MGSFV?! Chapter 508. Bring Elysia Home! …Yet no one seems to respond to that hope anymore?
In the story, Herrscher of Truth Duck declares everything is under control, easy as pie.
But in actual gameplay, when you're getting steamrolled by the boss and crying out in pain… doesn't that feel a bit off?
In-game Voice · Duck Duck: "They're as feeble as chickens and dogs—not worth even a single strike from me."
In-game Reality: "HP dropping… HP dropping… You died. Victory and defeat are common in war, young hero, please try again."
If that happens, wouldn't the stream atmosphere turn kind of awkward?
That's why, as a professional and competent host streamer, Elysia believes she absolutely must avoid that sort of situation at all costs.
Definitely not because…
Elysia: "It's absolutely not because of that~ (crosses arms into an X)."
...
Anyway.
Since Elysia already picked Easy mode, the battle ahead naturally didn't contain any surprises worth mentioning.
Once she unleashed Herrscher of Truth Duck's Ultimate…
The opposing "Existentialism" promptly collapsed to the ground, as quick as students dashing out of class at the sound of the bell.
As if even lingering a moment longer would be a form of disrespect to Herrscher of Truth Duck.
"So… this means it's taken care of?"
Kiana sheathed her weapon and asked Bronya about the current situation.
"Yes. Just like with the previous constructs, we can temporarily reverse-engineer its traits for our use."
But then Bronya added, "However… things are more complicated than we imagined."
Her expression was like that of a student rushing to the classroom door at the bell—only to find the teacher already standing there.
Clearly a serious issue.
"What's wrong?" Mei asked immediately.
Bronya looked at Mei, examining her "calm" expression for a moment.
After some thought, she decided to share her discovery.
While she indeed could open a passageway for Mei, it would be a one-way path.
Meaning: once Mei entered, there would be no way to come back. Like Siegfried, she'd have to wait for someone to find her coordinates and rescue her—if she got lucky.
[Huh? A one-way trip? Isn't that super dangerous?]
[But Mei will still choose to go, right?]
Yes. Not just the omniscient players—even within the game, the others present could already guess what choice Mei would make.
But…
Kiana still asked: "Mei, what do you think?"
"I believe… it's my responsibility, or rather, my mission."
Mei clearly hesitated—but not out of fear of the dangers ahead. Rather…
She felt the scene looked… familiar.
Back in Nagazora, Kiana had once said: "This is my mission." And Mei had replied: "I understand the noble goal of saving the world, but how do you expect me to bear all of this!"
Now, standing in a similar position, she found herself making a similar choice.
The only difference: she left herself a bit more room, not carrying the same strong self-destructive impulse Kiana had back then.
How to put it?
She suddenly understood better the reasons behind Kiana's past decisions.
"For someone who inherited the flame-chaser's stigma… this journey isn't just about reaching the source of the Authority. More importantly…"
"…I believe in Kiana, and in Bronya. I believe in all those who have weathered the storm with us."
"—No matter when, no matter where."
[No matter when or where, Elysia will always respond to your hope~!]
[If I were Mei, I'd absolutely believe in Vill-V's backdoor too. I mean… Elysia's definitely going to answer us, even if it's a blind faith.]
At this point in the story…
Before the next scene unfolds…
Is there really anyone who thinks something unexpected will happen?
Right now, most people would only be shouting "Charge! Charge! Charge!" desperate to rush forward and face the Origin.
They all still want to believe that Elysia… will answer everyone's hope, once more.
Because this part of the story has indeed reignited everyone's desire for a final reunion.
So…
Let's begin. It's time to depart!!
...
"Let's begin, Bronya."
"Anytime."
Bronya was extremely confident.
Under her control, the strings of consciousness—imperceptible to mortals—began to flow once again.
Through the construct before her, she not only tore open a breach in the main network—
She even—
Momentarily halted the operation of the entire Stigmata Plan!
In other words… she replicated the order of the Stigmata Plan itself—causing the will of seven billion people to freeze for two full seconds!
"Mei, now's your moment!"
[Go!!]
[So cool!! Duck Duck is seriously strong now!! Always the MVP!!]
[Do you understand the weight of a Herrscher of Truth? (tactical lean-back)]
Since her awakening as the Herrscher of Truth, Duck Duck really has been delivering nonstop surprises.
Incredibly powerful presence.
She gives a reassuring sense that given enough time, she can solve anything.
[As long as she's not called Herrscher of Reason, she won't get nerfed (smoke screen). Thank the wise Herrscher of Sentience for pointing out Duck Duck's core problem ten chapters ago.]
[Don't be fooled by Little Senti's nonsense. She's a Herrscher of great wisdom. (doge)]
[Honestly, if you hadn't added that last emoji, I would've believed you meant it seriously.]
[Long live Herrscher of Sentience-sama… times three!!]
...
The players were thrilled by Duck Duck's amazing performance.
Meanwhile, in the story—
Mei tried to suppress her rising emotions, tightly grasping the beacon in this hard-earned moment.
And then, she stepped into the passage Bronya had just opened.
A flash of white light.
A good while passed.
The players' excitement gradually began to subside.
Mei's vision suddenly cleared again.
And what lay before her…
Was undoubtedly a completely unfamiliar world.
The camera panned over a new map area.
It looked like…
[A subway station?]
[The signs say "Fate," "Eternity," "Hope"… what does that mean?]
[Truth, Thunder, and Flamescion?]
["Fate" from Finality's cycle, "Eternity" from the Stigmata, "Hope" as the path forward?]
[If I'm not mistaken, the direction Mei is headed matches the one labeled "Hope."]
Rather than representing the world's [Origin], this place seems more like she and her companions' [Beginning].
[Ahead lies Hope?!]
[Is that a portal up ahead? That must be the goal, right?]
[Target locked!! Let's charge!!]
Unlike the hyped-up players—
Elysia, still in control, was far more composed.
She didn't move forward immediately. Instead, she carefully observed the subway station environment.
And indeed, she noticed a lot of subtle design details.
For example, station signs using Flame-Chaser stigma names for subway lines.
Vending machines selling Saint Freya Bitter Melon Juice, Mei Lime Soda (both censored in-game), Spicy Ginger Ale, and HOMU-brand Rainbow Milk…
And floating structures resembling auditoriums, alongside pink clouds drifting across the sky.
Overall, the setting brought a serenity completely unlike earlier battles—even a kind of whimsical charm that could draw a smile.
But…
Based on past experience, the more perfect someone makes a scene, the more cautious they ought to be.
Unfortunately… the players hadn't sensed anything wrong.
After briefly admiring the map design, they rushed forward impatiently.
They've arrived!
Even if the new scene is surprising, what matters most now is moving forward—heading deeper, to find the Origin long lost within the Cocoon.
[Bring Elysia Home!!]
[Suddenly so emotional.]
[Of course. We're almost there… who wouldn't be emotional?]
But heightened emotion often clouds judgment.
"..."
Still…
Whether they were excited, exhilarated, or something else entirely—
The long-expected "unexpected" event arrived after all.
...
In-game—
Mei ran a long, long distance.
The portal she saw the moment she entered the station… still seemed just a bit ahead.
Yet…
Why, after running so far, had she still not reached it?
"This gate… is it really that far away…?"
"No… I've clearly been moving forward…"
"…Why?"
The path itself… seemed to be extending along with her progress?
Realizing this, Mei came to a halt.
"No… I must've misunderstood something…"
Then two lines of text appeared.
This was indeed the location the beacon had pointed to. And with her companions' help, she had entered with absolute resolve and belief.
But this place… was filled to the brim with absolute emptiness.
[Empty…?]
What?
What's going on?
How could there be nothing here?
Is Mei about to return empty-handed??
No… no… it shouldn't be like this.
The players clearly hoped "empty" was just a poor word choice in the script.
Meanwhile, Mei recalled—
"That's right."
She raised the compass in her hand. "Vill-V… did she still have…"
Was there another backup plan?
Out of trust forged through shared battles, Mei placed her hope in the possibility of a change in the beacon.
This backdoor "gift" had been her highest priority—lighting a desire to see someone again.
"Click, click, click…"
Two more lines of text flashed.
As Mei pondered, the compass needle began to spin erratically.
A familiar voice echoed from it—
[A familiar voice!]
They knew it…
There's no way Mei would just come up empty-handed like that.
But…
Someone read the next line: "But in that moment, the girl came to understand."
Understand what, Mei!?
"That her previous belief in its function… had been entirely wishful thinking."
Misunderstood???
Wishful thinking???
...
A creeping sense of dread began to rise in the players' hearts.
Ding ding!
Vill-V's voice suddenly rang out in-game.
But… she didn't seem to be speaking to Mei—
More like talking to herself.
"Let me learn from you, too…"
"—Hey, did you miss me?"
She really sounded like her.
But right after asking that, she sighed softly—
"…Sorry. This is the only way we could leave a message for you… Elysia."
"When you receive this message, we—or rather, most people you knew—will probably no longer exist."
[Not good. Not good. Not good.]
[It's the scent of a knife?!]
"But… you won't be too sad, right? When we remembered your passing, we didn't always cry."
Using a tone like an old person reminiscing—
"Ah… even though I'm rambling on like this… the Elysia returned to the Cocoon… might not even retain a personality."
[No personality? So… our expectations were all delusions?]
[No way! The atmosphere had already built up so much!!]
[Still… let's hear Vill-V out first.]
"…That won't stop me from doing this. I know—being unable to see how the world changed because of you must be your greatest regret."
"And that's why… I borrowed this backdoor from you—and from our inheritor."
"The version of you in the Elysian Realm has already found some fulfillment. So I don't want this side of you to be left behind."
Vill-V wanted to…
Send a letter that crossed fifty thousand years of time to Elysia.
"Through this backdoor, I synchronized all of the inheritor's memories of the world… with you—"
Suddenly, a massive amount of information surged out from within Raiden Mei's Herrscher core.
Countless scenes flashed before her eyes like a spinning lantern…
"From now on, stars will shine… because I once existed."
"From now on, flowers will bloom… because I never truly left."
She only wanted the real Elysia to know—
You did it.
Because you once existed—now, stars shine.
Because you once existed—now, flowers bloom.
On the once-ruined earth, the humanity you hoped for has blossomed… and, as you wished, become even more beautiful.
Elysia… Ely… did you see it?
Aren't they beautiful?
[...]
Vill-V isn't usually romantic.
But when she is… it's truly beyond imagination.
What does "extreme" mean? Maybe this is it.
But…
[Surely this beacon wasn't only used for Vill-V's letter to Elysia, right?]
[Then what about Mei?]
[Can Elysia still answer Mei…?]
Yeah.
Can Elysia still answer Mei?
After all, it's already been made clear—
Vill-V's backdoor… has nothing to do with the Authority of Origin Mei hoped to reach.
So then…
Will something different still happen?
They still held on to the tiniest sliver of hope.
Suddenly, the screen darkened.
And lines of text began to flash again—
All were words once spoken by Elysia.
[Hi~ Did you miss me…?]
[No matter when, no matter where, Elysia will always…]
Only…
None of them appeared in full—not a single one.
Because—
[That hope… seems like no one will ever answer it again.]
When that final line froze on screen, cold and absolute—
It was like a bucket of ice water dumped over their heads.
Dousing every last spark of hope they had.
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