"Congratulations, player—World's #1 Patriot Brain. You have become the first and only player to completely reject Kafka. You will receive a mysterious reward. Please come to Herta's office to claim your prize after hearing this broadcast."
Upon hearing this, the player named Shanhai felt no excitement.
Right now, all she wanted was to reset her save file—to start over from the beginning.
She put on the VR headset once more. This time, her only choice was to nod.
——
Had she chosen to accept Kafka from the very beginning, the first-person perspective would not have appeared.
Kafka was overjoyed to see Caelus arrive. "So this is your choice? To accept my request and help me?"
Caelus smiled faintly. "Yeah, after all, you need my help."
Kafka's lips curled uncontrollably. "Yes, Blade's condition is… troublesome. On this Xianzhou… you're the only one I can rely on."
Then, her expression turned grave as she pointed at Blade, who sat cross-legged inside the room.
"'Mara-Struck'—this is the inescapable fate of long-life species. It's a madness triggered by accumulated emotions and memories. Though Blade doesn't remember many things, Mara still torments him in some form…
Ever since coming to the Xianzhou, his Mara has flared up violently, to the point where even my 'Spirit Whisper' can no longer suppress it. In this state, interstellar travel is impossible for him.
So, I need to use 'Spirit Whisper' to continuously weaken the effects of Mara and seal it temporarily. Maintaining Spirit Whisper requires absolute focus—I can't afford distractions. I need you to guard me while I suppress Blade."
After agreeing, Caelus immediately pulled out his bat.
Following a smooth combat sequence, Caelus returned to Kafka and Blade's hideout. He waited patiently until Kafka finally ended "Spirit Whisper."
Kafka slowly opened her eyes. For some reason, she looked delighted again.
"Opening my eyes to see you… what a nostalgic feeling."
"How's your progress?"
"Not so fast." Kafka sighed. "I've forcibly severed Blade's connection to reality. Right now, he can only hear my voice and feel my touch—everything else is lost to him.
Next, I need to distance his consciousness from the Xianzhou. To make him 'forget' Jing Yuan, Jingliu, Yingxing, and your friend Dan Heng. This process also cannot be interrupted. But before we begin, I can spare some time to answer your questions."
"My questions?"
"Yes, as compensation for your help—don't you have questions for me? I put you to sleep, then woke you; abandoned you at Herta Space Station, then lured you to the Xianzhou. I owe you many explanations. Aren't you curious?"
Caelus stroked his chin, lost in thought for a few seconds before nodding. "Now that you mention it, I do have some—"
Then, Kafka suggested playing a game of "Two Truths and a Lie"—two questions, two answers, with "one true, one false."
She immediately demonstrated:
"My first question: How do you see me?"
As she spoke, the perspective shifted back to first-person.
This time, the audience no longer dared to oppose her—their only goal was to avoid hurting Kafka's feelings again.
Before long, a group of Cloud Knights arrived. To ensure Kafka's safety, Caelus had no choice but to stop them.
However, Kafka informed him that conflict was inevitable.
Ever the rebel, Caelus insisted on trying anyway—with predictable results.
He knocked out the Cloud Knights one by one with his bat.
Once the disturbance was gone, Kafka spoke again.
"Let's continue our 'Truth Game.' It's your turn now, Trailblazer."
The questions were divided into three categories.
With so many audience members present, they quickly exhausted all possible answers.
First Category:
Caelus: "What was I before?"
Kafka smiled faintly. "You are an artificial vessel created to contain a Stellaron. From birth, your fate was to receive the Stellaron aboard Herta Space Station. My role was to protect you until then—to teach you basic knowledge, cognition, and combat skills."
"Why can I contain a Stellaron?"
"Your body was modified by the power of an Aeon. Even direct contact with a Stellaron won't corrupt you."
"What's my relationship with you?"
Faced with this question, Kafka paused briefly.
"One day, Elio handed you to me. He said that if things continued according to the future he foresaw, you would eventually change me… and I would change you.
In other words, you and I are each other's destiny."
The second category concerned Blade—most viewers already knew the basics from the High-Cloud Quintet movie.
The third category was Kafka's own story.
Caelus: "What were you before?"
"The old me?… I was once a 'Devil Hunter.'
I grew up on a Stellaron-polluted planet: Pteruges-V—'New Babylon.' The humans there didn't know fear—the concept simply didn't exist.
People who can't feel fear are ruled by desire and pleasure, becoming 'devils.' When Elio found me, I was on a mission… and his offer intrigued me."
"Why did you join the Stellaron Hunters?"
"I lack the mechanism for 'fear.' There's a void in my mind and heart—one even I'm unaware of.
So, I couldn't change myself.
But Elio could help me… as long as I followed his script."
——
Once all questions were answered, the audience erupted in lively discussion.
"So Kafka and I have this much history?"
"Are these the real answers? Would Kafka lie to us?"
"Kafka wouldn't lie to you. When she tells a fake answer, it's obviously fake—like if you ask her identity, she'd claim to be a Knight of Beauty."
"Knight of Beauty? What kind of nonsense is that? Sounds abstract as hell."
"But damn, I feel bad for the Trailblazer—he's an artificial being? How's he still so unhinged?"
"Maybe that's just his personality. You know, the kind that's likable anywhere. Plus, he must've spent some time as a Stellaron Hunter before."
"Looking at it this way, the Trailblazer's got a great mindset. Hope he can rub off on others!"
"Exactly! The Trailblazer's someone who fights to change fate—never letting destiny control him."
"Honestly, this offline event is amazing. Aside from making us reject Kafka, the lore drops are insane."
"Enough talk—let's keep watching."
——
After the first round of the Truth Game, Caelus tried to alter Kafka's predictions.
Through his efforts, he managed to avoid two battles.
Proudly, he reported to Kafka: "Successfully avoided all fights."
Kafka: "You really are determined to change my 'predictions,' huh? You dodged both possible battles.
But the future remains clear: the real test is yet to come—a young Cloud Knight swordsman. That one won't be an easy opponent.
But before that, let's continue our 'Truth Game.' My turn again.
Second question: Do you want to see me again?"