Arcane Affairs Officer I: Target spotted. I repeat, target spotted.
Within moments of the plainclothes officer's words, the arriving police evacuate the crowd and seal off the street.
The officers form an impenetrable barrier, trapping both the target and Liáng inside. They stand in a face-off.
Chinatown Resident: What's going on? Who are they?
The bystanders erupt into fervent speculation. Deputy Chief Elden steps into the containment zone.
Deputy Chief Elden: Impressive, Nightpiercer. This is a whole new level, even for you.
Deputy Chief Elden: Tell me, what did you pull to take control of that film reel?
Qi Xing: I didn't pull anything, officer.
Qi Xing: It chose to fulfill my wish. That's all.
Liang Yue: Urgh ...
Without warning, an excruciatingly sharp noise tears through her skull, sending waves of vertigo crashing over her.
For several agonizing seconds, she can hear nothing but the distant groans of the officers and bystanders suffering alongside her. It's a fight just to stay upright.
When the assault on her senses finally subsides, the first thing she registers is a voice coming from her communicator.
Arcane Affairs Officer I: Chief! Something bad's happening.
The urgency in the officer's voice sets Liáng's nerves on edge, but then her tone shifts.
Arcane Affairs Officer I: Wait, maybe it's good.
Arcane Affairs Officer I: Those things! Th-They've stopped moving. They're not attacking anymore.
Deputy Chief Elden: You kidding?
Liáng and Elden exchange a puzzled glance before scanning their surroundings. The shifting shadows have indeed stopped moving, and the reason is obvious.
Their wary gazes turn to their target. She's standing calmly in the middle of the street, unfazed by the array of loaded firearms aimed directly at her.
Qi Xing: I never wanted to get innocent people involved. As I said before, this is between me and Noire. Now, may I see my dear old friend?
Qi Xing: Heh, if you're worried about her safety, the little vigil can tag along.
Liáng and Elden exchange a look.
Deputy Chief Elden: It's too dangerous.
Deputy Chief Elden: We've already put Noire at considerable risk, but pushing her right into the hands of a criminal? I don't think so.
Deputy Chief Elden: We can't put a civilian in danger like that. Besides, why would Qí Xīng let you go with her? You're walking right into a trap.
Noire: Trap or not, I'm afraid we don't have much choice.
Her voice isn't loud, but in this high-tension standoff, its slow and measured cadence feels completely out of place.
Poitier pushes Noire's wheelchair forward, placing her squarely in the spotlight.
Deputy Chief Elden: Poitier? What are you doing? I told you to hold position.
Noire raises a hand, smiling as she cuts off Elden's rising fury.
Noire: Please don't blame Officer Poitier, sir. I forced her to bring me here.
Deputy Chief Elden: What? What the hell are you thinking?
Noire: It's time I put an end to all of this.
Noire: No need to worry, officer. Our reliable vigil will keep me safe, isn't that right?
Liang Yue: Yes, of course. I will ensure Ms. Noire's safety, Chief. Leave it to me.
Elden studies Liáng's face for a moment before shifting his gaze to Qí Xīng. At last, he relents.
Deputy Chief Elden: Keep the target in check, Liáng.
Keeping his eyes on the target, he leans in close to Liáng's ear and issues a low warning.
Deputy Chief Elden: James and the others are working on how to break this barrier we're in. Camera-head and that ghost hunter are helping them.
Deputy Chief Elden: Stay calm. We want to resolve this peacefully, if possible. Haven't forgotten what you learned in negotiation class, have you?
Liang Yue: Of course not, sir. I got straight A's.
Poitier takes Liáng's other side and rests a firm hand on her shoulder.
Poitier: Guard up, rookie, and straighten your back.
Poitier: I get why you wanna wear this outfit, but you can get things done with or without it. Isn't that right, partner?
Liang Yue: Right, ma'am. I won't fail.
Before pulling away, Poitier gives Liáng her usual rough pat on the back, but somehow, it causes Liáng's stiffness to melt away.
Taking a steadying breath, she moves to Noire's side.
Liang Yue: Let's go, director. Time for the final scene.
Accompanied by Liáng, Noire wheels into the distorted world before them.
It's as if a surreal nightmare is unfolding before their eyes.
Qi Xing: Look around you, Noire. Look at what we've done.
Qí Xīng's gaze wanders over the bleeding lights and flickering shadows around her as she scrutinizes the cracks and distortions in this twisted realm unleashed by the cursed film reel.
But her expression holds no trace of admiration.
Qi Xing: This is what her film, the very last work of our dearest friend, looks like now—tainted, twisted, and wicked.
Qi Xing: All this is proof of our guilt—the blood on our hands.
Noire: So, what are you going to do about it?
Noire: Teresa's never coming back.
Noire: She's dead.
Noire doesn't shy away from the word. Though a note of sorrow lingers in her tone, she says it with a certain cold detachment.
Noire: And you, playing hero, punishing those you deem evil. Does that make you feel better? You kill me, and then, what, kill yourself?
Noire: That's how you'll atone for your failures? Forgive my bluntness, but how laughably naive you are.
Noire's voice has an uncharacteristic sharpness to it, but Qí Xīng shows no sign of wavering under her scrutiny.
Instead, she smiles.
Qi Xing: Atone for my failures? Heh, you're way off.
Qi Xing: You're right about one thing, though. She is gone. The person who cared for me more than anyone in the world ... dead.
Qi Xing: When she gave me a shoulder to lean on, I pushed her away. I left her to die alone and in pain. How could I ever atone for that?
Qi Xing: How could I ever expect her to forgive me? How selfish of me to even ask for that.
Liáng furrows her brow in suspicion.
Liang Yue: Then why can't you let it go?
Liang Yue: C07 is the hero who brings a happy ending, no matter what she's faced with. What you're doing now is anything but that.
Qi Xing: "The hero who brings a happy ending, no matter what she's faced with." That's what I said in the behind-the-scenes interview of C07 II. I'm surprised you even remember that.
After a brief pause, she smiles again.
She lightly shakes her head, that same indifferent smile on her face. But despair lurks behind her eyes.
Qi Xing: But there'll be no happy ending for me.
Qi Xing: You probably heard that, after she died, I starred in a few movies with other directors.
Qi Xing: But they all went south, not because they weren't commercially successful or popular, but because I couldn't shake that feeling of disgust. I'd never felt that playing C07.
Qi Xing: The cameras, the boom mics, the spotlights—the sight of them made me want to throw up, scream, do anything to run away from it all.
Qi Xing: Eventually, I retired from acting. But that sense of disgust never left me. It haunted me wherever I went, whatever I did.
Qi Xing: I kept asking myself, "Why is this happening to me?" "Why can't I just act?" "Why?!"
Qi Xing: Day and night, I wrestled with these questions. Until, one day, I found the answer.
Her gaze burns with intensity, and yet, it carries a bone-chilling coldness. It is fixed firmly upon Noire.
Qi Xing: It all began with a dire mistake, one that needs to be corrected.
Silver needles streak through the air in a sudden downpour.
Liang Yue: Ms. Noire, get back!
FINAL BOSS "Reunion of the Three Swallows"
Deputy Chief Elden: They must be gaining power from this barrier we're in.
Qi Xing: I hate you, Noire.
Qi Xing: You were born with a silver spoon and exceptional talent. You took everything for granted. You looked down on everyone else.
Qi Xing: I've always hated you.
Liang Yue: Ms. Noire, hold on!
Noire: That was close.
Liang Yue: Ms. Qí Xīng, is this really what you want to do? Are you really going to kill Ms. Noire?
Liang Yue: You have to stop. This is completely meaningless.
Qi Xing: Hah. Meaningless? No, this is exactly what needs to happen. Every story must have an ending, after all.
Qi Xing: The past has held me prisoner for far too long.
Qi Xing: I need an ending, a conclusion, so I can finally leave it behind me. Only then ...
Qi Xing: ... can I reach my perfect grand finale.
Qi Xing: Qiángliáng?
Qi Xing: Impossible! You didn't chant the incantation.
Liang Yue: This time, I won't hesitate.
Liang Yue: You were my inspiration, Ms. Qí Xīng. Like the countless kids who were once lost, I found myself in C07.
Liang Yue: And that's exactly why I have to stop you.
Liang Yue: Arise Qiángliáng, swift and fierce! Banish all evil and cleanse this place!
Qi Xing: ...!