Under such an offensive, the BananAdvisor's retreated step by step.
After losing the memetic memetic virus, they also lost their power.
Although that most important Profnana Primon was still missing, he wasn't the priority.
Purging the memetic virus from the human body was the real matter at hand.
After essentially liberating Paperfold University, everyone, no, mainly Miss Robin, ran into a problem.
In the bright world of Penacony, Robin of the Oak Family was a golden nameplate; everyone respected this lady and did their best to fulfill her wishes.
Of course, Robin's wishes usually benefited the Family and the people as well.
This was the "Harmony" she interacted with most often, and she had long grown used to it.
However, in the Dreamflux Reef, some people who had regained clarity, but still needed the memetic virus removed, refused Robin's help.
Because time was urgent, in order to resolve the memetic issue on a large scale, Robin planned to gather everyone and carry out a harmonizing performance together.
During a choral hymn praising Harmony, the memetic virus would be purged completely.
This wasn't some kind of showy gesture.
When everyone sang in praise of Harmony together, Harmony's power would be easier for Robin to grasp, and grow even stronger.
However, the form of Harmony believed in by the people hiding in Penacony's dark side was not the same as Robin's.
They abandoned the beautiful dreams outside just to return to themselves. Would these people bow to the Family over something as small as death?
Moreover,
When they intervened in Dreamflux Reef, its Watchman Micah had also implicitly expressed the same thought.
As the leader, Micah had no choice but to accept the Family's intervention to help the Reef.
But after this matter, would the boundary between the Reef and the Family become too blurred?
Would this only free territory also fall into the dream?
Facing this question, Robin had of course solemnly given her promise: "Harmony does not erase difference, it embraces it."
After Robin and Micah finished their discussion and she fully joined in the Reef's matters, she discovered that these people resisted her even more than she expected.
"You want us to accept tuning from this pampered young lady? Forget it. You might as well kill me."
"We can't afford to accept help from someone so noble."
"Tuning? Choirs? I'd rather dance in a bar."
"I escaped into Dreamflux Reef because I couldn't stand that so-called 'chorus'!"
"If this lets the Family take control of the Reef, I'd rather die! This is the only free place we have!"
Their hostility and wariness toward Robin were completely undisguised.
Even with Micah by her side, it was useless.
After yet another attempt ended fruitlessly, Micah sighed. "I apologize for their recklessness, Miss Robin. They… have complaints about the Family."
As the Reef's leader, he was stuck in a difficult position.
He had already tried his best to persuade them. But Dreamflux Reef was where Micah had stayed for so long, how could its people ever yield to authority?
"Everyone is used to respecting others' freedom when they're free themselves, and they hate the feeling of being bound again."
"So…"
As Micah worried these people would anger Robin and kept explaining, Robin simply waved her hand.
She was dejected, but forced herself to smile. "I understand, Mr. Micah. Their way of life is also a kind of Harmony. Perhaps… there's another method. I'll try again."
After saying that, she left. Micah watched her back and sighed deeply.
What a kind angel. There wasn't a hint of hostility or resentment about her.
That pure heart of Harmony, one could feel it even through her form.
But in this world, even Harmony did not have only one philosophy.
He shook his head, unable to think of any solution.
Meanwhile, Robin wandered through the area, her mood sinking.
It wasn't because of their harsh words or attitudes. Back when she went to war-torn lands to bring Harmony to the victims, she had faced far worse malice.
What truly saddened her was realizing that perhaps her understanding of Harmony had been too one-sided.
She had assumed that helping others in the way she was familiar with would at least not end up like this.
Robin firmly believed that the Harmony she knew, love and acceptance, was the ultimate solution to all problems.
These people weren't wrong either. They chose clarity within dreams, built their own rules within Dreamflux Reef, this too was a kind of Harmony.
She had completely fallen into confusion.
For the moment, she couldn't think of a way to reconcile these two forms of Harmony.
These weren't different notes, they were two entirely different melodies.
"Billions of hearts, billions of minds…"
"How did the Aeon of Harmony turn all those hearts and minds into a single symphony?"
"Or perhaps… maybe even…"
A sacrilegious thought surfaced in her mind, startling her.
At that moment, someone unexpected arrived in Dreamflux Reef.
It was Mr. Reca.
He walked up to Boothill and asked him to check out the gift at the center of a stage nearby in the central plaza.
Boothill looking at the gift immediately rushed over to find Robin.
Seeing Robin talking with Micah and trying to come up with new ideas, he interrupted them.
"Goddamn, I've been looking for you everywhere. So you're here."
Robin snapped out of her thoughts, surprised. "Mr. Boothill, you came looking specifically for me?"
Boothill grinned. "Of course. Micah already told me what's going on. And if you ask me, you're overthinking the hell out of this!"
"Come with me!"
Though confused, Robin followed Boothill to the plaza.
Boothill pointed at the platform in the center. "Know how to play this?"
Robin froze. "This..."
Boothill gestured with his hands. "Don't tell me that you've been so used to your classy posh instruments that this thing is beneath you."
Robin blinked. "No, that's not it ... I know a thing or two regarding everything related to tunes."
"Then it's settled."
"Some people saved their world by giving a dance, and some people defeated their enemies by crying ... It's finally our turn now!"
Boothill burst out laughing as he explained his idea.
And the viewers, hearing this completely lost it.
...
: About that Mr. Reca, I'm speechless.
: Grass! Robin and DJ!?
: I just imagined it, the mental image is way too beautiful!
: It's the first time she's faced a divergence in Harmony beliefs like this, right?
: Damn, they're not actually gonna do it, right? Robin's seriously gonna DJ!?
: Holy crap I'm excited!
...
In Boothill's eyes, this was nothing worth worrying about.
This whole thing was just pure bullshit. People listen to the music that fits them. If someone forced him to go on stage and sing high notes, he'd put a bullet in that idiot's head.
But if they asked him to enjoy a guitar concert, then you could not even make him leave for anything.
Robin was stunned by this idea.
DJ? Turntables?
Ever since she first learned music theory, she had never even imagined such a thing.
But in that moment, she suddenly realized that maybe… this was the solution.
"I understand now." After Robin finished speaking, Boothill nodded. "Alright, you can get ready here. I'll go bring in the crowd."
Then, Boothill began rounding up spectators.
His social experience finally came in handy.
News like "Robin is throwing a party and DJing", the kind of eye-popping, dream-shattering announcement, spread wildly.
It attracted a huge crowd. As for the stubborn ones, Boothill dealt with them very simply.
He pointed his gun straight at their foreheads. Facing their shocked expressions, Boothill didn't care at all.
"What, never seen a thug before?"
"Anyway, either you get moving right now, or later I'll have that big star over there perform you a funeral song. Pick one."
Physical persuasion works instantly. The last batch of stubborn idiots was herded into the plaza center.
When Boothill returned, a large crowd had already gathered. Reca was there too.
When Boothill walked up to him, the Memokeeper was filled with curiosity. With a scene like this, what kind of "song" would Robin bring?
"At certain moments, I get a feeling like a masterpiece is about to be born."
"Most of the characters in this film aren't what you would call protagonists. You don't really get to see full character arcs on them, but they still have a light in their hearts that can save humanity's soul."
"To me, all they need is a single shot, and the people watching through the screen will witness the greatest drama in the world."
Every line Reca spoke was dripping with artistic pretension.
Boothill snorted.
"In my opinion, it's not that complicated, Mr. Director. If you ask me what it is..."
"Fork it, that's exactly what life is."
Boothill burst out laughing.
On stage, Robin had finished her final preparations.
Looking at the people below, she drew a deep breadth.
"I still haven't found a better answer regarding birds and flight."
"Even when something comes to my mind, I still need a lot of time to deliberate on it and try various ways to prove it ..."
"I believe my brother must be doing the same right now."
In that last moment before stepping onstage, Robin whispered softly.
Her mindset completely shifted.
The old choir demanded that everyone match perfectly.
But these people standing in the square's dance floor, even if each one was different, when she thought about their shared expectation and purpose, suddenly, they all seemed no different.
"Perhaps Harmony was never about its audience, but about the light it provides. Much like how we see it now ..."
"There are more choices for the people than singing "in unison." Even if they were to contribute their own differing sounds, these can be strung together ... That's what it means to "tune." I believe our song of Harmony will be able to embrace even discordant sounds."
"I will bring forth Dreamflux Reef's very own sound."
With that resolve, Robin stepped forward.
Under the curious, excited gazes, she stood on the stage.
Then, a rapid synthetic sound rose from soft to strong.
With a light, syncopated rhythm, the people below began to stir.
It was the style and music they were familiar with and loved.
Many were visibly amazed. Even the viewers outside the scene began to hype up.
They had already recognized it, this was the remixed version of Dancing Alone in the Galaxy!
It was no longer the song it once was, but a dance melody infused with synthwave, electronic, and numerous other elements!
All kinds of sounds pushed the song's emotions higher and higher.
And at that critical moment, everything stopped for one second.
Then, vibrant drumbeats and surging synths blasted out like a tidal wave!
Dancing alone in the galaxy?! No, raving like crazy in the galaxy!! The crowd went wild!
Everyone surged toward the center of the dance floor, moving their hips with all their energy.
Seeing everyone so excited, Robin felt pure joy and confidence. She let herself go, raising her left hand high above her head, guiding the rhythm again and again.
"Woooohooo!" March 7th was adorably dancing on the dance floor too.
In the very back of the crowd, Boothill, who had been sitting coolly in a chair nodding to the beat, was suddenly lifted up by two strangers and shoved straight into the dance floor!
Behind him, Reca looked like a gossip reporter, grinning like a fool while capturing every moment with dramatic poses.
The audience went completely insane.
...
: Everybody get hyped the hell up!!
: My god, DJ Robin! Screw it, I'm dancing first!
: This is so cool! The DJ version of Dancing Alone in the Galaxy!!
: Seeing everyone dancing together like this, I'm literally crying!!
: HAHAHA, Boothill got dragged in too!
: Reca is literally a pure paparazzi journalist! Hilarious!
: Who would've thought this episode ends so HAPPY and so HYPE?!
: With this kind of music, how can anyone stay calm?!
: This episode started abstract, then got heavy and brutal, but now ends in pure release and harmony… I'm emotionally destroyed…
: But ending in this explosion of joy, yes, I accept!!
: It started abstract, hid knives, filled with metaphors and philosophy, but everything wrapped up in this unbelievably joyful finale… Good job, MiHoYo!
...
Just as the comments said, behind all the abstract content in this episode were deep metaphors.
The story between Rappa and Dr. Primitive, Boothill's subplot, all showcased different sides of the same philosophical theme.
The layers of interpretation and symbolism were endless. Not to mention Rappa's flashback, which brought countless viewers to tears.
Master Kucha, the Umbra headmistress… And even this short segment about Robin.
Each part held something worth savoring and reflecting on.
But just like how Rappa turned pain into the future, all these complex, touching, angry, or thought-provoking stories were thrown aside by the audience the moment this unprecedented dance party began.
As these tangled emotions surged within them, they seemed to understand something deeper.
[Even if the world is full of lies and division, as long as we're willing to let go of prejudice and find the rhythm that lets us dance together… we can find our hope and our light.]
[Never give up on yourself.]
And at the other end of the party, under Dreamflux Reef's memory black-hole, Rappa appeared, bringing this episode's finale to its climax.