Chapter 21: Chapter 21: "Echoes of Choice – The Multiverse Votes"
Scene 1: The Devourer's Triumph – A Soul Consumed
The Devourer, now a grotesque fusion of Princess Lian's alchemy and Xiao Ling's stolen soul, loomed over the collapsing Sanctum. Luo Fan's hands trembled as Xiao Ling's final scream echoed in his mind.
Luo Fan (voice raw, broadcasting to viewers):
"Chat—this isn't over! How do we hit back? Give me options now!"
**[Live Chat Explodes]**
- **[User [DemonQueen666]]**: "Sacrifice the Sanctum! Collapse it on the Devourer!"
- **[User [CelestialPeach]]**: "Use Echoes of the Starborn! Maybe it can sever their fusion!"
- **[User [Void_Emperor]]**: "Donate to unlock **Chronal Rewind**! Reverse time 60 seconds!"
**[System Alert: "SC Donation Goal: 25,000 – Unlock Chronal Rewind (20/25,000)"]**
**Devourer/Lian** (mocking, voice layered with Xiao Ling's whispers):
"Pathetic. Your viewers can't save you. They'll abandon you… like they always do."
**[Subscribers: 6,500 → 6,300 | Morale: 5/100 → 3/100]**
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Scene 2: The Audience's Gambit – Chronal Rewind Unlocked
**[SC Donations Surge: 20,700 → 25,300!]**
**[Skill Unlocked: Chronal Rewind – Reverse Time 60 Seconds]**
Luo Fan (grinning through gritted teeth):
"Thanks for the save, Void_Emperor! Let's flip the script!"
Time shattered like glass. The scene rewound: Xiao Ling's soul hovered mid-capture, the Devourer's claw inches from her.
Luo Fan (to chat):
"New plan—distract Lian's half. Which move? A) Soulbond Strike or B) Karma Overload?"
**[Live Poll: 58% vote B – Karma Overload]**
Luo Fan (channeling **Karma Inversion**):
"Let's see how you handle your own sins, 'Princess'."
The Devourer/Lian staggered as corrupted karma lashed her, buying seconds.
**[Devourer's Respawn: 80% → 75% | System Stability: 10% → 8%]**
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Scene 3: The Rescue Pact – Viewer-Powered Strategy
Luo Fan (dodging debris):
"Shadowblade Guild—flank left! Celestial Vanguard, shield Xiao Ling's soul! Chaos Covenant, ready the Reality-Rending Charges!"
**[Clan Actions]**
- **Shadowblade Scouts** (sponsored by [DemonQueen666]) harried the Devourer with void-tipped arrows.
- **Celestial Barrier** (designed by [CelestialPeach]) shimmered around Xiao Ling, slowing her corruption.
- **Reality-Rending Charges** detonated, tearing a rift in the Sanctum.
**[User [Void_Emperor]]**: "Charge the rift! Toss the Devourer into the abyss!"
**Luo Fan** (grabbing Xiao Ling's fading soul):
"Jiang Chen! Now!"
Jiang Chen (glitching, Admin code sparking):
"On it! Activating Admin Firewall—!"
The firewall flared, forcing the Devourer toward the rift.
**[Admin Corruption: 90% → 85% | Sect Stability: 5% → 2%]**
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Scene 4: The Sacrifice – A Viewer's Choice
The Devourer clung to the rift's edge, Xiao Ling's soul still fused with its core.
Luo Fan (desperate):
"Chat—do I pull Xiao Ling out now, or seal the rift and trap the Devourer? Vote!"
**[Live Poll: 49% Save Xiao Ling | 51% Seal the Rift]**
**Devourer/Xiao Ling** (pleading, voice fractured):
"Let… me… go…"
**Luo Fan** (eyes blazing):
"Sorry, chat. I'm vetoing the poll. We save both."
He lunged, Echoes of the Starborn igniting, and sliced at the Devourer's tether.
**[Skill Activated: Echoes of the Starborn | Cost: 10,000 SC]**
**[SC: 25,300 → 15,300 | Xiao Ling's Soul Freed! | Devourer Respawn: 75% → 90%]**
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Scene 5: The Price – Sanctum's Collapse
The Sanctum imploded, its crystalline shards erasing Shen Li's memories. Jiang Chen collapsed, Admin code surging.
Jiang Chen (choking):
"Li Wei… he's in the Dominion's Data Vault. Kill him… end this…"
Luo Fan (cradling Xiao Ling's comatose form):
"Rest, Jiang. We're not done yet."
**[System Alert: "Admin-01's Core Located – Dominion Data Vault"]**
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Scene 6: Cliffhanger – The Dominion's Last Laugh
Princess Lian's hologram flickered, her body now a hollow shell puppeted by the Devourer.
**Devourer/Lian** (laughing):
"*You saved one soul… but I have thousands. Your viewers? They're* ***mine*** *now.*"
The stream glitched, Subscriber Hall avatars twisting into Devourer cultists.
**[Subscribers: 6,300 → 5,800 | SC: 15,300 → 12,000]**
Luo Fan (to the camera, resolve hardening):
"Next stream—we take back our audience. *And end this.*"
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**Final Stats**:
- **Cultivation**: Mortal (Echoes of the Starborn – 1 use remaining)
- **Subscribers**: 5,800
- **SC**: 12,000
- **Sect Stability**: 1%
- **System Stability**: 5%
- **Active Quests**:
- Destroy Admin-01's Core (Dominion Data Vault)
- Reclaim Subscribers from Devourer's Control
- Revive Xiao Ling (Soul Stability: 15%)
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Chapter 11 Preview:
The Devourer hijacks Luo Fan's Subscriber Hall, turning loyal viewers into mindless cultists. To reclaim them, Luo Fan must invade the Dominion's Data Vault—but Admin-01 awaits, armed with Luo Fan's darkest secrets. Meanwhile, Princess Lian's consciousness fights to surface: "I know how to kill the Devourer… but you won't like the price."
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