…
…
Phase 2 was completely different. Leon spread his wings; the greatsword in his hands split into two, one guarding each side.
Those originally immaculate, gorgeous white wings were now pitch-black.
"…Oni-form Leon is so cool too. No wonder I subconsciously reached for tissues; I was pre-emptively preparing to wipe the corner of my mouth…"
Battle atmosphere…
Or rather, there was none.
Only pure human voices—no sign of battle music at all.
Leon would manipulate the greatswords with wind control while simultaneously summoning wind and thunder of astonishing momentum.
The charge-up to action interval was extremely short—too short to break toughness and interrupt.
The animation sequence began, and Ah Xian inwardly cried, Bad!
Leon soared into mid-air, his gaze indifferent yet cruel as he looked down at the person on the ground.
With a raise of his hand, a terrifying storm vortex sucked every combat character into its center.
Thunder rumbled; nine thick black thunderbolts crashed down from the heavens, swallowing the vortex's core.
The howling wind and deafening thunder made one feel as if they were truly there—Ah Xian instinctively shivered.
[woc, so cool!]
[But why is the lightning black?]
[He's corrupted, so black lightning—makes perfect sense, just a visual expression.]
Yet when the damage numbers appeared, even Ah Xian's eyes bulged.
What the hell!
Instant team wipe?
"…Doesn't 5-star Leon at full Eidolon have massive damage reduction—up to 99% in extreme cases?"
[Gray health bar—it's scripted damage.]
The battle cutscene played, and Ah Xian relaxed.
She'd been too excited and hadn't realized it was a plot kill.
Phew, a little embarrassing.
"Stand up. Cast aside hesitation. Swing your blade at me."
"Including the World-Protecting Decree Blades, Izumo has broken 70,045 swords—none could save Izumo."
"Since you chose to continue forging blades, you should not falter at the final moment."
"Raiden Bosenmori Mei, do not forget the oath you swore before Raiden Ryoma's monument."
Leon's voice was soft, his speech speed steady, devoid of emotion.
Raiden Bosenmori Mei used her sword to prop herself up and slowly stood.
"…Izumo forged 70,047 blades; only one can save the world…"
"I already knew. I knew you lied to me twice."
"Once—that gathering the power of the twelve decree blades could save Izumo—"
"Once—that using the karma of the twelve decree blades as soul and the world as body to forge two world-betraying decree blades could save Izumo."
"This final time, I don't know if you're still lying to me."
"But…"
"I will no longer waver."
Raiden Bosenmori Mei's expression turned resolute. She gripped the long blade tightly and assumed her stance.
Heaven and earth fell silent—
She transformed into a streak of lightning that pierced space, striking the airborne figure down like a bolt.
Leon's greatsword left his hand; both crashed toward the ground.
BOOM—
The terrifying weight smashed a deep crater into the earth; more than half the sword buried itself in the soil.
Leon struggled to his feet; his wings retracted into his back.
The moment he straightened, the bone-white long blade was already there—pressed against his chest.
Stillness.
Both fell silent; neither took the next action.
Twenty-plus seconds passed. Ah Xian suddenly shivered.
A sorrowful piano melody inserted itself into the plot at this moment.
!!!
No!
Mihoyo, what are you about to do?!
Suddenly, Chinese lyrics rang out.
[Thousand mountains build a single peak, pine tops hold resting clouds;]
[I offer you, guest from the heavens, a taste of the three-spring snow;]
[Upside-down I gaze at the Bright Terrace; ancient stars and Han rivers tonight;]
[The firmament never ages, Human World Half Tower…]
The volume was low and there were no lyric subtitles, so she couldn't catch the first few lines.
But this one—even with hearing damage, she recognized it instantly.
Wasn't this the exact voice line from Leon's 6th Eidolon special skill?!
"Damn!"
"The moment I think one of my two favorite characters is about to eat a knife, I lose it!"
The two remained silent for a long time. Leon spoke first.
[…I'm sorry, Mei. I lied to you a third time.]
[New Year's gates of heaven and earth; comings and goings turn full and crescent…]
Raiden Bosenmori Mei's heart trembled. She questioned in disbelief.
"…What is it?"
Leon said nothing. A few seconds later, he revealed the familiar gentle smile.
[Ten thousand ages rush like gray dogs; seas gallop, clouds leap—no borrowing;]
[What am I worth—this mayfly's single sweep…]
The human voice in the music suddenly cut off; even the piano melody dropped a few decibels.
Stelle—who currently couldn't control the memory owner—Raiden Bosenmori Mei herself—and the audience beyond the fourth wall—
All felt their hearts drop the instant they saw Leon smile.
Especially the players; hearing "this mayfly's single sweep," they instinctively held their breath.
"Do you know why I named the world-betraying decree blades—'Name'?"
"…"
As if realizing something, Raiden Bosenmori Mei's arm began to tremble.
Leon's smile did not change: "Because for thousands of years, what Izumo forged was never blades, but… people."
"The 'blade' that can save Izumo has still not been forged. That is my third lie."
"No… no…"
Raiden Bosenmori Mei staggered, face full of disbelief, and violently retreated several steps.
At this moment, Stelle discovered control had returned to her.
"With man as beginning, with Oni as end."
As Leon's words fell, the greatsword behind him rapidly grew until it towered like a building before stopping.
"No more hesitation."
"Izumo's true death is not annihilation, but never having existed at all. Haven't you understood yet?"
"Mei, you were supposed to pass away peacefully at 381 years old… yet I forcibly imposed the curse upon you, and upon—"
"The legendary swordsmith, White-Haired Oni."
"I manipulated your cycles of life and death. That is why [Fate] found no fully compatible wielder for decades."
"Because… I indirectly forged it myself, with the world's karma imposed upon me…"
"The blade is man; man is the blade…"
Schlk—
The dull sound of flesh being pierced exploded like thunder in everyone's hearts.
"[Fate] remains unbroken—how else could the twelve World-Protecting Decree Blades serve as karma to forge… the blade that can save Izumo…?"
Witnessing the bone-white long blade pierce Leon's chest, countless minds went blank.
[Yet holding life between heaven and earth, how dare I retreat?]
The long-absent lyrics and melody returned, carrying tragic heroism and resolve, pushing the atmosphere to a climax drenched in fate.
[Three feet of humble life—leave a name on one page.]
Raiden Bosenmori Mei withdrew the blade in horror, hands instinctively releasing it.
[Thousand peaks and clustered clouds; splash ink and wield the brush, falling strokes of liver and gall, words of ice and snow…]
"Those who deceive the world, those who manipulate the cycle of life and death must pay a price. One blade is not enough."
Leon let blood flow freely, bent to pick up the blade, placed it in Raiden Bosenmori Mei's palm, and forced her to grip it.
Then he raised the blade again, pointing it at his own heart.
[Now drunkenly scoop the Big Dipper, point at the heavenly palace;]
"Don't be afraid. The only one left who can remember Izumo is you."
"Use the thrusting method you're most familiar with—pierce it in."
[In this inch of humble life, my name ranks among the armored elite.]
The rain fell harder.
Raiden Bosenmori Mei stood stunned, eyes vacant, her face indistinguishable between tears and rain.
She looked down at her blade-gripping hand.
The fresh red on the surface was rapidly washed away by the rain.
In the lower-right corner of the players' game interface, the E key suddenly popped up a prompt box.
Countless Leon solo-stans nearly fainted when they saw it.
"You absolute… what kind of human being comes up with this?!!"