Reader Agent Speaks
The man stands beneath the fractured moon, smiling at Rin, Lilith, and Aira.
> "Your story's strong. But it's bloated."
> "Readers are slipping."
> "We need emotion. We need heartbreak. We need—"
He looks directly at Lilith.
> "—a loss."
Rin clenches Soulburn. Lilith steps behind him.
> "You're not real," she hisses.
> "I'm as real as whoever's still turning pages," he replies.
---
⚠️ Reader Pressure: Activated
The sky dims.
People in nearby towns begin acting off-script — speaking in clichés, reacting like NPCs.
> [World Pressure Detected: Narrative Convergence → Tragedy Arc]
[One Main Character Must Die]
Lilith grabs her chest as a golden page appears in front of her.
She reads it:
> "Lilith dies in Rin's arms after sacrificing herself to save the rewrite."
Her hands tremble.
> "I don't want this ending."
---
⚔️ Aira Unlocks: Plot Rejection
As the Reader Agent steps forward, Aira flinches — her thread glowing silver-blue.
> [Echoforge Core Evolved]
[New Skill: Plot Rejection Field]
[Effect: Repels pre-written events within 10 meters.]
A wave blasts outward — burning the golden "death page" to ash.
> "This isn't your story," she says softly.
> "It's ours."
---
⚔️ The Fight Begins – Words as Weapons
The Reader Agent snaps his fingers.
Lines of glowing text fly toward Lilith and Rin — attempts to reformat them.
> "Chapter 38: Rin loses his will to fight."
> "Chapter 39: Lilith sacrifices herself."
But Soulburn glows with a different light now — emotional ink.
Rin swings.
> "Chapter 37: We take the pen back."
---
☠️ Final Scene – A Warning
The Reader Agent staggers, wounded.
But he laughs.
> "You think I'm the author?"
> "I'm just the first editor."
He dissolves into static.
A final page remains, floating in the air:
> "Three editors remain."
> "One already hates happy endings."