Chapter 50: Svarog's Concern

Theresa breathed a sigh of relief after stowing her fighter jet. Now, even if a fight broke out, she wouldn't be caught unprepared.

"I've already told you," Svarog said slowly, his camera-like eyes fixed on Seele, "Wildfire's conflict with the Silvermane Guards has nothing to do with us."

"Our reason for coming is simple," Bronya replied earnestly. "They're unable to leave this planet because of the Stellaron. We need information about it, and we believe you, Mr. Svarog, as a relic from seven hundred years ago, might possess preserved data on the Stellaron."

But the moment Svarog heard the word "Stellaron," the camera lenses that served as his eyes blazed crimson.

[Sensitive information detected. Threat to core secrets confirmed. Initiating annihilation protocol!]

To the astonishment of Clara and the others, Svarog suddenly launched a massive barrage of missiles at the group.

"Everyone, watch out!" Dan Heng shouted, stepping forward. Seele grabbed Bronya and swiftly moved them to safety, while Theresa deployed the Oath of Judah, its divine power unfurling like a protective shield.

Clang!

Soulium spears shot forth, shattering the incoming missiles. Then, Soulium chains snaked around Svarog, binding it tightly.

"So, you're not the only one who can counterattack?" Theresa smirked knowingly, watching Svarog struggle against the chains. Clara stood nearby, wringing her hands in distress.

"Big Sisters, Mr. Svarog didn't mean to hurt anyone! Please, let him go!" Clara pleaded, her voice filled with worry as she watched Svarog's futile efforts.

"Hmph! It ambushed us! If Theresa hadn't been here, we'd be scattered like broken glass!" March 7th said smugly.

"This is a classic case of 'refusing the toast and getting the penalty shot'!"

"It's 'refusing the toast and being forced to drink the penalty wine,' March," Dan Heng corrected, rolling his eyes at her smug expression.

"Same difference! So, big robot, ready to admit defeat?" March 7th teased, her grin widening as Svarog continued to thrash.

[Material analysis failed. High-strength material detected. Victory probability reduced to 0.8%. Offensive measures not recommended.]

Svarog analyzed the chains binding it through its optical sensors, identifying them as Oath of Judah's Chains.

"Mr. Svarog, please don't resist anymore! Clara only has you left in the world!" Clara cried, throwing herself against Svarog. Her heartrending voice made Svarog stare steadily at her as the camera flashed.

[Clara is Svarog's most important family member. Svarog listens to Clara. I will surrender.]

Svarog turned to Theresa. Theresa glanced at the others, and Dan Heng nodded. Sensing their vigilance, Theresa immediately retracted the Soulium chains of the Oath of Judah back into the weapon.

[...]

Svarog stood up and stretched, studying them for several seconds before the bright red light in his eyes dimmed.

[You want to know about the Stellaron, right? This isn't the place to reveal such confidential information. Come with us to the Settlement.]

With that, Svarog lifted Clara onto his shoulder and strode toward the Settlement without waiting for a response.

"We should follow them," Seele said with a smile, gently patting Theresa's head. "Theresa always knows how to avoid unnecessary conflict."

Theresa glared at Seele, puffing out her cheeks. Seele chuckled and playfully poked Theresa's swollen face.

"Pfft!"

March 7th and the others struggled to suppress their laughter as Seele instinctively treated Theresa like a little girl.

"Let's go to the Settlement!" Theresa declared, retracting the Oath of Judah. The group followed Svarog's lead, taking a shortcut from the Great Mine to the snow-covered Settlement.

After passing the robotic gatekeepers' verification, Svarog escorted them to his and Clara's luxurious cabin. Clara served them warm water while Svarog sat on the sofa, scrutinizing them.

[You want to know the Stellaron's core secrets, right? I will grant your request. In exchange, the Settlement must remain neutral. I don't want Clara to be harmed again.]

Svarog laid out his condition: he would provide the Stellaron information, but after obtaining it, the group must not return to the Settlement and incite conflict.

After a moment's consideration, they found the terms acceptable. The Wildfire-Silvermane Guards conflict had dragged on for too long, and their constant battles against Fragmentum monsters had left them stretched thin. They lacked the resources and the will to add the Settlement to their troubles.

Seele, representing Wildfire, agreed to Svarog's request, and Svarog nodded in response. He then accessed his core files and projected holographic recordings of the Stellaron.

From Svarog's Stellaron data and intelligence gathered by successive Supreme Guardians, they pieced together the Stellaron's origin.

Seven hundred years ago, the Stellaron arrived on Jarilo-VI, a verdant world teeming with life. At the time, Jarilo-VI was a highly developed civilization that frequently welcomed interstellar visitors, and everything seemed to be flourishing.

Tragically, the Stellaron's descent marked the beginning of the planet's devastation. First, many fled in terror from the Antimatter Legion it unleashed. Then, the Architects erected massive walls to defend against the Legion, only for the invaders to set the entire world ablaze. Finally, the Eternal Freeze descended, transforming ninety percent of the planet into an icy wasteland, leaving the remaining ten percent scattered with pockets of struggling survivors.

Driven to desperation, the Architects took out a massive loan from the Interastral Peace Corporation in a last-ditch attempt to rebuild. Naturally, they failed, and after seven centuries, the debt was written off as a bad debt by the Interastral Peace Corporation.

Now, only the colossal city of Belobog remained inhabited, its survival hinging on the Geomarrow mined from the Underworld.

The group had gained a general understanding of Belobog's history: the Stellaron at the planet's core possessed ice properties, and generations of Supreme Guardians had fought against it. However, during Cocolia's era, with no hope of defeating the Stellaron in sight, she succumbed to its influence. Now, it had even replaced Cocolia in issuing arrest warrants for the Nameless.

[Deployment complete. The Settlement's involvement ends here. If you truly manage to deal with the Stellaron, the Settlement will cooperate with you upon seeing hope.]

[Then, ladies and gentlemen, please proceed.]

Everyone understood Svarog's meaning. Clara looked at the group with reluctance, especially Stelle and March 7th, who had been so kind to her.

After everyone had left, Svarog began checking his stored data for any losses.

[Self-check complete: Core Secrets... intact.]

[Record of Clara's first tool creation... intact.]

[Record of Clara's first instance of sleep-talking... intact.]

"E-eh? Mr. Svarog, could you please delete this one~?" Clara pleaded, her face flushed crimson as she begged him to erase her embarrassing past.

[Request denied. All records pertaining to Clara are among my most cherished data and have been backed up.]

Svarog's voice caused Clara to blush so intensely that she to emit steam. He gazed at her affectionately, then looked in the direction the others had gone. If he were alone, joining them wouldn't matter.

But now he had something precious to hold onto. He couldn't bear to part with Clara.