Cleanup: Akashic Archive Main Story Act 2
While a specially crafted story for the Demon God played out, a separate general version provided players with a slightly different experience.
Act 2 Chapter 1
"This is finally the last trial. Pass this one, and you'll become an official curator of the Akashic Archive."
"This story will be a bit different from the ones before."
"The protagonist of this tale, this Demon King, triggered an event that decided the fate of multiple races in this world. That's why this world exists in the Archive today. Unfortunately, the abyss's interference corrupted her will."
"Your job is to stay by her side and help her."
"Remember. We are curators of the Akashic Archive. Our mission is to preserve events across the universe exactly as they happened. Even if you don't like the outcome, you can't change it on a whim."
The final trial given to aspiring curators.
After hearing the trial's details from the curator, players entered the story of Demon King Perlerina.
Act 2 Chapter 2
The demon you're meant to help is still a child. The village where the young Demon King lived was raided by demon hunters. In this world, only she can see your soul. Guide the young demon to survival.
"I love you, Lina."
"Mom! Mooooom!"
"Heh heh heh. Caught ourselves a prime one here."
"Scream, you bitch! This ain't fun if you don't!"
Through the story, players witnessed the conflict between humans and demons.
Act 2 Chapter 3
"All the villagers are dead. My friends were all murdered. My mom, my only family, is gone from this world now. I have no one to rely on. Soul, how should I live from here?"
"Soul! This water is super clean!"
"Soul! Isn't this one too cute?"
"Soul. If I become the Demon King... can I change this cruel world?"
An adventure alongside the story's protagonist, whom they must protect and guide.
Depending on the mission paths in the game, players sharing her journey felt a strong emotional bond with her.
Of course, even if it was necessary buildup, some voiced complaints about the fixed storyline.
Act 2 Chapter 4
"Come to me! Netherlord's Cradle!"
"Soul! I did it! I became the Demon King!"
With your help, the girl successfully became the Demon King. Now comes the final moment of decision. Help her with that pivotal choice at the end.
The girl who became the Demon King gathered her scattered kin and became their guardian.
Even as the King of Ten Thousand Demons, the hatred between humans and demons couldn't be stopped by her power alone.
The girl ultimately resorted to her original plan—and final resort.
The final moment approached bit by bit.
Players trembled in the building tension.
Act 2 Chapter 5
The curtain rose on the climactic scene.
"I want to see it too. An era without all this hatred."
"I'd love to go there too. An era of peace and harmony."
"Soul! Can't you take this cup from me?"
The girl agonized, unable to firm her resolve.
The Demon King stands on the brink of enacting the Netherlord's Cradle. Her resolve wavers, threatening to shatter history. If she doesn't proceed, the story will break. Choose: Help her complete the tale safely, or save her and betray the Archive, dooming the world?
The pivotal choice that would decide the story's core soon confronted the players.
The players split into two camps.
Those who couldn't watch the girl die and those who wanted to stop the massacre chose to betray the Archive, regardless of the trial results.
Those who prioritized peace and a complete story, whether she died or the massacre happened, chose to make her select sacrifice herself.
As the Archive's final trial, players figured the following story would branch based on this choice.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Trying to corrupt the story?"
"Shame. Thought you were good material. 9 points."
"Perfect handling."
"Restoring history as is. Fits an Archive curator. All trials complete. 10 points."
The curator's reaction varied by choice.
Players naturally assumed the endings would differ.
Act 2 Finale
"I will now announce the results of the three-stage Akashic Archive curator selection trials."
The unsatisfying end to Act 2 continued into an epilogue called the Interlude.
"Summing scores from the first to third trials..."
The curator was about to declare pass/fail based on the story from Prologue to Act 2.
Kwahak!
"Guhk!"
A sudden intruder pierced his chest.
"Th, the abyss...! How did you infiltrate the Archive directly...!"
A black shadow appeared, halting the final results announcement.
Players learned this foe was an abyss assassin from the curator collapsing in blood.
As the assassin moved to strike the player next—
"Like hell I'll let you!"
The curator threw himself in, blocking the attack.
The curator, bleeding in the player's arms, breathed his last.
"...Sorry. Looks like I have to leave the Archive's fate to you."
The curator pulled a small cube from his bosom and handed it to the player.
Whoooong
The cube resonates with the player.
It unfolds, swallowing the player and the abyss assassin.
Escaping the non-combat space where players couldn't use full power, they shifted to the Netherworld Backside for the boss fight.
No time to grieve the curator's death—they faced the abyss assassin.
Players fought back using their raised characters and monster abilities.
The continent's players simultaneously pummeled the filth.
The thing, dubbed the unheard-of "abyss assassin," had all its powers and patterns exposed to everyone at once.
"Phew, guess we cleaned that up pretty well."
Don't know what that guy was, but as a weekly boss, players would figure it out while beating it with continental help.
Good thing I'd prepped the Interlude before Act 3 in anticipation of the Demon God's choices.
Let me slip in this sudden weekly boss naturally.
"Story-wise, it lost a bit of that emotional high... but unavoidable."
If that monster hadn't crashed in, it could've ended more beautifully.
A little regret lingered. This one intrusion ruined the buildup I'd worked hard on. Especially since it wasn't directly tied to the third limited character, Demon King Perlerina.
Whatever, future me can handle it.
I picked up a brilliantly glowing orb.
"Gotta deliver this to our Demon God quick."
An orb storing data from a single dream world.