Video Game Tycoon in Tokyo-Chapter 791: I Don’t Know

At the end of the story, Zack faces an overwhelming enemy force.

They come like a tidal wave.

This segment utilized Gamestar Electronic Entertainment's latest visual effects technology. Every character on screen looked incredibly lifelike. The final ten-minute CG sequence alone cost over $5 million USD—accounting for nearly 10% of Crisis Core's total development budget.

And that was with the benefit of using Gamestar's own Unreal Engine and their in-house supercomputer cluster, which helped save on outsourcing and server rental costs.

If it had been outsourced, the price could've easily doubled.

But for all that money, the results were truly breathtaking—almost indistinguishable from live action at times.

When Takayuki saw the finished sequence, he even remarked that it might be time to remake Final Fantasy VII itself—because the tech was finally there.

In-game, Zack stood alone before the vast army of Shinra soldiers. He gave a wry shake of his head.

...

...

"Freedom sure comes at a cost."

Slowly, he pulled out the great sword he inherited from his mentor, held it upright in front of his chest like a prayer, and delivered the line that had stuck with Takayuki ever since he wrote it:

"Embrace your dreams..."

"And... no matter what, never forget the pride of being a SOLDIER."

"Welcome... to the end!"

"Uwaaah..."

Kazumi finally broke down in tears the moment Zack finished his line. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hold it in.

She'd already been on the verge of breaking when Zack received Aerith's 89th letter—the last one.

Aerith had written to him steadily for over four years, even after losing his address. That final letter became her last.

But it was also the very reason Zack held on—he had to see her again.

Oto-chan was trembling now too, still facing away from Kazumi and Aiko. No one knew exactly when she'd started crying, but tears had clearly started falling.

Aiko, the most composed of the three, wasn't crying. But her heart was heavy.

After playing the game over two days, she had also begun to fully connect with the character. Watching Zack press forward with such resolve left her with complex emotions.

"Zack has to win!" Kazumi sobbed, her face soaked in tears.

Aiko quietly replied, "He won't. Zack is going to die—if he didn't, Final Fantasy VII wouldn't exist."

"Nooo! I don't want to hear it!"

Kazumi covered her ears but couldn't look away from the screen.

The final battle had begun. Wave after wave of Shinra soldiers wore Zack down.

His health bar was rapidly depleting. Oto-chan frantically used healing items to keep him alive, hoping to beat every last enemy.

The "slot machine" mechanic in the upper-left corner of the screen had now transformed. It no longer displayed random buffs—it began flashing through Zack's memories.

Friends, foes, mentors, lovers... they all appeared one by one, as if lending him their strength.

As though they were pushing him to keep going, to defy fate and survive.

But even after surviving wave after wave, the story transitioned into its scripted finale.

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A blinding white light filled the screen.

Then came the last CG cutscene—rendered in real time.

Zack stood, battered and broken, clutching his sword as he stared at the few remaining soldiers.

They, too, looked shaken—clearly reluctant to finish off someone like Zack. But bound by orders, they slowly raised their guns.

Then came the sound of gunfire.

The screen shook violently—and then faded to black.

"Nooo!" Kazumi screamed aloud.

And then, the final slot reel appeared.

Inside Zack's mind, memories of Aerith flooded in—beautiful, warm, bittersweet.

Every moment they'd shared came rushing back.

It was time.

The ending CG began. Long, silent, and somber. Players could do nothing but watch.

But no one—no one—would ever dream of skipping this scene.

In the church in Sector 5, Aerith tended to her blooming flowers.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she stood and looked up toward the ruined rooftop.

Rain began to fall softly.

Aerith clasped her hands together and whispered a silent prayer. Then, she looked up.

The screen cut to a close-up of a single, sky-blue eye.

It was breathtaking—pure, like the sky.

But streaked with blood.

Everyone watching knew whose eye it was.

And yet... everyone desperately wished it wasn't.

But the story had no mercy.

Zack's image appeared clearly.

He was fading.

Looking silently at the gray skies above, his sword resting beside him, soaked in his own blood.

In the distance, Cloud crawled toward him. He had finally woken up—weak and shaken.

Zack looked at him with calm eyes.

"Live... for the both of us."

"You're my proof of life."

Then came Cloud's anguished scream—raw, soul-crushing.

The game's final theme, "Why", began to play.

Kazumi sobbed loudly. Oto-chan wept in silence.

Aiko closed her eyes.

She rarely felt sadness like this—but this game had broken through.

She realized once again how powerful Takayuki's storytelling could be.

"At least he died with a smile..." Kazumi whispered, watching Zack's soul rise skyward, smiling gently.

Even in her grief, there was comfort.

Oto-chan nodded. "Yeah... I can accept this ending."

Aiko added, "Takayuki-sensei is kind. At least he didn't make the death too cruel. And... I don't think death is really the end."

Kazumi turned to her. "What do you mean?"

"In Final Fantasy VII lore, when people die, their souls return to the Planet's Lifestream. So in a way, they're still alive—as part of something greater."

Aiko continued, "And don't forget Advent Children, the sequel movie. At the end, Cloud sees Aerith and Zack. That wasn't just his imagination. It was a sign—they still exist. Just in another form."

Kazumi stopped crying. She looked visibly better, though the sadness lingered.

Then she remembered something.

"Hey, Aiko... did you notice whether I or Oto-chan cried first?"

Aiko glanced at Oto-chan and answered honestly:

"Hmm? No idea."