Jiang You and Prisma Illya returned to the corridor, which remained a chaotic mess of distorted space.
"It's all up to you now."
Bubble had explained in detail earlier: a miko was like a Wi-Fi router for an Outer God, converting its signal into a form humans could receive. Now that Prisma Illya had acquired a portion of Jiang You's Authority, it was a shame that Jiang You's essence was still fundamentally human, so her appearance hadn't changed at all.
"What are you disappointed about?!"
Prisma Illya's attitude toward Jiang You had become much more casual. With all her secrets laid bare, she was flustered and indignant. This, combined with the inexplicable sense of closeness she felt as his miko, had transformed her demeanor into its current state.
"I just miss the obedient Prisma Illya from before."
Prisma Illya used to address me with honorifics. Not anymore.
"I'm sorry my mind is filled with that stuff!"
Prisma Illya thought Jiang You was referring to the thoughts in her head. At her age, she was naturally curious about everything—otherwise, in her original story, she wouldn't have pounced on her brother.
"So what if I'm a bad girl?! It's all your fault!"
Jiang You tapped his head. As soon as the topic came up, Prisma Illya started reminiscing again. He temporarily severed the mental link with her. If this continued, even "Little Jiang You" would stand at attention. He found it rather troublesome that the game had implemented such sensory functions. He'd never expected 18+ content to actually appear in the game.
It must be because they're just thought fragments, with no actual visuals, so they slipped past the censors, he reasoned. Of course, it's also possible the review team never reached this part. This so-called "newbie tutorial" explaining the player's identity seems like it was slapped together at the last minute. Who puts a newbie tutorial in the late game?
"No bad girl would choose to sacrifice herself to save others. Illya is the best!"
"You only call me by my full name at times like this!"
Prisma Illya puffed out her cheeks. The title "Prisma Illya" made her feel like a substitute for someone else. Although she understood that Jiang You was closer to that Illya, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. She was Illya too, after all.
Before, she hadn't minded much because Jiang You wasn't always by her side. But now, things were different. Who would have thought Jiang You was the Great God of a pantheon, and she had become his miko? It was safe to say she was stuck with him for life. Feeling increasingly agitated, Prisma Illya chose to be stubborn. "It's only because Sella and the others are here! I wouldn't care about anyone else!"
Prisma Illya was acting like a sulking child, but Jiang You didn't call her out on it.
"Then let's go rescue Sella and the others, my little miko."
"Hmph."
Prisma Illya turned her head away but didn't refuse.
The massive theater held nearly all of Fuyuki's residents. The glow sticks surrounding the stage formed a vast, star-like expanse, swaying in rhythmic unison.
Of course, Nero hadn't had time to prepare so many glow sticks. They were a feature of this mutated Golden Theater. The sticks had a disturbingly biological texture; on closer inspection, they resembled fireflies with their tails stretched unnaturally long.
Cthulhu-esque biotech—truly dependable.
Just as Nero finished her song and bowed to leave the stage, the audience erupted in a thunderous, synchronized roar.
"Encore! Encore!"
The crowd chanted for her to return for another performance. Their eyes were bloodshot, their faces contorted with an unnatural fanaticism. Sella, Miyu, and their group were among them, as were the defeated Medea and Medusa. Even Minamoto no Raikou hadn't escaped the frenzy.
"Very well! If you all insist with such passion, then I must respond in kind!"
Nero's mist-like red gown billowed like sound waves, mirroring the turmoil of her emotions. She had long forgotten her promise to sing only one song. After acquiring the Spirit Origin of an Outer God, her perception of time and space had blurred. If no one intervened, she would likely continue singing until the planet itself was destroyed.
"Then let us have another song!"
The cheers crashed down like a tidal wave. Nero had never felt such euphoria.
After using his Authority to break into Nero's Noble Phantasm space, Jiang You found himself and Prisma Illya on a stone bed. The bed was massive, its base carved with ancient, intricate patterns, but it was utterly impractical—the hard surface dug painfully into his back. Jiang You quickly scrambled up and surveyed his surroundings.
Deep darkness stretched out on either side. Only directly ahead was a transparent curtain, through which he could look down past the mist to the very center of the stage. This was clearly a VIP box. Jiang You glanced at the stage's decorations and the swaying lights in the audience.
"An idol-style stage? Seriously?" he muttered. "I thought Nero's style would be more like a classical opera house. Was she influenced by Dragon Girl?"
In truth, it was a fusion of a classical theater and a modern idol stage—the Golden Theater and Csejte Castle combined. If Jiang You had also added the Heroic Spirit version of the Invisible Piper, the space would have incorporated even more elements.
"Are you Cthulhu gods supposed to be the comedic type?"
Prisma Illya, clinging to the edge of the bed, stared at the scene in utter shock. Jiang You was one thing, but Nero had orchestrated this massive spectacle just to force people to attend her concert? After all the terrifying buildup?
"Quite the opposite," Jiang You replied. "We Cthulhu gods are the horror type."
He explained that the Cthulhu gods had simply made poor choices in hosts. Nero was a comedian most of the time, and Tru'nembra's reputation had been unfairly tarnished. As for himself, a player, he was the most reliable person during an apocalypse, often taking on the role of a savior. But if the world was at peace, he'd start stirring up trouble. Players, after all, were creatures of chaos.
"Have you noticed? What does Nero's singing sound like to you right now?"
"It's actually... quite good... Wait, no!"
Prisma Illya broke out in a cold sweat. Previously, Nero's singing had been an ear-splitting cacophony—a dual assault on both body and mind. For it to become pleasant after just a dozen minutes was clearly impossible.
"Am I under her spell too?"
"No... it's probably because of me."
Jiang You explained, "You don't need to understand the hearing of the Old Gods. You gained resistance by becoming my miko. But what about them?" He gestured toward the audience. "Her singing is beyond what humans can endure. Their minds and souls are constantly being damaged. If this concert continues, what do you think will happen?"
Bubble had already answered a similar question before. The answer was: under immense pressure, the human soul, mind, and body would adapt to Nero—that is, Tru'nembra—and evolve into a new species.
"We have to stop her!"
Prisma Illya vaulted over the railing and leaped onto the stage.