MGSFV?! Chapter 559. Inheriting the Past, Crossing the Present, Toward the Future
If it really is as some in the livestream chat analyzed...
Then it can only be said that, through the baton-passing efforts of two civilizations, all Herrscher powers have been gathered into one vessel. Still able to maintain rationality, with no side effects whatsoever.
Truly, a perfect template of existence.
And it came knocking on the door all on its own.
The Cocoon has been AFK for who knows how many billions of years, and it turns out it wasn't in vain.
Standing from the Cocoon's perspective, or perhaps that of the civilization behind it, it probably always believed it would succeed?
After all, as long as there's a possibility, and the wait is long enough, then one day, possibility becomes reality.
Like how the mere existence of fire ensures that some creature will eventually try to use it.
It might be a human. It might be something else.
To the Cocoon, it probably just dropped a clump of "fire" into civilization. Only, this fire burns fiercer than nuclear fission.
Often destructive to the point of cataclysm.
But now, putting everything else aside, a fire-seeker has finally appeared before it. Shouldn't it... lend a hand?
It's been slacking off for billions of years.
Surely it has at least some KPIs?
This kind of layabout job... is almost enviable—ahem—can't it show a little initiative?
"..."
In the story, Kiana, now isolated, scans the mist-filled surroundings.
She can't even tell which direction is which.
Clearly, there's zero initiative. As long as it can continue slacking, it will.
Even if it means missing this chance and having to wait billions of years for another one, don't expect it to lift a finger.
"..."
The Cocoon's apathy may mean nothing to it—it has all the time in the world. One failure doesn't matter; there's always the next miracle.
But for Kiana, for Kevin, for the current civilization, for the Previous Era... the situation is drastically different.
They have to seize this chance.
Fortunately, Kiana didn't set out in a rush right after obtaining the coordinates.
Before departing, they did everything they could to prepare—boosting their ability to respond to unforeseen risks.
"The Herrscher of Sentience? What's going on?"
Now, the preparations they made are coming in handy.
She and the others are still connected.
Though it seems like she's alone in some unknown danger, in truth, she's not fighting alone.
"No idea," the Herrscher of Sentience quickly replied, and asked, "Can you still see Mei and Bronya?"
"I... I can't see anyone. Can you still contact them?"
"Phew... Don't move. Close your eyes."
As the Herrscher of Sentience finished speaking, Mei and Bronya's voices entered Kiana's mind.
At a crucial moment, the great Herrscher of Sentience never fails to deliver.
With her help, they all gathered in Kiana's consciousness for an emergency meeting.
Everyone openly shared their thoughts.
Finally, after Mei's round of rousing provocation—ahem, sincere encouragement—
The Herrscher of Sentience, deeply moved by righteousness, took on all the tasks of eliminating interference, allowing Mei and Bronya to focus on supporting Kiana.
Anyway, any enemies who dare appear now are all small fry, every single one of them.
Like she'd be scared??
...
[Small fry. All of them.]
[Thanks to the great Herrscher of Sentience ()]
[The Herrscher of Sentience really bites when you toss her a hook.]
"What's going to happen next?"
Though it's always the same outcome every time, she still couldn't help asking again.
"All good things."
Such a "serious" answer.
"..."
Still, it felt oddly suspicious.
Based on past experience, it's probably the truth—but who knows what else is being hidden.
...Whatever. Let's keep watching.
Back to the story.
With Mei and Bronya's assistance—
Kiana finally dispelled the mist before her and reaffirmed her path.
However...
Why are there...
Weird things on the path!!?
Just as the players were excited that it was finally their turn to take action and help Kiana escape this strange place—
They saw a peculiarly shaped mini-TV not far ahead.
This thing... looks awfully familiar.
Could it be...
Maybe it's just a regular TV... yeah, even they couldn't believe that.
So then...
Bzzzt~~ Bzzzt~~
As if responding to their suspicions, the screen began to flicker like static.
Of course. The Herrscher of Corruption.
A sudden ambush right at the start.
Kiana's reaction, however, wasn't as dramatic as the players'.
She quietly picked up the Herrscher of Corruption's power.
"...Hiss..."
Compared to before, this direct connection brought greater pressure.
But still...
"This is the opportunity everyone worked so hard to create for me."
"And it's not just this time—"
"Since more than ten years ago, since I met Dad and the others—I've been on this path."
[...]*N
[Don't say it like that, as if you were born to be the Finality... Your life is your own, Bug.]
[Maybe Kiana was always destined for this path, since one's personality is their fate.]
[But I believe this journey had meaning. By now, Kiana isn't someone destined to become anything. She's someone who chooses what she wants to become—to reshape this broken world into something she believes in.]
[...You all make good points, but now you're being serious? I'm not used to it.]
When it's time to be serious, you have to be serious.
Can't go blurting out, "Cyber grave-sweeping" at a time like this, right?
That would be completely missing the mood...
[Not every moment is a joke moment. Learn to read the room. (serious.jpg)]
[Wait—you guys actually can read the room? (doge)]
[Of course we can! (Academy Head Theresa chest puff.jpg)]
...
In the story.
Kiana continued down the path that led to who knows where.
As she walked, a soft white light appeared ahead.
She squinted slightly.
But her eyes didn't leave it.
After all, she didn't know what lay ahead, or what danger awaited.
She couldn't let her guard down.
With caution in her heart, she stepped into the light.
But when she emerged on the other side...
The wind stirred fields of anemones.
A little pinwheel spun quietly.
"This is..."
The battlefield of their first Herrscher encounter...
Wendy, was it...
Kiana thought of that girl. Of the battle here. Of the tragedy.
She paused, then resolutely walked toward the pinwheel.
No matter what came next, she would face it head-on.
Whoosh~
Only the gentle wind brushed her hair and cheeks as she moved.
Even as she reached the pinwheel, the wind merely circled her again and again.
Unlike the storm of emotion she expected—there was none.
The gentle wind had already given everyone the answer.
[Wen Lü Bu. So gentle.]
[The Herrscher with the highest value just got even more valuable.]
[Wen Lü Bu??]
[What? You don't know?]
Someone immediately started tapping their keyboard like a pinwheel spinning.
[That "Emperor Wen"—fought Origin, Truth, and Finality solo. Unmatched in valor. Lü Bu among Herrschers!]
[...You sure know how to talk. () But weren't y'all the ones who said you can read the room?]
[And the mood right now is lighthearted! It's a good thing. Let's say nice things to make people happy.]
...
After receiving Wendy's "answer,"
Kiana gently picked up the pinwheel.
Her shoulders dipped slightly from the weight, and her steps became firmer.
She walked on.
Because the wind had stopped. The anemones no longer swayed.
They simply bloomed silently.
Watching as the being named Kiana Kaslana walked away.
Only after she left—
Did they quiver once more, almost imperceptibly.
The gentle wind had already given everyone the answer.
Kiana arrived at the next scene.
Familiar, yet different.
More flowers, but still in bud.
[White flowers?]
[Probably a lily variety.]
[Let's call it Cecilia's flower (headcanon)]
[Cecilia's flower? I like that.]
Aside from the flowers not yet in bloom—
A metallic cube floated in front of her.
At the sight of it—
Kiana, reminded of the Herrscher it represented, briefly spaced out.
Some players, though, began to ponder.
Could these scenes represent the Herrscher powers paving the way for Kiana toward the Cocoon of Finality?
In other words, the journey wouldn't have been so smooth—but thanks to their voluntary help...
Herrscher of Wind is plausible. But Corruption helping voluntarily?
Feels off...
Unless Corruption sees Kiana as a possible answer to its question?
Like: what kind of thing deserves to exist forever—and can?
As for the Herrscher of the Void—
Setting aside that her power is now under Kiana's control.
Even if the Queen is lending help... players wouldn't be surprised.
Because the Queen... well, if you know, you know.
"Though I couldn't persuade you... back then, you let me walk the path I chose."
See?
Letting Kiana walk her chosen path?
The Queen's words definitely carry that flavor.
"You only acknowledge the outcome. Though I think that's not everything... the outcome does matter."
As Kiana spoke softly, she walked closer.
She stopped in front of the metallic cube, staring at it quietly.
Time passed.
Kiana stood unmoving. The cube seemed to shimmer with a cold light.
The mood suddenly became delicate.
It shouldn't happen, but maybe there is a chance for Kiana and the Queen to "clash" again.
And by "clash," of course we mean fight...
"Ich liebe dich..."
Then, Kiana whispered a familiar line in German, breaking the tension in an instant.
"..."
Why say that now? That's cheating!!
Don't pull this kind of stunt...
It's hard to handle.
Not just players—Void's reaction was instant. The cube vanished on the spot, clearing the way.
Though... probably willingly.
The proof?
Those Cecilia flowers, still in bud—
All bloomed in full.
"Flowers... really are fragrant..."
...
Kiana walked onward again.
The upcoming Herrscher powers weren't unexpected:
Thunder, Reason, Rimestar, Sentience...
Each had clear reasons to support her.
Chen Tianwu and Ana, as parallels to Kiana and Mei, choosing to help? Totally reasonable.
But the next one—that was the big one.
[That's a lot of Herrschers already. Is the big one coming next?]
["That one"? You're being too polite. I'm gonna hit you ()]
[What? We're almost home. You're not happy?]
[Happy enough to want to tear down the house.]
[Will it cause trouble? Honestly, only it wouldn't let Bug go so easily.]
["Despair won't disappear. We won't disappear."]
A certain Herrscher's classic line returned.
To that—
Most people had a simple response.
[Doesn't matter. Just beat it again.]
Times have changed. No one knows how many times they've blown it up (according to Hokuto's rough estimate, it surpassed 1 billion ages ago). They know its patterns by heart.
Forget Flamescion. Even White Comet could solo it now.
Hmph.
If it dares appear, they'll teach it what it means to be a Herrscher!
With fists ready, Kiana left Mount Taixu and entered the next scene.
But then—
The game started playing a cutscene.
Hmm?
If it's a cutscene... no boss fight?
Is Dominance supporting Kiana this time...?
Sounds... weird.
Seeing Kiana walk into the Theater of Domination, surrounded by thousands of threads blocking her path—felt about right.
Only Dominance would never let Kiana go easily.
But then, in that very moment—
Flames like that of Flamescion ignited on Kiana.
They resonated with a massive greatsword inside the Theater.
Yes, Himeko's...
And just like that, the Theater that once brimmed with malice fell silent under Flamescion's might.
[Himeko-neesan.]
[miHoYo, what are you doing with this scene??]
[I suddenly can't keep it together.]
"..."
They had forgotten about the Flame.
Teacher Himeko was still protecting Kiana, sweeping away a thorn on her path.
So—
In the Theater where danger seemed inevitable, Kiana walked safely through.
Let the flame left by those who came before guide her final steps.
This is the meaning of inheritance.
Kiana~~
A voice, like an illusion, echoed in her ears.
The players' expressions turned to "pain."
But they were no longer the fragile newcomers of old. The tears wouldn't fall so easily now.
Besides, this was only an illusion—not truly her voice.
Hold it in!
Clenching their lips, they watched as Kiana reached the greatsword of Godsbane.
Would she say something?
Or, like they agreed back then, press forward without hesitation?
Clang~~
What Kiana did was raise her hand—and place her own Flamescion upon it with unwavering resolve.
Don't worry. Kiana is no longer the child who chased after light.
She can now become someone else's flame.
She will forge the path forward.
To illuminate everything she loves.
...
Leaving the Theater of Domination.
Kiana entered a grand cathedral.
Countless statues of saintly women stood tall, and only one statue of Otto knelt humbly below, in pious reverence.
There was once a man who committed the most selfish of acts, but also left behind a weighty gift for the world.
[I left Otto a bottle of wine too. Pretty heavy.]
[Don't joke now...]
The chat was cut off—
As Otto's statue turned into a glowing paper airplane, flying toward Kallen's statue.
The silent statue became a childhood toy, glowing as it soared past his saint, returning to his origin.
If memory serves—this is the final scene of Thus Spoke Apocalypse.
He chased Kallen's light, and used his strength to reshape the world into what he wished—to change the worldline, to save Kallen, and to go from a shadow into the light that shined for her.
That boy, who had always been there in his centuries-old shell—chasing a little paper airplane.
[It! Hurts!]
[...Damn you. Can't even stay dead in peace.]
With heartfelt "complaints" left behind—
Kiana followed her heart and kept walking.
At last, she was near the end of this long and complicated path.
She arrived at the Land of Origin.
Facing her true self, she gave her answer to "love" among the falling pink blossoms.
That flame that once illuminated her—
Would now become the light to guide those who follow.
Pass the torch.
"Ahaha~♪"
And so—
A newly reborn bird took flight, embracing the radiant light led by Origin.
Beneath Origin's guidance were thirteen Herrscher Cores.
The stars Kiana no longer missed.
They would open the final road toward the Cocoon of Finality.
"Are you ready, Kiana?"
[Are you ready, Kiana?]*N
Voices from all over, together.
"What's next is truly the end."
"Inheriting the past, crossing the present, and toward..."
"The future."
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