Elysia's story had come to an end, and though its conclusion was a happy one, the audience outside the light curtain still felt a sense of melancholy.
It hadn't been a long journey, but when a story reaches its finale, people always feel a certain reluctance to let go.
---o---
[Light Curtain Comments]
[Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Is the story just over like that? I still wanted to see what the Honkai world looks like." ]
[Conan Edogawa: "If Elysia hadn't gone on this journey across worlds, would she really have sacrificed herself for the Flame-Chasers and the 'people' she loved, just as the light curtain said?"]
[Eriri Spencer Sawamura: "Why does someone so pure and flawless have such a tragic fate?"]
[Hachiman Hikigaya: "We should thank that Supreme God. Whatever his motives were, at least he gave the Previous Era and Elysia the chance to forge a new future." ]
[Yukino Yukinoshita: "Did Elysia's final sacrifice even help the civilization of the later era?"]
[Kevin Kaslana: "...Elysia. Her sacrifice was not meaningless. The power of the Herrscher of Origin opened up a new possibility for the future civilization to defeat the Honkai."]
In the Honkai world, Kevin, residing within the Sea of Quanta, spoke slowly. Though he remained in the Sea of Quanta, the information relayed by Gray Serpent confirmed that the seeds Elysia had sown were already beginning to grow.
[Otto Apocalypse: "The end of one story is the beginning of another. This broadcast connects all the myriad worlds, even linking multiverses. The next story, the next protagonist, will surely be even more interesting."]
---o---
Somewhere in the multiverse, a colossal palace stood upon the void.
Its sheer scale was something humanity could never imagine; even from hundreds of millions of light-years away, one could not grasp the palace's full view.
Its immensity surpassed that of the Milky Way galaxy. And this... was the domain of the Supreme God, the creator of the light curtain.
"Elysia's story is over. Have you thought about what world to feature next?" the System's voice echoed in his ear.
The male figure standing in the center of the palace was the Supreme God of the infinite multiverse.
He pondered for a moment, then said, "The next world? Continuing with Honkai or Type-Moon is out of the question."
There was far too much to tell in those two worlds, but narrating events from the same worldview for too long would inevitably lead to audience fatigue.
As if struck by an idea, the Supreme God asked the System, "In your opinion, where does humanity's greatest strength lie?"
"...You are the omniscient and omnipotent one, not I. I am only responsible for bringing you this power," the System's emotionless voice replied, clearly not understanding the workings of humanity.
"A great man once said, the hymn of humanity is a hymn to courage; the greatness of humanity is in its courage."
Ignoring the System's response, the Supreme God continued, "Humanity's greatness lies precisely in that. And there is one story that embodies this philosophy from beginning to end."
A flicker of interest appeared in the Supreme God's eyes. He already knew how the second story would unfold.
Golden Spirit and Dark Determination, human conviction and courage, would be unfurled in the second viewing.
Elysia's story had reached its perfect curtain call, her love earning the recognition of the audience.
And now, as the true protagonist was about to take the stage, he would let the viewers who had just witnessed the ultimate form of 'love' take a look at the ultimate form of 'evil' in 'humanity'.
---o---
[Light Curtain]
Not much time passed, just enough for the audience, still cherishing the previous story, to have their moment of reflection.
The second video slowly materialized before everyone's eyes.
Just like before, it began with a textual description of the character about to appear.
[This is a 'person' of beautiful posture and bewitching sexiness, with golden hair and fair skin so pale it is almost translucent. Both their figure and face have reached the pinnacle of existence!]
Before the introduction was even finished, the audience outside the light curtain was stunned.
Judging from this description alone, the 'protagonist' of this viewing seemed to be a beautiful girl on par with Elysia.
No... in some ways, she might even surpass Elysia. After all, the light curtain had a penchant for suspense. Elysia was indeed beautiful, but for the broadcast to praise her appearance so extravagantly from the very beginning was a treatment even she had not received.
[Though he was of humble birth, his father a pauper from the slums of England, he grew up in a noble family through a stroke of fortune, possessing foresight and talent that far exceeded his peers.]
Here it was, the second part of the introduction. A beautiful girl of humble birth yet raised as a noble, with fair skin, golden hair, and blue eyes. In an instant, the audience's imagination ran wild.
Some had already started calling this unseen 'protagonist' their waifu. Elysia had proven that the light curtain's aesthetic taste was second to none.
At the same time, the audience began to speculate. The light curtain covered the entire infinite multiverse, after all. Perhaps the person being featured was someone they knew.
[Light Curtain Comments]
[Utaha Kasumigaoka: "England, a beautiful noble girl, and blonde with blue eyes... I think I actually know someone like that." ]
[Eriri Spencer Sawamura: "Utaha, you old hag, do you really think my father is from the slums?"]
In the Saekano world, Eriri's face darkened. Although she wanted to experience being the protagonist of the light curtain's viewing, it was highly unlikely to be her.
Everyone at school knew she was the daughter of a diplomat, a man with considerable influence in the country. There was no way he came from the slums.
[Emiya Kiritsugu: "Blonde hair and blue eyes... that does sound a bit like Saber. And... Saber is technically British and a noble."]
[Artoria Pendragon: "The physical description of blonde hair and blue eyes is indeed similar to my own, but... this clearly isn't me. Besides... I have a feeling that the character being featured this time is the complete opposite of Elysia."]
---o---
On the light curtain, the description of the 'new protagonist' continued.
[Though blessed with great luck, his fate was fraught with misfortune. Of his 121-year life, 100 years were spent in a coffin, and for 13 of the remaining years, he was subjected to constant bullying.
And so, the golden-haired commoner from the slums will raise the Stone Mask, a symbol of courage, to rebel against his unjust fate and the heir of the great household who stands in his way. In the end, he will become the emperor who reigns supreme over the world!]
With that, the introduction was complete. The details left the audience outside the light curtain with deep and complex feelings.
[Conan Edogawa: "Alright, looks like another non-scientific world. No normal person can live that long, let alone spend a hundred years in a coffin." ]
[Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Locking a beautiful girl in a coffin for a hundred years and letting her be bullied for thirteen... Heh, that must have been the work of that so-called noble family." ]
In the Saekano world, the novelist Shiko Kasumi declared that she had seen through it all, feeling a deep sense of sympathy for the girl who had yet to appear on screen.
[Joseph Joestar: "Hiss— Why do I have this strange sense of déjà vu? Could it be that I have some strange connection to the subject of this new viewing?"]
---o---
As the audience discussed among themselves, the image on the light curtain gradually came into focus.
The screen was pitch black, but it wasn't the darkness of an inactive broadcast.
It was the oppressive darkness of the night. Ominous clouds blanketed the city, and not a single star or moon could be seen in the sky.
At that moment, a tall male figure appeared in the video, his back turned to the viewers.
His upper body was bare, revealing exceptionally well-developed muscles. On his left shoulder blade was a star-shaped mark, like a birthmark or a tattoo, that was incredibly conspicuous.
The instant he saw that mark, the elderly Joseph Joestar's eyes flew wide open in the JoJo world. That posture, that mark, combined with the earlier description... Masaka... MASAKA!
His mind recalled an impossible existence, and the old man's heart was filled with dread. How could the light curtain possibly feature that man?
"Hah—" Despite it being the coldest time of the night, the white puff of breath exhaled by the man on screen was still clearly visible.
He was a 'person' of 'beautiful posture' and 'bewitching sexiness'. His eyes were so cold they seemed to peer into the depths of one's soul. With golden hair, fair skin that was almost translucent, and an aura of demonic charm, it was difficult to associate him with being a man.
"How quiet—"
A single sentence was enough to send a chill down the spines of the audience. Though cold, the man's words carried a strange sense of tranquility, laced with a dangerous sweetness.
The man silently sniffed the air, as if confirming something.
Then, a captivating smile spread across his lips as he murmured to himself, "The power of a Stand? To transport me directly from Egypt to here..."
Although he didn't know who had transported him, the fact that it was nighttime meant that the culprit either knew nothing about him or had brought him here for a specific purpose.
Regardless, he, DIO, would not feel fear. Only one being in this world could make DIO feel fear, and that man... had died a hundred years ago.
The man named DIO began to probe his surroundings. Though his expression seemed relaxed, in reality, his vigilance was raised to the absolute maximum.
This ability to teleport someone so suddenly was terrifying. If he had been transported into direct sunlight without his knowledge, he might not have even had time to use his Stand.
But... after countless checks and probes, the surroundings remained silent, save for the faint rustle of grass in the wind.
Ever since he had 'cast aside his humanity', DIO's senses had far surpassed those of an ordinary human. He could clearly perceive even the slightest disturbance.
Yet now, those same powerful senses detected not a single trace of a human presence.
"Speaking of which... I've had this strange sense of dissonance lingering in my mind since I arrived," DIO mused aloud, planting his feet firmly.
He then placed his brawny right hand over the star-shaped mark on his left shoulder, as if trying to feel something.
"Jonathan Joestar. The only man who could drive me, DIO, into such a pathetic state, and also the most dangerous opponent of my life," DIO said, his eyes closed in recollection.
It was as if he was remembering the youthful years he spent growing up with JoJo. Then, his cold eyes snapped open, a hint of danger within them.
"This body... is the body of Jonathan Joestar from a century ago. The bloodline of the Joestar family is flowing within me, DIO!"
That single sentence sent a profound shock through the audience. To make his rival's body his own... just what kind of man was being featured on the light curtain?!
As the audience reeled in shock, DIO's monologue continued.
"Just a few dozen minutes ago, this body could still sense Jonathan's descendants, those who inherited the Joestar bloodline. But now... no matter what method I use, I can no longer feel that sensation."
DIO's tone was contemplative. He felt he was getting close to the answer.
This inexplicable transportation... it seemed like the power of a Stand, but... could anyone truly possess a Stand with such extreme long-range teleportation and incredible range?
"Though it is hard to believe... this is, without a doubt, another world. To use the terminology of this new era, this would be called... 'transmigration,' I suppose."
DIO was a quick learner. Although a century separated him from the modern era, he had used books to acquire a great deal of knowledge in a short time.
Among the concepts he learned was 'transmigration'. While the explanation seemed far-fetched, a gut feeling told him this was precisely the 'transmigration' that modern people yearned for!
His naturally cautious nature made him believe this completely, for fate had always been on his side. He, DIO, was born with incredible luck.
It was because of this that he had survived his clashes with Jonathan Joestar time and time again, and at the most perilous moment of his life, he had successfully seized Jonathan's body to survive to this day.
And now... a feeling told DIO that fate was on his side once more. Here, he would obtain what he desired, become the emperor of the world, and finally... ascend to Heaven!
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: Volume 2 has officially begun! I thought about this chapter for a long time, mainly because I'm still adjusting. It's really difficult to capture DIO's unique feel, but I will do my best. You can offer any opinions you have. As long as you don't flame or curse, I can accept it (malicious comments will be deleted).