Chapitre 6: Game over！
That's a no-brainer, of course, it's the second option.
Ron made his choice without hesitation—the first option violated Belobog's traditions. The last person who did so was Spanier, who supported the unchosen child, Ciri, to become the High Guardian, using her as a puppet.
The result was a palace coup, and Ciri became the infamous "Fool."
Thanks to them, Belobog is extremely wary of anyone trying to become the High Guardian without being chosen by the Builders...
Although this is an emergency, Ron knew that if he dared choose the first option, he would end up being "suicided" in some unfortunate manner, possibly a classic "fell into the armory chest and suffocated."
After all, while the Guards now followed his command, it was essentially due to Bronya's authority... He was far from having the qualifications to become the High Guardian.
And the third option was clearly a defeatist choice. Given the worsening situation, the only possible outcome was the collapse of the defense line.
The second option was the only one with real potential for action.
As Ron made his choice, new text gradually appeared on the screen:
[You understand that without the presence of a High Guardian, the Guards would never maintain their morale against the rift creatures' assault.]
[You handed command back to the recovering Captain Jepard Landau and led a small elite team, charging into the rift without hesitation.]
[Under your lead, the team fought through obstacles and eventually penetrated the rift, where they saw a familiar figure.]
An image appeared on the screen—
On the frozen ground, the Antimatter Legion stood encased in ice, like statues.
Among the statues, Bronya, heavily corroded by the rift, was limping away, pursued by a floating, strange humanoid figure. The figure's staff crackled with lightning, turning the snow around her into a field of arcing electricity.
Bronya had not found Cocolia Rand but had encountered a bizarre humanoid shadow with remnants of an ancient High Guardian's aura.
Under the attack of this Guardian's shadow, Bronya was in grave danger.
This was a shadow created by the Stellaron's power, executing the will to expand the rift.
The Guardian's shadow was one of the strangest and most formidable entities within the rift, typically only able to be fought by those who had walked the Path for a long time.
For Ron, a commander with only leadership skills and no experience on the Path, facing her was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
But Ron did not retreat.
"Take Commander Bronya away, leave the rear guard to me."
Dust-covered, Ron's axe cleaved through the snow as he stood before the Guardian's shadow.
"What about you...?"
Bronya asked Ron, who simply adjusted his helmet, his voice muffled under it.
"I don't have the Amber King's protection in this rift, and I've already been severely corroded."
His tone was carefree: "Either way, it's a death sentence, might as well die heroically."
"Leave this to me!"
"But you..."
Bronya wanted to say more but was pulled away by the Guards. Her gaze lingered on Ron as she left.
She saw Ron standing unmoving before the Guardian's shadow.
His axe cut through the lightning, weaving between golden arrows.
Dark purple arcs danced over Ron's body, arrows piercing his flesh.
The hero would die.
The image faded.
[You ventured into the rift and found High Guardian successor Bronya.]
[To ensure her safety, you chose to have the elite team evacuate her, staying behind yourself.]
[The power of the Guardian's shadow was formidable; you gave your all, but only managed to slow it down.]
[You saved Bronya but left yourself in the rift.]
[After your death, Bronya's return restored the Guards' morale, rekindling hope.]
[However, Bronya had been deeply corroded by the rift and was gravely injured.]
[Shortly after your death, she too was engulfed by the rift.]
[The same month, Cocolia, assimilated by the Stellaron, returned from the rift. Belobog's defense crumbled, and the light of Preservation was about to be extinguished on this planet.]
[The upper and lower districts, facing imminent destruction, lifted the blockade. Svarog led the "Fire Ground" organization in a final assault from the lower district.]
[The Fire Ground's assault failed.]
[Destruction embraced this icy world.]
[Game Over.]
"We can't win..."
Ron felt a bit frustrated.
It seems I'm not an all-around expert after all. My ability to stabilize the defense line might have been due to my interpersonal skills. Over the past two years in the simulation, I maxed out my personal charm.
But in terms of combat skills... it felt inferior to Captain Jepard.
In the simulation, managing to hold off the Guardian's shadow was likely pushing my abilities to their limit; dying in the rift was only to be expected.
"Alright, note this pitfall, and be more cautious in the next simulation..."
Ron sighed. He had prepared for everything but forgot the deep bond between Bronya and Cocolia.
Although Bronya had agreed to the coup, she merely intended to replace Cocolia to salvage the situation. Her feelings for Cocolia were still strong.
Whenever Cocolia caused trouble, Bronya would certainly react, and this time was a harsh lesson.
"Damn, one slip and everything goes wrong..."
Ron regretted his initial choice, but with the game over, the results screen appeared on the screen.
[This Life Simulation score: 60 points.]
[Amber Era, 2180, 37th Month: The Archeological Weapons Faction of the Knowledge Society excavated the devastated planet Jarilo-VI, ravaged by the Antimatter Legion.]
[Beneath the gray-white dust and snow, ancient relics were unearthed and sent to the Interastral Peace Corporation.]
[The corporation shared the relic data with the Herta Space Station, where a document was archived by the Herta Archival Department, lost among the vast sea of documents—]
["Under the influence of the Stellaron, Jarilo-VI ultimately fell into the hands of Destruction, like other planets that became brilliant fireworks under the Antimatter Legion's assault."]
["But the buried relics reveal the struggle for survival waged by this planet's civilization—"]
["Under the leadership of Commander Ron, the soldiers were blessed by the Amber King, managing to hold the defense line..."]
["But no one knows why the situation on this planet suddenly took a turn for the worse. It's only known that Commander Ron mysteriously died in the rift, and the light of Preservation was extinguished."]
["Another planet's starfire was snuffed out by Destruction. How should we proceed?"]
["The author is filled with sorrow, but asks those who read this document to join in tribute."]
["To the Resistors, to the Heroes."]
The text on the screen dissolved like water, revealing a deep purple trait:
[You have obtained the trait: Will of Preservation (Purple).]
[Will of Preservation: The starfire of Preservation clears the fog before you. You glimpse a golden headless giant building a wall in the vast deep space, its brilliant crystalline walls shimmering with the starfire of civilization. All darkness outside the wall rages but cannot consume it.]
[When loading this trait, you will walk the path of Preservation and become a Pathstrider.]
This is a real lifesaver...
Ron loaded the trait without hesitation.
The reason for the tragic end of the last simulation was fundamentally Ron's lack of combat capability.
The difference in strength between a Pathstrider and a mortal was like heaven and earth. If he had become a Pathstrider in the simulation, the outcome would likely have been different...
"I refuse to believe I can lose with this trait loaded!"
Ron clicked on the screen.
"One more run!"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone