While the players were silently roasting Mei and Sakura for "whispering loudly" in front of the Herrscher of Corruption...
In the story—
The Herrscher of Corruption watched the two chattering right in front of her about how to completely destroy her, and finally couldn't help but interrupt:
"Um—sorry to interrupt, but I heard every bit of your little whisper session just now, you know?"
"When three girls are together, leaving one out isn't very nice... Besides, Sakura, you've interrupted a date, you know."
Mei's reply, however, was blunt and unflinching: "Really? I think this is just how it usually is."
"Mm-hmm?"
The Herrscher of Corruption continued to tirelessly imitate Elysia. "Have you had that kind of experience? You'll have to tell me about it later, okay?"
The date Mei mentioned being interrupted likely referred to the one she and Elysia had planned—to go together to that fog-covered island the next day.
To witness everything about the 13th Herrscher—that must be it.
Elysia thought to herself.
After all, not just Mei—probably everyone could guess what would've happened if she and Mei had gone to that misty island as planned.
It would definitely have been an incredibly romantic development.
Because that's Elysia's style~~ Even in the face of her end, rather than sorrow or grief... she would have wanted to leave joy and smiles to the people she loved most.
She would've said something like—
"Smile, okay?"
"..."
Thinking of that, Elysia paused her thoughts.
She glanced at the comments scrolling by in the livestream, viewers who had also guessed what Mei meant and were enthusiastically explaining it for others.
Naturally, they were doing it so everyone could share in this bittersweet ache.
Can't be the only one crying because I overthought it.jpg
Elysia skimmed the comments, blinked slowly, and said nothing.
She merely tapped the screen gently.
The story continued.
Though the Herrscher of Corruption spoke as if she were sincere...
Clearly, Mei had no interest in chatting with her.
So, the Herrscher of Corruption's words were nothing more than wishful thinking.
And then Sakura followed up with a direct verbal critical hit.
Among the Flame-Chasers, Sakura was always one of the more straightforward types.
"A date... I'm sorry, but to me, Herrscher of Corruption, you too are a certain kind of... old acquaintance."
Hearing that...
Mei immediately realized that Sakura had learned the secret they had all promised to keep from her at Elysia's request.
"Oh... you've become very frank, haven't you?"
The Herrscher didn't seem to read into it at all.
If it were Elysia, she would've sensed it by now.
So yes, the Herrscher of Corruption was still far from being Elysia.
"I prefer the you of now over that night, Sakura."
Sakura furrowed her brows.
That line reminded her of the conversation that took place under that night sky.
It reminded her... of her—
Sakura's tone instantly turned solemn. "Please don't... use her voice to say such things."
[Sakura is so polite, she even said "please." Honestly, no need to be polite with the Herrscher of Corruption—just slap her.]
[True, no need for civility.]
Players were saying Sakura could've been harsher with her words—and she didn't stay polite for long.
Her right hand slowly rested on her weapon. A different aura began to emanate around her—the aura of an assassin.
She was clearly ready to strike.
Yet the Herrscher of Corruption remained composed, even having the nerve to grumble.
"You're still as resolute as ever..."
"Is she really that special to you all? So special that... you won't believe anyone could ever replace her?"
Of course!
Elysia is irreplaceable in everyone's hearts!
Herrscher of Corruption! You don't seriously think you can replace Elysia, do you?
You can't possibly be that delusional, right?
Where does your confidence even come from?!
"I wasn't her only close friend, so it's hard to say for sure," Sakura said calmly, slowly drawing her blade from its sheath, dealing another blow with her words.
"But at the very least... you won't have the time to prove it."
"Even if I don't want to wield this blade against her face."
The next moment—
Sakura vanished.
Even Setsuna would fail to describe the swiftness of that instant.
That was the pinnacle of a single moment.
Before anyone could react, she reappeared in front of the Herrscher of Corruption—
—and placed her blade against her neck.
At this point—
Even if players knew Sakura probably couldn't strike her down yet, and that even if she did, it wouldn't end the battle...
They still really wanted Sakura to just strike her down right then and there!
Especially after hearing that smug, mocking laugh from the Herrscher of Corruption.
"Hehe, looks like something interesting is about to happen."
She paused, then added: "But... are you really not going to think it over, Sakura?"
Her voice carried a creeping pleasure that made one's skin crawl.
"To see all of you suffer and struggle in vain... I find it hard to watch."
As her tone shifted, eerie sounds rang out all around, like the accompaniment of some conductor's descent—
All across Elysian Realm, the creatures she controlled at will began to converge...
The game transitioned into battle mode.
Players would now control Sakura as she fought hordes of Faded monsters.
Meanwhile, just like before, the Herrscher of Corruption retreated to a corner, watching with great interest.
"This massive number... Is it meant to separate me from Miss Mei?"
Seeing the monsters charging toward both her and Mei, Sakura continued analyzing calmly.
"If I had to face them alone, it would be tricky, but now..."
Right as she thought that—
Mei's voice rang out: "Roar, Kurikara!"
The line had been re-recorded—it was obvious how much rage Mei poured into that shout.
Sakura saw Mei step up to fight...
The Imaginary type god-being Hokuto once called "Showkuto," the one who manipulates time—
Come to think of it—
It was always Mei soloing this Imaginary god. It's almost like it's her eternal nemesis.
But the present is not the past.
Mei could now fully suppress it—utterly dominate it.
Seeing this, Sakura gave a relieved response:
"I suppose... there's no need to worry."
Leaving those words behind—
She threw herself completely into the battle.
As a former MOTH, as a former warrior—
Even after 50,000 years, her blade skills and resolve to destroy her enemies had never dulled...
On this battlefield forged by the Herrscher of Corruption—
The girl who bore the Signet of Setsuna...
Compared to the great dragon soaring above, she was more like a sakura blossom dancing in the heart of the battlefield.
Beautiful—and deadly.
Where the blossoms fell, monsters perished in a single instant.
Under the combined dance of Sakura and Mei, the monsters were soon cleared.
Gripping her weapon, Sakura spoke:
"It's time you stepped in yourself, Herrscher of Corruption."
The Herrscher of Corruption slowly walked out from the side.
And her first words?
An immediate spike to everyone's blood pressure.
"Hmm... could this be the fate that must be borne... as Elysia?"
[Can you speak human words for once?!]
["As Elysia"? Girl, you're a walking bubble teapot, get outta here!]
[Corruption, you really are the worst.]
"I've been sincere from the beginning, and yet you all insist I must prove it before you'll believe me?"
"And even then... only if I prove it with my life..."
She was clearly referring to what the players—and Mei—had pieced together from the Elysian Realm Archives and fragments left behind by the Flame-Chasers:
When the Fire Moth fractured during a moment of life and death, Elysia volunteered to become the 13th Herrscher, standing against humanity...
And in the end, sacrificed herself to return the world to its proper course.
But... that "truth"—
Wasn't the truth at all.
The information in those archives...
Was actually just a lie from Vill-V.
That's right, her again.
To protect Elysia's secret, she chose to deceive the world—even rewrite history.
As expected...
In the Elysian Realm Flame-Chasers—
Who isn't an Elysia simp?
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