Inside the internet café on the island…
Kujou Sara, who had just been eliminated, still hadn't recovered from the shock.
She stood there blankly.
Why…?
"Pfft."
Yae Miko couldn't help laughing. She got up and walked over to Sara.
"You're the first one to be eliminated."
Right…
She was the first one eliminated.
"I've disappointed the Shogun."
No matter how she thought about it, she never imagined she wouldn't even make it to the final round.
"Oh my, who said anything about that?"
"You're the last-place finisher, so you'll have to take the punishment."
"I've brought shame upon Inazuma. Being punished is only proper."
Ignoring Yae Miko after that, Sara walked resolutely toward Raiden Ei.
"Tch."
"Wooden blockhead. No fun at all."
Seeing Kujou Sara's all-too-familiar serious expression, Raiden Ei waved a hand.
"There's no need to dwell on it."
"Victory and defeat are common in battle."
Raiden Makoto looked pleasantly surprised.
It seemed her little sister was actually quite dependable.
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
"Mhm."
Ei nodded calmly before turning her attention back to the monitor.
Although Inazuma had lost this round…
She wasn't particularly upset.
After all…
She hadn't lost.
The punishment wasn't going to fall on her.
"Inazuma still has to rely on me."
When she'd participated herself…
She'd immediately won rewards.
When someone else went…
They were eliminated first.
What did that prove?
It proved she was irreplaceable.
In the end…
Raiden Ei reached a conclusion.
Inazuma can't function without me.
Inside the game world…
Hook also stood there in a daze, staring at the Azure Rathalos.
"Mimi…"
"Why did you eliminate her?"
"Roooar…"
The Azure Rathalos looked aggrieved.
She bit me first…
But Hook suddenly changed her tone.
"Keep it up next time!"
"You did great!"
Despite her young age…
Hook was quite clever.
If her monster simply eliminated everyone here…
Wouldn't that mean she'd win automatically?
Then there'd be no need to participate in the final battle at all.
She'd receive the rewards directly.
Although she'd only have two points left…
They were still points.
Someone had previously pulled candy from the reward machine.
Maybe she could too.
As long as she got delicious treats…
She could share them with her friends.
That sounded pretty good.
Yae Miko: "Little Hook is so devious."
"I like her."
Yunli: "A monster that huge…"
"…and it's called Mimi?"
Yanqing: "Uh… I remember General Jing Yuan used to have a pet named Mimi too."
Fu Xuan: "I remember as well."
"It was a lion."
"Just like the one that got flattened earlier."
Jing Yuan: "Mine was white."
He sighed helplessly.
"Why does everything somehow become a jab at me?"
Feixiao: "A lion named Mimi?"
Valerius: "That's humanity's universal instinct."
"Whether it's a tiny kitten or a giant beast…"
"They all end up being called Mimi."
Inside the game world…
The moment Cangjiao heard someone had already been eliminated…
She panicked.
"The match hasn't even started yet!"
"How's someone already out?!"
She immediately stopped hesitating.
Another pair of wings was attached to her wolf.
She'd already figured out her strategy.
As long as I have enough wings…
If I can't win…
I'll just run away.
Tsukishiro Yanagi: "Sigh…"
"This child is hopeless."
Zhe: "What exactly is she thinking?"
"What's the point of adding nothing but wings?"
Xiangling: "How about making spicy chicken wings?"
"With that many wings…"
"We've got plenty to cook!"
Hu Tao: "That actually makes sense!"
Valerius: "Crazy…"
"Crazy…"
"Thursday!"
Kaeya: "Original Recipe Chicken…"
"Nine pieces for…"
Jean: "Kaeya?"
"What exactly are you talking about?"
"Where did you even learn something that sounds like an advertisement?"
Diluc: "Shut up."
"You're embarrassing yourself."
Valerius: "A chance encounter across worlds—"
Diluc: "Savor the deliciousness."
Kaeya: "And you have the nerve to criticize me?!"
Diluc: "Uh…"
"It just… came out naturally…"
Diluc was baffled.
Why did hearing Valerius speak instantly activate something deep inside him?
He'd never even said those words before.
March 7th: "Hahaha!"
"You guys are hilarious!"
Welt: "I honestly didn't expect…"
"…you all to say lines like that."
He found it rather strange.
Why did everyone immediately follow Valerius's lead?
Sigh…
"Youth really is something."
Valerius: "O tyrant who rules the heavens!"
Welt: "Witness the shattering of the stars!"
Himeko: "Pfft!"
Stelle: "Mr. Yang!"
"What are you doing?"
"You're not a kid anymore!"
Welt: "Uh…"
"…Sigh."
He felt incredibly awkward.
He'd underestimated Valerius.
There was something almost magical about his words.
He simply couldn't stop himself from responding.
Sparkle: "Hehe!"
"More! More!"
Black Swan: "Interesting…"
"I'll remember this."
Keqing: "I don't understand any of it."
"What's supposed to be funny?"
Valerius: "Swift as lightning!"
Keqing: "Cut through the chaos!"
"…Huh?!"
"What did I just say?"
Xiangling: "Did you say beef offal?"
Keqing: "Chaos!"
"I said chaos!"
"How did that become beef offal?"
For some reason…
Just hearing the words beef offal made Keqing feel strangely uncomfortable.
Herta: "Is this some kind of shared instinct?"
Valerius: "Round and round we go."
Herta: "Spinny-spin…"
"I…"
"…Eh?"
She didn't understand.
Why did she suddenly have the urge to continue his sentence?
Burnice: "Wow!"
"That's amazing!"
Valerius: "Hehe."
"Pretty impressive, right?"
Albedo: "Is this some form of mental manipulation?"
Raiden Ei: "Tch."
"Child's play."
"There's no way I'd be affected."
Valerius: "Thus begins…"
Albedo: "…the moment of creation!"
Valerius: "Now comes…"
Raiden Ei: "…the hour of annihilation!"
Yae Miko: "Whoa…"
"That's actually impressive."
Raiden Makoto: "Is this one of Mr. Valerius's abilities?"
Valerius: "I literally just said a few words."
"You all finished the lines yourselves."
Neuvillette watched the entire exchange with utter confusion.
Humans truly were incomprehensible.
Valerius merely said half a sentence…
Yet everyone instinctively completed it.
And with such bizarre lines, no less.
Neuvillette: "As expected…"
"I still don't understand humans."
Valerius: "All who stand above…"
Neuvillette: "…are beneath my contempt!"
Furina: "Looks like you don't understand yourself either."
Cyno: "Excellent."
"I've collected plenty of new material."
"I'll have lots of new jokes to tell later."
Alhaitham: "Stop taking notes."
"It's your turn."
Cyno suddenly snapped back to reality.
Right now wasn't the time to gather joke material.
He still had to defeat his opponents.
Grabbing the mouse, he rapidly clicked.
"I tribute Stardust Dragon and Neo-Spacian…"
"Come forth…"
"Dark Magician!"
Kaveh and Alhaitham, sitting beside him, were both dumbfounded.
This was a 3v3 duel.
And Cyno had just sacrificed both of their ace monsters…
To summon…
A Dark Magician.
"Pfft!"
Watching from nearby, Valerius nearly died laughing.
As expected…
Every single person in this internet café was a talent in their own unique way.
Looking at Kaveh and Alhaitham's darkened expressions…
He could only marvel.
What kind of strategy was that?!
As for the ongoing game…
Valerius didn't even need to watch.
Ruan Mei already had the overwhelming advantage.
So most of his attention remained focused on the internet café instead.
Sure enough…
No one disappointed him.
These people really did manage to come up with the most ridiculous antics imaginable.
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