had Jarilo-VI not reminded her so much of home.
Yet, sacrificing all her subordinates here would cross the line. Resolutely, she turned and began walking away.
March 7th couldn't bring herself to leave.
Though being chased by Cocolia hadn't exactly been fun, she'd also had plenty of good memories—like playing hide-and-seek with Hook down in Boulder Town.
If Jarilo-VI fell, what would happen to Hook and all those children?
Overwhelmed by despair, March glanced at Yevenko, then at Tom, who was currently happily beating up a snow-mouse he'd made. With her spirits sinking, she gently tugged at Yevenko's sleeve and pleaded softly,
"Yevenko, quick, use the invincible Tom to think of something."
Yevenko's pride took a mild hit at her words, and he grumbled in protest,
"Can't you ask Tom to use rhe invincible Yevenko to think of something instead?"
March blinked in confusion, then quickly continued,
"If I say it that way, can you actually save Jarilo-VI? You're not teasing me again like before, right…?"
Yevenko just smiled quietly without replying.
Seeing this, a faint spark of hope ignited in March's heart, and even Bronya turned her attention to Yevenko.
"All right, enough moping around."
"I hear milk can boost your mood—here, take these."
With a casual flourish, Yevenko produced two bottles of milk from behind his back, handing them to March and Bronya, who took them without thinking.
Dan Heng also stared silently at Yevenko, who laughed brightly and tossed him a bottle as well.
"Of course, I didn't forget about you, Dan Heng."
"Here's a bottle of Himeko's leftover coffee. I put it in a baby bottle for you—it'll perk you right up."
Dan Heng: "…"
Nevertheless, he took it quietly.
He'd tasted Himeko's coffee a few times before—it wasn't exactly enjoyable, but it certainly strengthened one's resolve. He'd praised it sarcastically on occasion.
Yevenko also pulled out a bowl of milk for himself, holding a mouthful without swallowing it yet.
Watching the Giant Stings rapidly approaching the mountain peak, its massive shadow about to envelop them, Dan Heng stepped forward resolutely with his spear.
"I'll cover your retreat."
Yet, in the next second, Yevenko calmly strode past them to the front.
—[Light Cone Activated]—
Yevenko swallowed his milk, then proclaimed loudly:
"The appointed hour has come. The world's destroyer has arrived!"
March and the others stared bewildered, wondering why Yevenko was suddenly spouting chuunibyou lines.
Then, a piercing sound split the air—
CLANG—!
Everyone raised their gazes skyward simultaneously.
An enormous, blood-red demonic sword wrapped in thick crimson energy plunged from the heavens. Its sheer size rivaled the Giant Sting itself, cutting through the swarm and leaving countless dead bugs in its wake, the sword's bloodlust intensifying with every kill.
Until—
—it slammed down upon the Giant Swarm Bug's back.
BOOM———!!!
With a deafening crash, the sword smashed the massive creature to the ground right in front of the mountain peak. Its colossal body lay sprawled before them, even slightly taller than their vantage point.
Then, the demonic sword shrank rapidly, assuming a more normal size. Yet it wasn't weakening—instead, it greedily drank the blood and flesh of the slain Giant Sting, its crimson aura growing ever more terrifying.
Everyone unconsciously stepped back in fear, but Yevenko calmly walked forward. He strode onto the massive corpse, reached out, and gripped the demonic sword firmly.
—[Light Cone Equipped]—
An overwhelming surge of blood energy flooded Yevenko's body, transforming him rapidly. His form grew larger and more powerful, until he towered three meters tall.
Now standing before them was a dark, crimson demon radiating terrifying might, causing Bronya to tremble uncontrollably.
If she hadn't known it was Yevenko, she would've thought the universe had decided Jarilo-VI hadn't suffered enough, summoning yet another disaster besides the Stellaron and the swarm.
Even knowing it was Yevenko, Bronya found herself wondering if he truly was another disaster in disguise.
Dan Heng tensed, grip tightening on his spear.
March 7th's heart pounded nervously. She called out tentatively,
"Yevenko…?"
The dark demon slowly turned his head, rumbling back in a deep, gravelly voice,
"What's wrong? Want another bottle of milk?"
March 7th: "…"
Definitely Yevenko.
Meanwhile, Tom finished beating up the hundredth snow-mouse before noticing Yevenko's absence. He glanced around, spotted the giant blood-red demon standing atop the bug's corpse, and broke into a wide, toothy grin.
Tom dashed over in excitement, climbed onto the demon's shoulder, and happily perched on his neck.
Tom knew his master anywhere.