Danzhu: Let Me Enjoy Myself / The Illusory and the Real

The existence of something that could potentially influence time is still worth studying.

However, not long after, Gwen, having figured out the problem with the Imaginarium God's Remains, blasted Imaginarium God's Remains into nothingness with Lightning Speed Fist.

"After making such a big fuss, is this all the little trick you've got?"

Looking around at the misty, golden space, Gwen spoke to the Inner Demon who were undoubtedly watching them.

"You can't exactly say, 'You're still waiting to see me refresh the screenshot,' can you?"

Quiet.

When Gwen's words, which had echoed through the golden space, fell silent once more.

"You really know how to cause me trouble..."

Seeing that his Inner Demon clearly had no intention of responding, Gwen scoffed.

After a long while, seeing that the Inner Demon still hadn't responded, Gwen didn't linger any longer and slipped away.

Since the Inner Demon won't come out to see him, then he has no choice but to go to the Inner Demon.

However, before that, Gwen needs to go back to Yae Village to check on things, just in case something goes wrong there.

Fortunately, the Inner Demon seemed determined to play hide-and-seek with Gwen, showing no sign of showing himself.

After confirming that there were no problems there, Gwen returned to the Boundary —or more precisely, Caslana's Stigmata Space.

While searching for traces left by her Inner Demon, she also cleaned up the monsters scattered throughout the area, carrying out her original plan to gather and organize the Honkai Beast factors in Caslana's bloodline.

However, before Gwen could find any clues about the Inner Demon, the backup plan he had previously placed on Eden and the other two was triggered on its own—

"What happened?"

Having already mastered the ability to travel between the two Stigmata Space, Gwen instantly returned to the three of them and asked with concern.

"We're in trouble..."

Eden's voice carried an undeniable heaviness.

"I don't know if we just didn't notice it before, or if the rules changed after you came in."

In short, as the sun was about to set, the three of us felt that our lives seemed to be coming to an end.

Cang Xuan explained.

Danzhu quickly added—

"In short, if we don't find a way to rewind, the three of us will probably die right after sunset."

"That bastard... he's really cunning..."

Gwen nodded upon hearing this, a solemn expression on his face.

This is an open conspiracy; the Inner Demon is using the lives of Eden and the other two... plus Yae Sakura and the other three to compress his time to act.

Moreover, he is very likely to be affected in the subsequent rollback.

If he can't break through this impasse before its influence reaches a certain level, he might really be stuck here forever, becoming one of the few ashes/faded figures who keep rekindling the flame...

Chapter 515 Danzhu: Let me enjoy myself

However, despite realizing the Inner Demon's sinister intentions, Gwen remained calm and instead inquired about another crucial point—

How is Elysia?

"Because it would take a lot of effort for the few of us to build a ladder to get up there, we haven't gone up yet since you're here."

As Danzhu spoke, his expression froze for a moment—

"You don't mean to say that Elysia will also..."

"Um..."

Gwen nodded, and then flashed into the small bedroom on the top floor, looking at Elysia seemed to have been assigned to Fenrir.

And the result was no exception—

Elysia, who was originally just pale-faced, now looked even more haggard, and the faint black lines on her face added to her deathly aura.

"..."

Gwen silently clenched his fist, realizing the sinister intentions of his Inner Demon—

They either continue exploring, risking the lives of Elysia and the others;

Alternatively, they could restart the game for a few people, at the cost of Gwen himself joining the cycle... risking eternal damnation.

"You really know me quite well..."

Gwen released his fist, turned around, and looked out the window at the setting sun that had already disappeared into the horizon.

For some inexplicable reason, Gwen a feeling that the Inner Demon he had been searching for but could not find was now watching him through the setting sun, which was not at all a sunset.

However, Gwen didn't throw a punch to test it out—

He knew very well that it was the manifestation of his merged Solar Divinity, and that his Inner Demon could not possibly hide there.

After exchanging a glance with the Inner Demon whose whereabouts were unknown, Gwen wasted no time. He went to the Caslana Stigmata Space to deal with a group of Honkai Beast and returned to Eden and his two companions, who were already exhausted and struggling to even sit up, just before the deadline.

"So, any results yet?"

Eden struggled to sit up and looked at Gwen, asking a question.

"Not yet."

Gwen looked at Eden, who was now wearing an eye patch that concealed his bright eyes, and sighed and shook his head.

"Hmm... Don't rush, believe in yourself, you can find it."

Hearing this unsurprising answer, Eden nodded with some difficulty and forced a smile to encourage him.

Eden knew exactly what choice Gwen would make next, so she didn't tell Gwen to ignore them, but gently encouraged Gwen.

"Yes, I will."

Gwen smiled and nodded, placing his hand on the Demonic Blade before him—

After breaking through the Golden Tree, Gwen found the option to restart here.

The next moment, light and darkness vanished, time and space reversed, and even Gwen felt a blur before his eyes, as if something had become indistinct.

When Gwen opened his eyes again, he found that the sun had just risen and he had arrived at the Ashen Graveyard, lying next to an open and broken sarcophagus.

"Second playthrough..."

Gwen reviewed his Remembrance and confirmed the alterations to his Remembrance.

"Ha... So they're trying to blur my self-awareness and make me sink into this mess?"

Having reached the expected conclusion, Gwen showed no joy whatsoever.

He has limited time, but a lot to do, so he must make the most of it.

Gwen, having completed a speedrun of Guderian's Yae Sakura, confirmed the extent of the changes in Eden and the other two.

Eden's lines became increasingly fluent, and Danzhu Cang Xuan seemed to have successfully embodied the role of the old woman in the shop, even producing small props for buying and selling. However, their appearances did not resemble the old woman at all.

After glancing at Elysia, who seemed to have returned to normal, Gwen immediately charged into the Caslana Stigmata.

Even if we can't find any traces of the Inner Demon, it's still good to integrate this power first.

Working overtime, Gwen finally managed to clean up the entire Caslana Stigmata Space, fulfilling the prerequisite for integration.

However, at this point, it was time to restart and roll back.

This time, the black lines on Elysia's face covered an even larger area...

In the third playthrough, Eden needed Gwen to speak up in order to regain her original identity, and Danzhu Cang Xuan even tried to run back after being dragged out. Gwen had to pay a price to wake up the two sisters.

As the sun set once again, Eden and his two companions collapsed wearily beside the campfire, but Danzhu, seemingly growing accustomed to the feeling, could even manage a smile—

"How's the situation this time? Have you found any leads?"

"We still have no clue. It's as if he completely disappeared after he messed up the two Stigmata Space."

Gwen shook his head and sighed helplessly.

"Perhaps we could try a different approach?"

A thoughtful look flashed in his Cang Xuan eyes.

"Explain in detail..."

At Cang Xuan's suggestion, we'll begin the fourth playthrough—

Eden's character became even more deeply involved, and the sisters Danzhu Cang Xuan lingered in the corner, refusing to come out until Gwen tricks again, greatly stimulating the sisters' sense of shame and girlish heart, which finally awakened them.

This time, following Cang Xuan's advice, Gwen changed the direction of his investigation, hoping to find traces of the Inner Demon, but still found nothing.

"It still failed..."

As time passed, her body lost its strength, and now Danzhu could only collapse helplessly onto Gwen's lap along with her sister. A sigh escaped her lips, and the liveliness of her pretty face faded.

She had a feeling that next time, or at most the time after that, even if Gwen picked her up and did that to her, she probably wouldn't wake up.

"Completely clueless."

Gwen sighed—

The condition of the Danzhu sisters was deteriorating, and he was also weakening.

Now I need to think carefully to remember that this is Yae Sakura's Stigmata Space and that is Caslana's Stigmata Space, not some Bonfire Altar or the Boundary.

Moreover, seemingly due to his change in perception, Yae Village, which originally still retained traces of its original state, has been completely transformed into Ashen Graveyard and Bonfire Altar.

Perhaps, when Gwen and the other two reach their ninth or tenth playthrough, they will be completely consumed by this place.

"I feel like I've been ripped off..."

Danzhu suddenly said.

"Um?"

Gwen was puzzled.

"Given what happened this morning, we'll probably need a more stimulating method to wake us up next time."

Losing your first connection when you disconnect feels like such a waste.

Danzhu rolled over, her beautiful red eyes, which had unconsciously taken on a bewitching quality, looking at Gwen—

"While I'm still sober, let me enjoy myself a bit."

"That's really a statement that fits your persona..."

Upon hearing this, Gwen couldn't help but smile wryly, reaching out to stroke Danzhu's soft, delicate face.

He admitted he had feelings for the Danzhu sisters, and after these two incidents, he wasn't planning to give up, but doing something like this now... was just too much of a mood killer.

In this Bonfire Altar, which is filled with nothing but ashes and stones, there isn't even a bed.

Chapter 516 Illusion and Reality

"According to the traditions of the Divine Land, Danzhu, you should say that you have no way to repay the life-saving grace, and that I am willing to offer myself to you."

Cang Xuan, who was standing next to Danzhu, heard his sister's nonsensical words, he did not refute them. Instead, he corrected her in a serious manner, which made Eden smile.

After laughing, Gwen tidied Danzhu's disheveled hair and said softly—

"I'll accept your offer of your body, but not here..."

"I'm about to offer myself to a beautiful woman like you, and you're still being picky?"

Danzhu rolled her eyes at Gwen, her beautiful eyes filled with endless charm.

"It's not that I'm being picky, I just thought of some things."

He casually helped Cang Xuan, who seemed to want to turn around, to turn over, and Gwen's eyes became more profound.

"Have you figured out a way to break this deadlock?"

Cang Xuan, who had just been turned over by Gwen and thought he was going to be implicated by his stupid sister Danzhu, couldn't help but be surprised when he heard this.

"No, I just have a slight idea."

Gwen shook his head slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face—

"Don't be fooled by how powerfully I wield my greatsword. I have almost ten different types of energy in my body, but to be honest, these are not my forte."