After the encounter, Rozen rushed back to the lab. His plans needed to move faster before outsiders reached Belobog.
At the very least, he had to complete the evolution of Belobog's people and seize full control of the civilization before the IPC—or Topaz—arrived.
Without wasting a moment, he commanded his clones to push their efforts to the limit.
Alright, then. I need to confront Cocolia and deal with the Stellaron. That'll make taking over much easier down the line.
So, without delay, he decided to teleport to Cocolia's location. But he didn't materialize right in front of her—he wasn't about to risk the Stellaron sensing him and spiraling into panic.
Let's see which power fits this moment… Found it! A mind-based ability should do the trick.
Once ready, Rozen teleported to Cocolia's side, materializing silently in the Great Guardian's office in the Overworld. In an instant, he shrouded himself with 'Presence Concealment' rank EX, a skill wielded by the King Hassan from the Type-Moon universe, rendering his presence virtually undetectable.
But as he arrived, he realized Cocolia wasn't alone. A familiar figure—Bronya—was there, locked in conversation with her.
They seemed to be discussing the sudden appearance of the two Aeons just moments ago. It was no surprise—news like that must have sent the entire Overworld into a frenzy.
Bronya faced Cocolia, her voice firm yet edged with desperation. "Mother, the Aeons' arrival could mean hope. If we asked for their help, they might ease our people's fears—unite Belobog once more."
Cocolia's gaze hardened, her words sharp and cold. "Hope? That's a fool's dream, Bronya. The Aeons don't care for us. Even Qlipoth, who we've revered for centuries, stays silent—ignoring Belobog's pleas. Order keeps us alive, not hollow shadows. Stay out of my plans."
Bronya's resolve flared. "But Mother, survival isn't enough. If the Aeons lent us their power, we could forge a future worth fighting for."
Cocolia cut her off, voice like steel. "Enough! I won't let Belobog waste itself on empty promises. Obey me, Bronya."
Rozen truly didn't want to interrupt their talk, but the urgency of his mission left him no choice.
He activated the mind power he'd copied from Professor X, drawing Cocolia into a mental space where he could address her directly.
In an instant, the room fell silent. Cocolia froze—Bronya had vanished. A deafening quiet engulfed everything, and before she could make sense of it, she was pulled into Rozen's strange mental domain.
"What… what's happening?!" Cocolia gasped, her voice trembling with fear and confusion. Her eyes darted around the unfamiliar void as she fought to calm her racing heart, trying to piece together where she was.
"You're in my mental space now, Cocolia," Rozen said, stepping into her view with a relaxed grin. "Here, we can talk without the Stellaron interfering."
Cocolia recoiled, her gaze locking onto him with wary intensity. "Who are you?" she demanded. "What do you want with me?"
Rozen raised an eyebrow, amused. "Weren't you listening? I just want a chat, free from that Stellaron twisting your mind, Great Guardian."
With a lazy flick of his wrist, he conjured two chairs—one for himself, one for Cocolia—and settled into his with relaxed confidence, his tone teasing yet sharp, daring her to engage.
The word "Stellaron" hit her like a jolt. Cocolia's expression shifted, her breath catching as she realized its the Stellaron control on her was gone.
Gone?! The Stellaron Control was gone! How could anyone break its control? Who is this man?
Sensing his power, she swallowed hard, her nerves taut. Slowly, she sank into a chair, bracing herself to hear him out.
Rozen nodded, satisfied. "Let's get to it," he said, leaning forward. "I'm here to take full control of Belobog. I want its people to see me as their one true Emperor."
Cocolia's eyes flashed with defiance. "Never!" she snapped. "I won't hand Belobog to some stranger whose only goal seems to be power!"
Rozen's smile didn't waver—he'd expected this. "But what if I could save Belobog?" he countered smoothly. "End the Eternal Freeze, destroy the Stellaron, clear out the monsters, and give your people a future that's bright and thriving?"
Cocolia hesitated, her resolve wavering. The offer was tempting—too tempting—but what if it was all lies? Her face betrayed her inner conflict.
Rozen caught it instantly. "Oh, you need proof to believe me, don't you?" he said, grinning as she gave a reluctant nod. "No problem."
With a confident snap of his fingers, he unleashed a future-vision ability, flooding Cocolia's mind with vivid glimpses of what could be.
A stunning scene unfolded before Cocolia's eyes. At first, it was a beautiful world, filled with lush green plants and trees that captivated her instantly. The sight left her fascinated, unable to look away.
Soon, she noticed people—citizens of Belobog. Without exception, they all wore expressions of happiness and joy, as if sadness and suffering had been erased from their lives.
Her gaze lifted further, and she saw cities beyond Belobog springing up across every corner of the planet Jarilo-VI. These cities boasted infrastructure she had never seen before, along with advanced technologies like flying cars and other marvels.
As more scenes revealed themselves, Cocolia's awe grew. A deep longing for this beautiful future welled up inside her, a desperate hope to witness it firsthand.
But unbeknownst to her, what she saw was not the real future. After all, the future under Rozen's rule would be chaotic, shaped by the Absolute race's unique abilities—like their power to shapeshift at will.
God only knows what would happen if Cocolia saw the real future, where everybody in Belobog including a child suddenly transformed into a strange, weird creature. To avoid that, Rozen had show her the alternate future of Belobog, free of his influence, a few hundred years later from now.
Satisfied with his display, Rozen ended the clairvoyant vision. Cocolia blinked, snapping back to reality.
"So, how about it?" Rozen asked with an amused smile. "Are you convinced by my proof now?"
After a moment of hesitation, Cocolia nodded. "I agree with you. I'll hand over full control of Belobog to you."
Hearing his goal achieved, Rozen nodded with satisfaction. With this, his plan could proceed smoothly, just as he'd hoped.
But then Cocolia spoke again. "But…" Her words caught Rozen's attention, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
"But what?" he asked, frowning slightly.
"I can't guarantee that all of Belobog's people will agree with me," she explained cautiously. "I can't convince everyone to accept your rule."
Rozen let out a relieved breath. He'd feared she might impose conditions for her agreement, which could have forced him to manipulate her mind, much like the Stellaron had.
Cocolia, observing Rozen's reaction, suddenly felt an overwhelming chill. She hugged herself, trembling with unease.
W-Why is it so cold all of a sudden?!
Cocolia gasped, shivering as an icy chill enveloped her.
Unbeknownst to her, her fate was teetering on the edge, much like it had before.
"Alright then," Rozen said, rising from his chair. "I'll deal with the Stellaron first, and then you'll hand over full control of Belobog." Cocolia nodded, confirming his words.
Rozen turned to leave but paused, glancing back. He gave her shoulder a light pat. "Relax, you won't regret this," he said with a sly grin. "You might even feel like you've hit the jackpot with this choice." With that, he vanished.
Jackpot? What's that?
Cocolia frowned, puzzled. Belobog had no such concept, leaving her curious and unsettled.
But, no regrets, huh? I don't know… I just hope trusting you was the right call. If not, I could drag all of Belobog into ruin and despair.
She prayed her decision would lead to the future she'd envisioned, then froze as a thought hit her.
I didn't even ask his name…
Their intense talk about Belobog's fate had consumed her entirely.
Suddenly, the void around her crumbled, shattering into fragments. Before panic could fully grip her, she blinked—and found herself back in her office, Bronya standing before her.
I'm back? No, Was it… just a dream?
Cocolia stood dazed, struggling to grasp reality.
"Mother! Are you listening?" Bronya's voice pierced through.
Of course it was a dream. A stranger demanding power for a prosperous future? How foolish to think it was real.
"Mother! Why are you ignoring me? This matters is really important to our people!" Bronya's tone grew sharp with frustration.
Cocolia sighed inwardly.
I must be exhausted, hallucinating something so bizarre. I need rest—less work to keep this from happening again.
"Mother!" A loud bang on the desk jolted Cocolia from her thoughts. She met Bronya's glare, a mix of anger and worry.
"Why are you zoning out like that?" Bronya demanded. "How can you drift off when we're discussing Belobog's safety?"
Cocolia softened, offering a weary, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Bronya. Can you leave me for now? We'll talk later."
Bronya's frustration eased, but concern took over. "Mother, are you alright? Is there anything I can do?"
Cocolia shook her head, exhaustion carved into her face. "Just give me some time alone, okay? We'll continue soon."
Bronya hesitated, worry lingering in her eyes, but nodded. As she moved to leave, she cast a final, anxious glance back. Cocolia mustered a reassuring smile and a small wave. With a reluctant sigh, Bronya walked out.
Once certain Bronya had left, Cocolia sank back into her thoughts, wrestling with the events that had flooded her mind. She needed to know—was her encounter with Rozen real, or just a trick of her imagination?
"Bronya said I zoned out mid-conversation," she murmured to herself, doubt creeping in. "Does that mean I was just hallucinating?"
Yet the memories were vivid—too vivid. The glimpse of a radiant future, her talk with that mysterious man—it all felt so real. "I can still picture every detail," she whispered, leaning toward believing it had truly happened.
"This is driving me crazy. Was it real or not?" Cocolia groaned, rubbing her temples as a headache pulsed. Then, a sudden realization hit her.
Wait! That man freed me from the Stellaron's grip. If I check, I'll know for sure.
Heart pounding, she swallowed hard, her hands trembling. "Stellaron… are you there?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Silence filled the empty office, its stillness almost deafening. The absence of any response made the room feel eerily calm.
"Stellaron?" she tried again, a flicker of fear in her voice—but her eyes began to spark with hope.
After calling out several times with no whisper or pull in her mind, Cocolia froze. Her body trembled, and then—a burst of joyous laughter erupted.
"Hahaha! It was real! That man, his offer—it was all real!" she cried, tears of happiness streaming down her face. "I'm free from the Stellaron's control! Belobog's future is bright—saved at last! I'm so happy!" Her laughter echoed, loud and unrestrained, as the crushing weight of her role as Great Guardian seemed to lift, replaced by pure relief.
The two guards outside Cocolia's office exchanged glances, unease flickering between them. One, unable to hold back his curiosity, leaned closer. "Hey, brother, is Lord Cocolia alright? That sudden burst of laughter—so loud it echoed out here! You don't think… she's lost it, do you? Maybe the stress of all that piled-up work's gotten to her? No way, right?"
His companion's eyes widened at the reckless words. "Quiet!" he hissed, cutting him off. "That kind of talk is forbidden! If anyone overheard and reported you, even a Great Guardian's guard could end up in jails!"
The first guard froze, his face paling with fear. He darted a nervous glance around, ensuring no one else had caught his slip. His friend shook his head, exasperated but relieved. "Lucky it's just me," he muttered. "Anyone else, and you'd be reported faster than you could blink."
(A/N: Please support me by giving Power Stones! Your support can help motivate me to continue writing this fanfic! Thank you!)