MGSFV?! Chapter 534: If the Flame-Chasers Joined the Workforce; Mei Has "Someone Outside"
Of course, reality was a little more complicated.
After all...
Hokuto did have a lot of tracks that didn't exist in the previous era.
He was, after all, a man who could bend the rules.
So no matter what, his statement "brought into this world" was technically accurate.
Yes—there was always a way to line it up with the truth. So, he wasn't lying.jpg
But it wasn't like he was going to explain this to anyone. At most, he just silently roasted the stream viewers for their wild imaginations.
Then, he shifted his attention back to the story.
Quietly listening to the romantic melody.
When the last notes faded, the music lingered in the mind—like petals drifting from the tip of the nose, carrying a fragrance that was both fleeting and somehow still present.
Mm...
Eyes naturally narrowed. The listener instinctively wanted to follow that lingering scent.
The game screen paused.
It was Mei, reborn as Origin.
Her expression mirrored that of the players—captivated not by the final notes of the music, but by something that had already disappeared...
"...Yeah."
Having just left the Origin Ground and returned to the station, Mei turned her gaze far away and softly muttered:
"I said I'd move forward... didn't I?"
Maybe—she really did want to look back, or she wouldn't seem like this.
But when you cry over missing the sun, you also miss the stars.
If she turned back now, she might never move on. She'd miss out on the things she wanted to do.
She understood. So she only kept the dream safely within her.
She would revisit those memories once the dust had settled.
Maybe, then, she could tell the next generation about the Flame-Chasers—pass down their beliefs.
Long ago, there was a brilliant civilization. A group called Fire Moth. And thirteen "adorable" warriors known as the Flame-Chasers...
She took a step forward.
"Well then... I'm off."
A gentle yet determined voice drifted outward.
And players, immersed in the moment, half-expected Elysia to chime in from Origin Ground with one last line...
[Go, Mei.]
But...
Mei continued forward along the platform, walking farther and farther away.
What they had hoped for... never came.
Turns out... she really didn't say anything.
Though, come to think of it, Elysia wouldn't just pop up again at this moment.
They realized they were thinking too much.
But...
"Surprise"—this mischievous girl, as playful as a fairy, loved to jump out just when you thought it was all over—to startle you with one last moment.
So while everyone was absorbed in Mei's movement and thoughts—
A familiar voice cut in, right on cue.
She, too, was watching Mei leave Origin Ground, walking toward the future.
Her gaze was gentle.
After a while, she began to softly recite, rising and falling in tone:
"Her steps were light like sparrows."
"Her heart, clear like a spring."
"Her brilliance, radiant like pearls and jade."
"And her future..."
She paused.
Then, with a tone full of blessing—
A farewell.
"...shall be written together with those she loves."
...
[...]
[...Hearing Miss Fairy give such a farewell for Mei... it just feels so complete. That's enough. That's more than enough.]
[I actually wanted this scene in-game... but then again, that wouldn't be fitting. Having Fairy Girl say it like this—off-screen—is perfect. Doesn't interrupt the story, yet still fulfills what we hoped for.]
[Honkai 3rd's unique 4D experience.]
Mm... this kind of moment could only happen in this world.
Because the story's conditions require both "they" and "we" to truly exist.
[I declare this scene canon to the Kiana x Mei Bible!]
[Isn't that obvious? This is strategic guidance from the Kiana x Mei Pope herself.]
[Kiana~ ♪ Mei~ ♪ Elysia~ ♪]
[Three faiths. If your loyalty isn't absolute, it's absolutely disloyal. You in front—you are disloyal. (doge)]
[Then let 'God' judge me! (joyful)]
[Why would 'God' reward you? (judging intensifies.jpg)]
"..."
After reciting the farewell, Elysia saw the stream chat spiraling into its usual chaos again—full of comments even she found hard to understand—and decided to stay quiet.
She lost interest in speaking.
Hokuto glanced at her. Seeing her go quiet, he too decided not to say anything for now.
He had wanted to ask Elysia about that line—"written with those she loves."
Who did "she" refer to?
It could mean a lot of people.
For example, if it referred to Elysia, then "those she loves" would be humanity—so Mei's future would be written alongside humanity. Makes sense.
Or—like the chat was joking—it could mean Kiana.
Or...
Let's just say—
That line was worded very cleverly, like a mirror reflecting whatever you wanted to see.
Or maybe... it really did mean everyone?
That would be very much in line with Elysia's way of doing things.
So... was Hokuto just reading too much into it?
If it were anyone else—maybe. But not Elysia.
Take this old example:
[On a certain day, miHoYo bought four cups of coffee. But five people entered the meeting room.]
Faced with this potential awkward situation, how would people react?
Elysia?
[She'd drink one, leave three, then pour two cups of tea. Then say to the latecomers: "We have coffee and floral tea here. Please help yourselves."]
Mmm...
To help everyone appreciate how professional Elysia's solution is—
Let's compare it to how others would've handled the same situation.
Take Vil-V:
["One of you told me to only get four."]
Fu Hua?
[She'd pour all four into a big thermos, then split it into five equal servings.]
Mobius?
[She'd definitely go, "Wow, you people at miHoYo sure love your coffee."]
...
With that said.
You can tell just how skilled Elysia is.
She naturally possesses the ability to make everyone feel content.
So...
Back to the main point. With how thoughtful Elysia is, her use of that vague "she" clearly carried intention.
Which meant—
Hokuto decided: if the chance arises, he'd ask her what she meant.
As for now... it wasn't the right moment.
"Huu~"
With no desire to chat, Elysia let out a soft breath.
She gently tapped—
To continue the story.
As expected—
Mei, stepping once more into the chaotic space of the Planetary Archive, did not find her two companions who had once opened a path for her.
In the vast confusion, she was alone.
—Surrounded only by threads. Countless threads of unknown origin.
"Looks like Bronya was right. I've been traveling a one-way path..."
"So when I tried to go back, I ended up on a completely different route."
Where exactly was this path in the Archive?
How far was she from her friends?
All unclear.
Aside from the intensifying enemies and warped space, something else troubled her.
Far ahead—at the very edge of her perception—something lingered.
It would appear... then vanish.
Like a shadow hidden in the woods.
Like a current flowing deep beneath still waters.
"Kevin?"
[Did Kevin leave the Moon and end up here...? Looks like it. He said he was going to see humanity's dreams, right?]
[So?]
"No... similar, but not him..."
Just as players thought Mei's new Origin self was about to bump into Kevin—
She shook her head and dismissed the thought.
She remembered her time in the Finality crater.
Compared to then, this mysterious power didn't feel like it was waiting for a challenger.
[So not Kevin?]
[Mei: What, you think you know Kevin better than I do?]
[Herrscher of Sentience: Please pay your copyright fee.]
...
And while Mei was certain it wasn't Kevin, a new thought dawned on her—
"If they discover this presence too, they'll definitely think the same way I did..."
They'd all want to head to the source of this power.
"In that case, even if we can't return to where we began, as long as we aim for the same destination—our paths will converge somewhere in space."
A solid, workable plan.
With Mei's drive, she didn't waste a second.
But...
The Planetary Archive wasn't her turf. It was a major strategic stronghold.
Charging through would inevitably trigger the "security system."
Imaginary Constructs.
While these were no threat to Origin Mei, who could shred them like tissue...
They were endless. Like cockroaches—annoying and unkillable.
So she lost patience.
"Time for something... a little more forceful."
She reversed her grip on the blade, lightning flashing in her eyes.
For the first time since becoming Herrscher of Origin, she would unleash her full power.
Though no longer the ghostlike thunder goddess people once knew—
She still held that searing lightning. No, it was sharper now.
In-game, it was like a pre-ult transformation with a full costume change.
Once her invincibility frames ended, players took control—
And struck.
Like lightning from the heavens.
Slicing through all thorns. Severing fate.
...
Crack~~
A space rift tore open before Mei's blade.
No surprise. Totally expected.
Mei said she'd cut space—so she cut space.
Her words = action.
The power of Origin is terrifying like that. ()
Though honestly...
Whether Origin powers have true combat ability is debatable.
But the weapon forged from Mei's will—that blade can definitely cut everything.
At least the one she's holding now? It nearly can.
[Mei's just too strong—there's no tension in the fights.]
[TQL.]
In the story, Mei stepped toward the rift she had opened.
"Let's see what lies beyond this tear in space."
[Why does that line sound so familiar? Like I've heard Mei say it before.]
[Yeah... same vibe.]
[Wasn't it before she met Kiana on the Moon?]
[Yes! That's it. Now I remember. So...]
As the chat mused—
They realized what might be coming next.
Brows raised. Eyes locked on Mei.
As she crossed the spatial rift—
The game gave her a dramatic close-up.
One more time—from head to toe—Origin Armor on full display.
[Now I'm curious. When Kiana sees Mei again—new outfit and all—how will she react?]
[Probably won't be surprised. Kiana herself has gone through the same thing: disappear, return, new gear.]
[Still, this outfit clearly isn't Mei's own idea. You can tell... someone else helped design it.]
And right on cue—
At the far end of the rift—
Kiana and Bronya appeared.
"Mei!" *2
"Looks like I was right."
"Now that we're together again, let's regroup and update each other."
And right then—
Kiana asked the question everyone was waiting for.
"So... does this mean you're now...?"
"Both the Herrscher of Thunder and the Herrscher of Origin."
Mei answered without hesitation.
[She's both Kiana Kaslana's... and Elysia's... (fill in the blank)]
[No need to fill it in. That's already perfect. (serious.jpg)]
"Hmm?"
"Hmm?"
Hokuto side-eyed the suddenly energized Elysia.
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