Well, since eco makes it quite clear what he wants and what it means to him, picking that option goes against the character's explicit wishes, so it can only be unlocked by a certain combo of dialogue choices <3
Thank you for your reply. Now I know what to do.
I have to say — even though I personally would prefer to be the top with Kai, I'm also genuinely glad that Eco finally understands what he wants and has chosen to be his true self.
Coming to terms with oneself is a major life task for everyone, and Eco has managed it in most situations，that's really great.
So I'll just treat my own exploration as a small, private attempt, something that's only on my side. As for Eco himself, he will always be able to choose the option that represents his true heart
You get it! That's one of the whole running themes of rcvn is giving up your expectations and what you want for the greater good, without losing your identity in the process.
To make eco choose the path of fear, and refusing to embrace himself comes with some pretty hefty consequences... consequences that are hefty enough to make it incompatible with the sequel. That's why I gate kept it. It is in the game, you can technically go trial and error your way through it and unlock it. The art in the top scene is amazing, the special song is beautiful, but the writing is truly heart breaking at the culmination of it. You will feel like a very bad person if you pick it haha, which is very intentional. If you are imagining a hot, passionate scene, change your expectations. Eco is not happy for a single moment during it.
Well, this reminds me of the genocide route in a certain game. Doing this isn't about being morally good or bad, and I don't enjoy seeing any of it either. But choosing this path means bearing the pressure and guilt for the sake of wanting to see more of the story. Trying to tell myself "it's just a game" or "this is just an unreal, nonexistent future" doesn’t help at all.
Yeah… but I’m an evil completionist 🤓
So that those who don’t want to do this can still know what this heartbreaking path looks like, so others don’t have to bear the sin of bloodstained hands or the pain of moral condemnation — for everyone’s happiness! I… shall become the necessary evil of this world! 🤓 (damn it, that sounds like a villain’s speech)
Alright, I admit，this is just my selfish desire. But unfortunately, it’s so strong that it drives me to hurt others. Eco and Kai… I’m truly sorry 🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭 I will never forget you 😢😢😢
I highly recommend doing the path! But not the first time through :)
Hence why I am choosing to gatekeep it so readers can experience the story in the way it was intended to be told. I will obviously reveal the path publicly at the end of the VN, and of course, anyone is welcome to spend the time doing guess and check or going through the code to find the path for it.
It's more of a "non-cannon secret ending" rather than a viable option, so I don't want anyone to accidentally stumble onto it during their play-through.
Not to spoil anything, but the consequences of picking that route are... well... they're pretty disgusting by the ending haha.
Does this count as the author's official amnesty? Then I can explore this route with a much lighter heart—like casually making up a harmless, funny parody story, rather than pushing myself toward an terrible ending.
By the way... I haven't reached the end of this version yet, but I'd like to know: how much longer will this game take to be completed? Roughly how many more versions? The wait is always so long, yet the happy times playing always fly by in an instant... I don't even dare to keep playing right now, afraid that I'll gobble up all the candy in one sitting.😢
Well, I have a lot of IRL commitments, so I am forced to take it at a much more reasonable pace than spitting out 115K words in 6 months, like I did with build 3. It's good. It forces me to take it at a more doable rate so I don't get burn out. I have no personal idea of how long? I know how far into the story we are! We're like 60% of the way through. If I had to venture a GUESS (this is not like me making an official statement haha, just theory crafting) It's maybe 3 builds more? Depending on size of the build?
Damn it…… Three more versions…… 18 months…… A year and a half…… I can't accept this 😭😭😭
(Crying) (Gasping) (Getting infected) (Screaming) (Howling) (Vomiting) (Growing appendages) (Crawling darkly) (Shrieking) (Devouring) ……
(Until the longing for this game pulls me back.)
Alright, I'm fine…… 😢 Or maybe, not fine at all 😭
Either way, I still wish you all the best in life and massive success for your game. Thank you for your hard work that allowed me to play this masterpiece 🥰🥰🥰