Facing the truth that i had carefully unraveled,
The Herrscher of Corruption remained silent for a long ti.
"..."
"..."
She was probably thinking of how to refute it cleverly.
But in the end, perhaps her "little" brain just couldn't co up with any excuse that would fool anyone.
She started speaking nonsense in a self-defeating tone.
"Ha... Hahahaha..."
"i, you really are a smart girl. That's right, I didn't expect that even after her disappearance, the unparalleled genius Vill-V would leave such a great gift."
"But so what?"
"Elysia was indeed the only condition to activate the [Weapon Against Kevin], but now, she's been utterly erased—body and soul. If anyone has the chance to control it now, that person must be ."
"When that ti cos, i... guess what kind of ending I'll present to everyone in Elysian Realm?"
[Soone's panicking, soone's panicking—and I'm loving it.]
[Panic mode engaged (Herrscher of the Thousand Voices sound effect)]
[This confirms that the Herrscher of Corruption doesn't truly understand the chanism behind the 'Weapon Against Kevin: Model 666', and hasn't even discovered it yet.]
[I can feel it. i's going to turn from defense to offense soon... Please, scriptwriter, let us go wild! I want revenge!]
The players wanted to go wild. They wanted revenge.
And in a way, they would get both in the upcoming story.
Just... perhaps not in the exact way they'd imagined?
...
Let's put other topics aside for now.
The story had indeed reached a turning point, just as the players had predicted.
After all, the curtain on Elysian Realm couldn't and shouldn't fall through re verbal sparring.
Otherwise...
To use a fitting analogy.
Wouldn't it be like—
In Dragon Quest, after grinding to max level, collecting top-tier gear, just as you're about to face the evil dragon in an epic showdown, the ga crashes, and you realize... you forgot to save?
That's just unacceptable.
The fall of the Fla-Chasers needed to be grand and dazzling.
To build up the atmosphere of the final battle,
i couldn't just go on debating endlessly with the Herrscher of Corruption.
So, right after the Herrscher spat out her threat—
The in-ga BGM shifted instantly.
The sky darkened under the weight of her words, as if sothing ominous was brewing.
Sensing the change,
i didn't panic. Instead, she carefully deduced that the Herrscher was lying.
If things were truly as the Herrscher claid, then there'd be no need to entangle herself with i or to constantly test her.
Whatever the reason, her odd behavior pointed to one fact—she was afraid.
Afraid of so still-unfolding possibility... one fatal enough to destroy her.
If that's the case... then now was the ti.
i stared directly at the Herrscher.
(I must make her believe I've uncovered the fatal flaw that could undo everything—and then, using that one opportunity... go all in.)
Psychological warfare—crucial.
Even if I don't know what you fear, I'll make you think I do.
And so...
i spoke to her: "You really shouldn't have deleted Elysia's mory data. Even if not to survive... at least for your own sake."
"?" The Herrscher revealed a trace of confusion.
i continued: "Data doesn't lie, and you know that better than anyone. So if you had truly studied her life in depth, you would've realized..."
She said what countless players wanted to shout at the Herrscher of Corruption:
Herrscher of Corruption, you better listen up!
"Even if you replicate her appearance, mimic her gestures, repeat her every word... you'll never beco her."
CLANG!!
The ga's BGM shifted again—
Rising into an intense crescendo.
Judgnt of Shamash—drawn!
Along with i's resolute words, it ca slashing down.
"You will never... beco her!"
BOOM!!
The Ferris wheel was obliterated in an instant.
Darkness consud the surroundings, swallowing i and the Herrscher's silhouettes.
Only the in-ga subtitles still glowed faintly.
[Darkness writhed like shadowy vines, spreading and growing.]
[Within the boundless dark, i slowly rose to her feet...]
From the subtitles alone, players could already imagine i gripping her blade, thunder coursing across her body—an overwhelming presence.
Then—
A dazzling bolt of lightning flashed, nearly splitting the screen in half.
Darkness fled in retreat.
The visuals cleared.
"...Where is this?"
After slashing through the darkness, i found herself standing on solid ground—in a completely unfamiliar place.
To be blunt, after helping Pardofelis open chests across Elysian Realm, she was very familiar with every corner of the realm.
Yet she had never seen this place?
"Sigh..."
Just as i was confused, a familiar voice spoke from behind: "Look at what you've done."
"Herrscher of Corruption..."
i imdiately turned, alert.
"Co on, i, is that really necessary?" the Herrscher shrugged. "Honestly, I don't feel like arguing with you right now."
"Have you never heard of don't perform dangerous actions at high altitudes? Falling from the sky... I never want to go through that again in this lifeti."
"...Fine, let's say you were in a hurry. Anyway, we've arrived—satisfied?"
[Don't worry, Herrscher. You probably won't get a second ti (nacingly).]
[i: Take a guess what my next cinematic attack is (]
[Why does this line remind of Pardofelis... i, next ti you do sothing dangerous like that, give us a heads-up, okay? My heart can't take this anymore.]
[??? Don't make that connection... It hurts.]
[I really want to see Catcat again.]
Following the Herrscher's words, i looked around and finally understood what she ant.
"This is... the island shrouded in mist?"
"That's right."
The Herrscher nodded and began explaining to i.
This was the island Elysia had spoken of—the venue of the so-called final banquet.
However, even after taking complete control of the island, the Herrscher hadn't found anything here.
The answers i sought... might never have existed in the first place.
"Impossible!" i rejected that notion imdiately.
The Herrscher kept pressing, trying to shake i's image of Elysia.
"i, when did you start trusting her so much? That's not like you."
Yeah, didn't you all used to be suspicious of Elysia?
You thought she was secretly dangerous, right?
So why trust her now?
"Haven't you ever suspected that the truth she confessed to you that day... wasn't the whole truth?"
Could soone always honest and sincere truly exist?
These words felt aid at both i and the players.
But neither would waver now. Not anymore.
"I will uncover the truth myself. But not now—and not with you."
"I know what you're trying to do, and I won't give you any chance to pry into her past... Impostor!"
[Well said! Our business with Elysia has nothing to do with so fake like you! Mind your own business and scram!]
The players and i were in perfect emotional sync—the imrsion had never been stronger.
The Herrscher, seeing i's defiant stance, was slightly agitated.
"Sigh, fine. If i has to suffer a bit to learn... I guess I'll have to give you so tough love."
"Just a warning—this ti, I won't hold back."
[We're finally fighting?!?]
[Wait... what if she uses Elysia's moves in this fight?!]
[Don't jinx it. You know the writers would pull sothing like that.]
[Damn! That would be wild. The writers really want our hearts to explode, huh?]
But things didn't turn out as dire as the players imagined.
So dishes, after all, couldn't be served too soon.
The Herrscher rely stayed in the back, summoning waves of Faded Monsters to swarm i.
i, face cold and calm, cut them down one by one with her blade.
If not for the sheer number of monsters blocking the path, she would've charged the Herrscher for a few clean hits.
Many players tried exactly that—but even after circling around the enemies, they still couldn't damage the Herrscher hiding behind her barrier.
All they could do was swing their swords in frustration at the air.
The intense battle raged on for a while.
Then the Herrscher, hiding in the back, spoke again.
"See? Still the sa old routine. How many more tis do we need to play out this act?"
"i, aren't you tired yet? I'm already yawning..."
"Is that so?" i replied coldly. "Then how about this—"
The ga screen froze briefly, then displayed an input prompt.
After a powerful button smash—
i unleashed a thunderous strike from above, splitting the ground in two, leaving a massive crack laced with flickering blue data.
That strike tore open the very fabric of Elysian Realm.
"…Huh?"
The Herrscher couldn't hide her shock.
Seeing her reaction, i finally pieced together the last part of the puzzle in her mind.
"So that's it."
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