Chapter 41: Shapeshifter

Double Chap

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"What's this?

Inside the Elysian Realm, Elysia received a file from Bronie.

The file wasn't very large, and after downloading it, she was surprised to find that it was actually a game!

"Getting Over It with Haxxor Bunny."

Very strange! Really very strange. Usually, if Bronie made a game, she would definitely show it off to Elysia.

And Elysia could easily see through Bronie's little tricks; just like herself, she always harbored affection for lovely young girls. So usually, when she made a game, she would video call Elysia.

But this time, Bronie made a game that although it didn't seem very big, left people wondering what she was up to.

It's Strange.

Really very strange!

And this strangeness naturally turned into curiosity.

Curiosity about what Bronie was up to.

This was a private chat, meaning was this game specifically for her?

"Getting Over It with Haxxor Bunny."

Isn't this a game where you challenge obstacles with cute young girls!

No, she couldn't let Eden see it first; she had to enjoy it herself first!

So Elysia hid in the Elysian Realm for two hours.

...

Meanwhile, Eden was playing Civilization in the lounge when Elysia suddenly rushed over.

"Eden~ my dear Eden~"

The tone of Elysia's call was somewhat plaintive, startling Eden.

Elysia wouldn't normally do something like this; could something have happened with Kiana?

But why?

"What's wrong? Elysia?"

Quickly pausing the game, Eden looked at Elysia nervously.

"Did I offend Bronie recently?"

"Uh, why would you think that? What did Bronie do to you?"

Eden's expression suddenly became subtle, but looking at Elysia's expression, it seemed like she had been greatly struck in the mind.

And it didn't seem like an act.

"Do you remember the Water Margin in the Four Great Classical Novels?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Bronie asked me to separate all the lean meat from a piece of pork and chop it all up, not leaving a single bit of fat."

"Then she asked you to separate all the fat from the lean meat and chop it all up, also not leaving a single bit of lean meat, right?"

"Do you think it ended there? She also asked me to pick the meat off a bone, leaving no meat on it!"

Now Eden was at a loss.

How should she put it, is Bronie deliberately making things difficult for Elysia?

Is this something Bronie could even do?

"Elysia, calm down first. Bronie wouldn't do something like this to you, right?"

"No, it's even worse than this! It's worse than Mobius saying I've gained weight!"

So what exactly happened?

"Please explain more clearly."

"Are you still playing games?"

Elysia looked at the computer screen.

Eden had just started the game, it seemed like she was at the starting location?

So Elysia closed the game directly and transferred the game "Getting Over It with Haxxor Bunny" that Bronie sent to her to Eden's terminal.

"Interesting, it seems like Bronie has taken a whole new step in terms of game development. The graphics are even more detailed."

Upon seeing Elysia open the game, Eden immediately judged the change in art style.

"No no no, that's not the point, the point is the content of this game! You'll know once you try it!"

"It's a bit cute, this modeling, it seems like Bronie made the character based on herself."

"Indeed very cute, and if you stand still, it even taunts the player playfully... no no no, that's not the point either! Just play it and you'll understand!"

The operation of this game is naturally very simple. You just need a mouse to complete the entire game..

But using a hammer to move from point A to Point B, this kind of gameplay is indeed something Eden has never seen before.

After a difficult crossing of the road, Eden reached the familiar foot of the mountain, Eden could guess what Elysia might have encountered.

Starting over again is much more bitter than starting anew.

As Bronie's narration said, Eden struggled to climb the mountain, only to accidentally return to the foot of the mountain.

Her lazy posture became serious.

Elysia rarely saw this side of Eden.

Then time quietly passed.

In what appeared to be a checkpoint, Eden halted her steps, rubbed her forehead, then asked, "Elysia, have you cleared the game?"

"No."

"I have to admit, Bronie has excellent control over players' psychology. I should have known Undertale; there were already faint signs of it before. Especially when the Soulless Endings appeared. But I never thought Bronie would actually use her talent to make a game specifically to torment players."

Watching Eden's distress, Elysia felt a twinge of guilt, but it was quickly overshadowed, the previous misery being covered by having fun over Eden's misery.

"That's right! That's right! So I said Bronie is so excessive! She silently sent the game over, didn't tell me what kind of game it was, and then there are such cute girls inside. Who could resist not playing it?"

Eden continued forward.

The Haxxor Bunny she controlled stepped onto a slide after reaching it.

But who knew, with a slip of the hand, the jar slipped down the slide!

As a result, all the previous efforts were in vain, and the character returned to the familiar deep pit at the foot of the mountain.

["Uh, there's really nothing here, I mean it, but if you want to come back and take a look, it's okay. But is it worth it?"]

Eden put down the mouse.

"Eden?"

"Elysia, I won't play games like this anymore, please don't disturb me. I might need some time alone."

Saying that, Eden took out a huge harp and began playing it alone.

But the music contained anger, helplessness, and even a hint of sadness.

Does Eden want to continue playing the game?

Eden didn't have such a strong competitive spirit. She felt like the game was trying to mess with people's minds at every turn.

And the music played after failing.

Although it had a bit of an improvisational feel, with colloquial lyrics, the constant mockery was pushing the player forward towards the goal.

What's at the top of the mountain?

What's the point of going up there?

Is it a sense of achievement?

But before the sense of achievement arrived, Eden was already struggling.

So she sadly played a tune in the lounge and pondered whether Elysia brought this game over to her was her silent protest because she'd been neglecting her due to her recent gaming addiction?

And was this game her way of expressing it?

Elysia left.

But the computer was still on.

Opening her eyes again, Eden looked at the computer.

"A game... let's just forget it for now..."

Giving Eden some alone time, Elysia would naturally find other people in the Elysian Realm.

But the first person would naturally be Mobius!

"Mobius~ Bronie made a new game again! But I think this game is a bit difficult, probably not suitable for you."

"Then have you cleared it?"

"I only gave it to you after I've cleared it~"

"Hmph, if even you've cleared it, how could I not? But that Litte Bunny's Civilization game is quite interesting, but the Current Era's technological development is still too slow! But speaking of which, Elysia, have you gained weight again?"

"Not at all~ I'm off to deliver games to others! Make sure to stream it for me to watch!"

Handing the game to Mobius, Elysia disappeared from Mobius's laboratory.

"I really want to see what kind of game it is that even Elysia finds it difficult."

...

On the scorched ground with only ashes left, Kalpas sat on a huge rock to rest.

Inside the Elysian Realm, there was still a function to simulate opponents for training, and today, Kalpas was using Aponia's virtual data to tear apart Aponia for the three hundred thousandth time.

Every time, he had to be exhausted before he would stop.

But virtual data is virtual data. No matter how realistic it is, Kalpas basically wins against the opponent.

But today, a pink elf invaded this scorched land.

"Hello, Kalpas~"

"What do you want?"

"How do you feel about game 'Civilization'?"

"Annoying."

"These are all the efforts of a beautiful girl. If Bronie heard about it, she would be very sad. But isn't Civilization the game Bronie hopes everyone in the Elysian Realm play so they can further understand modern civilization? So, After playing that game, are you a bit curious about modern civilization?"

"Curious? Heh, not at all. If there were an opponent that could interest me, maybe I would be interested!"

Kalpas was indeed easy to understand.

"Then I have a challenge for you. Do you want to try it? It's a new game made by Bronie! It's quite difficult."

"Oh?"

Now Kalpas was really interested.

"Hurry up and bring it! If it doesn't satisfy me, I'll tear you apart with my own hands!"

"Then you'll have no chance at all~"

Elysia passed the game to Kalpas.

Unfortunately, behind the mask, Elysia couldn't see Kalpas's subtle emotions.

But seeing the title of the game, he was probably more confused.

"Then I won't disturb you? Mobius should be live now. Do you want to compete with her to see who clears it first?"

"Hehehe, Mobius, I can crush her with just one finger. Tell me how to open the live broadcast room, and I'll beat her to a pulp in the real battlefield!"

However, Elysia knew that Mobius wasn't Kalpas's real opponent; it was himself, the Haxxor Bunny in the game.

But why did she feel strangely pleased?

The next events would surely be very exciting!

With the idea of enjoying the spectacle, Elysia actively spread the game in the Elysian Realm.

Apart from Kalpas, there was Mobius.

Elysia found all the other Flame Chasers in the Elysian Realm and recommended the game to them.

But Bronie's games did have a quality guarantee, and this time, using a brand new game engine, the updated graphics and characters were indeed eye-catching.

Unfortunately, it seemed like Su was asleep, so Elysia didn't have the heart to disturb him. But if she recommended it to Kevin, Kevin would definitely recommend it to Su after playing.

So there was no need to worry about any of the Flame Chasers in the Elysian Realm missing out.

Everyone gets to play!

...

"Elysia, you're back? Do you know? Your behavior now is very much like a ghost from the current era."

"Oh~ I'm so beautiful. Even if I'm a ghost, I'm a very beautiful female ghost, right?"

"I mean the kind of ghost that was killed by a tiger. If the ghost can't feed an innocent person to the tiger, then it can't enter the afterlife. But the innocent person fed to the tiger by the ghost will also become a ghost, and the ghost that lures others will gain liberation."

"It does seem a bit like that..."

"But I think this is also part of Bronie's plan. Although such games are very difficult, players who are harmed will spontaneously recommend the game to their friends or even online streamers. While finding solace in others' suffering, they also derive pleasure from others' pain."

"Really amazing."

Elysia exclaimed.

"Yes, very amazing. In terms of games, Bronie has unparalleled talent. Even I can feel her attitude towards games, which is on par with my love for art."

"Shall we go see Mobius's live broadcast room then?"

"Of course."

Though...

Building happiness on others' pain is indeed somewhat unethical.

But if they could see Mobius playing the game while she was pretending to be tough, wouldn't that be an interesting scene?

Honestly, Eden didn't want to go against her own curiosity, so she also followed Elysia to open the live broadcast room.

And this time, Elysia also opened another live broadcast room.

"What's this..."

Because there was no camera, Eden didn't know who was playing the game in the other live broadcast room.

"It's Kalpas~ He's now competing with Mobius, isn't it cute?"

"Very... Cute..."

Unexpectedly, Elysia made such a dangerous arrangement.

This was tantamount to adding fuel to the fire.

Yes, adding fuel to the fire of the future anger between the two.

For some time to come, the Elysian Realm would be very lively.

And all of this was caused by Elysia.

But still...

"Elysia, have you considered one thing?"

"What? Kalpas is a good person, although he may be a bit enthusiastic, there's nothing that can't be solved with a little exercise! And although Mobius may be a bit capricious, she wouldn't hurt a cute beauty like me~"

"No, I just wanted to ask, if Bronie returns to the Elysian Realm and faces Kalpas, faces Mobius, or faces Kevin, will it leave behind some psychological trauma?"

Inside the Elysian Realm, people couldn't be killed normally.

But Bronie probably wouldn't be able to withstand the combined doubles match between the four, especially the kind where they want to fight to the death.

"If something like that really happens, I'll definitely compensate Bronie properly afterwards!"

"Instead of protecting her..."

It seemed that this game really did cause some damage to Elysia too...