The battle rages on the chaotic stage. Adael continues dodging every attack with effortless grace.
Cultivator harem member N.20:
“I’ve got you!!! Chun Bu will finally recognize my worth!!!”
Adael parries her magical attack with her translucent shield, deflecting the commercial directly toward harem member N.7.
Harem member N.7:
“Why is this happening?! Ohhh—dragon vein cookies, my favorite's!!!”
She is immediately incapacitated by friendly fire.
Adael slashes harem member N.20.
The sword penetrates her diagonally, passing straight through her body not causing any physical damage. The girl begins to twitch; her face warps into something euphoric. She slobbers, her knees buckle and she collapses to the ground in a disgraceful manner.
Chun Bu:
“Xu Xin Bang!!!”
A girl responds:
“Yes!!! What do you need?!”
Chun Bu, confused:
“Oh—right… I need you to protect Xian Xu. Will you do that for me?”
She screams:
“With my life!!!”
The dramatic moment is instantly ruined by Chun Bu's lack of basic memory.
Chun Bu:
“What have you done to her?!”
Adael replies calmly:
“I’ve given her exactly what she wanted. This sword is a special relic of the Angelic Sephirot.”
A traitorous angel explains:
“Her sword can generate any targeted advertisement the victim desires. A single slash can be lethal to any combatant.”
At those words, many harem members gulp in excitement.
Such a wonderful item…
Chun Bu grows nervous.
How am I supposed to win against this bullshit?
The system speaks:
“The key is Xian Xu. You need to win her over now!!!”
Chun Bu looks at Xian Xu—but her gaze is icy.
That path forward is impossible…
Suddenly, Adael begins emitting overwhelming energy.
Chun Bu:
“How can you be generating this much power?!”
The traitorous angel smacks her own arms in realization:
“She’s using the backup singers!!!”
Chun Bu:
“Backup singers?! Where are they?!”
The angel shrugs:
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
“I don’t know where they are. We’re the main cast. Who cares about the measly backups?”
(Truly flawless logic befitting of a commercialized hellscape...)
Adael raises her voice:
“Now everyone—witness your own glimpse's of paradise!!!”
Time slows to a crawl.
Everyone except Xian Xu and Chun Bu are unable to react to the attack.
Adael moves casually, one by one, slashing through harem members and traitors without hesitation or remorse.
Chun Bu struggles forward:
“Empress, please help me!!!”
The Empress responds:
“Only if you marry me Chun Bu. That is the only way you can win.”
Chun Bu:
“No!!! There has to be another way!”
The Empress, annoyed:
“Fine. This Empress shall marry you regardless. Your opinion doesn’t matter to the will of the great Dao!!!”
Chun Bu receives another unearned power-up. He can now move freely within the time distortion.
Just as Adael is about to strike Xian Xu, Chun Bu parries her blessed blade.
Adael, surprised:
“Control over time…?”
She studies him.
“No… you’re just faster now. Faster than the displacement parameters.”
Adael and Chun Bu engage in a fierce sword duel.
Xian Xu watches, seething with icy jealousy.
She should be the one having fun, not an unwanted interloper!!!
Valiant:
“There’s something that is deeply concerning me Hajime.”
Hajime:
“Concerning? Getting cursed by buffering isn’t enough for you?”
Valiant:
“It’s not that. It’s the way you lie to yourself.”
Hajime:
“Yes, I do lie to myself everyday. I won’t deny that part of me.”
Valiant:
“You know lying is wrong at a fundamental level. Why don’t you stop and be honest for a change?”
Hajime:
“It’s not about honesty or lies, Val. It’s about preserving happiness for the people you care about.”
Valiant:
“I don’t understand…”
Hajime:
“Have you ever lied to me?”
Valiant goes silent.
“……”
Hajime:
“Val?”
Valiant:
“No—just buffering. Why?”
Hajime:
“We all have our reasons to fear the truth and protect people from it.”
Valiant:
“Why do you fear the truth?”
Hajime:
“Truth is the essence of reality. I don't fear it but I do fear others breaking down from it.”
Valiant:
“Then do you prefer living a fantasy?”
Hajime:
“No. I like seeing things for what they truly are—but this isn’t the world I lived in.”
Valiant:
“…Are you saying the reason you aren’t honest is because of how your world is?”
Hajime:
“Exactly. My original world is a lie.”
Valiant:
“That’s a rather bleak thing to say about a place you want to return to, you willingly want to return to a world full of lies?”
Hajime:
“Yes—but you’re forgetting something.”
Valiant:
“What is it Hajime-kun?”
Hajime:
“My life, my family—everything that made me who I am—is there. I can’t abandon that part of myself. That sinful world owns me as much as I own it.”
Valiant:
“If returning isn’t possible… what would happen to you?”
Hajime:
“That’s a problem for future me. I’m pretty sure I can go home someday.”
Valiant:
“Don’t procrastinate on important matters!!!”
Hajime pets Zeus gently.
Whalescalibur:
“I… Hajime, just watch a few counseling ads for homesick heroes. I’m sure they will help.”
Hajime, to Zeus:
“You’re the only one who understands me.”
Whalescalibur, cheerfully:
“I knew it!!!”
New ads swarm Hajime’s face.
Valiant thinks, swallowing her words:
“No… this isn’t who he truly is. Only when he is whole can a real decision be made.”
Demonic groupie:
“Goshhhh, Alphonso-sama!!! This venue is perfect for you!!!”
Another groupie:
“Jeez!!! These humans are going to get sooo blown away—this is gonna be craaaazy!!!”
Alphonso-sama:
“Don’t worry, my sweets. We’re almost ready to turn this venue on its head.”
He watches an orb displaying the hero.
“I don’t know how you resist my charms… but remember this, hero—I’m the number four Demonkin mega-idol for a reason.”
He begins to dance.
His movements are precise and flamboyant. With every step, magical advertisements engrave glowing symbols into the ground.
This marks the beginning of the grand ritual of Project Stardoom.
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