Chapter 76: Preparations to Return to the Overworld

Before Bronya could even finish her sentence, Svarog had already shaken his massive, metallic head.

“It is too late,” the robot’s voice connected, devoid of emotion but heavy with finality. “And the associated risk is far too high.”

“The unknown signal protocols carried by the invading units possess extremely high-priority overriding and assimilation capabilities. Once our mechanical units enter their active zone, there is a massive probability of them being reverse-hacked and becoming reinforcements for the enemy’s combat strength.”

Svarog’s conclusion was chilling. “Dispatching our forces would be equivalent to delivering troops directly to the enemy.”

As if to punctuate his point, a holographic screen beside him flickered to life, switching its display to real-time surveillance footage. The image showed several Automated Sentries attempting to establish a defensive line on the outskirts of the settlement. For a moment, they held their ground. Then, suddenly, the calm blue light in their optical sensors flickered chaotically before burning a solid, ominous dark red.

With a series of stiff, unnatural jerks, the sentries swiveled their weaponized barrels around and began firing upon the very facilities they had been programmed to protect.

“The opponent possesses low-level protocol cracking and forced requisition technology that we cannot comprehend,” Svarog added, his vocalizer flat. “Conventional mechanical countermeasures are, at this moment, almost entirely ineffective.”

Hearing this, a heavy silence fell over the group. The air in the room grew thick, and every heart sank like a stone.

Bronya’s expression darkened, her jaw set in a hard line and her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Nearby, Seele gritted his teeth, a string of curses escaping under his breath. Dan Heng’s brow was deeply furrowed, his gaze distant as he clearly began calculating potential counter-strategies.

March 7th was practically vibrating with anxiety, pacing back and forth in a tight circle. “Then—then what are we supposed to do? We can’t just stand here and watch them tear Belobog apart, can we?!”

Clara clutched the hem of Svarog’s heavy coat, her small face pale with fear.

And Chen, standing just at the edge of the concerned crowd… his mind was a roiling, stormy sea, battered by colossal waves of pure, unadulterated confusion.

‘What happened?!’he screamed internally.’Can someone please tell me what the hell just happened?! How has the plot managed to derail itself again, and again, and again?!’His brain felt like it was buzzing, filled with static. According to the original, sacred script of the game, shouldn’t the truth about the Stellaron be revealed right about now? Then Bronya’s resolve would waver, and everyone would gather to discuss the next steps to locate and deal with the source of the Eternal Freeze. At most, there would be some interference from Mr. Cocolia!’What in the name of Akivili is this unknown mechanical legion that just popped out of nowhere?!’Chen’s thoughts were a frantic spiral.’Dismantling and looting every machine it sees, and even forcibly turning other robots against us?! Digging their way out from underground?! This isn’t the right vibe at all!’

He frantically scoured the archives of his memory, combing through every bit of lore he knew about Honkai: Star Rail’s Jarilo-VI plotline. Main story, side quests, limited-time events, even scrapped content from obscure data mines… none of it, absolutely none of it, mentioned anything like this.

A full-blown machine rebellion?!

‘Is this still the frozen planet I know and love?’he lamented.’The one where we fight Fragmentum monsters, discuss the philosophy of Preservation, and occasionally match wits with the Supreme Guardian?! Has this entire script been hijacked by some bored Aeon of Elation for a laugh?!’A more dreadful thought began to creep in.’Or is it… because of me? Did I, this transmigrated butterfly, flap my wings a little too hard?’He began to doubt his very existence in this world. Was it because he snuck out last night to repair Svarog? Or was it even earlier, when he caused such a massive stir in Herta’s form? Or maybe it was using Bronya’s own identity to fool the real Bronya… did that trigger some unforeseen, catastrophic chain reaction?’But this reaction is way too ridiculous!’he despaired.’We’ve jumped straight from a sci-fi post-apocalyptic film to the set of Terminator meets The Matrix!’

“I can’t wait anymore!”

Seele’s sharp, impatient voice cut through the heavy atmosphere. “The brothers from Wildfire are still out there holding the line, and Aunt Oleg can’t hold out alone! I have to go back!”

Without waiting for a response from Bronya or Svarog, he spun on his heel and sprinted back toward the passage they had come from.

“Seele! Wait!” Bronya called out urgently.

“Together!” Dan Heng stated decisively, his form a blur as he followed Seele without a moment’s hesitation. March 7th and the Trailblazer exchanged a quick glance before immediately following suit. With the current situation so unclear, staying together was infinitely safer than splitting up, and it was obvious the front lines in the Underworld desperately needed support.

Bronya shot a quick glance at Svarog, who gave a slow, deliberate nod. “I will continue to monitor the situation and provide intelligence support from here.”

His red gaze softened slightly as it fell upon the small girl beside him. “Clara, you will stay here. It is absolutely safe.”

Though Clara was visibly worried, she knew she would only be a burden if she followed. She nodded vigorously, her voice small but earnest. “Sister Svarog, everyone… please be careful!”

Bronya hesitated no longer. She turned to the other “Bronya” in the room—Chen—and gave a sharp command. “Miss Bronya, keep up with us!”

With that, she too chased after the others, her boots echoing down the metallic corridor.

Chen was still reeling from the plot’s sudden, violent swerve, but his body moved on instinct, falling into step with the team. ‘Never mind,’he thought, his mind racing as he ran.’I’ll figure it out later. First, let’s see what’s actually happening on the front lines! What could this mechanical legion possibly want?’

The group followed Seele’s lead, moving swiftly through the tunnels, drawn toward the epicenter of the chaos by the ever-increasing vibrations and distant sounds of destruction. The closer they got to the front line, the clearer the sounds of collapsing buildings became, a terrible display of groaning metal and crumbling rock mixed with the faint shouts and cries of the populace.

But strangely, the scene of carnage and bloodshed they had all been bracing for never materialized.

When they burst out of the tunnel and onto a slightly elevated area—a platform that had once served as an old ore dump—the scene that unfolded before them left everyone stunned into silence.

Below the platform, a network of alleys snaked through the district. At this very moment, dozens of heavily armored robots with glowing, dark red eyes were indeed active in those alleys. They moved with a swift and unnerving orderliness. Some were using crackling energy blades to slice through abandoned metal supports and damaged walls. Others employed powerful mechanical arms to move aside rubble and the scrapped husks of vehicles that blocked their path.

On the periphery of the robots’ activity, dozens of Wildfire members, under the command of Oleg and Natasha, had established a defensive line composed mainly of makeshift cover and roadblocks.

But they weren’t firing. They only stood guard, their postures radiating a tense uncertainty.

The most eye-catching figure was Natasha. The highly respected male doctor of the Underworld was not wearing his usual white coat. Instead, he was dressed in a dark, practical outfit better suited for action. He stood on a high point at the front of the defensive line, holding a crude megaphone and barking orders into the alleys below.

“…Repeat! Prohibit active attacks! Maintain your distance! Do not enter their dismantling range! focus on the evacuation of all civilians!”

Despite the evident tension and confusion on their faces, the Wildfire members below heeded his shouts, restraining the urge to open fire.

“Doctor Natasha!” Seele was the first to reach him, his tone urgent and demanding. “What’s the situation? Why aren’t we fighting back?”

Seeing Seele and the arrival of Bronya and the others, the grim lines on Natasha’s face relaxed slightly with relief, though his brow remained tightly furrowed. He lowered the megaphone and explained quickly, “Fight? How can we fight? Just look at them!”

He pointed to the nearest robot below, which was methodically dismantling the support structure of an abandoned conveyor belt.

“We tried,” Natasha said, his voice laced with frustration. “Ordinary bullets hitting their armor is like scratching an itch. Energy weapons work slightly better, but the moment you fire, it immediately draws the aggro of several more of them. They focus on attacking the aggressor.”

He gestured to a different robot not far away, one that was clearly a standard mining model belonging to the Underworld. “And what’s even more troublesome… look. It’s actually helping them with the demolition now. Their assimilation ability is too strong; sending in our own Automated Sentries is completely out of the question.”

Then, his voice took on an incredibly strange and incredulous tone. “But… as long as we don’t proactively attack them, or use our own bodies to block their dismantling path… they almost entirely ignore humans.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “A few of the brothers risked getting close to observe. They said the robots just shine a scanning beam over them for a second and then go right back to their work.”

“What?” Bronya was stunned. She leaned forward, observing the area below with a keen eye.

Sure enough, while the robots were dismantling their surroundings with gusto, they paid no mind to the Underworld residents who were running in a panic along the edges of the alleys. As long as they weren’t directly in a robot’s path, they were indeed ignored.

Just then, a mother holding a child accidentally tripped and fell not far from one of the hulking machines. The robot merely paused its work, its dark red optical sensor swiveling to scan them for a brief moment. Then, without a hint of aggression, it simply bypassed the fallen pair and continued dismantling a half-collapsed wall nearby.

“It’s as if they are… just clearing obstacles?” Bronya murmured, a thoughtful frown on her face. “Or rather, looking for something?”

“Exactly!” Natasha nodded, a bitter smile touching his lips. It was the kind of dark humor one finds only in the face of absolute disaster. “Anyway, our Underworld was already dirt poor, filled with broken-down houses and old machines. If they want to tear it all down, let them. Dismantling all that scrap metal might even save us the effort of cleaning up.”

His expression hardened as he finished, his gaze turning serious and locking onto Bronya. “As long as the people are okay, that’s what matters. If the shacks are gone, we can rebuild them. The real problem… is up there.”

He gestured vaguely toward the ceiling of the massive cavern. “According to the fragments of Overworld communications we’ve managed to intercept, these tin cans aren’t being nearly so polite in the Upper District. The western industrial zone, the Warehouse District, and even the outer blocks near the Everwinter Monument have come under heavy attack. And those Automated Sentries of yours… it seems they’re even easier for them to turn.”

Bronya’s heart seized in her chest, a spike of cold fear piercing through her.

Father… Gepard… and all those Silvermane Guards and citizens who trust and follow him!

“I must go back immediately!” she declared, her voice ringing with unshakeable resolve. Without another word, she turned to leave.

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]