As Scaramouche lunged at Yuna again, under the players' tense and furious gazes, the scene suddenly... went black.
After a brief moment of confusion, the comments section erupted in a flurry of question marks, followed by the familiar ritual of cursing Mihoyo.
[Ahhh, I'm so pissed!]
[Mihoyo, you know exactly how to mess with our heads!]
[Yuna! I need to see what happens to Yuna! Aaaah!]
[Let's team up and send Mihoyo razor blades...]
-
Inside the Delusion Factory on Yashiori Island, Inazuma, Yuna had just risen to her feet when Scaramouche's fully charged attack came crashing down.
Yuna hurriedly raised her Claymore to block Scaramouche's fist, but the force of the blow slammed the sword into her chest, sending her crashing against the wall once more. This time, the wall cracked and even caved in slightly.
"Recognize the difference in our strength," Scaramouche sneered, crossing his arms. "And don't bark at me again unless you want more of this."
He didn't press the attack, simply watching Yuna with a superior air.
"Yuna!"
Paimon flew to Yuna's side. Lumine had already completely lost consciousness, and Paimon had given up on her.
Watching Yuna cough up blood, Paimon's small face twisted with worry and anger.
"You bastard!"
Yuna felt a dull ache in her chest, but it eased after she coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.
She sat on the ground, glaring defiantly at the triumphant Scaramouche.
She was a sorry sight, her face pale and blood trickling from her nose and mouth. Yet even in this battered condition, Yuna's eyes burned with unconcealed defiance.
Damn it! I'll make sure Angie pays him back for this later!
Though Yuna's current persona wasn't weak, she was still no match for Scaramouche. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been beaten this badly.
Moreover, Scaramouche hadn't hesitated at all in his attack.
"Get back! Paimon won't let you hurt Yuna!"
Paimon hovered protectively in front of Yuna, her tiny fists clenched tightly.
"Paimon..." Yuna murmured, deeply touched. The little one she'd been feeding had proven to be remarkably loyal in this critical moment.
"Tch..."
Scaramouche glanced disdainfully at Paimon. He could crush the tiny thing with a single finger, but this display was enough.
Just as he was about to leave, Scaramouche suddenly turned toward the entrance where Yuna and the others had entered.
Yuna also heard the commotion and whirled around.
Her heart sank instantly. She had assumed it was Yae Miko, but instead, it was her Second Sister!
Kuki Shinobu arrived to find Lumine collapsed on the ground, Paimon trembling with grief and rage, and...
Her sister huddled in a corner, her face smeared with blood!
Her eyes widened in shock. "Little Yuna!"
Shinobu had never seen her sister in such a state before. A maelstrom of panic, worry, and fury churned within her.
Her eyes, now blazing with murderous intent, locked onto the other figure present.
Simultaneously, the wrath of the gods in the area began to affect the enraged Kuki Shinobu, subjecting her to the same torment Lumine had endured.
The moment Kuki Shinobu realized something was wrong, she swiftly forced herself to regain her composure.
This immediately improved her situation.
"Naku Weed Whacker!"
Shinobu lashed out with her Electro whip, attacking Scaramouche.
Gripping a short blade in her left hand, she closed the distance with lightning speed.
"Hmph, another one eager to die?" Scaramouche sneered.
Seeing Shinobu arrive, Paimon felt a surge of relief. With Shinobu here, everything will be alright, right?
"Shinobu, be careful! He's incredibly strong! He's the Sixth Seat of the Fatui Harbingers, Scaramouche!" Paimon urgently warned, fearing Shinobu might underestimate her opponent.
Truth be told, Shinobu didn't need the warning. Anyone who could beat Little Sister into such a state was clearly a formidable foe.
Scaramouche retreated to evade Shinobu's strike, his fists crackling with Electro energy as he prepared to subdue her just as he had Yuna earlier.
Yuna struggled to her feet, desperate to help, but a bolt of lightning moved faster, striking Scaramouche squarely on the forehead.
Yae Miko appeared in the corridor.
Surveying the scene, Miko frowned, her voice turning icy.
"Kunikuzushi, you've gone too far this time."
Hearing the name "Kunikuzushi," Scaramouche's rage surged instantly.
"What did you say? Don't you dare utter that name in my presence!"
In that brief moment of distraction, Kuki Shinobu charged at Scaramouche once more.
Still seething with rage, Scaramouche lashed out with a powerful punch that sent Kuki Shinobu staggering back several steps.
As Kuki Shinobu prepared to retaliate, Yae Miko placed a restraining hand on her shoulder from behind.
"It's alright. The Traveler has merely fainted. Go check on your sister; I'll handle this."
Kuki Shinobu scrutinized Lumine's prone form, confirming her steady breathing. Relief washed over her.
I was so panicked earlier, I thought she had...
With Lumine safe, Kuki Shinobu shot a venomous glare at Scaramouche before rushing to her sister's side.
"Yuna!"
Kuki Shinobu pulled out a cloth to wipe the blood from Yuna's face, gently helping her sit on a nearby step.
"Where are you hurt? Does it hurt? Why didn't you wait for me to come with you?"
"Second Sister, it's nothing. I can take a beating just fine. Just a little scratch... cough, cough..."
Kuki Shinobu was a woman of many talents, with a respectable grasp of medical arts.
After examining Yuna, she immediately arrived at a diagnosis.
Yuna's internal organs had been violently shaken, causing internal bleeding and ruptures—far from the "minor injury" she had claimed. Injuries of this severity required immediate treatment; otherwise, they would undoubtedly leave behind hidden ailments.
"You're still being stubborn even now? We need to get you back for treatment immediately!" Kuki Shinobu's eyes reddened slightly as she gently lifted Yuna, taking utmost care not to cause her any further pain.
Yae Miko approached at that moment, having just resolved matters with Scaramouche.
She had already handed over the Gnosis to him. Knowing that the Tsaritsa was collecting these divine artifacts, and considering their current uselessness to Ei, Yae Miko decided to let the Cryo Archon have it.
This would at least spare her from having to deal with the Fatui's constant meddling in Inazuma.
However, Yae Miko had also taught Scaramouche a lesson for injuring Yuna.
"It had to be Scaramouche," she thought. "I wouldn't have been so lenient with anyone else." After all, Ei had been at fault to begin with.
Yae Miko had issued her final ultimatum to Scaramouche. This was her last concession; if she caught him again, she would show no mercy.
"Take Yuna to me. I can heal her."
Kuki Shinobu nodded slightly.
Yae Miko then turned to Lumine, who lay unconscious on the ground, and sighed. "Such an impulsive little thing."
"Lady Guuji! Quick, check on the Traveler!"
Yae Miko gently crouched down to examine Lumine.
"Don't worry," she said. "She's merely been tainted by the wrath of the gods. Take her to the Shrine; it'll take her a while to wake up."
Paimon glanced at her tiny hands. "Eh? Me? You mean me?"
Yae Miko covered her mouth with a gentle laugh. "Surely you don't expect Lady Guuji Yae, the epitome of wisdom and beauty, to carry her herself?"
Paimon: "..."
"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you. I'll do it myself."
Yae Miko conjured a ring of Electro energy, enveloping Lumine within it. The ring levitated, following behind Yae Miko as she walked.
"What are you staring at? Let's go. These two little ones are badly injured."