Ironclad Group Chat: Red and Black Lists Engraved with Heroic Epics

[Star: ...Heh, heh heh. This time, the Black Swan didn't make a move, nor did it pull off any supernatural or bizarre maneuvers. She just issued a critical condition notice!]

[March 7th: Seriously? Am I going to spend my whole life stuck in Pinocchio, living a seven-day weekend without any travel, and with photography eventually becoming uninteresting?]

[Qingque: No, what are you saying?]

The Black Swan chuckled softly and murmured, "But don't be alarmed. The truth is horrifying, but it's not beyond redemption yet. There is still a glimmer of hope for you all, and that's why I'm here."

[Star: Whew~~ You scared me! Don't talk so fast!]

[Hanabi: You came for this... So, you're going to make your move again?]

[March 7th: Hmm, I have a feeling some huge surprise is waiting for me outside of this dream.]

The Black Swan slowly said, "Next, I will use this [Empty Light Cone], which records all your memories, to retell everything that happened before. And when the story comes to an end, I believe you, being so clever, will discover..."

"There is a fatal flaw in the story you have personally experienced—and the glimmer of hope lies hidden behind that flaw."

"So, are you ready?"

[Star: Wow, so that's where it comes in handy. No wonder you looked so strange earlier.]

[Black Swan: Don't worry, this time you won't need to fight anyone. We'll simply guide you out of the dream without harming your mind. There won't be any accidents.]

[Star: Hmm... okay.]

Am I really that untrustworthy?

Black Swan felt she was being brushed off again.

……

Although Xing couldn't speak, after sensing that she was ready, Black Swan began to recount several famous scenes in detail.

A scene came into view.

"Do you remember? When the clock hands turned back to the starting point, the train started its jump, sending you into a strange dream. Although you were confused, the sea-patrolling knight [Huang Quan] showed you the way out."

The Black Swan then conjured up a second scene: "You arrived at the [Daydream] Hotel, where you encountered the doorman Misha and even clashed with the company envoy, Sand Gold. Fortunately, Miss Huang Quan happened to pass by again, allowing you to escape in time."

The image changed for the third time.

"Later, you rescued Miss Firefly in your dream and toured Pinocchio with her. Along the way, you encountered Fireworks disguised as Sambo and unexpectedly fell into a child's dream."

[Hoshi: Huh? Hanabi is impersonating Sambo? With her height... is she on stilts? Or is she kneeling in a wheelchair, saying Sambo did too many bad things and had his legs broken?]

[Sangbo: Girl, can't you wish me something good?]

[Hanabi: That was a transformation, a transformation! Ugh, that wretched little gray-haired guy, he must have done it on purpose, I'm never talking to you again.]

[Star: Thank you!]

[Hanabi: Huh? You're not even going to try and stop me? Fine, I'm ignoring you now, I'm going to stick with you!]

The Black Swan reveals a third scene. A frail and helpless firefly drags a star along as they flee, but the Black Swan intervenes, blocking [Slumber].

"I saved the two from [death], but Miss Firefly couldn't return to reality. She realized the truth and wanted to invite you into the game, but instead caused an accidental [death]. And what's even more terrifying is that you soon stumbled upon another murder case."

"The two deaths prompted you to investigate the truth behind the dream. You tried to start with information from the two people, but couldn't find the key, and instead learned about the watchmaker from Gallagher."

With a wave of his hand, the final part of the story unfolds: "Meanwhile, Sand Gold is secretly preparing his own plan, and you have been chosen as the driving force behind it. Miss Huang Quan draws her sword during the fierce battle, forced to reveal her identity as the [Void] Envoy."

"This attack not only knocked down the gold dust, but also tore open the passage between the Dream Realm and the Primordial Memory Realm. You arrived at Dream Reef and learned that [Death] was actually [Slumber], and you also learned the truth about the Dream Realm, the Star Core, and even the doorman Misha."

"You, Sunday, and Robin decided to split up to find a way to seal the Star Core. Little did you know, Sunday and the Dream Master had other plans all along, and you were ultimately forced to fight to the death on the stage of the Harmonious Ceremony."

"Finally, the story has come to an end. With pioneering spirit overriding order, Pinocchio is able to embrace a future of light and peace..."

"And so..." The scene returned to the fortune-telling shop, where the Black Swan smiled faintly: "The dreamlike, dramatic journey through Pinocchio has come to an end. You've probably already sensed it, haven't you?"

"That fatal flaw, which contradicts all known information, appears in this part of the story—"

Mikhail: Indeed, it's hard not to notice.

[March 7th: Huh? It's hard not to notice... but now when I hear about being trapped in a dream, it all seems real, and all seems a bit fake.]

[Star: March, you didn't even notice? Are you pretending to be cute and clueless on purpose?]

[March 7th: I am... ugh! I'm not stupid!]

The black swan spread five tarot cards on the table.

Xing raised his hand and swept it across the five cards in turn, then decisively grabbed one of them.

"I first met Misha at the hotel..."

Upon hearing her answer, the black swan, who had been staring intently at the divination book, glanced sideways slightly: "Hehe, Xiaomisha... or should we now call him Mr. [Watchmaker]?"

"He was a memory within the Dream Bubble, yet he left the Dream Bubble with a pioneering spirit, and even embarked on a grand adventure in Pinocene..."

As she spoke, Black Swan shook her head and chuckled, "Unfortunately, this Xiaomisha is ultimately just a special memory realm meme. No matter how powerful the [Expansion] power makes him, there's one thing he simply cannot do—"

She raised her bright eyes and revealed the answer: "—A life born in the Memory Realm could never appear in reality. So, why did he meet you in the [Daydream] Hotel in reality?"

"The answer is simple: because he is the fatal flaw that contradicts all known information. And this also means that you, who firmly believe in this memory..."

"At this very moment, I am still in a dream."

[March 7th: Oh right! I see!]

[Mikhail: Indeed, that's exactly right. Even the freest child who escapes the dream bubble can never cross the boundary between dream and reality. Truly a nameless wanderer.]

[Star: It's just so-so~~ It's only at the level of the leader's beloved Demosis and Laigushi's armchair theorizing, nothing to mention.]

[Fireworks: We clearly defeated the other side.]

[March 7th: Wait, I'm getting confused again. Did we actually encounter Mikhail? It seems everyone's dreams are different? Could it be that we never even met Mikhail?]

[Mikhail: Hmm... I never imagined that among our Nameless Ones' descendants would be... such a refreshingly unconventional young lady? If that's the case, then who am I?]