"By the way, you guys probably noticed a small detail about Leon, right?"
[Sorry, nope.]
[Tell us more.]
"It's about the DoTs reflected through Illusory Dream. The damage we take and the damage the enemy takes are different."
Old Bear pulled up his streaming tool, finding the recorded clip of the earlier fight.
"Here's the conclusion: the DoT reflected onto the enemy depends on the stats of the last person it was reflected from.
For example, when the Automaton Grizzly's chainsaw hits Leon and triggers Illusory Dream,
the DoT that triggers on Grizzly's next action uses Leon's stats for damage.
In plain terms: whoever gets hit with a reflected DoT determines how much damage the enemy takes next.
Leon's base attack is a measly 4—definitely an intentional Easter egg.
The result? DoTs reflected by him deal next to no damage.
But a high-attack main DPS is different. What does that mean?
It means using a full-Constellation Leon against DoT-applying enemies can indirectly boost team damage.
The only catch is you need your high-attack main DPS to take the hit…
It's just mosquito-leg damage, but meat's meat.
In the future, there'll surely be high-attack DoT-focused characters. Pairing Leon with certain enemy lineups might yield unexpected results."
Most players were left scratching their heads at this.
Few realized Old Bear's words would soon prove true.
Before the third version ended, countless players wished they could split Leon in two.
One for the big guy getting elbowed by the Aurumaton.
One for the big mama who needs DoTs to detonate.
And finally, for the energy-hungry characters—basically everyone.
Joking aside, almost every support or main DPS craves energy regen.
With Leon's exclusive four-star Light Cone, especially at max superimposition, the comfort level was off the charts.
But that's a story for later.
After some time, the main group, including streamers, finally hit level 14, unlocking the next main story phase.
…
Ah Xian returned to the quest location, easily finding Bronya to talk.
She was supposed to go find Seele with her.
Expecting the quest location to change, she was surprised Bronya still had dialogue with the Express crew.
Stelle: "Don't look at us like that. If we hadn't brought you down here, no matter what we said, you wouldn't have fully believed us.
Seeing how the lower district's been living for over a decade, do you still think Cocolia did nothing wrong?"
Bronya pressed her lips together: "…I'm sorry."
"Apologies are meaningless. What you need to do is find a way to change this."
The camera cut to Leon returning her rifle.
Then, Bronya finally opened up to the Express crew, ready to share everything she knew.
Through this dialogue, players learned the reason for the lower district's lockdown.
Whether it was true remained to be seen.
What caught players' attention wasn't this but Leon's disenchantment of Bronya.
Stripping away her innate trust in Cocolia.
And from Leon's words, more Stellaron traits were revealed, tying up earlier plot threads.
[No wonder the Stellaron was talking to Cocolia—it's gained self-awareness.]
[I thought Cocolia was just coveting the Stellaron's power. Didn't see that coming.]
[Poor Bronya must be hurting, even if it's all just guesses for now.]
Seeing Bronya's somewhat lost expression, many fans couldn't help but empathize.
Leon: "It's only a possibility—not a high chance. No need to take it to heart."
[He's warming my heart to tears. He clearly suspects the Stellaron's already conscious but still chooses a kind lie to comfort Bronya.]
At this point in the story, Ah Xian was ready to move on.
Unexpectedly, Bronya said she wanted to be alone to sort out her thoughts?
Then came the scene where Leon gave her space.
The screen went black, and when it lit up again, they were at a lower vantage point.
From this angle, you could see Bronya standing above.
March 7th: "Leon, why lie to her?"
"Because my hubby's a gentle man who knows how to undress people's hearts~"
[You mean understand people, thanks.]
[She totally said 'undress' on purpose. Hmph, a woman exploding with warmth for Father.]
"Everyone deserves a shred of dignity."
Leon's voice seemed to carry a magic, piercing straight into Ah Xian's heart.
"Losing all dignity is like losing all pride, never able to hold your head up again.
At best, you sink into despair; at worst, you doubt the world, doubt your own existence's meaning.
A mother is a harbor in everyone's heart, an irreplaceable harbor.
That means absolute trust, someone you'd give everything for without hesitation…"
Ah Xian froze.
Unknowingly, memories flooded her mind.
"An adult's collapse often happens in an instant. I'm not lying to her—I'm just preserving her dignity."
Hearing this, a tear slowly slid from the corner of Ah Xian's eye.
Back then, no one had given her dignity.
Her pride was worthless to her family.
Yes, family.
Her family, under the guise of "parents always want what's best for their child," broke her wings with their own hands.
Then demanded she soar.
All resistance seemed futile. As a daughter, family doctrine dictated filial piety above all.
Her bright future, her dreams she'd worked for, all ruined when her parents went to prison.
At her emotional breaking point, no one preserved her dignity.
All she got was pointing fingers and relentless stabs at her wounds.
She had no way to argue back.
Because her parents were corrupt.
As a child, she never believed the rumors about them.
But as she grew older and understood more, seeds of doubt took root.
Even if she subconsciously knew it was likely true, deep down, she clung to a sliver of hope.
No matter how her parents were, they were still the ones who raised her…
How similar to Bronya in the game?
How she wished, back when she was drowning in self-blame, on the verge of collapse, someone like Leon had been there.
To respect the last thing she had left.
Her dwindling dignity.
But there was no one.
She fell into collapse, her heart's harbor crumbling beyond repair.
[Why's Ah Xian crying?]
[???]
"Just… some dust in my eye…"
She pulled out a few tissues to wipe her eyes.
Truly loving a character doesn't need complex reasons.
A line that pierces the heart or a gentle touch that heals scars.
That's enough.
She admitted her initial love for Leon was shallow—love at first sight, falling for every pretty face.
Now it was different.
Hoping to meet a perfect person in reality wasn't realistic.
But at least in the virtual 2D world, she could meet someone perfect to soothe her scars.
Leon was that perfect person in her heart.
She loved this empathetic, reliable character with a gentle side.