She was trying to protect the Number One Player atop the Stone Fortress, to keep him temporarily alive.
Her objective was to delay time until the person behind her had been completely transformed.
She hadn’t forgotten that she indeed harbored hatred towards him.
Edron and others had clearly made enemies with him. Including herself, they had all provoked him. Even Mizushima Haru... had already died at his hands.
With enmity already established, she could not count on the other’s mercy. Eliminating a threat directly was the best method. They didn’t speak of it before because there was no hope of erasing him, but now, she suddenly encountered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She had already decided to no longer interfere with him, but upon learning that Mizushima Haru might have died because of him... her heart couldn’t stay calm.
...He was the Ruler, and he had tread through so many hidden paths.
...He was, so far, the only one who could switch between Player and NPC identities.
"Is Miss Mizushima suggesting that we should not make a move for now?" Aylan from the side spoke, "I also think that’s wise. The world quest can’t be this simple. Since Miss Mizushima thinks it’s better to wait, let’s all observe the situation first."
The other Players looked at each other in disbelief.
"Should we really do this?" some Players voiced their objections, one being Anthony from the World Tree Guild, a gun-class Player: "Will delaying lead to problems? Generally speaking, the longer a crisis drags on, the worse it becomes. Besides, we’re facing the Number One Player; even if his mental state isn’t good right now, he shouldn’t be underestimated."
Next to them, Qin Chunyao, a Player holding a pipa, retorted: "...No, I agree with Miss Mizushima’s opinion. In an instance, it’s essential to collaborate with important NPCs. We’d better wait for the appearance of ’Son of Bai Shen’ Fengchang."
"It’s better to be cautious. I agree with Mizushima’s idea. We can’t get wiped out here."
"Miss Mizushima’s Guide is Dian Si, he is the strongest among us. I think we should listen to her..."
Not all top-ranked Players agreed with Mizushima Kawa Sora’s opinion. Some wanted to make a move, but they were stopped by Dian Si.
It was daytime now, and Players were prohibited from attacking each other during the day. If Dian Si wanted to kill them, they would be nearly powerless to retaliate.
The suppression of power led to this situation.
The sky seemed very quiet.
—All they could do was gaze at the Stone Fortress, waiting for something.
Some were waiting for the Son of Bai Shen, to exterminate the Evil God.
Others were waiting for one person’s transformation, to ruin all his prospects.
At that moment, they suddenly heard the sound of a heartbeat.
It was eerie and steady, as if echoing beside their ear, reverberating through their chests, causing their bodies to unconsciously resonate.
"What is that noise?" A Player immediately sensed something was wrong.
"It’s coming from the tendrils below!" The extremely Acuity-sensitive "Eagle Eye" Zhong Xi said.
"We should act now! Generally, a sudden heartbeat signifies that something has been awoken!" the highly experienced elite Player Liz immediately spoke, "Quick, kill the tendril monsters swiftly to prevent any abnormalities from occurring!"
Her authoritative words rallied the Players, and they took up arms, ready to approach.
"—Do not kill!" Mizushima Kawa Sora immediately stood in their way.
Dian Si called forth his hand, and a terrifyingly powerful blaze of fire barred their way, cutting off all paths for the Players to act.
[Jiu Shen Line·HE Ending (Eternal Sleep), Progress: 30%]
"—Mizushima! Don’t delay the time for your own benefit, leading everyone to a wipeout!" A Player had seen through her intentions.
"Let us through, kill Su Ming’an! Mizushima, there can only be one winner in this competition, don’t think about protecting anyone intentionally!" Some thought that Mizushima Kawa Sora was protecting Su Ming’an, not wanting him to die. Influenced by the World Forum’s public opinion section, they suspected a private relationship between the two.
"I said do not kill!" Mizushima Kawa Sora still blocked the Players’ way.
This opportunity was rare; she had to fight for it until the end.
The situation suddenly turned tense.
The Players were at each other’s throats, as if they were willing to bite off a piece of flesh from each other. The alliance, which had shared interests, split instantly over the issue of "to kill or not to kill."
Lu and several others, wanting to kill Su Ming’an, were acting to save him, to prevent his transformation. Whereas Mizushima Kawa Sora and Aylan were staunchly protecting Su Ming’an, trying to delay the time.
At this moment, the situation became incredibly ironic.
Those wanting to kill had become the saviors.
And those protecting had become the actual executioners.
On one hand, these people were the true hope of others; they walked ahead of the majority, chasing the elusive future.
On the other hand, they were extinguishing the brilliance of anyone but themselves, pruning hatred, and eliminating the different.
And within their field of vision—Su Ming’an was only bowing his head, speaking with Migael next to him. He was stuffing fragments of Explosive into various parts of his body.
...Had the Number One Player gone mad?
"Mizushima, do you realize what you’re doing?" Isabella withdrew her gaze, her face darkening.
"I know," Mizushima Kawa Sora maintained her composure, standing in front of the Stone Fortress in the true stance of a ’Protector’: "...I’m making the Points progress bar become more stable, more tangible."
"Just for a slight possibility of falling into an Organizers’ trap, are you willing to kill someone who might indeed be a human Hero who got this far on his own merit?" Lu questioned.
"I’m just exploring a possibility," Mizushima Kawa Sora replied: "...If I’m indeed mistaken about him, we will do everything we can to save him, to bring him back."
She knew her words were only sanctimonious; they existed solely to justify her own needs.
No matter what, she couldn’t let someone with whom she had an enmity, who was extremely likely to seek revenge against her afterward, continue to rule.
Unconcerned with justice, acting purely out of self-interest.
"Her guide is related to the Evil God, isn’t it? It’s a nailed-on fact that the compatibility between a guide and their player is a match!" Mizushima Kawa Sora exclaimed loudly.
...Just a little more time.
...If she could just hinder them a bit longer.
The heartbeat was growing louder and more intense.
Mizushima Kawa Sora stood in front of the people, with flames caressing her cheeks.
Her gaze, her features, were all brightly lit by the radiant flames.
"Mizushima," Lu said, "tell me, do you have the capital to take his place after he’s gone?"
"I..." Mizushima Kawa Sora’s lips moved for a moment, and she suddenly found herself unable to speak.
"Get out of the way!" Lu rushed forward but was knocked down by a palm from Dian Si. He coughed up blood, looking at the figure on the Stone Fortress that was gradually undergoing metamorphosis.
"Mizushima, you will definitely, definitely regret this..." he shouted angrily, but powerless to change anything, he couldn’t break through the barrier of flames.
But at this moment, a dreamlike, beautiful golden flash suddenly skirted the edge of his vision.
He suddenly saw a young boy with golden hair glowing, his entire body burning with golden fire, rushing towards them.
The boy was moving with a disregard for his own life, bringing with him sharp threads around his entire body, slamming into them like a suicidal attack.
"Noel—!" Mizushima Kawa Sora’s scream was drowned out by the sudden and intense explosion—
Like a golden spear, Noel plunged into the players’ ranks, his body’s shining light persistently bursting forth with each loud explosion, pushing the players who were gathered together hundreds of meters away.
In this decisive thrust, the loud collision caused by the energy wave fluctuation was like a thunderous rupture, sweeping the piercing sound waves and chaotic air currents across the entire region—
"Swoosh, swoosh—" The Stone Fortress below could no longer maintain its original shape; wood and stone bricks shattered one after another. Even the tendrils were drawn in by the wave, crumbling with the vibration.
The pillars collapsed, and the Stone Fortress rapidly disintegrated.
Dust flew everywhere, the roaring sound incessant.
This strike had immense power, almost clearing a large area, instantly scattering the players who had been huddled together.
—Su Ming’an, through his somewhat blurry eyes, saw this scene.
His hands were still on his chest, fingers already piercing into it, his shirt dyed red with fresh blood. Tendrils wrapped around his body, accompanied by the gradually rising heartbeat, his sanity was plummeting rapidly.
Against the flow of people, the one who had rushed over voluntarily was very clear at this moment.
The blood he spat out shone brightly in the light.
Like the tears of a mermaid from a fairy tale: diamonds so beautiful.
That bright golden hair was like a Little Sun. Those slightly pale cheeks were tinged with crimson by the light.
A translucent red Rose Staff was thrusting hard toward his chest.
It swept past Mizushima Kawa Sora, past Dian Si, like a sword thrusting towards his heart.
A tendril shot up from the ground.
It overturned that staff, the symbol of salvation.
The boy with golden hair, covered in blood, was pierced through the heart by a tendril.
The blood floated in the air, gradually dispersing.
Su Ming’an’s thoughts grew chaotic, and the tendrils surged out like a raging sea, having long escaped his control.
In his increasingly darkening vision, within the fading of his senses, he steadied that figure.
The golden-haired boy, his chest completely pierced by the tendrils, blood sliding down his chin, his eyes gradually losing their sparkle.
He looked at the transforming Su Ming’an and smiled slightly.
The beating of the tentacle monster’s heart, along with the dark trembling around them, vibrated into his body.
Yet his own heartbeat grew fainter and fainter...
Even knowing this place was dangerous, Noel still came.
Every cycle, he came.
Ever since he found out that secret,
he became the person who died in front of Su Ming’an the most.
Noel kept smiling, a sunlight-like, purely joyful smile—
Looking at the transforming Su Ming’an, his hand dropped helplessly.
"Still... couldn’t save you," Noel said, and then he closed his eyes.