Sothing's not right. Dr. Edward couldn't possibly be unaware that his attacks are ineffective against , Neuvillette thought, staring at the sky choked with black vines. For a mont, he hesitated.
Neuvillette sensed that Dr. Edward must have another plan, but he couldn't discern the man's true intentions in the short ti available.
Then I'll switch targets for now.
With that decision made, Neuvillette imdiately shifted his attacks to No. 2. Under his overwhelming power, No. 2 struggled only briefly before being torn to shreds by the surging water.
But then sothing astonishing happened. In the next instant, No. 2 reappeared nearby and imdiately launched another attack without hesitation.
This completely unexpected turn of events left Neuvillette utterly stunned.
Yet in that split second of distraction, Neuvillette felt a bone-chilling dread.
A massive Spatial Rift suddenly tore open behind him, releasing an ancient and oppressive aura. Neuvillette narrowed his eyes slightly as his own power surged anew.
Then, dozens more Spatial Rifts tore open in the sky, and Primordial Sea Water cascaded into the Dream World like a torrential waterfall.
In an instant, the once-empty realm—save for Irminsul and a few figures—was completely subrged in the azure Primordial Sea Water.
Simultaneously, No. 2's attacks and Dr. Edward's black vines were utterly crushed by this overwhelming force, dissolving into pure Elental Power that dissipated into the air. This revealed the hollow, void-like Pitch-Black Egg hidden within.
Wielding the Great Authority of Water, Neuvillette could draw limitless power from the Primordial Sea. At that mont, he stood at the peak of his power since gaining this authority.
A deep, profound azure light emanated from Neuvillette's entire being, his presence akin to that of a divine being. His expression remained calm and serene as he slowly raised his right hand toward Dr. Edward and No. 2, then pressed it down with crushing force.
In the next instant, both No. 2 and Dr. Edward, along with the pitch-black tendrils, were pulverized into dust by an invisible yet utterly irresistible force.
Scaramouche's legs went weak, his body trembling slightly.
Neuvillette's invincible form had burned itself deeply into Scaramouche's mind. He was utterly convinced that even with cheat codes, he stood no chance against such an opponent.
After all, No. 2 was no weakling. He could effortlessly crush a hundred Scaramouches. Yet this powerhouse had been utterly helpless before Neuvillette.
Scaramouche now felt imnse relief. Thank heavens he hadn't chosen Fontaine as his arena for mayhem!
Back then, both the Dendro Archon and the Hydro Archon had only ascended to their thrones five hundred years ago. To Scaramouche, it didn't matter where he made his na. He chose Suru simply because Dottore was stationed there, making things more convenient.
Now, looking back, if he had chosen Fontaine, the grass on his grave would likely be three feet tall by now.
Scaramouche wasn't afraid of death, but he wanted to at least disgust the woman who had abandoned him before he died. Otherwise, she might have forgotten he ever existed, making his death utterly aningless.
Even Nahida and Lumine, who were still far from the battlefield, were stunned, their backs drenched in cold sweat.
Only Paimon, oblivious to the overwhelming pressure, remained her usual carefree self.
"Nahida, can't we go any faster?" she exclaid. "Monsieur Neuvillette is going in alone—he might be in danger! We have to hurry and help him!"
Hearing Paimon's worried words, Nahida and Lumine blushed in embarrassnt.
Help Monsieur Neuvillette?
You really overestimate us, Paimon!
Could Dr. Edward have already transford by now? Or even...?
Nahida swallowed hard, finally understanding why Neuvillette had said the Power of Faith was useless to him. Using the Power of Faith would be Neuvillette deliberately lowering his own status!
Though she sensed the battle was likely over, Nahida pushed herself harder, urging the Ship of Dreams to accelerate. After all, Lumine's relationship with Dr. Edward was complicated; rushing might at least allow them to recover his body.
Suddenly, Nahida shuddered violently before collapsing to the ground, her face deathly pale. The Ship of Dreams ground to a halt.
"Nahida!"
Sensing sothing amiss, Lumine and Paimon rushed over to check on her.
Nahida's eyes were wide with disbelief. After a long, dazed mont, she stamred, "My connection to Irminsul... has been completely severed!"
"But why?"
"Didn't Monsieur Neuvillette already...?"
At the roots of Irminsul, the Primordial Sea that had once filled the sky had completely vanished, leaving a profound shock etched on Neuvillette's face.
Clearly, Neuvillette hadn't withdrawn the Primordial Sea himself.
In that instant, every trace of the Primordial Sea had been purged from the Dream World. This wasn't so illusion—Neuvillette could genuinely no longer sense its presence.
Simultaneously, Dr. Edward and No. 2 reappeared before Neuvillette. Though the Spatial Rift in the sky persisted, continuously pouring Primordial Sea Water into the Dream World, Neuvillette's spirits had plumted to rock bottom.
In that instant, Neuvillette realized he was facing an opponent against whom his usual thods were useless.
Moreover, he began to speculate about the nature of his adversary's abilities.
Ti reversal?
No, that seed unlikely. Even stopping ti was a power beyond what soone at this level could comprehend. No. 2 could only manipulate ti through so external artifact. If Dr. Edward had mastered such a profound power, his strength would be comparable to No. 2's.
"Your ability is... the Conversion of Reality and Illusion?"
Upon hearing Neuvillette's words, a flicker of surprise crossed Dr. Edward's face.
"So you've discovered it so quickly? I thought I could keep it hidden a bit longer."
"But even if you know now, it doesn't matter much. I can transform any disadvantage into illusion. With just this ability, no one can stop ."
Dr. Edward smiled at Neuvillette before continuing, "Not even you, Monsieur Neuvillette."
Though his guess had been confird, Neuvillette's mood grew even heavier.
The opponent's ability was a perfect counter to his own, rendering his superior strength useless.
Yet Neuvillette refused to believe such an ability could be without weaknesses. Otherwise, Dr. Edward would be far too formidable.
The doctor's designation was only fourth. If the rankings were based on strength or status, his ability couldn't possibly be this overwhelming.
The most likely weakness lay in its energy consumption. Transforming already-occurred events into illusions involved manipulating the very laws of reality. Even with such a power, the energy cost would be astronomical.
Setting aside the several tis the opponent had revived earlier, completely obliterating such vast quantities of Primordial Sea water must have consud an unimaginable amount of energy.
Wait, could it be...?
Neuvillette suddenly realized sothing, his mood plumting.
Clearly, Dr. Edward couldn't possibly sustain such a massive expenditure. The only logical conclusion was that he had transferred the cost elsewhere.
To Irminsul? Or to the Surian people as a whole? Neither answer brought Neuvillette any comfort.
He finally understood the source of the intense unease that had been gnawing at him.
Just then, Neuvillette noticed that the originally small patch of blackened roots had expanded exponentially, now covering an area dozens of tis larger. The pitch-black stain had even begun to creep up the trunk of Irminsul.
The enemy was corrupting Irminsul!
"Found you!"
Dr. Edward abruptly waved his hand, and a semi-transparent figure materialized in his grasp.
Nahida?!
Once Neuvillette clearly saw the figure, he found it odd that Nahida would be here, but he imdiately crushed Dr. Edward again and rescued her.
Soon, Dr. Edward reappeared, and the pitch-black darkness at the base of Irminsul spread further.
When Neuvillette brought Nahida to safety and saw the expression on her face, he imdiately realized he had mistaken her for soone else.
As the Dendro Archon, Nahida lacked a certain aura, but Neuvillette could now sense that missing quality in the person before him.
"Who are you?"
Faced with Neuvillette's question, the woman made no attempt to conceal her identity. "Greetings, Monsieur Neuvillette," she said. "I am Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
"I never anticipated such a twist of fate. Though I tried my best to prevent it, as this is rely the last vestige of my consciousness in the world, I failed."
-
"Heh, I should be thanking Monsieur Neuvillette for this very outco."
"Without your intervention, how could I have breached Irminsul's defenses so quickly?"
When Neuvillette heard the other man reveal his identity, a flood of surprise washed over him, despite his prior suspicions.
Dr. Edward's subsequent words left a bitter taste in Neuvillette's mouth.
So I was manipulated all along...
Even with No. 2's assistance, Dr. Edward had only managed to corrupt a small section of Irminsul. Yet, after Neuvillette's intervention, nearly one-fifth of the tree's roots had turned pitch-black.
I caused this myself!
He had co to help, only to beco a crucial piece in his opponent's plan. This realization left Neuvillette with a long-forgotten sense of defeat.
Scaramouche, anwhile, was utterly stunned.
He couldn't believe that even soone like Neuvillette could be so thoroughly outmaneuvered. Dr. Edward's power was truly terrifying!
A thrill of excitent coursed through Scaramouche's veins. Perhaps, with this man's help, he could finally exact his revenge on that woman.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, don't let his words influence you."
"The situation hasn't reached the point of no return yet. We need Nahida's power."
"Nahida, like , was born from the purest branches of Irminsul."
"Although they severed Nahida's connection to Irminsul, there's still a chance to reconnect her."
Though Greater Lord Rukkhadevata tried to conceal her emotions, her hurried speech betrayed her inner anxiety.
Neuvillette nodded and, taking Greater Lord Rukkhadevata with him, transford into two streaks of light, racing toward the Ship of Dreams.
Dr. Edward watched their retreating figures, his smile deepening.
He then turned to Scaramouche and said, "You desire power, don't you?"
"I can strengthen your connection to Irminsul, transforming you into an entity equivalent to the will of Irminsul itself, granting you an immortal and indestructible form. This will give you the opportunity to challenge the Raiden Shogun."
"Now, empty your mind."
"This power is imnse. You must endure the pain."
Upon hearing Dr. Edward's words, Scaramouche, filled with anticipation, allowed countless black vines to entwine him. Soon, a pitch-black egg materialized where he had stood, suspended by countless strands, eventually hanging mid-trunk of Irminsul, the World Tree.
With this task completed, Dr. Edward's face broke into a dazzling smile.
The fish have taken the bait!
He then approached the dazed No. 2 and patted him on the shoulder.
"You're falling behind the tis. It's ti for an upgrade."
As he spoke, countless black vines completely enveloped No. 2's body. Offering no resistance, No. 2 soon transford into a pitch-black egg, suspended in the sa position as Scaramouche.
Before long, a third pitch-black egg appeared at the sa height.
By now, the roots of Irminsul had been completely stained black.
anwhile, Nahida's heart was filled with utter bewildernt. From the mont of her birth, she had known her mission: not only to beco a worthy Dendro Archon but also to safeguard the health of Irminsul, the World Tree.
For the past few hundred years, she had watched helplessly as the World Tree beca increasingly tainted by forbidden knowledge, her anxiety growing with each passing year.
Yet she lacked even the power to leave the Akademiya, let alone cure Irminsul's affliction.
Nahida had long been consud by self-reproach. She felt she had failed on all fronts—neither becoming the competent Dendro Archon the Surians deserved nor finding a solution to Irminsul's crisis.
But the mont her connection to Irminsul was forcibly severed, she was utterly adrift.
Previously, Nahida had known she bore the mission of saving Irminsul. Now that this responsibility and mission had been erased, she had lost her very reason for being.
Was she truly needed anymore?
"Nahida... are you alright?" Paimon asked anxiously, her face etched with concern as she watched Nahida's body grow translucent, completely absorbed in her own world.
But Nahida, as if her soul had departed, remained unresponsive.
Seeing this, Lumine imdiately grasped Nahida's small hand and channeled Dendro Elental Power through her arm. Only then did Nahida's body regain so solidity, but her eyes remained blank and unfocused.
After Lumine channeled a significant portion of her Dendro Elental Power, the oppressive force of the unknown pitch-black energy began to weaken. Lumine imdiately ceased her risky actions.
"Traveler, what's wrong with Nahida?!" Paimon blurted out anxiously. Lumine rely bit her lip, unsure of the exact situation herself. She could only sense that Nahida's presence in this world was fading—extrely faint.
It was as if she were gradually disappearing from this world!
Lumine's heart raced with anxiety. The Ship of Dreams was entirely under Nahida's control, leaving her powerless to intervene.
Now that Nahida was in such dire straits, and they were still a considerable distance from the base of Irminsul, contacting Neuvillette was impossible.
Yet if they waited in place, Nahida might not have enough ti left.
Gazing at the bizarre and surreal scenery outside the Ship of Dreams, Lumine hesitated for a mont before making her decision.
"What?! You're going to Irminsul by yourself?!" Paimon exclaid in shock, her face paling.
"No way! That's way too dangerous!"
"Traveler, Nahida just said it's easy to get lost without the Ship of Dreams! Let's think of another way!"
Paimon pleaded earnestly, but Lumine had already made up her mind.
Though the venture was perilous, Lumine knew that if she didn't try to find Neuvillette soon, Nahida might vanish from the world entirely.
"No! Traveler, don't leave behind!"
Seeing that she couldn't change Lumine's mind, Paimon hesitated for a mont before blurting out, "I'll go with you!"
Paimon flew toward Lumine, ready to join her in searching for Neuvillette, but at the last mont, Ann's shadowy hand grabbed her and tossed her back.
"Oof!"
Paimon landed in Nahida's arms. With that done, Lumine imdiately left the Ship of Dreams.
"Traveler!"
Seeing Lumine's figure vanish the mont she left, Paimon cried out in worry, but ultimately didn't dare leave the Ship of Dreams alone.
In the end, all Paimon could do was pray.
"Traveler, you must co back safe!"
anwhile, the mont Lumine left the Ship of Dreams, her vision went black, and she plunged headfirst into the Sea of Clouds.
After an indeterminate amount of ti, Lumine's consciousness gradually awakened.
She found herself in a completely different environnt.
Lumine stood on a massive platform, enveloped in an oppressively thick Abyss Aura. Above her, a line of text materialized:
[Location: First Floor, Room 1]
[Objective: Defeat twenty-three Electro Slis within the ti limit.]
[Additional Notes: Completing the objective in different ti intervals will yield varying evaluations. Clearing all rooms and achieving the highest evaluation is required to leave this place.]
[Countdown: 5:00... Starting Now...]
The next instant, five Electro Slis materialized before Lumine, bouncing and hopping toward her.
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