Chu Xi's sudden surge of power caught the black-robed figure off guard, but after recovering, It remained unfazed.
Morax had not truly arrived, and this mere girl before him posed no real threat to its plan.
As the black-robed figure had anticipated, Chu Xi gained the upper hand only initially. After a mere dozen or so exchanges, she found herself on the defensive.
After all, this wasn't her own power, making it difficult to wield with mastery.
Moreover, when Morax granted her the Vision, he could not have foreseen an enemy like the black-robed figure.
Clang—
Chu Xi's spear slipped from her grasp. She didn't retrieve it but instead scooped up Yuna from the ground and retreated away from the black-robed figure.
Meanwhile, Itto, who had been sent flying earlier, staggered back to his feet. Blood streamed from the corner of his mouth, and a deep gash marred his chest. Gripping his Claymore, he stumbled over to Chu Xi's side.
Itto's constitution far surpassed Kuki Shinobu's; the latter lay prostrate on the ground, unable to rise.
"Yuna!"
The vivid red mark on Yuna's neck pierced Itto's heart. He glared fiercely at the black-robed figure but refrained from attacking this time.
Having been soundly defeated twice already, Itto understood he was no match for this foe. Charging in recklessly would only lead to a disastrous outcome.
-
Outside the Serenitea Pot.
Lumine had reached Yashiori Island, but she couldn't get close to Ei.
Ei and the colossal serpent were battling at sea. The powerful aftershocks made even the beaches near the coast too dangerous to approach.
"Lumine, what do we do? If that black-robed figure comes after us..." Paimon, who hadn't entered the Serenitea Pot, whispered anxiously in Lumine's ear.
Hearing the mention of the Serenitea Pot, Lumine immediately pulled it out.
"Huh?"
The Serenitea Pot was trembling violently, completely unlike its usual state.
Remembering the black-robed figure's ability to tear through the Akasha, Lumine's heart lurched, and she immediately entered the Serenitea Pot.
The moment she stepped inside, Lumine saw Kuki Shinobu, Yuna, and Itto lying on the ground. The black-robed figure stood in the center, its right hand gripping the back of Chu Xi's head.
Blood streamed from Chu Xi's head, her body limp and lifeless. She had lost consciousness.
"Chu Xi!!! You bastard! Let Chu Xi go right now!" Paimon gritted her teeth, ready to charge forward, but Lumine held her back.
Lumine's breath came in ragged gasps as Unrelenting Will materialized in her hand. She lunged at the black-robed figure.
Before long, the black-robed figure had Lumine by the throat, her sword clattering to the ground.
Just as the black-robed figure was about to strike, Paimon's gray-purple eyes abruptly shifted to Morax's amber hue, her adorable face hardening into a chilling mask.
But this transformation vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, as if a glitch had occurred.
None of those present noticed, not even the players.
-
[We're done for!]
[Who's going to help us now?]
[Where's the Opposing Twin?]
[Has Chu Xi already...?]
[Stop talking nonsense! Chu Xi can't be gone, and neither are we!]
-
Just as the black-robed figure was about to strike, It suddenly felt someone touching Its foot.
Looking down, It saw that Yuna, who had previously been unconscious, had somehow woken up and was clutching at Its foot.
"L-let Lumine go," Yuna stammered. "I-I'll willingly offer my soul to you..."
Yuna didn't know if the Abyss had any restrictions on soul collection. She figured that if she offered her soul willingly, it might be better than having it forcibly taken. At this point, she had no choice but to gamble.
The black-robed figure lowered Its head, gazing at Yuna.
Yuna's heart leaped with hope—this might actually work!
"All you want is my soul, right? Don't hurt them! I'll willingly offer it!"
As she spoke, Yuna glanced back at her unconscious Boss and Second Sister.
She had no other choice. If she could, she wouldn't want to die, but... compared to something happening to her sister, Boss, or Lumine, her own death seemed far less important.
"A voluntary... exchange..."
The black-robed figure tossed Lumine aside, and Paimon immediately rushed over to check on her injuries.
Yuna was grabbed by the neck and hoisted up, face-to-face with the figure.
The black-robed figure's face remained impassive, while Yuna's pale little face was streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
"Your request... is granted."
The black-robed figure tore open a rift in space and dragged Yuna through it.
Lumine watched helplessly, her eyes bloodshot, her face twisted in fury. She tried desperately to crawl to her feet and stop the figure, but her body refused to obey.
After the black-robed figure vanished from the Serenitea Pot, Lumine's rage overwhelmed her, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
The only one still awake in the Serenitea Pot was Paimon. She wept, calling out to Lumine while clenching her tiny fists in terror.
-
After leaving the Serenitea Pot with Yuna, the black-robed figure immediately returned to Jiang Mumu's private space.
Jiang Mumu had somehow found a silk handkerchief and was dabbing at her tears.
The black-robed figure released Yuna here. The girl, who had been on the verge of death moments ago, suddenly regained her energy, leaping up to punch the figure in the stomach. The figure crouched down, enduring Yuna's relentless pounding on its head.
After a good thrashing, Jiang Mumu's anger subsided, and Yuna and the black-robed figure finally separated.
Phew~
I, Jiang Mumu, am still too sentimental. I even moved myself with my own performance.
Now that she had vented her anger on the black-robed figure for Yuna's sake, it wouldn't matter if the figure went a little overboard later, right?
First, Jiang Mumu reclaimed Yuna's consciousness. What came next would be too cruel for Yuna to witness.
Even though it was all part of Jiang Mumu's own consciousness, she felt that her character wouldn't treat Yuna this way.
But if only the body remained, she could do whatever she wanted with it.
Killing Yuna outright wouldn't generate overwhelming hatred, and the real issue lay with the players.
Even before the quest name was revealed, players had already guessed Yuna would die. Completing the quest with this expectation meant her eventual death wouldn't be particularly shocking.
But what if Yuna's death was slightly more gruesome?
Just a tiny bit. After all, Inazuma was already grim enough; a little extra darkness wouldn't hurt.
The players must remember this moment vividly!
Only then would Chu Xi's descent into darkness feel natural and inevitable.
-
Yashiori Island.
Ei, the Raiden Shogun, could sense Yae Miko's near-death state, sending her into a furious rage. Her attacks grew fiercer, making the giant serpent suffer a living hell.
Just moments ago, Ei had felt a sudden, heart-stopping pang—a sensation identical to the moment of true death.
Ei knew instantly: something catastrophic had struck Inazuma!
Five centuries of pent-up hatred and repression erupted violently. The Electro energy surrounding Ei swelled and expanded at an explosive rate, her expression growing even more regal and icy.
"Torn to oblivion!"
In this state, Ei unleashed her ultimate strike.
The blade's radiance dispelled the Black Fog, illuminating all of Yashiori Island.
Hum—
Before the blade even touched the giant serpent, its sheer force had already cleaved the sea in two!
Against this strike, the serpent's defenses were utterly useless.
The giant serpent was cleaved vertically in two, torrents of black blood pouring into the sea.