The world within the crack of the rift presents a chaotic scene.
Countless shattered ruins float in the void, resembling a broken mosaic puzzle.
Various different world bubbles intertwine and linger here; some depict thriving corners of cities, others show desolate fragments of deserts, and still others reveal remnants of lush forests.
These fragments occasionally collide, sometimes merge, and at other times separate, creating an ever-changing, strange picture.
In this extremely chaotic world, one can easily lose their way with a moment's inattention.
There are no fixed reference points, no clear pathways, and even the passage of time becomes vague.
For creatures that stray into this place,
once they venture deep into the rift,
it is like entering a maze from which there is no escape.
However,
in the midst of this chaos, a pink figure walks with elegance.
Each of her steps is light and graceful, as if she is dancing.
The surrounding disaster beasts sense her presence and pounce towards her.
But at the moment these fierce monsters approach her, they are obstructed by a beam of pink light.
The girl lightly waves her hand, and countless pink petals dance in the air.
These petals, seemingly soft and fragile, are as sharp as blades.
Before the disaster beasts' claws can touch the girl, they are cut and wounded by the petals.
After only a few rounds, these fierce monsters are defeated, retreating in terror.
The pink girl is none other than Tao Yao, who is presumed dead by players and Hiyakura but is likely beyond dead.
However,
at this moment, she appears vibrant and full of life, showing no signs of death at all.
After all, dying is simply not an option.
She could never die in this lifetime.
Tao Yao's initial goal was to create an illusion of death, offering players an unforgettable final dance.
As for how she survived?
With Xiao Xiao around, it wasn't a difficult task.
At that time, in the inferno, she consumed some popularity points to exchange for her five-star character experience card, thereby escaping certain death.
"Although it's just a temporary experience, the power of the five-star card is indeed high..." Tao Yao thought to herself.
And it was just then,
a small light appeared above Tao Yao's head.
It was the system sprite, Xiao Xiao.
Flapping her tiny wings, she excitedly sat among Tao Yao's hair and happily said:
"Master, master, your popularity has soared again! It's already over 300,000! And it's still climbing rapidly; at this rate, it'll be no time before you can exchange for a five-star character card!"
Xiao Xiao was so excited she danced, as if this popularity was earned by herself.
However, in response to such delightful news, Tao Yao's reaction was surprisingly calm.
She smiled gently and said, "This is just the beginning. The more exciting things are still ahead."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao tilted her head, showing a puzzled expression.
"Is the master preparing to reappear before the players and then die again? Many players have already come to like you; if you come back again, it would definitely gather an even larger wave of popularity! It might even break a million!"
After hearing this, Tao Yao habitually tapped the sprite's head lightly.
Xiao Xiao immediately covered her forehead, looking aggrieved.
"Master, why do you keep hitting me?"
"Who told you to be so foolish?"
As Tao Yao spoke, she stretched out her hand to bring the little sprite down from her head and set her on her shoulder.
She didn't like anyone touching her head, not even a cute little sprite.
Then, Tao Yao explained seriously: "Although I'm pretending to be dead, for the players, I must actually die. Otherwise, death would lose all meaning."
Xiao Xiao listened, looking even more confused. She scratched her head and asked:
"But if that's the case, how will the already 'dead' master gain popularity later on?"
"After all, in name, the master is already dead."
"If you don't come back to life, your role in the players' storyline will only become less and less..."
"And players are a group of people who quickly get bored; since the master's role was originally small, as time goes by and new popular characters emerge, players will gradually shift their attention away from the master. Those players will inevitably forget about you..."
Tao Yao needed to complete her mission and accumulate a lot of popularity.
But if she didn't come back to appear before the players,
Xiao Xiao simply couldn't imagine how bleak Tao Yao's popularity would become over time, amid increased competition from more characters...
Hearing the system sprite's words, Tao Yao was slightly surprised.
Her system actually thought things through?
Could it come up with such an idea?
It's no wonder Tao Yao felt unexpected.
After all, Xiao Xiao was indeed right.
"You're right."
Tao Yao nodded in agreement, saying leisurely: "Although my achievements in version 1.2 were pretty good, strictly speaking, I lack the presence accompanying players."
"While I have affected a portion, that is ultimately only a small part, and there are still many fish that got away."
"As the number of players increases in the future and the game content becomes richer, players' attention to me will only diminish."
Tao Yao was very clear about the situation she faced now.
Since she was an antagonist, not part of the protagonist group,
many players did not understand her.
Thus, when it came to the key moments, many players would still feel nothing.
Especially for those who skip narratives or simply don't pay attention to the story.
Her so-called farewell would seem just that.
It could even be described as somewhat bizarre.
Xiao Xiao clearly understood this point, nodding vigorously in agreement.
"Exactly! That's why I suggested the master find a chance to come back to life; after all, the master has already turned her popularity into divine power and escaped certain death, so she can go to Hiyakura's side later to increase her presence little by little."
The system sprite Xiao Xiao's idea was simple: slowly accumulate popularity through longer companionship.
"No, no, no."
Tao Yao shook her head, rejecting Xiao Xiao's proposal, and calmly said: "Xiao Xiao, compared to what you mentioned, I might have a better idea."
Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up when she heard Tao Yao's words, excitedly flying in front of her.
She tilted her head curiously, flapping her wings rapidly, eager to know more.
"Master, master, what new idea have you thought of? Quickly tell me!"
Tao Yao looked at Xiao Xiao's excited expression with a slight smile, revealing a hint of mysteriousness.
"What do you think... if we add a large-scale game mode for players in 'Fairy Journey'?"