Chapter 210: The "Eternal Dance" begins! The overconfident Black Swan!
[ The remembrance is no different than the sea- ]
The screen begins with a calm monologue.
[ Never gaze upon its surface on a starless night. ]
Black Swan lifts her head.
She lets her phone hover automatically in the air,
admiring this short film in a more elegant manner.
Although the cover already indicated this was a short film about Acheron, she hadn't expected her own voice to appear at the very beginning of the video?
This immediately piqued Black Swan's interest!
These two sentences were as if a version of herself from another timeline was offering a reminder to her current self.
However.
Though it was called the "deep sea," the sea in the footage was distinctly red.
Before Black Swan could ponder what this imagery signified,
the scene shifted.
The person appearing on camera was none other than herself.
Surrounded by gentle, nostalgic golden light.
It felt just like when Black Swan peered into someone else's memories.
But now, it felt more like she was stepping into Acheron's perspective.
She saw herself ask, [ Waiting for someone? ] with a look of affection.
The camera cuts.
The person in front of her.
It is Acheron.
Right now, her eyes are lowered, her expression indifferent.
She shakes her head slightly.
[ Then… would you care to dance with me? ]
She reaches out her hand.
And Acheron, sitting there, seems a bit wooden, reaching out almost subconsciously.
"Tap… tap… tap…"
The sound of their heels striking the stage is crisp.
And her own monologue continues.
[ My gaze has lingered on her for quite a while, ]
[ And tonight, I initiate our first engagement. ]
Black Swan cannot help but smile slightly.
In her view,
this could be interpreted as: this is something she experienced in another timeline.
Extending an invitation to Acheron, just the same.
Though the scene is in a hotel ballroom.
And it's done in a much more relaxed and ordinary way.
"So it was that easy to invite her."
Black Swan glances at the restroom.
Acheron seems to be washing her hands in there.
Although this video would likely show their dance and probably reveal things she had glimpsed from Acheron's memories,
still…
There is more ritual and satisfaction in "discovering" and "witnessing" such things personally.
Thinking of this,
Black Swan even considers turning the video off.
To avoid ruining the surprise of witnessing the other's memories for the first time.
"Hmm… never mind, I'll watch a little longer."
"It won't be too late to turn it off once memory-related content appears."
...
The Luofu, Exalting Sanctum park.
Sitting on a swing in the park,
Sparkle eats ice cream while watching the video of The Enigmata's Dance.
Seeing Black Swan and Acheron dancing under the golden light,
with Black Swan looking confident and delighted,
Sparkle bites off a large chunk of her ice cream, annoyed.
"Hmph…"
"So this is the dance partner you found?"
"Rejecting the great Sparkle, I bet you'll definitely hit a snag in the later plot."
"When that happens, I'm going to laugh at you mercilessly~"
She continues watching.
...
[ A Galaxy Ranger, mysterious as the rumors suggest. ]
Black Swan circles Acheron.
Like she is inspecting a treasure.
Now she arrives behind the other woman.
And says, as if savoring the moment: [ A blend of nobility and reticence. ]
She pushes Acheron forward from behind,
forcing her to turn and face her.
Then,
she begins to guide the other to dance with her.
[ Yet, in this nocturnal hunt ]
[ The Ranger is not the only one who hunts. ]
Watching this short dance, the smile on Black Swan's face grows even brighter.
The meaning expressed by Feathered Spirit is quite clear.
She has been in the dominant position, appearing full of confidence, even bordering on aggressive.
Feathered Spirit naturally knows.
On Penacony, filled with memetic substance, a Memokeeper is like a fish in water!
Not quite invincible, perhaps, but certainly able to handle anything with ease!
And this performance is just like that.
"Feathered Spirit, you really get it."
So far,
Black Swan is very satisfied with the expressiveness of this video.
At this moment,
the song ends.
Ending with Acheron dipping.
But Black Swan is clearly not satisfied with just that.
She whispers: [ At this distance… you are more charming than you appear. ]
Music plays on,
dance on!
The spotlight suddenly extinguishes.
The surroundings fall into darkness.
Black Swan's monologue rings out: [ She also comes for the Watchmaker's legacy. ]
[ Undoubtedly. ]
[ In this game, ]
[ Everyone lies, ]
[ But memories do not. ]
Black Swan nods.
Clearly,
she highly approves of what she says in the short film!
A Galaxy Ranger coming for the Watchmaker's legacy may be mysterious and noble, but on the home turf of memory, she can still easily control the situation.
During this dance,
Acheron pulls back for a split second, only to be yanked back by Black Swan.
The stage vanishes along with it.
The entire background turns into a dreamlike purple.
Black Swan knows very well.
She has already begun using the methods of a Memokeeper.
Acheron has also realized this.
She probably subconsciously wanted to pull away.
But it's too late.
This small resistance makes Black Swan smile slightly.
It's a unique kind of… mood.
And everything,
Is just as she expected, or rather, just as she arranged it to go smoothly.
Acheron even begins to actively cooperate!
[ Heh… ]
[ Just keeps on getting better, ]
[ "Doesn't it? ]
Countless stars appear on the floor beneath their feet.
These stars form various scenes.
Clearly,
this is Acheron's past.
[ Everyone has a past. ]
[ And the past shapes the present. ]
[ Some people hold onto memories. ]
[ While others are haunted by them, unable to escape. ]
The first scene is a young girl holding flowers offered to Acheron…
The second scene is in ruins, with someone lying down, pointing a gun at Acheron.
The third scene is Acheron walking through a barren desert.
The fourth scene is Acheron holding an umbrella, standing by the sea with someone whose identity is unknown.
[ That is why I took action. ]
[ I want to know what she is. ]
Black Swan sees that
she in the video lifts her chin.
Like a proud swan holding its head high.
A faint, confident smile hangs on the corner of her lips.
She even thinks she's being a bit excessive.
However,
"I really do like this kind of excess…"
Seeing this,
Black Swan realizes she cannot keep watching.
If you eat too many appetizers, it will ruin your appetite for the main course.
As for what comes next,
Black Swan wants to "open" and "witness" it herself.
She wants to save the most wonderful moments… for herself.
Meanwhile,
in the restroom,
Acheron looks at herself in the mirror.
Starting from the top of her head,
her original purple hair is gradually dyed with a touch of paleness.
Then it continues downward.
As if soaking her entire body.
Acheron is expressionless.
She turns her face slightly, somewhat stiffly.
She says to the person outside: "Memokeeper, wait… a moment longer for me."
Hearing this,
Black Swan smiles helplessly.
She sighs to herself: "You aren't afraid, are you…?"
"The you in this video is performing quite well."
With this delay,
the video in front of her continues to play.
[ This banquet has attracted many people. ]
[ The IPC, the Garden of Recollection, the Fools, the Nameless… ]
The two dance closely.
Spinning in the atmosphere as it gets better and better.
And Black Swan sees that she finally asks the real question.
[ And… the Annihilation Gang of Destruction. ]
[ They should have been present. ]
[ But… ]
[ Duke Inferno is dead. ]
[ He and his children, ]
[ Will never attend the banquet again. ]
[ What have you done? ]
[ Beautiful "Ranger". ]
At this moment,
the BGM in the background changes abruptly.
The previous elegance and leisure are swept away.
It becomes aggressive and turbulent!
Black Swan shows a look of interest.
Such a question is undoubtedly a shortcut commonly used by Memokeepers to probe memories.
Using keywords to guide the other's consciousness to react.
Recalling relevant memories on their own to display to the Memokeeper.
Just like casting bait on the sea surface to lure a school of fish up.
Feathered Spirit, oh Feathered Spirit.
Why be like this?
I just want to treasure Acheron's memories…
It's not a dangerous act.
And it won't have any bad influence on her personally.
Why pair me with such a dangerous-sounding BGM?
At this rate,
I might be seen by all the players as a villain.
It really is quite troubling.
And with this question, the scene passes through Acheron's pupils.
A black and white world is presented before her.
In this world,
even the flames have no color.
Falling from the sky, those burning, mangled remains.
It is not hard to see,
they are indeed the remains of Duke Inferno!
Case closed!
Such a scene appearing in the depths of Acheron's memories…
Is enough to prove that the true culprit behind the attack on Duke Inferno is none other than this mysterious and noble Galaxy Ranger, Acheron!
"This is not what I wanted to make public."
"Ms. Acheron, from here on, your situation will be very dangerous."
However,
just at this moment,
an unexpected variable appears!
In the black and white world,
a touch of red appears.
It is Duke Inferno's glasses.
The lenses are now a bright red color.
Through the background,
a figure holding a blade is seen behind.
She has a similar appearance to Acheron.
But her hair is scattered like a pale waterfall.
Between the messy hair,
a bright red eye seems to look through the screen!
[ May I ask. ]
[ Are you asking me? ]
Black Swan's entire expression suddenly turns into one of disbelief.
Her eyes widen.
Because of the shock, her mouth opens in disbelief.
The background of the two dancing has turned into a blood-red!
And the dance partner in front of her,
is no longer that mysterious, noble, and wooden Ranger.
But a strange woman with pale long hair and eyes sharp as blood.
At this moment,
the expressions of the Black Swan outside the video and the Black Swan in the video are almost identical!
Staring at the scene in front of her in disbelief.
"This… what is going on?"
The situation that was originally well under control has undergone a huge change at this moment!
Who is this woman in the memory!
Why is she able to turn around and ask her!
However,
just at this moment,
a harsh sound suddenly comes from the restroom.
It seems to be… the sound of a mirror shattering.