Silaya drew her weapon—a green book.
The massive club she'd once used was just a custom-made tool to strike the Great Sage. In truth, her true weapon was this book.
This book had been personally chosen by Lord Kusanali to help her channel Dendro Elemental Energy.
As Dendro Elemental Energy surged into the book, it erupted forth in a torrent before Silaya.
Massive vines erupted from the ground, instantly ensnaring the monster directly in front of her.
Silaya dared not linger and continued running forward.
In this situation, staying put meant certain death. She was a truly frail scholar, no match for her teacher's prowess.
Instead of following the road, Silaya plunged directly into the dense forest beside it.
Given the urgency, fleeing through the woods offered a shorter escape route while also allowing her to use the terrain to hinder the monsters.
Darting between two massive tree trunks, Silaya summoned vines using Elemental Energy, binding them tightly between the trees to create a barrier against the pursuing monsters.
A thunderous crash made Silaya whirl around.
A colossal monster effortlessly tore through her hastily erected vine wall. The agile monsters surged forward again, closing the gap in an instant.
Repeating her earlier tactic, Silaya trapped them again, all while fleeing forward and racking her brain for a way out of this predicament.
Having just left Vanarana, Sumeru City remained her best refuge.
Though the Sumeru Army wasn't renowned for its strength, they should still be capable of handling these monsters.
With this thought, Silaya quickened her pace.
Earlier, when no monsters were around, she had felt like she could fall asleep mid-stride. Now, after being chased relentlessly for so long, she felt surprisingly little fatigue—just a wildly racing heart.
The power someone can unleash when pushed to the brink of desperation is truly terrifying.
After running for another hour or so, the monsters were still relentlessly pursuing her.
They must be targeting her specifically; otherwise, why would they chase her for so long?
Cursing inwardly, Silaya could only keep running.
"Ahead..."
Exhausted and on the verge of collapse, Silaya noticed movement ahead. At first, she assumed it was just ordinary people and prepared to detour. But then she spotted a massive figure in the crowd, wielding a hammer.
Electro Hammer Vanguard? Fatui troops?!
Perfect! Silaya nearly wept with relief. Though adrenaline had given her a temporary boost, her stamina had long since reached its limit.
Sumeru City was still a long way off, and she couldn't guarantee she'd make it before collapsing. Moreover, the agile monsters forced her to constantly use her Skills to restrain them, draining her Elemental Energy. This hollow, powerless feeling, with both physical and elemental reserves drained, was unbearable.
Thank the heavens I found you!
"Who goes there?!"
The Fatui Firearm Skirmisher on guard was the first to notice her approach. At his sharp shout, the entire Fatui squad snapped to attention, weapons raised.
As the monsters drew closer, the commotion grew louder.
"Oh? A horde of Abyss creatures..."
A fragment of the Doctor happened to be present. Spotting Silaya and the swarm of monsters behind her, he waved his hand, and Fatui soldiers immediately advanced.
A group of Fatui soldiers blocked Silaya's path.
Just as she was wondering what was happening, the soldiers suddenly parted, leaving a clear path as if reserved for her.
Without a second thought, Silaya immediately dashed through the opening.
The pursuing monsters were numerous, but fortunately, the Fatui soldiers were even more numerous, and several wore unique uniforms, their power evident at a glance.
"Silaya... this is our second meeting."
The Doctor approached Silaya, but her gaze remained fixed on the battle raging between the monsters and the Fatui soldiers.
"Are you worried about them?"
Silaya turned her head, meeting the Doctor's gaze. She recognized him—knew his identity.
"Fatui Harbinger Second Seat—the Doctor. Though we aren't allies, I thank you for your assistance this time."
"Heh, if you're going to thank me, might as well show some sincerity. I told you before, you and I are the same kind of people—geniuses. Studying at the Akademiya is a disgrace to your talent. I'm very interested in you. How about studying under me?"
After a pause, the Doctor added, "Of course, you don't need to answer immediately this time. My patience is limited, but I can afford to be a bit more lenient with you."
Silaya: "You don't need to wait. I've already made up my mind. Yes."
The Doctor: "Hmm..."
Silaya's swift agreement caught him off guard.
Silaya: "However, I have one condition."
The Doctor: "What is it?"
Silaya took a deep breath and glanced back at the battlefield. Seeing the Fatui suppressing the monsters, she turned back to face him:
"The Akademiya is exploiting the Akasha, aren't they? I want to study it. I believe you have the ability to make that happen."
"Ha ha ha... Studying the Akasha? How fascinating! You truly are extraordinary." The Doctor laughed heartily. "Very well, I accept."
"I need to use the Akasha tomorrow. Can you arrange it?"
Silaya had been racking her brain for a way to access the Akasha, never imagining it would come so easily.
Silaya gazed at the smiling Doctor, knowing he saw through her ulterior motives. Yet he still granted her this opportunity.
The Doctor was a genius, and geniuses tend to be arrogant—he was no exception.
To be fair, Silaya herself sometimes struggled with arrogance.
The Doctor believed he could control everything about her, hence his seemingly generous offer.
If only he knew Silaya's true intentions, he wouldn't have agreed so readily.
But it was understandable. Who would ever suspect Silaya's interest in the Akasha stemmed from a desire to save Rukkhadevata and Irminsul?
Silaya paid little attention to the Doctor. All she needed was access to the Akasha; once that was secured, everything else would fall into place. As for the Doctor's subsequent plans, let him face the two Dendro Archons—one great and one small.
If the Doctor could still prevail after that, he truly deserved to be called formidable.
[Thank goodness we ran into the Fatui.]
[sniffle I was so worried about poor Silaya! She almost lost her life!]
[The Doctor is here?!]
[The Doctor actually invited Silaya?!]
[Silaya actually agreed! Isn't her teacher Alhaitham?]
[She's probably just pretending to agree. She wants to study the Akasha. Isn't the Akasha powered by a Gnosis? Does that mean Silaya's ultimate goal is to study the Gnosis itself?]
[Regardless, I don't believe Silaya would ever join the Fatui. Even the Doctor seems to realize this, judging by the look in his eyes.]
[Ugh, my head's so itchy... I think my brain's growing...]
[Why don't you just watch quietly like me? We're not lore nerds anyway.]
[Lol the chatter finally gained sentience]