Fate's Slave - Shadow Slave X Honkai Star Rail-Chapter 496: Slay All (II)

Bronya sat in silence, the sterile chamber deep within the lower levels of Qlipoth Fort pressing in on her with an almost suffocating stillness that no amount of regulated temperature or controlled lighting could alleviate. The room was immaculate to a fault, every surface polished to a mirror sheen, every instrument arranged with clinical precision, yet that very perfection stripped it of any warmth it might have otherwise possessed. The faint hum of machinery lingered in the air, steady and unchanging, marking the passage of time with a detached indifference that felt almost cruel in its consistency. It was the kind of environment designed to preserve life, yet it felt devoid of it in every meaningful way.

Her gaze remained fixed on the figure before her, unmoving for long stretches of time, as though the simple act of looking away might invite further deterioration, as though her attention alone could somehow anchor what little remained of the person she once knew. The woman lying upon the elevated platform was no longer someone that could be easily recognized, her form having undergone a gradual yet relentless transformation that had stripped away familiarity piece by piece until what remained existed in a state that defied easy categorization. It was not sudden, nor was it subtle, but rather a steady progression that had advanced beyond the point of denial.

Her once golden hair had long since faded into a pale, icy blue, the strands catching the sterile light in a way that felt unnatural, almost crystalline in texture. Her skin had darkened into a deep shade of blue, no longer bearing the softness of human flesh, instead resembling something closer to frozen stone. A jagged mask of ice encased her lower face, its edges uneven and sharp, as though it had grown rather than formed, while a single horn protruded from her skull, its presence both alien and disturbingly organic. Even her limbs had not been spared, stretched beyond their natural proportions, her fingers elongated into claw-like extensions that seemed more suited for tearing than touching.

And yet, despite everything, she breathed.

That singular, fragile rhythm was the only undeniable proof that life still lingered within her, though for how long, Bronya could not say with any certainty. Each visit revealed further change, subtle yet unmistakable, as though something within her was steadily rewriting the very structure of her being. The question that had haunted Bronya for days now lingered at the edge of her thoughts, impossible to ignore no matter how much she wished otherwise. At what point would there be nothing left to save? At what point would the person she called mother cease to exist entirely, replaced by something that wore her form but bore no trace of who she once was?

Her hands tightened almost imperceptibly at her sides, her posture rigid as she forced herself to remain composed, though the anxiety beneath the surface threatened to bleed through with every passing second. She could not afford to falter, not here, not now, not when there were so many depending on her. And yet, in this room, with no one else to see, the weight of it all pressed down upon her with a force that was difficult to ignore.

The door behind her opened with a soft, measured sound that seemed almost intrusive against the controlled silence of the chamber.

"Madam Guardian, someone has come to see you."

Bronya did not turn immediately, her gaze lingering on the motionless form before her for just a moment longer, as though committing the current state of things to memory before she finally shifted her attention. When she did look over her shoulder, there was a faint crease between her brows, her expression one of quiet scrutiny as she processed the words.

"’Someone?’ Did they not at least give a name?"

It was the Solwarm Festival, a day meant for celebration, especially after the long, suffocating grip of the Eternal Freeze had finally been broken. The streets above would be filled with life, with citizens from both the Overworld and Underworld mingling freely, a sight that had once been impossible. Even the higher-ranking officials of Qlipoth Fort should have been present among them, if only to maintain appearances and reinforce a sense of unity. For someone to request an audience with her here, of all places, at a time like this, suggested intent that was anything but ordinary.

The messenger hesitated, his expression tightening slightly as though he were weighing his words carefully.

"She refused to speak with anyone but you. Under normal circumstances, we would not have allowed her entry, but..." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Bronya’s gaze sharpened immediately, the hesitation doing little to ease her concerns.

"But?"

The man swallowed, the unease in his posture becoming more pronounced as he continued.

"She has deployed soldiers across the city."

For a moment, Bronya simply stared at him, the implications settling into place with a clarity that left little room for doubt. There were only two organized forces within Belobog that possessed the structure and authority to operate on such a scale: the Silvermane Guards, who answered directly to her, and Wildfire, who, while independent, worked in cooperation with her command and remained primarily within the Underworld. Natasha would not act without informing her, and the Guards had received no such orders.

Which meant...

The Interastral Peace Corporation has made their move.

Sunny’s earlier warning surfaced in her mind, sharp and unwelcome, aligning far too neatly with the situation now unfolding. Without hesitation, she retrieved her phone, her movements swift and precise as she sent him a message, her fingers moving with practiced efficiency despite the tension that had settled into her shoulders. If the IPC had indeed inserted itself into Belobog in this manner, then whatever followed would not be simple diplomacy. Not here, not now, and certainly not under these circumstances.

She lowered the device, her thoughts already racing ahead, considering possibilities, contingencies, outcomes that she would need to account for.

Then, suddenly, her head snapped back toward the platform.

Her breath caught.

For the briefest of moments, so fleeting that it could have been dismissed as a trick of the light or an overactive imagination, she could have sworn that her mother’s hand had twitched, the slightest movement betraying the stillness that had otherwise defined her state.