Chapter 11: Walking Among Shadows (+Omake)
The Fragmentum stretched before them. The structures of the Upper City vanished as they advanced, replaced by a distorted and frozen landscape.
Ruins floated in the air, spinning on their own as if trapped in an invisible vortex. The ground, covered in fractured ice and snow, crunched with every step they took.
The sky—if it could even be called that—twisted in dark hues, as if a storm was about to swallow them at any moment.
March 7th hugged herself.
"No matter how many times I see this… I never get used to these places."
Stelle frowned as she gazed at the horizon.
"This is worse than I imagined."
Dan Heng stepped forward, observing the energy fluctuations with an analytical look.
"The Stellaron is getting closer. The spatial distortion is intensifying."
Aleph glanced around, noticing how the terrain seemed to shift subtly beneath his feet.
"This place is really weird. I don't like it."
Seele, walking beside him, clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Don't get distracted. We could be attacked at any moment, you know?"
**************
They had barely moved a few meters when the Fragmentum stirred.
Out of nowhere, figures emerged from the distortion.
Deformed creatures, made of crystallized fragments and living shadows, rose with clumsy yet menacing movements.
Some bore a vague resemblance to Guards, while others looked like members of the Antimatter Legion.
"Here they come!" March 7th shouted, drawing her bow.
Aleph raised his hand and activated Illusionist. Some of the creatures turned, attacking their own ranks.
March 7th fired ice projectiles, freezing several enemies in place.
Stelle charged forward with her bat, crushing foes with brutal efficiency.
Dan Heng pierced through enemies with his spear, using his speed to evade counterattacks and strike at weakened areas frozen by March 7th.
Seele vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind her targets and eliminating them in a single blow.
Aleph watched the scene and let out a whistle.
"That was fast."
Without stopping his attack, Dan Heng shot him a glance.
"Focus. It was fast only because they were weak and not very intelligent. As we get closer to the Stellaron, they'll become stronger and more cunning."
Within minutes, the monsters were defeated.
Seele cleaned her weapon and looked ahead.
"Let's keep moving before more show up."
But just as they took the first step toward the next section of the Fragmentum…
Something changed in the air.
A strange image manifested before their eyes.
They weren't enemies.
They were shadows—reflections, so to speak.
And the moment they got close enough…
The voices began to echo.
...
The air trembled as the first distorted shadows appeared before them.
They were humanoid silhouettes, shrouded in a spectral glow. They vaguely resembled Cocolia and Bronya, but they were incomplete—like memories trapped within the Fragmentum.
But the most unsettling part…
Was their voices.
Their words resonated in the void, an echo of a past that continued to repeat itself.
The shadows became clear enough to reveal a scene.
Bronya, standing with clenched fists, looking at Cocolia in desperation.
"Mother… please, stop this. People are suffering in the Underworld! We can't just ignore them!"
Cocolia, arms crossed, gazed at her with a cold expression.
"It is not our duty to concern ourselves with the weak. The Upper City is the heart of Belobog, and my mission is to preserve its glory."
The group remained silent, watching the scene unfold.
March 7th frowned.
"Is this… something that happened before Bronya found us?"
Dan Heng nodded.
"It seems to be a residual memory trapped in the Fragmentum. Seeing this means we're not far from the Stellaron."
Aleph stared at Cocolia's shadow with a thoughtful expression.
"So she was really this cold to Bronya…"
The vision continued.
"But if we keep going like this… Belobog will collapse from within."
Cocolia closed her eyes indifferently.
"You're too naive, Bronya. When you take my place, you'll understand that power does not come from compassion, but from control."
The shadows began to distort, as if the memory were coming to an end.
Bronya lowered her head, defeated.
And the vision disappeared.
A heavy silence settled over the group.
Seele looked at the spot where Bronya's shadow had been, her expression bitter.
"I can't believe it… Bronya always had doubts, but… was Cocolia treating her like that all along?"
March 7th crossed her arms.
"That's wrong."
Stelle looked at the path ahead.
"Let's keep going. There will be more answers ahead."
...
The group continued moving through the Fragmentum.
The monsters kept appearing, but they were quickly defeated.
Finally, they arrived at a new spatial distortion.
And another vision unfolded before them.
This time, it was Cocolia alone, speaking in a low voice, as if she were in a conversation with herself…
Or with someone else.
"They don't understand… They don't see what I see."
Her voice sounded tense, different from the imposing Cocolia from before. They could sense a certain "fragility" in her.
"If we don't accept change, if we don't prepare… Belobog will fall."
Aleph observed the scene with curiosity.
"Interesting… it looks like this time she isn't talking to Bronya."
Dan Heng frowned.
"This is probably the moment when her downfall began."
The vision continued.
"He showed me the truth. He taught me the path to survival."
Seele clenched her fists. Stelle tightened her grip on the bat in her hands—somehow, she felt especially uncomfortable.
"'He'?"
Cocolia's image trembled.
"Only he has the answer… Only his power can save us…"
March 7th felt a chill run down her spine.
"She's… she's talking about the Stellaron, isn't she?"
Dan Heng nodded gravely.
"Yes. It looks like I was right—this must have been the moment when her will began to waver."
The vision flickered, distorting before vanishing completely.
Aleph let out a sigh.
"So, the Stellaron didn't just convince her to accept its power… it made her think she came to that conclusion on her own."
March 7th shook her head.
"This is getting worse and worse."
Dan Heng looked ahead.
"Don't get distracted. We need to keep moving."
The group continued on their way.
The Fragmentum trembled violently.
They had reached the midpoint between the entrance and the peak of Everwinter Hill.
The shadows materialized once more.
This time, Bronya and Cocolia stood face to face, locked in direct confrontation—this seemed to be the most recent memory.
"Mother, this is madness! The Stellaron is corrupting everything you are. We have to stop it!"
Cocolia observed her calmly.
But there was something different about her.
Her eyes shone with an unnatural glow.
"Oh, Bronya… you still don't understand."
The group felt immediate tension.
This was likely their last conversation before reaching the Stellaron.
"If you keep resisting, Belobog will truly fall. Is that what you want?"
"Belobog has already fallen, my dear."
Her voice was icy.
"But it will be reborn. A new world. One where you… could have been its mother."
The shadows flickered violently.
Bronya took a step back, shocked by her words.
And in that instant…
The vision abruptly stopped.
The shadows faded away.
But Cocolia's last sentence kept echoing in their minds.
For the first time on this journey, Seele seemed genuinely disturbed.
"She said 'Mother of the new world'… Is that what she wanted from Bronya? And what is that supposed to mean?"
Dan Heng remained silent.
Aleph looked ahead.
"We're almost there."
And with that certainty, the group pressed forward, toward the end of the Fragmentum.
Where the Stellaron awaited them.
*******
The group continued their march through the Fragmentum.
The atmosphere grew heavier with every step.
The ground was unstable, fragments of reality floating around them as if on the verge of collapse.
Aleph looked at the scene with discomfort.
"This doesn't even look like Belobog anymore."
Dan Heng nodded.
"The Stellaron has distorted this area too much."
Seele clicked her tongue.
"How much further do we have to go?"
March 7th pointed ahead.
"Look..."
A massive metal hand lay in their path.
Aleph frowned.
"That thing... will it move?"
March 7th crossed her arms.
"I don't know... I hope not."
Stelle stepped forward and tapped one of the metal fingers with her bat.
Nothing happened.
Dan Heng glanced at Aleph.
"Can you do something?"
Aleph raised an eyebrow.
"What? Why me?"
March 7th looked at him curiously.
"Your ice is more attack-focused than mine. If that thing really did get up, couldn't you freeze it?"
Aleph remained thoughtful for a moment.
"Honestly, I have no idea if I could pull that off with my current abilities, but I wouldn't count on it if that thing actually woke up. Just look at the size of its hand. How big would the full body be? And how much energy would it take to freeze it completely? That would be insane."
Just as Aleph finished his analysis of the massive metal hand, a deep creaking sound echoed in the distance.
The air vibrated.
The ice and corruption fragments on the ground trembled, as if something fierce and twisted was awakening from its slumber.
Dan Heng turned sharply.
"Looks like we've got company."
The Fragmentum monsters emerged from the cracks in reality, sliding in like distorted shadows.
But these were different from the previous ones.
They seemed less like simple wandering creatures and more like corrupted entities. Their forms were more grotesque, more defined, and more resilient. Their bodies looked like an amalgamation of crystallized ice and distorted energy, with cores that pulsed with a sinister golden glow.
One of them had the shape of a guard—more specifically, a Captain—but its face had fused with the remains of a broken helmet, leaving only a black void with a crimson glow.
Another had multiple arms, each holding floating fragments of twisted metal, as if they were blades.
A third, larger than the others, was an abomination with uneven limbs and an unhinged jaw that snapped open and shut. Out of the three, this one seemed the most mechanical.
Seele frowned, her scythe at the ready.
"These aren't like the others."
March 7th readied her bow.
"They definitely aren't... but we can still take them!"
The largest monster roared and lunged at the group.
The multi-armed monster struck first, hurling the metal fragments with lethal precision.
Dan Heng weaved between the projectiles, deflecting the ones that got too close with his spear before spinning and launching a barrage of wind slashes at the enemy.
WHAM!
But instead of being destroyed, the monster twisted, absorbing part of the attack into its core and releasing a shockwave of dark energy in return.
Stelle blocked the impact with her bat, though it sent her skidding several meters back.
"These guys are tougher than usual."
Aleph clicked his tongue.
"Then we'll just have to get serious."
He extended his hand and channeled his energy.
"Bufula!"
A blast of ice engulfed the nearest monster, freezing it in place.
March 7th seized the opportunity and fired a charged projectile directly into its exposed core.
CRACK!
The ice explosion fractured its body, reducing it to fragments that dissipated into the air.
Seele moved at blinding speed, appearing behind the multi-armed enemy and unleashing a flurry of slashes that made it stagger.
But just as she was about to finish it off, the largest of the monsters let out a deafening roar.
A searing heat enveloped them as the monster's body ignited. It roared in euphoria, and its largest arm emitted strange cracking sounds as blade-like protrusions began to emerge from it.
It almost looked like a...
"Don't get near that arm!" Aleph shouted as he saw the newly transformed saw-arm closing in on where Seele had been standing.
Seele backed away with a frustrated grunt.
"Tch, that's not fair."
Stelle leaped over the debris without hesitation and landed directly on the multi-armed monster.
With a brutal spin, she brought her bat crashing down on its head.
BOOM!
The impact thundered through the air, and the creature finally crumbled into a rain of dark fragments.
Only one remained.
It loomed over them with an oppressive presence, its body exuding a burning energy that made the surroundings tremble.
Aleph observed its core, debating whether to launch a ranged attack strong enough to destroy it or risk delivering a charged punch for maximum effect.
"This is gonna be tricky."
Dan Heng spun his spear.
"No time for doubts."
The monster raised its massive saw-arm and slammed it into the ground.
CRASH!
A shockwave erupted, sending shards of ice flying along with snow. The heat had evaporated part of the ice and snow, creating a small white veil that obscured the group's view of the monster's location.
They had no choice but to scatter.
Seele zigzagged through the rubble, sneaking around from the side.
March 7th created an ice barrier just in time to block a barrage of energy projectiles the monster fired.
Dan Heng and Stelle attacked together, slashing and striking to wear it down.
Aleph took a deep breath. He didn't like how this magic made him feel—something about it felt off.
Aleph's eyes gleamed with a playful glow, and a wicked grin spread across his face.
Suddenly, reality distorted.
The monster growled in confusion.
From its perspective... the group had vanished.
He only saw copies of himself, twisting in different directions.
Seele took advantage of the chaos.
She appeared at full speed behind the creature and aimed directly at its core with a precise strike.
SLASH!
The core shattered.
Dan Heng wasted no time and unleashed a barrage of wind slashes.
March 7th charged an ice projectile and hurled it straight into the open crack.
Finally, Stelle leaped, descending with her bat wrapped in energy.
"Goodbye, bastard!"
CRACK!
The monster let out a distorted roar before exploding in a burst of dark energy.
The group fell into silence for a few seconds.
Seele was the first to speak.
"Well... that was annoying."
Aleph exhaled and ran a hand through his head—somehow, it hurt a little.
"At least we did it."
March 7th stretched her arms.
"I think this is the perfect moment to say… Good job, team!"
Dan Heng simply nodded.
The battle was over.
....
Aleph smiled at March 7th's question.
"If we can't break it… we trick it."
The group looked at him with curiosity.
Aleph extended his hands, and an identical March 7th appeared beside him.
The illusion started doing a ridiculous dance.
"Hey! Why me?!"
"Didn't you want to see how the thing I used against that creature worked?"
With a dry sound—
The illusory March 7th was replaced by a Seele in a maid outfit.
Aleph coughed theatrically and immediately made it disappear.
He still hadn't fully mastered Loki's illusion magic. Since the essence he had used was only a four-star one, while it granted him magic and part of Loki's experience in using it, it was ultimately incomplete. As a consequence, if he got distracted, the illusion would shift to something he was thinking about—or worse, it could even trap his allies or himself in illusions.
Seele blinked, completely confused.
"Wha… what just happened?"
Aleph averted his gaze, his expression completely neutral.
He would never admit anything. Never.
"The oldest trick in the book, just simple illusions."
March 7th looked at him curiously, wondering if he had flowers or a cute bunny hidden somewhere in his clothes.
Maybe even a top hat?
"So that's how your 'magic' works?"
Her question couldn't have sounded more skeptical. She knew about "Imaginary" and "Quantum" abilities. Did he really think she was dumb enough to believe in something like magic?
Aleph shrugged. How could the illusion magic of a god whose domain revolved around deception and lies be so simple? He had only gotten a small glimpse of what Loki could do with this magic, and he was sure that if the god saw what he was doing with it, he would laugh and mock him for being incompetent.
"Nah, this is more of a mental trick."
Dan Heng nodded, not giving it much importance.
"In any case… we can move on now."
The group advanced.
Upon crossing the threshold, the heart of the Fragmentum was revealed before them.
The ground was a mix of ice and corruption.
The sky had turned into a spiraling vortex of energy.
And at the center of it all…
Cocolia awaited them.
Standing, her long coat billowing in the wind, the Supreme Guardian gazed at the horizon with a serene expression.
Beside her, Bronya stood with a tense look.
The group stopped.
Seele was the first to step forward.
"Bronya!"
Bronya lifted her gaze, surprised.
"Seele…"
Cocolia, without turning completely, spoke in an eerily calm tone.
"So, you've finally arrived."
March 7th frowned.
"…What have you done?"
Cocolia closed her eyes.
"What I had to do."
Aleph crossed his arms.
"Letting yourself be corrupted by the Stellaron is 'what you had to do'?"
She turned fully toward them.
Cocolia smiled, but her eyes told a completely different story.
"Typical. Always looking with the eyes of the present, unable to see the future."
To her eyes... they were nothing more than a bunch of kids who had no idea what they were getting into.
"Belobog is already doomed. But thanks to the Stellaron… we can be reborn."
Seele clenched her fists.
"Reborn?! All you've done is plunge this place into chaos!"
Cocolia ignored her protest. Why would she care about the words of a complete stranger?
Her gaze settled once more on Bronya.
"You can still join me, dear."
Bronya took a step back.
"Mother…"
Cocolia extended a hand.
"This new world needs a leader. Who better than you to be its mother?"
The words sent chills down the group's spines.
Bronya gritted her teeth.
"No… I can't accept this."
Cocolia sighed in disappointment.
"Then, you leave me no choice."
The air froze.
In Cocolia's hands, a massive ice spear began to materialize.
A colossal metal structure rose behind her.
The Engine of Creation roared.
The group braced themselves for battle.
And so…
The final battle for Belobog was about to begin.
**************************************************************************
Fun fact—though I don't remember if I mentioned it or not—Aleph's appearance is basically a combination of Caelus and Flynn.
His hair and eye colors would be the same as Caelus's, and his clothing would also resemble his. Meanwhile, his hairstyle would be quite similar to Flynn's (but aesthetically better), and his facial features would be a perfect blend of both.
*******************
Omake: System Error - Part 1: Curiosity Is Dangerous
Act 1: The Beginning
"Every story has a beginning… some are rougher than others."
For Aleph, it all started with a simple notification. A few days after finishing his adventure in Penacony.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the
Burroughs, his loyal assistant, was the first to comment on it.
[Master, this application seems to have been automatically integrated after downloading the recommended app.]
Aleph looked at the screen with curiosity.
"Well, it can't be that bad… What exactly is it?"
The system responded with a colorful and suspiciously friendly interface.
[The
Aleph raised an eyebrow.
"Wait… Is this a Social Link system? Like in Persona?"
[Correct, Master.]
"Oh, that's great! I get it—so the more I interact with others, the stronger our relationship becomes, and I'll get more combat benefits, right?"
[Exactly, Master.]
And just like that, without further questioning, the trap closed without Aleph realizing it.
...
His first target appeared shortly after.
March 7th, cheerful and carefree as always, approached with her usual enthusiasm.
"Hey, Aleph! Are you here to train or just wasting time?"
The system screen lit up.
[Interaction Opportunity Detected.]
[Select your response:]
> A) "Of course, I always have time for you."
>B) "Wasting time? Nah, I just want to relax."
>C) "With you, until death."
Without thinking too much, Aleph chose option A.
"Of course, I always have time for you."
A confirmation sound echoed in his interface.
[Well done, Master! Affinity with March 7th has increased.]
Aleph smiled calmly. Maybe this thing wasn't so hard to use after all.
"Oh, this is easy. Maybe this will really help me strengthen my bonds with others."
[Special Interaction Unlocked]
The girl showed a slight blush and a different smile from her usual one.
"…Huh?" Aleph felt confused.
Didn't they argue all the time? Why was she acting like this now?
March 7th looked at him with a rather warm expression.
"You always have time for me? Wow… I didn't know you were so dedicated."
Aleph blinked.
"What the hell does that mean?"
[Nothing, Master. Please continue. It seems she likes you more now.]
And so, without realizing it, Aleph began walking down a path of no return.
******
Act 3 – The Art of (Accidental) Seduction
"Even the great conquerors of the past had humble beginnings… though most of them at least knew they were conquering."
After his first "success" with March 7th, Aleph decided to keep experimenting with the new feature.
If this really worked like Persona's Social Links, then it made sense to strengthen his bonds with more people. After all, better relationships meant more benefits in combat.
And his next "victim" appeared shortly after.
Seele.
The girl from Underworld wasn't the most open person, but Aleph had spent enough time with her to know that, despite her roughness, she had a softer side.
That cute smile she had when playing with kids or that innocent laugh when watching Bronya panic were…
He had no words to describe it.
When he found her sharpening her scythe in a corner of the camp, the system activated again.
[Interaction Opportunity Detected.]
[Select your response:]
> A) "Want me to help with that? Looks a bit worn out."
>B) "Wow, always looking so grumpy. Do they pay you for that, or is it a natural talent?"
>C) "That scythe is dangerous… but it's really beautiful. It reminds me of someone."
Without thinking too much, Aleph chose option C.
"Your scythe is dangerous, but it's really beautiful… It reminds me a lot of someone."
Silence.
Seele stopped sharpening her weapon.
She glanced at him sideways, her expression unreadable.
Aleph waited for a response—anything—and then saw something he hadn't expected at all.
A faint blush on her cheeks.
"W-What kind of nonsense is that? Idiot," she muttered, looking away.
[Your relationship with Seele has improved. Affinity with scythe handling increased.]
Aleph crossed his arms in satisfaction.
"Perfect. This really is like Persona."
Seele cleared her throat, returning to her scythe with slightly clumsier movements.
"Stop saying weird things… and if you care so much, maybe you should train with me later."
Aleph smiled.
"An invitation? I thought you liked training alone."
Seele stared at him, eyebrows furrowed, her expression serious but still with a slight blush.
"Just don't be late."
And with that, she quickly walked away.
Aleph looked at his interface with satisfaction.
"Two successful interactions in one day. If I keep this up, I'll have strong bonds with everyone soon."
What he didn't notice…
It was the slightly annoyed look from March 7th in the distance as she held two drinks.
Disaster was imminent.
Act 4 – A Hunter Who Doesn't Know He's Being Hunted
"There are predators who stalk their prey with infinite patience, waiting for the right moment to strike… And then there's Aleph, who doesn't even realize he's being hunted."
After his interactions with March 7th and Seele, Aleph felt that his understanding of the relationship system was improving.
So this time, he chose a more difficult target.
Bronya Rand.
She would occasionally invite him to read together and chat. Sometimes, she even shared her problems with him, and he did the same.
They also exchanged messages quite often. Who would have thought Bronya had a thing for adorable stickers?
It wasn't long before Cocolia's office became their usual meeting place, as she had been going out quite frequently lately.
For some reason, every time he visited, there always seemed to be snacks and drinks on the table.
Were they brought by Bronya, or was Cocolia leaving them there as a treat? He couldn't say, but they were really delicious.
Something that made him curious was why Bronya always smiled so happily whenever he complimented the snacks.
[Interaction Opportunity Detected.]
[Select your response:]
> A) "What are you so focused on?"
>B) "You're always so serious. You should relax a little."
>C) "You're the heir to the Supreme Guardian… but you're also just a girl with a lot of responsibilities. Sometimes, it's okay to just be Bronya."
Completely unaware of the consequences, Aleph chose option C.
"You're the heir to the Supreme Guardian… but you're also just a girl with a lot of responsibilities. Sometimes, it's okay to just be Bronya."
Bronya lifted her gaze from her book.
Her usually reserved expression softened for a moment.
"…That's something not many people understand. The fact that you say it… really makes me happy, Aleph."
Aleph smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck with slight embarrassment.
"Well, I'm pretty observant when I need to be."
[Congratulations! Affinity with ranged attacks and buffs has increased.]
The young commander-in-training slowly closed her book.
"If you really think that… maybe we could meet up more often. A new coffee just opened in the commercial district. They say it's amazing."
Aleph nodded, not thinking much of it.
"Sure, whenever you want."
What neither of them noticed was the presence of a certain girl who had come to visit.
Because just behind the door, Seele had been watching.
And she didn't like what she was seeing.
For some reason, it felt especially bad to see those two together.
Especially without her.
Aleph… was getting too close to Bronya.
Act 5 – The Circle Closes
"The threads of fate intertwine in ways the common man cannot foresee… And then there's Aleph, who doesn't even realize he's caught in a web."
After his interaction with Bronya, Aleph felt that his relationship with her had improved.
He couldn't deny that seeing her more at ease after everything she had been through made him quite happy.
[Congratulations! The criteria to unlock the next phase have been met.]
[Now, interactions will occur spontaneously.]
Aleph blinked.
"Does that mean conversations will now progress on their own?"
For the first time, he started to wonder if the system was really just a Social Link… or something else.
But his thoughts were interrupted when he saw March 7th in the Astral Express dining area, holding a tray of food.
The system activated immediately.
[Interaction Opportunity Detected.]
[Select your response:]
> A) "What are you eating?"
>B) "You're a really energetic person. Have you always been like this?"
>C) "Don't you ever get tired of bothering Dan Heng?"
Feeling like he was on a roll, Aleph chose option B.
"Are you always this energetic, or are there times when you feel different?"
March 7th, who had just taken a bite of her food, suddenly froze.
The light in her eyes dimmed for a brief moment.
Aleph felt the air around him grow heavier.
"…Huh?"
And then, she smiled.
A normal smile… too normal.
"Why do you ask something like that, Aleph?"
Aleph swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like he had stepped on a landmine.
"U-Uh… I was just curious."
March 7th set her fork down on the table and narrowed her eyes slightly, tilting her head.
"Well, I suppose I've always been this way… but sometimes, I wonder if what I am now is really who I used to be."
Her tone was light, but something in her words sent a chill down Aleph's spine.
But before he could think too deeply about it…
[High affinity level detected! She will now pay more attention to your actions.]
Aleph felt like something was off.
"Why does that sound like a warning…?"
However, before he could question it, Welt entered the cafeteria.
He looked at Aleph, then at March 7th… then back at Aleph with a tense expression.
"…Aleph."
"Yeah?"
"I need to talk to you. Now."
THE END?