【I'm sorry, Dr. Mo Zhi, you might not remember me.】
【But I remember you, and I know what kind of person you are.】
【One day, you will have to face this cruel land together with Amiya.】
【So, protect her well, Doctor.】
【Go.】
【May your path ahead be smooth.】
Ace's monologue completely shattered the audience.
‘Big Brother!’
‘Is Ace... entrusting his child to someone before his death?’
‘No, I just passed by and the audience is stabbing me?’
‘Confirmed, "Ark of Knives"!’
‘They’re already revealing their true intentions in the test server, aren't they?’
.......
The audience's comments were all over the place, clearly caught off guard by the emotional blow.
Mo Zhi had it even worse. She was deep in the boss battle of 1-8, repeatedly being broken through by the Executioner and having them invade her own fortress.
She hated it!
She hated how useless she was at such a critical moment.
Unable to even deal with the Executioner.
Even if she were given a chance, would she be a match for Talulah?
If she couldn't handle it in the three-dimensional world, what about in the two-dimensional game?
She would probably still be protected by Amiya, Nearl, Ace, and others.
“Damn it!!”
She just wanted to push forward quickly and find out the ending.
Mo Zhi, like Amiya, still held a sliver of hope.
“Screw it, a two-star is fine!”
Pushing through to 1-10, with Ace's cover and the influence of the Cataclysm.
Rhodes Island had finally broken through the Reunion's encirclement.
However,
Information about Ace and the others was still unclear to everyone for the time being.
“Ngh...”
Amiya slowly woke up, “Dr. Mo Zhi...? What happened...”
“Please, please put me... put me down...”
The scene of a masked Doctor carrying a delicate little rabbit was automatically conjured in her mind.
Mo Zhi's sadness was somewhat dispelled.
“Yes, it’s okay, I can walk myself...”
Amiya: “I just lost consciousness for a moment... I'm fine.”
“Did we... escape?”
“Ace and the others.”
【......】
“Is that so.”
Amiya feigned strength, constantly comforting herself, “It’s okay, if it’s Ace, he’ll definitely be fine.”
“Everyone at Rhodes Island is very strong.”
“As long as we withdraw from Chernobog, we will...”
“We... will...”
“......”
*Pat, pat!*
The little rabbit was clearly not as strong as she appeared.
Tears the size of beans continuously rolled down from the corners of her eyes, “Doctor... can... can I lean on you for a bit...”
“Just for a moment... just for a moment...”
‘......’
The physical and psychological pressure made her unable to support her own weight any longer, and she leaned into the Doctor's embrace.
At this moment.
Mo Zhi seemed to feel a weary yet strong soul.
The Amiya before her seemed not like a virtual character created by code, but a flesh-and-blood, fragile, and heartbroken little girl.
‘Wuwuwu... little bunny...’
‘I’ll never tease you again, little rabbit.’
‘Why do I feel like I’m raising a daughter, even though I’m only eighteen.’
‘Wow, I didn’t want to play mobile games, but old thief, how do you know how to capture my heart so well!!’
‘Damn it, I really can’t wait any longer, hurry up and release the official server!!!’
......
Poor bunny,
Which tough guy could resist such a test?
She originally just wanted to try the test version for fun, but the more she watched, the more she craved it, and the expectation in her heart grew stronger.
In the game, the scene shifted to Talulah.
“Troublesome.”
This was Talulah's assessment of Ace.
Mephisto: “......”
“To think... he could do this... this guy...”
He looked at everything before him in disbelief, “Half a block burned to charcoal, the entire square engulfed in flames... steel melted and re-solidified...”
“But why... can he still fight?”
??? (White Rabbit): “Fight until not even bones remain—remarkable.”
Talulah: “I’ve noted it.”
“Rhodes Island.”
Ace, a man even enemies admired!
.......
This scene was from a god's perspective; only Mo Zhi, as the player, knew about it.
“Damn it!”
On Rhodes Island’s side, Dobermann looked at the unfamiliar face with anger, “We were already at the exit.”
??? : “You think you can leave Chernobog so easily...”
“Someone has to burst your daydream, right?”
Nearl vigilantly watched the item in the newcomer's hand and warned, “Be careful of the explosives in her hand!”
“—Who exactly are you?” Amiya stared at the person before her.
“It's normal for you not to recognize me—” The person before them revealed their appearance, holding a gun in their left hand and manipulating electricity with their right, their crimson eyes looking very unapproachable.
The red-eyed woman said, “I recognize the person next to you.”
“Do you intend to keep fighting?”
“Ah, ah, don’t be like that.” The woman waved her hand, “I don’t get along with that dragon girl Talulah, and besides, I’m not specifically assigned to guard the gate. It’s tiring to rush over after finishing my own work.”
“Let’s exchange names to build rapport.”
“You can call me—W.”
W: “I've been waiting here for a long time to see the person next to you.”
“Dr. Mo Zhi... there are some questions I want to ask Mo Zhi, can you... give him directly to me?”
*Creak!*
Amiya's aura instantly condensed, and her hostility was not concealed at all.
Everyone watched W warily.
“Don't rush, I have some information you might be interested in,” W said, “I just encountered quite a few guys with sharp skills, dressed similarly to you all.”
“Even with disguises, they couldn't fool my discerning eye.”
“Reconnaissance squad members?” Amiya exclaimed, “That’s great, they’re safe—”
“Little bunny, you’re their organizer, aren’t you?” W interrupted the bunny’s words, “I’m really curious, what kind of charm do you possess... that makes them willing to die for you for no value?”
“!?”
Amiya: “What... what are you trying to say?”
“Not a single one of them can go back with you,” W said, “Are you... are you truly worthy of someone's sacrifice?”
“......”
【What is the purpose of your actions?】
【Don't mind him...】
【Amiya...】
Mo Zhi chose to respond with indignant questioning.
“It’s not your turn yet,” W looked at Amiya, “Are you angry?”
“You shouldn’t say that.”
“That’s right.” W's infuriating demeanor continuously tested Amiya's limits.
“W of Reunion, you shouldn’t say such things!”
Amiya said firmly, “Every life has value... that's not something you can tarnish!”
“Doctor!!”
【Rhodes Island, prepare for battle!】
Mo Zhi didn't waste any more words. She wouldn't let anyone who tarnished Big Brother Ace off easily!
“Heh heh...”
Another boss battle, with the help of e/
“......” Amiya: “I'll... escort the rear operators.”
“Amiya...”
“I’m fine.” Amiya managed a smile to encourage everyone.
“Go ahead, Amiya.”
The conversation ended.
The screen flickered, accompanied by solemn BGM. When the black and white image appeared.
Mo Zhi's heart skipped a beat.
A strong sense of foreboding washed over her. She and Amiya still held a sliver of hope.
The hope that Big Brother Ace could still break through.
But when the black and white perspective appeared, all expectations became meaningless.
The reason Big Brother Ace didn’t appear in the gacha pool also seemed to be explained.
Guard Operator: “......”
“............Boss...?”
“Where are the others...?”
Ace: “Nearl, Dobermann, and the others have already broken through the blockade with Amiya and Dr. Mo Zhi.”
“As for the squad members who stayed behind to cover...”
The man tilted his head, blinked his eyes, and said sadly, “...all died.”
“What...” The surviving Guard Operator clearly couldn't accept this reality.
“You and I are the last two survivors.”
“I remember... that... that monster Talulah... just by herself...”
The Guard Operator recalled the scene, his voice trembling slightly, “The guards were scattered like pieces in an instant... that monster crushed the Heavyweight Operators like squishing butter...”
“Don't speak, you're badly injured,” Ace advised.
“Cataclysm...! She is the embodiment of the Cataclysm... otherwise, how could the firepower team have been incinerated into ashes in an instant...” The Guard Operator's emotions were stirred.
“Even though I witnessed her magic, I still... I can’t believe it... I... wuwuwu...”
“Say less!” Ace reprimanded.
“I’m sorry... I can’t...”
“Calm down.” Ace gently comforted him, “I’ve given you emergency treatment.”
At this moment,
The Guard Operator finally noticed Ace’s empty left arm. He trembled, his eyes filled with uncertainty, “Boss... your hand...?”
“At least I still have one hand that works.” Ace, a true man, could still joke about himself at a time like this.
“Boss, let’s escape. With you, you can definitely break out.”
“We only delayed that monster for a few minutes.” Ace lit a cigarette and said calmly, “Until Dr. Mo Zhi and Amiya are safe, I cannot leave.”
“I need to stop that monster first.”
“Boss... I also...” the Guard tried to go with him, but Ace interrupted him, “Your life was exchanged for by me losing a hand. Even if you can only live for another minute, I hope this hand is at least worth a minute.”
“Sob... sob sob cries!”
At this moment, Mo Zhi could no longer hold back. Her nose felt as if it were stuffed with a water-soaked sponge, and no matter how much she sobbed, she couldn't breathe properly.
“I’ll be back soon, take care of yourself.” Ace, with his severed arm, his back cast an immense, majestic shadow in the light.
Full of a sense of security.
“Boss... I’m really letting you down.” Looking at that retreating figure, the Guard murmured softly, “Amiya and Doctor, you can definitely realize... everyone's wishes...”
Amiya: “......”
??? : “They... I... wuwu...”
Amiya: “......”
??? : “.........Amiya?”
??? : “.........Amiya?”
“Huh?”
The screen flashed back, gradually gaining color, and Amiya’s thoughts returned to reality.
Medical Operator: “What’s wrong with you...?”
“......No, it’s nothing, I just suddenly felt a bit...” Amiya's gaze drifted into the distance.
“......unwell.”
“Mmm... yes...” The Medical Operator didn't know how to comfort her, “Unwell... huh... wuwu...”
“......Don’t cry.” Amiya held back her tears, “At least for now... just endure it.”
“Someone told me this before...”
“Save your tears until after the war.”
“Not now...”
“Let’s go...”
“......Let’s go home.”
【Chapter 1 - The Dark Age (End)】
“Wuwawa!!”
Mo Zhi completely broke down and burst into tears.
She couldn't be as strong as Amiya. At this moment, she not only grieved for the sacrifice of Big Brother Ace and his squad.
She also felt heartache and sadness for the strong-hearted little bunny, Amiya, who appeared so frail.
Amiya possessed a kind of mind-reading ability, allowing her to see events that occurred in a certain past period.
The black and white scene just now was actually Amiya's perspective.
This poor child saw everything and shouldered it all herself.
If the player wasn't viewing this with a god-like, fourth-wall-breaking perspective, no one would know the immense grief this kind rabbit had experienced internally.
“Amiya... wuwuwu... cries... how can she be so sensible, so strong.” Mo Zhi, with a runny nose and tears streaming down her face, sobbed uncontrollably.
“So strong it's heartbreaking.”
“Wuwuwu... my heart is so heavy, I feel so bad, cries cries cries...”
“All of us Doctors owe Big Brother Ace our lives!”
“We stepped on the corpses of our brothers to pave our way to this island. I will remember them and uphold their will to help Amiya develop Rhodes Island!”
At this moment, the audience neither mocked Mo Zhi for being overly dramatic nor made sarcastic remarks about her breaking down.
Everyone admired her for bravely facing her inner feelings and openly releasing her emotions to the camera.
‘This life was given by Big Brother, let’s bow three times first, *bang bang bang*!!’
‘True man Ace (crying hysterically) (crying hysterically)’
‘Ace is a true man, but Talulah and W are still waifus.’
‘Good heavens, you want them all, don’t you?’
‘Just because Talulah killed Ace, I won’t betray them, my life as dr. was exchanged for by Uncle Ace!!’
‘Damn it, a villain character made so charming, making me love and hate them, and writing Big Brother so heroically, is the old thief tormenting us?’
.......
PS: Unknowingly wrote 4700 words, won't break it into paragraphs. Today I got a little tough, here are 8000 words.