At this moment, of course, players didn't yet know what the next part of the plot would be.
What they did see was that the Herrscher of Corruption not only compared herself to Elysia but also likened Mei and Sakura's efforts to defeat her to Elysia's past self-sacrifice.
[...]N
Instant, collective, super-charged silence.
Elysia's sacrifice had been radiant and flawless. And this? What the Herrscher of Corruption was doing couldn't even be called a "sacrifice," let alone be placed on equal footing with Elysia.
[I really underestimated how shameless the Herrscher of Corruption could be.]
[No joke, this is the first time I've seen someone so completely lacking self-awareness.]
[Correction: not a someone. She's a newly born Herrscher.]
Yet, ever so self-satisfied, the Herrscher of Corruption spoke those words and still had the audacity to give Mei and Sakura a "You left me no choice" kind of look.
"Well then… The reason I haven't taken up arms until now really is just because I was 'reluctant'—not because I lacked confidence."
"If you won't believe me no matter what, then I guess I'll just have to prove it."
"But this time... whose life do you think would be most suitable to use as proof?"
This line, for once, was probably the only honest thing she'd said so far.
In Elysian Realm, the Herrscher of Corruption was strong. Very strong.
And since she had made her decision, she wasn't going to dawdle.
Even though her tone still mimicked Elysia's gentle rhythm…
Her movements were sharp and ruthless as she pulled out a weapon similar to Elysia's and launched a proactive assault on the two.
Revealing her true nature—something far from the "love for all" she pretended to represent.
And that wasn't even all.
Just as Mei and Sakura readied themselves for battle—
A new, Faded creature appeared beside them.
Unlike any Faded enemies the players had seen before, this one had an utterly bizarre design.
To put it plainly—it looked like a security camera with legs.
Its attack methods and power were also far above anything previously encountered.
But even that didn't dampen the players' fighting spirit.
Controlling Sakura, they cut the thing down cleanly, then charged straight toward the Herrscher of Corruption, who had finally revealed her health bar.
Without hesitation, they struck.
What? Hesitate just because she wore Elysia's face?
Never!
Seeing the Herrscher of Corruption fighting in Elysia's form, using her battle techniques just as the players had predicted…
Even having her deliver Elysia's iconic battle lines in her sharp-edged voice after getting hit:
"In a way, this counts as… a date, right?"
"Keep hitting me, and I'll start crying~"
"Take these flowers and be grateful, okay?"
...
Their rage meter maxed out immediately.
Hesitate? Why would they?
If anything, the more health bars, the better—14 bars of catharsis!
However, while players in-game were pummeling the Herrscher of Corruption into the corner, the story scenes told another tale.
Mei and Sakura were falling behind.
"Be careful, Miss Mei… This is beyond what we can call just 'stronger than the other Flame-Chasers.'"
The Herrscher of Corruption overheard Sakura's warning.
"So? Still think everything I said was unbelievable?"
Mei: "..."
Panting, Mei didn't respond. Instead, she turned to check on Sakura's status.
"Sakura, how are you holding up?"
After all, Sakura was a memory—unlike Mei. One touch from the Herrscher might erase her.
"I'm afraid… even saying 'not looking good' might be me sugarcoating things."
Though speaking softly, Sakura never took her eyes off the Herrscher standing in the distance.
The Herrscher stood there casually, completely unbothered by the idea that her opponents might be plotting or escaping.
Sakura added, "Miss Mei, she wasn't lying. Just in terms of strength… even if all the other Flame-Chasers were here, she has the power to crush us all."
Faced with this reality—
Mei immediately urged Sakura to retreat while she stayed behind to delay the Herrscher.
But Sakura declined and proposed an alternative.
She would unleash Momentary Blade, freezing the space around the Herrscher, giving Mei an opportunity where every attack would land.
To guarantee Mei's attack had enough force—
Sakura handed over the Third Divine Key, the Seven Thunders of Retribution, to Mei.
Excitement swept through the player base.
The current era's Herrscher of Thunder using a God Key forged from the previous era's Herrscher of Thunder's core?
The chemistry was going to be wild.
Preparations complete, battle resumed.
"Mei, stay back and conserve your power. Wait for the signal."
The Herrscher of Corruption protested immediately: "Geez, can you not plot out loud?"
Normally, players would laugh at a line like that, dropping 23333s or "LMAO I'm losing it!" in chat.
But was this normal?
Absolutely not.
Even if the line was funny—they refused to humor the Herrscher.
[Yes, we will plot loudly.]
[Your irritation fuels our joy.]
...
The fight between Sakura and the Herrscher of Corruption intensified.
Sakura tried using her speed to close the distance, but the Herrscher kept dodging, never giving her a chance to use Momentary Blade.
"What's wrong, Sakura? Still no opening?"
"But you know… if this goes on, your hope will just fade away~"
Despite the "kind" tone, Sakura remained calm.
And ruthlessly called out the Herrscher's true motive.
"You're just waiting for us to make that helpless expression again, aren't you?"
"I'd never think something so wicked~" the Herrscher denied. "But even now, I can still find something to compliment you on…"
Before she finished—
A command prompt appeared in-game.
The moment players pressed it, Sakura swung her blade—
A single slash, landing behind the Herrscher.
"Smart move."
Yet the Herrscher didn't panic. She even praised Sakura—exactly like she said she would.
Peak mockery.
Sakura couldn't help but give a dry chuckle.
"Hmph. Fine, then… let's see how far this goes."
Second slash—appeared at the Herrscher's side.
The Herrscher still stood unmoved.
"Oh right, Sakura. Doesn't your sword technique have a name?"
"Always calling it by its function is such a mouthful…"
From her relaxed posture, it was obvious—those two slashes hadn't hurt her at all.
Sakura didn't respond.
Instead, she began readying the third strike.
And then—
An anomaly.
Sakura froze in place. Everything—blade, light, air—stilled.
Time itself seemed to stop.
Only the Herrscher remained free to move.
Everyone watched helplessly as she slowly walked to Sakura's back.
[What just happened?! Time stop?! The Herrscher can do this too?!]
[No wonder Sakura couldn't land a hit.]
[How do we even beat this?! Can Sakura and Mei break through?!]
Tension and anxiety filled the players' hearts.
Then—Sakura spoke again.
"For an assassin, names are meaningless."
A subtle difference.
Before, the subtitle for her dialogue had been "Sakura."
But now, it read: "???"
Even more jarring—the voice didn't come from the Sakura visible onscreen.
It came from behind the Herrscher of Corruption.
"Hmm…?"
At the same time, cracks spread from the mask of the "Sakura" onscreen.
Far in the distance, Mei shimmered, then shattered like glass.
Then—the real Mei, hidden beneath the illusion all along, surged forth wielding the Seven Thunders of Retribution.
So it had all been an illusion?
Players pieced it together.
It wasn't Sakura fighting all this time—it was Mei, disguised as Sakura.
The real Sakura had been hiding, waiting for the real moment.
And now...
Had the Herrscher finally been outplayed?!
Excitement flared in everyone's hearts.
Finally! A real blow to this smug Herrscher!
Perfect catharsis! Pure satisfaction!!
Then came the next CG—and it fulfilled every ounce of expectation.
The screen shifted.
Mei and Sakura stood back to back, both gripping their blades.
In the same moment, they vanished from their positions—
A flurry of blades tore through the Herrscher of Corruption.
Finally, they emerged past her, striking poses as they sheathed their weapons.
Sakura calmly spoke, "If you really want a name… Momentary Blade: Myriad Forms Unknown. Let's call it that, for now."
Just earlier, the Herrscher mocked her for having no skill name—and now she named it on the spot.
Behind them, the Herrscher of Corruption—and the space around her—froze, unable to move a single inch.
[cool~~]
[So badass!!]
[Mei and Sakura combo attack?!]
[Wallpaper moment! Why aren't you screenshotting?!]
"Yes, yes, everyone hurry and screenshot it."
Elysia, quick as ever with the screenshot key, had already done so.
Mei and Sakura standing together looked far too perfect.
Visibly, their synergy was undeniable.
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