Seven system days later.
Belobog experienced a massive public opinion earthquake.
The cause, naturally, was Bronya fulfilling her promise to reveal all truths.
The reasons behind the Stellaron's appearance seven hundred years ago, the cause of the Eternal Freeze, and the subsequent events were mostly disclosed without reservation.
Among them, the decisions of past Great Guardians and the research results left by scientists were fully publicized.
Of course, the most shocking revelation was about the 18th Great Guardian, Cocolia Rand.
Unable to bear the despair left by her ancestors, she turned her back on Preservation and bowed to the Stellaron's will.
Over the past decade, she made a series of outrageous decisions that left people clenching their fists in anger.
These included, but were not limited to, sealing off the Underworld, issuing absurd orders to the Silvermane Guards through overstepped authority, leading to the deaths of many soldiers, and more.
Seele's concerns held some truth.
Such revelations were, for most of Belobog's people, akin to the sky collapsing.
Rumors spread like wildfire, and panic gripped the masses.
Doubts about the Great Guardian grew, gradually eroding trust in the Architects.
Fortunately, not everyone lacked their own judgment.
As Stelle had once said:
If all of Belobog lost the spine to resist, then this civilization would no longer be worth saving.
Leon and everyone else's life-risking efforts would merely be for resolving the Stellaron and restoring the Astral Express's silver rails.
Two days after the situation escalated, public sentiment, subtly guided by the Trailblaze team, gradually stabilized.
Bronya, as the future Great Guardian, did not waver upon learning the truth and chose to fight.
She raised her weapon against the current Great Guardian, her adoptive mother.
Her courage, will, and conviction were all qualities a worthy Great Guardian should possess.
With the help of off-world visitors, Bronya ended the seven-hundred-year disaster and her mother's madness.
Belobog's future was now on the right track.
After public opinion was steered back on course, those working behind the scenes breathed a sigh of relief.
The strategy was Leon's idea.
But the execution was mostly carried out by Underworld Wildfire members and its people.
On the day Bronya announced the truth, she promised to lift the Underworld's lockdown as soon as possible.
For the Underworld's residents, Bronya's actions were undoubtedly admirable.
Not everyone would dare to stand up in such times, refuse to walk down the wrong path, and fight steadfastly against it.
They endured over a decade of hardship because of Cocolia, yet found hope again through her daughter, Bronya.
Only those who've seen darkness can truly appreciate the value of light.
Several more days passed.
When the dark, gloomy skies over Belobog cleared, revealing a sea-blue expanse, doubts and unrest gradually faded.
The storm came quickly and left just as fast.
Golden sunlight poured down, dispelling centuries of bone-chilling cold.
The city's newspapers shifted their headlines from crisis to Belobog's revival.
The most anticipated event was the upcoming inauguration of the new Great Guardian.
Through word-of-mouth over time, Bronya had clearly become the new symbol of hope.
She didn't comment on this, merely accepting it silently and making a quiet vow—
To live up to the people's hopes and expectations, revive Belobog, and heal the scars Cocolia left on this world.
…
Morning.
The sunlight was perfect, with a gentle breeze brushing past.
Bronya deliberately carved out time from her busy schedule to formally thank the four members of the Trailblaze team.
"Mr. Leon, how's your condition now?"
After everyone sat down, Bronya first looked at Leon, her opening words filled with concern.
Leon smiled. "Just minor issues. I'll recover sooner or later. Also, no need for 'Mr.'—no need to be so formal."
Hearing this, Bronya felt reassured.
"You all poured your heart and effort into this world, saving it from the brink of destruction."
"And… you nearly lost your lives because of my mother."
"You dealt with the root of the disaster, offered sound advice, and worked tirelessly afterward to salvage the reputation of the Great Guardian and the Architects."
"All of this, this gratitude, is something we can never fully repay."
"Right now, Belobog is in ruins, and we can't even offer a proper token of thanks…"
March 7th quickly waved her hands.
"Don't say that. If we saved a world just for rewards, we wouldn't be Trailblazers of the Nameless."
"Right, everyone?"
Stelle said solemnly, "Call me the Galactic Justice, doing good deeds without leaving a name."
Leon and Dan Heng exchanged a glance.
The former chuckled lightly, while the latter's expression remained unchanged, nodding slightly.
Leon: "No need for grand gestures of thanks. If possible, just give her that lance."
Seeing Leon gesture toward her, Stelle pulled out the new weapon "given" by Cocolia.
Bronya nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. It carries the fiery, resilient will of our ancestors and the weight of that difficult history."
"Unfortunately, in my mother's hands, it turned to ice."
"Now, Belobog doesn't need the past but a truly new future."
"This lance is a witness, and you are the witnesses."
"We'll eventually need to bid farewell to the past. Leon, even if you hadn't said it, it belongs to you."
"As long as this world endures, it will be a token of friendship between Belobog and the Trailblazers."
"Across time and eras."
"Leon's care for Trailblazer is just too good for words!"
Old Bear couldn't help but sigh.
"Not only does he look out for the younger ones, always thinking of them, but he's also a real man."
"Or rather, a pure gentleman!"
"A character like this in a gacha game might not be everyone's cup of tea, but at least it won't stir up dislike."
[What's with calling him Leon? No respect—call him Father!]
[He gave up his second heart for you, enduring the pain of it being pierced, and you won't even call him Father.]
"I was wrong… Father Leon, I'll be his loyal follower!"
Old Bear didn't mind.
Joking for show was one thing, but if someone in real life cared for him so deeply—
Forget Father, he'd call him Dad.
[Anyone who dislikes Leon's character design must have a seriously twisted personality.]
[True. You could say his design is classically cliché, but the knives make up for it, tugging at your heart.]
[In an era where gacha game characters keep bombing, having a normal guy like Leon in the protagonist team is something to cherish.]
[What if they introduce a character with a unique design who's harsh to the protagonist or even schemes against them, full of 'flavor'? Then you'll behave.]
[Are you looking for—never mind, I won't say it. I'm scared my ID will show up in my DMs.]
[With Father Leon's level of loyalty, anyone scheming against his companions probably won't find him sitting idly by.]
[Got it. If I get wronged, I'll go to Leon for backup.]
[Stelle: Help me, Mr. Leon~~]