Niko Manser Ch. ProjectMirAIs-EN
Live in 1 hour
May 7 at 1:00 PM
A beautiful woman with scarlet hair and golden eyes. Standing within a church and backlit by moonlight from the stained glass window behind the altar, she let out a wicked smile as she held up a glowing emerald heart in her right hand while waving her left hand towards a woman with light green hair, laying dead on the ground, her wounds censored by green roses.
Although it was unclear who the green-haired woman actually was since her face was scrawled out with crimson lines, to anyone who had been following the controversy with Variant Hue...
> @meryl_enthusiast: OH MY GOD
> @irateigloo: HOLY $H!T.
> @epicpenguin: SHE KILLED MERYL!?
...
> @meryl_enthusiast: MY OSHIIIIIIIIIII NOOOOOO
> @yuri_enthusiast: ARE ALL THE PROTEST GIRLS GOING TO BE THIS HOT?!
> @nymph_of_apriestess: YES YES YES
...
> @questioningquail: DOES THIS MEAN NIKO IS MERYL?!
> @yellow_speaker: THE LOOOORE! THE LOOOOOOOOOOOORE!
> @prettyprincess: kyaaaaa! this is going to be amazing!
...
> @keen_ai: WAIT. GUYS. 1 PM is 1300! 7.13! IT'S MERYL'S BIRTHDAY
> @inquiringpidgeon: NO SHOT
> @nocap: IS THIS REALLY HER?!
...
> @spazzingsquirrel: I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS
> @ohanadayo: O.o Are all the Protest girls going to be like Hana?
> @hanas_imouto: She's so pretty!
...
> @miraiz_enthusiast: Usually people don't mean literally when they say they headhunt talents...
> @open_secret: Didn't Meryl say her heart was emerald and literally heart-shaped...?
> @sharp_tool: IS THIS GIRL A FREAKING NECROMANCER?!
...
> @hollowvictory: YOU GO GIRL!
> @changingcolor_intern: I NEVER DOUBTED YOU MERYL!
> @killerqueen: ARE WE GETTING PEAK AGAIN?!
Starting soon...
> @meryl_enthusiast: OMG OMG OMG OMG
> @final_delusion: SHE WON'T BE A MEMORY ANY MORE!
> @miraiz_enthusiast: My wallet is SO not ready for the debut merch...
===
The stream suddenly cut to black. And then...
[Play: All Evil of the World ～ Konoyo Subete no Aku この世全ての悪]
...A haunting choir and slow drums began, echoing like heartbeats. It continued for a moment before replaced with a somber church organ, playing chords.
And when the music started...
A female voice echoed as well.
Tired, quiet, as if at the edge of the abyss.
"What did I do wrong?"
> @meryl_enthusiast: @#$@%@#$@#%@#%T$W#$@%$
> @changingcolor_intern: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
> @heart_breaker: Aw shiz. Here we go again...
A drop of crimson landed on the screen, causing ripples to spread across it.
And with each ripple, blurred scenes appeared.
The crimson-haired beauty as a young child, kneeling in front of a marble statue.
A nun with crimson hair slitting her wrists and dripping blood as an offering of faith to her goddess.
That same nun, now a priestess giving out blessings to the lost lambs who entered her church to seek aid.
"I gave my time. I gave my heart. I gave my blood, sweat, tears, and dreams. But..."
> @meryl_enthusiast: I DON'T WANT IT TO BE MERYL. NOT MY OSHI. NOT LIKE THIS.
> @irateigloo: CURSE YOU CRUEL WORLD!
> @keen_ai: This isn't acting... THIS ISN'T ACTING
A hand swept across the screen, causing a splash. And when it did, the splash transitioned to a puddle before showing Niko running away. The same chase scene from the picture video.
"You want to take my life too?!" Niko turned around and screamed at the paladins chasing after her. "I gave everything, EVERYTHING, and you want to take even my right to live?!"
A distorted male voice answered her. "The moment you placed yourself at the altar, your life was given away. The time you lived was only a grace granted by the goddess. But rest assured. You will be rewarded well in death, Saintess."
Niko tripped, causing her to land in a puddle of mud. Her priestess gowned was stained with the dirty water, turning a dark gray instead of the pure white. But as she scrabbled to her feet, a sword was placed against her neck.
The camera slowly panned, revealing a paladin with dark hair.
And, although he was handsome and clearly anime-styled...
> @keen_ai: HOLY SHIT. THAT'S THE EX VARIANT HUE CEO.
> @shots_fired: LEGENDARY.
> @white_frost: PEAK. PEAKEST OF PEAK. BEYOND MOUNTAIN PEAK.
...
> @meryl_enthusiast: No, no, no... MERYLLLL T_T
> @miraiz_fan101: John has NO fear XD
> @john_bro222: tbf John IS the fear. Have you seen his workout vlogs?
...It was the CEO who had ruined Meryl's life.
Niko laughed, betrayal, despair, and anguish on her face. "You're really going to do this? After all I did? All I gave?"
The paladin spoke, again in that distorted voice... though now clearly an AI recreation of the CEO's voice. "I said it. Your time as a priestess was only at the grace of the goddess. Now, offer your everything and ascend as a Saintess."
> @crazyloon: IS THIS A METAPHOR OF HER GRADUATION?!
> @hotpock_it: OH MY GOD. IS THIS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GIRLS WHO GRADUATED?!
> @puzzle_piecer: IT ALL MAKES SENSE!
...
> @opensecret: It's literal. Oh my god it's literal.
> @unexpected_buff: GIRLS WERE PRESSURED TO GRADUATE AND GOT NOTHING?!
> @evil_eye: docuseries drop when? I will fund ALL the episodes.
Niko spat in the paladin's face and said, "You want my life, you'll have to take it from me. I won't let you spin the story like you-"
Before she could finished, the paladin stabbed her heart with his blade.
Niko gasped and stared at the paladin's face. "You... really-"
The paladin swung his sword again, cutting off Niko's words.
After that, the camera panned low, looking up at the paladin from Niko's perspective.
When it did, the camera showed the paladin plunging his hand into Niko's heart, pulling it out with a splash of crimson across the screen. Then he murmured, "The heretic was executed. The Saintess's heart retrieved." As he walked away, he said, "The Church will continue as it always has."
> @keen_ai: GUYS GUYS GUYS. THOSE LINES MATCH THE GOOGOL DOC
> @epic_sax_dude: YOU MEAN THE LEGAL TRANSCRIPTS OF THE DEPOSITIONS?!
> @wildwombat: MY MIND IS BLOOOOOWN
The screen flickered. Like Niko's eyes were blinking shut as her life faded.
And as it did...
More scenes flashed by.
But not just any scenes.
*Meryl Kodomo, sparkling for your day! How are you, my Komodachis?*
*I'm working on a big project! It'll be out on the holidays, so keep an eye out~*
*...I'm tired, everyone. I'm sorry. I might not stream tomorrow...*
Snippets of Meryl Kodomo's streams flashed across the screen in black and white. And her voice echoed too, like deep underwater.
> @meryl_enthusiast: #$@#$@#%@#$@#$@
> @komodachi_ichiban: MEIMEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
> @miraiz_fan101: Right to the jugular, huh?
...
> @god_of_war: We ride at dawn.
> @boat_destroyer: CEO Yacht? What yacht? It's just another titanic.
> @slayer_of_worlds: It has begun...
Tired laughter echoed, following by a weary female voice.
"So that's it. This whole time, I was just..."
After that, everything turned to black, like the stream shut off.
> @confusedpenguin: Uh...
> @questioningquail: Is that it?!
> @purplepanda: The stream's still going...?
One second.
Two.
Three.
A minute.
But then...
"Ugh... My head...?"
A different female voice echoed. No, it was the same voice, but slightly different. A bit brighter. Cheerier.
> @meryl_enthusiast: !?!?!?!?!?!?!?
> @komodachi_ichiban: NO WAY
> @keen_ai: A FAKEOUT ENDING?!
A pale white hand wiped across the screen, brushing off dust. And when it finished, a familiar (to some) face appeared.
Light green hair and matching eyes. Although she didn't have any dragon features, the delicate and naive face reflected in that mirror...
> @meryl_enthusiast: MERYL!?!?
> @komodachi_ichiban: HOLY SHIT?!
> @miraiz_enthusiast: WE JUST GOING THERE?!
The young woman wearing a plain black dress- No.
Meryl stared at her reflection for a bit, confused. Then she reached up to touch her face. And after that, she laughed. "Oh. Oh, so it's like that."
The moment Meryl realized who she was, the naive expression twisted into a jaded smirk. "I'm back."
> @meryl_enthusiast: IS THIS A DEBUT OR A RE-DEBUT?!
> @komodachi_ichiban: ARE WE WATCHING THE GREATEST BAIT AND SWITCH IN HISTORY?!
> @laughing_coughing: DYING. WHEEZING. BEST STREAM EVER.
Meryl laughed, the same giggling and innocent sound her fans were used to, but... different. Deeper, more jaded. Beautiful, but like broken glass.
And after that, she spun on her heels, walking out.
The screen rippled again, showing a hint of blue for a brief moment before transitioning to a dark forest.
Meryl rummaged around the leaves before she found it. "There you are... No. There *I* am."
Priestess Niko's corpse was still there, left just after the rain subsided. And whether because of her dormant holy powers or because it hadn't been too long, it was still whole... minus her heart.
> @meryl_enthusiast: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND I'M SCARED
> @komodachi_ichiban: OH MY GOD WAS THE THUMBNAIL REAL?!
> @yellow_pail: 🍿🍿🍿
The stream suddenly changed, turning into manga panels.
Meryl, dragging Niko's corpse to an altar.
Drawing out a magic circle in blood.
Holding up a grimorie and chanting a spell.
And finally...
"Blood to blood, a life for a life. To allow you to live, I give mine twice."
Meryl knelt on the ground in front of Niko's corpse, now dressed in a nun's garments.
And the moment she did, Niko's corpse twitched.
> @meryl_enthusiast: I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO WATCH A HORROR MOVIE!
> @komodachi_ichiban: XDDDD DEFINITELY my oshi!
> @miraiz_enthusiast: Unhinged af... so right at home in Project MirAIs :wheeze:
...
> @ohanadayo: O.o
> @hanas_imouto: I'm scared...
> @MiyaMusashi_VT🔧: What fresh hell did I just walk into?
> @RheaDavinki_VT🔧: YES. YES YES YES!
> @HanaHomura_VT🔧: I approb!
The camera panned to do a close up of Meryl's face. And when it did, a twisted and satisfied smirk cut across it.
And then blood splattered the screen.
The sound of a body crumpling to the ground echoed.
And after that, a slow inhale echoed, followed by a laugh. "...Yes. Still alive. Still here."
A pale white hand wiped across the screen, revealing Niko's face with the same expression that Meryl had.
The camera slowly panned out, revealing the scene from the thumbnail.
Except, unlike the thumbnail, Niko's chest had a gaping hole in it.
One that she immediately filled by placing Meryl's heart in it.
The moment she did, blue light flashed and Niko winced. She clutched her chest, covering it by making makeshift bandages torn from Meryl's dress. Then she smiled and looked at the camera. "I told you, didn't I, Komodachis? I always come back."
> @meryl_enthusiast: JUST LIKE THAT?!
> @komodachi_ichiban: MEIMEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!
> @happyhippo: wow. just wow.
Niko cracked her neck and then held her hand out to Meryl's body. Crimson light flashed before turning into threads that wrapped it like a cocoon. And when they unraveled, it revealed a cute chibi version of Meryl's corpse with 'X' for eyes. Like a voodoo doll almost, except... fleshy.
> @crazyloon: BRUH
> @unhingedkumquat: WTF
> @HanaHomura_VT🔧: OMG THAT'S AN AMAZING IDEA! I NEED TO DO THAT WITH RIN!
> @MiyaMusashi_VT🔧: SENPAI NO.
> @ZenDrion_VT🔧: SENPAI YES!
Niko held out her hand and hugged Meryl's chibi form. Then she giggled and said, "I don't think I have much time in this world... the spell won't last much longer. But we can have some fun until then, right?" She reached out her hand to the camera.
And then a cartoony dragon hand reached out to grab her.
The familiar hand from her fan mascots... A Komodachi.
Niko let out a bright smile and said, "Let's have one last dance together. For old time's sake. And then... let's start over. Okay?"
> @meryl_enthusiast: FOREVER AND A DAY MEIMEI!
> @komodachi_ichiban: FOREEEEVEEEEEER!
> @miraiz_enthusiast: ...Imma need Lore to drop like, ten volumes to explain this because WTF