The livestream chat was in utter chaos.
But no matter how desperate they were, it was already too late.
Elysia, completely engrossed in the plot, couldn't wait to see what happened next.
"Miss Hiko~~ You have to be okay~~"
Soon—
The CG began to play.
It started with a deep blue bubble rising and bursting.
The surrounding cacophony heightened the tension.
The screen transitioned to a clear and captivating eye—its slightly weary gaze seed to be peering through the length of a lifeti.
Murata Hiko ultimately gripped the serum tightly. All of her emotions condensed into one: resolve.
Beep! Beep!
Accompanied by sharp alarms, the Judgnt-class dragon-type Honkai Beast Benares soared across the sky, tearing apart the battleship's turrets with its terrifying claws.
From the very beginning, the atmosphere was intensely gripping.
Everyone was drawn in.
Even the viewers who had previously said they wouldn't watch.
Even knowing a major tragedy was coming, they couldn't tear their eyes away.
Elysia, too, forgot to interact with her viewers.
Completely focused, she didn't even notice the woman with long crimson hair in tight hot pants who had walked up behind her.
On-screen—
Hiko rode the Hyperion's elevator to the exterior deck and tucked the serum into her armor.
With the Godsbane Blade resting on her shoulder, she wore a confident smile. Radiant and full of spirit, there was no sign of the earlier gloom.
Faced with a turret crashing toward her, she batted it back like a baseball, smashing it right into Benares' head.
Without giving Benares a chance to react, Hiko leapt up and rcilessly kicked its massive body down onto the deck.
But just as she raised her sword for the finishing blow, a blinding light intercepted her strike.
The dazzling light grew stronger, gradually obscuring everything.
When the light faded—
Everything had changed.
The space was dim and deathly silent. Even the once-speeding Hyperion had co to an eerie halt.
With a burst of laughter—
The Herrscher of the Void descended slowly, walking on air.
"Did you think you could escape?"
Hiko showed no fear. Her crimson greatsword pointed directly at the Herrscher of the Void.
But with just a casual wave of her hand, the Herrscher sent Hiko flying.
"Struggle all you like… do your best~~"
The Herrscher snapped her fingers.
A purple cube imprisoned the airborne Hiko. Countless razor-sharp Subspace Spears ford ribbons that sliced through the cube, cutting it from the center where Hiko stood.
And that wasn't the end.
With a cold expression, the Herrscher raised a finger and slashed it downward.
Two intertwining Subspace Spears ford a spiraling point and plunged from above, impaling the cube.
The structure was completely pulverized—along with Murata Hiko—driven deep into the earth.
Turning away, the Herrscher said coolly, "So that's all? Hmph!"
The players watching clenched their hearts.
Hiko… couldn't really be dead, right?!
But in the next mont, a blade flew toward the Herrscher, forcing her to teleport to evade.
Hiko rose shakily from the rubble. Corrupted by Honkai energy, violet lines crawled across her body.
"Your attack's over… Now, it's my turn. No objections, right?"
Her once-weakened voice grew firm, her fighting spirit burning ever brighter.
"Hahaha~~ Ah—die!"
The Queen didn't panic. Covering her face, she laughed madly. Countless black voids encircled Hiko.
At that mont, the song "Nightglow" began to play.
In the somber opening bars, Hiko's monologue echoed.
The short film reached its peak.
"Kiana, when you wake up… you'll find this world no longer beautiful."
Crimson flas engulfed the greatsword. Limitless power erupted from the Crimson Impulse armor.
"Those ordinary days are gone forever…"
With one swing, countless Subspace Spears shattered. The explosive force shook the entire space.
"But… don't give up. Never give up!"
Hiko leapt high, raising her greatsword, and descended upon the Herrscher of the Void like a teor from the heavens.
The music swelled—rousing and fierce.
The Herrscher's expression twisted. She gathered all her power into a single point. A black drill surged skyward to et the fiery teor.
An imnse shockwave burst forth!
Under the impact, Hiko briefly lost consciousness.
Her pupils turned white. Familiar faces flashed through her mind—until they settled on Kiana's innocent smile as she called her "Aunt Hiko."
Tears stread freely in the livestream.
At this mont, Hiko—burning her life to protect everything—pierced through the darkness.
"Keep moving forward. Turn this flawed story into the one you hope for."
The blazing teor fell.
Everything around was bathed in searing light—
Until the space fell silent again.
Hiko injected the serum into Kiana's body. As she slipped into the abyss, only her whisper lingered:
"Live on, Kiana."
"This is… the last… lesson."
The song's final notes drifted gently, as if bidding farewell to Hiko.
The CG ended in dead silence.
A long, long mont passed.
[I…]
[miHoYo, you **! I f*ing—!]
[So sweet! Too sweet!! Let go of , I'm not crazy, really!!]
[It's a knife! A knife through my heart! miHoYo, I'll never forgive you!! I—!!]
[I get it. I finally get it. No wonder Hiko's been so prominent in the main story lately… It was all building to this. Her final mont! (spits blood) (spits blood)]
"Elysia, are you okay?"
Eden, who had quietly stood behind her and watched Final Lesson together, asked softly.
"..."
"Eden?"
Elysia looked at Eden, who had leaned her head on her shoulder. "Of course I'm fine."
She looked at the screen where the CG had just ended.
"Although…"
She paused briefly.
"At the very least, Hiko definitely didn't regret it. She did what she wanted—and she succeeded."
"She was a good teacher."
"But…"
Elysia suddenly placed her hand on the keyboard.
She ssaged i on a chat app with a small request.
i quickly sent her what she wanted:
The lyrics to "Nightglow."
"Eden, would you sing with to send off Miss Hiko?"
"…Mm."
Eden nodded solemnly and took Elysia's hand.
i started playing the instruntal.
"The way I go through with
Red roses burn my eyes
Cold rain starts pouring hard
I'm being called upon
Never let you go
It's why I did them all
For a chance at least
To live in your way
Love of you
Is my most cherished thing
So stay alive, bravely."
Elysia and Eden's emotional voices echoed through the livestream.
After a while, i softly joined in.
Gradually, even the viewers quietly began to hum along.
Everyone seed to see that fiery red figure once more.
"I wish I could wake from
The dream each ti I dream
There's a long night coming soon
I'd shine as the last shine
Never let you go
It's why I did them all
For a chance at least
To live in your way
Love of you
Is my most cherished thing
So stay alive, bravely..."
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