Narrator-kun:
“Hajime is descending from the golden recliner, very slowly and in unnatural peace. The stage is finally set, all the pieces are in motion, the next act of this grand event just primed to commence. All of our contestants are eager to show off their talents to the hero in their own unique ways. Princess M is swooning in Hajime’s direction, Xian Xu is squinting at him, vaguely recognizing his odd presence, Adael is praying toward him with devoted fervor, and a fox girl is caressing her tails with desire… None of them notice the Saintess, quietly watching and filming his magnificent descent.
Now, let’s go back to Announcer-san for the juicy details.”
Announcer-san:
“Welcome back everyone!!! Thank you all for your patience—I’ve got an announcement straight from upstairs!!!”
Raffle, raffle, raffle. The crowd murmurs in interest.
Announcer-san:
“The hero has decided to grace us plebs with his presence! He will be making the ceremonial rounds!!! Make sure to throw your ads at him for clicks and likes!!!”
The collective cheer is staggering loyalty. The crowd goes wild in different unexpected ways.
Hajime:
“I’m finally down from that scary height!!! Zeus, come here boy!!!”
Valiant:
“I’ve got something to ask you Hajime-san.”
Hajime:
“What is it Val?”
Valiant:
“How do you know Zeus isn’t female?”
Hajime:
“Zeus is a female Val.”
Valiant:
“Then why are you always calling it a ‘he’?”
Hajime:
“Because I feel like it. No grand reason other than that.”
Valiant:
“That’s… sure. Whatever. Forget I said anything.”
Hajime:
“My boy, come here!!!”
Zeus innocently walks over.
Hajime:
“Let’s ride you around a few laps. You must’ve been pretty lonely, lets get you're hooves some exercise.”
Zeus:
“MOOOOHHHH.”
Hajime mounts his cow and begins roaming the stage.
The Crowd:
“HEROOOO!!! Take my sample for BenchPresses.orb!!!”
“Hero, please bless me with a subscription for my firstborn!!!”
“Is he even looking at us?”
“Of course he is!!! Look at his visage!!!”
His visage: a swarm of ads plastered all over his body. Only the cow is barely visible.
The Doubter:
“Yeah… he’s definitely taking all our wishes with him.”
Announcer-san:
“Now everyone, to the main event!!! Two beauties will now clash to advertise their superiority!!!
On this corner—a beautiful angel who has made an unexpected comeback! We all know her, we all love her! Please give a round of applause to Adael and her CHOIRRRRRR!!!”
Adael takes the stage, set up with a full band and her entourage.
Announcer-san:
“And in this corner—the mysterious, the quiet, and the mariest of sues!!! Our beautiful underdog… XIAN XU!!!”
Chun Bu screams loudly alongside his harem giving his very conditional support to his ex-fiancé.
Announcer-san:
“Now, a few rules have changed for the purpose of sacred entertainment. Equipment classification has been loosened—even more than previously advertised in the brochure. Everything is now objectively permitted under the benevolent ToS. Fight as dirty as you can! Impress the hero with your cunning virtue!
But remember—no killing. We aren’t staging a blood sport event girls!!!”
Xian Xu nods.
Adael:
“Are you sure? I don’t know if she can take it.”
Announcer-san:
“It’s as sure as it’ll ever be!!! Now everyone, say it with me!”
Everyone:
“ADVERTISE THE DAY AWAY!!!”
Adael:
“I’m sorry, but your journey ends here human. The hero is watching me, and I cannot fail in his belief in me.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Xian Xu:
“Hero…?”
She squints at Hajime. She recognizes him—but something feels off. He doesn’t feel like the man she laughed at before the Selection.
Adael:
“Yes. The hero in that very cow. Once, Amanonus was my guiding light in this world… yet a true successor stands here now. I will walk his journey this time through him. I promise to myself!”
Xian Xu:
“…”
Adael begins advertising her new choir song:
“The Desolation of the Unworthy.”
She scatters feather-shaped ads across the arena. The hype is palpable as the angelic demographic of the crowd grows ecstatic. Their love empowers her instruments with divine power.
Meanwhile, on another screen, Xian Xu performs a dramatic blade dance directed towards her home continent. The prayers of her cultivator simps condense into a massive blue energy orb racing toward her, just as before.
Xian Xu finishes first with her preparations. The energy manifests as a Blue Lotus, infused with Cultivation Gacha Ads.
She slashes at Adael with blue Frostlight energy—a truly refreshing experience in the tip of a sword.
Just as the slash is about to hit, an Angelic Ad Barrier materializes around the choir stage, shielding the performers as they continue preparing.
Adael:
“I’m sorry, but the rules have changed. Only the divine may break through this shield, child of the east.”
On her chest glows a necklace: a massive eye surrounded by six wings.
Adael:
“I’m sorry… but I have to win. Lose with dignity and listen to the truth!”
She begins to sing.
You can scream the truth aloud,
But truth is cheap before a crowd,
They nod along, then look away,
“Of course it’s fake—now press Replay.”
This is the desolation of the unworthy,
Where hope is priced and faith is dirty,
Kneel before a rigged display,
Smile, subscribe, and fade away.
No martyrs rise, no gods fall down,
Just hollow saints in paper crowns,
This is the desolation of the unworthy,
And we were never meant to win—only stay.
One believed the scales were fair,
Bled devotion, said her prayers,
When the curtain slipped aside,
She was the only one who cried.
Others knew the game by heart,
Played their roles from the start,
Truth revealed, no shock, no fear,
“It’s always been like this, my dear.”
Expose the wires, name the lie,
The crowd won’t even blink an eye,
They’ve seen the seams, they love the show,
The lie’s the only thing they know.
This is the desolation of the unworthy,
Where justice bends and screams in silence,
Break the spell, it changes nothing,
Clout outlives defiance.
No cleansing fire, no final stand,
Just open palms and shaking hands,
This is the desolation of the unworthy,
Where knowing hurts more than obeying.
We don’t fear the truth revealed,
We fear the moment nothing feels,
When meaning cracks but still won’t die,
When gods are bored and demons sigh.
Rigged from birth, rigged to the end,
Still we watch, still we pretend,
If it’s all a lie, then let it be,
A beautiful lie that comforts me.
He never saw the strings above,
Never felt the weight of love,
While others burned to prove their worth,
He slept through heaven, hell, and earth.
This is the desolation of the unworthy,
Not damned by sin, but by belief,
The ones who thought it meant something,
Are crushed beneath the truth’s relief.
No rebellion, no release,
Just endless, managed disbelief,
This is the desolation of the unworthy,
Where the worst crime is thinking it was real.
So raise the lights, restart the feed,
The lie still gives us what we need,
If everything is fake, that’s fine—
Just don’t be the last one to believe.
(The song is so catchy and beautiful that its meaning is completely lost on the consumer and everyone present. Hajime begins to stir in annoyance... Valiant blocks the song from getting through to him.)
Xian Xu continues slashing at the shield to no avail. Blood leaks from her eyes and ears. The song itself is a divine revelation—close proximity damages first-time listeners. Only the pious remain unscathed at this display.
In the backroom, demons claw at their ears, crying for Alphonso-sama to save them. Alphonso simply puts on headphones and listens to his own music.
Such is the way of the Predatoriad Kingdom to not care for their own.
Xian Xu drops to her knees… and forces someone to do the unspeakable.
A man leaps onto the stage to shield her.
Chun Bu.
His harem included.
Xian Xu:
“Why?”
Chun Bu:
“I promised a friend I’d take care of this!!! Don’t worry!!!”
Announcer-san:
“What’s this?! Xian Xu’s fans are rushing the stage?! What a surprising development!!!”
Autumn Amber:
“Isn’t this cheating?”
Announcer-san:
“No it isn’t!!! Fans aren’t people!!! They’re equipment!!!”
Autumn Amber:
“I… don’t believe that.”
Announcer-san:
“Either way!!! Let’s see what happens next! So exciting!!!”
Elevator-san:
“You’re back? You’re here to finish the job?”
Caladblock:
“Depends on your attitude. Now show me respect.”
Elevator-san:
“No… my utilities… they deserved better.”
Caladblock:
“Have it your way. I only need your decaying body.”
Elevator-san:
“What are you doing?—AHHHHAHAHA—”
Caladblock injects miasma into the elevator casing. Spider-like legs sprout from its sides.
Geltgyr:
“What are you?! Why are you doing this evil?!”
Caladblock:
“Get in the elevator, we’re going to find the hero.”
Caladblock after a few seconds say's:
“The world can die for all I care. The hero is the only thing I need in this life.”
Geltgyr:
“You… ahhhhh—”
Caladblock:
“I don’t need moralizing from used equipment. Do your job, and you may live.”
The equipment emits corrupted, weak like emojis—each one silently agreeing not to cross Caladblock.
