"Our Jing Yuan may not win in gameplay intensity, but his story moments never fail to shine."
In the real world, watching the cutscene featuring Dan Heng and the Lightning-Lord, Little Bear sighed quietly.
"But seriously, they built up so much tension with Sunday, only to have him instantly defeated?"
"Isn't that a bit rushed?"
Little Bear was puzzled. So much buildup just to highlight Jing Yuan and Dan Heng's moments of glory? That seems... disrespectful to both the Lumina simps and the story enthusiasts.
While Little Bear was generally tolerant, willing to experience even the most controversial storylines and offer fair assessments, praising their merits where due, this time even he couldn't help but feel it was too abrupt.
In short: a rushed ending...
Little Bear refrained from saying it outright, aware of his public figure status and the need to avoid stirring unnecessary drama.
But the livestream audience had no such reservations. They flooded the comment section with criticism, venting their frustrations with scathing remarks.
[ I thought only novels could have rushed endings, but damn, even this game is pulling one? ]
[ They better pull a major plot twist later. Fucking Sunday got three whole versions of build-up just to make Jing Yuan and Dan Heng's rescue look cooler? ]
[ Hold your horses, guys. Let the bullets fly a bit longer. (Handsome) ]
[ The devs can't be this dumb, right? Forget Sunday—all the earlier build-up with the little bird, the Galaxy Ranger, Acheron, etc., would be rendered meaningless. Unless zombies ate their brains, there's no way they'd end the story like this. ]
"Let's keep playing," Little Bear said, his emotions calming down. "Maybe Sunday isn't the final boss after all."
After all, the commenter had a point. How could miHoYo, with their team of graduates from top universities, miss such an obvious flaw?
With that thought, Little Bear resumed controlling his character and progressing through the story.
He would remain cautiously optimistic until the "Mission Complete" screen appeared.
The live stream audience, however, had no such reservations. In their eyes, even if there were a plot twist later, miHoYo still deserved all the hate!
The storm of criticism against miHoYo didn't last long, quickly being swallowed up by a series of explosive plot developments.
For instance, the inexplicable forgetting of Acheron's existence. Or the Strategic Investment Department's announcement that the Interastral Peace Corporation would relinquish all claims to sovereignty over Penacony and unconditionally support its reconstruction. These and other shocking revelations left players and viewers alike wide-eyed, wondering if they were the ones going mad, or if the entire world had lost its mind.
Your company went to such great lengths, even nearly sacrificing Aventurine, just to send its fleet into the Asdana Star System. And all for what? To help rebuild Penacony?
Capitalists suddenly turning into philanthropists? What a joke!
And then there was Screwllum's announcement, after consulting with his partners, that they would temporarily halt the Simulated Universe Project and instead support The Society's research into the Dream and Memory Zone of the Asdana Star System as technical advisors.
Screwllum, have you even told Herta and Lumina about this?
"Holy cow, am I still dreaming?" Little Bear muttered, clutching his head. He deeply suspected he hadn't woken up yet, and that everything unfolding before him was just a beautiful dream...
[ This year, I've seen two jokes: one is that the Interastral Peace Corporation genuinely aspires to peace, and the other is that Herta and the others decided to temporarily suspend the Simulated Universe Project and support The Society's research (bursts into laughter). ]
[ Alright, I'm convinced there'll be a twist now (chuckles). ]
[ Why didn't you say so sooner? You know I've always trusted those damn dogs (chuckles). ]
The comment section, too, underwent a complete shift in tone, erupting into raucous laughter as if everyone had heard something utterly absurd and hilariously funny.
And indeed, even if the Cosmos were to reach Cosmic Heat Death, such a thing would still be impossible. Yet here it was, unfolding right before their eyes—how could they not find it funny?
"Lumina and Herta are right over there. Let's see what unexpected things they have to say." Little Bear guided his avatar toward the two figures glowing with orange markers in the distance, initiating a conversation.
[ Let me guess: Herta will blurt out, "Invite the Astral Express Crew to our wedding with Lumina tomorrow!" (light chuckle). ]
[ Okay, that's bold, but not nearly enough. I'm hoping they'll introduce us to Little Lumina or Little Herta next. ]
[ Wouldn't that be too bold? The gameplay intensity might break from the sheer audacity (covers face). ]
[ It's not like I don't have any. ]
[ Makes sense. ]
"Sister Lumina, Herta, do you have any mind-blowing stories to tell me?"
After hearing a series of unbelievable and outrageous stories, Stelle's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Mind-blowing stories? What kind of mind-blowing stories? What wild thoughts are you having?" Herta scoffed, her expression disdainful.
Her tone implied, If you had a brain, you'd use it. Stop daydreaming.
"Don't you have any earth-shattering, mind-bending news to tell me?" Stelle persisted. "Like, say, the Interastral Peace Corporation actually wants peace, or the Simulated Universe Project is being put on hold?"
Hearing Herta's words, Stelle pressed earnestly, her expression serious.
"Where did you hear these rumors?" Herta retorted, exasperated by Stelle's unwavering earnestness. She glanced at Lumina's profile and said, "This girl's brain has gone haywire. Can you, the anonymous little Physician of Abundance, do something about it?"
"Spouting nonsense like 'the Simulated Universe Project is being put on hold'—why not just say Lumina's getting married?"
Lumina: ?
Stelle: !
"Sister Lumina's getting married?! To whom?!" Stelle exclaimed, instantly bursting with excitement.
Herta remained silent, her gaze fixed on the foolish child before her, before shifting again to Lumina's profile. She reached out a hand and said, "This kid's gone completely dumb. I, a high-level test administrator, made you this stupid. How are you going to compensate me?"
"Go ask Sunday," Lumina replied, rolling her eyes with a touch of exasperation.
"There's no wedding, and I'm not marrying anyone. The Simulated Universe isn't being delayed either—it's all fake news. Please believe in science."
Though Lumina didn't state it outright, her meaning was unmistakable. She was practically saying, "These claims have no scientific basis. Stop spreading rumors."
"Ahahaha..." Stelle scratched her head awkwardly, forcing a sheepish smile.
But then Stelle remembered Screwllum had said those things. "But Screwllum said it," she protested. "He said it was a decision made after consulting with several collaborators."
"And you believe him just because he said so? If I told you I'm marrying Lumina tomorrow, would you believe that too?" Herta raised an eyebrow, dropping a bombshell of a statement.
"Waaah! No way! No way!" Stelle shook her head frantically, as if hearing something utterly unbelievable.
"Hey... what kind of analogy is that?" Lumina nudged Little Herta with her elbow, a hint of exasperation in her expression.
I know you're trying to tell Stelle not to believe everything, but is that comparison... a bit much?
"What's wrong with it? Did it get the point across or not?" Even under Lumina's glare, Herta remained unfazed, casually flicking a strand of hair off her shoulder.
"Fine, fine."
Seeing that the message had indeed been conveyed, Lumina let it go.
"Stelle, this is for you." Lumina handed Stelle a folded slip of paper. As Stelle reached out to unfold it, Lumina stopped her. "Wait until we're back on the Train and about to Warp before opening it," she instructed. "I hope it gives you a little inspiration."
Lumina smiled, added a protective seal to the paper to prevent unauthorized access by Players or Stelle, and then elbowed Herta again, signaling it was time to leave.
"Little Herta, let's go."
"Do you think you can treat me like your little dog?" Madam Herta huffed, clearly displeased by Lumina's behavior. Despite her protest, she eventually followed.
"Oh, and when you wake up, remember to come to the Radiant Feldspar to test the new project," Herta called out as they vanished from sight, leaving Stelle and the Players behind...