Although a completely unexpected joke had just been dropped, it was time to return to the main story.
After performing the operation of "cutting flesh to feed Sakura," Su's life clearly began its countdown.
At this point in the story, Aponia, Su, Sakura... and the remaining Flame-Chasers had basically all set up death flags. The question of who would be next became even more uncertain.
Was the writer trying to mislead the audience?
What now? Planning to deliver another shocking "surprise"?
Hmph.
In the game, after Sakura learned of what Su had done, she immediately voiced her concern:
"But if you do this, you'll... You should've told me beforehand."
"...Time was short. I had no leisure to wait for you to awaken on your own."
"Compared to my momentary safety, what matters more is your ability to move freely. So long as you possess the power to bind even the most dangerous existence, even if only for a moment, it's enough."
That was why Vill-V had wanted Su to find Sakura first.
Because only Sakura's blade had the chance to freeze the Herrscher of Corruption, even if only for a single instant—she was a critical piece in Vill-V's arrangement.
Then, amidst the light, Su returned the mask of Forget-Me-Not to its rightful owner.
(Forget-Me-Not was Sakura's codename during her Cocoon days.)
"Sakura, take this."
"It was Kalpas who kept it safe for you all this time... Now is the right time to return it."
...
Elysia paused briefly at this part of the scene.
Kalpas and Sakura really had a good relationship.
In both the game and in reality.
In fact, Sakura's personality truly was well-suited to befriending people who didn't talk much.
And Kalpas happened to be exactly that type.
Hmm... Kevin too?
But the reason Sakura and Kevin got along...
In real life, it was probably because of a mutual sympathy between corporate slaves.
Cough cough.
Elysia took a moment to reorganize her thoughts, calmed herself, and steadied her emotions.
Then, looking at the narration appearing on the game screen, she softly read it out loud as usual.
"Sakura accepted the mask handed to her. A faint warmth stung her fingertips."
"She was already familiar with this sensation. In the years she bowed beneath the Cocoon, that man who burned like fire always left this kind of heat on those around him—searing and unrelenting, unforgettable."
"Just like now, the final remnant of warmth on this mask."
"..."
She had only read a few lines.
And already, the emotions that Elysia had just suppressed began to surge again.
So too did the players.
[Scriptwriter, you really know how to write, huh? Should I applaud you? (gritted teeth)]
[Brother Kalpas... my Brother Kalpas...]
[Always sneaking knives into the script. Really... thanks a lot.]
[A small knife isn't a knife. A small knife isn't a knife. A small knife isn't a knife.] ×N
...
Because of the sudden rise in emotion, Elysia didn't continue reading.
But the story went on.
Sakura slightly parted her lips, as if trying to say something, but no sound came out.
After a long pause, only four words softly dropped:
"I understand now."
This was the second time she had said those words.
And the circumstances were exactly the same.
Both times were upon hearing terrible news about a friend.
At this moment, her heart was already full of emotions.
So there was no need for further words.
Silently, she put on the mask again. Her hand once more rested on the weapon at her waist.
That last warmth faded, leaving behind only a chilling cold…
"Then... what do I need to do?"
Su answered: "This was all part of Vill-V's contingency. What she left behind... was a three-layered puzzle."
"The same riddle... but three answers?"
Sakura asked in slight confusion.
The players were equally surprised.
Vill-V? She still had output?
If you asked them who the MVP Flame-Chaser of Elysian Realm was, they might've hesitated before. But now, there was no doubt.
To Sakura's confusion, Su answered calmly:
"Yes. What we've just uncovered was only the first layer—superficial, and not the root of the problem. The remaining two answers are the real keys to breaking through."
Here, he paused again.
Clearly, even for him, what came next was not easy to say.
Su's strange hesitation made all the players watching the cutscene sit up straighter.
What was Su about to say?
Was something big coming again?
Hmm...
It always seemed to be like this.
Every time Honkai Impact 3rd reached the final chapter of an arc, big reveals would burst out like they were free—one after another, relentlessly.
Su took a bit of time and finally continued:
"So, Sakura... I need you now to uncover the second answer."
"For that, we must..."
"...face death."
[???] ×N
[Suddenly got chills. What's coming must come (no mercy).]
[Putting his own life in the chamber. No wonder they're best friends—they made the same choice.]
[I don't even hope they survive anymore. Just let Su and Kevin meet one last time before they go...]
And yes, this small wish of the players would be fulfilled.
In fact...
Su and Kevin would both load their lives into the same chamber.
Which would result in a soul-crushing scene.
...
In any case.
Up to this point—
Everything Sakura had experienced on her way to Mei, who was still "passionately conversing" with the Herrscher of Corruption…
Everything—
Was now revealed to the players.
And everything the players now knew...
"If we call our last encounter a 'duel,' then perhaps that word is too generous."
"So... let's do this again, Herrscher of Corruption."
—had all transformed into the blade Sakura now raised toward Corruption.
She was no longer fighting alone.
"Sakura..." Mei felt an overwhelming surge of emotion in her heart.
She hadn't expected to encounter Sakura—one of the earliest Flame-Chasers to "go offline"—at this moment.
And to fight alongside her against a powerful enemy.
Across from them, the Herrscher of Corruption was still mimicking Elysia.
"Mmm... does it always come to this? Sakura, I only wanted to keep you out of harm's way because I care about you."
[LIES! More lies!]
[The subtitle literally said she froze space between life and death to escape! You nearly deleted Sakura, okay?!]
Sakura: "...?"
Sakura went completely silent.
And gave Mei a slightly confused look.
This overly sweet tone of voice from Corruption confused her.
They hadn't seen each other in days—how had the Herrscher of Corruption changed so much?
To this, Mei explained:
"Mm, not just her appearance—her personality has started to resemble Elysia's too... I mean, the bad parts."
The bad parts?
Elysia: ????
It was exactly because Hokuto had insisted on voicing each scene one by one that she often ended up being surprised by plot developments she should've already known.
Still, what exactly was meant by the bad parts?
She subconsciously turned to look at Hokuto, who had written the script.
"Didn't Elysia often like to do strange things? That's the side of her we're referring to."
"...How did you know what I was about to ask?"
"Easy guess, wasn't it?"
"Hmm..."
Elysia blinked hesitantly, thought for a moment, and wisely decided not to pursue the topic.
After all, based on past experience—like constantly being dimensionally outmaneuvered by Mr. Otto—
She had a bad feeling that if she kept going, she'd be ignored... Her "trauma radar" was blaring.
So Elysia turned her attention back to the story.
...
In the game.
Mei was still explaining the Herrscher of Corruption's situation to Sakura.
"At first, I was also surprised. But now, it seems... her target is that equipment for Kevin called Model 666."
"She has to become Elysia to seize the corresponding control authority."
Sakura understood: "...I see. A device used for the finale, huh?"
"As for the current situation, I've already received the incoming data from Su. But I still need some time to fully understand it."
"Data transfer? You mean, Su..."
Mei's face immediately changed.
She clearly understood what that implied.
And the change in her expression also influenced the players' thoughts.
[Wait, don't tell me Su's already gone? Just like that??]
[Heh, maybe we should thank MiHoYo for not giving us a Kalpas-style farewell cutscene this time.]
[No no no, according to MiHoYo's Law of Knives, they always write the tragic scenes in detail. Since they didn't this time, I firmly believe Su isn't dead!]
[Hmm, good point. I just don't know if I should be happy or afraid right now (because a bigger knife is definitely coming).]
"At this point, let's trust his decision. No matter what, he bears the name of the Wise One."
So said Sakura, turning back to look at the person who was both familiar and strange.
Same face. Similar expression. But faded.
"There's still only one entity like her, right?"
"Yes. Maintaining that form isn't easy for her—it seems to be a burden as well."
"Then, if we force her to remain here... or even sever her completely..."
[...I've been meaning to say this: exchanging critical information face-to-face like this is kind of absurd.]
[Herrscher of Corruption: Don't act like I'm not here.]
[Loud plotting noises]
[Maybe this is actually part of Mei and Sakura's plan?]
[What I'm really wondering is—how exactly does Sakura plan to sever Corruption? Is it tied to what Su said earlier about "facing death"? What exactly is Su's—or rather, Vill-V's—plan?]
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