Chapter 824 - 824: This is Just a Trial Version?!

The players argued back and forth, unable to convince each other, as it was all based on personal speculation.

You could present a well-reasoned argument, and the other side would just retort: "Has the official confirmed it?"

That immediately shut down the topic.

But one had to admit that "Final Fantasy" truly gave players an unforgettable experience, even though the various tragic endings made players weep rivers of tears.

The cinematic cutscenes and script, along with the moving story, provided players with an indescribable and wonderful experience.

But just as many players finished "Final Fantasy" and no longer fiercely debated the CP factions, and the game's popularity began to cool down.

A brand new piece of news on the official Weibo accounts of Nebula Games and Lucas greatly surprised many players.

The official Weibo message was just one sentence.

'If the future can be changed, then what?' Final Fantasy's brand new hidden content update is now available!'

When they saw this news, many players, including Ben, who had just finished the game and had recovered from the sad atmosphere, were initially a bit confused by Lucas's official Weibo post, not understanding its meaning. But then many players realized something and opened the Nebula platform.

The store interface showed a new update alert, which explained everything.

The future changes? Does that mean multiple endings?! Is there a perfect ending?!

The players were instantly excited.

Countless players chose to update immediately.

And once they entered the game, countless players became excited because it was exactly as they had imagined.

The plot was still "Final Fantasy's" plot, but the game's presentation and details were completely different.

It was as if they had entered a different game.

Aerith and Sephiroth both looked like they had been reborn and time-traveled!

Most of the early plot in the game was the same until Cloud and Barret completed the mission to destroy the first Mako reactor.

When Cloud met Aerith again, the plot at this point made players realize that some things were different.

Aerith acted as if she had been reborn.

In the initial plot, Aerith and Cloud's first meeting was simple.

Cloud helped Aerith avoid the chaotic crowd and discovered she was selling rare flowers in Midgar.

Since it was late, he bought a flower from Aerith.

Money was exchanged for the goods, and they went their separate ways.

There wasn't much interaction.

The real interaction happened at the church in the slums.

Cloud fell onto the flowers from the sky, just like Zack back then, which made Aerith curious about Cloud.

But now it was completely different.

Here, Aerith was knocked down by the escaping crowd and was troubled by a group of seemingly invisible monsters.

Finally, Cloud helped Aerith. Facing Cloud, who had helped her, Aerith acted very familiarly, as if she had known Cloud for a long time.

'Please take this flower, thank you for chasing them away for me.'

'The price depends on the person, but for you... I'll give it to you.'

'The flower language is reunion.'

Aerith's lines had completely changed, and they had a double meaning.

Besides this, there were many other plot points. For example, when facing Reno's attack in the church, Aerith wasn't too panicked and directly called out Cloud by his Shinra SOLDIER identity, something Cloud hadn't told Aerith yet.

Also, at Aerith's house, at night, Aerith seemed to know that Cloud would leave, so she waited for him at the door beforehand, instead of coincidentally running into him as in the previous plot.

Even Sephiroth seemed to have returned from the future, acting like a riddle, even suggesting that he wanted to team up with Cloud and saying that if he didn't want to lose his companions and become stronger.

And during the plot of returning to Sector 7 on the commercial street, Tifa learned of Shinra's plot and felt a sense of reluctance regarding her companions' safety. Aerith seemed to know something and proactively reminded them.

It was because of Aerith's reminder that Cloud and Tifa returned to Sector 7 early, coincidentally encountering Avalanche members fighting Shinra.

Wedge, who had fallen to his death in the original game, survived here.

"So, can the plot be changed? Can Aerith survive?"

Countless players who reached this point widened their eyes because this was the first major change in the game.

Just like Biggs, due to Cloud and Tifa's early return.

During the Shinra attack, Jessie and Biggs did not die, only suffered serious injuries.

Especially later, when the plate was about to fall, Aerith urged everyone to leave quickly, which was a confirmation to the players.

Later, in the Shinra headquarters where they went to save Aerith, Cloud and the others met Red XIII for the first time. As the Planet's Holy Beast, it directly recognized what those ghost-like things were.

According to Red XIII, these ghost-like things were called Whispers, and they were the arbiters of fate.

In other words, the direction from the planet's birth to its disappearance was predetermined.

It was like a bent thread; if it became bent, the Whispers would straighten it.

What would the subsequent plot be like?

Ben, who was currently playing the game, was so excited he couldn't control himself. Although he had recovered from the sadness, he really wanted to see a perfect group ending.

It might not be as impressive as a tragedy, but as a player, he just wanted to see a perfect ending.

Now, this bonus hidden content gift from Boss Lucas, and the concept of Whispers!?

After returning to the game, could the subsequent fate be changed?

Ben was incredibly excited at this moment.

But after the excitement subsided, he thought of something and felt a pang of regret.

Because according to the timeline, Zack had already died by this time.

No matter what, it seemed like Zack couldn't be saved, right?

But as Cloud and the others escaped during the Midgar segment, a character's appearance filled him with surprise.

As Cloud faced the fate-copy of the Whispers at Shinra's great building, the scene shifted to the wasteland outside Midgar.

'Really now... the price of freedom is very high.'

'Embrace your dreams... and no matter when, don't give up on the pride of being a SOLDIER.'

'Welcome!' The same lines, the same plot.

But the scene was different. This time, Ben saw it.

The Whispers surrounding countless Shinra soldiers.

Why were the Whispers appearing behind these Shinra soldiers?

Before Ben could react, countless Whispers enveloped the sky, seemingly aiming for Zack.

But in the next moment, with an explosion of light, the countless Whispers disappeared without a trace.

At the same time, inside Midgar.

Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and Barret successfully defeated the arbiters of fate, the Whispers.

Whisper Rhox: A being manifested from future destiny, wielding a sword to protect the future that created it.

This symbolized Cloud's future.

Whisper Fidi: A being manifested from future destiny, using martial arts to protect the future that created it.

This was Tifa's future.

Whisper Jaro: A being manifested from future destiny, manipulating firearms to protect the future that created it.

And this was Barret's future.

But what made Ben a little panicked was that there was no Whisper representing Aerith's future among the main team.

The moment the collection of Whispers was defeated.

From day to night, and then to morning, the scene shifted to outside Midgar.

Zack, covered in blood, looked up at the rain falling from the sky and smiled.

"We won?"

Leaning on his Buster Sword for support, Zack, with a smile on his face, returned to the spot where Cloud was previously laid down and helped him up, slowly walking step by step towards Midgar.

Clearly, the two existed on different timelines.

Then, the rain began to fall from the sky. As Zack led Cloud towards Midgar.

On the other side, Aerith and the others, having defeated the Whispers, also had to make a choice.

Facing Cloud's desire to leave, Aerith reached out as if to stop Cloud, asking him not to enter the singularity of fate.

'This moment is the crossroads, the divergence of fate.'

'What's on the other side?'

'Freedom... but freedom is terrifying. Can you hear the Planet's cry? That's the voice of the people of the past, the cries of life cycling on the Planet.'

'Was it caused by Sephiroth?'

'Yes... but... this wall is an obstacle of fate. Once you enter... cross this wall... everyone will change.'

Facing Aerith's words, Cloud said nothing. Red XIII, Barret, and Tifa all slowly crossed the gate representing the unknown together.

"My god! Is this a parallel universe setting like Bioshock?"

"In the Final Fantasy multiverse, the original plot and the Advent Children plot are the prime universe, and the new mode that has been updated now is an extended parallel universe."

"At the same time, the Whispers' setting is to bring everything in the parallel universe back to the origin point, so the Whispers would help Cloud and the others, and even save Barret from death. But they would also help the villainous Hojo escape from Cloud and the others."

"Because in the first playthrough's plot, meaning the predetermined timeline, neither Barret nor Hojo died, so the power of fate transcends death!"

"And according to the original plot, Sephiroth will definitely be defeated by Cloud in the end."

"So why did Sephiroth's motives appear? He can't let fate continue on its original course, and Aerith might not have Sephiroth's immense power, only knowing a part of the future."

"And the reason Sephiroth isn't looking for Cloud at this moment is because Sephiroth's true form isn't here. Only a clone might be, completely unable to defeat Cloud and the others."

"But now that fate has changed, and even Zack from another parallel world has survived, can Cloud still grow up and defeat Sephiroth?"

"Also, the subsequent fate of this world has been changed. Can Cloud defeat Sephiroth again?"

Ben's eyes were wide open.

Not just him, but all the players who had reached this point were full of excitement.

Big news! Nebula Games has dropped a bombshell!

What will happen next!?

With excitement and thrill, Ben was full of anticipation for what was to come.

But in the next moment, he was stunned.

"What the hell! Why are the credits rolling already? This is just, Midgar is the beginner's village!?"

A wail escaped Ben's mouth.

He, who was filled with anticipation for the subsequent developments in the original game, stared at the screen in front of him.

It felt like you finally found a small video, closed the door, got your tissues ready, and confirmed that the first three minutes of the video were what you wanted to see, but when you actually started watching, you found that the video file after those three minutes was completely corrupted and showing static. How could anyone tolerate that!?

Anger, resentment... all sorts of emotions erupted, and finally, countless players uttered a single sentence: "Boss Lucas, are you even human!?"

How could you do this!?

It looked like a sequel, but now you're telling them, this is just a trial version!?

(End of Chapter)