By the time Bronya received Pela's notification and rushed to Cocolia's office, Cocolia had already collapsed despondently on the floor.
Bronya immediately panicked. She hurried forward to help her mother up, only to find the arm she touched ice cold.
That was no ordinary chill—she felt as though she had touched a block of ice, the hard and freezing sensation making her shiver involuntarily.
Only then did she realize that beneath Cocolia's long sleeves, the arm that should have been pale and soft was now covered in ice.
"The Stellaron... has vanished..."
Cocolia murmured in despair, her gaze shifting to Bronya, her purple eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.
Then, as if suddenly snapping back to reality, she stood up abruptly and looked toward the sky outside the window, only to be disappointed to find snowflakes still falling in the distant horizon.
"Everything is over..."
She whispered hopelessly.
The shattering of her faith twice had plunged even this resilient Supreme Guardian into despair. Countless memories from the past weighed heavily on Cocolia's shoulders like a massive cauldron.
She had abandoned everything, including her own humanity, and only now did she realize that the future she had desperately longed to see was nothing but a fleeting dream.
"Mother, what are you saying?"
Ignoring the chill emanating from Cocolia, Bronya firmly supported her and guided her back to the chair, her face full of concern as she asked.
"I... Bronya, I am a complete failure."
Tears welled in the corners of Cocolia's eyes as she slumped forward.
Her soft cheek pressed against the cold frost crystals, yet she paid no mind to the chill, continuing in a daze:
"Once, my faith was as steadfast as yours... until an unforeseen variable disrupted everything. Another choice appeared before me—one that meant overturning the old order and welcoming the dawn of a new world. I know it sounds absurd, but compared to the elusive 'Preservation,' it felt so real..."
The ice on Cocolia's body multiplied, already covering half of her form.
"Mother..."
A verdant glow emanated from Bronya as she attempted to use the power given to her by Felicity to dispel the Stellaron's influence on Cocolia.
The effect was immediate—the frost crystals on Cocolia ceased their spread and even showed signs of receding.
But Cocolia suddenly reached out, stopping Bronya's actions, and shook her head at her.
"Bronya, it's as if I've been in a long dream."
"In that dream, there was a brand new world and... a complete you."
"No one would suffer from the biting winds and snow, no one would perish from the erosion of the Fragmentum."
"But... it's over, Bronya, my beloved daughter. Everything that belonged to me has come to an end. My illusions have dissipated in this snowy night."
Bronya opened her mouth as if to say something, but it felt as though something had seized her throat, preventing even a single word from escaping.
She watched Cocolia, watching as the ice slowly crept over half of her body.
"History always unfolds this way—walking along until it reaches a fork in the road. I chose one path, and you chose another. Now, the path I chose has led to a cliff, while the one you chose leads to a broader avenue."
"...I should go now, Bronya. This is your era. I am a remnant of the old age, and there is no place for me in the new one."
Bronya felt her mother's hand clasp hers one last time, tears continuously welling up from the corners of her eyes.
In her mother's gaze, she saw a clarity she hadn't witnessed in a long time—those beautiful pupils shone as brightly as when she first stepped into Qlipoth Fort.
Bronya could have continued using the power borrowed from Felicity to save her mother's life from erosion, but she didn't.
Because she knew Cocolia had borne too many sins.
Regardless of stance or circumstance, sins committed remained sins. Even death couldn't wash them away, forever following Cocolia like a shadow.
"Bronya..."
Cocolia's eyes rested on Bronya for the final time, carrying a tenderness only seen when Bronya recalled the past.
"Don't let the past chain your steps. Remember? Kind people deserve to live happy lives."
Cocolia's hand slipped away, afraid her ice-covered palm might frostbite her daughter.
"...Go live a happy life."
The ice finally enveloped Cocolia completely, freezing her like an insect trapped in amber.
Yet even as she froze, a peaceful smile remained on her face.
"...Mother."
Two clear tears traced down Bronya's cheeks as she lowered her arm and gradually bowed her head.
...
Year 700 of the City-Building Era.
Bronya declared that the former Supreme Guardian Cocolia had uncovered the truth behind the snowstorms, sacrificing her life and will to perish together with the 'Stellaron,' ultimately turning into an ice sculpture—her existence erased.
Succeeding as Supreme Guardian, Bronya announced the lifting of all restrictions related to the Underworld, allowing its people to see the sky again.
"So, it's all over just like that?"
March 7th tilted her head, holding a freshly bought milk tea.
Their wanted notices had been revoked, so they could now walk the streets openly.
"Yes, it seems Felicity went out and did something while we were resting."
Dan Heng nodded.
"Ugh, it feels like something's missing."
Stelle touched her chest, frowning in confusion.
"You've definitely gone silly from rummaging through trash bins~"
March 7th pinched Stelle's cheek.
"Exactly, exactly."
Felicity, who had appeared out of nowhere, nodded in agreement.
"Eek! Felicity! I told you not to suddenly pop up like that!"
March 7th jumped in fright, turning around to pout at Felicity with dissatisfaction.
"You were just too engrossed in chatting—here, take this."
Felicity shrugged, casually tossing out a spear.
Stelle instinctively caught it, looking down to see the weapon in its entirety.
—So cool!
"This is...?"
Dan Heng asked.
"Dropped by the boss. Is it strange for bosses to drop legendary gear? I don't need it—it's yours."
Felicity blinked innocently.
That was a lie.
That object was found by Felicity at the location where the Stellaron had originally been. When she discovered it, it was still emitting a peculiar glow, radiating a dense power of "Preservation."
"Oh, this..." March 7th felt too exhausted to even complain. She didn't understand why Felicity could always calmly utter those game-like settings, but that spear did look incredibly cool.
"Can I have it? This thing is way cooler than a baseball bat!"
Stelle happily brandished her lance, then tapped it with her baseball bat. Unexpectedly, the next moment, amber flames suddenly burst from the tip of the lance, a flash of light erupted, and in an instant, the lance completely merged into Stelle's baseball bat.
Stelle's face immediately fell like a child who dropped her ice cream.