Chapter 106: Shadows of the Past

Gepard led Stelle and Serval to take cover behind a barricade, silently observing.

"Stay alert. I've encountered these kinds of monsters a few times on the front lines. But this time… something's clearly off!"

"What's wrong?" Serval looked puzzled, as it was rare to see her little brother wear such an expression.

"These monsters are usually brimming with battle intent—when you meet them, it's always a fierce fight. But this one… it's already seen us, yet it's not reacting at all? I suspect a trick!"

"Fragmentum monsters can scheme?" Stelle scrutinized the situation before finally turning her gaze to Gepard.

"Heh…" Gepard chuckled awkwardly. "Not literally. I just mean the situation is unusual."

"Haaah…" Serval exhaled into her hands. "It's seriously freezing around here!"

Just then—

An ethereal voice echoed in Stelle's mind.

"Stellaron… promise… Serval…"

"It's… speaking?" Stelle stared intently at the monster before her, as subtitles labeled its name—"Shadow of the Guardian."

"Don't act rashly… wait!" Gepard shot Stelle a glance. "Who's talking?"

"You can't hear what it's saying?" Stelle looked at the siblings.

They only shook their heads silently—all they heard were the monster's chaotic, dissonant noises.

"Hold on!" Gepard spotted a key detail and pressed further. "You can understand its language?"

"Yeah. It's calling your names!"

Gepard lowered his head in thought for a few seconds, then glanced at Serval before speaking.

"I've heard the rumors—'Fragmentum phantoms clad in solemn human forms are the will of past guardians, condensed into echoes of memory.' If the rumors are true… then could it be—?!"

Serval lowered her head, her expression obscured by shadows.

"Cocolia… This woman… she just won't stay gone. I've tried everything to forget what happened before, yet you always find a way to force yourself back into my sight…"

Her grip tightened around the guitar at her waist before she suddenly roared at the monster—

"Cocolia, you bastard! First, you shut down my research, then you try to ruin my life—what else do you want to take from me?!"

Gepard shielded Serval with one arm as she tried to charge forward. "Calm down! That's just an illusion!"

Serval continued her hysterical outburst. "Were all those times we spent together just lies?!

You left so easily—don't you think you owe me an explanation?!"

"Get ahold of yourself, Sis. I know you want answers from Lady Cocolia…

But what's in front of us is just an enemy—a manifestation of the Fragmentum's malice. You won't find any answers here!

Fight with me, Sis. Let's dispel this phantom of the past together!

Of course… if you still can't face your past just yet…

The Trailblazer and I will hold the line for you—until you're ready to settle things for good."

Stelle hefted her bat onto her shoulder. "So? Are we doing this? Gonna beat the crap out of it?"

Serval's lips curled slightly. "You two… Ugh. Sorry, little bro. I made you worry again.

Well, since it's come to this… Cocolia, let's settle our old grudges right here, right now!"

She strummed her guitar violently—lightning erupted in all directions.

A thrilling battle was about to begin.

...

Gepard held the front line alone against the "Shadow of the Guardian," while Stelle seized every opening to land a few solid hits with her bat.

Serval, meanwhile, went all out—

The entire battlefield was engulfed in sparks and thunderbolts,

The screen flashed with welding-like effects, blinding quite a few onlookers.

[Holy crap, best friend indeed—she's going all out!]

[Serval's too OP, my eyes—!!!]

[So, uh… don't turn your brightness up too high at night. Don't ask how I know.]

——

After an intense fight, the "Shadow of the Guardian" dissipated into the air.

Yet, the phantom's voice still echoed in Stelle's mind:

"Serval… Ser… val… Ser… val…

Why… must you… always…

Get… in… my… WAY!!!"

"The temperature's returning to normal, and the Fragmentum monsters are scattering.

It seems Lady Cocolia's phantom was the catalyst for this invasion.

Regardless, the crisis is finally over. Good work, Trailblazer!"

Gepard shot Stelle a grateful look.

"That's it? I could take on ten more!" Stelle raised a clenched fist triumphantly.

"Hah!" Gepard smiled faintly. "Spoken like a true hero of Belobog.

Sis… you alright? How do you feel?"

Stelle pointed at herself, baffled. "Why the sudden topic shift to your sister?"

Thanks to Stelle's antics, Serval finally cracked a smile again.

"Hah… Feels like a weight's been lifted. But damn, that thing was loud before it vanished. Did it say something else?"

"It said, 'Thank you, Serval.'"

"Huh? Seriously?" Serval looked skeptical. "Eh, whatever. I don't care anymore. Even if it's late… it doesn't matter.

From now on… that woman and I are done."

Gepard nodded. "That sounds like the truth this time. If you've really let go of your resentment… then I'm happy for you."

Under Gepard's arrangements, Stelle and Serval returned to the clinic first,

while he stayed behind to handle remaining matters in the mining zone.

The screen faded to black—

Stelle now stood before Natasha, enthusiastically recounting the frontline events in detail to the leader of Wildfire.

Natasha gazed out the window with relief. "Thanks to Gepard's efforts, the damage was minimized. After this, the Underworld's opinion of the Silvermane Guards should improve."

Stelle pouted pitifully at Natasha. "What about me?"

Natasha covered her mouth, laughing, then looked at Stelle with fondness. "Of course, thank you too—for your help, Trailblazer… and Serval."

"Hey, no need to be so formal! They did most of the work." Serval perked up at a familiar voice outside. "Is that my little bro?"

Without further conversation, the three stepped outside.

Gepard was currently discussing follow-up plans with Oleg.

At Natasha's suggestion, the group decided to visit the recently rescued miner siblings.

Back inside the clinic,

they found the older sister tending to her younger brother.

Later, they learned from the siblings that they had lost their parents long ago and had only each other to rely on.

Gepard looked at the older sister apologetically. "The weight of life is heavy… and you've had to carry your brother's share too. I know it couldn't have been easy."

Suddenly, Gepard crouched in front of the younger brother, straightening the boy's collar.

"Zeno, right? You're still young, so it's natural to rely on your sister's protection.

But when you grow up… don't ever forget everything she's done for you. Learn to protect your family with your own strength too.

Strive to become someone your sister can lean on. When you feel lost… at least you'll always have each other to confide in."

Serval watched everything unfold in silence—

But from this moment on,

she had truly made up her mind.