The Hydro Element around her body surged wildly in an instant. A pale blue light slowly condensed behind her, gradually forming the phantom image of a bright moon.
The screen finally froze on this scene: Yunxuan's slightly parted lips, the shock and vigilance in her eyes, the bright moon condensing behind her, and that mysterious dark figure standing in the mist.
It was like a still oil painting, yet it exuded an indescribable tension and strangeness, as if even the air was about to explode.
Lu Nanqing held her breath, the rabbit pillow she was clutching being squeezed out of shape. Her voice was full of worry, even carrying a hint of crying: "Who is this dark figure? Is it the Abyss Knight who killed Yunqin? Or is it that mysterious 'He'?"
"How can Yunxuan fight alone? Osial and his wife, come out quickly! Don't let her face this alone!"
The bullet chat was even more flooded with anxious emotions, scrolling so fast that people couldn't see it clearly.
"Don't stop here! Keep playing! Who did Yunxuan run into?"
"The outline of this dark figure looks a bit familiar. Could it be someone she knows? Judging by Yunxuan's reaction, she seems really surprised!"
"Mihoyo, you're doing this again! Cutting it off at the most critical moment, are you trying to make us stay up all night? I have to work tomorrow!"
In front of the screen, Lu Nanqing's fingers tapped unconsciously on the tabletop.
This short scene contained countless hidden clues.
Why did Yunxuan appear here alone?
Where did Osial and his wife go?
Who exactly was that dark figure?
And did all of this have anything to do with the Abyss that Dainsleif found?
The players on Earth fell into a feverish discussion once again.
Some took screenshots of the dark figure's outline, comparing it to previously appearing characters in an attempt to guess its identity.
Some dug through previous plotlines, analyzing the enemies Yunxuan might have encountered word by word.
-
The group hurried after Dainsleif, the path beneath their feet turning into a mountain trail.
When the familiar outline of the Stone Gate came into view.
Lumine, Venti, and Lydia stopped almost simultaneously, their expressions instantly turning grave.
Though it was high noon with the sun at its zenith, the golden light bathing them brought no warmth. Instead, it felt as if countless tiny ice needles were crawling under their collars, slipping into their skin and burrowing through their veins into the marrow of their bones.
The air was as thick as undissolved ink, and even breathing carried a heavy pressure. Occasional roars of monsters echoed from afar, yet they passed so quickly they felt like illusions, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
"Something's wrong," Lumine frowned.
"The Elemental Power here is as chaotic as stirred porridge, and..." She paused, her tone tinged with a barely perceptible wariness, "There's a dense Abyssal aura, even stronger than at Wangshu Inn, as if it's seeping up from underground."
Paimon shrank her neck, her voice trembling. "It's so cold! The sun is out, so why is it colder than Dragonspine?"
Just as she finished speaking, the Festering Desire in Lydia's hand suddenly began to vibrate violently without warning!
The dark purple runes flared with a "buzz," their piercing light instantly slicing through the heavy air as a violent tug came from the sword.
It was as if an invisible hand had seized the hilt, dragging Lydia in a mad dash toward the dense forest to the left of the Stone Gate.
"Eh? Festering Desire! Stop!" Lydia was caught off guard, stumbling forward two steps as she was yanked before barely managing to steady herself.
She instinctively tried to let go, but her fingertips seemed glued to the hilt. No matter how hard she tried to pry it off or shake it loose, the Festering Desire remained immovable, as if it had grown into her hand.
"Lydia!" Venti acted swiftly, rushing forward to catch her arm. Anemo subtly coiled around her wrist, attempting to help her keep her balance. "Don't panic! Try and see if you can communicate with it!"
But the Festering Desire's tug grew stronger, threatening to dislocate Lydia's arm.
Her snow-white face strained pale as she gritted her teeth, dragged forward by the sword. The pebbles beneath her feet sent a dull ache through her soles, yet she couldn't even spare a cry of pain.
Dainsleif frowned, his gaze darkening beneath his black cloak. Without a word, he strode forward to follow.
Lumine hurriedly grabbed Paimon and hurried to catch up.
They raced through the dense forest, branches scratching Lydia's cheek and leaving faint red marks. The ground beneath her feet changed from mud to gravel, sending a numbing ache through her soles.
The surrounding Abyssal aura grew thicker, as dense as an impenetrable fog, and even her breath carried a sickly sweet scent of decay.
After running for an unknown amount of time, the Festering Desire's vibrations gradually slowed, finally stopping with a "click" before a concealed cave.
The cave's entrance was hidden behind a massive rock, with thick vines acting like a curtain. The moment the vines were pushed aside, a suffocating Abyssal aura rushed out.
The pitch-black cave entrance resembled a giant beast's open maw, with not a single sliver of light inside. The surrounding flora was entirely withered and dark, its leaves crumbling into dust at a single touch.
Lumine and Venti's expressions instantly turned extremely solemn. Paimon was so frightened she hid behind Lumine, only peeking out with her wide, round eyes fixed on the cave's entrance.
Venti was about to ask Lydia if she was alright, but his gaze fell upon her hand first. The fingers gripping the Festering Desire were trembling slightly, her snow-white eyelashes fluttering violently, and her face was paler than before.
The girl's eyes were filled with unconcealed fear and apprehension, as if she were staring at her worst nightmare.
This was no ordinary terror, but a primal repulsion from the depths of her soul, as though the cave harbored something capable of tearing her to pieces.
"Don't be afraid." Venti gently reached out, pulling Lydia into his arms. His hand patted her back softly, his movements as light as if he feared she might shatter. "It's alright. I'm here."
His voice was extremely soft, carrying the wind's tenderness like a spring breeze caressing the meadow, gradually soothing the tension in Lydia's back. "Whatever is inside that frightens you, I will shield you from it."
"Everything that causes you pain, everything that makes you tremble, I will not let them touch you again," Venti's voice gradually deepened, carrying an unquestionable resolve. A fine light churned in his eyes. "If anything dares to harm you, whether it is an Abyss monster or something else, I will make them pay the price."
The moment his words fell, Venti's eyes suddenly turned a pure gold, like two rotating clock faces. The divine majesty and pressure unique to a God instantly radiated outward, causing the surrounding wind to fall still.
Lumine, standing behind them, felt her pupils contract. Paimon was even more frightened, covering her mouth and nearly crying out, "Venti! Your eyes..."
But before they could react, Venti had already released Lydia.
The gold in his eyes receded like a tide, quickly returning to their original teal green, as if the divine pressure from a moment ago had been a mere illusion.
Yet, the gaze he fixed upon Lydia now held a heavy sense of protection, as if his promise were carved into his very eyes.
Lydia took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the Festering Desire in her palm.
She lifted her head, the fear in her eyes gradually replaced by resolve. She nodded gently to Venti, Lumine, and Paimon, her voice still trembling slightly but filled with determination: "Let's go. We'll go in and see what is calling it."
With that, she gripped the Festering Desire tightly and was the first to walk toward the pitch-black cave.