I am on the Star Dome Railway, and I have become a character on my own

"Wow! Are you crazy, Mr. Lingshi? Aha was just talking. Killing him would be a big mistake, okay? Nanook is so powerful that even Aha and the Medicine Master together can't protect you. They can't beat him at all~"

"..."

Originally, Zishu just mentioned it casually, wanting to see Aha's reaction, but when he heard Him say that, he couldn't help but sneer.

Old Biden, even together with the pharmacist, can't beat Nanook?

Don't think you are stupid. It's amazing that He can say such outrageous words.

A madman has his own dignity. If Jiying was killed, there was a 99% chance that Nanook would not even glance at him, let alone step out.

In His eyes, any existence is destroyed equally. The envoys mean nothing and can be found again if they are gone.

Zishu knew very well that Jiying misunderstood that he was the arbitrator of balance, but it was just a short-sightedness.

What happened here could not escape the attention of the real arbitrator or even the Lord of Balance. I am not idle and there is no need for me to do anything that would add weight to the balance.

Even if it's just a slight tilt.

People who understand cause and effect know better not to be easily involved in cause and effect. Now I am just a member of the Starry Sky Train, an unknown traveler following the path of development.

That's it.

101. Your days of doing whatever you want are over

Belloberg, Everwinter Ridge.

Xing and his group finally passed through the rift area of ​​the Reverberating Corridor and arrived at the bottom of the snow-capped mountains.

The road leading to the highest point of the peak had long been covered with thick snow, and a biting cold wind swept through. March 7 could not help but sneeze twice.

"It's... so cold. The little power of exploration alone is no longer enough to resist the low temperature..."

Dan Heng silently took out his coat and put it on San Yue Qi. "This means that we are getting closer to the core of the star...to the center of the cold wave."

"The target is just above, she's waiting for us..." Xing murmured softly.

"Who?"

"Star core, or in other words... Cocolia."

Xier: "What are you waiting for? I'm fast. I'll clear the way first!"

"Hey, wait a minute—"

Before San Yueqi could finish his words, Xier had already turned into a small black dot and quickly disappeared under the snow.

"Why is she in such a hurry? She doesn't even know how many dangers are hidden on the road."

"I'm anxious too, charge!" Xing followed closely behind.

"..."

Seeing Danheng also taking a step forward, Sanyueqi had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep up.

Along the way, you can see traces left by Xier's fast movement, so you don't have to worry about losing her.

The higher you go, the more unbearable the cold becomes. Gradually, you can see some scattered icy figures on the road.

Those were the frozen remains of the Xu soldiers, scattered all over the mountain path.

It seems that in the war seven hundred years ago, even the brutal antimatter army could not withstand the power of the cold wave and was forever turned into an ice sculpture.

Under normal circumstances, Xing might still be in the mood to study those ice sculptures, considering whether to thaw them and see whether the combat effectiveness of those virtual soldiers from hundreds of years ago can compare with those in the Black Tower Space Station.

Now?

I'm not in the mood to pay attention.

They did not encounter any external obstacles on the way. Apart from the blizzard that never stopped, not a single living rift monster was seen. However, this situation made them even more vigilant.

Logically speaking, the closer you are to the unsealed, self-aware star core, the more rift monsters there will be.

It's so abnormal now.

Until they approached the top of the mountain, there was still nothing to see except the frozen remains of the Xu soldiers.

Looking up the stairs from afar, I saw a familiar figure standing there.

It’s Xi’er.

"What's wrong, Xi'er?" Sanyueqi panted slightly, somewhat missing Zishu's wind-chasing technique. "Why did you stop here?"

"Look." Xier pointed to the high place ahead and frowned, "What is that thing? Is it a relic left by the city builders?"

Dan Heng: "It's completely different from those rigid buildings in the city."

"It looks like..." Sanyueqi brushed aside the snowflakes falling on his bangs and said uncertainly, "It looks like... a giant mechanical hand?"

"Don't worry about that for now. The star core is within 500 meters." Xing took out his weapon with a serious expression.

Everyone's face turned grim.

So close!

……

The highest point of Yongdong Ridge is a platform covering a large area.

At the deepest part of the platform, Cocolia and Bronya were standing in front of an altar-like building, staring at a floating object emitting light above the altar.

Cocolia waved her hand, and Bronya behind her immediately showed a look of pain on her face.

She heard countless whispers echoing deep in her mind, as if something was trying to drill into the depths of her soul and erase everything that belonged to her.

"no, do not want…"

Cocolia turned around, her face showing no joy or sadness, "Don't resist, Bronya, accept the common will!"

Bronya covered her forehead and clenched her teeth, "No... This, this - is not what I want..."

"Do you see the future they promised, Bronya? A world without poverty, cold and pain, a world where people no longer have to pray for eternity like prisoners. A world we can protect forever!"

Cocolia stared at the glowing floating object in the air and said in a cold tone, "For seven hundred years, successive great guardians have tried and fought continuously, thinking that the light of humanity would guide us towards revival, but in the end, we failed miserably!"

“Why is it that when faced with an irresistible force, the first thing we think of is always to resist, to plug our ears and deceive ourselves, instead of listening to its demands?”

"Those are the indelible foolishness and cowardice that linger deep in people's hearts. Get rid of them! Bronya, untie the shackles that bind you. The star core will lead mankind to evolution—"

Having said this, Cocolia, who had a bit of fanaticism in her eyes, suddenly turned cold. An ice spear condensed in her hand and she shot it fiercely in the direction where the strong wind came from.

There was a dull thud, and a weapon that looked like a baseball bat was knocked away and fell into the snow, sinking deep into it.

Xing waved her hand, and the bat that had been hit returned to her hand accurately as if summoned. She pointed at Cocolia and shouted:

"Old woman! Your days of doing whatever you want are over. Give me the star core!"

At the same time, Seele turned into a purple afterimage and flew across the platform, going back and forth like a spring extending and retracting. When she appeared again, she was holding Bronya in her arms.

"I'm here to keep my promise, Bronya."

"Xi'er..."

Seeing Bronya being taken away, Cocolia was not in a hurry. She put away the ice spear in her hand, crossed her arms across her chest, and glanced at everyone with an indifferent look.

"Are you finally here? I thought this blizzard would bury you."

“You wish!” Seele let go of Bronya, and a huge sickle appeared in her hand, tightly grasping it. “We won’t fall until we defeat you!”

"Don't be in a hurry, just say whatever you want to say, I'll give you some time." Cocolia looked calm and composed.

Xier stared at Cocolia with a vigilant look.

"Bronya, I don't understand mysterious things, and I don't know what happened between you, but there are two things I know very well!"

"First, the guy behind me went through so much trouble to get here just to seal that thing called the Star Core!"

"Second, I told you that if anything happens to you, I will come to save you. Even if you are brainwashed by that woman over there and have completely forgotten our agreement, I will still knock you out and take you back!"

As Seele finished her words, Bronya felt that the things that had penetrated into her mind were disappearing rapidly.

She felt less pain.

"Xi'er... and... everyone who came from outer space..."

"Is that all?" Cocolia watched all this with cold eyes and said indifferently, "I have already given you enough time to say goodbye, Bronya. It's time to tell you the other reason why I brought you here."

"..." Bronya clenched her fists.

Cocolia turned to look at the Star Core and said, "I have told you all the truth about the transaction with the Star Core and the wish I made to it. There are no more secrets between us, mother and daughter.

102. You are just a poor creature trying to escape your fate

"Many years ago, the sound of the star core rang in my ears for the first time, but I, like all the great guardians of the past, closed my eyes and ears. At that time, I was just like you are now, struggling to keep the so-called "preservation" of the city builders..."

"My belief was once so firm that a sudden variable disrupted everything. Another choice appeared before me, which meant overthrowing the old order and welcoming the arrival of a new world..."

"But - compared to the vague and increasingly distant existence, it is so real... I have been thinking hard about how to convey all this to you..."

"The promised tomorrow will always come, but if you can't stay by my side and watch over that new world together, I will fall into pain, Bronya, and that is a pain that is difficult to erase!"

After hearing what Cocolia said, Xing couldn't help it. He took a few steps forward and came to Seele and Bronya, raised his eyebrows and shouted coldly:

"Have you said enough? If the protection was illusory, do you think Beloberg could have survived until now? No one really believes that the city has been able to stand for seven hundred years because of the heating of the earth's marrow, right?"

"You don't really think that the bloody battle with the monsters of the Rift gave you the strength to hold on out of thin air, do you?"

Xing gripped the bat more and more tightly, frowning coldly, "You sound so high-sounding and nice about betraying your guardian. If the future that the Star Core promised you is really that beautiful, then what are those countless Silver Mane Iron Guards who died at the hands of the Rift Monsters?!"

"What about those residents who were locked up in the lower area by you, who not only live a life like a prison, but also have to face the threat of the world-ripping monsters?!"

“On our way here, what about the army of world-shattering monsters that was able to slaughter the entire Iron Guard restricted area and finally destroy Beloberg?!”

"You are just a poor creature who is trying to escape his fate. I despise you!"

What did those loyal and devoted Iron Guards who were unaware of the truth do wrong that they were deprived of the right to choose between life and death?

What did those people and even children from the lower classes who chose to persevere despite having to live a hard life do wrong?

What did Zishu do wrong?

Why should he, who has nothing to do with Beloberg, take on the responsibility of guarding the Iron Guard restricted area for the mistakes made by Cocolia?

Why should the train crew help clean up the mess after causing so much trouble? Is this unknown guest of the pioneering path destined to owe anyone anything?

Xing found that he had never been so angry before and wanted to tear Cocolia apart.

Looking at Xing who was trembling a little in front of him, Sanyueqi looked at her with admiration in his eyes.

well said!

"That is just the necessary sacrifice and price to welcome the new world!"

Cocolia's face turned cold, and she suddenly said hysterically:

"Seven hundred years, seven hundred years of despair. What do you outsiders know? What can you comprehend?!"

"Has the Protector ever looked at humans or the city builders? If he had, why have we fallen into this situation? Put away the ridiculous and ignorant righteousness on your face!"

Cocolia smiled coldly.

"Perhaps I should also thank you outsiders. Due to the pressure you brought, I was finally able to face my last weakness;"

"Bronya, from childhood to adulthood, I have never forced you to obey my will, but no matter what, there will always be a day when you have to make a choice. It was like this in the past, and it is still like this now..."

Cocolia's expression returned to calm, and she looked at her daughter gently, "Make your choice, my daughter."

"..."

Bronya was silent for a long, long time.

"Lady Cocolia... Thank you for raising me, thank you for leaving me the right to choose, but... I'm sorry, mother..."

Bronya pursed her lips, walked slowly to Cocolia and stood opposite her, her eyes filled with unshakable determination.

"This last time, I can't stand by your side."

"..."

Cocolia closed her eyes, and the breath that came out of her mouth silently told a sigh.

Bronya's tone was full of determination. "You said that the depths of human nature are stupidity and cowardice. Maybe it's true. Desperate situations will reflect the darkest side of people's hearts, but..."