MGSFV?! Chapter 498. The Dream Is Over; A New-Age Knife Technique: Dual Blades
"I'm saying Little Elysia herself is cute, even when she's tiny."
"That explanation made it worse, honestly."
"Actually, I think what Little Elysia is holding up isn't pinkies—it's her index fingers. Two fingers forward ans 'Charge ahead full speed!'"
"So she's cheering everyone on?"
"I have a feeling this treasure hunt is about to change gears."
Seems like everyone's sixth sense is on point today.
Seeing the bullet comnts, Elysia thought to herself.
Still...
Was there so deeper aning behind showing everyone that painting before the next part began...?
No, no, why was she overthinking again?
As so viewers in the livestream put it, Honkai Impact 3rd targets players who understand too much with even sharper knives. The more you understand, the deeper it cuts.
Like...
That final mont with Hiko plunging the serum into the Queen's neck, the Aurora Blade in Fla-Chasers Chapter, the second half of Apocalypse: As It Is Said...
And of course, Because of You, I Am—even just the title alone...
Enough to emotionally destroy players with rich inner worlds.
Rich inner worlds? Was she talking about herself?
Elysia: ?
Elysia furrowed her brows.
She suddenly sensed so inexplicable "malice" from nowhere.
"Hm?"
"What's wrong, Elysia?" Kiana asked, noticing Elysia scanning the area.
"...It's nothing. Let's continue."
She wasn't boasting, but there was probably no one in all of miHoYo who could "trap" her.
After all, they were all her good friends~~
That's the charm and confidence of the Fairy Miss Elysia.jpg
Hokuto: Ah yes yes, Miss Pink Fairy, what you say is absolutely right.
Hokuto: Otto-style smile.jpg
…
Anyway, holding that mindset, Elysia returned her full focus to the ga.
She also noticed that the devs not only prepared a series of interesting riddles but also hid a lot of easter eggs along the way.
"Nice, as always, the attention to detail is maxed out."
"miHoYo, you're such a perfectionist (lol)"
"They really put in effort."
Just like the players, Elysia was deeply impressed and continued exploring with excitent.
Before long—
Thanks to all her running around—
i found another deeply personal item that definitely shouldn't appear in an amusent park.
An old bamboo sword.
"This is..."
As she picked it up, i felt a sudden impulse. She took a stance, held her breath, and swung it forward.
"Whew..."
"Waaah~~"
A surprised squeal with a cutesy tone rang out the instant she swung the sword.
i: "..."
She stiffened.
It was like a kid secretly using a phone in their room only to have their parents suddenly barge in.
"i, that was amazing! What was that move called?"
"Elysia... Weren't you just standing back there?"
The implication: How are you suddenly in front of now? Can you teleport?
Well...
Elysia blinked.
Because she and i were now in a state of inseparable-bond-and-unity, appearing instantly by i's side was totally normal.
Of course, she couldn't say that outright.
So she simply replied:
"Because i found the second treasure so fast! Isn't it special?"
"It was a gift from my father when I first started learning kendo. So yes, it's certainly special."
"...But don't you think it's strange that sothing stored in my family's warehouse is suddenly here in an amusent park?"
"Let's just say this ga was specially designed by the developers for i. So of course the treasures would relate to her—it makes perfect sense!"
"Specially designed? Developers?"
"This is starting to feel like it's connected to v2v..."
"Only people who'd design surprise-filled minigas like this—besides Otto, it's gotta be v2v."
"'Otto and Veliona, they're both dead already!'"
So said the players now.
Though in a while, they might be saying...
"Two people who, despite death, leave a presence that refuses to fade. Two who still 'join the party' in unimaginable ways. Two who are the epito of romantic to the death…"
Yes—
Truly, to the death.
...
As players got deep into speculation, i's thoughts weren't any less complicated.
She recalled a flood of childhood mories.
Like practicing sword swings under her father's supervision.
But—!
Suddenly snapping out of her reminiscing, i turned to glance at [Kiana] and [Bronya].
Sure enough, they remained totally silent throughout her reflection.
"..."
Given the situation, a certain conclusion was on the verge of forming in i's mind.
But instead of confronting it directly...
"What should we do next?" i asked.
Seemingly avoiding the real issue?
"You're such a gentle girl, i. But sotis, being straightforward might lead to better outcos."
[Honestly... does this Elysia really seem like a dream projection to you?]
[Are you implying... this tour guide is the real Elysia?]
[No way I'm saying that. I'm just thinking... If the Elysia here were fabricated by the Stigma Plan, would she really be trying to help i wake up?
More likely... they'd just be enjoying a picture-perfect 'date,' hand in hand.]
"Maybe we should just ask Elysia what she thinks herself?"
"Hm?"
"Elysia, do you have anything you want to say?" i asked, looking at her.
"Hmm... maybe... there were so things I wanted to do, but couldn't."
"Like?" i pressed.
"Like... I didn't really get to properly bond—uh, get closer to Kiana and Bronya! That's such a missed opportunity!"
i: "..."
"LOL, true."
That reply was classic Elysia—sharp, sweet, and absolutely in character.
But...
If even players could tell that Elysia had been subtly guiding i to wake up from the dream, surely i, the person being guided, wouldn't remain oblivious?
"..."
i replayed Elysia's words in her head.
Soon, an uncanny sense of dissonance rose inside her.
Her thoughts began circling the question she'd been subconsciously avoiding.
Actually, never mind Bronya—Kiana's inconsistencies were too glaring.
"—When I was fully imrsed in the ga or chatting with Elysia, you two were completely silent. That's not sothing the real Kiana would do."
[So, is i saying that when she and Elysia get close, Kiana would definitely have a reaction? (grinning)]
[Kiana: So curious~~ So curious~~]
[Guys, are you really reading into it that deeply?]
[What reading? i totally ant that (dog head emoji)]
["There's definitely sothing here."]
...
In any case, i could no longer lie to herself.
This fake dream...
Had to end.
"When observed, you two respond. When I look away, you freeze. Just like a ga of 'Red Light, Green Light.'"
She paused.
"But even though it's all fake... I still want to say thank you. Because this really was an amusent park."
The mont i shattered the illusion—
[Kiana] and [Bronya] vanished.
"Such a clean deletion... it's like soone pressed the delete key. Not romantic at all."
Surprisingly—or perhaps not—
The guide Elysia didn't vanish.
She wasn't surprised at all.
[So the tour guide Elysia was from outside the dream all along?]
[Actually kind of relieved. Otherwise, she might've disappeared too.]
It's not that players didn't care about Kiana or Bronya—
But because Elysia wasn't like them... If she disappeared here, they might never see her again.
So naturally, they feared losing her more.
[Also, did you notice? Elysia's na isn't written with brackets '[]'.]
[Wait—does that an... this Elysia is the real one?!]
But just as hope began to stir...
As if the writers predicted this exact emotional trajectory...
"..."
i turned her gaze toward Elysia.
"Long ti no see, [Elysia]."
[]?
"Hi, long ti no see—
Though I'd love to say that, I'm probably not the [Elysia] you're hoping to see most."
And just like that—fantasy, shattered.
[...] countless tis
An indescribable emotion washed over everyone.
And then, as if that weren't enough—
The background music changed.
It was the familiar St. Freya Academy tune.
The one that played when Hiko t Kiana in Chapter 25.
Next...
"Mm, I know. I just wanted... to say it once." i replied.
"Ahh, in that case, I've ruined i's lovely mont. That won't do. Let say it again."
Ahem.
"Long ti no see, i."
"Long ti no see, Kiana"
Even the tone was the sa as Hiko's.
A single knife might not land as hard these days.
But what about... dual-wielding?
[That voice, that line, that tone... and thinking of what Elysia ans to i—Ahh! I'm crying!]
[The eternal fla, the flawless self. I didn't expect... dual-wielded knives!!!]
So even suspected the dev team might've seen a certain fan-made video.
[Even if she's not the real Elysia, she's so understanding (teary-eyed)]
[Fake or not, this feels so happy.]
[The way i speaks... she really misses Elysia.]
[We all do. Dammit, I'm crying.]
They weren't angry this ti.
It wasn't the explosive, heart-wrenching kind of pain.
It was a quiet ache—
The feeling of waking up from a sweet dream, knowing it was never real, but still smiling with gratitude.
They finally understood why i wanted to say it.
They did too.
[Long ti no see, Elysia!] floods the screen
It really has been a long ti.
If only they could ride the Ferris wheel together again, or ride the rollercoaster side by side...
How great would that be?
But—
"i, do you think Elysia might suddenly pull out a gaphone?"
Kiana's voice cut through the bittersweet atmosphere.
She had no lines in this section, so it was natural she was confused.
Still, that question...
"A gaphone?"
"And it even has a recording function~♪"
Yeah...
Definitely sothing Elysia would do.
i: "..."
Kiana, stop bringing up weird mories, please.
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