"Nobody would probably believe that reality could actually be this absurd."
Kamiyā Yuu chuckled as he exited the web chatroom. He himself was the user [Distant Sky]. He had joined the chat group merely to observe the overall public opinion surrounding 'Warship Girls Collection.'
For some reason, although he had greatly enjoyed playing the game in his previous world, he had lost interest in the version he personally created in this world. Compared to playing it himself, he preferred watching the players' progress and reading their reactions.
"Maybe I should entrust 'Warship Girls Collection' to an operations company, or hire a game management team?"
The thought flashed through his mind before he quickly lost interest in pursuing it further. The former was meaningless, while the latter would not be considered until the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio had properly developed.
"This could also count as hunger marketing. I wonder whether game accounts will end up being sold at absurd prices like 'Blade & Soul' accounts did in my previous world."
In truth, Kamiyā Yuu had severely underestimated the influence of 'Warship Girls Collection'...
······
'Warship Girls Collection' was merely a hobby project Kamiyā Yuu created while producing the 'RWBY' movie.
At the end of March, while the game was only beginning to stir slight ripples within Japan's gaming industry, the 'RWBY' movie had already caused massive waves on the opposite side of the world.
The first official promotional PV for the 'RWBY' movie was finally released on the official "Fakebook" account.
After several months of buildup and influence from the four character trailers, 'RWBY's popularity had already reached its peak. Among Western animation enthusiasts, it had practically become a litmus test for identifying fellow anime fans.
What? Haven't you heard of the upcoming 'RWBY'?
Haven't you watched those four thrilling character trailers yet?
And you still dare call yourself an animation fan?
Many of the effects caused by 'RWBY' in America never even reached Kamiyā Yuu's ears.
For example, at the latest Los Angeles Anime Expo in the United States, dozens of Little Red Riding Hood cosplayers dressed as Ruby Rose appeared, lining up to enter the venue, creating an astonishing spectacle. Throughout the convention, nearly one out of every ten cosplayers was portraying a character from 'RWBY.'
The overwhelming repetition of characters created a strangely surreal atmosphere at the convention. In the end, the organizers used the public broadcast system to invite all 'RWBY' cosplayers to gather in the plaza for a group photo, transforming the awkward situation into a memorable event instead.
A total of 268 cosplayers participated in the photo, and the image triggered enormous discussion throughout Western ACG communities.
For another example, the four-character trailers had already been evaluated by various Western magazine judges as:
[One of the Most Popular Web Short Animations]
[Best Action Animation]
[Best Cinematography in Animation]
[Best Animation Music Nominee]
[Innovative Animation]
[Best Animation Director]
And many more.
In just a few short months, all kinds of awards and nominations were being attached to 'RWBY.'
Kamiyā Yuu had entrusted Robert Jones with accepting the awards on his behalf. The accumulated prize money alone amounted to at least several hundred thousand US dollars, while the commemorative trophies were delivered to the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio through international shipping.
The American animation industry in this world was extremely developed, giving rise to numerous award organizations comparable to the film award institutions of Kamiyā Yuu's previous world.
At present, however, 'RWBY' has not yet won any truly prestigious awards. Before the release of the movie version, 'RWBY' was ultimately still just a web short animation and therefore lacked the qualifications to participate in higher-level award competitions.
The 'RWBY' movie could truly be described as something awaited by countless people.
······
"Legends are the traces left behind by humanity's praise for the great heroes of history."
Inside an ancient and worn wooden cabin, an elderly figure whose appearance could not be seen spoke slowly in a hoarse, aged voice. In her hands, a yellowed and tattered book gradually opened.
On the rough pages, sketch-like drawings slowly emerged, becoming increasingly vivid and real as the camera drew closer.
Using a tone of self-mockery, the old voice continued:
"People are always excessively enthusiastic about discussing their stories, longing for endings where justice defeats evil. Perhaps it is only because they live in such a world that the unease within their hearts forces them to seek a tiny fragment of light from these heroic tales to comfort themselves."
The world inside the book began to move.
It was a gray, gloomy world where monstrous creatures lurked within the shadows. Frail human silhouettes could only be seen being devoured by gigantic monsters, collapsing into ashes upon the ground, or willingly stepping into darkness and disappearing.
"Darkness has never vanished, because it is the very foundation of this world—just as when all light disappears from existence, the essence that remains must inevitably be endless dark void."
The camera pulled back, revealing a breathtaking yet despair-filled world.
There was not a single color besides gray and black. There was no sign of life. Humanity's shadows were merely one of the lowest struggling species within this dark world.
One moment, a colossal shadow beast as enormous as a mountain range soared across the sky. The next moment, it was seized by an even larger claw descending from above and dragged into the thick clouds.
"Darkness breeds emptiness. Emptiness will eventually devour light. Such has always been the essence of all things—the ultimate destination of existence."
"But even if that faint glimmer of light is so tiny within the endless darkness... so fragile... so unbearably unstable...!"
A tiny human silhouette knelt upon the ground.
From within its chest, strands of light slowly emerged.
That radiance was so blazing hot that all the shadow monsters of the dark world shrieked and retreated. Because of the appearance of that light, the world revealed an entirely different possibility.
"Where light appears, darkness shall inevitably retreat!"
The old hoarse voice suddenly turned passionate, as though loudly singing praises to heroic legends, or welcoming the triumphant return of heroes. Uncontainable emotion erupted from deep within.
At that moment, the frail and aged voice became powerful and resonant, shaking the heart.
Within the world of the book, the darkness and shadow beasts seemed enraged by that ray of light. Once they retreated to the borders, they could no longer endure and lunged viciously toward the source of the radiance.
If light were a grain of dust, then darkness was an entire planet.
Countless shadow beasts far larger than the light itself appeared fully capable of extinguishing that tiny flame.
However, the closer they approached the light, the weaker their bodies became. No matter how vast their numbers, they could not break through the barrier of radiance.
"No matter how heavy this darkness may be! No matter how hollow this emptiness may be! Even if the light blooms for only a fleeting instant, it is still enough to dispel all darkness and fill all emptiness!"
"Darkness is eternal. Light is but a moment."
"And when the light is on the verge of extinction, darkness and emptiness begin stirring restlessly once more."
"Now... is this not precisely the best time for the heroes sung of in legend to appear?"
"Please do not forget why light appeared. Even if it is destined to eventually be devoured by darkness... darkness itself fears the light..."
The image of endless darkness surging toward the source of light gradually froze, transforming once more into an illustration upon the worn pages.
The ancient storybook was slowly closed by the elderly hand, dry and brittle like dead branches.
The old woman, whose upper body remained unseen, rose from the chair that creaked mournfully with a "Creak~!"
She walked to the window and slightly lifted the curtain.
Under the dim glow of an oil lamp, the scenery outside could faintly be seen—and it was no different from the dark world depicted within the storybook.