Stelle stood in the darkness of the nightmare, the small Stellaron's voice echoing in her ears. She raised her head, her gaze piercing through the void, as if locking onto the mocking eyes lurking beyond the nightmare.
"…Phantylia, your nightmare truly fills me with fear."
"But 'resistance' is something you keep doing. The act itself holds meaning. The small Stellaron's ideas may be naive, but they're not without merit."
"So, I'll use every means at my disposal: stop you, escape with everyone, even pursue the impossible 'resurrection'—as long as it achieves the goal of protection, I won't stop."
Stelle's right hand gripped the air at her waist, brimming with unwavering confidence. With a sword-drawing motion, she swung outward, laughing boldly, "So, let me light up this dark apocalypse!"
Buzz—
In that instant, Stelle felt as if she saw a celestial amber spirit, wielding a massive hammer, striking down mechanically—
Whoosh!
Orange-red flames erupted from Stelle's hand, spreading outward to form a scarlet amber lance. Warm light radiated from Stelle, dispelling the darkness of the nightmare at a visible pace.
…
Stelle snapped her eyes open, still holding the lance. She was still inside the Ambrosial Arbor's sealed space. March 7th and the others lay unconscious beside her, their expressions suggesting they were also trapped in nightmares.
Not far away, Phantylia's third-phase form was reconstructing its body, a dazzling Stellaron hovering above it, providing the power to sustain the dream.
Seeing the Stellaron, Stelle's heart ached. She shouted fiercely, "Phantylia! Your time's up!"
"What… what?!"
Phantylia was startled to see Stelle awake. She hadn't expected her meticulously crafted nightmare to be broken so easily. At this critical moment of reconstructing her body, any interruption would ruin her plans completely!
Slash—
The flame lance stabbed fiercely into Phantylia's newly reformed abdomen, making a crack as a chunk of branches and leaves fell, leaving a hole.
"Ant, you're courting death!"
Phantylia roared in fury, gathering energy into a sphere and hurling it at Stelle!
She refused to believe it. A starving camel was still bigger than a horse—she was an Emanator, no matter how weakened. What could this insignificant thing do to stop her?!
"Let me show you the will of Preservation!"
Stelle sneered, raising the flame lance before her. "In the name of Preservation!"
Having received Qlipoth's glance, as expected, she obtained this flame lance and a blessing of Preservation.
Namely, the Red-Green Light Divine Power!
Its effect needed no explanation: once activated, even Nanook himself would need two hits to harm her!
Boom!
The energy sphere struck the flame lance, unleashing a terrifying destructive force that engulfed Stelle.
Phantylia laughed. "Hahaha—nothing but an ant, daring to face me!"
As the energy wave dissipated, Stelle's figure emerged—completely unscathed, not even a speck of dust on her.
Phantylia froze. This was impossible! This wasn't Destruction at all!
"See that? This is my resolve to protect my companions! This is my belief in Preservation!"
Stelle withdrew the lance and stabbed Phantylia again, poking another hole in her body.
"I'll fight you to the end!"
Phantylia, enraged, conjured an energy sphere twice as large as before and hurled it at Stelle.
Stelle raised the flame lance. "In the name of Preservation!"
Boom—
The area hit by the energy sphere was reduced to dust. Seeing this, Phantylia sighed in relief, sneering inwardly, "Now she's dead, right?"
As the dust settled, Stelle's figure stood unharmed.
Phantylia: ???
"Phantylia, give me back my small Stellaron!"
Stelle stabbed again, this time hitting Phantylia's left leg joint. It didn't leave a hole but detached her lower left leg.
"Ant, just die already!"
Phantylia roared, "Bearing Lord Nanook's power, how could I possibly lose?!"
She gathered energy into a sphere ten times larger than before, like a meteor crashing down—
Stelle hurriedly raised her lance at top speed!
Rumble—
The struck area was obliterated to the atomic level, leaving nothing behind.
Phantylia sighed in relief again. Now she's definitely dead, right?
Yet, Stelle's figure emerged from the dust once more, shaking Phantylia's steadfast belief in Destruction.
Was this girl truly invincible?
"Give me back my child!"
Stelle roared, stabbing Phantylia's right leg joint.
With both legs severed, Phantylia felt a wave of weightlessness. She reacted quickly, using her hands to avoid falling.
"You son of a—"
Phantylia cursed, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and a cold smirk curled her lips.
"You want to protect your companions, don't you?"
Phantylia conjured another energy sphere, but this time, her aim wasn't Stelle—it was March 7th and the others, unconscious and trapped in nightmares.
"Attack or protect your companions—choose!"
Phantylia sneered, launching the energy sphere—
Seeing this, Stelle smirked back, looking at Phantylia as if she were an idiot. "I said I'd protect my companions. Are you deaf or something?"
"Blazing, unyielding amber!"
Stelle raised the flame lance and shouted. The next second, Phantylia watched in disbelief as the energy sphere she'd just launched turned around and flew toward Stelle…
Boom—
As the smoke cleared, Stelle stood unscathed, driving Phantylia to the brink of collapse.
Damn it! I can't kill her head-on, and I can't redirect my attacks. How do I fight this?
This was the signature taunt skill of Preservation's lord.
With taunt, invincibility, and stacking buffs!
"Phantylia, give me back my small Stellaron!"
Stelle roared, charging with the flame lance. Unlike her previous attacks, this time the lance's tip seemed to flow with magma. When it touched Phantylia's body, the terrifying heat melted her instantly.
"Aaah—"
Phantylia screamed in pain. She couldn't understand—was this some special mechanic? How did Stelle suddenly unleash an enhanced basic attack?
But she was right. Stacking buffs through taking hits—that's just how the flame lance worked.
Now, Phantylia couldn't break through Stelle's Preservation Red-Green Light Divine Power. If she didn't attack, Stelle would seize the chance to poke holes in her. It was utterly infuriating.
But what pushed Phantylia closer to collapse was yet to come.
At the entrance of the Ambrosial Arbor's seal, a petite figure with hands in her pockets slowly walked in. She glanced around, flashing a dangerous smile at Phantylia.
~~"Looks like this old lady isn't too late after all."~~