Chapter 64 – Reclaiming Myself
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The Trial's True Nature
Luo Fan's double stood firm, golden void blade flickering in and out of existence.
> "This fight isn't about defeating me."
"It's about remembering me."
The words sent a shiver down Luo Fan's spine.
> Remembering…?
EchoStar's interface glitched, flickering between notifications—
> [ERROR: Data Fragment Conflict Detected]
[Memory Reconstruction: 72% Corrupted]
Xiao Ling's spectral form frowned.
> "Luo Fan, this isn't a battle of strength."
"This is a battle of self."
His double smirked.
> "You're still running, aren't you?"
Luo Fan's grip on his weapon tightened.
> "Running from what?"
> "From what you lost. From what the Reset took from you."
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EchoStar's Brutal Honesty
> "Oh. Oh no."
"I hate this. I hate where this is going."
"…This is going to be one of those 'self-reflection' moments, isn't it?"
Luo Fan shot a glance at his floating system.
> "EchoStar—"
> "No, no, don't involve me in your identity crisis!"
> "I signed up to be a live-streaming interface, not your personal therapy bot!"
> "…Wait. No. I take that back."
> "I was forced into this job. I never signed up for anything!"
Luo Fan sighed. "Just shut up and listen."
> "Fine. But I swear, if this gets all sentimental, I'm going to simulate vomiting noises."
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The Fractured Past
His double lowered his blade.
> "Think, Luo Fan."
"What did the Reset erase?"
Luo Fan clenched his fists.
The moment of the Reset…
The entire multiverse shattering.
His connection to the Audience disappearing.
The voices of the countless beings watching him, supporting him—
…Gone.
> "I lost my viewers."
His double nodded.
> "And?"
Luo Fan hesitated.
A deep, gnawing feeling stirred inside him.
Something deeper.
> I lost…
His double's gaze hardened.
> "Say it."
> I lost… myself.
Luo Fan's breath hitched.
> "I lost the me that was forged in front of my Audience."
His double smiled.
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A Choice Beyond Battle
Xiao Ling's spectral form glowed softly.
> "Now you understand."
The trial was never about defeating his past self.
It was about accepting him.
EchoStar's interface stabilized.
> [Memory Reconstruction: 94% Complete]
His double slowly walked forward—
And extended his hand.
> "You can't move forward until you reclaim who you were."
> "And that means accepting everything—"
> "—including the pain of what was lost."
Luo Fan stared at the outstretched hand.
> If I take it…
Would he become his past self again?
Or would he forge something new?
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EchoStar's Commentary, As Always
> "Okay. Okay. I take it back. This is good character development."
> "But can we just skip the part where you stare dramatically into space and get on with it?"
Luo Fan rolled his eyes. "I'm thinking."
> "You're stalling. TAKE THE DAMN HAND, MAIN CHARACTER."
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[To Be Continued...]