"Sigh, Bronya, what did that person say?"
Cocolia shook her head, ignoring Seele, who was extremely hostile toward her, and asked Bronya instead.
That person...?
"Kiana?"
"If she is indeed that mysterious white-haired existence..."
"She said that under her gaze, no one in Belobog will die."
"I see..."
Cocolia let out a soft chuckle, then stood up and walked to the wardrobe. After putting on her clothes, she went to the door and tilted her head to look at the two of them.
"Let's go. We'll discuss the matter of succession after tomorrow's final battle. For now, join me in gathering the army. Let me redeem myself a little as the Supreme Guardian."
In her final moments as the Supreme Guardian, she would personally lead the army in a final counter-offensive against the Rift.
That person had said it—the people of Belobog would not die.
Since the army was immortal, why fear the Rift or the Stellaron?
Just charge right through them!
This would serve as a perfect conclusion to her career as the Supreme Guardian.
In any case, it seemed there was no longer any need for her to use her own body as a lock to seal the Stellaron.
Watching Cocolia show a heartfelt smile to her and Seele, Bronya's eyes dampened slightly. She then squinted and returned a beautiful smile.
"Yes... Mother!"
"Why do I have to listen to her too?"
"Seele..."
"Fine, fine, what a total pain..."
Unable to withstand Bronya's look, which was almost like she was acting spoiled, Seele turned her head away and muttered somewhat perfunctorily.
Afterward, Cocolia took Bronya and Seele toward Qlipoth Fort.
Walking through the streets of Belobog at night, before ascending the steps to Qlipoth Fort, Cocolia looked toward Serval's Neverwinter Workshop, a hint of nostalgia and guilt appearing in her eyes.
"Once everything is over, I'll go and apologize in person, though I don't think she'll forgive me..."
Then, the three of them walked up the steps. Not long after they left, the door to the workshop was pushed open.
"I felt like someone was outside just now. Was it just my imagination?"
Serval scratched her somewhat messy hair, looking a bit puzzled.
After scanning the deserted street, Serval closed the door and went back to sleep.
After Cocolia and the others returned to Qlipoth Fort, she urgently issued a decree to lift the blockade between the Upper and Lower Districts.
Once the decree was issued, Seele excitedly took Cocolia's token and headed back to the Lower District.
Upon receiving the news, Natasha, Oleg, and the others were all smiles, and they decided to gather the people of Wildfire to go up and join the fray.
Natasha also felt there was no longer any need to hide her identity, so she publicly revealed herself as the leader of Wildfire.
This identity gave Seele quite a shock; she hadn't expected Nat to have such a background.
Having made their decision, Wildfire left a small group of people with Natasha to maintain Order in the Lower District.
The majority of the rest followed Oleg and Seele to the Upper District.
Meanwhile, Bronya was ordered to assemble the army to prepare for the upcoming war.
The commotion of the army gathering woke the sleeping residents of Belobog one after another. They were all shocked to see the massive army of Silvermane Guards.
What on earth was going on, gathering the entire army of Belobog in the middle of the night?
Although they didn't know what was happening, they knew something big was definitely about to go down.
Could it be a second full-scale counter-offensive against the Rift...?
At this thought, some people couldn't help but fall silent.
Because they remembered the heavy price paid the last time Cocolia ordered a general offensive; it had been a scene of devastating casualties.
But this time, Cocolia personally appeared to boost morale and stated outright that she would lead the charge at the very front.
She also shouted that the gaze of the Amber Lord had descended upon this place, and under the watch of Preservation, the warriors would not die.
And in the dark sky, as if in response, a phantom of the Amber Lord appeared for a brief moment.
Seeing this scene, the morale of the Silvermane Guards soared, and they forgot the painful lesson of the first counter-offensive.
This time, with the Amber Lord watching over them, they were invincible!
However, this Amber Lord was just a phantom created by that rascal Kiana; it wasn't the real thing.
But her gaze, combined with the effect of her Angel form—wasn't that more reassuring than that blockhead?
At that moment, the door to the workshop was pushed open again. Serval poked her head out, and seeing the orderly Silvermane Guards on the street, her sleepiness vanished instantly.
"Wait, what kind of trouble is Cocolia stirring up again in the middle of the night?!"
Serval's gaze searched through the crowd, and she soon locked onto a fully armed man with short blond hair.
Found him—it was her dear brother, Gepard!
Serval went back inside to quickly get dressed, then ran out to Gepard's side and pulled him away.
"Bro, gathering the army in the middle of the night—what are you guys doing? A counter-offensive against the Rift?"
"Lady Cocolia didn't specify the details, but it's likely related to a general offensive against the Rift..."
After speaking, Gepard frowned, then reached out, grabbed Serval's wrist, and quickly led her back to the workshop, pushing her inside.
"Sister, stay hidden here for now. Don't come out."
Even with the Amber Lord's gaze, Gepard was still worried that his restless sister would sneak out.
Sure enough... "Hey, you brat, you dare try to boss your sister around? I think you're itching for a beating!"
Serval raised an eyebrow and clenched her fist at Gepard.
But Gepard didn't react as usual. Instead, he placed his hands on Serval's shoulders and said with a serious tone and a hint of a plea:
"I don't want anything to happen to you, sister. Also, please protect that child, Lynx..."
After saying that, Gepard closed the door and returned directly to the unit he was responsible for.
"This guy..."
Serval muttered, frowning as she looked at the closed door.
No way, she had to go and question Cocolia about what kind of madness this was.
Or was she really completely twisted by the Stellaron and turned into a puppet? This behavior was just like back then—purely sending the Silvermane Guards to their deaths!
After making up her mind, Serval gave instructions to Lynx, who had come over to sleep at her place today, and hurriedly left the workshop.
Because Serval had been sleeping too soundly just before, she hadn't seen the phantom of the Amber Lord at all. Moreover, Gepard might have forgotten, as he hadn't mentioned anything to her about the Amber Lord's gaze.
Arriving at Qlipoth Fort, which had no guards posted, Serval went all the way to the Supreme Guardian's office.
"Cocolia...! What on earth are you..."
Bursting through the door, Serval saw no one in the office and was left with a bewildered expression.
"Where... where is everyone?"
She quickly realized and turned to run back.
She had seen that child Bronya's figure in the army; perhaps Cocolia was there too.
Running back, Serval jogged along the army, her eyes scanning everywhere.
Gepard saw his sister run out again and looked like he had a headache.
Soon, Serval saw a fully armed Cocolia at the very front of the ranks.
Seeing Cocolia in this state made Serval's eyes widen in disbelief.
"Cocolia, what madness is this?! You're actually going to lead the counter-offensive yourself?"
Coming to Cocolia's side, she grabbed her arm and questioned her with a frown.
Cocolia was momentarily stunned to see her former best friend, then she removed the hand that was grabbing her.
"Take her back. Ordinary citizens should stay in their homes and not go out."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Two Silvermane Guards grabbed Serval to lead her away, but... Thud, thud!
"Cocolia, have you forgotten my skills and capabilities after all these years?"
After knocking down the two Silvermane Guards, Serval curled her lips and looked at Cocolia teasingly.
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