Huaizhu: "A struggle for dominion? That's a bit beyond me, so I'll stay out of it!"
Raiden: "Makes sense now. No wonder you're so cautious."
Athena: "Trying to kill a god and facing divine retribution... that's expected. But your world sounds incredible. The Lands Between, was it? A place where gods actually compete for power—that's no ordinary realm."
Seitenshi: "Yeah, but if gods are so powerful, why would they even want to rule over a bunch of mortals?"
Artemis: "Right? In my world, the gods don't even clean up after themselves, let alone rule over people."
Next to Yuki, Saeko gave a small nod. She, too, didn't fully understand. But she knew exactly who to ask.
She turned to Yuki with a soft smile. "I'm guessing you already know the answer, don't you?"
Since the livestream was still running, Yuki simply answered aloud.
"It's probably because of the Elden Ring."
That quiet statement drew everyone's attention. He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing.
Marika, still watching through the chat interface, found herself distracted by the sight of Yuki—his poise, the clarity of his voice, and the weight of knowledge in his gaze. There was a strange, radiant grace to him—neither divine nor mortal, but something balanced perfectly in-between.
She quickly shook the thought off and focused on his explanation.
Eternal Queen: "You're saying... the gods are all fighting over the Lands Between because of the Elden Ring?"
Rin Yuki: "Exactly."
Yuki nodded as he typed.
"The Elden Ring wasn't made by the Greater Will. It's older than that. Much older. It existed back during the age of the dragons."
He looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing.
"The best proof? The symbol of the Elden Ring is carved into the ruins of Farum Azula, the floating city of the ancient dragons. That means the Ring predates the Greater Will's arrival."
"In the age of Placidusax, the Dragonlord, the Ring already existed—though in a different form."
Raiden: "So the Elden Ring came before the gods?"
Rin Yuki: "Yes. The Ring is... fundamental. It's not just a symbol or a relic. It's the source of order in the Lands Between."
"In the age of the dragons, the Ring's shape was more organic—like roots, branching and curving naturally. But under the Greater Will, it became strict, segmented, and geometric."
Athena: "So the Ring changes based on who controls it?"
Rin Yuki: "Exactly. Its shape reflects the order of the ruling god."
Marika's golden eyes narrowed slightly. Everything he was saying made sense. Even though he was an outsider, he seemed to understand her world almost better than she did.
Rin Yuki: "The Elden Ring isn't just a throne, it's a system of control. Whoever becomes Elden Lord doesn't just rule the land—they rule order itself. Through that order, they influence the people. And through the people, their god receives strength."
Artemis: "Ahhh, I get it! The gods want faith and power. So they get someone else to rule and feed that power back to them!"
Saeko: "Like priests or missionaries."
Athena: "Divine politics through mortal proxies. A clever, if manipulative, system."
Seitenshi: "So... Marika-san?"
Eternal Queen: "You may call me that."
Seitenshi: "Thanks! So Marika-san, it sounds like you're stuck in a pretty tight spot."
Raiden: "The Greater Will wants something from you. What are you gonna do?"
Artemis: "Maybe you should just say yes. Better than being punished."
Huaizhu: "But she has a grudge against the Greater Will, right? What if it's a trap?"
Saeko: "...That wouldn't be surprising."
Marika remained silent as she glanced toward the trembling Two Fingers nearby. They had begun twitching—erratic, violent. The Finger Reader, sweating and clearly nervous, took a step forward.
"Queen Marika," she said softly but urgently, "what is your answer?"
Her voice trembled. "The Fingers grow impatient. Divine will does not wait."
Marika's sharp eyes narrowed. She looked calm, but her mind was racing.
They're forcing my hand.
After only a heartbeat of silence, she spoke clearly:
"I will agree to cooperate... but I require assistance."
The Finger Reader gasped in relief, visibly relaxing.
"That won't be a problem! The Greater Will has already arranged aid for you!"
But before leaving, the old woman hesitated. Then, in a much quieter voice, she added:
"However... Queen Marika, remember this."
"You are not the only one chosen."
"Others... have also been called."
"Conflict is inevitable."
With that ominous final message, the Finger Reader bowed and departed alongside the Two Fingers, leaving Marika in the golden light of the Erdtree, her mind uneasy.
So I'm not the only piece on the board…
She opened the chat and typed.
Eternal Queen: "The Greater Will accepted my response. But they made it clear—I'm not the only candidate for Elden Lord. There will be... conflict."
The others read her message in silence.
Seitenshi: "Be careful, Marika-san."
Huaizhu: "Please don't trust them too easily."
Raiden: "If they made others the same offer... that means someone's going to come after you."
Marika stared at the screen. Their concern wasn't strategic or political—it felt real.
Genuine.
She didn't expect that.
After all she'd done, after the cold, brutal choices she'd made in her world… their concern struck something inside her. Something quiet. Something long-buried.
Meanwhile, in Yuki's World…
The stream ended. Yuki returned to his room in the Date A Live universe, shutting down the last of the magical feeds.
Before he could even breathe, a blur of silver and warmth tackled him.
"Yue! You're back!"
Mio, dressed in cozy loungewear—a loose white hoodie and short black shorts—latched onto him, rubbing her cheek against his with childlike affection. She didn't even hesitate before planting a soft kiss on his face.
Yuki smiled, brushing her silver hair behind one ear.
"I'm home. Did you behave while I was gone?"
"I did!" Mio beamed. She hopped over to his desk and held out a book like a trophy.
"Look! I finished this all by myself!"
It was Romeo and Juliet. The edges were a little bent—probably from her flipping through it too fast.
"I think... Yue is my Romeo!"
Yuki blinked.
"…He dies, you know."
Mio froze, wide-eyed. "Huh?!"
Yuki crossed his arms, teasing. "Their love story ends with a misunderstanding, poison, and death. Are you saying you want us to go out like that?"
"Wh-what?! NO!"
Panic overtook her. She jumped up, clutching the book with trembling hands.
"Wait—then I'll just tear this stupid book up!"
Then she paused.
"No… that's not enough…"
A dangerous spark lit up in her golden eyes.
"I'll find whoever wrote this... and ERASE him!"
"Let's go kill this 'Shakespeare' guy!"
Yuki almost choked laughing, barely grabbing her wrist before the pure spirit could warp time-space and go after a man dead for over four hundred years.
"Whoa there. It's fiction, Mio. Just a story. You don't have to take it literally."
He gave her a small smirk. "Besides… what kind of tragedy could possibly stop me?"
Mio paused, then smiled brightly.
"...You're right."
She nodded with the serenity of someone who'd just decided no universe could deny her happiness.