Chapter 821 - 821: The Collectively Depressed Players

Ben was almost sinking into depression, his mind still replaying the image of Zack lying there.

At this moment, the opening scene of Advent Children popped into his head: Cloud returning to Midgar on his motorcycle.

Then the Kadaj brothers appeared, kicking the Buster Sword away.

Back then, he hadn't paid any attention to that close-up shot, but now, all those questions had answers.

Because that's where the Buster Sword was, that's where Zack sacrificed himself!

"And why, why did Zack have to die?! These random mooks can respawn infinitely! This isn't fair, it's cheating!"

Thinking about the scene of Zack's sacrifice, accompanied by that sad music, and the flashback of Zack turning into an angel.

Ben felt a slight ache in his nose again, he just couldn't accept it!

It wasn't just Ben; countless players who reached this part of the game.

After finally experiencing Zack's death, they just broke down crying.

For some more rational players, they understood that Zack's sacrifice was inevitable.

After all, if Zack didn't sacrifice himself, how would the Buster Sword have gotten back to Cloud later?

And with Zack's personality, he would never abandon Cloud. If he didn't die, then Cloud wouldn't have had any significant role later; it would have all been Zack's show.

But for some more emotional players, many of their initial emotions were focused on Cloud.

After all, from Midgar to the Gold Saucer and then to the Crystal Nebula, Cloud had won over many players along the way.

But in Zack's storyline, while it didn't match Cloud's in playtime, it was equally memorable.

Angeal, who couldn't let go of his honor, Genesis, who sought revenge for honor and even wanted to destroy himself, and Zack, who was naturally optimistic.

These players repeatedly reloaded their saves, trying time and again to find any hope that Zack could survive.

But no matter what, the ending was always the same.

This was a battle that could never be won.

Even though it was just an interlude in the game, DLC content to fill in Zack's story.

But those few hours were enough to leave players with an incredibly deep impression.

And Zack's story also gave players a complete understanding of the entire Final Fantasy story, answering all the doubts they had.

Whether Tifa or Aerith approached Cloud, it was initially just to understand what was happening with him.

Aerith had seen the Angeal Greatsword that Zack carried with him, and she also saw Zack's reflection in Cloud. But as she adventured with Cloud, Aerith understood that Zack was Zack, and Cloud was Cloud. Initially, she saw Cloud as Zack's shadow, but later, he was just Cloud.

And Tifa initially just wanted to understand what Cloud had gone through, which is why she acted with Cloud and Avalanche.

At the same time, Zack's catchphrases about wanting to be a mercenary and how payment was important caused Cloud's own memories to blend with Jenova's memories, leading to mental confusion.

Without the DLC content, from a functional perspective, Zack would have just been a plot device.

But this DLC story allowed players to feel Zack's unique charm.

Except for showing his vulnerability after personally killing Angeal, whom he admired, Zack was always full of sunshine and a smile on his face.

His calm expression when facing the Shinra soldiers' encirclement, raising the Buster Sword in prayer, and that still sunny greeting of "Welcome!"

As he departed, with sunlight, rain, and blood mixed on his face, he still faced it with a smile.

When Cloud finally came to his side, he raised the Buster Sword in his hand, entrusting his last hope and honor to Cloud, which moved countless players.

From Angeal, to Zack, and then to Cloud.

Honor, dignity, dreams, hope...

And it was upon handing the Buster Sword to Cloud that Zack finally became the hero he had always dreamed of being.

Perhaps Zack wasn't the most powerful among the Shinra 1st class soldiers, but he was definitely the most special.

The three Shinra 1st class soldiers were not heroes, and neither was Cloud currently. The only one who became a hero was Zack.

Genesis, who was the first to discover the truth about Jenova, was not a hero, because he chose to flee when faced with the truth.

Angeal, full of honor, was also not a hero, because he became lost in the face of brutal truths.

Sephiroth was also not a hero, because he chose obedience and destruction.

Cloud is not a hero either; he's introverted, even harbors self-doubt, and has some inferiority complex.

This is Cloud's personality, but like Zack, Cloud has the potential to become a hero.

In Cloud's hometown, upon seeing Zack and Tifa severely wounded by Sephiroth, he was able to disregard everything, pick up the Buster Sword from the ground, and fight against his former idol, the terrifying man Sephiroth. From that moment on, Cloud actually began his transformation, but he was still too young and immature.

Only Zack is now a true hero.

Angeal called the wings that grew on them "monster wings," but Zack called them "angel wings."

Knowing everything behind it, only Zack was still willing to face it with a smile, and was willing to love and protect.

This was Zack's unique talent, and only Zack could achieve this.

In the end, Zack became the hero he always wanted to be.

As more and more players experienced this DLC content, they were all collectively depressed.

And discussions about Final Fantasy intensified online.

"I can't take it anymore, has anyone gone to Nebula Games headquarters?"

"The blades are ready, brothers, let's go!"

"The plot mysteries are completely solved! Because he ran through Mako with Zack and had Jenova cells implanted, and so did Sephiroth. But Cloud, due to Mako's side effects and his own self-doubt, hadn't fully awakened before, which is why he could be influenced by Sephiroth?"

"I thought I wouldn't be heartbroken after Jessie and Aerith died and the rest of the main party were still there, but I couldn't escape Zack's sacrifice!"

"It was all planned! 'Advent Children' hinted at everything!"

"My mind broke at the end, tears just wouldn't stop. It was so close, so close Aerith could have met Zack!"

"No, how could someone be so heartless!?"

Because of Zack's story, countless players discussed on forums and communities, and their final words were condensed into one sentence: Damn you, Boss Lucas!

However, what these players didn't know was that although they were already in great pain, there were still some "after-dinner sweets" to come.

(End of Chapter)