"So… it was actually Lumine!"
Only now did Firefly finally understand.
Last night, when valerius appeared, there had been a crow perched on his shoulder. She had been secretly on guard the whole time.
And yet, it turned out that crow was Lumine herself!
All that caution—completely wasted.
"Alright. I've answered your questions. Now it's time to eliminate you."
"Wait, I still have something to ask!"
"No, you don't."
valerius shook his head calmly.
"You've been talking this much just to buy time for Keqing and the others. But…"
He leaned closer and spoke in a soft, merciless voice.
"…the thing Keqing found was written by me."
"If she performs that so-called ritual, it won't open any gate to hell. It'll just summon me to her side."
"So… you understand now, right?"
"What?!"
Firefly's eyes widened in shock.
She never imagined it would turn out like this.
Everything they had done… was meaningless.
No.
I have to tell Keqing!
She can't fall into this trap!
Suddenly, she pointed behind valerius.
"Look! A UFO!"
Then she turned and ran.
Even though she knew it probably wouldn't work, she still wanted to try.
[Silver Wolf: Pfft—what is she even doing?]
[March 7th: Hahaha, a UFO?! Miss Firefly is really trying.]
[Star: Cute!]
[Hook: Hahaha! I've decided—Sister Firefly is now the Mole Gang's No.3 honorary member!]
[Yelan: Honorary member No.20? Who are No.1 and No.2?]
[Hook: Of course it's Sister Star and Brother valerius!]
[Luka: Hey—what about me?! Did I get kicked out?!]
[Hook: Huh? Oh~~~ then Sister Firefly is No.4.]
[Seele: That's… pretty half-hearted. Luka, don't cry.]
Watching Firefly run, valerius found it amusing.
Even now, she was still trying to resist.
He immediately caught up.
"Run faster. At this speed, when will you ever warn Keqing?"
"Come on, that's it. Pick up the pace."
"Wuwu—!"
Firefly was on the verge of tears.
How could someone be this annoying?
She searched herself.
No transformation device.
No way to punch him back.
"Whoa, are you trying to ignite the star sea or something?"
"I'm not running anymore."
She stopped abruptly, completely fed up.
You're just bullying me at this point!
Elsewhere.
Keqing stared at the clock.
It was already past 1 a.m.
Only two more hours.
Just two more hours, and it would be over.
[Attention: Player Firefly has been eliminated.]
"First Lumine, now Firefly…"
Keqing murmured.
She and Jingliu exchanged glances.
Now, only the two of them were left.
"This doesn't look good," Jingliu said quietly.
"With two hours left, just the two of us… it won't be easy."
"I still have a plan," Keqing replied calmly.
"When valerius appears, you hold him back. I'll head underground."
"Underground?"
"Yes. If I lure him there, I can use Space Gate to return to the ballroom."
"I already set up a formation there during the day."
"By the time he comes after me, it'll be too late."
"That could work."
Jingliu nodded.
It was risky, but effective.
[Ningguang: The plan is good, but…]
[Yelan: The plan is good, but…]
[Yun Jin: If she activates the ritual and ends up summoning valerius… that scene…]
[Yae Miko: Hehe, interesting. I'm looking forward to it.]
[Hu Tao: Screenshot ready.]
[Bronya: It's over…]
[Luocha: Sigh…]
[Lumine: Look at what you've all done!]
[Clorinde: You were the first to betray us—don't you dare talk!]
[Lumine: I… I was preserving our strength!]
[March 7th: Do you believe that yourself?]
[Star: Do you believe that yourself?]
[Silver Wolf: I'm embarrassed for you.]
[Arataki Itto: Wait… weren't we supposed to defeat valerius? Did I die for nothing?]
[Kuki Shinobu: You're only realizing this now?]
[Arataki Itto: I shouldn't have trusted that "brilliant plan"…]
2:00 a.m.
"One more hour… just one more hour!"
Keqing's heart was racing.
"Yo. There you are."
valerius's voice suddenly rang out.
Both girls jumped.
"Go!"
Jingliu didn't hesitate.
She rushed forward and activated her skill.
With a flying leap, she hugged valerius's leg tightly.
"Run! Don't worry about me!"
Keqing seized the chance and bolted.
"Uh… what…?"
valerius looked down at Jingliu clinging to his leg, utterly stunned.
Who would've thought that the usually cold and aloof Jingliu would do something like this?
He tried to move.
His speed dropped drastically.
"This is a skill!"
Now he understood.
No wonder she did this—it was an ability.
Meanwhile, Jingliu was suffering too.
She knew these skills were unreliable.
But she didn't expect this unreliable.
Wasn't she just supposed to hold him?
Why did it have to be hugging his leg?!
Couldn't she have grabbed him from behind?!
At this moment, she looked exactly like a warrior sacrificing herself to hold back the enemy.
And Keqing was the last spark she had protected.
[Jing Yuan: Uh… these skills…]
[Huohuo: Wow… "Go on without me!"—that's way too accurate.]
[Firefly: Phew… good thing I didn't use it.]
[Dan Heng: Jingliu's sacrifice this time is huge.]
[Ningguang: She used Moe Punch, hugged his leg, and still might lose.]
[Beidou: Hahaha, Keqing looks like someone going off to train for twenty years before coming back for revenge.]
[Xiangling: Now that you mention it…]
[Xingqiu: Way too accurate.]
Three minutes later.
Jingliu stood there, black aura billowing around her.
Even valerius felt intimidated.
"Uh… this isn't my fault. You jumped on me yourself."
He had enjoyed it, sure—but he still felt the need to clarify.
She had activated the skill. It wasn't on him.
Jingliu said nothing.
She just stared at him, fists clenched, bones cracking.
"Uh… hey… this is just a game—"
Then valerius suddenly realized something.
"Wait. You're stalling for time!"
She was playing him.
"Heh. By now, Keqing has already reached the underground."
"You can't catch her."
[Hu Tao: She's still fighting! She's still fighting! I'm crying.]
[Herta: Honestly, Jingliu has done amazingly well. Even now, she's thinking about buying time.]
[Luocha: Don't say anymore… it hurts to watch.]
[Ruan Mei: She's done everything she could. The ending just isn't in her favor.]
[Silver Wolf: Full throttle straight into a dead end.]
[Arataki Itto: Don't give up! What if a miracle happens?!]
[Silver Wolf: Yeah right. You think this is a save-and-reload game?]
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