MGSFV?! Chapter 498. The Dream Is Over; A New-Age Knife Technique: Dual Blades
"I'm saying Little Elysia herself is cute, even when she's tiny."
"That explanation made it worse, honestly."
"Actually, I think what Little Elysia is holding up isn't pinkies—it's her index fingers. Two fingers forward means 'Charge ahead full speed!'"
"So she's cheering everyone on?"
"I have a feeling this treasure hunt is about to change gears."
Seems like everyone's sixth sense is on point today.
Seeing the bullet comments, Elysia thought to herself.
Still...
Was there some deeper meaning behind showing everyone that painting before the next part began...?
No, no, why was she overthinking again?
As some viewers in the livestream put it, Honkai Impact 3rd targets players who understand too much with even sharper knives. The more you understand, the deeper it cuts.
Like...
That final moment with Himeko plunging the serum into the Queen's neck, the Aurora Blade in Flame-Chasers Chapter, the second half of Apocalypse: As It Is Said...
And of course, Because of You, I Am—even just the title alone...
Enough to emotionally destroy players with rich inner worlds.
Rich inner worlds? Was she talking about herself?
Elysia: ?
Elysia furrowed her brows.
She suddenly sensed some inexplicable "malice" from nowhere.
"Hm?"
"What's wrong, Elysia?" Kiana asked, noticing Elysia scanning the area.
"...It's nothing. Let's continue."
She wasn't boasting, but there was probably no one in all of miHoYo who could "trap" her.
After all, they were all her good friends~~
That's the charm and confidence of the Fairy Miss Elysia.jpg
Hokuto: Ah yes yes, Miss Pink Fairy, what you say is absolutely right.
Hokuto: Otto-style smile.jpg
…
Anyway, holding that mindset, Elysia returned her full focus to the game.
She also noticed that the devs not only prepared a series of interesting riddles but also hid a lot of easter eggs along the way.
"Nice, as always, the attention to detail is maxed out."
"miHoYo, you're such a perfectionist (lol)"
"They really put in effort."
Just like the players, Elysia was deeply impressed and continued exploring with excitement.
Before long—
Thanks to all her running around—
Mei found another deeply personal item that definitely shouldn't appear in an amusement park.
An old bamboo sword.
"This is..."
As she picked it up, Mei felt a sudden impulse. She took a stance, held her breath, and swung it forward.
"Whew..."
"Waaah~~"
A surprised squeal with a cutesy tone rang out the instant she swung the sword.
Mei: "..."
She stiffened.
It was like a kid secretly using a phone in their room only to have their parents suddenly barge in.
"Mei, that was amazing! What was that move called?"
"Elysia... Weren't you just standing back there?"
The implication: How are you suddenly in front of me now? Can you teleport?
Well...
Elysia blinked.
Because she and Mei were now in a state of inseparable-bond-and-unity, appearing instantly by Mei's side was totally normal.
Of course, she couldn't say that outright.
So she simply replied:
"Because Mei found the second treasure so fast! Isn't it special?"
"It was a gift from my father when I first started learning kendo. So yes, it's certainly special."
"...But don't you think it's strange that something stored in my family's warehouse is suddenly here in an amusement park?"
"Let's just say this game was specially designed by the developers for Mei. So of course the treasures would relate to her—it makes perfect sense!"
"Specially designed? Developers?"
"This is starting to feel like it's connected to v2v..."
"Only people who'd design surprise-filled minigames like this—besides Otto, it's gotta be v2v."
"'Otto and Veliona, they're both dead already!'"
So said the players now.
Though in a while, they might be saying...
"Two people who, despite death, leave a presence that refuses to fade. Two who still 'join the party' in unimaginable ways. Two who are the epitome of romantic to the death…"
Yes—
Truly, to the death.
...
As players got deep into speculation, Mei's thoughts weren't any less complicated.
She recalled a flood of childhood memories.
Like practicing sword swings under her father's supervision.
But—!
Suddenly snapping out of her reminiscing, Mei turned to glance at [Kiana] and [Bronya].
Sure enough, they remained totally silent throughout her reflection.
"..."
Given the situation, a certain conclusion was on the verge of forming in Mei's mind.
But instead of confronting it directly...
"What should we do next?" Mei asked.
Seemingly avoiding the real issue?
"You're such a gentle girl, Mei. But sometimes, being straightforward might lead to better outcomes."
[Honestly... does this Elysia really seem like a dream projection to you?]
[Are you implying... this tour guide is the real Elysia?]
[No way I'm saying that. I'm just thinking... If the Elysia here were fabricated by the Stigma Plan, would she really be trying to help Mei wake up?
More likely... they'd just be enjoying a picture-perfect 'date,' hand in hand.]
"Maybe we should just ask Elysia what she thinks herself?"
"Hm?"
"Elysia, do you have anything you want to say?" Mei asked, looking at her.
"Hmm... maybe... there were some things I wanted to do, but couldn't."
"Like?" Mei pressed.
"Like... I didn't really get to properly bond—uh, get closer to Kiana and Bronya! That's such a missed opportunity!"
Mei: "..."
"LOL, true."
That reply was classic Elysia—sharp, sweet, and absolutely in character.
But...
If even players could tell that Elysia had been subtly guiding Mei to wake up from the dream, surely Mei, the person being guided, wouldn't remain oblivious?
"..."
Mei replayed Elysia's words in her head.
Soon, an uncanny sense of dissonance rose inside her.
Her thoughts began circling the question she'd been subconsciously avoiding.
Actually, never mind Bronya—Kiana's inconsistencies were too glaring.
"—When I was fully immersed in the game or chatting with Elysia, you two were completely silent. That's not something the real Kiana would do."
[So, is Mei saying that when she and Elysia get close, Kiana would definitely have a reaction? (grinning)]
[Kiana: So curious~~ So curious~~]
[Guys, are you really reading into it that deeply?]
[What reading? Mei totally meant that (dog head emoji)]
["There's definitely something here."]
...
In any case, Mei could no longer lie to herself.
This fake dream...
Had to end.
"When observed, you two respond. When I look away, you freeze. Just like a game of 'Red Light, Green Light.'"
She paused.
"But even though it's all fake... I still want to say thank you. Because this really was an amusement park."
The moment Mei shattered the illusion—
[Kiana] and [Bronya] vanished.
"Such a clean deletion... it's like someone pressed the delete key. Not romantic at all."
Surprisingly—or perhaps not—
The guide Elysia didn't vanish.
She wasn't surprised at all.
[So the tour guide Elysia was from outside the dream all along?]
[Actually kind of relieved. Otherwise, she might've disappeared too.]
It's not that players didn't care about Kiana or Bronya—
But because Elysia wasn't like them... If she disappeared here, they might never see her again.
So naturally, they feared losing her more.
[Also, did you notice? Elysia's name isn't written with brackets '[]'.]
[Wait—does that mean... this Elysia is the real one?!]
But just as hope began to stir...
As if the writers predicted this exact emotional trajectory...
"..."
Mei turned her gaze toward Elysia.
"Long time no see, [Elysia]."
[]?
"Hi, long time no see—
Though I'd love to say that, I'm probably not the [Elysia] you're hoping to see most."
And just like that—fantasy, shattered.
[...] countless times
An indescribable emotion washed over everyone.
And then, as if that weren't enough—
The background music changed.
It was the familiar St. Freya Academy tune.
The one that played when Himeko met Kiana in Chapter 25.
Next...
"Mm, I know. I just wanted... to say it once." Mei replied.
"Ahh, in that case, I've ruined Mei's lovely moment. That won't do. Let me say it again."
Ahem.
"Long time no see, Mei."
"Long time no see, Kiana"
Even the tone was the same as Himeko's.
A single knife might not land as hard these days.
But what about... dual-wielding?
[That voice, that line, that tone... and thinking of what Elysia means to Mei—Ahh! I'm crying!]
[The eternal flame, the flawless self. I didn't expect... dual-wielded knives!!!]
Some even suspected the dev team might've seen a certain fan-made video.
[Even if she's not the real Elysia, she's so understanding (teary-eyed)]
[Fake or not, this feels so happy.]
[The way Mei speaks... she really misses Elysia.]
[We all do. Dammit, I'm crying.]
They weren't angry this time.
It wasn't the explosive, heart-wrenching kind of pain.
It was a quiet ache—
The feeling of waking up from a sweet dream, knowing it was never real, but still smiling with gratitude.
They finally understood why Mei wanted to say it.
They did too.
[Long time no see, Elysia!] floods the screen
It really has been a long time.
If only they could ride the Ferris wheel together again, or ride the rollercoaster side by side...
How great would that be?
But—
"Mei, do you think Elysia might suddenly pull out a megaphone?"
Kiana's voice cut through the bittersweet atmosphere.
She had no lines in this section, so it was natural she was confused.
Still, that question...
"A megaphone?"
"And it even has a recording function~♪"
Yeah...
Definitely something Elysia would do.
Mei: "..."
Kiana, stop bringing up weird memories, please.
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