Complete.
Although the Engine of Creation might not count as an especially powerful artifact by galactic standards,
it was still an impressive piece of work.
Now that Evan had fully understood its data—and reconstructed it conceptually—
he could deploy it again whenever needed.
That was one of the greatest advantages of the Authority of Reason:
Once something had been reconstructed even once,
using it again became effortless.
"Mother…"
"Mother…?"
While Evan was still absorbing the final data from the Engine of Creation,
a faint, trembling voice reached his ears.
He turned around.
Something felt… wrong.
Cocolia had been fused with the Stellaron for years, yes—
but after forcibly separating it, she shouldn't have collapsed this fast.
By Evan's estimation, she should have had months left to live.
But now?
At this rate, she wouldn't last even a single day.
…Should he save her?
The thought surfaced unbidden.
Which immediately made Evan frown.
Why was he even considering it?
He wasn't some saint.
And in the original course of events, Cocolia was supposed to die here anyway.
The act of separating a Stellaron was inherently lethal.
He had only managed it through deconstruction, forcibly tearing it from her body.
Saving her now would mean deviating from character—
OOC, plain and simple.
"Cough… cough…"
As Evan was still wrestling with his own thoughts,
Cocolia slowly opened her eyes.
"Bro… Bronya…"
"I… I don't need you to worry…"
"The Stellaron… it deceived me. It could never lead me to a new world."
"But my daughter… I deceived you as well."
"The disaster brought by the Stellaron… I can only shamelessly place it in your hands now…"
"I believe… that you, as the Supreme Guardian, will live up to the name of Rand."
"Belobog's… future…"
"…is yours now."
With the Stellaron removed, Cocolia's life finally reached its end.
"No—no!"
"Please! Please, can't you save my mother?!"
"I'll pay any price—anything!"
Bronya turned desperately toward the others.
Seele lowered her head, unable to meet her gaze.
March 7th and Stelle both took a step back, shaking their heads.
Dan Heng spoke softly but firmly.
"I'm sorry. We are not disciples of Abundance."
"We can't help her."
At that moment, Bronya looked around like a child—
Her pleading gaze passed over everyone…
And finally landed on the young man.
Evan's eyes had just met Bronya's—
When a new sound rang out in his ears.
[Beep—beep—beep!]
[Treasure Chest location detected in current area!]
[Target chest acquired!]
[Open chest?]
[Open chest?]
…Huh?
A chest?
Here, at Everwinter Ridge?
Evan scanned the surroundings.
Soon enough, a faint glow—visible only to a Treasure Hunter—appeared before him.
The glow was—
On Cocolia.
And worse, it was already flickering.
Which meant—
If Cocolia died right now,
this chest would vanish into the fog and never appear again.
…Unacceptable.
Absolutely unacceptable.
"…Fine."
"For the sake of the chest," Evan muttered,
"I'll keep you alive a little longer."
He took a step forward.
Dong—
"…Huh?"
Evan paused.
That sound—
Something was very wrong.
He looked up instinctively.
Strange…
It felt like he'd just heard something monumental.
The Amber Lord's hammer?
Had another Amber Era begun?
No—
That couldn't be it.
No one else seemed to hear it.
Which meant—
Was this… a blessing meant only for him?
But he hadn't entered the Amber Lord's domain, had he?
…Strange.
Too strange.
The very next instant—
Evan stepped forward again.
And his foot landed on empty space.
He was standing in the cosmos.
This sensation was familiar.
Painfully familiar.
This was the same place where Nous, the Aeon of Erudition,
had once gazed upon him—
And granted him the Path's power.
And then—
A colossal presence emerged before his eyes.
A body beyond comprehension.
A divine form that eclipsed galaxies themselves.
Unobservable.
Unfathomable.
Impossible to gaze upon directly.
The Aeon of Preservation—
The Amber Lord, Qlipoth.
"…Uh."
"Wait."
"Amber Lord, sir… why are you here?"
"Uh… drinks on me?"
Compared to an Aeon's body—
Even Pathstriders and Emanators were insignificant.
Let alone a mere human.
He was nothing more than an ant before this presence.
No wonder Tayzzyronth had been hammered into oblivion.
The terror of an Aeon was something no mortal could ever truly grasp.
The pressure radiating from the Amber Lord was overwhelming—
Even more suffocating than what Nous had exuded.
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