The livestream chat was in utter chaos.
But no matter how frantic they were, it was too late.
Elysia, completely hooked by the plot, couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.
"Miss Himeko~~ You have to be okay~~"
Soon.
The CG began to play.
The story started with deep blue bubbles, rising and bursting.
Noisy sounds echoed from all around, heightening the tense atmosphere.
The scene transitioned, revealing a clear and captivating eye, its slightly weary gaze seeming to reflect on an entire lifetime.
Murata Himeko ultimately clenched the serum in her hand, all her emotions transforming into unwavering resolve.
Beep! Beep!
Along with the piercing alarm.
The Judgment-class dragon Honkai Beast, Benares, soared through the sky, tearing apart the warship's turret with its terrifying claws.
From the very beginning of the CG, the atmosphere was stretched to its absolute limit.
Everyone was captivated.
Even those viewers who had just been saying not to watch.
Knowing full well a huge "knife" was coming, they still couldn't tear their eyes away.
Elysia also forgot to interact with her audience.
She watched with rapt attention, not even noticing that a woman with long, wine-red hair, wearing only form-fitting hot pants, had come to stand behind her.
In the scene.
Himeko reached the outer deck via the Hyperion's elevator, hiding the serum within her battlesuit.
With the Godsbane Sword slung over her shoulder, a confident smile bloomed on her face, radiant and spirited, showing no trace of her earlier gloom.
Facing an oncoming turret, she swung her sword like a baseball bat, sending the turret flying back to smash heavily onto Benares's head.
Then, before Benares could react.
Himeko had already leaped up, ruthlessly kicking Benares's massive body down onto the deck.
But just as she raised her sword to deliver the final blow to Benares, a strong light suddenly appeared, blocking Himeko's attack.
The dazzling light grew brighter and brighter, gradually obscuring everything around.
When the light subsided.
Everything around had changed.
A dim space, filled only with dead silence; even the Hyperion, which had been speeding along moments ago, was eerily still.
With a burst of laughter.
The Herrscher of the Void descended slowly, treading on the void.
"Did you think you could escape?"
Himeko showed no fear, her crimson greatsword aimed straight at the Herrscher of the Void.
But the Herrscher of the Void merely gestured with one hand, and Himeko's body was flung away.
"Struggle… as much as you can~~"
The Herrscher of the Void reached out and snapped her fingers.
A purple cube imprisoned the flying Himeko. Countless sharp Subspace Lances, like ribbons, slashed past one by one, cutting the cube apart from the center where Himeko was.
This wasn't enough!
The Herrscher of the Void's expression was icy.
She raised her hand and swiped downwards. Two Subspace Lances twisted together, forming a sharp spiral that plummeted from the sky, piercing through the cube.
The cube was utterly crushed, and along with Murata Himeko, impaled deep into the ground.
The Herrscher of the Void turned away, stating indifferently, "Only this much, hmph!"
The hearts of the players watching clenched.
Himeko wouldn't die just like that, would she?!
Yet, the next second, a sharp blade attacked the Herrscher of the Void, forcing her to use spatial transfer to evade the attack.
Himeko staggered to her feet from a pile of ruins, her body covered in purple markings caused by Honkai energy erosion.
"Your attacks are over. Then, now it's my turn! Any objections?"
Her voice, initially weak and breathless, gradually became firm, her fighting spirit growing ever stronger.
"Hahaha~~ Ah~ Die!"
The Queen, far from panicking, covered her face and let out a maniacal laugh. Countless black voids surrounded Himeko.
The song "Nightglow" began to play at this moment.
Himeko's monologue sounded over the slightly tragic opening notes.
The short film reached its climax.
"Kiana, when you wake up, you'll find this world is no longer beautiful."
Crimson flames enveloped the greatsword, and boundless power erupted from the Vermilion Knight battlesuit.
"Those ordinary days… are gone forever…"
She swung her sword, and countless Subspace Lances shattered upon impact. A terrifying explosion shook the entire space.
"But… don't give up. Never give up!"
Himeko leaped high, raising the greatsword in her hands, and descended upon the Herrscher of the Void like a meteor falling from the heavens.
The music shifted, becoming stirring and passionate.
The Herrscher of the Void's expression gradually twisted. She focused all her power into a single point, a black drill seeming to pierce the sky, colliding with the fiery meteor.
Immense power erupted!
Under this impact, Himeko briefly lost consciousness.
Her pupils turned white, and images of familiar faces flashed through her mind, finally settling on Kiana's innocent smile as she called out, "Auntie Himeko."
The tears of the viewers in the livestream chat could no longer be held back.
At this moment, Himeko, to protect all of this, was burning her life, cleaving through the darkness.
"Keep moving forward. Go and turn this imperfect story into the one you wish for."
The flames descended.
Everything around was illuminated by the scorching light.
Until the entire space returned to silence once more.
Himeko injected the serum into Kiana's body. Her own body slid into the abyss, only a soft whisper lingering by Kiana's ear, "Live on, Kiana."
"This is… the last… lesson."
The final notes of the music trailed off, as if bidding farewell to Himeko.
In the dead silence of the livestream chat, the CG ended.
A long, long, long time passed.
[I…]
[miHoYo, I fing swear! I'll fing kill you!]
[So sweet! It's so sweet it's killing me! Let me go, I'm not crazy, really I'm not!]
[It's knives! Knives that pierce my very heart! miHoYo, I am irreconcilably against you!! I'll f***ing…!]
[I get it now, I finally get it. No wonder Himeko's presence in the main story has been so strong lately. It was all for this moment, her final moment! (Vomits blood) (Vomits blood)]
"Airi, are you okay?"
Eden, who had stood behind Elysia and silently watched "The Last Lesson" with her, asked softly.
"..."
"Eden?"
Elysia looked at Eden, who was leaning down and resting her head on Elysia's shoulder. "Of course, I'm fine."
She looked at the CG that had finished playing on the computer screen.
"Although…"
She fell silent for a moment.
"At least, Himeko herself definitely doesn't regret it. She did what she wanted to do, and she succeeded."
"She was a good teacher."
"However…"
Elysia suddenly placed her hands on the keyboard.
She contacted Mei through the chat software.
And made a small request.
Mei quickly sent Elysia what she wanted.
The lyrics to "Nightglow."
"Eden, could I trouble you to send Miss Himeko off with me?"
"...Mm."
Eden agreed earnestly, taking Elysia's hand.
Mei started playing the instrumental track.
"On the path, red roses burn my eyes
Cold rain pours, I am here only for a call
Never giving up on you, is the reason I do all this
At least this time, live in your own way
The love I have for you is what I cherish most
So please be brave, and live on
..."
Elysia and Eden's deeply moving voices filled the livestream chat.
After a moment, Mei was the first to softly hum along.
Gradually, the viewers also began to murmur the tune to themselves.
Before everyone's eyes, the fiery red figure seemed to appear once more.
"I hope to awaken from a long-held dream
Soon the long night will come, I wish to become the final light
...
The love I have for you is what I cherish most
So please bravely live on
..."