With Diluc joining the fray, the battle became even more one-sided. Facing the combined assault of five opponents, Rola had no chance to retaliate and was forced into a steady retreat.
After another forced retreat, Rola seized the opportunity to swing her spear in a wide arc, unleashing Spreading Flame Assault!
This strike was deliberately meant for Diluc to see.
Earlier, Rola's movements had been chaotic due to the overwhelming assault, and Diluc, blinded by rage, hadn't recognized it. But now, her Spreading Flame Assault clearly revealed her identity.
Having practiced spear techniques with his sister for so long, Diluc knew her moves intimately. He froze in place, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.
How could this person know Rola's techniques?
Or... could she actually be Rola?!
But Rola is supposed to be...
"Stop! Stop now!" Diluc shouted. Lumine and Eula immediately halted their attacks. They both recognized the move instantly, especially Lumine, who had adventured with Rola and knew it was her signature technique.
Rola also stopped, slowly withdrawing the arrows piercing her body. Each pull elicited a muffled groan.
Diluc stepped forward. "Who are you?!"
He stared intently at Rola beneath her black cloak, desperate to glimpse her face. But the cloak was too voluminous, concealing her features completely.
Rola remained silent. As Diluc took a step forward, she retreated a step, her spear pointed at him as if warning him to stop.
"Are you Rola?!" Diluc asked, his voice strained with emotion. He advanced toward her, sheathing his Claymore.
Diluc's actions were undoubtedly risky, but he trusted his instincts. Even if this cloaked figure wasn't Rola, she was certainly connected to her in some way.
"How could she be Rola?!" Paimon exclaimed. "Master Diluc, be careful!"
Eula and the others swiftly closed the distance between Rola and Diluc, gripping their weapons tightly, ready to react to any sudden move from the cloaked figure.
Lumine, seeing Venti, finally relaxed. With him present, the cloaked figure stood no chance of causing any further trouble.
As Diluc drew closer, almost close enough to brush against her spear, Rola lowered her weapon.
After a moment's hesitation, she slowly pulled back the large hood of her black cloak, finally revealing her true face to the group.
Beneath the cloak, Rola's complexion was pale, her pupils pitch-black. Though her features remained the same, her entire demeanor had changed drastically, lacking the warmth and familiarity that had once made her so approachable.
The moment Diluc saw Rola, he froze as if struck by lightning, his body rigid and immobile.
His pupils dilated wildly, his mind went blank, and his thoughts scattered into chaos.
"R-Rola... is that really you?"
[Rola?!]]
[How could it be Rola? Isn't she dead?!]
[Were we just fighting Rola and beating her this badly?!]
[I remember the Abyss devoured over ninety percent of Rola's soul. Could her soul have returned to reclaim her body?!]
[Has her corpse not decomposed yet?!]
[Is this still the Rola we knew?]
Lumine: "Rola? How is this possible?!"
Amber lowered her bow, her heart churning with disbelief. How could it be Rola?
Then she wasn't just...
Rosaria: "Are you truly Rola?"
Paimon glanced at Venti, seeking his opinion.
Venti simply stared at Rola, his own mind in turmoil. She looked like Rola, but the overwhelming Abyss energy radiating from her made it impossible for her to be the Rola they knew.
Rola's soul had completely departed, and the part of her that held emotions was gone forever.
Even if the soul before them had once belonged to Rola, she was no longer Rola.
Seeing how her mere appearance had stunned everyone, Rola tilted her head and looked at Diluc. "Brother, Brother~"
Venti had just reached his conclusion when Rola called out to Diluc.
Her voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't spoken in a long time, but... it was undeniably Rola's voice.
Diluc, who had already been convinced that the person before him was his sister, completely broke down upon hearing her call him "Brother." Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face as the grief he had suppressed for so long finally burst forth. He lunged forward and pulled Rola into a tight embrace.
"Rola, it's really you! Are you alright?"
Rola pushed Diluc away, took a few steps back, and slowly removed the black robe she was wearing.
Seeing Rola's current attire and the knife wound on her chest, Eula and Rosaria abandoned their restraint, lowered their weapons, and moved toward her.
"Eula... Rosaria, and Amber... Lumine... Paimon..."
Rola called out their names one by one. With each name she spoke, another person became utterly convinced that she was indeed Rola.
Diluc saw the wounds on Rola's body, many of which they had inflicted moments ago. Thick, black blood still flowed from the arrow wound on her right hand.
His heart ached so fiercely he could barely breathe. He longed to rush forward and embrace his sister again.
Venti, standing nearby, noticed that Rola hadn't lowered or retracted her spear. However, seeing the others' reactions, he decided not to expose her deception immediately. After all, with him present, she couldn't possibly carry out any schemes.
Rola knew Venti was watching and that escape was impossible. So, as the group approached, she seized the moment when their guard was down and lunged forward, thrusting her spear at Diluc's throat.
The spear halted a finger's width from Diluc's throat, no matter how hard Rola strained, it wouldn't budge an inch.
Diluc froze, the light in his eyes rapidly fading.
She... she's not Rola after all. Rola would never attack me...
Venti stepped forward, restraining Rola's body as he slowly approached.
"She's not Rola. She's from the Abyss."
Lumine's eyes filled with disappointment. She had truly believed Rola had returned...
But disappointment quickly turned to burning rage. Lumine gritted her teeth. She wouldn't allow the Abyss to desecrate her deceased friend's remains.
"Hmph, as expected of the Anemo Archon! You couldn't be fooled!"
Rola regarded Venti with indifference, her face brimming with defiance.
To the others, she appeared to be directly occupying Rola's remains, so they hesitated to attack her at this moment.
"You bastard! Get out of my sister's body!" Diluc roared, his eyes burning crimson as he glared at Rola.
"Why?" Rola retorted. "This is my body too. Rola and I were always one, and I am her soul. We were forcibly separated once, and now you want to tear us apart again?!"
Rola's words momentarily stunned the enraged Diluc.
Venti seized the opportunity to speak. "Don't be fooled by her. The Abyss only absorbed the energy of Rola's soul. Her emotions are useless to them. She has completely left this world, so there's no need for hesitation."
Rola glared at Venti with venom. "You wretch!"
"Shut up, you Abyss spawn!" Lumine snapped. "Get out of Rola's body now!"
Rola clicked her tongue. "How should I put this? We only killed Rola out of necessity. We've only come to retrieve her remains now. Even if you don't understand, why chase me all the way here? Why insist on opposing the Abyss?"
"You've lost Rola, but you still have me! I can be your partner and sister, just like she was. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Lumine was absolutely furious!