The deeper she walked into the domain, the more black lines appeared on Rover's face.
"Magic mirror, magic mirror, who is the most handsome person in the world?", One Zane was holding up a magnifying glass, pointing it at the sun as he asked.
But very quickly, the focused beam from the magnifying glass burned off his eyebrows.
"I think sweet tofu pudding tastes good!"
"You're talking nonsense! Savory tofu pudding is the best!"
Two Zanes roared as they grappled with each other, and beside them, another Zane timidly raised his hand.
"I… I think tofu pudding with pineapple jam tastes the best."
"..."
"Heretic!"
Then the three Zanes instantly started fighting.
But actually, it wasn't really a three-way fight. It was just pineapple jam Zane getting beaten one-sidedly by sweet tofu Zane and savory tofu Zane.
If two people each take turns fighting one person, how is that not a one-on-one?
Watching the three Zanes punch and kick each other, Rover, who was passing by, couldn't help but curl her lips.
'Childish.'
Then she raised her delicate fist and slammed it hard onto pineapple jam Zane's head.
Poor pineapple jam Zane, just because he was a heretic, he got beaten until he cried and wailed…
But not pitiful at all.
Rover dusted off her hands and walked away proudly under the admiring gazes of savory tofu Zane and sweet tofu Zane.
But after only a few steps, she saw another Zane standing in the middle of the road, blocking her path.
"Question… what is my name."
"Huh?"
After letting out a confused sound, Rover sized up this Zane. His right hand was holding a bunch of grass, raised high.
"Uh… Zane?"
Rover tried, but all she got was a blank stare from the road-blocking Zane.
"Idiot, my name is... Holding Grass!"
"..."
Her fist clenched.
Just as Rover was about to teach this "Holding Grass" Zane a lesson, another Zane suddenly pounced on him.
"I've told you so many times, strawberry jam is the true king, yet you only hold grass and not strawberry jam!"
Let's call this one strawberry jam Zane for now.
And "Holding Grass" Zane wasn't someone to be bullied. He immediately raised his fist.
"Help! Zane is killing Zane!"
At this point, Rover was completely out of energy to comment on Zane's mental state. She could only cover her face and let out a silent sigh.
The deeper they went into the domain, the more Zanes appeared along the road.
"Hehehe… Rover… hehe, my Rover… hehe…" one Zane was crawling in a dark and twisted way; "Loyalty!" one Zane, holding a sign that read "Machine Spirit Rejoices," wandered the street wearing a strange blue armor; "Open sesame!" another Zane shouted as he charged headfirst into a trash can by the roadside…
Watching the bizarre Zanes appear one after another and disappear just as strangely, even Abby couldn't help but cover his eyes.
"Has he always been this… crazy… no, I mean mentally like this? Does he never have a normal moment?"
"He probably… does…"
Even Rover wasn't sure, a trace of hesitation in her voice.
———
As Rover and Abby turned a corner, a voice came from ahead.
"I won't allow you to do this."
"What is it this time?" Rover had just let out a sigh when she suddenly realized that this voice sounded just like her.
Even Abby noticed something off, his ears twitching as he couldn't help but ask, "Rover, what did you just mean? What do you mean you won't allow what?"
Rover was just as confused. She had lost her past memories, and she had no idea why her own voice would appear in this domain. She could only shake her head lightly, showing she didn't understand either.
At that moment, two blurry figures appeared in front of them. Even without looking closely, Rover knew one of them was herself, her past self.
And the other figure standing opposite her was Zane.
"We have no other choice. If the Tethys System's prediction of the Lament is built on forcing those departed souls to suffer endlessly over and over again, then I have to do this."
"I must give justice to those fighters who were willing to sacrifice themselves for the Black Shores, for all of Solaris."
"But who will give you justice?" Rover's shadow shouted, her voice full of urgency.
"You," Zane's shadow answered calmly.
The former Rover seemed shocked by his answer.
"Rover, I'm just an ordinary, useless person. But you're different. You are the leader of the Black Shores, the observer and savior of civilization. Only you can lead them to end this damned cycle."
"Do you know what this means?" Rover's shadow seemed to calm down. Her voice carried no emotion now, cold to the point of being frightening.
"Hah, it just means my frequency will be preserved by the Tethys System, thrown into the Lament over and over again to suffer, simulating scenes of destruction for it to observe."
"But since you know the consequences, then why would you…" Rover tried to stop this nearly suicidal act, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand and a smile.
"I once dreamed that I went to a strange place. There, countless people shed their blood and gave their lives just so future generations wouldn't have to bleed just to survive."
"At first, I didn't understand what that dream meant. But later, I did."
"Deep in everyone's heart, there's actually a hero. For someone or for an ideal, they keep pushing themselves to become stronger, even if it costs them their life…"
"Light is a bond. It will be passed down from one generation to the next."
Rover's shadow fell silent, not knowing how to stop this boy.
"The Shorekeeper already told me. If we want to shut down this program of the Tethys System and at the same time resolve its rampage, then either you or the Shorekeeper has to merge with it."
Zane's shadow let out a soft sigh. "Just think of it as me being willing to sacrifice myself for pretty girls, lusting after them or something."
Rover continued walking forward. It seemed like time had shifted, and Rover's shadow disappeared. In the end, only Zane remained, sitting alone on a cliff, muttering to himself.
Or maybe he was talking to someone, but there was no one else around.
"You're asking if I'm scared?"
"Of course I am. That's death we're talking about! Who wouldn't be afraid of dying?"
As Zane's shadow spoke, he sighed again. The closer he got to death, the more sentimental he became, despite always being cheerful.
"..."
"Regret? No. For the Black Shores, for the Shorekeeper, and also… for her… I think it's worth it."
"..."
"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you jealous?"
"..."
"Don't worry, I won't forget you… but I hope you can forget me…"
"Huh? Why are you crying? When my frequency disappears… well, in Terra's terms, it means not even Originium can record my information anymore… don't be sad."
"Maybe one day I'll be reincarnated in Terra, then I'll come find you to hang out, haha."
"Oh right, Rover… I'll leave that girl to you guys. Don't be fooled by how cold she seems, when she acts dumb, she can rival my best buddy…"
"Of all of you, the one I worry about the most is her. Don't be fooled by her being the leader of the Black Shores, all glorious and all."
"In reality, she doesn't even have a single person by her side she can truly talk to."
"I'm afraid once I'm gone, no one will be there to chat with her… but with that succubus-like face and personality of hers, she'll probably make more friends in the future…"
"Sorry, I didn't realize I was rambling on like this by myself. Just think of it… as the attachment of someone about to die to this world."
"Goodbye, Dr. Little Eagle. May we all have a bright future…"
Zane's shadow stopped speaking abruptly, leaving Rover standing there in silence. Her black hair cast a shadow over her face, making it impossible to see her expression.