Miss Player, please don't cast spells on me.

"That's really something, Ms. Sayaka. Personally, I don't have such incredible abilities," Nobuo Kamida said, somewhat embarrassed by Sayaka's accusation.

"But once you've seized the authority of the other two main gods, you're qualified to hack into and control the Colossus's system. Do you want me to calculate exactly how much of Akane's authority as a future god you've seized so far?" Sayaka asked, her voice filled with murderous intent.

"This... is truly terrifying, but I will indeed be very busy for the time being, so I will take my leave for today." With that, Sanada Nobuo put on his top hat and left.

"Tsk."

Sayaka clicked her tongue in annoyance and warned Kiyono Hai.

"His first step in his plan has succeeded. Given enough time, he can gain control of those colossi... Things will get very complicated then. Are you listening?"

Sayaka noticed that Kiyono Hai had fallen backward into her arms and closed his eyes, seemingly possessing some character with his own consciousness.

If anyone else had dared to do that, Sayaka would have snapped their neck immediately!

No! Even if it were Kiyono Hai, Sayaka would do the same thing now…

It was as if Sayaka's slender fingertips were hovering over Kiyono Kai's Adam's apple; it would be an easy thing for her to pinch it.

But... Kiyono Hai knew that this world-destroying witch needed his help, which is why he did something like using Sayaka's lower abdomen as a pillow.

This made Sayaka sigh, find a chair and let Kiyono Hai's head rest on her lap before saying...

"...I'll settle accounts with you after everything is over."

………………

The sky collapsed and the earth cracked... everything was burning in the fire.

What was once a dream city full of youth, passion, and beauty, representing the fantasies of teenagers, has now been completely transformed into a living hell.

The scene of the Colossus rampaging through the streets of the dream city, trampling the earth and demolishing building after building... should be viewed from a player's perspective as sitting atop a distant skyscraper and quietly appreciating the spectacle.

It's the kind of audience mentality where you're awestruck, curious, and watching a spectacular, high-energy CG performance, like you're enjoying a game while popping popcorn, with a sense of detachment from the audience's own experience.

Even the players in the fantasy city felt that the scene before them wasn't chaotic enough! They were yelling, "What the hell, Colossus, did you forget to eat your batteries before you left home? Hurry up and fire a few more Hyper Beams to liven things up!"

But things are different now... Most of the players in the Dream City present are veteran players who returned to the game because of the Rebirth version.

Just a second ago, they were holding their 'daughter' or 'ex-girlfriend' in their arms, tenderly caring for them and dreaming of a beautiful future together.

The apocalypse struck this dream city in the next second! The music and fountains were gone, leaving only the sound of collapsing buildings and the hellish flames of a raging fire!

Shimazu Sousuke, of course, immediately grabbed his two daughters and began to flee, but because he was using a smaller version of the character, his performance wasn't particularly strong.

But escaping the influence of that Colossus was enough, since the Colossus's target was Owlface, and they were just insects being trampled to death as the Colossus advanced.

"Dad, save someone!"

At this moment, Shimazu Sousuke's 'eldest daughter', Ritsu, calmly reminded him.

"Save people...save whom?"

Who should be saved? The returning players are all highly skilled. While defeating the Colossus is impossible, they have countless ways to escape with their families and wives and daughters.

As for the NPC passersby on the street who were also panicking and running around in all directions?

Why would Shimazu Sousuke risk his own daughter's safety to save them?!

Just as Shimazu Sousuke hesitated, his youngest daughter, Hana, suddenly pointed to one side of the street and shouted.

"Dad, that person looks like Mom..."

“I know you miss your mother, Hana, but now is not the time to talk nonsense!” Shimazu Sousuke said.

Mom? How could that be… His wife passed away four years ago, and Xiaohua can only remember what her mother looks like through photos and videos.

"No! Mr. Sousuke... that really is Miss Ichiko! She's still alive! I contacted her to come see you!" Seeing Shimazu Sousuke running further and further away, Ritsu became so anxious that she abandoned her daughter persona and shouted at Shimazu Sousuke in an extremely serious tone.

"What did you say?!"

Shimazu Sousuke was completely stunned...

In that instant, he remembered that his deceased wife had also spent some time with him in the dream city.

However, because he didn't like leveling up, his level was never high. So at that time, Shimazu Sousuke focused on the Sacred Stars, exploring it day and night. He didn't spend much time with his deceased wife and daughter, and he didn't even know if she continued playing the game.

As Shimazu Sousuke turned to look at the street in the distance, information about a player character appeared before his eyes.

'ID: Qinghua Zhi, Level: 90'

It really is... his late wife Aokawa Chiko's game character, and it's level 90... does that mean his ex-wife was playing it all along?

The reason she kept playing was probably to have more in common with her husband. No wonder she would always talk to him about Fantasy City during that time.

But by then, that idiot had already moved on to the Holy Stars, so... he had to apologize in person!

He made too many mistakes and needs to apologize to his deceased wife, including not spending enough time with her while she was alive, and... not being able to save her in reality!

In reality, he couldn't save her from the earthquake, but in this game world... Shimazu Sousuke will no longer stand by and watch his wife die!

"child!"

Shimazu Sousuke let out his loudest shout since he started playing video games, and at the same time, he controlled his character to run away at top speed.

But... unfortunately, when that character named Chiko also saw Shimazu Sousuke... and a surprised smile appeared on her face.

Suddenly, a concrete block from an unknown building fell from the sky. Shimazu Sousuke had only run halfway when he could only watch helplessly as the person he longed for day and night in the real world was also crushed under the cold, merciless concrete fragments in the game.

"child!!!"

Shimazu Sousuke felt somewhat fortunate that he was not a powerless mortal in reality, but rather possessed extraordinary powers from the game.

He controlled his character to immediately move the concrete block that had hit his wife's character.

The view beneath the concrete block made Shimazu Sousuke's eyes turn red; his wife's body had been smashed in two by the sharp concrete block.

But... this is a game! This is a game world, so even such a fatal injury has countless ways to recover.

"You won't die! I absolutely won't let you die this time!"

Shimazu Sousuke took out countless top-level healing items from his warehouse and sprinkled them on the character of his deceased wife…

Under the influence of these medical supplies, Aokawa Chiko's eyes trembled slightly... Under the watchful gaze of Shimazu Sousuke, who was on the verge of tears, Aokawa Chiko finally opened her eyes.

"child!"

“You look much more haggard than I remember, Sousuke,” Aokawa Chiko said, taking a deep breath.

Because... four years have passed since that day, and in those four years, Shimazu Sousuke has developed a completely world-weary face, only showing a smile in front of his daughter.

"We can catch up later. Child, can you stand up? If not, I'll help you leave!"

Shimazu Sousuke glanced at Aokawa Wakako's waist wound, which had almost fully healed thanks to a large number of medical supplies.

"I'm sorry... Sousuke, it seems I can't leave."

As Aokawa Chiko spoke, she suddenly coughed up a large mouthful of... data? Soul? Anyway, not blood.

Shimazu Sousuke watched as the fluid, flashing with various strange codes, overflowed from Aokawa Ichiko's mouth.

"No...if you can't leave, I can take you away!"

"Our daughter is the most important person!"

Aokawa Chiko suddenly grabbed Shimazu Sousuke's collar and said something, but after she finished speaking, she coughed up a large mouthful of liquid that she couldn't tell what it was.

After coughing up that mouthful of liquid, Aokawa Chiko completely lost her strength, and even the hand that was gripping Shimazu Sousuke's collar slipped down.

But Shimazu Sousuke still managed to grab his wife's hand as it slipped down, and Aokawa Chiko used the last of her strength to say...

"Hey, Sousuke... could you do me a favor? Help me... apologize to my past self in the real world, just say, 'I'm sorry... I couldn't wait for you to come back.'"

After saying those words, even though her game character's health was still full, Aokawa Chiko closed her eyes completely and remained silent.

At that moment, Shimazu Sousuke realized... that his wife had once again passed away before his eyes.

Shimazu Sousuke gripped Aokawa Ichiko's arm tightly, repeating the same sentence over and over in a voice that sounded like he was about to cry.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry! I couldn't save you in real life either!!"

"Mr. Sosuke, Mr. Sosuke! Father!"

Ritsu kept shaking Shimazu Sousuke's shoulders from behind, which finally brought him back to his senses.

Shimazu Sousuke turned around and looked at Ritsu's face, which was exactly like his daughter's. No... she was his daughter! His daughter living in the game world!

This prompted Shimazu Sousuke to pick up Ritsu and Hana again and begin their escape.

But this time, during his escape, Shimazu Sousuke opened the public chat of the Spark Alliance guild and, in the name of the guild leader, issued a very simple order to all members of the Spark Alliance.

"Help!!"

"Save people? Who would the chairman save? If it were our own wives and daughters, we would have already carried them to some deserted wilderness."

Mizore, a prominent player in the Starfire Alliance, asked.

"NPCs! No... Reborn Ones! There are many Reborn Ones who are not being cared for by players and are still trapped in the fire and in the collapsed buildings!"

"Therefore, in my capacity as chairman, I am issuing this order to you! After ensuring the safety of your 'family members,' immediately proceed to the disaster site to rescue people!"

"But aren't those unfamiliar Reborn Ones just random NPCs to us?" Some members of the guild still had doubts about the order.

"But to others, they could very well be their wives, daughters, or lovers! Do you still see the Reborn as just a bunch of data? Even in the game world, they are living, breathing human beings!"

Shimazu Sousuke emphasized this point once again.

"All members of the Starfire Alliance, listen up! After ensuring the safety of your families, immediately head to the disaster site to rescue people! Aren't we... supposed to be playing heroic roles in this game? Gentlemen! It's time to show your heroic spirit!"

P.S.: As usual, there will be another update around 7 or 8 PM~

Chapter 91. The Witch's Trial and the Burning Night of the Witch (5000 words)

Kiyono Hai is currently with the future goddess Shiina Akane from the dream city... overlooking the spectacular scene of the giant warrior trampling the earth and engulfing the entire world in flames from the top of the Central Building.

"Shiina-senpai, how's it going? You must have absorbed quite a bit of faith power from the Reborn Ones these past few days, right?"

Kiyono Hai's question prompted Shiina Akane to nod in agreement.

Since the Rebirth version was released, Shiina Akane has been receiving a huge amount of Faith Power rewards every day without even having to do anything.

Just as Kiyono Hai said, the setting of the Reborn One is really suitable for her, this mature and decaying future god, to draw a lot of faith power.

Sometimes, Shiina Akane doesn't even need to do much plot planning; she can simply leave the reborn beings to do their own thing and inexplicably get a bunch of gold coins from the players.