Chapter 57 - 53 - Engine of Creation

Ice and snow swirled around "Cocolia," her form growing increasingly ethereal. "You cannot build the new without destroying the old! By my authority as the Great Guardian, I command you to rise! Engine of Creation!" With a tremor that felt like a mountain collapsing, a colossal, giant-like silhouette materialized within the snowstorm. A colossal steel hand that blotted out the sun burst through the ice and dust, descending upon the group with a heart-stopping pressure! "That must be an ancient machine from the Architects! Everyone, get back!" From a distance, Serval shouted to the others while holding the dazed Bronya. Gazing at the shadow of the "giant" behind the curtain of snow, Serval bit her lip and desperately carried Bronya towards the relative safety of the lower platform. Right now, they absolutely could not afford to be a burden to everyone else. "Serval..." Bronya murmured, her consciousness fading. "Don't worry, Bronya. I'm here. No one will lay a finger on you!" Seeing the massive mechanical hand crash down, the crew quickly retreated, evading its attack. The sweep of the mechanical hand instantly cleared the platform of its cluttered ancient relics and snow, fully revealing the giant's form. [WOC! It's a super-sized mecha!] [This... This! Welt is going to lose his mind!] [Wait, we're supposed to fight that thing with a bat?!] [Cocolia you xxx! Get down here and fight us yourself!] "That's... a robot ten thousand times bigger than Svarog!" March 7th gasped, staring at the sky-blotting Engine of Creation. "Engine of Creation! Destroy them!" Cocolia aimed the icy lance she had materialized in her hand at the group, driving the Engine of Creation with a power that defied [The Preservation] as it lunged toward them below. At that moment, countless Fragmentum creatures emerged from some unknown corner of the creation platform, launching a frenzied assault. VMMMM!!! A red light flashed from the Engine of Creation's head as a laser beam swept towards the crew! "Everyone, scatter!" Wende shouted. As he dodged the laser, the speed at which he condensed lightning needles in his hand didn't slow in the slightest. Dozens of needles shot out at once, felling the Fragmentum creatures that tried to block their path. BOOM!!! The beam of light ravaged the platform. The device originally intended to split mountains, cleave stone, and forge cities had now become an accomplice to Cocolia's [Destruction]. "Dammit... Is there any way to stop this thing?!" Seele bisected an oncoming Fragmentum creature with a backhanded slash of her scythe. Staring at the massive Engine of Creation and the floating Cocolia, she yelled to the others. "...Haaaah. Don't panic." Wende exhaled a breath of turbid air, looking up at the god-like machine. If the course of destiny was always consistent, then right at this moment... Staring at the Engine of Creation as it raised its enormous arm for its next attack, Wende silently began a countdown in his mind. "3... 2... 1!" BOOOOM!!!! A sudden orbital strike descended from the heavens, instantly piercing through the Engine of Creation's arm. CRASH!!! The connection between the Engine and Cocolia was temporarily severed by the attack. Its mountain-like body collapsed, its immense frame smashing into the frozen rock of the peak, triggering a violent avalanche and rockslide. The creation platform began to shake violently once more. Yet, in that instant, a profound sense of relief washed over the group. "It's Himeko!" March 7th cried out in delight. [It's Himeko!] [The parent is here to rescue her naughty kids!] [The orbital cannon is the GOAT! Wreck Cocolia!] [If only it could've just vaporized Cocolia directly...] [True, but if it did, what would we fight?] [Hahaha! Cocolia, you whelp! My Sworn Mother has arrived with her grand army!] "Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" Himeko's voice reached them through their communication devices. "Himeko! You finally remembered us!" March 7th exclaimed excitedly into her comms. Her Six-Phased Ice shield was tough, but it wouldn't have survived a single punch from that giant robot! "What are you talking about? Mr. Yang and I have been watching you all from the Express the whole time. We don't know how that big guy got started, but it's best we keep it from moving. The rest is up to you all." Hearing Himeko's words, the anxiety in Wende's heart finally settled. It seemed it wasn't time for him to use "that" just yet. "Now's our chance! Let's go take down Cocolia!" Seele declared decisively. Press the advantage! They couldn't give the enemy a moment to breathe! "Let's go!" Stelle was the first to scramble up the Engine of Creation's fallen arm, her eyes locked on Cocolia. But clearly, things wouldn't be that easy. The moment the Engine fell, a large number of Fragmentum creatures began their assault, and even Stelle, now running up the machine's arm, was blocked by them. Dammit... Were there this many Fragmentum creatures in the original story?! Wende frowned, thinking to himself. "Wende, go help Stelle. We've got this here," Dan Heng said, holding back the swarming creatures with Cloud-Piercer as he spoke to Wende behind him. "There are so many high-level Fragmentum creatures..." Seele noted, raising her scythe in a ready stance. "Here's a blessing for you! Go on, hurry!" March 7th's Six-Phased Ice shield enveloped Wende, instantly making him feel much more secure. "You guys be careful!" Seeing this, Wende wasted no more time. With a flash, he leaped onto the Engine of Creation's arm. Condensing three lightning needles in his hand, he instantly pierced through the three Fragmentum creatures blocking Stelle's path. "Don't stop! Keep running, I've got your back!" Wende shouted to Stelle, his hands never ceasing their motion. He continuously impaled the attacking creatures with lightning needles, forcefully carving out a path for her. [WOC! DADDY!!] [Go, cub! Your great daddy is watching your back! Just charge ahead!] [As expected, the healer is the peak of combat power. Wende can actually face so many Fragmentum creatures alone...] [With Daddy behind me, I'm not scared at all!] [There's a reward for beating Cocolia (points to Wende's cooking) and a punishment for failing (points to Himeko's coffee).] [Ew, what are you even talking about!] "Wende..." Stelle glanced back, moved, at the sight of Wende "following her through life and death." The determination in her eyes grew even firmer. "Go!" An arc of electricity suffused with the power of [Abundance] struck Stelle's acupoints. The combined energy of Lightning and Abundance reinforced her body, making her movements even faster!