Inside the Spiral Abyss, upon seeing the automaton fall, Ying froze for a moment, completely unprepared for the fragility of the floor on this level. However, to prevent Scaramouche from adjusting, she leaped forward, following it down.
"So dark..."
Upon landing, Ying cautiously surveyed her surroundings. Although she could see where the automaton had fallen, something felt off.
"Pat... pat..."
Accompanied by soft footsteps, Ying's gaze gradually settled on the automaton before her, which seemed to be unable to sustain itself. Was it already giving up after only a few movements? Impossible. The pressure emanating from that automaton was still immense. Besides, even a Geo Vishap wasn't this easily defeated.
*WHOOSH*
As Ying pondered, a sharp sound suddenly pierced the air from behind her.
Sensing something amiss beforehand, Ying leaped up and instinctively looked down, discovering that the attack that had just come at her was an incredibly massive mechanical leg.
?!
Is this a ghost?
Ying quickly tried to attack it, but before she could, she realized the mechanical leg wasn't continuing its assault on her. Instead, it flew towards the automaton controlled by Scaramouche in the distance.
Is there someone else on this level besides Scaramouche?
No... that's not right. Why would Scaramouche share such a good opportunity as becoming a god with anyone else? He's probably just controlling two automatons by himself...
"Hehehe... I must admit, you truly surpass my imagination by far."
"However, this is where it ends..."
*CRACKLE...*
As Scaramouche's words fell, the automaton he controlled slowly rose, landing atop the mechanical leg that had just attacked.
"You really are mouthy..."
Ying intended to retort, but before she could finish, she saw the two automatons in front of her merge, forming a single, even more colossal and complete entity.
"Hard..."
*BOOM!*
An aura that made Ying's heart pound erupted from the machine. The next second, countless black holes swarmed around the automaton. From within these holes, lasers, like a dense rain of bullets, poured out madly, engulfing Ying completely.
?!!
This attack, dozens of times more powerful and numerous than before, sent a shockwave through Ying's heart. She quickly conjured a barrier in front of herself.
*BANG BANG BANG BANG—!*
The dense barrage, like artillery fire, poured onto the barrier, forcing Ying to expend a significant amount of Elemental Energy to repair it and prevent it from crumbling. Even so, the immense impact still pushed Ying's body backward.
"Damn it... this guy has no intention of letting me escape to a safe place..."
Ying gritted her teeth and thought. If she continued to stall like this, she would be the first to deplete her Elemental Energy. Even if she didn't, the remaining energy would likely be insufficient to defeat this opponent.
"Mortal, where has all your arrogant talk gone?"
Scaramouche mocked with a cold laugh. Seeing that the rain of attacks obscured Ying's vision, he controlled the automaton again, creating a colossal thunder needle.
"This is... the consequence of defying a god!"
*WHOOSH—!*
The words were accompanied by the sound of rushing wind. The thunder needle instantly pierced through the heavy curtain of rain, streaking towards Ying. Its speed was extreme, and in an instant, it shattered the barrier in front of Ying.
Watching the incredibly massive thunder needle approach her, only one thought occupied Ying's mind.
Dodge!
Dodge!!
DODGE!!!
*SLASH—!*
The next second, the sound of blade cutting flesh resounded in Ying's ears.
*BANG!!*
With a deafening crash, the massive thunder needle pierced through Ying's body, sending her flying backward. Finally, she was pinned firmly against a concrete pillar.
"Ying?!!"
Such a terrifying sight made Paimon cover her eyes again in fright.
"Hehehe..."
The Doctor stood ahead, his face filled with excitement at the scene.
"I say... Huh?!"
The Doctor instinctively turned his head, wanting to observe Lumine's reaction. But as he turned, his eyes widened abruptly.
He saw that Lumine had vanished from her spot the moment the Doctor, in his arrogance, had exposed a weakness. She had appeared by the location where the Paimon was being held.
"Huh?!"
The nearby clone was about to make a move, but before it could, Lumine had already kicked out.
*BANG!*
*CRACK!*
With a muffled groan, the clone's ribs instantly fractured, its entire chest caved in. It then flew backward, crashing into the sea in the distance.
The next second, Lumine, carrying the cage that held Paimon, returned to her original position. After handing it to Nahida, she slowly walked towards the Doctor.
"So you finally made a move..."
Seeing Ying approaching, the Doctor's expression darkened slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and said with a smile, "As expected of the legendary Honorary Knight. Even seeing your own sister's frail body pierced doesn't faze you."
Saying this, the Doctor deliberately shrugged and shook his head with a deeply regretful expression, sighing, "Having such an unfeeling older sister, your little sister is truly pitiful~"
Hearing the Doctor's taunt, Lumine offered no response. She simply continued to walk towards the Doctor, her expression eerily calm.
"Tsk..."
The Doctor instinctively felt danger and retreated dozens of meters, positioning himself above the teleportation gate. This is the manifestation of extreme rage, isn't it? She's so eager to kill me, which means that person is truly more than just ordinary to her...
"Hehehe... Interesting. Then let me test it, to see if one can continue to break through their limits when pushed to the extreme of anger..."
As the Doctor spoke, he waved his hand.
"Buzz~~~~"
The next moment, a low buzzing sound emanated from the distant deep sea.
"Huh?!"
Ying turned her head, momentarily stunned by the colossal figure that suddenly appeared.
A world-piercing automaton gradually emerged from the dark depths of the sea. Its appearance was identical to the automaton Ying had been battling within the teleportation gate.
"How is that possible?!"
Nahida exclaimed. She could clearly feel that the massive automaton that had suddenly appeared before her exuded the same oppressive aura as the one Ying was fighting – a genuine divine-level entity.
"Hehehe... So even the God of Wisdom doesn't know everything?"
From within the automaton, a voice laced with a hint of mockery and disdain echoed.
This voice?!
Upon hearing this, Ying's pupils constricted, and she asked with disbelief, "Are you... Scaramouche..."