Chapter 38: The Inventory Begins
Time quickly passed to the next day.
"I wonder if you've all missed me?"
[ Genshin - Yae Miko: Oh my, the livestream has finally arrived. You've kept me waiting quite a while! ]
[ Star Rail - Guinaifen: Hurry up and start! I can't wait any longer! ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Raiden Mei: Front row! Front row! ]
"Today's video is quite extensive, consisting of twenty-seven segments in total, so I hope you all have the patience to watch it through to the end!"
"Today, we are taking stock of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers!"
"They are Kevin, symbol of Deliverance; Elysia, of Human: Ego; Aponia, of Discipline; Eden, of Gold; Vill-V, of Helix; Kalpas, of Decimation; Su, of Bodhi; Sakura, of Setsuna; Kosma, of Daybreak; Mobius, of Infinity; Griseo, of Stars; Hua, of Vicissitude; and Pardofelis, of Reverie."
[ Genshin - Nahida: Aren't these the friends who appeared right after the recap stream ended yesterday? ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Otto: Kevin… ]
[ Star Rail - Fu Xuan: According to my divination, I'm actually going to cry today? ]
"First, let us begin with an appetizer!"
"Elysian Realm Shards!"
...
As the music swelled, a lovely girl with pink hair was seen waving her conductor's baton, saying with a smile: "So, this time, we really must say goodbye!"
Elysia was shown holding a camera, tilting her head and blinking, a smile gracing her face.
"Thank you for coming here, for meeting us, for speaking with us!"
The scene shifted, and Elysia, dressed in a white gown, extended a hand with a smile, the words 'Herrscher of Human: Ego' appearing beneath her.
"Thank you for being willing to remember our names and listen to our stories!"
As the screen transitioned, a rectangular photograph of Elysia instantly shattered into countless fragments.
The scene changed once more. Kevin stood holding the Judgment of Shamash, his expression grave as he said: "You have earned the recognition of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, so there is naturally no need for me to say more. Face the future with your head held high!"
"Herrscher of Thunder, you know you can believe in yourself!"
As his voice faded, the rectangular photograph printed with Kevin's image shattered into countless fragments. If one looked closely, the space behind where Elysia's photo had been was now blank.
The scene shifted again to reveal a blue phantom watching a petite puppet.
Accompanying an eerie sound, the phantom spoke: "Do well after you leave, little lab rat!"
As the sound faded, the blue phantom gradually turned into embers and vanished.
The screen transitioned to a photograph of Mobius falling from the sky. She smiled and said: "Don't you dare disappoint Mobius's expectations!"
After she finished speaking, the photograph cracked in countless places and shattered.
The scene changed to show an image of Pardofelis lying in Raiden Mei's arms, with the caption: 'Sister Mei, I don't want to die.'
"Sister Mei, I will share my good luck with you!"
Once these words were spoken, Pardofelis, still in Raiden Mei's arms, burst into countless motes of light and vanished.
The photograph belonging to Pardofelis then developed countless cracks and shattered.
The scene shifted to show Aponia standing before a figure wreathed in flames, praying for them, as a voice rang out.
"I have remembered your name, Raiden Mei!"
In the next second, the photograph belonging to Kalpas shattered into countless motes of light, and there were not many photos left behind him.
"I hope you never have to face a time when you are arguing with yourself!" Vill-V sat on the sofa with a book on her lap, speaking with a smile.
In the next second, the photograph belonging to Vill-V developed countless cracks, accompanied by the voice: "Well… farewell!"
The scene transitioned to show Sakura and Raiden Mei back-to-back, both wielding swords, looking ahead with vigilance.
"It is my honor to fight alongside you! I wish you great fortune in your future battles!"
The photograph belonging to Sakura developed countless cracks, and with a loud bang, it shattered into countless fragments.
The scene shifted to show a man with blue flames erupting from his eyes. He said faintly: "You will walk further than we ever did; you will overcome the obstacles we could not cross!"
The scene changed again, and Griseo looked at the screen with a smile: "The clouds are beautiful, the stars are beautiful, and Sister Mei is beautiful too!"
Beneath her, a caption appeared: "Kosma… although he never says it, I know he fears loneliness more than anything!"
As the scene shifted, the photograph of Griseo and Kosma developed countless cracks, and with a bang, it turned into countless fragments.
"The stars and I will watch over Sister Mei, and we will both become stars to protect Sister Mei!"
The scene shifted to show Hua cradling a flame in her hands. She slowly closed her eyes and said with a calm expression: "Mei, I am beginning to understand the story of that 'Class Monitor' you mentioned!"
"Thank you for helping the future me." The flame in Hua's hands slowly dissipated into the air.
The scene transitioned again, showing Hua standing there, looking up at the sky, at the triangular attack.
"As for the past, it has long since become a part of the future, hasn't it?"
"Even if there is still confusion in your heart, do not panic!" Su stood with his back against a large tree.
The scene changed, and Su opened his eyes sharply, saying calmly: "You, and all of you, will eventually find your own path!"
The scene shifted again, and a single tear rolled from the corner of Aponia's eye, dripping from her chin onto the ground.
Aponia slowly opened her eyes, looked up at the sky, and said with a sorrowful expression: "The Elysian Realm of the past has met the ending I foresaw: destruction and darkness!"
Aponia then slowly lowered her head, walking forward at a measured pace, and murmured to herself: "But I am glad that it has come to pass in this way. So please, break free from your fate, Mei; you have possessed the power to do so all along."
The photographs belonging to Kosma, Griseo, and Aponia shattered into countless fragments and dissipated.
The scene changed once more, and Eden said with a smile: "Thank you, Miss Mei. You have brought so much to the Elysian Realm; we have nothing with which to repay you!"
The scene shifted to show Eden sitting in a red chair, an exquisite wine glass placed before her.
"Only blessings, only prayers—may civilization endure like a spark, and may this world shine as brilliantly as gold!"
As her voice faded, the photograph belonging to Eden shattered into fragments and dissipated.
"The video ends here!"
…