"It's the Doctor," Sandrone whispered in Qin Yu's ear.
"The Doctor?" Qin Yu stopped, sighing in exasperation.
He was so tired, he didn't want to walk anymore. Was he having a run-in with the Fatui lately? He'd only gone out to sea and already encountered three Harbingers.
"My partner, why have you stopped?" The obedient girl behind him hugged his neck, her voice innocent. She even extended a finger, poking at Qin Yu's cheek. She had been having a blast being carried by him all this way.
"..." Qin Yu's face darkened. He suddenly felt like biting her little hand. Poke, poke, poke, keep poking. How could she still be playing at a time like this?
Sandrone gasped and pulled her hand back, but her eyes were full of amusement. It was the first time she'd seen Qin Yu make such a face, and it was so interesting. The girl, her playful mood sparked, wanted to tease him further.
"..." Qin Yu remained silent, continuing to walk towards the distant black mist. He had already carried the girl for an unknown distance. And this journey had to continue.
Sandrone's lips curved upwards, her eyes sparkling. She stretched out her hands and rubbed Qin Yu's face. "My partner, aren't you afraid of continuing to walk?"
"I believe in you."
"Eh... the wooden block suddenly got enlightened."
"What's the deal with that Doctor, anyway?" Qin Yu's tone turned serious. Although the title of the second-ranked Harbinger was intimidating, when he thought about it carefully, there were many suspicious points. This was Columbia's dreamscape. As the third-ranked Harbinger, she wouldn't choose to confront the Doctor head-on. And the divine resentment that appeared in the dreamscape was even stranger. Could that Doctor influence the spiritual world? Or was this illusion his experiment?
"Sharp intuition, my partner." "You must be wondering why the Doctor is chasing me, right?" Sandrone hooked her arms around his neck and smiled faintly.
Qin Yu nodded gently, "It is indeed very peculiar."
"Then do you know about 'slices'?" Qin Yu shook his head slightly. Who knew what kind of lunatics were in your Fatui.
"Those are different versions of the Doctor from different periods of his life." Sandrone drew circles on Qin Yu's chest with her finger. Her fingertips traced, dividing it into several parts. "Each slice corresponds to a different identity and experience. He could be a discreet young scholar or a madman obsessed with human experimentation. The one trying to kill me is one of those slices."
Qin Yu was astonished at this. "There is more than one Doctor in this world?"
Sandrone nodded slightly, her expression cold. "This slice is a complete lunatic, acting erratically. Upon learning that my research had touched upon divine power, he launched an attack directly." She murmured, her eyes cold. As fellow researchers, she and the Doctor had occasionally collaborated. But more often, there were conflicts and friction behind the scenes. Not to mention that she was now being hunted by one of his slices. This feud was now completely sealed.
Qin Yu frowned in thought, "So that's how it is." He hadn't expected the Doctor to have such a bizarre ability. Moreover, as the second-ranked Harbinger, his strength must be terrifying. If he were to encounter multiple "slices" simultaneously...
"No!" Qin Yu's eyes narrowed, and he realized something. He looked at Sandrone, who was smiling calmly, his gaze thoughtful. After a moment of silence, he asked softly, "How strong is the slice hiding here?"
"My partner, you've grasped the key point." "This slice is focused on researching divine resentment, and its strength is not top-tier." Sandrone tilted her face up and looked into the distance. The black mist of resentment seemed to sense their approach and churned. The dilapidated buildings hidden within also became clearer. It looked like an abandoned hospital.
"Let's run first, I'll tell you the details on the way!" Sandrone grabbed Qin Yu's shoulder and pushed herself up. Her soft belly pressed against Qin Yu's head.
"Hold on tight." Qin Yu said no more, carrying her and charging towards the black mist. It seemed that to resolve everything, the dilapidated building in the black mist was the key.
"Roar—!" A piercing wail echoed from the depths of the desert. Countless shadowy figures swarmed out of the churning black mist. Upon closer inspection, they were mutated monsters emanating black mist, their forms terrifying and grotesque! They roared, determined to devour all living beings.
As he ran, Qin Yu's eyes flashed, and he said gravely, "Is this the Doctor's experiment?" He had remained vigilant of his surroundings throughout their conversation. He had noticed the approaching black mist immediately. This ominous feeling was divine resentment. And it was controlled divine resentment!
"Don't be surprised, this slice can control minds." Sandrone hugged Qin Yu and said quickly, "The Fatui in Inazuma are basically under his control. And he's trying to tame divine resentment now!"
Roar—! Before she finished speaking, an ominous aura washed over them. Some of the monsters had already charged in front of Qin Yu!
"Looks like I need to get serious." Qin Yu murmured, his eyes flashing with purple light. The next moment, a piercing lightning flash illuminated the space. The Evil Ominous Eye manifested above Qin Yu's head.
[Combat Talent: Divine Transformation · Eye of the Evil Ominous]
"Hold on tight." Qin Yu drew his saber and slashed directly!
"Clang—" The saber light flashed, slashing towards the monster's head in front of him. Accompanying Qin Yu's strike, a lightning punishment descended! With a thunderous roar. The monster, imbued with Electro power, was sent flying backward and swallowed by the black mist.
"Break through, we can't kill them one by one!" Sandrone, holding Qin Yu tightly, reminded him. However, Qin Yu stopped his charge. He stood in place, slowly raising his blade. The edge of the blade swept across his surroundings, reflecting the boundless tide of monsters. And in the darkness, that hint of purple was incredibly striking. It was residual Electro energy.
Sandrone sensed the abnormality, her eyes filled with surprise. There was no retreat. Did Qin Yu still intend to confront the monsters head-on?
"Who said I'm going to kill them one by one." Qin Yu took a deep breath and squatted down. A verdant glow emanated from him. The wind grew turbulent, converging.
[Combat Talent: Chihayaburu]
"Roar!" The dark tide became chaotic, and the monsters roared. An irresistible pulling force locked onto them!
[Release Talent, apply pull and knockback effects] The frantic monsters were all uncontrollably flying towards Qin Yu. For a time, the sky was filled with monsters!
"Are you trying to..." Sandrone, pressed against Qin Yu's head, murmured.
"Slap!" Qin Yu slapped the person's backside.
"!" Sandrone's hands trembled, and her cheeks flushed. "My partner, what are you doing!" She hadn't expected Qin Yu to do something like this at a time like this!
"I want you to hold on tight to me properly," Qin Yu, with no time for banter, grunted.
"Haa!" The gentle verdant glow was tinged with purple, becoming ferocious. The next moment, the wind erupted amidst the tide of monsters! The spreading power of the wind simultaneously detonated the Evil Ominous Eye. It was an indiscriminate group punishment. Amidst the pathetic roars, not a single monster was spared!
In the Electro storm, Qin Yu, carrying Sandrone, leaped high. "It's not over yet." The blade in his hand carried lightning, purple energy gathering.
[Innate Talent: Swordplay of Mutual Understanding] [When releasing Chihayaburu, if it contacts elemental energy, it will undergo elemental conversion during the plunging attack, adding additional damage.]
Qin Yu, with the power of lightning and wind, plummeted back to the ground. The lightning punishment from the Evil Ominous Eye erupted for the second time!