She had come for the Clockmaker's legacy too, without a doubt... In this game, everyone would lie, but memories would not.
At the most dazzling spot of the ball, two beautiful ladies danced with fluid grace, their movements elegant and refined, their bearing impeccable... Both ladies' attire featured purple as the dominant color, radiating distinct yet equally captivating auras.
One exuded elegant confidence, while the other remained aloof and taciturn... Inevitably, when elegant confidence met aloofness and reserve, control naturally shifted to the elegant, confident woman, who resembled a fortune-teller.
"Heh, we're getting into the swing of things, aren't we?"
Black Swan wrapped her arm around Acheron's waist, their heads so close they could feel each other's breath.
At this, the smile on Black Swan's face deepened, as if everything were within her grasp, unfolding exactly as she intended.
Black Swan was already brimming with anticipation, eager to discover what kind of recollections Acheron's memories would bring her.
Sigh, what a miserable swan.
As the Path power of Memory surged around Black Swan and Acheron, Lumina took a sip of SoulGlad, her heart sinking in silent pity for Black Swan.
If it had been any other Emanator—whether of Abundance, Destruction, or even another Emanator of Remembrance—Black Swan likely wouldn't have found herself in such a precarious position.
But fate had dealt her a cruel hand. Black Swan had precisely plucked a Self-Annihilator of Nihility from the crowd, and not just any Self-Annihilator, but one who had attained Emanator-Class power...
In a twisted way, wasn't this a stroke of luck?
Lumina rested her chin on one hand while gripping the Image Stone in the other, watching with keen interest as the elegant, self-assured Black Swan and the taciturn Acheron stood poised, eagerly awaiting the moment that was about to unfold.
It's worth noting that Lumina's Image Stone was specially enhanced with her own power. It could capture even the flow of energy within the scene, reflecting inner shifts and perfectly replicating the complete image of the "Rondo Across Countless Kalpas."
"Everyone has a past, and the past shapes the present..."
"Some can grasp their memories, while others are ensnared by them, unable to escape..."
"That's why I took action."
Black Swan smiled serenely, lifting her elegant head high. With a swift movement, she embraced Acheron, perfectly asserting her dominance.
Until...
Black Swan completely invaded Acheron, completing the theft of her memories, and witnessed the crimson, bloody, slaughter-like scene.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Immediately, Black Swan's spirit trembled. The elegant melody she had been humming abruptly changed, as if the roles of hunter and prey had been reversed.
No, it wasn't as if... The roles of hunter and prey had indeed been reversed.
In that moment, Black Swan found the memories she had been searching for. In that same moment, she regretted ever conceiving the idea of seeking them from Acheron.
Hiss... How cruel, how cruel, how cruel.
As Acheron began her one-sided slaughter of Black Swan, Lumina's beautiful green eyes lit up, sparkling with anticipation, as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"Black Swan, Black Swan, elegant Lady Black Swan, what price are you willing to pay to obtain this Image Stone from me?"
Lumina sat on the sofa, watching the drama unfold at the center of the stage, a villainous smirk curling her lips—the kind that evil characters wear when deceiving a young heroine.
If this were a traditional story, Black Swan would likely have to sacrifice a significant piece of herself—lose something precious—to obtain the Image Stone from Lumina.
But alas, Lumina was no villain, and the plot had no intention of following a conventional narrative.
Clap, clap, clap! Clap, clap, clap! Clap, clap, clap!
"Acheron, Miss Black Swan, your performance was truly magnificent!"
"Such seamless transitions between offense and defense! Even someone as clueless about dance as myself couldn't help but be captivated."
After the dance, Acheron helped Black Swan, who was drenched in sweat, her face flushed and her breath coming in ragged gasps, back to their seats.
Once Acheron had settled Black Swan on the sofa, Lumina clapped enthusiastically, praising the duo's dance as brilliant, stunning, and utterly flawless!
Black Swan: ...
Acheron: Annihilation Gang... Annihilation Gang... Annihilation Gang...
Under Lumina's enigmatic smile, Black Swan's elegant composure crumbled, leaving her looking like a helpless little girl being bullied by cruel adults, pitiful, weak, and utterly vulnerable.
As for Acheron... she remained blissfully unaware of what she had just done to Black Swan, only vaguely remembering saying something about the Annihilation Gang being unable to reach Penacony?
Whether the Annihilation Gang could reach Penacony or not was of no concern to Acheron.
What caught Acheron's attention was the strange familiarity of the name "Annihilation Gang." Where had she heard it before? She would need to think carefully.
"Ahem♪"
Seeing that neither Acheron nor Black Swan showed any inclination to speak, Lumina cleared her throat lightly and slid her bottom off the sofa, moving closer to Black Swan.
Observing Black Swan, who was still reeling from the horrific, bloody, slaughter-like [memory], a faint smile curved Lumina's lips.
A gentle, Holy, and altruistic aura radiated from her.
Since the elegant Miss Black Swan was still struggling to recover from the traumatic vision—her Spirit utterly shattered—Lumina, as a kind and compassionate Saintess, naturally couldn't ignore her suffering. She would undoubtedly offer her utmost "treatment."
"Miss Black Swan, relax. Let me help you heal," Lumina said softly, placing her hand on Black Swan's shoulder and gently arranging her limp, puddle-like body into a more comfortable position.
"Mmm..."
Black Swan didn't refuse Lumina's offer to heal her.
After all, everyone in the cosmos knew Lumina was kind, possessed extraordinary medical arts, and never asked for anything in return.
Therefore, Black Swan felt completely safe under Lumina's care. She was certain Lumina wouldn't take advantage of her weakened state to harm her.
Mmm... Black Swan was right. Lumina indeed wouldn't do anything to her.
But...
After adjusting Black Swan's position, Lumina gently embraced her waist with one arm while holding the Image Stone before her with the other. Leaning close to Black Swan's ear, she whispered in a soothing voice:
"My dear elegant Miss Black Swan, you wouldn't want the contents of this Image Stone to be broadcast across the cosmos, leading to your complete humiliation, would you?"
After delivering this soft-spoken threat, Lumina, under Black Swan's bewildered gaze, played the Image Stone's contents. At the same time, she subtly guided a wisp of green gas into Black Swan's body.
So~ I intervened.
As warmth spread through her body, Black Swan's consciousness gradually returned.
But when she saw the Image Stone footage—her head held high in the first half, followed by the scarlet "Pursuit" in the second half—Black Swan's flushed, gasping face instantly drained of color, turning as pale as death.
Under the "healing" effects of the green gas and the Image Stone, Black Swan, who had been trapped in that terrifying, bloody scene, finally broke free.
A godly physician!
Seeing the instant transformation in Black Swan's expression, Lumina confidently labeled herself a godly physician.
A person corrupted by Nihility power equivalent to an Emanator's, restored to normalcy in a mere second under Lady Lumina's care—what else could this be but a godly physician? What else could this be but a godly physician?!
"Ha ha... Miss Lumina, you jest. If the entire Cosmos were to learn of Miss Acheron's existence, her situation would likely become exceedingly awkward, wouldn't it?"
Black Swan wasn't foolish. Seeing the contents of the Image Stone, she immediately realized Lumina had a tight grip on her dark past.
But Black Swan wouldn't let Lumina manipulate her. Regaining her elegant, intellectual demeanor, she covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "Miss Lumina, surely you wouldn't want Acheron to be ostracized by the entire Cosmos, would you?"
In Black Swan's eyes, mentioning Acheron would surely deter Lumina from releasing the Image Stone's contents. After all, Lumina was supposed to be a kind-hearted person.
Black Swan was sorely mistaken. While Lumina was indeed kind-hearted, she also relished amusement, enjoyed watching dramas unfold, and had a particular fondness for seeing beautiful girls make... certain expressions.
"Oh, ostracized? So what? As long as I accept her, that's all that matters," Lumina said with a mischievous grin, shattering Black Swan's assumptions with a single punch.
Black Swan: ?!
Stunned by her words, Black Swan glanced at the Image Stone's contents, then at Lumina's expression, which betrayed no hint of jest. She fell into stunned silence.
This Lumina... how is she so different from the rumors?
-
(Spy- Man Lumina fans really gaslit the entire cosmos with their fanfic version of Lumina huh?)