The speeding roller coaster had barely covered two-thirds of its track, still a long way from the end. However, the surging tide of monsters clearly wasn't going to give them a chance for further idle chat, spreading towards them like a vast network of mycelium.
"She must have detected my Herrscher signal." Watching the growing number of monsters below, Mei frowned, subconsciously reaching to draw her sword. But glancing at Elysia beside her, she hesitated again.
"If I fight now... will I have another chance to see you again?"
"What? Are you reluctant to part with me, Mei?" Elysia didn't answer directly, instead asking playfully.
"Ely, now isn't the time for jokes. I don't want our friendship to end with regrets because of secrets." Ignoring the girl's clever evasion, Mei's gaze was filled with seriousness.
She stared into those azure eyes, refusing to give them the chance to quietly slip away like last time.
"Probably no chance. The Flawless Realm was the last hope of the Elysian Realm. Now that it too has been occupied by her, the remaining energy likely isn't enough to summon me again. So, if we part here, I'm afraid we won't have another opportunity to sit and chat like this again."
Elysia's answer was remarkably candid, yet an undeniable trace of regret lingered in her tone.
She gazed at the distant sky where dusk had completely faded. Without the illumination of light, only darkness remained.
Time wouldn't halt for individual will. Even the brightest sun eventually sets. For an ordinary person, it's just the end of a day; for Ely, it was the end of her journey.
"..." Releasing the hilt of her sword, Mei's eyes dimmed slightly. She wanted to spend more time with Ely, but her hand, unable to grasp her weapon, felt lost.
A brief silence fell upon the roller coaster, broken only by the sound of the train descending rapidly as it entered the downhill section.
BOOM!
No matter how unwilling Mei was, time wouldn't stop. In just a few seconds, the vanguard of flying monsters had already breached the amusement park's inner circle. Their trajectory clearly indicated they had pinpointed Mei and Elysia's location.
The monster, bearing the eye insignia, hadn't even gotten close before it spoke in a human voice, "I didn't expect you, whom I completely corrupted, could actually survive."
"Corruption..."
"Surprised? Didn't expect me to find you so quickly, did you? It's all thanks to Kalpas leading the way. If not for him, I probably wouldn't have noticed the disturbance in the amusement park."
"Heh, I knew that Elysia wouldn't be straightforward. Maybe she even hid some final trick to deal with me. Unfortunately for you, I discovered your little scheme ahead of time. I won't give you the chance to reach the end."
Zzzzt~
Lightning flashed, searing a streak across the air. However, the Corruption, possessing the flying beast, simply dodged with a quick movement.
"Oh? You don't actually think you can still hit me, do you?"
Having learned its lesson once, the Corruption was exceptionally cautious. Its Herrscher authority granted it powerful learning capabilities; given enough time, it could grow at an unimaginable speed.
Therefore, even though it only needed to advance slightly to attack Mei, it maintained a safe distance. This brief buffer not only ensured Mei wouldn't escape its sight but also bought time for the main force to converge.
"Give up. I won't give you another chance. Besides, this is just one tiny clone of mine. Even if you destroy it, I have endless others."
Mei pressed her lips together, remaining silent.
The Corruption was right. The battle in the consciousness domain might have seemed like Mei's defeat, but it was actually the closest she had come to success. Now, having experienced death and tasted fear, the Corruption would only hide its main body indefinitely, never giving Mei another chance for a direct confrontation.
She glanced sideways and saw Elysia's form gradually blurring. Mei's expression tightened; she had momentarily forgotten to track the Corruption's flight path.
"Oopsie~ What are you looking at? Left yourself open~" The Corruption, seemingly unable to see Elysia, noticed Mei's lapse in concentration and immediately lunged.
The main force would arrive soon. Just stalling for a short time would be enough to wear her down.
However, just as the Corruption was about to succeed, a fiery light ignited in the night sky. In an instant, a stone pillar engulfed in flames shot upwards like a meteor. Caught completely off guard, the Corruption had no time to react before being smashed into a bloody mist.
"Like the path I led you on, Herrscher?!"
An angry roar erupted from the ground – arrogant, unrestrained – followed by hearty laughter after killing the Corruption's clone.
Mei looked towards the source of the sound and, sure enough, saw a flame burning in the darkness where the lights had gone out.
The flame wasn't bright, yet it stood like a lighthouse in a vast, dark sea. No matter how furiously the Corruption's monsters surged, they couldn't break through the lighthouse's barrier.
"It seems Kalpas has made his choice too." As Mei watched in astonishment, the girl's voice sounded beside her. They both gazed at Kalpas on the battlefield, the flickering flames reflected in their eyes.
"With his power, he probably can't eliminate the current Corruption. Such a sacrifice is meaningless."
"No, you're wrong, Mei. Annihilation's fury was never meant for destruction. On the contrary, he burns himself only to protect something worth protecting. He isn't planning to fight the Corruption alone, but to buy you time, to buy us time."
"Do I need to help him?"
"No need. This is his battle. Let him... enjoy the purest fight."
The purest fight?
Mei suddenly recalled the Kalpas in ARC City. Facing Schicksal's forces, had he thought the same way?
As her thoughts swirled, the roller coaster entered another upward slope. Simultaneously, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew from nearby. She narrowed her eyes, then they flew wide open.
She saw it. Upon the earth shrouded in night, a whale of colossal size leaped from the sea. As the roller coaster ascended, it leaped alongside them into the boundless sky.
"You came too? My dear Eden." Elysia's voice was gentle, like lovers long separated finally reuniting.
This... is Eden?
Mei stared in astonishment at the massive whale soaring through the sky, completely taken aback that this was the elegant woman's cascaded form.
She tilted her head back, watching the whale pass overhead. Fate had cast night upon the Elysian Realm, yet the brilliant Eden scattered the last inch of starlight upon this crumbling world.
"My dear Ely, please savor this time for chatting. Kalpas will pave the way forward for you, and I too wish to raise a glass with you."
"May that gold last forever, and never be parted from you."
Eden's voice was ethereal, echoing in the distant sky. The vast heavens were her stage, and also her grandest farewell blessing to her dearest friend.
As her words faded, the whale dove from the sky. The moment it touched Elysia's cheek, it dissolved into a shower of golden rain.
She gave her beloved a final intimacy, gave this world its last gold.
"Thank you... my dear Eden." A single, almost invisible tear slipped from the corner of Ely's eye. The girl smiled, her most radiant smile, responding to her friend's farewell.
Bathed in the specks of gold, Ely's blurry figure slowly solidified.
Mei and Ren's memories couldn't weave a complete Elysia, but Eden alone was enough to fill in all that was missing.
An indescribable pang struck Mei's heart; she knew it was the emotion called sorrow. She turned to look at Ely, only to find the girl far stronger than herself.
"Let's keep moving forward. We're not far from the end."
The roller coaster glided quietly onward, passing through the thick night. But in Mei and Elysia's eyes, the amusement park was now brightly lit.
Eden had used herself to complete Elysia's data, meaning Elysia could now activate the realm's self-destruct program. When that happened, no matter how many backups the Corruption had, they would all be annihilated together.
As the final survivor, Mei had witnessed an incredibly grand victory, but the cost was suffocating.
"This is the meaning of the Flame-Chasers' existence. This is the heroic inscription left by the Thirteen Flame-Chasers."
Riding the final Ferris wheel, they ascended together towards the park's most flawless sky. From here, they could overlook the entire Elysian Realm and gaze up at the heavens.
"I am the first Herrscher, and also the Herrscher of Human."
"I deeply love this civilization. It is so brilliant. How could I bear to watch it crumble?"
"I fought for a sliver of hope for this world, fought for humanity's chance to break free from fate, only wishing it could emerge from the shadows and welcome a radiant tomorrow."
"I am a Herrscher, and I am human."
The Ferris wheel climbed higher and higher, the entirety of the Elysian Realm spread out beneath their feet. Ely grasped Mei's remaining right hand, placing the original crystal flower into her palm.
"Mei, any Herrscher who fights for human civilization is a Herrscher of Human."
"I am. You are even more so."
"I see humanity's future in you. It's filled with hope, just as I expected."
Mei bit her lip, listening quietly.
"I should really thank Kevin properly. For letting me meet such a lovely girl, for letting me see humanity's future, for letting me know... that everything I did was not in vain."
"Elysia..."
"Alright, Mei, don't be sad. Even the longest road has an end, even the most unforgettable story has a conclusion. As long as those names are not forgotten, the story will continue."
"Goodbye, Mei."
...
The moment the self-destruct sequence initiated, the Elysian Realm instantly became a cage. The Corruption hidden deep within naturally sensed this.
"No! NO!!"
It shrieked hysterically, its instinct to proliferate amplifying infinitely. In just two or three seconds, it replicated thousands upon thousands of clones.
These viral data quickly flooded the entire realm, consuming all remaining data. Yet, this couldn't stop the deletion command originating from the foundational code. The Corruption could only watch helplessly as it vanished bit by bit.
However, just as it despaired, it suddenly discovered the self-destruct sequence had halted.
...
"Can I only act as a bystander, witnessing the fall of heroes?"
"Did I fight with everything I had, yet still achieve nothing?"
"Facing certain death, do I have the strength to draw my sword?"
After activating the self-destruct program, Elysia finally disappeared. The once beautiful sky was now overcast, a light rain beginning to fall, leaving Mei alone in the amusement park.
Before her lay the path back to reality. Just one step forward would allow her to escape this collapsing data space.
But she didn't take that step. Instead, she stood rooted, staring at the sword in her hand.
The data of the Seven Thunders of Retribution had vanished, leaving only the Sky Render, born from her Herrscher of Thunder authority. This blade, born from her own heart, was dim, like an extinguished ember.
["That is for you to ask yourself. Are you willing to draw your sword for them? Are you willing to draw your sword for humanity? Are you willing... to draw your sword for yourself?"]
CRACKLE!
Thunder roared, shaking the heavens and earth. Horns defiant, she faced the nine heavens with a cry.
Raiden Mei looked up at the sky churning with lightning snakes, letting the rain fall freely, striking her cheeks. She watched, watched the grandest thunderbolt gathering within the clouds.
Suddenly, she smiled. At the same time, the thunderbolt her heart had long awaited struck down.
"My answer... shouldn't you already know it very well in your heart? Otherwise, you wouldn't have deliberately sent me into the Elysian Realm, nor would you have forcibly halted this self-destruct sequence."
Mei turned around. The sharp blade scraped against its sheath with a clear hum. Lightning flashed in her eyes, reflecting the figure of a gray-haired youth standing amidst the downpour.
"Ren... No, Mr. Ren."
"Mm, it seems your growth has exceeded my predictions. I thought you wouldn't guess my identity until after leaving the Elysian Realm," Ren stood in the rain. Beneath the overcast sky, his golden eyes emitted a faint glow.
The youth's figure was lean, seemingly harmless. But a closer look revealed that even the raindrops falling from the sky dared not touch the hem of his clothes.
Facing the unmasked Ren, Mei felt an immense pressure that almost suffocated her. She hadn't felt it when Ren was disguised, but facing him directly now, she could sense the terror his name represented.
Taking a deep breath, Mei widened her eyes, fearlessly meeting those golden pupils, the purple light of the Thunder Herrscher flowing within her own gaze.
"Rather than saying I guessed your identity, it's more like you never intended to hide it. To this day, the information from The Obsidian Concord's database, the information Liuli provided, even the things you said to me face-to-face – none of it contained lies. With careful discernment, guessing your identity was quite simple."
"Oh? Then why choose to expose me only now?"
"No, it's precisely because it was all truth that it was easier to lie. You built a labyrinth of lies with countless truths. Those who step inside only see fragmented realities. When they turn a corner and see another truth, they subconsciously piece them together."
"People always think that truth touching truth reveals the whole truth. But in your hands, it transforms into a lie."
"To you, I was like a small insect caught in an impenetrable spiderweb, thinking I saw through the truth, unaware I was only falling deeper."
"If it's truly as you say, how did you learn my identity?"
"Simple. Kiana." Mentioning this name sharpened Mei's gaze considerably.
"In ARC City, Kiana met a youth named Ren. Yet, according to Schicksal and Anti-Entropy records, the boy was just an ordinary person."
"A Herrscher getting close to an ordinary person is naturally illogical. So, you opportunely displayed the power of the Herrscher of Flame, and using the battle in Nagazora as a pretext, completely vanished into the shadows."
"The Obsidian Concord was founded for Kiana – this is truth. The Obsidian Concord chose you as leader – this is also truth. But as long as Liuli said you were 'forced' to join, everything becomes a lie."
"In reality, your ability isn't the Herrscher of Flame at all. You have the ability to take on others' appearances, even possessing remarkably similar powers. You appeared in different identities, playing different roles, weaving an imperceptible web around me."
"Kalpas... even Pardofelis... There aren't that many coincidences in the world. They were merely you in disguise. And your goal... was me."
"For you? Aren't you overestimating yourself a little?"
"Of course, not because of my existence, but because of my identity. Raiden Mei, Murata Himeko, Bronya Zaychik, even Schicksal and Anti-Entropy – all share a common focus: Kiana."
"I initially thought it impossible for someone to be so obsessive, to create such an intricate plan for one girl. But when I heard the boy's story from Elysia, I finally confirmed it: you truly did it all for Kiana."
"Willing to cross seas of stars, willing to fool the world, willing to go through great lengths to nurture my growth... just to build a throne for her."
"Knowing this, focusing on Kiana makes it easy to discover that the obscure, unremarkable boy named Ren is, in fact, the answer to everything."
"Cutting through the weeds to see the truth... You indeed meet my requirements." Ren showed approval, applauding Mei's deduction.
"So, returning to the initial question. My answer... are you clear on it now? Mr. Ren."
"Of course. I shall grant you a trial. By the Mark of Ren!" With a soft snap of his fingers, countless golden veins spread out from beneath Ren's feet.
The Elysian Realm was quickly enveloped in a golden hue. Where he stood, a towering golden tree slowly rose behind him.
"If you wish to change the predetermined destruction, then show me a performance convincing enough."
Ren took a step back, letting the downpour wash over Raiden Mei. [Kiana] walked over from the distance, standing beside him.
"Well then, Miss Hua. The remnants... are yours to handle."
As his words fell, Hua, who had remained unseen until now, silently emerged from the darkness.
Holding breath, focusing mind, the heart-lake ripples slightly.
"SWARA!"
In an instant, overflowing, vast spiritual energy transformed into an unparalleled Sword God. Any monster touched by the Sword God ignited into flames due to the link in the spiritual domain.
The Herrscher of Corruption could have countless clones; theoretically, destroying them all simultaneously was impossible. But within the spatio-temporal domain constructed by Ren, shadows had nowhere to hide.
Combined with Fu Hua's spiritual killing technique, the only way for the Corruption to protect itself was to abandon its meaningless clones and concentrate all its energy into its main body.
"Mommy?"
The Corruption, with nowhere left to hide, stumbled out of the darkness. The moment it looked up, it saw Mei holding her katana, and Ren standing in the distance.