BXBX NOVEL Chapter 156: Livestream (last), NPCs?
Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Livestream (last), NPCs?
"I remember you serving as the strategist for the Oración Seis," Nate remarked, grabbing the staff firmly. He couldn't quite recall its name; it wasn't exactly powerful, after all.
"No, never! I'm just a poor, trapped soul sealed within the staff, known as Klodoa! Master Nate, please spare me!" Klodoa pleaded in a panicked tone.
Nate chuckled. "You're not still holding out hope that Brain will break your seal and that his other personality will awaken, allowing you all to make a comeback, are you?"
At this, Klodoa fell silent, realizing Nate had seen through everything.
Brain wasn't the true leader of the Oración Seis; that role belonged to his alternate personality, "Zero." Zero was far stronger than Brain, with a level of magic power that rivaled the Wizard Saints. He could even be a match for Nate himself, the newest Wizard Saint. If Zero could awaken, there might still be a slim chance to turn the tables.
"He's dead. He won't be awakening," Nate said flatly, pushing the staff's skull face down toward Brain's lifeless body.
Klodoa's spirit shuddered as it finally took in Brain's condition. Brain lay on the ground, staring lifelessly up at the ceiling, his left hand gripping a stab wound in his chest.
"He's... dead? Impossible! Just one stab to the chest shouldn't be fatal! But... Brain's soul... it's gone!"
Klodoa's shock was cut short as Nate squeezed the skull, shattering it in his hand.
Just then, a magic airship, Christina, descended from the sky, and everyone gathered in the main hall. Jenny pointed her live-stream camera directly at Brain's face.
"Dear viewers, the leader of the Oración Seis is... sleeping peacefully," she announced.
[Uh, he's definitely dead, right?]
[Jenny, I think your understanding of 'sleeping' might be off...]
[As expected of the Magic Net's Creator, Nate-sama! The Oración Seis leader didn't stand a chance!]
The screen filled with celebratory comments, along with many fan messages professing their love for Nate.
Natsu and the others approached Nate as Carla, who was flying nearby, asked in confusion, "Why would Brain want to control Nirvana and attack Wendy's guild?"
Because, Nate thought with some amusement, Nirvana was created by your guild master... it just turned out to be more powerful and disastrous than expected.
"Ask your guild master," Nate replied, patting Jenny on the shoulder and gesturing toward the camera.
Smiling at the endless stream of congratulatory comments in the chat, Nate said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Nate."
"To the Magic Council members watching this broadcast, please send a cleanup crew."
"That concludes today's broadcast. See you next time!"
Whether or not there would be a "next time," Nate wasn't sure, but he decided to keep the audience hopeful.
After ending the live stream, Nate thanked Jenny. "Thanks for all your help, Jenny."
"No need to thank me! I actually found it a lot of fun. Will the broadcast feature be added in future updates?" Jenny asked, her face lighting up with excitement. She loved being in the spotlight, and when Magic Net's updates rolled out, she was determined to try live streaming again.
"Version 0.7 will be released soon," Nate replied, adding, "There'll also be a significant interface update. The forum-style layout is starting to feel outdated with all the new features."
"Can't wait to see it!" Jenny beamed.
At that moment, Lyon interjected, "By the way, Nate, there are still two Oración Seis members we haven't dealt with and Ur!"
"You all stay here and wait for the Council's cleanup team. I'll go check," Nate said before shooting off in a flash of golden light.
...
When he arrived near Ur and Ultear, he found that the battle was just finishing. Ultear had defeated Hoteye, while Ur had frozen Midnight with a single slash.
"Nate!" Both women greeted him warmly.
Nate said, "Brain is dead. Sorry I didn't leave you a chance to settle things yourselves."
Upon hearing of Brain's death, Ultear and Ur exchanged glances. Ultear stepped forward, affectionately looping her arm through Nate's.
"Thank you, darling, for avenging both me and Ur," she said, her tone playful but sincere. Though she would have liked to land the final blow herself, her boyfriend doing it for her was almost as satisfying.
"And thank you for bringing Ur back to life!"
With that, Ultear wrapped her arms around Nate's neck and gave him a warm kiss, right in front of her mother.
Nate thought, 'Your mom's watching, you know...' He chuckled inwardly, glad there was no live stream to capture the moment. He returned Ultear's kiss, placing a hand around her waist.
Ur simply looked on with a gentle smile, saying nothing to interrupt. In truth, she had known for quite some time about Ultear and Nate's relationship. She and her daughter often chatted on the Magic Net; there was no way she wouldn't know.
After a minute, Ur, hands on her hips, cleared her throat. "Alright, don't you think you two could save the affection for private?"
Ultear squeaked in surprise, pulling away from Nate with a flushed face, momentarily forgetting her mother's presence.
"M-mom!" she said, blushing furiously.
Nate realized that Ur seemed entirely unsurprised by their relationship. Thinking back, he realized that her earlier remarks about "offering herself" must have been a joke.
Turning to Ur with suspicion, he asked, "You knew all along, didn't you?"
Ur caught his eye and smirked. "I did."
"So, when you joked about... offering yourself, was that just to mess with me?"
Ur laughed, "You got it. Now, can you send me back to the Deep Web?"
"Already?" Nate asked, surprised. "You're free to move in the outside world now."
"I like that place. I'd like to stay there a bit longer," Ur replied, smiling. "Not welcoming me back?"
"Don't you want to see Lyon?" Nate asked.
"He's grown up; he doesn't need me," Ur replied lightly. "Now hurry, before others show up."
Nate granted her access to the Deep Web, and in an instant, she vanished, though her weapon remained behind. Spirit bodies could enter the Deep Web, but physical items couldn't.
As he picked up the Zanpakuto, he turned to Ultear and asked, "So, when did your mom find out about us?"
"Quite a while ago," Ultear replied with a mischievous grin. "Right after you whisked me away to that hotel."
'Was that a trick?' Nate thought, feeling as though he had been played.
"Alright, let's haul these two out of here," he said, glancing at the unconscious Hoteye and the frozen Midnight.
Ultear promptly refused. "No way! You do it yourself. I only let my little brother touch me," she teased.
Nate could only sigh, suspecting she just wanted to avoid the heavy lifting. He created a thought projection to help carry the bodies back to the airship.
All six of the Oración Seis had been dealt with:
Angel: captured.
Racer: captured.
Cobra: severely wounded, unconscious.
Hoteye: unconscious.
Midnight: frozen and unconscious.
Brain: dead.
...
By evening, the Magic Council's Enforcement Unit arrived. After thanking Nate and the others for their help, they took custody of the Oración Seis.
Afterward, the group boarded Christina and headed to Wendy and Carla's guild, 'Cait Shelter'.
Inside the ship's lounge, Nate closed his eyes, his consciousness diving into the Deep Web.
...
In a dark, empty space, Brain opened his eyes.
"Where... am I?"
His staff, Klodoa, also awakened nearby.
"This is the 'Soul Cage.'"
A male voice echoed in the void, and Nate materialized before them. With a wave, the darkness peeled back to reveal a prison constructed from streams of zeroes and ones, confining Brain and Klodoa separately.
"Nate!" Brain looked down to touch his chest but found no wound. He was here as a soul, not a body.
"No need to be alarmed," Nate smiled. "Consider this the talent pool for NPCs in my games. Enjoy your stay."
"Game? What do you mean?"
Brain tried to ask more, but Nate disappeared, leaving them in the surreal emptiness of their new prison. Brain's heart sank.
~~~
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