Little Gui's Livestream.
After parting ways with Black Swan.
Stelle returned to the Golden Hour.
She had already contacted the Astral Express Crew in the [Astral Express Family] group.
[My investigation is over.]
[Where should we meet?]
[March 7th: Stelle!]
[Himeko: I'm glad you're safe.]
[March 7th: That woman didn't do anything bad, did she?]
[Himeko: About Miss Firefly... I'm sorry.]
[Himeko: The family has sealed off the scene. We're negotiating with the representatives, and it's almost over.]
[Himeko: Let's meet near the Clockie Statue later.]
Guinaifen teleported directly to the Clockie Statue.
She looked around.
The members of the Astral Express Crew hadn't arrived yet.
Stelle muttered to herself, "So much has happened... I need to sort out my thoughts quickly and wait for everyone to arrive..."
Just then.
The screen went black.
A line of text appeared on the screen.
[Some time ago, deep within the Memory Zone]
"Boom!"
Flames suddenly seemed to burst out from the screen!
Many people hadn't even reacted yet!
"What the hell!"
"What's going on!?"
"This is... Acheron and Sam's battle!"
"Wow! I almost forgot about these two heavyweights!"
"They've been fighting for a whole major version."
Sam was seen uprooting a nearby signpost.
It seemed like she was cleaning up the battlefield, preparing for the next fight.
A mechanical voice rang out: "It's time for you to draw that blade."
"...Ranger."
As she spoke.
She made a crouching motion.
Aside from the cross-shaped flame burning on her chest.
A surging blaze also ignited on her right hand!
It seemed like she was about to strike at any moment!
Yet Acheron remained calm and indifferent.
Pointing her scabbard at Sam.
Suddenly, she asked: "Hunter, do you still dream?"
"Dreaming of those who died because of you?"
As she spoke.
A red light flashed from Acheron's tsuba.
She gripped the hilt.
Just as everyone thought they were about to witness a fierce battle between the two.
The screen went black again.
Another flashback!
[Several days ago, at the Eternal Flame Mansion]
The same fiery background.
But in this scene.
Acheron's opponent had changed to... Duke Inferno!
Duke Inferno had already fallen from his throne.
And was now being pointed at by Acheron with her scabbard.
As soon as this scene appeared!
In the live stream.
Countless comments flooded the screen!
Forming row after row of queues!
...
"Prison Duke!"
"Prison Duke!!!! Miss you."
"Your voice and face remain vivid."
"Case solved!"
"Precious footage from his lifetime."
"Duke: Kids, this isn't funny."
"It's finally here!"
"Alright, alright, the scene of the Duke Inferno tragedy is here!"
...
Now, wherever the Prison Duke appears, similar comments are bound to emerge.
This has almost become a fixed pattern.
In the scene.
Duke Inferno's weathered voice came through: "...It seems the outcome was already decided."
"They are still alive, and so are you," Acheron said.
After a pause.
She added, "You still have a choice. Leave the music box behind and go."
"Choice?"
Duke Inferno seemed to have heard a joke.
"The path of Destruction has no room for hesitation."
"The fire demons of Tophet... even if you offer your life to that Aeon, you won't gain His favor."
But Duke Inferno disagreed: "Wanderer, you walk the narrow path of The Hunt, so naturally, you cannot understand."
"We come from the fire, bathed in flames, spreading, burning, destroying, until the fuel is exhausted, leaving behind a pile of ashes."
"Burning is the life of a fire demon, the beginning and the end. We are born to die, only to embody one aspect of the universe's truth: all things are born for Destruction."
The Duke grew more emotional as he spoke.
It's just a pity that this scene remains unchanged.
Not as impressive as in the Eternal Flame Mansion's promotional video.
Otherwise, this moment would have been quite astonishing.
Acheron: "Your companions don't seem to think the same way; they've bought you a chance to live."
"They are my children, like the former me, still unheated flames. They are young; I won't blame them."
"But my fire has grown hoarse, and time is running out. Do you see the Planet of Festivities in the distance? I will bring hell there—so before that, I must surpass you."
In the live stream.
Viewers expressed their sentiments!
...
"The Duke is so pitiful; even now, the information is so unequal."
"Thought she was from The Hunt?"
"The Prison Duke still has some backbone; he didn't surrender."
"Precious footage of the great father fighting for his children's place in the gacha pool (doge)."
"As a boss, Duke Inferno has already given his all; even on the verge of death, he's still thinking of causing trouble in Penacony..."
"Rest in peace, Prison Duke. Penacony has been destroyed three times in just one day."
...
"Why?" Acheron asked.
"Because on the path they've opened, you've walked further than I..."
"...Emanator."
Acheron fell silent.
Duke Inferno continued, "You cannot hide your identity. Draw that blade. We will indeed remain here, destined to fight to the death, for I have chosen this path."
"Destruction is a glorious moment. If one seeks survival through cowardice... this life would be far too long."
Upon hearing these words, Little Gui's expression suddenly turned to one of realization.
"That's what Duke Inferno said in A Night of Ever-Flame: Scene 33!"
"It really came true!"
"The Duke truly practices what he preaches!"
Facing Duke Inferno's choice, Acheron confirmed once more, "Even if the answer... might be your own destruction?"
"The answer is not important. What matters is its existence, just as you exist. Everything exists to be destroyed—even Emanators are no exception."
"Even in the void, dreams can be born (Penacony). The so-called impossible is merely that which has not yet arrived."
"Very well, I accept your challenge."
Acheron accepted Duke Inferno's challenge.
"You will witness the most brilliant and violent fire in this world. May this blaze illuminate your bottomless dream." Duke Inferno's presence was overwhelming.
"A bottomless dream... indeed, but you've misunderstood one thing."
"This blade remains sheathed, not out of pity or disdain. It is a secret I am unwilling to reveal, but in return..."
[As she spoke, her hand gently rested on the hilt of the blade.]
"I will be honest with you."
"The Hunt... is not the path I walk."
After Acheron finished speaking, a crisp sound of a blade being drawn echoed.
The scene plunged into darkness.
"May death end your long dream..."
"...and guide you back to the world of wakefulness."
Acheron's voice calmed, yet it stirred wild imaginations in all who witnessed this moment!
...
"The Duke has backbone!"
"A true man."
"You're serious, Duke?"
"So the Duke sought death himself?"
"Laugh at the joke, not the man. The Duke is a real man."
"I declare: the Duke is no longer the universe's biggest clown. His spirit of facing death deserves some respect."
"When Acheron draws her blade, it's world-ending..."
"Just being able to make Acheron draw her blade is already something to be proud of."
"Could it be... that Sam is about to emulate Duke Inferno's act? Proving her path through death?"
"That scene from the PV is about to be recreated."