MGSFV?! Chapter 340: The Flame Shall Burn Eternal; I'm Just a Doctor.jpg
A blazing pillar of fire pierced through the Herrscher of Corruption's chest, erupting from within.
That light… resembled the final blaze of a dying star.
Just from the visual and narration, every player instantly understood what attack had landed.
[Flaming Sword unsheathed!]
[I almost forgot this setup existed—callback?!]
[Grandmaster Kevin!! He's finally stepped up!!]
[Push-ups.jpg]
"...No, it's not over yet, Herrscher of Corruption."
Standing before her was a girl who had once fought as a warrior—now risen again, steady as ever.
The game's background music surged with passion.
Hua stared at the Herrscher of Corruption, her expression more resolute than ever.
Indeed… she still didn't know what she could do, nor why she fought.
But...
Perhaps humanity doesn't survive because of a "reason."
This finally circled back to the question the story had been posing all along—what makes humans different from the Herrscher of Corruption?
If "death" is the destined conclusion...
Then how had humanity, generation after generation, continued past that finality, continuing to carve out a future?
Hua couldn't give a definite answer.
But, like those who once lived, she told herself:
"Keep walking… without fear."
To act without purpose does not mean to act without meaning.
Human vision cannot perceive what the world will be like a thousand years from now—
But someone must always take the first step forward.
Rather than... stopping forever.
[It's not over yet!!]
[The flame shall burn eternal!]
[I'm fired up again!!]
...
Naturally, the story now had to explain Kevin's situation.
And so...
The camera shifted to Su.
"Wait for me. We'll return to yesterday."
Those were the words Kevin once said to Su.
From beginning to end, Su never doubted his dear friend would keep that promise.
What he hadn't expected... was for "yesterday" to return in this form.
The screen clarified.
Su, who should have been in Elysian Realm, now stood in a city —Nagazora City.
[Huh?? Isn't this Nagazora City?]
[It's definitely Nagazora City's map, but… why now?]
[Come to think of it, didn't Su and Kevin both have ties to Nagazora City? Weren't they students at Chiba Academy?]
[Ohhh, that explains the deep connection.]
[Wait—none of you noticed how run-down this Nagazora City looks?]
As players puzzled over Su's surroundings, he surveyed the dilapidated cityscape thoughtfully.
"So this is what the Herrscher of Corruption's 'interior' looks like…"
It turned out, Su hadn't truly arrived in Nagazora City—
He was inside the Herrscher of Corruption's inner world.
And thanks to being a spiritually sensitive MANTIS, even after full corruption, he had retained his will.
He had not resisted the Herrscher's power. He had come here for one purpose:
To unravel the three puzzles Vill-V had left behind.
"Better get moving… First, I'll need to find Kevin…"
With that, he ventured deeper into the corrupted Nagazora City.
Along the way, many Faded creatures attempted to stop him.
But...
Contrary to expectations of an intense battle, the game simply showed a command prompt.
When players tapped it—
Su merely waved a hand lightly, erasing all enemies on the field from physical reality.
A true healer's method of "saving lives"—
Eliminate the threats, and there'll be no casualties to save.
Brilliant.
[Su, are you cheating?!]
[…Too cool.]
[So elegant, it's practically divine.]
Su's performance left players in awe.
But it didn't last long. Or rather, it was cut off abruptly.
Because...
Someone unexpected appeared.
"The Herrscher of Corruption's data is this complex…?"
"Trying to locate Kevin in this mess is like finding a needle in the ocean, but…"
Su was deep in thought.
"Come take a look! Best deals in town!"
A very familiar voice rang out. The camera zoomed in—
And there she was, flailing with enthusiasm as she called out energetically:
"Everything on the shelves, no refunds, no returns! Tenfold compensation if it's fake!"
Pardofelis?!
The Little Cat actually opened a shop here?
Running a business inside a Herrscher's body?! You might be the first in history, Cat!
One player blinked in disbelief.
(Wait... this doesn't feel right...)
Then, they quickly shook their heads.
(Why is the Little Cat even here?!)
That was the real question.
They had a feeling the writers were definitely up to something again.
But... the Little Cat had already shattered once. Could she even shatter a second time?
The more they thought, the messier their thoughts became.
...
In the story—
"That voice… could it be…"
Su turned toward the sound.
And sure enough, there she was—Pardofelis.
"As expected…"
Pardofelis lit up as soon as she saw him.
"Oh my, a new customer! First time here?"
Had she not recognized Su?
Her words left everyone confused.
Su hesitated, then said cautiously: "Pardofelis… I'm Su."
"Uh…"
Pardofelis scratched her head, smiling awkwardly.
"Hahaha… Really didn't recognize you."
"Well then, mister—what'll it be?"
[Pffft~~ I'm dying here. Let me laugh for a second.]
[Deduct points for the pun.]
[I was wondering what she didn't recognize… and then she called him 'mister'—dead.]
[Why's it suddenly so meme-y? But I love this cat.]
[Pardofelis is still that girl who brings a smile to everyone's face.]
The chat finally, finally filled with joyful energy.
But some players were more concerned about Pardofelis herself.
[Wait, is she suffering from amnesia?]
[Honestly, this feels more like she's pretending. If it were real, wouldn't she have questioned Su calling her name so casually?]
[Then why would she fake it?]
[Maybe… she just wants to lighten the mood? Give us a little breathing space amid the pressure?]
[Oh… that's… wait no, I almost believed that! Don't lie to yourselves!!]
Well...
This time, the players were right.
Pardofelis was pretending.
And the reason she did it… was simple.
And perhaps... the most painful of all.
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