Anime Crossover: Post-Apocalyptic Survival, My Stand is the World

[—“The staircase leading to the upper level.”]

The words fell.

Suddenly, with a "snap," all the lights on the floor went out.

Only one spotlight shines down from the ceiling.

The light precisely illuminated the enormous, specially made Taiko no Tatsujin arcade machine in the very center of the floor.

[Rules: Please perform a "Demon King" level song perfectly (Full Combo) on this device.]

[Once completed, the staircase leading to the third floor will open for you.]

【fail…】

The system notification tone paused, seemingly to deliberately create a tense atmosphere.

You'll be responsible for the consequences.

"Taiko no Tatsujin?"

Yui's face fell instantly when she looked at the enormous taiko drum under the spotlight, which exuded an ominous aura.

Although she also enjoys playing rhythm games.

嗏

"Demon King level"? And it even has a "Full Combo"?

This...this can't be a joke, right?!

"It seems that 'GM' intends to completely crush us in his area of ​​expertise."

Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms and calmly analyzed the situation.

"The first challenge is to test your 'observation skills' and 'cracking thinking'."

"The second challenge is a pure test of 'skill' and 'reaction time'."

"interesting."

at this time.

The giant screen of the Taiko no Tatsujin (a popular Taiwanese knight-errant show) lit up.

A song selection interface appeared on the screen.

However, there is only one song to choose from.

It was a blood-red title brimming with adolescent angst—

"Yu Xuan Ran (Yu Xuan Chaos)"

"..."

"..."

The moment I saw the song title.

Yukino Yukinoshita and Utaha Kasumigaoka, two genius girls who are usually not very interested in games, both showed a rare look of "bewilderment" on their faces.

They've never heard of this song.

However, upon seeing the song title, Yui Yuigahama's already pale face turned completely bloodless.

"It's...it's a lie, right..."

Her voice was trembling.

"How could it be this 'ultimate sadistic boss song for humanity'?!"

"Is she very famous, Yuihama-san?" Yukino asked, frowning.

"It's more than just 'famous'!"

Yui's voice was almost choked with sobs!

"In the world of rhythm games, this song is like a god! Its BPM (speed) exceeds 200! Its total number of notes exceeds 1200! Its chart (note arrangement) is so complex that players jokingly call it 'World War III'!"

"Don't even mention 'Full Combo'! You can't find many people in the whole world who can play it from beginning to end without stopping!"

"This...this is not a game that humans can play!"

Accompanied by Yui's desperate, mournful cry.

On the screen, a "DEMO" presentation began.

next second.

Like a waterfall, a dense cascade of red and blue musical notes instantly filled the entire screen!

That incredible speed!

That insane density!

That dazzling, completely random arrangement!

"..."

Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the music chart, which resembled a raging storm, and her beautiful brows furrowed tightly.

"This requirement for APM (actions per minute) has exceeded the physiological limits of humans."

With her brain, which is comparable to a computer, she instantly came to the most despairing conclusion.

at this time.

Sora's mocking laughter rang out again from the broadcast.

"Hehehe... See? Despairing now?"

"By the way, I have something to tell you."

"This chart, this 'Full Combo' record..."

"—But my most, most, most, most adorable little sister, Bai, set the 'world record' with one hand three years ago!"

"so…"

"Give up! Give up!"

"Admit how weak, incompetent, and utterly vulnerable you 'real people' are when it comes to the realm of 'gaming'!"

"..."

Faced with a disparity in strength that seemed like an insurmountable chasm.

The girls fell into a genuine silence.

however.

It was at this most desperate moment, when even the air seemed to freeze.

Su Chen moved.

He slowly walked forward and took two heavy drumsticks from the drumstick stand next to him.

He stared at the score on the screen, which looked like an incomprehensible script.

There is no fluctuation in my heart.

'The hymn of humanity is a hymn of courage.'

'Human limits are meant to be... surpassed by someone like me, a "cheater"!'

'Besides, my [World] boasts both Strength and Speed ​​A-ranks!'

He turned around and gave a confident smile to the three girls behind him who were already somewhat dazed.

"Everyone, step back a bit."

"Don't get hurt by me."

After saying that, he walked to the huge taiko drum.

He gripped the drumsticks tightly with both hands.

Chapter Forty-Five: The Absolute Domain

"Everyone, step back a bit."

"Don't get hurt by me."

Su Chen's voice was calm.

But like a boulder thrown into a stagnant pool, it instantly shattered the solidified despair.

Yukino, Utaha, and Yui were all slightly taken aback.

They looked at the man who stood alone in front of the giant taiko drum, holding two sticks.

His eyes were filled with disbelief.

What...what does he want to do?

Could it be that he...

"Hey! Hey, hey! I'm talking to you!"

On the radio came Sora's mocking and disdainful laughter.

"You wouldn't be thinking of challenging 'White's' highest record, would you? Pfft... Don't be ridiculous!"

"I admit, you do have some skill in the 'combat' field. But 'rhythm games' aren't something you can conquer with brute force!"

"This is our absolute territory, belonging to us 'players'! It is our invincible 'dwelling place of the gods'!"

"A 'combat-minded' social butterfly like you is absolutely impossible..."

"Noisy."

Su Chen directly interrupted the other party's incessant trash talk.

He didn't even bother to turn around.

He simply tapped the taiko drumhead lightly with his drumstick.

thump.

A crisp, defiant echo.

Then, with a confidence a hundred times more arrogant than Kong, he spoke casually.

"It's just playing drums, isn't it?"

"—Let's begin."

As if in response to his arrogance.

On the screen, the legendary masterpiece that can be called the "ceiling of humanity"—"Yūgen no Ran"—has officially begun!

The rousing and frenetic intro, filled with Japanese-style electronic music, instantly reverberated throughout the entire floor!

Next!

Like a flash flood, like the Milky Way pouring down!

The densely packed red and blue musical notes transformed into a "death waterfall" that could drive any rhythm game player to despair and suffocation!

It surged wildly down from the top of the screen!

"It's over..."

Yui Yuigahama instinctively covered her eyes as she looked at the hellish scene.

Yukino Yukinoshita's fists clenched involuntarily.

This density, this speed…

It's no longer a challenge.

It was purely "execution".

however--

Right there in the first row, the notes, like bullets fired from a gun, were about to fall into the judgment line at the very moment.