Chapter 69: The Truth Can Be Disguised

"We've made a choice go fight against your fate!"

"Pain will come with the blade."

"Pain will wake up the despondent crowd in this dormant world somehow."

"Unsheathe a sword not to kill."

"Unsheathe a sword to rend those clouds above the ground."

"Wake up, it's time to gather now."

The background music swelled as Caelus led the charge against Cocolia, his Flame Lance raised high like a warrior destined to defy the gods.

Unwavering, he stood at the forefront, embodying the will of Preservation to the very end.

Every viewer watching the web series felt a chill crawl up their spines, electrifying their senses.

Eyes shut, hands clutching their chests, they could only gasp for breath utterly speechless, unable to articulate the storm of emotions inside them.

All they could do was unleash the most passionate curses, their hearts ablaze.

This was euphoria the fire within them had finally been ignited!

No one could resist. Phones were snatched up, messages fired off to anyone still awake friends, colleagues, family.

One goal: "Drop everything and watch the Cocolia boss fight in Honkai: Star Rail Season 2 NOW!"

No way they were burning with hype alone!

——

Meanwhile, the barrage comments were eerily calm—almost empty.

But the truth?

The moment Wildfire's chorus hit, the comments had exploded in volume, flooding the platform's servers to near-collapse.

For several seconds, the system lagged under the strain before stabilizing.

Now, viewers finally understood what it meant to drown the screen in barrages.

[!!!!]

[???]

[???]

[HOLY SH*T! I HAVE GOOSEBUMPS!]

[I'M LOSING IT THIS IS TOO GOOD!]

[LMAO I FEEL LIKE I'M PILOTING THE ENGINE OF CREATION I'M HYPED BEYOND BELIEF!]

[SCREW THIS! SCREW THIS! THIS IS TOO EPIC! I CAN'T I CAN'T EVEN UGH, WORDS FAIL ME!]

[THE TIMING! The buildup, the drums, the chanting, then BAM! "MAKE A CHOICE, FIGHT YOUR FATE!" I'M SHAKING!]

[AMINOS! AMINOS!]

[WHY IS THIS SO HYPE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?! WAAAHHH!]

[EVERYONE, TO YOUR WINDOWS SCREAM "HONKAI STAR RAIL IS PEAK!" I'M JOINING IN!]

[I NEED TO RUN A MARATHON TO BURN OFF THIS ADRENALINE!]

[This is Wildfire this is the Cocolia fight. I thought the Doomsday Beast was peak… HAHA, I WAS A FOOL!]

[SHT! SHT! I'M SPEECHLESS!]

[AAAAAAAAHHHHH!]

[I CAN'T TAKE IT I'VE BEEN YELLING "HOLY CRAP!" THE WHOLE TIME!]

[MY DORM BEDS ARE DESTROYED FROM ME JUMPING AROUND!]

——

The barrage output was nearing server capacity something not seen since The Wandering Earth years ago.

With comments this dense, turning them off was the only way to see the screen.

A necessary sacrifice.

——

Cocolia raised her right hand, summoning a colossal meteorite that hurtled toward the group.

Caelus tightened his grip on the Flame Lance and leapt.

"Flame Lance CHARGE!"

The spear's tip met the falling meteor head-on. Teeth gritted, he roared—

"HRRAAAGH!!!"

A crack split the meteorite—

Then, with a final surge, Caelus shattered it completely.

The others unleashed their strongest attacks, joining the assault.

Through it all, Wildfire never faded, its melody syncing perfectly with every strike, every heartbeat.

With Preservation's will backing them, Cocolia was already at her limit.

As she struggled to stand, preparing one last meteor strike—

The Engine of Creation delivered the final blow.

"We've made a choice go fight against your fate!"

The lyrics echoed as the massive fist came down—

The battle that began with choice now ended with fate.

[PURE. CINEMATIC. PERFECTION. I'M DEAD THIS IS TOO GOOD!]

[WHAT DID MIHOYO COOK HERE?! WHAT IS THIS SORCERY?!]

[TELL ME WHAT'S A SURPRISE. NO WHAT'S A GODDAMN SURPRISE!]

[I NEED WILDFIRE ON LOOP FOR 100 HOURS!]

[…Why am I crying?]

[IT'S THE HYPE! I INJECTED TOO MUCH HYPE!]

[NOOOO—SEASON 2'S ALMOST OVER! WHAT DO I DO NOW?!]

[MIHOYO SET THE BAR TOO HIGH! HOW DO I WATCH OTHER SHOWS AFTER THIS?!]

——

Cocolia froze into an ice sculpture then shattered, collapsing to her knees.

"Mother!" Bronya rushed forward, arm outstretched—

But Seele yanked her back.

"No! Don't take her away!" Bronya sobbed.

"The Stellaron… promised a future." Cocolia clutched the glowing core embedded in her chest. "It will devour… everything."

Bronya shoved Seele aside only to hit an invisible barrier.

"Mother, STOP! Please!"

Then—

A close-up of Cocolia's face.

For the first time… she smiled.

No one could tell why was it clarity? Exhaustion?

A golden light erupted—

And Cocolia dissolved into stardust.

Bronya fell to her knees, staring at the fading sparks.

Seele wrapped her arms around her.

"It's over, Bronya."

Tears streaked Bronya's cheeks as she whispered, "Mother… do you think she ever woke up from her dream?"

March 7th, Dan Heng, and Stelle approached.

"We did it!" March cheered then faltered. "But… what about the Stellaron?"

Dan Heng remained composed. "Himeko and Mr. Yang have been notified."

"So… the crisis is over?"

"The blizzard won't vanish overnight."

He explained sealing the Stellaron wasn't the end.

It was only the beginning.

Bronya steadied herself. Her grief could wait she had a city to answer to.

Caelus stepped forward, meeting her gaze.

"History is written by the victors."

"And the truth… can always be disguised."