[Dehya: This is too much of a coincidence; as soon as Takagi and the others arrived in the Overworld, they met someone related to the Supreme Guardian.]
[Candace: And this person almost came into contact with the Stellaron!]
[Dori: She should have just barely missed touching it; before that, she was driven away by the Supreme Guardian, right?]
[Alhaitham: If that's the case, Serval shouldn't have been swayed by the Stellaron. Paimon's worry is unnecessary.]
[Lyney: This Serval should also know some inside information; if we can learn more about the Stellaron from her, that would be great.]
"Paimon, don't worry, she wasn't swayed by the Stellaron. Besides, if she had been, would she still need to fight the monsters?" Takagi said.
"That's right, now I can rest assured," Paimon breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're relieved, but I can't be. You said the Stellaron swayed Cocolia. What in the world is going on?" Serval asked anxiously.
"We can discuss this matter later if there's a chance. As for now, we still need to deal with the problem at hand." Takagi turned his head to look in the direction of the Fragmentum and said.
"Are we going to start fighting? They're just some low-level monsters; there shouldn't be any problem, right?" Paimon looked at the monsters confidently.
"Should we take care of those guys?" Seele said, about to take out her weapon. Natasha did the same. However, Takagi stretched out his hands and pressed down on their shoulders.
Takagi: "Let Jean and the others handle this."
Seele: "But..."
Takagi shook his head at Seele and said: "You promised me before that you would follow my arrangements after coming to the Overworld. As for the fighting, let Jean and the others handle it. Remember what I said earlier? I brought them here with the idea of giving them some experience too."
Lumine: "That's right, Miss Seele, leave this to us." Barbara, Klee, and Jean also nodded repeatedly.
Seele: "Okay." Since Lumine and the others involved felt this way, she had nothing to insist on.
"Jean, Lumine, you'd better deal with those Everwinter Shadewalkers quickly. I feel a powerful energy surge in that rift. Perhaps the Decaying Shadow that fought with Serval just now will be back soon." As Takagi spoke, he dispersed the Shield of Preservation. Without obstacles, the Everwinter Shadewalkers immediately rushed towards Takagi and the others.
"In that case, let's quickly take care of them." Lumine finished speaking and quickly rushed towards the battlefield with Jean, Barbara, and Klee.
[Albedo: Speaking of which, it's a bit strange. How are those fallen Silvermane Guards somewhat similar to the Everwinter Shadewalkers?]
[Arataki Itto: Now that you mention it, they do seem very similar!]
[Lyney: Connecting this to the matters concerning the Stellaron that Takagi and Svarog mentioned, the answer should be easy to guess.]
[Arataki Itto: Obvious? Where is it obvious? Tell me clearly!]
[Lyney: If I'm not mistaken, the monster Everwinter Shadewalker is transformed from the Silvermane Guards.]
[Amber: That's one of the things Acting Grand Master Jean summarized earlier!]
[Noelle: That's too cruel.]
[Dottore: Just this level is far from cruel. The real cruelty is when the Silvermane Guards turn into monsters and unconsciously attack their friends and family. And these friends and family, knowing that the monster before them is their transformed relative, still have to pick up weapons to fight against them.]
[Noelle: !!!]
[Dainsleif: It's somewhat similar to the curse of the Hilichurls.]
[Beidou: As expected, I still hope the Fragmentum doesn't have such an ability, even if it has been confirmed by Takagi.]
"That little girl is actually so powerful! How many bombs does she have in her backpack? No, such a small girl shouldn't be in this kind of battle," Serval watched Klee repel the Everwinter Shadewalkers again and again, saying in surprise. This time, because the monsters were Ice-attributed, Klee's Pyro attacks could finally be put to great use.
"Although Klee is small, she is still a Knight. Moreover, she herself is willing to participate in the battle," Takagi looked at Klee's expression and said.
"A Knight? Are you kidding? No, I still can't just watch such a small girl fight." After Serval finished speaking, she dragged her tired body and ran towards the battlefield.
"Don't we need to stop her?" Natasha looked at Serval's back and asked.
"Let her go. Given her current physical condition, she won't be able to help Acting Grand Master Jean and the others too much. Besides, dealing with these Everwinter Shadewalkers is just a warm-up. The real trial I'm looking forward to is the existence that is slowly emerging from the Fragmentum," Takagi said.
"I see." Natasha nodded slightly. "By the way, Takagi, can I ask you a question?"
Takagi: "What question?"
Natasha: "Do you like black stockings very much?"
Takagi: "...What kind of question is this?"
Natasha: "I just feel like you seem to care about stockings. You specifically mentioned them when you were holding Miss Serval earlier."
Takagi: "Well, I quite like them."
Natasha: "Then do you think I look prettier wearing stockings, or does Miss Serval look prettier?"
Takagi: "Your questions... are getting more and more tricky, Natasha."
Natasha: "Can't you answer this question?"
Takagi: "I think Seele looks prettier in black."
Seele: "Hey, don't drag me into this!"
Takagi: "It was involuntary, don't mind it, Seele." Takagi smiled and continued: "Speaking of which, I've noticed that young women in Belobog seem to really like black stockings. Natasha and Serval are like this, and so are Bronya, Pela, and even Supreme Guardian Cocolia. Is this some kind of trend in Belobog? Seele, why don't you follow the trend and wear some?"
Seele: "I would never wear something like that!"
Takagi: "I remember you still owe me a bet. How about using it on making you wear black stockings?"
Seele: "Hey, are you really going to use the bet on something so boring?"
Natasha: "You two have such a good relationship."
Seele: "Is our relationship considered good?"
Natasha smiled at Seele, then turned to look at Takagi: "Speaking of which, Takagi, you've really investigated the people in Belobog who like to wear black stockings quite thoroughly."
Takagi: "Well... I just happened to know."
Natasha: "Happened to?"
"Your name is Klee, right? Leave this to big sister. You should retreat to where Takagi and the others are first." Serval played her guitar, summoning lightning to strike away the Everwinter Shadewalker in front of Klee, then looked at Klee with concern.
"Thank you, big sister, but Klee wants to fight too," Klee said, pulling out a Bouncy Bomb from her backpack again.
Serval: "Children aren't suited for combat."
Klee: "Klee wants to help Acting Grand Master Jean, the Honorary Knight, and Sister Barbara. Klee wants to be useful too!" After saying that, Klee didn't wait for Serval's response and directly charged towards the last Everwinter Shadewalker in a trail of sparks. She defeated it right in front of Serval.
"Truly amazing. Before today, I never thought a child could be so powerful," Serval said with emotion.
"Klee is very weak. If Klee could walk the Path like Sister Barbara, when fighting the Outworld Blaze earlier or when competing with Mr. Svarog, I could have helped everyone more, right?" Klee said, pursing her lips.
"To have such aspirations..." After hearing Klee's words, Serval was even more moved.
"Although Klee is a little girl, she is very kind and thoughtful. We experienced some difficulties after coming here. She must really want to become stronger and help everyone," Jean walked over and said. Was she not the same? If she were stronger, she wouldn't have let Barbara bear so much pressure alone.
"What... what is that?!" Suddenly, Paimon's exclamation came from the side. Klee, Jean, and the others turned their heads to look. They saw energy like smog spreading out from the Fragmentum, quickly scattering in all directions. It rapidly covered all the Silvermane Guards who had fallen to the ground. Seeing this, Jean, Lumine, and Serval quickly retreated a few steps.
"What... what exactly is happening?" Paimon exclaimed.
"This scene... Oh no, it's that monster from before." As Serval's voice fell, a woman in a coat, with a graceful figure and holding a scepter, appeared before everyone. However, compared to normal people, her skin seemed too pale.
"Who... who is this guy?" Paimon exclaimed in surprise.
"The Decaying Shadow, a monster that possesses some of the power of the former Supreme Guardian." Takagi walked behind the group and explained to Paimon.
"Wh… what?! Possessing the power of the Supreme Guardian?" Serval looked at Takagi in shock.
"Can it be understood that she is a monster transformed from the former Supreme Guardian?" Jean stared intently at the Decaying Shadow, who seemed lost in thought while looking at the dead Silvermane Guards, and asked.
Takagi: "Perhaps the body data of a certain Supreme Guardian who died in battle near the Fragmentum was captured by the rift, which led to her appearance."
Serval: "Takagi, are… are you kidding me! This monster was born because of the former Supreme Guardian?"
Takagi: "I don't need to joke with you about this. In fact, if you could hear what she's saying now, you wouldn't doubt it."
Serval: "Words? But I can only hear noise coming from her mouth."
Paimon: "Yeah, she's not talking at all."
Lumine: "No, she is indeed speaking."
Jean: "Honorary Knight, you can hear it too."
Lumine nodded slightly and said: "The sound is intermittent and incomplete. But it does seem to be words spoken from the perspective of the Supreme Guardian."
[Arataki Itto: Sound? Kuki, did you hear that monster talking?]
[Kuki Shinobu: I can only hear static.]
[Kaeya: To hear this sound, you probably need a special physique.]
[Ningguang: In the Underworld, the Traveler once had strange dreams related to the Stellaron. What caused this result was also her special physique.]
[Dottore: Interesting, the Traveler's body seems quite worth studying.]
[Aether: ???]
"Honorary Knight, what is that guy saying?" Barbara asked while remaining wary of the Decaying Shadow.
Lumine: "She is saying, in the name of the Supreme Guardian, for the Silvermane Guards to rise."
Serval: "For the Silvermane Guards to rise?" Serval frowned tightly, looking suspiciously at Lumine and Takagi. Just as she was about to ask further, she was surprised to find that the hazy energy around the Decaying Shadow and the energy emanating from the rift suddenly completely enveloped the bodies of the Silvermane Guards who had fallen earlier.
"Wait, what is she doing?" Serval exclaimed in surprise. As soon as her voice fell, the haze enveloping the Silvermane Guards suddenly dispersed. However, the Silvermane Guards were no longer there. Only several lifeless, terrifying-looking Everwinter Shadewalkers remained.
[Arataki Itto: How did those fallen soldiers turn into monsters?]
[Bennett: Did such a thing actually happen?!]
[Thoma: Although I don't want to admit it, after seeing this scene, I have to believe it! The soldiers who fell in the Fragmentum were indeed transformed into monsters.]
[Kujou Sara: If such a thing were to happen on the battlefield…]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: It's hard to imagine what kind of mindset the soldiers of Belobog have when fighting the monsters.]
[Kamisato Ayato: At this point, it's actually better not to know how monsters like the Everwinter Shadewalker came about.]
[Ningguang: Seele and Natasha also showed surprised expressions, and so did Serval. Perhaps this is the first time they have seen soldiers being transformed into monsters.]
[Dainsleif: Such direct and rapid transformation should be a low-probability event and difficult for ordinary people to detect. When ordinary people see monsters, they either go forward to fight or choose to retreat. They wouldn't calmly stand aside like Takagi and the others, waiting for the Decaying Shadow and the energy in the rift to devour the soldiers' bodies.]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: In other words, the soldiers of Belobog don't know how the monsters they face came about.]
[Kamisato Ayato: Another characteristic of the Stellaron has been confirmed. The next thing to confirm is the power of monsters of the Decaying Shadow's level. The Decaying Shadow and the Everwinter Shadewalker have also set their sights on Lumine and the others. If Takagi doesn't intervene, can they handle it?]
"She... they are looking at us." Paimon exclaimed, quickly hiding behind Lumine.
"Just like before, let's defeat them." Lumine assumed a fighting stance. Beside Jean, a gentle breeze of Anemo also swirled.
"Be careful, Jean, Lumine, Barbara. This is a monster possessing the power of the Supreme Guardian. Her power is quite a bit stronger than the Outworld Blaze you've faced. If you don't stay focused, even with Barbara, you will be defeated," Takagi said.
Hearing this, Jean and the others became even more serious. At this moment, the Decaying Shadow's attack also arrived. The Decaying Shadow raised her scepter towards Lumine and Jean. Two chain-like energy beams crashed over. Jean and Lumine used elemental power to swing their swords and block, trying to knock them away. However, the moment the chain-like attacks collided with them, they immediately dispersed, transforming into a barrier that trapped the two of them.
"Sister! Honorary Knight!" Seeing such a scene, Barbara's heart instantly beat faster. In her mind, she couldn't help but think of the predicament she encountered when fighting Svarog.