“Wow, what a cool lady!” March 7th hadn’t expected to see such a stylish woman here.
…
Hearing March 7th’s compliment, the newcomer smiled.
“Thanks for the kind words, little sister.” Serval spoke up.
“Hello there. I’m Serval, owner of this workshop. If you’ve got any broken equipment, you can bring it to me. Though I can’t promise I’ll be interested in fixing it.”
“No, no, I was just curious about this heater.” March 7th held up her hands.
“Curious? It’s just an ordinary geothermal heater. They’re all over the Administrative District.”
“We’re new here and don’t know much about these things,” Stelle explained.
She didn’t want to come across as clueless.
“New here?” Serval suddenly recalled something, sinking into thought.
“Ah, I know! I heard from a loose-lipped guard that some outworlders met with Cocolia. That’s you, isn’t it?”
“What rare guests! Come on in, let’s have a chat.”
Following Serval into the workshop, the group was struck speechless by the scattered tools everywhere.
“I wasn’t planning to open today, so I didn’t tidy up. Sorry for the mess!”
“It’s fine, we were just a bit surprised seeing so many tools at once,” March 7th waved her hands.
“No worries.” Serval smiled.
“What you saw outside is Belobog’s most common geothermal heater. Doesn’t look like much, but it’s the lifeblood of everyone here.”
“With blizzards like these, if there weren’t reliable ways to stay warm, Belobog would’ve become a dead city long ago.”
After a few more questions, the group felt thoroughly impressed.
“Thanks for answering everything.”
“It’s nothing.” Serval smiled at Dan Heng.
“It’s your first time in Belobog. I just want you to feel the warmth of this city.”
Just then, a commotion broke out outside the workshop.
“What’s going on?” Serval pushed the door open and saw many residents running into the distance.
Looking in the direction they came from, a group of Fragmentum monsters had emerged from the alley Gepard had mentioned, destroying everything around them.
“Damn it.” Serval’s expression turned grim.
“The guards have all been deployed to the front lines. There’s only a small force here. I need to help them. You all protect yourselves!”
Seeing the others waiting for her, Serval looked surprised.
“Why haven’t you found somewhere to hide? If you really don’t know where to go, just wait in my workshop.”
“It’s fine, Serval.” March 7th drew her bow.
“We’re not helpless nobles. Let’s go together!”
“Exactly. Every bit of strength helps right now.” Dan Heng summoned Cloud-Piercer in agreement.
“Then let’s head over together!”
Arriving at the intersection, several Silvermane Guards were already battling the Fragmentum monsters.
Among them was Bronya, the woman they’d seen arguing with Cocolia at Qlipoth Fort.
Despite her young age, she showed no hesitation in cutting down monsters.
Wind-infused bullets shot from her gun, striking the monsters with precision.
In moments, she had eliminated many of them.
But the Fragmentum kept spawning monsters from the passage, and gradually they were being pushed back.
“We can’t hold them, Lady Bronya!” A soldier barely dodged an axe swing from a humanoid monster wreathed in flames and called out to Bronya.
Looking at the ever-growing horde, then back at the Administrative District behind them, Bronya’s eyes hardened with resolve.
“We cannot retreat. If we do, the people of Belobog are finished!” She cast a speed boost on everyone.
“Don’t worry, Bronya, we’re here to help!” A bolt of lightning crashed down, shattering a monster into pieces.
“Serval, you came!” Seeing the newcomer, a flash of relief crossed Bronya’s eyes.
“And us!” March 7th waved, loosing an arrow.
“Thank you for your help.” Bronya nodded.
“Everyone, charge! Drive them out of Belobog!”
With the group working in perfect coordination, they quickly pushed the surging Fragmentum monsters back into the passage.
The tide of battle turned overwhelmingly in their favor.
As the last Fragmentum monster fell, Bronya let out a long breath and bowed deeply to the five who had helped.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“It’s nothing. That’s what we Nameless do!” March 7th grinned.
“Watch out!” Just then, Dan Heng shouted at Bronya, who had her back to the Fragmentum.
A massive floating monster had appeared behind her, raising its right hand.
Ice swords gleaming with cold light shot toward her back. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Seeing this, despair flickered in everyone’s eyes.
At this distance, the ice swords seemed certain to hit.
Phainon’s eyes narrowed.
Acting on instinct, he extended his right hand.
A golden portal materialized.
Stepping through it, he shielded Bronya behind him, raising Dawnmaker to block the incoming ice swords.
Facing the Ice Out of Space, now charging up a second time, Phainon clenched his fist.
“So this is the power of Passage.” He looked at the enemy before him and the Fragmentum passage behind it.
“In that case, I’ll take you all out at once!”
He helped Bronya to her feet and gently reassured her.
“Leave the rest to me.”
Dismissing Dawnmaker, Phainon threw a punch.
The Ice Out of Space slammed hard into the Fragmentum-corrupted tunnel, its charging interrupted.
Phainon extended his right hand.
A golden spear slowly materialized in his grasp.
“Heroic spirits of Strife, heed my call… I am the Lance of Divine Retribution, the pain this world demands!” He hurled the spear, instantly obliterating the Ice Out of Space and the tunnel behind it.
Under everyone’s stunned gazes, he clapped his hands and casually said to Bronya, “It’s taken care of. Leave the rest to you.”
He looked at the dumbfounded March and the others.
“Let’s go back to the hotel. I’m exhausted.”
Hearing this, Bronya stepped forward.
“Thank you, um…” It suddenly occurred to her that she didn’t even know his name.
Even she felt a slight flush of embarrassment.
“Just call me Phainon.”
“Thank you, Mr. Phainon, for your tremendous contribution to Belobog.”
New Fanfic:
Honkai Star Rail: The Eldritch Path Among the Stars