Honkai Star Rail: Survive. Adapt. Overcome.

The icy wind roared as the group faced Cocolia in the heart of the Fragmentum. The Stellaron's corruption distorted reality around them, making the ground creak beneath their feet and the sky seem to twist with living shadows.

Cocolia, standing atop the Engine of Creation, watched them with a serene expression, as if she had already foreseen this moment.

"Persistent until the end," she said with a sigh. "But your struggle is futile. This world needs to be reborn, and you… are only delaying the inevitable."

She raised a hand, and the distortion around her intensified.

"Come to me, guardians of the new world."

The Fragmentum responded to her call.

Dark cracks opened in the air, and from them emerged grotesque creatures fused with ice and the Stellaron's corruption.

Some had the silhouettes of fallen Belobog soldiers—regular guards, captains, and even other Supreme Guardians. Their shattered armor and spectral glow gave them an eerie presence. Others appeared as massive ice constructs with razor-sharp claws, while floating entities at the rear seemed to absorb energy from the environment.

Seele frowned at the sight of the creatures taking formation.

"Great, more of these ugly things."

March 7th aimed her bow, furrowing her brows.

"They look tougher than the last ones. This won't be easy."

Dan Heng tightened his grip on his lance.

"If we fall here, there will be no one left to stop Cocolia."

Aleph clicked his tongue.

"Then we better take them down fast without wearing ourselves out, huh? Just perfect."

Cocolia smiled—a mix of compassion and mockery.

"Try all you want. Nothing can stop the coming change. You will be buried beneath the foundations of the new world."

With a simple wave of her hand, the Fragmentum monsters launched their attack.

Seele was the first to move, vanishing in a flash of speed and reappearing behind one of the humanoid monsters. Her scythe gleamed before carving a lethal arc through the air.

SLASH!

The monster fell, but its body didn't fully vanish. Instead, the dark energy reformed, making the creature rise once more.

"Tch, these things regenerate!" Seele exclaimed, stepping back before the monster could counterattack.

Dan Heng moved swiftly, unleashing a barrage of wind slashes against the airborne enemies.

The creatures absorbed part of the attack, but Dan Heng spun his lance skillfully, piercing the core of one of them and dispersing it completely.

"Aim for their cores. Damage there doesn't seem to regenerate," he advised.

March 7th raised a shield just in time to block the impact of an ice beast lunging at her.

"Ugh, heavy!" she complained before firing a volley of ice arrows at her attacker.

The arrows didn't destroy it, but they slowed it down enough for Stelle to finish it off with a swing of her bat.

BOOM!

The monster's skull fractured before the dark energy consumed it.

Aleph charged into battle, activating Illusionist.

The creatures hesitated as they suddenly saw copies of themselves attacking one another.

Chaos momentarily erupted among the Fragmentum monsters.

"That'll buy us some time," Aleph murmured before using the distraction to land an ice-powered punch on one of the larger monsters.

CRACK!

The impact echoed as the monster staggered before being destroyed by a precise shot from Bronya, who had taken a higher position to provide support.

Cocolia watched the battle from above, unfazed.

"They continue to resist the inevitable."

She raised her hand once more.

"Then… I will crush them with my own hands."

The Engine of Creation roared in response to her command.

One of its colossal mechanical arms lifted into the air.

The Fragmentum shadows momentarily dissipated beneath the titanic presence of the giant machine.

Seele and Stelle froze for an instant.

"That… is not good," March 7th muttered.

The massive arm descended with devastating force.

"Move!" Dan Heng shouted.

The group leaped back just as the hand slammed into the ground, narrowly avoiding the impact.

The entire area trembled from the sheer force of the mechanical fist's strike.

Shards of ice and stone flew in all directions.

But the Engine of Creation wasn't finished.

Cocolia extended her arm once more.

"Again."

The Engine of Creation began to lift its hand to repeat the attack.

Just at that moment…

A flash of energy appeared in the sky.

A blue ray of light descended at high speed, striking the Engine of Creation's arm directly.

BOOM!

An explosion of energy rocked it, forcing it to recoil slightly.

The group was stunned.

"W-What was that?" Seele asked.

Aleph felt a faint tingling in the air, as if the residual energy from the attack still lingered.

Dan Heng looked up at the sky.

"…That came from space."

A transmission came through the group's communication devices.

It was Himeko's voice.

"I hope that shot helped a little," she said in a calm tone.

March 7th's eyes widened with joy.

"Himeko!"

"I'll… give you…," Himeko responded, but the signal seemed to be cutting out. "I can't… yet, but I won't let you… I'll do what… I can from here…"

Cocolia furrowed her brow slightly, the first sign of annoyance on her face.

"External interference. How troublesome."

The Engine of Creation trembled as it tried to stabilize after the attack.

Stelle gritted her teeth.

"This is our chance."

She leaped forward, sprinting straight for the damaged arm of the Engine of Creation. Aleph followed close behind.

Their target was clear.

Cocolia.

But the Fragmentum monsters were still standing.

And they weren't going to let her pass so easily.

Just as the monsters lunged at Stelle…

Gunfire rang through the air.

The enemies fell one after another.

Stelle turned her head and saw Bronya, rifle raised, staring at her seriously.

"Keep going. I'll handle them."

More monsters appeared, but before they could get close, ice arrows rained from the sky, freezing several in place.

"We've got you covered!" March 7th shouted from the distance.

Seele and Dan Heng took position on either side, blocking any enemy that tried to reach Bronya and March 7th.

The path was clear.

Stelle pressed forward.

The Engine of Creation was beginning to reactivate.

And then…

Aleph appeared at her side.

He had been jumping across ice shards he created himself, swiftly maneuvering through the giant machine.

He extended a hand and caught Stelle when she nearly slipped.

"Come on, don't fall now," he said with a grin.

Together, they prepared to face Cocolia.

And in that instant…

The eyes of Belobog's leader glowed with an unnatural radiance.

The Engine of Creation roared, its systems reactivating as the Fragmentum around them intensified. Cocolia, standing with an ice lance in her hand, gazed at Stelle and Aleph with a mix of fascination and disappointment.

"You've come this far… but your struggle is meaningless," she murmured in an icy voice. "The same power that wiped out the Anti-Matter Legion 700 years ago—how certain are you that you can stand against it? Despair is all that awaits you."

A shiver ran down Aleph's spine. Not just from the cold emanating from Cocolia but from the strange distortion surrounding her. It was as if the Stellaron was beginning to claim her entirely.

Stelle, without hesitation, raised her bat.

"Whether it's meaningless or not—we'll decide that here."

Cocolia sighed.

"Stubbornness. That's all you have."

She extended a hand, and the temperature plummeted.

Ice spread at an alarming rate, covering the Engine of Creation's body and forming crystalline spikes that resembled a field of spears.

Stelle and Aleph barely had time to react before several of those ice spears shot toward them.

"Attack! I'll handle the rest!" Aleph shouted.

Both of them leaped in opposite directions, narrowly dodging the attacks.

Cocolia snapped her fingers.

The ice they had evaded came to life.

The crystalline shards morphed into humanoid figures with vaguely recognizable features.

Belobog soldiers.

But not the current ones.

They were replicas of fallen warriors, trapped in ice and brought back to battle as mere shadows of what they once were.

Aleph clenched his teeth.

"Seriously? You're using the memories of the dead to fight?"

Cocolia tilted her head as if she didn't understand why Aleph found her actions objectionable.

"They were never appreciated in life. In this new world, at least they will serve a glorious purpose."

Without further warning, the ice soldiers charged.

Stelle spun her bat, shattering the first one that lunged at her.

CRACK!

The soldier burst into pieces, but others took its place.

Aleph struck an enemy with his ice-covered fist, freezing it solid before shattering it completely.

But more kept coming.

They were completely surrounded.

"This is endless," Stelle muttered.

Cocolia observed the scene calmly.

"The numbers are on my side. It's only a matter of time."

But then…

A fiery explosion descended from the sky.

The impact obliterated several ice soldiers and melted part of the frozen battlefield while shaking the Engine of Creation once more.

Aleph recognized the energy immediately.

From her position on the Astral Express, even with communications cut off, Himeko was providing covering fire as best she could.

Cocolia scowled.

"Unnecessary interference."

She raised a hand and conjured a barrier using the power of the Stellaron around the Engine of Creation, blocking any attacks from outside.

Aleph clicked his tongue.

"Well, that was nice while it lasted."

The ice soldiers moved again.

But before they could reach them—

Gunshots echoed in the air.

Bullets struck the cores of the ice soldiers, taking several down before they could react.

Stelle and Aleph turned their heads.

Bronya was in position, her rifle smoking after each shot.

"Keep moving!" she shouted.

More soldiers appeared, but March 7th unleashed a barrage of ice arrows, slowing their advance.

Seele and Dan Heng dealt with any monster foolish enough to approach Bronya and March 7th, ensuring their support remained uninterrupted.

Aleph smirked.

"Well, that makes things easier."

Stelle nodded.

"Let's go."

Both of them sprinted across the top of the Engine of Creation's arm, dodging debris and ice attacks as they closed in on Cocolia, who stood on its shoulder.

But the massive machine wasn't completely inactive.

Its inner mechanisms whirred back to life.

Gears roared as the Engine of Creation regained mobility. At Cocolia's command, it fired a beam in the others' direction.

Forcing them to scatter temporarily, halting their support.

And just as Stelle was about to reach the platform where Cocolia stood…

The machine moved.

The sudden tremor made Stelle lose her balance.

"Watch out!" Aleph shouted, lunging toward her.

He leaped across several floating ice shards he had created and managed to grab her before she fell into the abyss.

He pulled her up onto the platform.

But then…

Something changed in Cocolia.

Her body began to glow with a blue radiance.

The Stellaron's energy enveloped her entirely, distorting her silhouette.

Aleph felt a sudden pressure in his chest.

Her eyes gleamed with an inhuman glow.

Her voice echoed with distortion.

"If this world resists… I will purify it."

A black veil covered her face, and a crystalline suit encased her body. Her appearance—aside from the faintly visible remnants of her face—was nearly identical to that of an Anti-Matter Legion member or a humanoid Fragmentum monster.

Aleph felt something was very wrong.

Very, very wrong.

But before he could react—

Cocolia moved with speed beyond his comprehension.

And in a single instant…

The ice lance pierced through Stelle.

Aleph's eyes widened as he watched the scene unfold in slow motion.

The impact sent Stelle flying backward, her body spiraling out of control.

Without thinking for even a second, he lunged toward her, but the only thing he managed to catch was her bat. He could only watch as her body fell, crashing against the remnants of an ice structure.

The sound of the impact echoed like thunder in his mind.

For a moment…

Everything fell silent.

Aleph stood still, processing what had just happened.

"In the end, what was the bravery of that young girl worth?" Cocolia asked condescendingly.

Aleph's energy absorption intensified.

Burroughs spoke urgently in his mind.

[Master, your health is about to enter a critical state!]

But Aleph didn't respond.

Cocolia observed the scene with indifference.

"A mere mortal could never oppose fate. The inevitable end awaits all who defy the Stellaron."

Aleph felt a ringing in his ears.

His breathing became erratic, his eyelids trembled, and the hand gripping the bat clenched so tightly that veins began to bulge.

He looked at Stelle, with the ice spear still embedded in her chest.

His empty hand shook as it was enveloped in icy energy.

The cold of the Fragmentum had never felt as intense as it did at that moment.

"Burroughs…"

His voice sounded eerily calm.

[Yes, Master?]

"Is there any way to obtain or even something like right now?"

Burroughs hesitated before responding.

[…Currently, there is no way to obtain any of those abilities.]

Aleph gritted his teeth, and a laugh escaped his lips.

His vision began to turn red.

A burning sensation coursed through his body.

Cocolia frowned as she felt the Stellaron energy being supplied to her begin to wane.

From start to finish, Aleph didn't spare her a single glance—his eyes were entirely focused on the body collapsed in the snow, which March 7th and the others were desperately trying to reach.

A single emotion consumed his mind, and his laughter stopped abruptly.

Rage.

"Then…"

He raised the bat with one hand.

"If the system won't give me a solution or at least an option…"

Burroughs detected an abnormal spike in Stellaron energy absorption.

[Master, this will harm you! Please stop!]

But Aleph ignored the warning.

More and more energy flowed through him.

Golden and blue sparks began to flicker around his body.

The metal of the bat changed color, shifting from black to a brilliant white, as if overloaded or coated with pure energy.

Aleph took a deep breath.

He didn't quite know why, but the words came to him naturally.

With a completely cold voice, he declared.

"Rules were made to be broken."

His power erupted in a blinding flash.

And with that explosion of energy…

He launched himself straight at Cocolia.

**********

The burst of energy resonated through the air.

The Fragmentum seemed to tremble as Aleph hurled himself at Cocolia with all his fury, his bat engulfed in a white glow and crackling with blue sparks.

The surge in his power had been substantial, but unfortunately, it still didn't seem to be enough. Cocolia had more than enough time to react before the impact could reach her.

BOOM!

Even so, the shockwave from the strike still reached her, causing her to stagger. Her ice barrier shattered into a thousand pieces, dispersing into the air like snow dust.

Aleph didn't stop.

The moment he landed, he swung his bat with brutal force, launching another strike directly at her torso.

CRACK!

Cocolia grunted in pain as her body was sent flying backward, crashing into the structure of the Creation Engine.

But instead of falling…

She stabilized in the air.

Her eyes gleamed with an even more intense glow.

"Interesting…" she murmured, her voice becoming increasingly distorted.

Aleph was breathing heavily, his muscles strained from the energy he had absorbed.

Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, his chest throbbed with such pain that he barely resisted the urge to clutch it.

Burroughs spoke in his mind with desperation.

[Master, you're overloading your body! The Stellaron's energy flow is too unstable—you can't absorb such massive amounts without undergoing the proper process! This is nothing but an extremely painful method of suicide!]

But Aleph didn't respond.

All his attention was on Cocolia.

Burroughs's words felt distant, in one ear and out the other.

He could only think of one thing.

He wanted to completely destroy the woman in front of him.

Cocolia extended her hand, and the air instantly froze.

"Your fury is admirable—it has given you a spectacular boost, but it is still completely useless."

Dozens of ice spears appeared around her.

With a simple motion of her arm, all of them shot toward Aleph like a deadly rain.

Aleph reacted at the last second.

"Bufula!"

An explosion of ice erupted from his hand, colliding with the spears.

Some shattered in the air, but others pierced through his defense.

SHLNK!

One of the spears lodged into his side.

Another grazed his leg, leaving a deep cut.

Aleph felt the pain surge through him like an electric current, but he didn't stop. What were these minor wounds compared to the accumulated pain across the rest of his body?

He leaped straight at Cocolia, his bat glowing with energy.

A golden crack spread across the arm holding the bat, blood spraying into the air.

"Shut up and fight!"

The bat came crashing down in fury.

Cocolia raised her arm, conjuring an ice barrier to block the strike.

CRACK!

The barrier splintered.

Aleph pressed harder.

"Break!"

The bat shone with an even more intense light.

And with one final push…

BOOM!

The ice barrier shattered into countless fragments.

Cocolia was sent flying back again, her body crashing into the remnants of the platform.

The Fragmentum trembled.

For a moment, Aleph thought the battle was over.

But then…

The Stellaron reacted.

Cocolia, still on the ground, began to laugh.

It wasn't normal laughter.

It was cold. Hollow.

Her body began to glow with an alarming intensity.

Aleph took a step back, sensing imminent danger.

"Burroughs… what's happening?"

[The Stellaron is accelerating its fusion with her body. Her biological structure is changing…]

Aleph gritted his teeth.

"…Don't tell me."

Cocolia's figure started to distort.

The ice around her began to merge with her body.

Her limbs elongated slightly.

Her armor shifted, becoming more intricate, its details shining with an ethereal glow.

And her eyes turned into a brilliant purple, with golden rings within her irises.

The air around her became oppressive.

The Creation Engine roared in response to her transformation.

Cocolia floated in the air, gazing at Aleph with a serene expression.

"There is no turning back now," she whispered.

And then, she lunged at him with devastating speed.

Aleph barely had time to react before the world was consumed by ice and shadows.

He gritted his teeth tightly.

He refused to give in. Not even a little.

******************

Darkness.

That was the first sensation Stelle felt upon opening her eyes.

But it wasn't the suffocating darkness of the Fragmentum, nor the incomprehensible void of the Stellaron. It was something different. Something... vast.

All around her, space stretched infinitely in every direction—deep and unfathomable. The blackness of the cosmos was speckled with countless asteroids floating in chaotic orbit around a gigantic blue vortex at the center of this strange domain.

Stelle inhaled sharply, feeling her body respond to her will.

"Where… am I?"

Her voice echoed weakly in the void.

It took her a few seconds to process what she was seeing.

The vastness of space, the blue vortex, the flow of energy surrounding her...

This felt exactly like when...

When she was being watched by him.

Her body tensed at the memory.

Nanook.

But this felt different.

The amber light glowing at the vortex's center didn't carry the same oppressive presence. She didn't feel the absolute contempt of Destruction.

Here, the only thing she perceived was... the weight of something.

Something immense.

Something she didn't even dare to think about—what it was, or who it could be.

She remained silent for a moment, but soon, her mind started racing as she realized something she had overlooked in her initial awe.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Aleph… Dan Heng… March 7th… Bronya… Seele…"

A shiver ran down her spine.

"Damn it!"

If she was here, then what was happening outside?

Were they in danger?

Had something happened to them?

Her breathing grew unsteady as she clenched her fists. She didn't have time to stand around doing nothing.

Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the light at the center of the blue vortex.

*********

The path was long. It almost seemed endless.

But she didn't stop.

Every step brought her closer and closer to the source of the light.

And when she finally reached her destination—

Her eyes widened in surprise.

There, at the core of the vortex, a massive, brilliant blue gem floated, emitting rhythmic pulses of energy—almost like a beating heart.

And embedded within it—

A spear.

No, not just a spear.

A halberd of majestic design, glowing with a warm amber radiance.

Its shaft was black, adorned with intricate golden patterns, and its blade shimmered as if forged from a special material.

The sight of it felt strangely familiar.

It resembled the weapon Cocolia wielded…

But at the same time, it was entirely different.

Instinctively, she reached out to grasp it.

But before she could touch it—

"Stop."

A voice echoed around her.

Stelle froze in place.

It wasn't just one voice.

It was many.

Countless whispers overlapping one another, like distant echoes of innumerable people.

And then, figures began to materialize around the gem.

Ethereal shadows wrapped in a faint glow.

Stelle observed them carefully.

She noticed they all wore armor similar to that of Belobog's Supreme Guardians.

Women from ancient eras, their faces veiled by the light, yet their presence was firm and heavy.

"We… are the echoes of those who came before."

"The Supreme Guardians of Belobog."

"Bearers of the world's weight."

Stelle swallowed hard.

"Why are you stopping me?" she asked, her voice steady.

"You are a foreigner."

"You do not belong to this world."

"And yet… you have arrived in this place."

The shadows rose slightly, encircling her.

"Tell us, outsider… before you take that weapon, there is something we must know."

"Are you willing to carry our ruins?"

"To bear the weight of our failures?"

"To be the shield of a world that was never yours?"

"Think carefully about your answer, for there will be no room for regret afterward."

Stelle did not hesitate.

"Yes."

The shadows trembled at her immediate response.

"Even if you must bear sins that are not your own?"

"Yes."

"Even if fate condemns you to fail as we did?"

"Yes."

The gem seemed to glow more intensely in response to her determination.

Stelle stepped forward and reached out for the halberd.

But the moment she touched it—

CRACK!

A searing pain shot through her arm.

She let go with a strangled gasp.

"Shit…!"

She looked at her hand.

There were reddish marks on her skin, as if the spear had burned her.

The pain was real.

It wasn't an illusion.

But Stelle didn't back down.

She clenched her teeth.

And moved forward once more.

Ignoring the pain.

Gripping the hilt with all her strength.

This time, she didn't let go.

The gem began to crack.

Flashes of blue and golden light erupted around her.

And for a brief moment—

She saw something.

A colossal figure.

Its color was amber.

It seemed to be made of stone, exuding a majestic and ancient aura.

Motionless, impassive.

Watching her from beyond the veil of reality.

And then, the gem exploded.

Everything turned white.

....

Stelle woke up with a gasp, feeling her heart pounding.

Her body was intact.

There wasn't a single wound on her chest.

She slowly sat up…

And the first thing she saw.

Was Aleph, kneeling on the ground, blood flowing from his forehead, eyes, and ears—yet he didn't seem to have given up at all. He was still staring at Cocolia with an undiminished fury.

Even in that state, he refused to let go of the bat in his hand.

In front of him, Cocolia, transformed by the Stellaron, floated in the air, mocking his condition.

"So weak… So stubborn, how very human. Believing yourself stronger than others, stealing powers that do not belong to you… Did you really think that would be enough to defeat me? Truly, what a pathetic man."

She raised her hand in his direction, countless ice lances forming in the air, ready to be launched.

"You weren't even capable of giving me a challenging fight. Allow me to grant you despair."

Stelle's eyes ignited with a golden glow.

And, without a second thought…

She leaped into battle.

....

The lances stopped mid-air.

"Hmm?" Cocolia let out a surprised sound.

A look of shock crossed Aleph's face before being replaced by pure relief.

"She's okay. She's okay," he murmured. Even with pain coursing through his body, he allowed himself a small smile.

Cocolia stopped paying attention to Aleph, her hands clenching as she turned to Stelle.

"… I see. The Preservation has made its choice."

Aleph burst into laughter upon hearing that, and even with blood trickling from his mouth, he didn't stop laughing.

"What… is that I hear…? Could it be… jealousy?" The look he gave Cocolia held nothing but mockery and disdain. "Huh? Huh?… If I were in your position, I'd really be feeling pretty pathetic right now."

Cocolia's power filled the area, her rage palpable at the boy's taunts.

"You… know absolutely nothing about this world's torment, about how much I tried to stop it!" There was unmistakable fury in her distorted voice, which only made Aleph laugh harder. "Stop laughing, you wretched vermin!"

"Aleph!" Stelle's worried cry rang out.

She saw the ice lances descend upon him.

The Engine of Creation moved its other arm, lifting her and bringing her closer to where Aleph and Cocolia were.

"Let your remains be lost in the snow, insolent fool," Cocolia sneered.

"You… give yourself… too much credit, idiot," Aleph's voice came, and both Stelle and Cocolia were surprised to see him clinging to the side of what seemed to be a half-horse, half-man figure. "Nappea… if you would be so kind."

Aleph let go of the centaur and collapsed onto the ground once more.

Cursing under his breath, he sighed, knowing he could no longer hide the existence of his demons—but in the end, what did it matter?

Using them had saved his life.

A girl in blue clothing with pink hair manifested in a bright blue flash.

"At your command, Master." And with several successive Dia spells, his health was restored to an acceptable level.

Stelle landed beside him and extended a hand, which he took without hesitation.

"Round two begins."

Aleph once again started absorbing the Stellaron's energy—but this time, in a more controlled manner.

The bat once more erupted with blue-white energy.

The spear in Stelle's hands began to radiate a fiery energy.

With a command to the Engine of Creation, Stelle lowered both of them to the ground.

Cocolia gritted her teeth and flew away from the machine.

"The power of the Stellaron is with me! You are nothing but the dying struggle of the old world before its collapse!"

....

The air vibrated with chaotic energy as the battle reached its climax.

Cocolia floated in the air, the distortion around her twisting reality itself, as March 7th gasped upon noticing the attribute of the attack she was preparing.

"It's 'Imaginary'! No matter what, don't let it touch you!" she shouted while closing in with the others.

In front of her, Stelle and Aleph stood ready for the final clash.

The Engine of Creation loomed behind them, its massive metallic form glowing with the amber light of Preservation.

"You think you can defy the Stellaron's order," Cocolia murmured, her voice echoing as if spoken by many. "But your struggle is nothing more than a fleeting spark in the storm of fate."

Stelle said nothing. Instead, she aimed her spear.

The metal of her halberd gleamed with a warm energy, and the Engine of Creation responded to her call.

"Then let that spark be enough to reduce you to ashes," Aleph retorted with a grin, raising his bat, now engulfed in the energy he was stealing from the Stellaron.

The entire group sprang into action.

Bronya fired from the rear, her precise shots striking Cocolia's energy barrier, weakening it with each blast.

March 7th positioned herself beside her, firing ice arrows to slow down the Fragmentum monsters approaching to support Cocolia.

Dan Heng moved swiftly, unleashing wind-infused slashes that diverted the dark energy blasts Cocolia fired.

Seele, like a shadow, faded and reappeared behind Cocolia, delivering swift slashes that forced her to keep moving.

With a single gesture, Stelle commanded the Engine of Creation to attack.

The colossal machine threw a titanic punch at Cocolia, forcing her to dodge in midair. But before she could counterattack, Stelle was already upon her.

Her spear gleamed, and a burst of flame ignited around her, the fire surrounding Cocolia as Stelle charged forward.

CLANG!

The weapon struck Cocolia, shattering part of her crystalline armor and triggering an explosion of energy that sent her staggering.

Aleph seized the opportunity.

His energy absorption intensified, draining the Stellaron's power with increasing aggression.

Cocolia felt the loss immediately.

"Curse you...!" she hissed, sensing her connection to the Stellaron beginning to weaken.

But before she could focus on him, Stelle was already back, her spear spinning in the air before striking its target once more.

Cocolia snapped her fingers, generating a wave of ice that threatened to engulf Stelle.

But the Engine of Creation intercepted the attack, blocking the onslaught with its colossal arm.

"You're using my own weapon against me...?" Cocolia gritted her teeth. "Unacceptable!"

With a furious cry, she hurled a sphere of pure energy at the Engine of Creation, aiming to destroy it.

But Aleph appeared out of nowhere. As he continued absorbing the Stellaron's energy, his stats grew at an accelerating rate.

He struck the sphere with his bat, redirecting it into the sky, where it exploded harmlessly.

"If it bothers you so much, why don't you try taking it back?" he taunted with a smirk.

The fury in Cocolia's eyes burned even hotter.

But then, she felt something else.

Her connection to the Stellaron... was weakening even more.

Aleph had been relentlessly draining her energy, siphoning it away like an insatiable parasite.

Cocolia felt it.

The power that allowed her to stay above them all...

Fading away.

"No… NO!"

Desperate, she gathered the last of her strength and began concentrating it within herself.

But the end was already inevitable.

A golden glow enveloped her completely.

The spear in Stelle's hands shone even brighter.

And then she knew.

This was the moment.

"Aleph!" she shouted.

Aleph, still focused on Cocolia, nodded.

"Do it!"

Stelle leaped.

The Engine of Creation responded to her will.

The colossus moved its arm, propelling her even higher into the air.

With her spear ready, Stelle descended with the full force of Preservation.

The weapon ignited in amber flames as it pierced Cocolia's chest.

BOOM!

A golden explosion of energy illuminated the battlefield.

Cocolia screamed.

The Stellaron's power that had empowered her dispersed into the air.

Cocolia, now in her normal form, fell to the ground with a dull thud.

...

Kneeling on the ground, her hand clutched a bright golden sphere, a beam of blue light covering her.

"The Stellaron..." she murmured as the energy surrounded her. "It was supposed to grant my wish... Why?"

With the last of her strength, she tried to force the Stellaron into her chest.

Despair was the only emotion visible on her face. She couldn't even look at Bronya, who was running toward her to pull her away.

"Mother!"

Seele acted quickly, preventing her from getting any closer.

Watching the scene, Aleph clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"This is definitely gonna hurt."

He thought as he used his maximum speed to dash into the blue radiance. Everyone's faces showed shock as they saw him move.

Aleph collided with Cocolia, and despite her resistance, he finally managed to snatch the Stellaron from her hands.

Cocolia clenched her teeth in fury, tears in her eyes. In a desperate move, she tackled Aleph and forced the Stellaron into his chest.

Aleph shoved her aside, a scream of pain escaping his lips.

A golden light engulfed him.

Bronya and March 7th covered their mouths, horror evident on their faces.

Stelle stared at the golden radiance with concern, her brow furrowed, while Seele gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on Bronya.

Dan Heng frowned and averted his gaze.

Several minutes passed, and soon the glow faded.

Relief washed over everyone as they saw Aleph, looking confused, sitting on the ground. His hair was longer, and his body slightly larger.

"...What the hell happened to me?"

He muttered as he examined his changes.

Still holding her spear, Stelle approached and hugged him.

Still confused, Aleph simply patted her back before she pulled away.

"Are you okay?"

Aleph blinked a few times before slowly nodding.

"Yeah, I think so."

Stelle sighed in relief and stood up. Then, she extended her hand with a serious expression.

"Good. Now... give me back my bat."

Aleph looked at her empty hand, then at the bat still in his own.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

Then, he stared at her.

Then, at the bat.

Back at Stelle.

Then the bat again.

And at that moment, he made a decision.

"No! He's mine now!"

He hugged the bat as if it were a priceless treasure and took off running in the opposite direction.

For a moment, Stelle stood completely frozen in place, as if her brain had shut down trying to process what had just happened.

Then, a tic appeared in her eye, and her expression twisted into pure fury. She dropped the spear in her hand as if it were worthless.

"Give it back, you thief!"

Without missing a beat, she lunged after him.

"Jonathan, Mommy's coming to save you!"

Aleph ran even faster, refusing to let go of the bat for even a second.

March 7th, watching the scene, crossed her arms and frowned in genuine confusion.

"Wait, wait, wait. Who even names a bat? And more importantly… why the hell 'Jonathan'?"

"His name is Steve now, dammit!"

Dan Heng, who had been silently observing everything, sighed and gave her an expressionless look.

"Is that really what you're concerned about?"

In the distance, Bronya was kneeling beside Cocolia, making sure she was stable. But when she looked up and saw Stelle and Aleph chasing each other across the battlefield like two elementary school kids fighting over a toy, her brain simply shut down for a moment.

...Were these really the heroes who had saved Belobog?

Seele, grinning, decided to add more chaos to the situation.

"Finders keepers, Aleph! Run faster!"

March 7th immediately took Stelle's side, without a hint of hesitation.

"Go, Stelle! Punish the thief!"

Aleph growled and clutched the bat even tighter.

"You'll never catch me alive!"

Bronya, after watching the spectacle for a few seconds, simply lowered her head and massaged her temples.

"...I have no idea what's happening, but I'm too tired to ask."

**************************************************************************

I'll take this opportunity to say that I've started writing another fanfic, which is basically like an omake turned into a full story.

The title is Into the... ¡¿Hoyoverse?!

Give it a chance!

Here's the synopsis:

When he died in the dumbest way possible, he thought his next life would have meaning.

Was it too much to ask for an epic adventure?

"Cass, help! Venti is drowning in the river again!"

"What about Aether? Can't he help you?"

"The Traveler is drowning along with Venti!"

... Did he really have to save them?

Just to clarify, the fanfic won't be purely about Genshin Impact but will feature multiple Hoyoverse games, separated into different arcs.

***********************

Omake: System Error - Part 2: Prelude to Chaos

Act 1 – Welt: Better Safe Than Sorry

Aleph was in Welt's room aboard the Astral Express, sitting across from him with a somewhat uncomfortable expression. Welt, on the other hand, observed him with his usual calm demeanor, though his gaze was more analytical than usual.

"I'm going to be direct, Aleph."

The boy swallowed hard. That was never a good sign.

The last time he looked at him like that was when he tried to analyze why he and Stelle felt so strangely at ease near trash cans.

"What exactly happened with March 7th in the cafeteria?"

Aleph blinked.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Welt narrowed his eyes.

"The way she reacted when you spoke to her. It wasn't normal. March 7th is usually pretty carefree, but there was a moment when her expression changed. It was something else."

Welt's expression turned strange for a few moments as he shivered. Somehow, the experience with March 7th might have stirred up some unpleasant memories.

Aleph felt a small chill. Now that he mentioned it, yeah, there was a brief moment when she seemed... distant? But in his defense, the system had caught him off guard at that moment, so he hadn't paid much attention.

"Maybe it was just a coincidence." He shrugged. "I don't think it's that big of a deal."

Welt sighed.

"Normally, I'd say the same… but I have a feeling that something more is going on."

Before Aleph could respond, his system interrupted with a notification.

[Interaction Opportunity Detected!]

[Select Your Response:]

> A) "It was nothing, I'm probably just imagining things."

B) "I'm not sure, but I don't want to get into trouble either."

C) "Maybe… do you want to talk about something more personal, Welt?"

D) "I'll make you spill the truth, Welt Yang! Teach me how to win over girls!"

Aleph felt a twitch in his eye.

"Why the hell is this triggering with Welt now?"

Welt raised an eyebrow.

"Something wrong?"

"Uh… nothing, nothing." Aleph waved his hands, trying to ignore the annoying floating screen in front of him.

Finally, he sighed and selected option A.

"It was nothing, I'm probably just imagining things."

Welt didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press the issue either.

"If you think so… though, just in case, be careful. I don't want this turning into a bigger problem."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll keep that in mind."

Just when he thought the conversation was over, a new notification appeared.

[Upcoming Affinity Opportunity Detected!]

Aleph frowned.

"…What?"

Welt looked at him curiously.

"Something else?"

Aleph immediately stood up.

"Nothing! It's just that… I just remembered something important! See you, Welt!"

And without giving him a chance to say anything else, he hurriedly left.

Welt watched him go with a neutral expression.

Then, he sighed, closed his eyes for a moment, and leaned back in his chair.

"…I'm going to need coffee for this."

*********

Act 2 – Guy Talk

Aleph never thought he'd end up in a sauna with Gepard Landau.

But there he was.

Sitting on a wooden bench, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, as steam filled the room. Across from him, the Captain of the Belobog Guard remained composed, his impeccable physique and calm expression unwavering.

"I never thought you were the kind to enjoy this," Gepard commented, crossing his arms.

Aleph shrugged.

"Well, there's a first time for everything."

He wasn't about to admit that he wanted to use this opportunity to finally clear up the misunderstanding about his relationship with Serval. The fact that she always claimed to be busy whenever he mentioned telling Gepard the truth didn't help either.

[Special Interaction Event Unlocked!]

[Select Your Response:]

> A) "Your muscles are amazing. I'd love to have some like yours."

>B) "This atmosphere is perfect for a man-to-man talk."

>C) "I never imagined seeing you without armor, Captain."

Aleph stared at the options, his eye twitching.

"Why do I always get put in these situations?"

Resigned, he chose option A.

"Your muscles are amazing. I'd love to have some like yours."

Even without the options, he probably would've said the same—Gepard had incredible muscles.

Gepard remained silent for a moment.

Then, he scratched the back of his neck with a somewhat embarrassed gesture.

"Huh? Well… it's not like it's anything special."

Aleph raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean? It's obvious that you train a lot."

The captain sighed.

"To be honest, I don't usually get this kind of praise. The other guards say my physique is… intimidating."

Aleph blinked, confused.

"Wait, seriously?"

Gepard nodded with a slight smile.

"Yeah. I usually come to places like this alone because most people avoid accompanying me. They say they feel small next to me."

Aleph burst out laughing.

"That's ridiculous. They should train more if they don't want to feel that way."

Gepard smiled, nodding slightly.

"Maybe you're right."

At that moment, Aleph received another notification.

"Hey, Aleph." Gepard stretched and then looked at him curiously. "Do you still fight with your fists?"

"Yeah, even if I learn to use a weapon, chances are I won't get much out of it since I'm a complete beginner. I also don't think I have any talent for armed combat. You should have seen the faces of March 7th and Dan Heng when they tried to teach me how to use their weapons. On the other hand, while I don't have a solid foundation for hand-to-hand combat, it's still more viable for me than learning to use a weapon from scratch."

"I see." Gepard nodded as if he found it reasonable. "Would you be okay if I taught you a bit of hand-to-hand combat?"

"Really? That'd be amazing!"

[Affinity with Gepard has increased!]

[Defense Skill Improved!]

Aleph closed his eyes in satisfaction.

"Perfect. Not only did I get closer to a friend, but I also learned something useful… Though for some reason, I feel like I forgot something."

He stood up, wiping off his sweat.

"Well, that was fun. See you later, Gepard."

He didn't notice how Gepard watched him leave.

With a somewhat complicated expression.

******

Act 3 – Sleepover on the Astral Express

Aleph had high expectations about what a sleepover on the Astral Express would be like.

But he never thought it would involve this.

"…Tell me you're joking," Dan Heng muttered, staring at his reflection in one of the train's windows.

His green dragon pajamas had absolutely none of the seriousness of his usual attire; if anything, they only made him look and feel ridiculous.

Aleph, on the other hand, was completely satisfied with his raccoon pajamas.

"Why are you complaining? They're pretty comfortable."

Dan Heng shot him a glare.

"That's not the problem."

Beside him, Welt Yang sighed, adjusting the sleeves of his pajamas.

Pajamas that, strangely, looked far too much like Pom-Pom.

"This is what we get for losing a bet with March 7th and Himeko."

Aleph nodded gravely.

"The price of defeat is cruel."

Dan Heng scoffed.

"I should never have accepted that damn card game…"

[Special Interaction Event Unlocked!]

[Choose your response:]

> A) "Well, we're already here. Let's make the most of it."

>B) "Our masculine dignity went overboard with these pajamas. Why don't you take it a step further and try on March 7th's clothes, Dan Heng?"

>C) "Dan Heng, green suits you."

Aleph hesitated for a moment.

Then, with a mischievous smile, he chose option C.

"Dan Heng, green suits you."

Dan Heng froze.

He slowly turned around, his expression neutral, but with a slight twitch in his eye.

Welt barely managed to hold back his laughter.

"…I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," he muttered, pulling up his hood to cover his face.

Aleph shrugged.

"I'm just telling the truth."

And so, the night began.

First, they watched some movies.

March 7th had left them a few recommendations… and all of them were ridiculously cheesy.

Dan Heng nearly walked out when a confession scene under the rain started.

"Why are we watching this?"

"Because it's the only thing March 7th left in the train's library," Welt responded with resignation.

Aleph just watched in silence.

This was his true ultimate technique, one he had trained hard for in high school under the not-so-kind tutelage of his math teacher!

Sleeping with his eyes open.

....

Then, they played video games.

"Come on, Dan Heng! Move, move, move!"

"I am moving! You cover the rear!"

Meanwhile, Welt played in silence and won every match effortlessly.

Aleph and Dan Heng teamed up just to lose against him.

Finally, after hours of complaints and arguments, they decided to sleep.

The train's lights dimmed, and the atmosphere became peaceful.

Dan Heng, without thinking too much about it, settled into his futon.

Aleph did the same, feeling exhaustion take over his body.

But before he could fall asleep, he received one last notification.

Though he didn't pay much attention to it as he yawned.

He blinked slowly…

And snuggled up against the warmest thing he could find before drifting off.

.....

Dan Heng, still half-asleep, barely reacted.

"...Mmm."

Aleph blinked when glowing letters appeared in front of his eyes, interrupting his sleep.

[Choose your response:]

> A) "Dan Heng is more comfortable than I expected."

>B) "I feel so safe in your arms…"

>C) (Pretend nothing is happening and keep sleeping.)

Aleph groaned and tried to swipe away the glowing letters with his hand.

And without realizing it, his finger pressed option B.

"I feel so safe in your arms…" he murmured before falling asleep again.

Dan Heng opened one eye.

He looked at him for a moment.

And instead of pushing him away…

He simply sighed and closed his eyes again.

"…I'll ignore it for now," he muttered to himself, going back to sleep.

The system didn't make any more noise.

But Aleph was in for a surprise tomorrow.

When he woke up and discovered that Dan Heng hadn't moved him away all night.

********

Act 4 – Picnic Time

After the sleepover on the Astral Express, Aleph thought he'd have an awkward day.

But fortunately, that didn't seem to be the case.

A smile spread across his face when he saw Clara's message inviting him to the picnic she had organized with Svarog's help and other robots from the base.

Aleph shrugged.

"Well, a break doesn't sound bad."

And so, after a relaxing hot bath and a change into more comfortable clothes, he headed to the Upper City.

Hmm… Maybe he could take advantage of the moment and later go with Bronya to the new café she had mentioned earlier?

**********

The picnic was in full swing.

The weather was surprisingly pleasant for Belobog.

The tables were filled with food, and people laughed and chatted peacefully.

Clara greeted him with a bright smile.

"Aleph, you came!"

Aleph smiled and patted the girl's head.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss this."

Svarog, standing beside her, nodded.

[Affirmative. Your presence increases event stability by 15%.]

Aleph blinked.

"Uh… thanks, I guess."

Clara gently tugged on his arm.

"Come, I have a special place prepared."

Aleph followed her without suspicion.

But then, he felt a chill run down his spine.

As if someone—or several people—were watching him.

When he looked around, he saw March 7th, Seele, and Bronya sitting together at a table.

And they were all staring at him.

Aleph swallowed.

"Why do I feel like something's wrong?"

But before he could do anything about it, Clara led him to a small storage shed near the picnic area.

"I need to show you something."

Aleph raised an eyebrow.

"Here?"

Clara nodded.

"Yes. Just for a moment."

Without suspecting anything, Aleph stepped into the shed.

Clara followed…

…And closed the door behind them.

Aleph blinked.

Clara looked at him with an innocent expression.

"You know? There are a lot of stories I like."

Aleph felt something was off.

"Huh?"

Clara smiled sweetly.

"Let me tell you a few."

And so, without knowing how, Aleph found himself trapped in a closet with Clara…

…While outside, three girls began searching for him with less-than-friendly expressions.

THE END?

******

Extra Act: Innocent Tales

The inside of the shed was lit only by a small oil lantern.

Clara, comfortably seated on the floor beside Aleph, held a rather new-looking book in her hands.

"These are stories Svarog found for me," she said with a warm smile. "Do you want to hear one?"

Aleph, though slightly puzzled by the situation, saw no problem with it.

"Sure, what are they about?"

Clara ran her fingers over the yellowed pages.

"They're stories about people destined to be together."

Aleph nodded, seeing nothing wrong with it.

"Sounds interesting. Go ahead."

Clara began to read.

The Warrior and the Priestess

In a world where snow never ceased to fall, a wandering warrior met a priestess dressed in white robes with ruby eyes.

She taught him that true strength didn't come from power alone, but from the desire to protect those you love.

"Over time, they became inseparable," Clara explained with a smile. "Even though the warrior never realized his own feelings… until he almost lost her."

Aleph nodded.

"That's a beautiful story."

Clara glanced at him.

"Yeah… though sometimes people can be a little dense, don't you think?"

"You're telling me. I still remember Stelle's incident in the girls' locker room or March 7th vs. Sparkle."

After their brief conversation, Clara moved on to the second story.

The Prince and the Outlaw

A prince with gray hair and golden eyes set off in search of adventure.

During his journey, he met a young outlaw with flowing white hair and eyes red as fire.

"At first, she didn't trust him," Clara explained in a low voice. "But over time, she realized he was different."

The prince, without meaning to, stole her heart.

"Though… he never realized how much he meant to her."

Clara sighed, closing the book for a moment.

"Don't you think boys can be really slow to notice these things?"

Aleph nodded, remembering the time he and Aventurine placed a bet on who could attract more female attention in one night. Dan Heng performed spectacularly—so much so that even he and Aventurine were shocked—but the idiot never seemed to realize the women were flirting with him from start to finish.

"Yeah, I guess some people are just that oblivious."

Clara looked at him for a few seconds… then smiled tenderly.

"Yeah… I guess so."

Soon, it was time for the third story.

The Wanderer and the Winter Girl

A young traveler arrived at a village covered in snow that never seemed to stop falling.

There, he met a girl with hair as white as snow and eyes red as the dawn.

"He had no home, and she had always been alone," Clara read softly.

Little by little, they began spending more time together.

The young man taught her how to smile, and the girl showed him that the cold wasn't so bad when you had someone by your side.

"In the end… the traveler realized that the snow had never been cold."

Aleph smiled.

"Beautiful story."

Clara gently closed the book.

"Yeah…" she murmured.

Then, without warning, she rested her head on Aleph's shoulder.

"They're lovely stories, aren't they?" she whispered with a small smile.

Aleph blinked.

"Yeah, pretty much."

Clara closed her eyes.

"Maybe… one day, there'll be a story like that where I'm the protagonist."

Aleph, completely unaware of the meaning behind her words, simply nodded.

"I'm sure there will be."

Clara smiled.

And while he looked toward the door, wondering how much longer they would be there…

…he didn't notice how she snuggled a little closer to his arm.

"You know…" Clara looked up, and Aleph saw her face was slightly red.

Did she have a fever?

"I-I wrote those stories… What do you think?"

Aleph smiled.

"They were really good."

"R-Really?"

"Yeah."

Clara beamed and rubbed her cheek against his arm.