Tao Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, her expression transforming from confusion to realization.
She clapped her hands, revealing a sly smile on her face.
"I've got it!"
Tao Yao exclaimed, her voice brimming with confidence and anticipation.
"From the very beginning, I may have been trapped in a misunderstanding."
"Since you all claim to be the real Hiyakura, and I asked a question and you all answered, it's hard to tell. In that case, why not prove it through action!"
She looked at the two Hiyakura, her gaze sparkling with insight.
"The true Hiyakura should demonstrate extraordinary abilities and unparalleled strength under any circumstances."
"And now, we happen to have a perfect opportunity to verify this."
Tao Yao's voice turned serious, yet still carried a thread of excitement:
"The Disaster Beasts are attacking the city. Although this is indeed a disaster, it is also an opportunity. I can use this chance to make a more informed judgment."
"The true Hiyakura will surely perform perfectly in battle, showcasing astonishing power."
Her gaze shifted back and forth between the two Hiyakura, her tone firm and passionate.
"Whoever among you is the true Hiyakura, and whoever is the Shadow Fairy, must give your all to protect this city! And the true Hiyakura will not hesitate to step forward to defend this city and its residents."
Tao Yao took a deep breath and continued:
"This method may be a bit risky, but I believe it is the best choice for now. We don't have time to continue wrangling over who is who. The city is facing a tremendous threat. Only by witnessing your performance firsthand can the truth come to light in battle."
Her eyes sparkled with determination, her voice filled with resolve.
"To put it another way, even if one of you is fake, you will have to do what only the true Hiyakura would do in this way."
"For us and for the entire city, this is absolutely the most beneficial thing!"
After hearing Tao Yao's words, the reactions of the two Hiyakura were different, but both exhibited a nod of agreement.
Past Hiyakura's eyes sparkled with approving light, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly into a confident smile.
She gently nodded, her voice steady and firm:
"This is indeed a wise decision, Tao Yao. I completely agree with your viewpoint. In times of crisis, our duty is to protect this city and its residents."
Present Hiyakura felt a bit nervous inside.
But she hid it well, showing very few cracks.
She took a deep breath, trying to sound calm:
"I... I also agree with this proposal. Although I'm not sure if I can fully demonstrate the true Hiyakura's strength, I will do my utmost to protect this city."
"This is not only to prove my identity but also because it is the duty of Hiyakura."
Seeing both Hiyakura express their agreement, Tao Yao revealed a rewarding smile.
She immediately sprang into action, quickly untying the two Hiyakura.
"Great, I knew you both would agree!"
As Tao Yao untied the ropes, she said:
"Now we must hurry to the city walls. Remember, no matter what happens, our top priority is to protect the city and its residents. As for the identity issue, trust me, I will absolutely not misidentify the true Hiyakura!!"
Once the ropes were completely undone, the two Hiyakura stood up and moved their somewhat stiff limbs.
Tao Yao stood between them, her gaze resolutely fixed ahead.
"Follow me!"
Tao Yao said and then led the way out of the room.
The two Hiyakura closely followed, and the three rushed toward the city walls.
As they got closer to the walls, the sounds of battle became clearer.
In the distance, the roars of the giant beasts mingled with soldiers' shouts and the clinking of weapons.
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and fear.
When they finally reached the city walls, the sight was shocking.
Soldiers were desperately defending themselves on the walls.
But their expressions were filled with fear and despair. Below the walls, countless Disaster Beasts were attacking frantically.
These Disaster Beasts were gigantic, some resembling mutated beasts, and others completely beyond human imagination.
Their bodies seemed composed of black mist.
Yet they were solid enough to cause substantial damage to the walls.
A large breach had appeared on the eastern side of the wall.
The soldiers, with a determination to fight to the death, were trying to stop the attack of the Disaster Beasts.
However, their weapons seemed to have little effect on these terrifying creatures, barely able to hold them off and unable to inflict effective damage.
In the air, some flying Disaster Beasts circled above, ready to dive and attack at any moment.
On the ground, more Disaster Beasts were surging in endlessly, as if there was no end.
The entire city was engulfed in a state of panic.
In the distance, residents were seen fleeing in a hurry, taking all they could carry.
The cries of children, the calls of adults, and the roars of the Disaster Beasts intertwined, creating a doomsday-like scene.
Tao Yao and the two Hiyakura stood on the city wall, witnessing all of this.
"The situation is worse than I imagined. I shouldn't have wasted time asking so many questions earlier..."
Tao Yao whispered, her voice filled with concern. "Now, if we can't stop these Disaster Beasts as soon as possible, this surviving city will fall even faster."
The two Hiyakura exchanged glances and then nodded simultaneously.
They knew that this was not the time to debate identity; the imminent crisis was the most pressing issue.
Just then, a loud roar echoed, deafening.
Everyone turned to look towards the source of the sound.
They saw an enormous Disaster Beast charging toward the city wall.
This Disaster Beast was much larger than the others.
Its body seemed made of pure darkness, with eyes flickering with an evil, eerie red light.
As that giant Disaster Beast charged toward the city wall, the two Hiyakura nearly moved in unison.
Their motions were so synchronized, they resembled a mirror image.
Past Hiyakura acted first.
A hot flame erupted from her palm.
The flame formed a gigantic fire dragon in the air, roaring toward the giant Disaster Beast.
Wherever the fire dragon traveled, the air warped and twisted from the heat.
Simultaneously, Present Hiyakura also unleashed her flame power.
However, her flames exuded a strange purplish hue.
These flames transformed into countless tiny fire butterflies, fluttering in the air, then suddenly coalescing into a gigantic fiery sword, slashing toward the Disaster Beast.
The two different flame powers intertwined, creating a breathtaking scene.
Past Hiyakura's fire dragon coiled around the body of the Disaster Beast.
While Present Hiyakura's fiery sword relentlessly struck its vital points.
The massive Disaster Beast let out a painful howl under this dual attack, its body beginning to crack, the black mist-like form gradually consumed by the flames.
During this fierce battle.
Outside the game world.
Players were also experiencing some details of the new version.
In simple terms, compared to previous versions, this update was a revolutionary change.
First and foremost, the most significant change was the addition of a city in the "Past Blooming Flower" mode as a base for players.
This city not only provided shelter for players, but also became what they needed to protect.
The walls were filled with various defensive structures, from simple arrow towers to complex protective machines, allowing players to arrange these defenses according to their strategies.
Secondly, this version of Past Blooming Flower had greatly increased the tower defense elements.
Players not only needed to control their characters in battle but also had to allocate resources wisely, upgrade city defenses, and even summon NPC guards to assist in combat.
This combination of action, strategy, and tower defense elements substantially enhanced the playability and depth of the game.
Additionally, the new version also underwent a comprehensive reform of the character skill system.
Many new buffs had been added.
Players could continue to optimize based on their preferences and strategies.
For example, Hiyakura could now not only enhance her flame power but also learn some supportive skills, such as healing or buffing.
What surprised players the most was that the storyline in the new version became richer and more coherent.
It was no longer a collection of scattered fragments, but a complete storyline.
Players could gradually uncover the secrets of the world and understand the background stories of the characters while engaged in battle.
This integration of gameplay and storytelling allowed players to enjoy thrilling combat while immersing themselves in an enticing narrative.
After Present Hiyakura successfully repelled wave after wave of Disaster Beasts.
The game once again entered storyline mode.
In the scene, Tao Yao stood before the two Hiyakura, her gaze shifting between them, her expression growing increasingly troubled.
"The Disaster Beasts now are simple for Hiyakura..."
Tao Yao began, her voice filled with conflict, "Although it's said that you handled it with some slight differences."
Her gaze fell on Past Hiyakura, her expression becoming serious:
"You give me the impression of a seasoned warrior, very clear on the weaknesses of the Disaster Beasts, knowing how to respond as Hiyakura."
"You're so skilled, many of your habits in details are also what Hiyakura should have, so... you are definitely my good Hiyakura!!"
Hearing this, Present Hiyakura's heart skipped a beat.
She felt a surge of panic, her heart full of distress.
Deep down, she knew she was the true Hiyakura, but the other Hiyakura performed so well, so perfectly, far better than her now...
She even felt that the other was more like the "real Hiyakura."
Present Hiyakura pondered:
Could it really be so?
Am I truly the fake Hiyakura?
No, that's impossible.
I clearly remember everything about myself, those memories, those feelings, are all real.
But...
My earlier performance... was vastly inferior to that Hiyakura...
Just as she fell into self-doubt, Tao Yao's gaze turned toward her.
"As for you..."
Tao Yao's tone was filled with hesitation, "Your performance just now was indeed a bit... unsatisfactory. Though still impressive, I feel you seemed not at ease? A bit nervous... not at all like an experienced veteran..."
Hearing this, Present Hiyakura felt her heart sink to the bottom.
It's over...
But Tao Yao continued:
"However, this doesn't mean you aren't Hiyakura. After all, a person's performance can be influenced by circumstances. Facing such a crisis, even Hiyakura would feel worry and anxiety, right?"
"What can I say? Although it may sound presumptuous, your performance just now gave me the feeling..."
"More like Hiyakura when she first entered the battlefield..."
Tao Yao said, starting to irritably tug at her own hair:
"Oh dear, I just can't tell! Whether it's from answering the previous question or the enthusiasm you displayed while fighting the Disaster Beasts, you both resemble the good Hiyakura I know! What should we do now..."
Seeing Tao Yao so troubled, Past Hiyakura spoke up to comfort her:
"It's alright, Tao Yao. This isn't your fault."
"The Shadow Fairy's disguise is seamless, making it impossible to expose flaws easily. If it could be easily uncovered, it wouldn't deserve to be called a Shadow Fairy."
The two Hiyakura looked at each other, and Past Hiyakura continued:
"At least so far, regardless of which of us is the Shadow Fairy, neither of us has done anything outrageous for the time being. That's not a bad thing. If we truly can't figure out how to distinguish between us, why don't we maintain the status quo for now?"
"After all, protecting this city and its residents is the priority."
Upon hearing this, Tao Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, a hint of joy appearing on her face.
"Wait, that means..."
Tao Yao's tone carried a touch of excitement:
"Does this mean I temporarily have two Hiyakura?! This is just fantastic!"
She looked at the two Hiyakura with delight, as if suddenly discovering a treasure.
"Although I still don't know who the real Hiyakura is, with both of you here, we can surely protect this city!"
Upon hearing this, both Hiyakura smiled involuntarily.
Even in such a tense situation, Tao Yao could maintain an optimistic attitude, and this positive mindset seemed to infect them.
Just then, another deafening roar echoed from the distance, clearly signaling that more Disaster Beasts were approaching the city wall.
Tao Yao took a deep breath, her expression turning serious:
"Alright, now is not the time to dwell on this issue. We still have a city to protect! Hiyakura, no matter which one of you it is, we must work together!"
The two Hiyakura exchanged glances, nodding in unison.
Currently, the Disaster Beasts were invading.
What should be addressed is the Disaster Beasts.
Protecting this city and its residents.
Thus, under Tao Yao's lead, the two Hiyakura began another round of defense preparations.
Even though they still couldn't tell who was real and who was fake.
But since they could maintain the status quo for now, there was no need to dwell too much on this issue, otherwise, it might just give the Disaster Beasts an opportunity.
At the same time.
Outside the game world, countless players were eagerly discussing the surprises brought by this new version.
And this new update.
Would undoubtedly respond to their expectations.