City of Berlin, Europe, in the outer mountain forests.
The four — Ling Ke, Raiden Mei, Alicia, and Kevin Kaslana — had yet to leave.
In fact, long after Kevin had taken action and destroyed those armed helicopters, Fire Moth's high command regarded it as the gravest provocation and then sent the second and third battalions already on standby nearby... even more combat troops.
However, all these combat units today were being held back by the Dominator figures under Ling Ke's command.
Just like the complete blockade of Twilight Street before.
Obviously, he needed an environment where he could speak properly.
And just now, he had nearly finished what he had to say.
So now—
"Raiden Mei, Raiden Mei."
Ling Ke looked at the purple-haired girl holding the strange greatsword in her hand, ready to draw and slash at any time, and said, "Until today, you've always been the most important character in my script."
Upon hearing that—
"Should I feel honored?"
Raiden Mei asked in a cold voice.
Judging the situation—
"No, you should be afraid."
Kevin, standing nearby, thought to himself.
As for Alicia, she was still struggling to use her powers, digesting everything she had just learned.
Looking back at Ling Ke—
"No matter what kind of 'actor' you are, you will eventually usher in the 'final' moment."
He muttered to himself, "After all, they still have their own lives outside the screen."
"And in the current play set in the 'world'..."
He looked directly at Raiden Mei and smiled: "Your 'final scene' is coming."
"…"
Upon hearing Ling Ke say this, Raiden Mei suddenly had a very bad feeling in her heart.
As expected—
"Since we've already started to fall, why not fall more completely?"
"But don't suddenly try to act like a fool again!"
As he spoke, Ling Ke raised his right hand and lifted his index finger, "Next issue preview."
"Your beloved K-423, when she arrives in this era, it'll be half a year later in Changkong City."
"In the future, if she lives to the end, she will become the Herrscher of the End of this era."
"You—"
Raiden Mei had already drawn her sword and was about to slash Ling Ke's neck.
But right then—
"唪~"
Kevin moved.
From a different position, he already understood Ling Ke's mind and nature. Upon hearing the words "Herrscher of the End," he had already confirmed a fact:
He must hear this real and extremely important "future information."
So—
"See? Impatient again."
After Kevin stopped Raiden Mei, who hadn't moved a single step from her spot as if expecting this outcome, Ling Ke sighed and shook his head, saying, "It's rare for me to be so kind, exposing the later arrangements made during revenge in the past in advance."
"Smart people, even if they're eager to act, should at least hear the end first."
"…"
Upon hearing this, Raiden Mei looked grim.
In the end, however, she chose to back down.
Then Ling Ke continued, chuckling, "So, what will happen to K-423 when the candidate for the Herrscher of the End is confirmed? And what choice will she make herself... presumably, everyone here, it's not hard to guess."
"Don't worry, I don't bear a grudge or hate her — I'm simply returning what originally belonged to her."
"In other words: as the Herrscher of the End, she won't lose her humanity or sense of self."
"Of course, here's a kind reminder!"
"Considering that in K-423's body there is still a personality from the Herrscher of the Void... I don't bear any resentment against her either, so naturally I can't help anyone eliminate her."
"Therefore, it's really hard to say who will have the final 'ultimate' power."
"And under this premise..."
He obviously didn't say everything, but the meaning was already very clear. Ling Ke, in a sinister tone, raised his hand toward the purple-haired girl in view: "Thunderbolt Mei, in this life, just by meeting K-423 — even if only watching from a distance — you will be chosen by the 'Cocoon of the End' and once again become the Herrscher of Thunder."
"Of course, this time there will be no power from the 'Law of Man' to help you regain your humanity, and I, a malicious and excessively willful person, will inevitably use the power in my hands to do everything I can to achieve the result I want to see."
"You won't have a chance to resist... of course, based on your current will, I'm not optimistic about that possibility anyway."
"But don't worry, even if I do a thousand useless things, no matter what happens, I'll completely block all 'accidents' and possibilities..."
"In this way, as long as you stay in line, you'll become a full-fledged, involuntary killing machine that exists solely to destroy the current civilized era."
"Just like the former me (broken inside)... no, maybe you'll do it even 'better'!"
Watching Raiden Mei's gradually changing expression, Ling Ke seemed a bit mocking: "Let's set a boundary."
"In the future, with K-423's location as the center and within a 13-kilometer radius, that will be your restricted area."
"Just like in the Ramayana, you will be cursed alongside Rama and Sita, never able to share joy in the world again..."
"Naturally, considering this is a technological era, no direct audio communication or video communication will be allowed."
"Let others deliver messages indirectly... yes."
"Letter exchange... no."
.....
Ling Ke laid down many rules all at once.
The more she listened, the more Raiden Mei's hand, which was tightly gripping the greatsword, trembled with thunder and lightning.
She was afraid.
Truly afraid.
Even though just now, she dared to swing her blade at the "enemy" she believed was above her head.
Even "dared to speak with moral superiority, thinking she could say her heartbreaking words to Ling Ke."
But now—
"…"
Also taking a few steps back, Kevin, who had already retreated a bit earlier, looked on coldly.
At that moment, the only thing on his mind was: "See, Raiden Mei — this is who you said, who you thought was the 'enemy.'"
Their positions are different, so he never reminded Raiden Mei that the enemy she has to face has always been herself... Kevin Kaslana.
Rather than aiming too high and overestimating your vision beyond the chessboard, the one not in the game can flip the table at any time.
On the other side, Alicia was already so frightened that her mouth slightly opened.
Now, she finally trusted her own eyes that could "look ahead (into the future)" to roughly understand the ins and outs.
In fact, at that moment, she was tempted to persuade and try to stop the tragedy that was taking shape.
But although she is kind, she is not stupid.
She knew very well that the dark-haired youth in front of her was no longer someone who could be reasoned with.
On the contrary—
If he were "disappointed," the consequences would be even worse.
Absolutely not.
She could only choose silence.
After all, at that moment, it was only the second time today. It was officially the first time she had just met Raiden Mei.
The latter's status in her heart was far from that so-called "more important than XXX" level.
She wouldn't offer her blessing to a stranger.
Especially when the price of that blessing meant more people would have a tragic future.
This moment—
"No."
Raiden Mei unconsciously took a step back.
Instead of just trembling hands now, she was endlessly... unbalanced, unstable, and swaying.
Clearly, with her current strength, she should never have been in such a state.
"You can't."
"It's fine, Miss Raiden Mei. Let's stop here."
"I've heard enough of the cliché pleas for mercy, but they're boring, and I don't want to hear them anymore."
"It's too late for you to say such things now."
"People must always pay the corresponding price for their own decisions."
"In the end—"
Ling Ke directly cut off her follow-up speech — obviously ugly — and said indifferently: "Once, I would still consider you a legitimate object of revenge."
"But now you're just an 'actor,' neither a 'scriptwriter' nor a 'director,' not an 'organizer' or an 'investor.'"
"You have no right to revise the script."
"You either continue with the show or... quit (abandon) this set (world)."
"You only have two choices."
At this point, a spatial gate emerged behind Ling Ke. "Looking forward to your next performance... no."
"I look forward to your final dance in half a year!"