When the group arrived outside the Great Mine in a grand procession, many miners' families were gathered there.
"Hey, isn't that the doctor lady!"
March 7th, with her sharp eyes, spotted Natasha checking the injuries of the wounded.
"Even Natasha is here. It seems the situation has become very serious."
Seeing Natasha, Big Seele's expression turned serious.
A few people went over to greet Natasha, who stopped her work and stood up: "You're all here."
"What's the situation now?"
Natasha shook her head: "I'm not very clear on the specifics. In short, the Wanderers have sealed off the Wanderer camp, fearing that the miners' families might go in and smash things. And injured Wanderers and miners are constantly being sent out from inside the mine."
Natasha didn't know much about the situation inside the mine; after all, she was just a doctor.
"This conflict is much bigger than yesterday's, and there are many more injured people."
Natasha suddenly spoke to Takatsuki.
"Uh..."
Takatsuki instantly understood what Natasha meant. However, he actually didn't want to expend too much effort for people he didn't know, but seeing Big Seele's hopeful eyes beside him, he still reached into the golden Hamon and pulled out three vials of medicine.
"Here, use them as you see fit."
Natasha took the medicine from Takatsuki and bowed to him in thanks: "Thank you so much, the people of the Underworld will not forget your kindness, Takatsuki."
If only that were true, but this kindness isn't very useful to me.
"Takatsuki, Takatsuki, what was that thing you just used?"
Before Natasha could finish her sentence, March 7th leaned over, waving her hand repeatedly at the spot where Takatsuki had just taken out the medicine, trying to touch something.
"Stop touching, that's my ability, an ability to store items."
"Like a space-folding item?"
March 7th asked curiously.
"Space-folding item?"
March 7th nodded: "It's an item that can fold and store things, but it's not very big. We usually use it to carry weapons with us."
"Oh, that's different from mine. My spatial item is so big I don't even know how to fill it."
Takatsuki made a rather boastful statement.
"You're showing off, aren't you! You're definitely showing off!"
Regarding March 7th's little tantrum, Dan Heng just stood by with his arms crossed and said, "Alright, March, time is of the essence, don't waste it."
"Oh, right. Never mind, let's go quickly!"
The group walked along the laid-out iron plates, going upwards, and soon saw...
"Why is someone lying here? Could they be injured?"
A miner was lying on the ground, on a raised bridge.
"Takatsuki, isn't that the person we saw before?"
Only when Big Seele reminded him did Takatsuki realize: "Ah, it really seems to be."
"What, what? Is it someone you know?"
Takatsuki stroked his chin: "Not really. He was the first person we saw when we came to this world on our first day. He was lying by the roadside sleeping back then."
"Sleeping by the roadside? How can there be such a strange person?"
Just as March 7th was feeling strange, Stelle had already run to the person lying on the ground and woken him up.
They found out that the person was indeed sleeping...
"Ah, he really was sleeping? Sleeping in a place like this..."
After chasing Pic back to sleep, they encountered another miner named Eileen and learned about the general situation in the Great Mine.
This conflict was not just between miners and Wanderers; a large group of robots had suddenly invaded and attacked many people.
"Robots? Then there's only one answer: Svarog."
Big Seele said after listening to Eileen.
"Who is Svarog? That sounds familiar."
Big Seele looked at Takatsuki and said, "He's the leader of a group of robots in the snowy plains to the north. He appeared when the Silvermane Guards withdrew. He claims his purpose is to protect the survival of the Underworld people, the guardians of humanity, but he always forces robots to intervene in certain matters. I don't know what his true purpose is."
"Anyway, he's not to be trifled with. Let's go find the others first."
"Robots hostile to humans? I've never heard of such a thing. Machines should obey human commands unconditionally."
Bronya said with some incomprehension. Many of her beliefs had been shattered after coming to the Underworld.
"In the Underworld, there's still a lot you haven't seen, young lady."
Big Seele casually mocked Bronya.
"I feel a group of people gathered ahead, it seems like a conflict is happening."
Takatsuki suddenly said to Big Seele.
"A group of people? Most likely miners and Wanderers."
After hearing this, Big Seele immediately took the lead and rushed over.
"It's Antonia! Hurry and help!"
From afar, the group saw Wanderers holding weapons and threatening a group of miners.
"These guys! They only bully the weak! Watch me teach them a good lesson!"
Big Seele slung her scythe over her shoulder and immediately charged forward.
The three Trailblazers and Bronya also followed, fighting alongside the group of Wanderers.
"Takatsuki, aren't we going to help?"
Takatsuki shook his head: "Don't worry, they're just a bunch of weak bullies. Although they have weapons, they're no match for them."
Originally, there were only four of these thugs, and they could only threaten the miners because the miners were unarmed.
The fights at the fighting club didn't reveal much, as they were all bare-handed. Now, although everyone was holding back, Takatsuki could still discern some of their strength.
Each of them possessed decent strength, similar to what they displayed at the fighting club. Dan Heng's marksmanship was excellent, March 7th's footwork was nimble and she could control ice to restrict enemies, and she had good archery skills. As for Stelle, she was simply brute force, swinging a baseball bat to smash. Yet, this unrefined fighting style was no worse than the other two.
After the battle ended, Big Seele was talking to Antonia and the miners. March 7th put away her bow and ran to Takatsuki with her hands on her hips: "Why were you just watching the battle just now? Even Bronya went to help."
"Isn't that an acknowledgment of your strength? They're just a few thugs, they couldn't possibly cause any trouble for the famous Trailblazers, could they?"
Hearing Takatsuki's praise, March 7th instinctively puffed out her chest: "Of course... oh no! What does that have to do with you standing by and doing nothing!"
"Alright, stop bickering. Leader Oleg has taken the Wildfire members downstairs, and Svarog is probably down there too. Let's go quickly and help."
Big Seele finished speaking with Antonia and walked over.
"Let's go, I also want to see that robot named Svarog."
The group bid farewell to Antonia, telling them to go back and meet Natasha, and then they continued forward.
But soon, the group encountered a huge minecart that completely blocked the path.
"Such a big minecart, should we blow it up?"
March 7th said, looking at the overturned minecart blocking the way.
"We can't do that. These are all Great Mine property. We just need to fix it."
Big Seele said, looking at the overturned minecart.
"Aren't we in a hurry? No time to fix things. Let me do it."
Big Seele was about to examine the minecart for repairs when Takatsuki stepped forward.
"You have a way? This thing can't be destroyed."
"Don't worry, we can move it aside for now, and let the mining team repair it slowly later."
March 7th looked at Takatsuki in disbelief: "Such a huge thing, how can you move it?"
Without answering March 7th, Takatsuki led Big Seele to the side of the minecart, grasped the edge of the minecart with his right hand, and with a slight effort, the heavy minecart was lifted with one hand.
"Woah! What incredible strength!"
Everyone around was greatly astonished to see Takatsuki lift the heavy minecart with one hand.
Gently placing the minecart in an empty space nearby, Takatsuki turned to look at the others: "Let's go."
"Wow, Takatsuki, how did you do that? That's amazing, no wonder Uncle Yang trusts you so much."
March 7th said excitedly.
"Trusting me isn't just about this strength. Alright, let's go."
Continuing forward, the group then understood why the minecart was blocking the way; it was clearly deliberately destroyed by the robots to block the entrance.
After advancing a short distance, they saw many robot minions patrolling.
They were quickly dealt with by the group.
Although these robots were united and fearless, the corresponding benefit was that the Pioneers didn't have to hold back.
Takatsuki naturally still didn't make a move, which March 7th criticized him for again.
Heading further down, the group arrived at the center of the Great Mine. There, two giant robots and a white-haired, barefoot little girl in a red coat stood.
"That's Svarog!"
Big Seele recognized Svarog from afar and rushed down impetuously.
"Svarog! We haven't settled the score from last time!"
Big Seele put her hands on her hips and spoke angrily to a giant humanoid robot.
"Seele of Wildfire, your resistance is worthless. The calculation results are very clear: remaining in the Underworld is the optimal survival strategy."
Svarog's inorganic voice emanated from the robot.
"Here we go again, what calculation results, what survival strategy? I don't have time for your long-winded speeches. Quickly withdraw your cannon fodder, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
"You see, Clara, even under extremely harsh survival conditions, humans cannot avoid division and conflict."
Svarog spoke to Clara, the little girl beside him, as if Big Seele wasn't worth his attention.
"Big Seele, it seems the other party isn't here to seize the mine. How about we talk to them?"
Takatsuki spoke to Big Seele. Big Seele had such a personality that expecting her to negotiate was a pipe dream, so Takatsuki directly spoke to Svarog himself.
"Hello, Elder Svarog, why are you here in the Great Mine? Are you here to seize the mine?"
Perhaps because of Takatsuki's words, Svarog turned his gaze to them.
"Unknown outsiders detected. Variables present. Calculation restart. Outsiders, who are you?"
Takatsuki didn't expect the other party to answer his question with a question instead.
"We are people from beyond this planet."
Takatsuki explained, "We're just here to help support the Great Mine. So, Elder Svarog, do you want to seize the Great Mine? As robots, you shouldn't need to burn coal for heat, right?"
"Error. This intervention is to prevent conflict between miners and Wanderers. Preliminary calculation: no further disputes will occur within thirty days of this intervention."
Hearing Svarog's reply, Takatsuki said to Big Seele, "See? The other party isn't specifically here to harm humans."
He then turned to Svarog.
"The conflict between the Wanderers and the miners has ended. The mining team needs to counterattack again. So, Elder Svarog, can you withdraw your robots now?"
"Whether the conflict has ended requires recalculation. Once the calculation is complete and the conflict is confirmed to be over, the robots will automatically withdraw."
Takatsuki looked at Big Seele: "Although it can't be resolved immediately, the other party is open to negotiation."
"Outsiders, what is your purpose in coming here from beyond the heavens?"
After answering Takatsuki's question, Svarog, as if returning a courtesy, posed a question to Takatsuki.
"Need to confirm outsiders' purpose for recalculation."
"Oh, our purpose is to end the cold wave and the Fragmentum on this planet. Simply put, it's to save the world."
Although this wasn't Takatsuki's original purpose, knowing that the cold wave and the Fragmentum would end after dealing with the Stellaron, it wasn't bad to claim this as his purpose. All roads lead to Rome, after all.
"Svarog, do you know where the Stellaron is?"
Swearing to the heavens, Takatsuki only asked casually, not expecting any answer from the other party.
Unexpectedly, no sooner had Takatsuki finished speaking than Svarog suddenly fell silent.
"Stellaron…"
"Accessing database… Access blocked. Discussing Stellaron with unauthorized target: Forbidden."
Svarog's tone suddenly became abnormal.
"You are touching a secret sealed deep within the world, a secret no human knows. Re-evaluating target status. Threat index rising. I demand you state your true intentions."
Hearing Svarog's tone change, March 7th became nervous.
"What's going on? Did the Stellaron provoke it?"
Dan Heng calmly made a judgment.
"It seems the other party knows about the Stellaron, but this topic is risky."
Stelle also looked at Takatsuki: "It's up to you."
Takatsuki nodded. Although this was unexpected, it was a pleasant surprise, as he now had a clue about the Stellaron.
"As I just said, the cold wave and the Fragmentum appeared because of the Stellaron, so we need to seal or destroy this Stellaron."
Svarog gave his own answer to Takatsuki's words.
"In recorded history, humans have attempted to contact the Stellaron multiple times. Without exception, they, out of human selfishness, tried to possess the substance."
"The city builders's directive: any attempt to contact the Stellaron will result in severe consequences. Re-evaluating. Target threat index has reached maximum."
Svarog's words made everyone nervous.
"What do we do, what do we do? This doesn't look good."
Svarog looked at the group.
"Peace Maintenance Protocol temporarily suspended. Requesting activation of Extermination Protocol."
"Ex-extermination… is that literal?"
March 7th, startled, took a step back.
"Negotiations failed. March, Stelle, prepare for battle."
Dan Heng lowered his crossed arms, revealing his weapon.
But Takatsuki extended his right hand, blocking the others.
"Takatsuki?"
Takatsuki pushed Little Seele towards March 7th: "Little March, please help me look after Little Seele. Since I brought this trouble, I should naturally resolve it."
"Hey, hey, don't try to be a hero. That big guy clearly isn't easy to deal with."
"Takatsuki, are you really okay?"
Little Seele also asked with some worry.
"Don't worry, it's mainly because this is a Great Mine. If we really fight, the destruction would be too great, so I'll handle it alone."
After settling Little Seele, Takatsuki turned towards Svarog, rolling up the sleeves of both hands.
"Since you know the Stellaron's location, I can't break you. Don't worry, I'll control my strength."
Svarog also looked at Takatsuki, issuing a final warning.
"Prototype Unit 3, Supervisor Robot Svarog, Extermination Protocol application status: Approved—permission to annihilate…"