Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

Hibiki Tachibana saw that on the other side of the room, there was a glass cabinet, and inside the cabinet were dolls of the familiar girl, Zero, in various poses and armed with various weapons.

She was momentarily confused by this scene, wondering where she had come to. Wasn't this Lingyi's consciousness space? Why was there a doll in her own image?

"Hmm... Hibiki, did you get here first?"

Just as Tachibana Hibiki was wondering, Kohinata Mirai's figure suddenly appeared in the room after a burst of blue light. Then, Chris, Akatsuki Kira, and Tsukuyomi Tsunemi appeared one after another, and the room, which was not particularly spacious to begin with, suddenly became a bit crowded.

"Hmm, but I can't tell where this place is at all. Is this really inside Zero's consciousness?"

Nodding, Tachibana Hibiki immediately expressed her doubts.

"Indeed, this is just like an ordinary girl's room."

"The only special thing seems to be the Death doll that resembles Zero-chan."

Tsukuyomi Chōwa and Akatsuki Kirika scanned the room, and they also felt the same doubt as Tachibana Hibiki.

"Let's try to contact the outside world first. Hey, can you hear me, sir?"

Chris felt the same way, but knowing what was important, she raised the watch that had been on her wrist since she entered the space.

To better conduct the investigation, Finney added a device to the system that could communicate with the person lurking in his consciousness, facilitating the exchange of information and providing support.

[Hello, can you hear me? Boku, this is Elfnein. Because Miss Finni's condition is not suitable for communication, I am providing assistance as an alchemy supporter.]

Soon, a voice came into my consciousness, but it wasn't the familiar commander's support; it was another familiar voice.

In reality, a blonde girl with a mole at the corner of her eye nervously and diligently manipulates her alchemy, unfolding five screens in front of the SONG staff.

Using alchemy, a heretical technique, it is possible to make contact with the musicians in a state of unconsciousness. However, Finney's condition is not suitable for using heretical techniques, so this task was assigned to Elfnein.

And Elfnein also has reasons to work hard.

Previously, due to the limitations of the android body, while SONG was working intensively, she could only lie in a hospital bed, almost dying.

However, before she died, she encountered another version of herself, Carol.

After battling Zero, Carol's memories finally gave way to the intense burning, and she fell into a state of amnesia.

In this state, she found Elfnein and sought herself.

After confiding in each other, Carol, facing the dying Elfnein, chose to entrust her body to her, hoping that she could complete the task left behind by her father, whom she could no longer remember.

Elfnein, knowing that Carol wanted to destroy the world, felt guilty and decided to take a different path from her.

So he joined SONG and began supporting the performers, just like he does now.

P.S. Oh well, I'll just keep writing according to the outline, at least until I finish this book.

Chapter Three: I Don't Want to Die

"If we can get in touch with them, then there's no problem."

Seeing that there were no problems with communication with the outside world, Chris turned her attention to the present and prepared to begin the investigation as previously agreed.

There are two purposes for using the direct feedback device to penetrate the space inside the Zero Brain.

Firstly, one could try to bring the person back to consciousness from their dormant state and attempt further treatment and communication.

This is nothing that needs to be repeated; that was their original purpose.

Secondly, and this was also the original purpose of Finni's development of the electric field microscopy, which was to explore Lingyi's past memories.

Yes, that's right. A very serious problem is that even now, after fighting for so long, their understanding of Zero is basically zero.

Although they could piece together the story by observing the time the performers spent with Rei, they knew absolutely nothing about Rei's inner thoughts due to her consistent silence.

They didn't know what she had gone through to meet Chris at that time, what she had gone through to appear in front of Kohinata Mirai at that time, or what her mental journey had led to her serious mental illness.

Knowing nothing, completely unaware of their true and specific thoughts, and looking at the Zero-Clothed ones shrouded in mysterious mist, it was only natural that they could not achieve any good results by fighting with worries and questions.

In order to know exactly what to do, one must fully understand the whole picture. Therefore, understanding and exploration are essential.

Given Lingyi's previous refusal to communicate and her current autistic-like state, using instruments to explore is arguably the only option they have.

"However, despite the claim of an investigation, this place looks like an ordinary room. The only unusual thing is probably Zero's model Death."

Xiaoqiege stepped forward, looking at the models neatly arranged in the transparent cabinet, but had no clue what to do.

These models are exquisite, and you can tell from the effort the builder put into their assembly and production. But it's hard to understand why such a thing would exist in Zero's consciousness.

“…I might have some clues. I remember Lingyi once told me that she came from another world and was not from this world.”

Faced with Xiaoqiege's question, Kohinata Mirai thought of a possibility.

Lingyi had mentioned to her that she came from another world and was accidentally brought to this world because of a traffic accident.

"...I also saw it in Finnie's memories. Sister Zero said that her body was supposedly reshaped by a very powerful being like Anunnaki, according to her deepest impressions."

Reminded by Kohinata Mirai, Tsukuyomi Cho also remembered what he had seen in Finney's memories.

The former Zero once said that her body was created by Anunnaki based on the image that impressed her most.

"I see, that explains it. This was her residence before she came to this world, and the reason these models exist is probably because she particularly loves... well, herself?"

Based on their accounts, Chris drew a conclusion, but the way she explained it still felt somewhat strange.

"We need to learn more about Rei-chan. Since this is Rei-chan's old room, there might be something important here."

Turning her head and looking around the room, Tachibana Hibiki began to search the spacious room, which was crammed with too many people, hoping to find something.

The other musicians also began to act.

"Wow, these models seem to have been handmade; they're so exquisite. It's clear that Sister Lingyi really loved Death in the past."

After opening the glass door of the cabinet and observing it carefully, Xiaoqiege was quite surprised by the incredibly detailed models.

The maker seems to have put a lot of effort into 3D modeling and printing, printing out the parts separately and then assembling them. Xiaoqiege noticed that some of the equipment and clothing can be disassembled.

"This is, a book... no, it's a card book."

Kohinata Mirai, who was also observing the glass case, noticed a large card album placed in the center, which also had a picture of Rei's appearance printed on it.

Open the card album and carefully flip through it. Inside are some exquisitely designed, sparkling cards encased in card sleeves. The illustrations on the cards are, unsurprisingly, the same image as Zero.

"Sky Striker Princess? Zero, that's where her design comes from. It seems to be from a card game. Does she like that?"

Even without much knowledge, just from the sparkly designs on the cards and how precious they were, Kohinata Mirai could understand how expensive the cards in this album were.

"The window, well, there's nothing outside the window and I can't open it. I've tried the door too, it seems this room is just a room, there's no way to get out."

Tsukuyomi attempted to explore outside the room, only to discover that the passageway to the room seemed impossible to open from this side.

"There's probably another way to get out. I've checked the wardrobe and everything, but there's nothing there. The only thing I haven't checked yet is this computer."

Chris examined the corners of the room but found no useful clues.

After all, the styles of underwear and some pantyhose are not really very useful.

The only useful thing she found was a set of military uniforms that Lingyi often wore and a platinum blonde wig, which gave her a deeper understanding of the extent of Lingyi's affection for 'Lingyi'.

"Here, um... nothing, nothing at all, just some books with strange content. But, does Rei-chan like this kind of content?"

Hibiki Tachibana, who had crawled under the bed in an attempt to find something, emerged after a while with a slightly flushed face, indicating that she had also found nothing.

"Hibiki... never mind, if there's nothing new, let's see what's on the computer."

They noticed something about Kohinata Mirai, but knew now wasn't the time to dwell on it. So they went to the computer desk, turned on the computer, and, finding nothing else, gathered around.

Then, the first thing that catches the eye is a box prompting for a password in front of the beautiful screensaver silhouette.

"Why would a computer in the consciousness space need a password?!"

Chris couldn't help but complain about this fact.

At the same time, I feel a bit troubled. Computers in the physical space might be able to be deciphered through technical means, but how exactly can we find out about computers in the consciousness space?

"I think I have a clue about the password."

Kohinata Mirai, however, did not feel annoyed. After investigating the room, the password for the computer was already obvious.

[Sky Striker Ace - Raye]

After entering the password, the desktop was unlocked smoothly. At a glance, there were some software related to games and modeling.

In the very center of the screen is a folder named "Info Sky Striker Princess".

After trying out the game and modeling software, it was obvious that none of it was useful. The folder was filled with folders named after card decks that I couldn't understand.

If you randomly click on the content, it's mostly about how to play the cards you draw, and what your opponent's strategy would be if they played the cards that way. There's also a collection of online card game recordings in the "wrong answers" section.

Judging from these somewhat unsettling assignments alone, it's clear that Lingyi has always been a very meticulous and serious thinker.

"There are no clues either. Is it not on this computer?"

Although she had browsed through the contents of the computer, Kohinata Mirai still had no clue and unconsciously felt that she might be heading in the wrong direction.

"Hmm, this video file?"

This idea came to her when she noticed an MP4 video file on her computer desktop. It was strange, since all the other files were neatly arranged in folders and on the desktop.

This MP4 file, however, stands out conspicuously next to the central folder, disrupting the overall neatness of the desktop icons.

It felt as if something had been forcibly inserted into it, which was very unsettling.

"Let's take a look first."

The girls gazed at each other, and following Chris's decision, Kohinata Mirai opened the video file.

[Sky Striker Princess: Ryouri, direct attack, is there a chain...? No? Then it's over.]

A first-person perspective video, resembling a vlog, appeared on the computer screen. As the text appeared, it seemed that the card battle scene was coming to an end.

"Is this... a card game? It looks interesting."

Looking at the cards on the deck, their vibrant colors, and the intricate arrangement of the cards, Xiaoqiege became curious about the game.

Before she could even take a few more glances to figure out the rules, the scene shifted, and the first-person perspective shifted to a figure walking outside carrying a handbag.

[Winning first place is not bad. The opponents I faced today didn't have particularly strong hands, and the cards I drew weren't bad either. Well, my luck was pretty good.]

With her head down, she walked slowly in black shoes and black stockings, while text that appeared to be in a thoughtful pose began to appear in the scene.

Oh, right, we can't ignore the fact that the current meta is relatively weak against spells and traps; several times the opponent's field setups weren't particularly difficult to clear.

The black shoes, which had been walking slowly in a straight line, stopped. The view wavered for a moment, and the light in front of them flickered.

[Ugh, I'm not feeling well. I ate too little this morning to perk myself up, and now I have low blood sugar... Ugh, I need to eat something. The store... is across the street.]

Seemingly realizing his situation, he raised his head as the text and images flickered on and off, focusing his attention on a convenience store across the street.

Immediately afterwards, seemingly driven by a craving for sugar, reason prevailed, and the scene swayed and moved forward along the zebra crossing, inching along.

So much so that, focused on getting sugar, she didn't notice the light that had turned red.

—Kou Peng!

The screen went black instantly, and Kohinata Mirai covered her mouth as she realized what had happened.

Before she could adjust to the change, the screen lit up again, but this time, the entire image became as blurry as a postmodern abstract painting.

The only thing still legible is the text below the image of Yueyi's first release.

[It hurts so much, I'm so tired, I'm so cold... What's wrong? What's wrong with me?]

[Horns, cars, have I been hit? Am I going to die?]

These words, appearing intermittently and distortedly at the bottom of the image, combined with the strange lighting and shadows, create an indescribable grotesque effect.

"This is how Zero-chan came into this world..."

Despite being a conscious being, Hibiki Tachibana felt her breathing become rapid, and the flickering images and their content made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

But this is just the beginning; they have to keep watching, because this is her life.

[I don't want to die, I haven't finished making the model for the new card yet... I don't want to die, I want to see her story afterward... I don't want to die...]

[I don't want to die... I still want...]

[I don't want to die! I ...]

[Survive! Sur ...

At first, you could see some logical, almost like a suicide note.

But as time went on, after a certain point, all that remained were the two phrases, "I don't want to die" and "Live on," which filled the entire screen and repeated endlessly as if oozing blood.

No, not just seemingly, the text on the computer screen did indeed begin to seep out a crimson mist of blood, which then began to spread throughout the room.