In the outskirts of Belobog, the soldiers, along with Bronya and Gepard, stared blankly at the scene before them.
The earth, scorched by intense heat, was finally revealed from beneath its blanket of snow. But to them, it was an utterly alien sight.
The air around them was scorching, yet they felt a chill colder than any they had known before.
Mo Wang stood there, holding the Might of An-Utu—no, this was the Might of An-Utu in its Surtr form. The blistering heat warped the very space around it.
"Come on! Let's go! Weren't you so eager for a fight?" he roared at Bronya and her men, planting the greatsword into the ground. "You were all so tough a minute ago! Why are you so quiet now?"
Not only were their opponents silent, but even Mo Wang's own teammates were at a loss.
"So, uh, that sword is actually that powerful? Isn't that a little overkill?" March 7th asked, looking at the snowless ground around them. If that thing had actually hit the ground, they'd all have been launched into orbit.
"Actually, its true power is even more ridiculous," Welt grumbled. Although he had never seen the full might of the Surtr form unleashed, he only had to recall the sheer power of Kevin, who had been a half-step away from being a Herrscher of the Finality, to imagine how devastating the Might of An-Utu could be.
If it were to truly strike, he conservatively estimated that this small planet would lose at least a third of its mass. And that was the best-case scenario.
"What... are you people?"
Bronya and Gepard, still maintaining their composure, frowned at Mo Wang. They realized now that these people weren't Sampo's accomplices.
They weren't even from Belobog. Honestly, if Belobog had someone this strong, the Fragmentum wouldn't be a problem.
"Greetings. We are the Nameless, travelers from beyond this world. We passed through this system and learned that your planet is being affected by a Stellaron. We are here to help."
Welt stepped forward, simultaneously signaling Dan Heng and March to drag the rampaging Mo Wang away.
"The Nameless?"
Bronya and Gepard exchanged a look, clearly not understanding.
"That is to say..."
Welt launched into a detailed explanation of what the Nameless were, what a Stellaron was, and why they were here.
"I see. So you're saying you're here to save our planet?"
While most of the details went over their heads, Bronya and Gepard grasped the main point: the frozen state of their world was caused by a Stellaron, and these people could get rid of it.
"That's right! We are the universe-famous saviors, the legendary crew of the Astral Express!" Mo Wang, having retracted his sword, puffed out his chest with a proud look.
"S-Saviors?"
Bronya and Gepard were speechless. A moment ago, Mo Wang looked less like a savior and more like a demon king.
Welt didn't know what to do with him. He had a feeling that if Mo Wang kept this up, the good reputation the Nameless had worked so hard to build would be completely ruined.
But complaints aside, once they understood the group's intentions, Bronya and Gepard's attitude softened considerably. Of course, the main reason was that they knew they couldn't win a fight.
"This matter is beyond our authority," Gepard said, stepping forward. "Please, accompany us to Belobog to discuss this with the Supreme Guardian."
"Sounds good to me. I'm freezing my butt off out here," March said, not caring why their attitude had changed. The prospect of getting into the city was all that mattered.
"Freezing?" Dan Heng glanced at her. Not only was she protected by the power of the Trailblaze, but the area had just been flash-fried. How could she possibly be cold?
As they prepared to leave, they didn't forget the man lying on the ground. Poor old Sampo, having lost his hair and clothes, was now completely unconscious and about to be hauled off to jail.
Fortunately, he'd probably get a nice long stay in the hospital before that. They could only hope he wouldn't wake up with any missing limbs or lasting trauma.
Upon arriving in the city, the group's first impression was one of cleanliness. The medieval-style architecture, juxtaposed with the icy world outside, gave the city a unique, almost sacred, atmosphere.
And considering this was the last bastion of humanity on the planet, calling it a sanctuary wasn't far from the truth. Of course, that was ignoring the Underworld hidden beneath their feet.
"Hey, what are you looking for? You've been scanning the place since we got here," March asked Mo Wang, who was looking around as if searching for something.
"What else? The trash cans, of course," he replied without hesitation.
"Is... there something you need to throw away? If you're looking for a trash can, there's one over..."
Bronya, thinking he needed to dispose of something, pointed in a certain direction.
Mo Wang's eyes lit up, and he was about to bolt. But the moment he mentioned trash cans, March and Dan Heng had already grabbed him.
"Hold it right there! Don't... don't go near the trash cans! Have some decency, will you?!"
"Calm down! If you want to check the trash, wait until no one's around! Not now!"
Under the bewildered gazes of Bronya and Gepard, Dan Heng and March held onto Mo Wang for dear life, straining with all their might. It was as if he would do something terrible the moment they let go.
The two Belobogians were completely baffled.
"Um, it's just a trash can. Is this really necessary?" Bronya asked. The way they were acting, you'd think throwing away trash was a capital offense in Belobog. It was all very strange.
"No! You don't understand! This guy isn't trying to throw away trash! He's trying to rummage through it!" March exclaimed. "If we let him, we'll be utterly humiliated!"
"March, hold on tight! He's too strong!" Dan Heng grunted.
"Let me go! You don't get it! Only those who decisively seek out trash cans upon arriving in a new place are true Trailblazers!"
"What kind of twisted logic is that?! I've never heard of a Trailblazer who has to dig through trash!" March retorted, tightening her grip. "You're just trying to ruin the Express crew's reputation!"
"Exactly! Mo Wang, calm down!" Dan Heng added, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He knew that once Mo Wang's interest in trash cans was piqued, there was no stopping him.
"You fools know nothing! The secrets of the world are hidden in trash cans!" Mo Wang struggled, his eyes still fixed on the spot Bronya had pointed to, as if it held some priceless treasure.
"Secrets of the world? You mean moldy bread and rotten vegetables?" March rolled her eyes.
"No! You don't understand the possibilities! You might find hidden treasures, or long-lost ancient scrolls! I might even find the Trash Can Sage and the Trash Can Immortal!" Mo Wang argued passionately.
"What is wrong with your brain?!" Dan Heng clutched his forehead, feeling defeated by Mo Wang's bizarre reasoning.
"The Trash Can Sage and the Trash Can Immortal? Do we have people like that here?"
Bronya and Gepard watched the spectacle, unsure of what to say. "Are they... really the saviors of our planet?" Bronya whispered to Gepard. "They seem... a little unreliable."
Gepard just shook his head, equally confused. "I don't know, but... their strength is undeniable."
"Don't worry," Welt said to them with an embarrassed smile. "Mo Wang is the only one in our group who's a bit... eccentric. He just gets a little carried away sometimes. Please, don't mind him."
"Is... is that so?" Bronya replied, unconvinced. She had a feeling they were all a little strange.
Finally, Welt stepped in, placing a hand on Mo Wang's shoulder. "Mo Wang, calm down. We're guests here. Let's be mindful of our image. You can deal with the trash cans after we've taken care of business, alright?"
Mo Wang finally relented with a pout. "Fine... but you'd better not stop me later!"
"Yes, yes, whatever you want," Welt sighed, mentally resolving to find an excuse to send Mo Wang far, far away once their mission was over.
"Alright, now that everyone has calmed down, let's go see the Supreme Guardian," Bronya said, eager to move on.
The group finally continued toward the center of Belobog. Bronya and Gepard led the way, with Welt and Dan Heng flanking Mo Wang like prison guards. March trailed behind, keeping a wary eye on him, ready to pounce if he made a sudden dash for a nearby alley.
Walking through the streets, they could feel the city's unique atmosphere. It was a place of warmth and history, a stark contrast to the frozen world outside.
"This city... is truly special," Dan Heng remarked.
"Yes. Despite being surrounded by ice, the people here don't seem to have been defeated by the cold," Welt agreed.
"But... doesn't it seem a little empty?" March pointed out.
"It's true. A city of this size should be more populated," Dan Heng added.
"Because of the Stellaron, the environment outside has become increasingly harsh," Bronya explained. "Many people are afraid to leave their homes. And with limited resources, life has become very difficult."
"I see," Welt said, his expression turning serious. "It seems we must resolve the Stellaron issue as soon as possible."
"Precisely. That's why we need your help," Gepard said grimly.
Just then, Mo Wang stopped in his tracks, his eyes fixed on a corner up ahead.
"Mo Wang, what is it now?" March asked, instantly on alert.
"Is... is that a trash can?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Don't you dare!" Dan Heng and Welt yelled in unison, grabbing him again.
"I was just asking!"
"Not even asking!" March snapped. She was at her wit's end. Is this guy part trash can? Does he love them that much? Maybe he should just marry one and get it over with!
Welt covered his face with his hand. He just wanted to know one thing: where did this Mo Wang pick up such a bizarre habit?
The other versions of him were unreliable, sure, but none of them had this obsession with opening trash cans.
Or maybe... having too many Paths had simply driven him mad?
Bronya and Gepard exchanged a look, a single question hanging in the air between them: Are these people really reliable?