Elysia couldn't imagine how much suffering SAKURA must have endured in the past…
In an instant, Elysia understood—the girl before her had never truly found peace.
Over the fifty thousand years in the Elysian Realm, what kind of long and tragic inner battle she had fought was beyond anyone else's imagination.
SAKURA continued: "So… Elysia, I only want to confirm one thing with you."
"I want to know my true ending."
"After deciding to go against RIN's will… at the very end of my life, did I… make the right choice again?"
"…"
Elysia looked at her, recalling how she had defended her pride as an older sister with her life. And how that unfortunate girl chosen by Honkai had, in the final moment, used a miracle to prove her resolve.
"So… SAKURA…"
"Are you still willing to trust me? Just like… back then."
A cloud slowly drifted across the sky, about to pass in front of the bright moon—everything around them darkened at that moment.
Elysia took two steps forward and gently embraced her.
SAKURA made no sound, simply letting her body relax and lean into the other's shoulder…
"You all did everything you could and did your very best."
The final sobs—unclear whose they were—faded away. After that, silence reigned for a time.
Elysia said softly: "Thank you for being willing to share these things with me. I never imagined… you would open your heart to someone like this."
SAKURA said: "Perhaps because you can't simply be categorized as 'someone else.'"
"Or rather… this is also a kind of reciprocation."
Elysia asked in confusion: "Reciprocation? Did I do something wrong?"
SAKURA shook her head: "No, this isn't sarcasm. Actually, I hid another thing from all of you… from you."
"Because of the Yaksha fusion factor, I have an extraordinary perception of aura. And in the Realm, the special nature of memories further amplified this ability."
"In those chaotic regions where memories tangled together—aside from RIN… I also sensed your ending."
Elysia asked: "…It was a beautiful ending, right?"
SAKURA replied: "After all, I'm not the owner of those memories. Through aura, I could only detect the faint emotions mixed in by those involved."
"So… I believe it must have been a very beautiful ending."
"Leaving this world before you truly is my regret."
"…Sorry, that sounded strange. Forget it. I just wanted to know—if I could have witnessed your conclusion as well, would I have become completely different?"
Elysia said: "Look at you talking like that. I'm not the type who enjoys preaching, you know."
"It's precisely because none of you ever changed… that I like everyone so much…"
SAKURA nodded: "Indeed. And though it's a regret, I sincerely hope that situation never comes to pass. Otherwise, there would be one more thing I couldn't face."
"What do you think, Elysia?"
"…"
There was no response.
"…Elysia?"
"…"
Still no answer.
Recalling what she had just said, SAKURA turned around, hoping the other was just pulling one of her usual jokes.
But at this moment, aside from her, there was no one else here.
This was impossible. This warrior once called an assassin.
Even the leader of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers couldn't vanish like this without her senses detecting anything.
"Wait, this is…"
And in the instant she sensed a certain aura, a bone-chilling terror swept over her—
...
...
When she regained consciousness again.
"Mm…"
"Where… is this…"
In a daze, she gradually awoke from the nightmare, attempting to reclaim her senses.
"Did I… escape…"
How much time had passed?
That abnormally dangerous aura from her memories still clung to her like maggots on bone, cold and persistent.
"Afterward… what happened… Did Kalpas receive the signal?"
She had to leave this place.
In the darkness, she first gripped her weapon, ensuring that in the next instant, her slash would undoubtedly strike any comer…
"…No need to panic, SAKURA."
"It's me." Su's voice rang out.
"…Su?"
SAKURA recognized the voice. Her senses extended once more. Before her appeared a narrow, enclosed space.
Memories awakened too—in that life-or-death moment, she had frozen the space with a single instantaneous slash, barely escaping alive through the fractured gap.
Then came darkness, boundless and endless.
"I actually slept for so long… What about outside?"
Su said: "Not good."
"If nothing unexpected happened… the Herrscher of Corruption of this era has already descended upon the Elysian Realm."
Corrosion—he spoke the word without the slightest hesitation or deliberation.
And because of that single statement, she fully understood the current situation.
"How could this be… No wonder I sensed nothing…"
"…"
SAKURA hurriedly asked: "Then… what about Elysia?"
The only reply was a sigh.
"…I understand."
As one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, and having experienced Cocoon of Venom's rebellion, SAKURA already knew how to cope with such things. Now was not the time to grieve—especially against a Herrscher.
She asked directly: "Su, how did you find me?"
Su said: "Kalpas provided the clue. Through the signal you sent, he once reached this place. But unlike me, he didn't have the aid of a second Divine Key and couldn't delve into the frozen, sealed space."
"Additionally… the message Vill-V left also pointed to your location."
SAKURA was curious: "Vill-V?"
Su continued: "Mm. I'm afraid… she too has already fallen. But she left behind a riddle, asking me where in the Realm was the absolutely safe place."
"Your data once showed anomalies but was never further corroded—presumably not intentional on the Herrscher's part. Therefore, I believe your current state must be related to the answer."
SAKURA said: "You think the place where I am… is the absolutely safe location?"
Su said: "At least we can be certain that this stagnant space you created can indeed halt the spread of corrosion."
SAKURA said: "But… that's all it can do."
"Is your plan to use this place as a refuge? My sword can only suppress corrosion, not eradicate it."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't be in this state right now…"
At this point, her voice abruptly stopped.
If she had already been corroded, then why had she suddenly awakened at this moment?
SAKURA lowered her head and noticed the dark green haze that had once clung to her was gradually dissipating.
"…?" She realized something.
"Su…? Where are you…? I can't see you…"
Su answered: "I'm right here."
"It's just… inconvenient to show myself now."
SAKURA asked urgently: "What did you do to me? I should have… been corroded long ago…"
Su replied: "I swapped parts of our data, transferring a portion of myself into your memory body. I hope this intact data can delay your suffering."
SAKURA said quickly: "But if you do that, you will…"
"…You should have told me beforehand."
Su said: "I am, after all, a doctor. To stand by and watch someone drown goes against my principles."
Even though this wasn't healing, but an exchange that was hard to accept.
He continued: "Besides… time was short. I had no leisure to wait for you to wake naturally."
"Compared to my momentary safety, your ability to act freely is far more important to the current situation. Only you possess the power to lock down any existence—even if only for an instant, it's enough."
"…Take it, SAKURA."
In the light, the Forget-Me-Not mask was returned to its owner.
"Kalpas preserved it for you until now… Returning it now is exactly the right time."
SAKURA took the offered mask. A faint, warm sting came from her fingertips.
She was long familiar with this sensation. In the years she served Cocoon of Venom, that man who burned like fire always imprinted this temperature on others—scorching, unendurable, never fading.
Just like now, the last trace of lingering warmth on this mask.
"…"
She parted her lips slightly, as if to say something, but no sound emerged.
After a long while, only four words fell gently.
"…I understand."
No more words were needed.
She put on the mask, her hand returning to the weapon at her waist.
That trace of warmth dissipated, leaving only piercing cold.
SAKURA asked: "Then, what do you need me to do?"
Su said: "After all, it's Vill-V's final scheme. What she left was a triple-layered riddle."
SAKURA asked: "The same puzzle face, but three different solutions?"
Su replied: "Mm. The answer we just reached is only the first layer—shallow, and not the crux. The remaining two solutions are the true keys to breaking the deadlock."
"So, SAKURA—now I need you to reveal the second answer to the riddle."
"For that, we must…"
"…face death directly."
Seeing these past scenes.
Many viewers felt a sour ache in their hearts, their eyes unknowingly wet with tears.
In the official chat group: "Wuwuwu… I was really knifed to tears. The Flame-Chasers are all so good. They seem to contradict each other, but they truly care for one another. Kalpas risking everything to prove SAKURA's innocence, SAKURA hiding everyone's secrets while being so gentle to everyone, Su sacrificing his life out of a doctor's compassion."
"Yeah, yeah, SAKURA is really too good. How could I have suspected her as the killer back then? I deserve to die."
"The Thirteen Flame-Chasers truly deserve the name. They have flaws, but their choices in such desperate situations are exactly why they became heroes."
"I'm really crying. Why do they have to die? They're all such good people."
"Damn Herrscher of Corruption—I must kill her. It's all because of her!"
"SAKURA must be in so much pain right now. Su sacrificed himself to save her, and when she woke up, she learned Elysia and Kalpas were both dead. Yet she can still stay this calm—is this what a Flame-Chaser is?"
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH, damn director, you bastard—just have to knife me, huh? Knifing me makes you feel so good, right?!"
"No, I'm in so much pain—heartache, it's too painful. I really loved Su so much."
"SAKURA! My SAKURA-nee… At least Elysia could understand her, but Elysia is dead too…"
"Fuck—don't bring that up, okay? Mentioning it makes me want to cry. My Ellie wife ahhh!"
"…"
At Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company.
SAKURA stared blankly at this segment of the plot.
All along, she had thought Hessian was purely knifing her because she had a little sister—various plots where her sister died, then she died…
But she never imagined this plot could be presented in such a way. Not only did it fully showcase her love for her sister, but it presented her character in an utterly perfect light.
It even made her wonder—is this really me?
Even she was moved by this plot and genuinely came to like herself.
Seele had somehow come to her side at some point, holding her hand and leaning on her shoulder: "SAKURA-nee…"
She was moved by this plot and wanted to comfort SAKURA in her own way. SAKURA understood this perfectly.
She reached out and gently stroked Seele's head: "It's okay, Seele. Though in the drama we went through countless hardships, in reality our lives are still beautiful. The cherry blossoms are still blooming. We just need to cherish the beauty of reality."
Seele nodded: "Mm~ SAKURA-nee, let's go see the cherry blossoms tomorrow."
"Alright."
SAKURA nodded in agreement: "Perfect timing for you all to meet my cute little sister too."
"Okay!"
Everyone present agreed.
Mobius muttered thoughtfully: "So this is what 'beautiful' means—this is what the drama is trying to express? Using the pain and tragedy on TV to make people realize they should cherish the beauty around them. Is this really something Hessian could think of?"
She quickly rejected the idea: "Impossible! He's just a despicable person—giving me such a hateful character!"
"Hmph!"
Mobius snorted coldly and glared at him.
Then she turned back to the TV.
On the screen.
The scene had returned to the present.
SAKURA said to the Herrscher of Corruption: "The last time—if we can even call it a fight—was far too one-sided."
"So… let's start over, Herrscher of Corruption."
The Herrscher of Corruption said: "Mm… Does it always have to turn out like this? SAKURA, I clearly only wanted to keep you out of harm's way because I cared about you."
"…?"
SAKURA looked at Mei in confusion, clearly puzzled by the Herrscher of Corruption's appearance and manner of speech.
Mei explained: "Not just the appearance—her personality is also shifting toward Elysia's… I mean the bad aspects."
"At first I was surprised too. Now it seems… her goal is the Kevin Weapon called Model 666."
"She has to become Elysia to seize the corresponding control authority."