Chapter 32 Chapter 32: The Choices of the
Chapter 32: The Choices of the "Guardians"
"However, I'm not very interested in information about other matters. I just want to know—the people of this planet, they actually knew the real reason the cold wave would descend long ago, right?"
"What, this planet?"
The question Kevin suddenly raised naturally left Clara, who had always lived in the Underworld, somewhat bewildered. But Svarog clearly understood the question he posed, only remaining silent for a while before not directly providing an answer.
"......"
"Data regarding the 'Stellaron' is encrypted at the highest level. The access target does not possess the relevant permissions."
The real reason the cold wave would descend was related to the 'Stellaron,' something Cocolia had already told Kevin. But he was also quite certain that she was definitely hiding something; this was the necessary discretion a qualified leader must possess.
But after experiencing what just happened, without needing others to remind him, Kevin himself could figure out most of the key points.
After all, he had once been a qualified leader, hadn't he?
Kevin still remembered very clearly that from the first time he met Cocolia, she possessed a certain ability to manipulate ice and snow. At first, he naturally thought this was unique to this world... until he barely managed to come into contact with that Aeon.
Just as the people of Belobog said, the power of 'The Preservation' has always protected this land—and those who 'believe' in Him can, upon meeting certain conditions, trigger some mechanism within the 'Imaginary Tree,' like Seele did, thereby obtaining the 'blessing' of an 'Aeon.'
But it's very clear that the people of Belobog do not know the true reason and origin of this 'blessing,' and those who can obtain it are even fewer... after all, most people's understanding of the so-called existence of 'Aeons' is completely ambiguous.
However, all these facts at least prove that the power of 'The Preservation' has never disappeared or weakened on this land. So why would Cocolia say that 'The Preservation' had long abandoned Belobog?
If the reason for the 'blessing' is simply understood as similar to the literal meaning of 'The Preservation,' then as the 'Guardian' overseeing all of Belobog, Cocolia should be the one most deserving of receiving the 'blessing.'
But Kevin could clearly sense that Cocolia's ability to manipulate frost was completely different in origin from Seele's ability. In other words, one could boldly speculate... the original 'Architects' did indeed possess the 'blessing,' but since a certain period, this special ability had completely left them.
What replaced it was Cocolia's frost power.
As for the most likely source of this ability...
"Since information about the 'Stellaron' cannot be disclosed, then you should at least be able to tell me, regarding the earliest 'Guardians' in your memory, what special abilities did most of them possess?" Kevin slightly shifted his line of thinking and asked this way.
"Access permission granted. Retrieving and analyzing database data. Result: The first 'Guardian,' Alisa Rand, possessed a lance that could release flames and could greatly enhance soldiers' combat capabilities to the extent of being able to catch Anti-Matter Legion weapons barehanded. Reason: Self-proclaimed blessing from the Aeon of 'The Preservation'—Qlipoth."
After accepting Kevin's request, the red eye in Svarog's head flickered slightly, and information from hundreds of years ago was retrieved one by one.
"The second 'Guardian,' Svetlana Rand, and the third 'Guardian,' Alexandra Rand, are suspected to have had varying degrees of ability to manipulate frost. Reason: Unknown."
"Insufficient relevant data; unable to accurately judge the remaining successive 'Guardians'... Analysis concluded."
From this information alone, one can easily draw a conclusion—the earliest 'Guardians' did indeed once possess the blessing of 'The Preservation.' But since the first generation, successive Guardians have been completely cut off from 'The Preservation,' replaced by another completely unrelated special ability.
The inexplicably appearing frost power makes it hard not to associate it with the Stellaron that brought the cold wave to this planet. Coupled with Cocolia indeed being able to hear the Stellaron's voice, it's not difficult to reach this conclusion:
—The special abilities of successive 'Guardians' all originated from the Stellaron, and the Stellaron probably never stopped instilling in these 'Guardians' the so-called concept of creating a 'new world.'
But their inner faith and their will to protect the people of Belobog caused successive 'Guardians' to never truly accept the Stellaron's temptation. This relationship continued until it was passed into Cocolia's hands... By now, Belobog's destruction was imminent, and there were no more choices left for Cocolia.
Either continue maintaining false peace, leaving the inevitable fate of destruction and the choice of faith to Bronya; or choose the Stellaron now, believing in the new world it promises.
As for why they were unwilling to make the truth about the Stellaron public, Kevin thinks perhaps the arrival of the cold wave was precisely due to some agreement reached between that 'Guardian' and the Stellaron?
At that time, humanity, under the attack of the so-called 'Anti-Matter Legion,' had completely lost any way out. What lay before them were probably only two options: complete annihilation or choosing to believe in the Stellaron.
That unsolvable situation of having to choose between two evils is exactly like Belobog at this very moment.
However, having reasoned things out to this extent, Kevin actually no longer believes that so-called 'Stellaron' can truly bring about any ideal 'new world.'
Not because he successfully saw through the true nature of the Stellaron, but because Kevin never believed that miracles truly exist in this world that can save something without any cost.
What truly creates miracles is not some sudden 'accident,' but rather the efforts of all geniuses exhausting everything, gathering the entire civilization's torch to pursue an 'inevitability.'
Because losers simply leave no trace behind.
"No problem. Obtaining information to this extent is already sufficient."
Even so, upon learning the truth, Kevin does not intend to do anything unnecessary.
The leader's choice is this civilization's own choice; the Underworld's resistance is also this civilization's own choice. Before the outcome arrives, he has no right to make what he thinks is the correct decision for them.
At most...
Kevin slightly raised his head and looked at Clara, who was intently examining her 'family's' bodies.
...When the result of their choice surfaces, preserve the final spark for this civilization.
There is an illustration here; it can be viewed after updating to a newer version.
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