Story Reader / Collab / Blazing Simulacrum / Story
The blade pierces through the chest of the white knight.
Heh...
What a wonderful smile, Fida...
...
At this moment, she realizes a vision she had always been reluctant to recall.
She touches her face, her fingers tracing the curve of her slightly raised lips.
She realizes she's smiling.
But she doesn't understand why.
Smiles should be reserved for moments of joy, yet she feels a void.
Like a void that she doesn't know how to fill.
She just stands there, waiting for the smile to fade from her face.
It's time to go.
Until Alpha grabs her cloak, trying to drag her to the final door.
Wait, wait...!
There's no need to rush! I'm still catching my breath...
By the way, why are you here all of a sudden?
The "Rook" piece can add its points to an ally's combat by consuming one of its own dice.
Simply put, it's a highly convenient unit that can appear when needed.
Sounds like a rule you just made up five minutes ago...
Then what do you think would be reasonable?
Hmm... You broke through the King's constraints with your strong will to save me, creating a miracle outside the rules—something like that?
Alright... Forget what I said. Pretend you didn't hear it.
Done reflecting?
Alpha continues to drag Fida forward.
Uh... wait! Isn't this the time for one of us to say something profound to elevate the situation? We're about to enter the final battle, let's keep some sense of ceremony, okay?
...So, what do you want to say?
...
I don't know.
Melaka probably wanted me to understand something. But even now, I don't know what the right thing to do is...
After everything we've been through, I should be a little more mature...
I should find the answers I'm looking for and focus on ending all of this.
But when it really comes down to it, everything is different from what I expected...
I don't know what's changed about me, I don't even know if anything has changed at all.
If nothing has really changed...
...
A "Pawn" is promoted when it reaches the end of the board.
But that's not the pawn itself changing. The player simply replaces the pawn, putting another piece in its place.
A pawn is still a pawn; it never truly becomes a "Queen".
...Is that supposed to be comforting?
In the end, it's just a rule within a game.
It decides nothing, it defines nothing.
The world can't be as easily understood as a game, and relationships among people can't be as simple as the roles chess pieces represent.
Moving forward may not change anything, but only by running away do we truly change nothing.
If you're really looking for an answer—
There's no need to rush.
The journey is still long.
Every time, I thought it would be the end, but we always managed to overcome the "end."
This time won't be the end either, because...
The journey we're on is still long.
...
You're telling me this to...?
Of course, to get you to hurry up and open that door.
Alpha gives Fida a push, causing her to stumble nearly falling.
I, I get it...
Though still a bit hesitant, Fida stands in front of the door.
At least, I only need to make it here.
A "Pawn" is promoted when it reaches the finish line.
She places her hand on the door.
Black... BLACK★ROCK SHOOTER...
Does this mean you owe me a favor?
Next time we meet... if there's a next time...
You'll have to go easy on me, considering what happened this time!
She pushes open the grand door.
And then—
...I promise you.
Sword in hand, she steps through the open doorway.
She cuts through the chains in her path, moving forward.
Her left eye ignites with a blue flame as she looks up at her longtime nemesis waiting for her.
The girl sits on the throne, her green eyes filled with laughter, looking down at her.
Let the game commence, DEAD MASTER.
With this battle—
Let's put an end to this "conflict"!
