MGSFV?! Chapter 530: Cyber-Gardening; Big-Bi-Dō
Keyword: Herrscher of Sentience's iconic moment.
Then, add the striking architectural aesthetic of the surroundings—
Anyone should instantly recognize the scene being recreated here.
[Whoa! That's cool!]
[The Herrscher of Sentience at her most villainous.]
[Five-Finger Mountain: Herrscher Edition.]
[Herrscher of Sentience: Taixuan Grasp!!]
Clearly, many had already recognized it—
This was the iconic moment when Kiana and Bronya explored Mount Taixuan, only to be pulled into an illusion by the Herrscher of Sentience—led step by step into her palm.
"Phew~~"
"So it's Little Senti, huh."
Elysia watched the looming shadow for a while. Despite the sheer pressure that radiated from its presence, the moment she realized it was Little Senti, she immediately relaxed.
Her heart felt oddly calm.
Why?
Simply put—she believed that no matter how "scary" Little Sentience looked, she wouldn't be the one to strike first.
Well... except for Otto.
If you wanted a comparison, Elysia's current mood was a lot like—
Seeing Sadako crawl out of a TV screen, only for her to get stuck halfway.
You were definitely spooked at first, but then... it didn't feel so scary anymore. You might even start to feel indifferent.
"..."
"A surprise this big right at the start—I wonder how everyone in the audience is feeling right now?"
[Eyes gleaming.jpg]
One player gave a very honest response.
[I wish I could experience this in person like Miss Fairy.]
[+1 +1 +10086]
[And didn't she say earlier there were lots more scenes like this coming up?]
[You're making me want to go even more—but what if these places aren't open to the public?]
From just this glimpse—
It was clear these iconic scene zones were maxed out on visual detail and spectacle.
Which made players crave the chance to experience them firsthand.
But the issue was...
Would they even be open to the public?
[They really built all this... just for themselves?!]
[So it's only for miHoYo staff to enjoy?]
[Can't say I'd be surprised. Whatever that guy decides always ends up being "reasonable."]
[Got it—time to apply to miHoYo. If I get hired as a chef, I can submit a design request for a new outfit for Pufferfish. Two birds, one stone. ()]
...
"I think..."
Elysia first exchanged a glance with Hokuto, confirming that this was info she could safely share, before slowly saying:
"Mr. 'Otto' must be thrilled to see how eager you all are to join miHoYo..."
"And, I can share some good news—Mr. 'Otto' told me before that, barring any accidents, this venue will open to the public for play in the near future."
[Open?! For us to play?!]
[Now that's what I call good news!!]
[Okay but... when?]
"As for the exact timing, well..."
Elysia spoke frankly. "I'd really like to know that too."
"The specific date—please follow the official website for future announcements."
This came from Hokuto himself—so its accuracy was unquestionable.
He truly couldn't give a firm answer, because even he didn't know how long it would take to fully "quality check" the venue.
Especially after yesterday's... episode. Frankly, he wasn't looking forward to doing more quality checks alone.
He'd need a helper.
But Raven, his most reliable and effective partner, had already been pushed a bit too hard.
She was starting to "break"—cough, her durability was low.
So...
He probably wouldn't be coming back here alone for a while.
"Once we're ready, we'll announce the opening date immediately."
"Mm, since Mr. 'Otto' said that, we'll just have to patiently look forward to it."
Elysia gave a satisfied nod—then smoothly shifted back to the main topic.
"Now then, we should get started with the main story segment of today's livestream."
"Hmm..."
She looked around for a place to sit—but after scanning the entire area, she found nothing.
Weird.
Did he... forget?
No way. He wouldn't make such a rookie mistake.
"Let's take a few steps forward. While this spot has great 'atmosphere,' the lighting's too dim."
Hokuto had already picked up on her intentions and guided her ahead.
"Alright."
Elysia nodded.
They walked along the path that stretched from Little Senti's palm, then pushed open a traditional-looking wooden door.
A new scene revealed itself.
"Verdant mountains, babbling brooks," birds chirping, flowers blooming...
And, of course, tastefully arranged antique seats—with gaming equipment placed neatly on the tables.
"Mount Taixuan?"
"That's right."
Hokuto led the way and sat down.
Elysia followed, settled into her seat, then picked up the gaming device on the table.
She added—
"Still... this Mount Taixuan feels a bit cyber, doesn't it? Projection birds, hologram rivers, data-flowers..."
"Cyber's great. Real flowers need watering or they'll wilt. But these? They'll stay vibrant for a hundred years. Already winning by a landslide."
Elysia: "..."
She was caught off guard.
Just then, a crisp voice rang out:
"Captain on the bridge."
She snapped back to attention.
Choosing not to respond to Hokuto's earlier comment, she took a deep breath—calming herself into livestream mode.
Then she launched the newly updated main story.
...
Chapter 35-1.
Even before entering, the level's description carried an unusual weight:
He sits in darkness. For fifty thousand years, he has fulfilled every promise he made. And now... is he waiting for this journey to end?
A CG image appeared—Kevin, seated on a throne of peculiar design, his expression ice-cold.
"..."
Clicking in—
Lines of narration began to scroll across the screen.
All things begin here, and all things shall end here.
At this moment, even if Earth's seven billion souls aren't sharing a single dream... they would still gaze up at the same moon.
Since the birth of civilization, that grey-white sphere has always appeared noble in its silence.
But in truth, that was only a beauty born of distance.
Now, a throne—forged from the sacrifices of an entire era—hangs suspended above this barren ground.
"..."
No character yet—but Kevin's signature countdown timer was already visible.
[...]N
Prometheus: "..."
The scene triggered a universal chain reaction—both in and out of the game.
Prometheus, an AI who had already begun displaying emotions she shouldn't have had...
Felt confused.
She had come to speak with Kevin about the Bubble Universe—and Dr. Mei's final wishes.
But Kevin showed zero reaction.
"You don't have anything else to say?"
"No."
Kevin's reply was instant. No hesitation.
[That's all we're getting? Doesn't feel right.]
[I was hoping Kevin might show some reaction... If he did, maybe there was still hope of saving him.]
["Saving" him?]
[Bad word choice, but you get what I mean... He's drifting toward godhood and further from humanity. When humans fall, they move on. But when gods fall...]
Players began expressing concern over Kevin's complete emotional shutdown.
Prometheus, too, briefly hesitated. Her code execution seemed to pause.
Kevin's utter lack of response to Mei's final message had left her deeply puzzled.
And something more...
A complex emotion that shouldn't exist in an AI.
But it wasn't overwhelming yet—just... a flicker.
If Kevin could say something heartfelt—maybe it would pass.
But...
Expecting Kevin to "open up" was a fantasy in itself.
Probability? 0.01% at best.
Which meant...
What followed was all but inevitable.
...
"The future of the Stigmata Project will only bring you harm. Leave while you can."
"Leave this eigenworld—then, you might still have a future."
Kevin had issued his dismissal.
Though his words carried goodwill, his detached tone was painfully clear.
Prometheus: "..."
She said nothing.
But the emotion inside her—the one that shouldn't have existed—grew deeper.
That's when Hare stepped forward.
She said only a few things:
First—she would return the name "Hare." As of today, she would no longer be called that.
Second—she shared her speculation about Kevin's current situation, and wanted confirmation.
The Stigmata Project may never succeed.
It's not truly a "one-and-done" plan for an entire civilization.
It requires a constant source of power to function.
That power is Kevin—or rather, the power he stole from the Finality.
But this comes at a cost.
The Finality's power constantly tears his body apart.
The Chimera Project grants him extreme regeneration to repair that damage.
Over time, the two forces reach a kind of equilibrium.
But crucially—Kevin never loses the sensation of pain.
As long as the Stigmata Project continues, that pain—of dying and regenerating—will torment him.
For as long... as the planet exists.
The Stigmata Project may not only be humanity's tombstone—
It may also be an eternal prison for this so-called savior.
A world without meaning. A throne without end.
Just him—alone in silence—feeling the endless cycle of life and death... forever.
And his question—
"Why do birds fly?"
—might never be answered again.
That was the theory.
Cold. Cruel. Despairing.
Would Kevin confirm it?
Most players thought Mistelin's guess—formerly Hare—was spot-on.
But they still hoped... maybe it wasn't.
[The ultimate worst-case scenario. No matter what happens, the bearer of this plan always loses.]
"You weren't wrong."
Kevin confirmed it.
Hope was hope.
But reality... was as cold and final as this plotline.
They couldn't change anything.
They couldn't shift Kevin's resolve.
They could only... watch.
Just watch.
But—
One individual among them... didn't agree.
As Mistelin looked on in shock, Prometheus stepped forward.
"...Seventeen?"
[Huh?]
[What's she doing?]
The audience was stunned—no one understood what she was doing.
But that confusion didn't last long.
It was quickly replaced by another emotion entirely.
Prometheus, in front of everyone—
Raised a trembling hand...
And with pitiful force—
"—SLAP!!"
Struck that godlike being across the face.
Players: "???"
What?
She just slapped Kevin?!
It was so shocking—
Some couldn't even form words.
[An AI slapped Kevin? What line of code made her think that was okay?]
[The line named "emotion"?]
[I froze in that moment. Tried to replay it—but there's no replay of just that slap.]
[Kevin: "?"]
Unlike the chaos in the comments—
Elysia, after her initial shock, had only one thought—
Maybe... this is good?
If it makes Kevin react—
Then yes.
Because Kevin is human—not a god.
He should react like a human.
Not remain... silent.
So if Prometheus's impulsive act could trigger even a flicker of humanity—
Then it was worth it.
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