So ti later, inside the streaming area.
"Elysia, do you need a bit more ti to rest?" Hiko asked with concern.
Elysia looked at Hiko, not expecting that she, who had just been emotionally overwheld by the line "Murata Hiko is already dead," would now be comforted by the real Hiko.
"No need."
She took a deep breath and shook her head. "I want to get to the next chapter right away."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but sigh.
"Good thing 'Mr. Otto' didn't cliffhang it here. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight."
[That's the last shred of Otto's conscience.]
[The one thing worth praising is that he doesn't end on cliffhangers.]
[Heh, he only spares us cliffhangers so he can stab us harder with consecutive knives, and you're thanking him? (I've seen through it all)]
Hokuto, who was chatting with Rita, glanced at the bullet comnts.
He ntally noted it down: I'll have the Herrscher of Corruption cliffhang you all for a month.
Naturally, the players had no idea what Hokuto was thinking.
Once Elysia opened Chapter 25 of the main story, Set Tomorrow Ablaze, everyone snapped to attention.
The livestream, which had been flooded with comnts,
and screens filled with gritted teeth and clenched fists,
suddenly fell silent.
The scene shifted from the theatre to the Salt Lake Base, where alarms were blaring.
Viewers were oddly relieved to see that it didn't pick up from the theatre scene directly—
They weren't ntally prepared to face the full truth just yet.
At Salt Lake Base, the Dolls made a coback.
Multiple chs suddenly went rogue, plunging Anti-Entropy headquarters into chaos.
Bronya and Fu Hua rushed to the vault and rescued the scientists.
Soon after, Theresa and Seele arrived, asking about Kiana's whereabouts.
Eventually, the group discovered a Doll in Kiana's bedroom.
At the sa ti, Dr. Tesla observed that hosts of the Herrscher of Dominance were suddenly going berserk all over the world.
Dr. Einstein deduced that the Herrscher of Dominance had returned—
And Kiana had likely been captured by it.
It was a serious situation.
The Herrscher of Dominance was composed of nurous entities.
Each one individually was weak, but together they could form coordinated groups and work from the shadows.
anwhile, i—still with World Serpent—continued her campaign against the Herrscher of Dominance.
She found Jackal, and from her, obtained a few key pieces of information.
The Herrscher of Dominance couldn't seize the full powers of a complete Herrscher.
For example, it couldn't take i's Herrscher of Thunder abilities.
It could only steal powers from soone like Bronya—who had yet to fully master hers.
That's why, when i entered the Legion Theatre before, the Herrscher of Dominance had dispatched a "big-brain" Doll.
The goal: bait i into using her powers, then make her stop using them out of suspicion.
That was their whole strategy.
This twist in the story caught Elysia off guard.
She hadn't expected that i's first encounter in the theatre was a "you thought I was in the basent, but I was actually in the stratosphere" situation.
"Good thing i's smart too. Didn't get tricked by the Herrscher of Dominance."
"Sigh~~ Sotis I feel like i's better suited to be the Herrscher of Reason. She's always so analytical."
Elysia murmured.
"Elysia, when you say it like that..." Kiana looked like she wanted to say sothing but hesitated.
"Aiya."
Elysia quickly covered her mouth. "I ant i might be a better fit than the Herrscher of Thunder, not that Bronya isn't suitable."
"Bronya just needs a little more ti to grow. She's got a promising future."
"Mm..."
The story continued.
With concrete intel from Jackal, i decided to re-enter the Legion Theatre.
Jackal led i to a massive device—her recent research product based on the Herrscher of Dominance.
Using a Dominance Core, the device connected in reverse to the Herrscher's network, allowing them to forcibly initiate the theatre scenario from the outside.
Elysia—and the players—got excited watching this.
The gloom from the earlier bad news was even starting to lift.
Because Kiana was in the Legion Theatre right now!
If i entered too...
Would Kiana and i reunite!?
Heck yes—Kianai shippers rejoice!
However—
As i and Jackal were preparing to activate the system,
the Herrscher Cores powering it began to fade.
To avoid missing the window, i forced the device to start and barged into the theatre before the cores vanished.
Inside, i imdiately rushed deeper in.
Soon, a Doll appeared to block her path, saying she wasn't welco.
But i didn't care.
The Doll then tried to rattle her by saying Kiana had also been drawn into the theatre—
and that i was powerless to do anything now.
But i's heart didn't waver at all.
"Hmph. So this is the worst you can throw at ? It's not much."
"To this day...
Without by her side, she's still able to stand strong.
And without her beside , I'll still keep walking forward without hesitation."
"Because I know the choices she'll make, and she understands the decisions I carry in my heart.
This has never changed, no matter the distance or what sides we stand on."
"It's because we believe in each other that we can walk the paths we've chosen.
Even if we part ways, it's only to reshape this imperfect world toward the future we hope for."
"Our journey will cross again one day.
And what I must do... is et that day in the best form I can."
[i, you're amazing! My HP bar just got refilled!!]
[morize every word of this speech. Full marks required.]
[i just keeps getting cooler. General i in command! I'm officially joining Team iRider!]
[Team iRider? I, a loyal mber of Team Rideri, object!!]
...
After such a long stretch of emotionally intense story,
and following i's flood of "sweet nothings,"
most viewers had fully recovered their emotional HP.
"Kiana~~"
Elysia looked over with unveiled curiosity.
"If you had to choose, would you join Team Rideri? Or Team iRider?"
Kiana: "..."
"I don't want to choose either."
"Sigh~~"
Elysia sighed dramatically at her answer.
"If Kiana doesn't make a move, weird new factions are going to start popping up~~"
"What's... that supposed to an?" Kiana asked, confused.
Elysia held up a finger and wagged it playfully.
"It ans... once Elysia enters the ga, we might get a Team Elysiai!"
Even though the Elysian Realm wasn't in developnt yet,
it was already set in stone that Elysia would et i soday.
Reviews
All reviews (0)