The players were still discussing the massive changes to the plot, but it wasn't until the conversation with Bronya triggered the next part of the story that they truly fell silent.
Such a horrific sacrifice had only secured a single defensive line, and they still had to be on constant guard against the invasion of Fragmentum monsters... These Silvermane Guards truly had it rough.
After the dialogue with Bronya concluded, you could choose to continue speaking with the other Guards. There were two interactable NPCs. One was a sergeant from the second squad. If you talked to him, he would thank you for saving his squad. Beneath his helmet, you couldn't see his expression, only sense that he was in low spirits. Follow current novels on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
The other interactable character was a Guard lying on the ground.
Interacting with him only left a single line of text.
"Snowflakes fall upon his armor, gathering in a small pile."
After the dialogue ended, the Guard's name changed to "The Last Member of the First Squad."
[For real, this is starting to hit hard.]
Unexpectedly, this time the players didn't resort to their usual jokes and memes. Instead, a collective sigh rippled through the community.
Kakaya stared silently at the fallen Guard on the screen, then quietly reached for the pack of cigarettes beside him.
Thankfully, he wasn't on camera, with a virtual avatar hiding his actions. Otherwise, that one sound would have been enough for the platform moderators to ban his stream.
[What was that sound?]
[Heilongjiang passing one over...]
[Guizhou passing one over, too.]
The bullet chat filled with messages formatted as province names and cigarette brand codes. For a moment, Kakaya lost the will to continue the story.
He leaned back in his gaming chair, staring up at the ceiling. The cigarette between his fingers had already burned down a significant amount without him noticing. As if he had forgotten it was there, he let the air share what was left of it.
After an unknown amount of time, only when the heat was about to sear his fingertips did Kakaya belatedly flick the remaining butt into an ashtray, a bitter smile on his face.
"Sigh, what was so bad about the old plot? It was all laughs and no worries. Letting March 7th and the Trailblazer act silly might have even given us a good chuckle. Why'd you have to go and do this..."
Wiping the slight moisture from the corners of his eyes, Kakaya felt a sense of helplessness.
[Yeah... what's the age rating on this game again?]
[The writing is great. Please don't write again. It's costing me cigarettes.]
[Indeed. (click) (lights cigarette)]
[Sigh... when you connect this to the previous plot settings, all these Guards are heroes.]
[Don't fucking spoil it, there are people who don't know yet! Mod, ban him!]
[Since things are so grim, let me tell you guys a joke!]
[User "Dafeng Jiguan" has been muted.]
[Yeah, the mood is already cold enough. If you tell a cold joke, we'll all freeze to death.]
"Sigh... let's keep going."
"So this is... the Great Guardian's palace? It's beautiful!"
March 7th's jaw dropped as she gazed at the grand and solemn palace before them.
"This is Qlipoth Fort, built by the first Great Guardian, Alisa Rand, in praise of the great Aeon of Preservation, Qlipoth. It is also where the Great Guardians of every generation have worked and resided," Bronya explained to the group.
"Once we're inside, we will meet Belobog's highest authority, the Great Guardian, Cocolia Rand."
At the mention of her adoptive mother, Bronya's eyes dimmed, but when she looked at the Trailblazing team, hope rekindled in her gray irises.
"I tried to persuade the Great Guardian before, pleading with her not to let the Silvermane Guards fall into meaningless sacrifice. But she refused me, saying it was for the sake of Belobog."
The image of the Guards who had died before her very eyes flashed in her mind, and Bronya suddenly felt a suffocating sensation slowly tightening around her throat.
She had failed those Guards who gave their lives. It was she... who had personally sent them to their Destruction.
Seeing Bronya biting her lower lip, her face etched with grief, Wende shot a look at Stelle. Stelle looked back, bewildered, but she understood Wende's meaning. She walked over and patted Bronya's shoulder.
"Mm... thank you. Let's go."
As if feeling Stelle's comfort, Bronya composed herself again. Her eyes filled with conviction and resolve as she lifted her leg and stepped onto the stone stairs of Qlipoth Fort.
Stelle scratched her head, a little confused. What... did she do?
Wende silently gave Stelle a thumbs-up and followed closely behind Bronya, walking towards the pristine white fortress.
"I didn't know you had a knack for comforting people," March 7th said to Stelle, her tone one of genuine surprise.
"Uh... I guess it was okay..." Stelle replied helplessly, shooting a resentful glare in Wende's direction.
Why didn't you do such a nice thing yourself? Why'd you make me do it!
The guards stationed at Qlipoth Fort immediately saluted upon seeing Bronya, paying no mind to the Trailblazing team behind her. It was a clear indication of just how noble Bronya's status was.
As the adoptive daughter of the Great Guardian and the Commander of the Silvermane Guards, Bronya's prestige in Belobog's Overworld was unquestionable, second only to the Great Guardian herself.
Pushing open the heavy doors, the Great Guardian's palace revealed itself before them.
A blonde woman sat behind a high desk, her gaze placid as she watched the group slowly enter the hall.
Upon her otherwise immaculate right arm, an azure blue trace seemed to have fused with her very flesh and blood, but the woman paid it no mind.
"Bronya, weren't you leading the Guards to defend the Perimeter Road? Why have you suddenly returned in defiance of orders? And with a group of guests."
The woman stood up from behind the desk. Sunlight streamed through the window behind her, casting a golden sheen on her figure and creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"Great Guardian, I am here to request that you retract your command! The Silvermane Guards are already short on manpower. If this continues, all of Belobog will be plunged into irreversible danger!" Bronya said sharply to Cocolia. After being tempered by blood and battle, she was no longer the indecisive Bronya of the past.
"Your plan is pushing Belobog to the brink of destruction. So please, retract your command!"
Seeing Cocolia remain silent, Bronya stepped forward again to plead her case.
"Bronya... my daughter. Do you have any idea what you are doing right now? Defying a military order to return to the city is a grave crime. To clash with the Great Guardian within Qlipoth Fort is a capital offense! If you were not my daughter, you would have already been thrown over the city walls..."
Cocolia's expression was as cold as frost. Within the great hall, a chilling wind seemed to stir.