Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

Looking down at his face, Barbara felt a surprising pang of guilt. Lucas's shrunken form, combined with his delicate features, made him seem almost endearing in his "humiliated" state.

"Didn't expect this, did you?" Barbara taunted, though her mocking tone softened as she struggled to keep a straight face. "Looks like it's finally your turn to suffer!"

"Alright, I'll admit defeat…" Lucas said, barely hiding a grin. "You've punished me enough. Now, can you let me go?"

"Let you go? Not so fast!" Barbara clapped her hands together with satisfaction. "That was only the appetizer. Now… it's time for the main course."

Barbara leaned close, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "You mentioned that only your age changed, right? That the rest of you… is still the same?"

"Uh… yeah," Lucas replied, frowning slightly. "Why do you ask?"

Barbara's fingers pressed down on Lucas's chest, slowly sliding south as she smiled. "I just want to see… if what you said is true."

"Barbara, don't!" Lucas struggled, attempting to push her back with his foot, but Barbara swiftly caught his ankle.

"Be good," Barbara murmured, undoing a small bow on his clothes with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Let me take a look!"

"No!" Lucas protested, trying to push her away with his other foot, giving her a gentle kick to the stomach.

Instead of backing off, his resistance seemed to spur her on. She casually summoned a small water ball, which splashed directly over Lucas's head, leaving him spluttering and momentarily distracted.

Seizing the opportunity, Barbara quickly undid the last knot securing Lucas.

Her eyes widened at what she saw.

So… he wasn't lying after all!

Within his small form lay an unexpected strength.

"See? I wasn't lying," Lucas said, blushing slightly. "Now do you believe me?"

Barbara's lips curved into a sly smile. "I just thought of… the perfect way to get back at you."

"W-what are you planning now?" Lucas stammered, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Sister once told me of a strategy called 'returning the favor in kind!'" Barbara took a deep breath, determination in her gaze. "So… I'll give you a taste of your own medicine!"

Are you serious?!

Lucas was now left utterly baffled, unsure if Barbara was genuinely innocent or just playing along.

One thing was clear: tonight, Lucas would join the ranks of a few rare "lucky" heroes, in a rather unforgettable way.

A dishevelled Lucas lay on the bed. As a 'child', what had just happened was simply overwhelming.

If he could sum it up in one word, it would be—flattened.

Like a massive truck barreling down, crushing Lucas's small, fragile frame.

"This is our secret," Barbara warned, casually wringing out her damp blonde hair as she shot him a smirk. "You'd better not tell anyone, got it? I know where you work, and I know who your boss is—Keqing herself. So, watch your step, okay?"

Lucas didn't respond.

The whole situation felt oddly familiar.

Oh, right. In the simulator, hadn't he used a similar threat himself? Karma sure worked fast.

Seeing Lucas huddled there, looking pitiful and defeated, Barbara felt a twinge of guilt. 

Was I… too rough?

"Come here," Barbara motioned to him with a finger.

"Wha—again?" Lucas shuddered.

"No, don't worry," she reassured him, shaking her head. "I just want to check for injuries."

Though it was nothing serious, just a few minor scrapes, it was still far less than the mischief Lucas had inflicted on her in the past.

Obediently, he shuffled over, and as she looked at him—this small, endearing boy—Barbara's heart softened slightly.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, and a cool, soothing sensation washed over him.

"Now we're even," she said gently. "You don't owe me anything anymore."

Despite Barbara's now-mature appearance, her heart remained as pure as ever. While she had talked big about "revenge," now that it was over, an empty feeling lingered.

Perhaps sensing her disappointment, Lucas suddenly let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Is that it?"

"What did you say?" Barbara's brow furrowed, her mood darkening. "Haven't you learned your lesson?"

"Lesson? You call that a lesson?" Lucas crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow defiantly. "You only got away with it because I'm stuck as a kid. If you're really serious, come at me with everything you've got."

Of course, he could have stopped her at any time, but why would he?

"You little…!" Barbara couldn't suppress a giggle, her earlier discontent fading. Gripping his shoulders playfully, she said, "Oh, so you're asking for it, huh? Well, we still have a bit of time before sunrise…I am gonna suck you dry!"

This round, without a doubt, went to Barbara.

...

"Yawn…"

Klee rubbed her sleepy eyes as she stumbled out of her hut, mumbling, "Klee… needs to go potty…"

Even in her adult form, she was still groggy and half-awake.

But as she approached the other hut, she heard strange noises coming from within.

"Huh…?" Her senses sharpening a bit, Klee carefully approached, mumbling, "It sounds like Daddy and Sister Barbara."

Unbeknownst to Barbara, the water barrier she'd set up to muffle sound had evaporated.

"Stealthy Klee is on the case!"

She peeked in, cautiously poking her head around the corner, but what she saw inside caused her eyes to go wide.

"Waaah!" she wailed suddenly, her voice breaking into sobs as she raced toward Jean's hut, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Captain Jean, help!"

Lucas and Barbara froze, startled by Klee's cry.

---

[Klee uses "Shriek"!]

[Lucas' spellcasting interrupted.]

[Barbara enters "Frightened" state, unable to act temporarily.]

---

Jean was a light sleeper, due to her constant work responsibilities and years of dealing with emergencies. She woke up instantly at Klee's cry.

The grown-up Klee knelt beside her, her large red eyes brimming with tears. "S-something terrible happened!"

"Calm down, tell me slowly!" Jean said, glancing around and noticing Barbara was nowhere in sight. Her heart sank as she asked, "What happened?"

"K-Klee saw Sister Barbara bullying Daddy!" Klee sobbed. "She was squashing him and saying, 'I'm going to crush you!' Captain Jean, please save Daddy!"

"Wha…?"

Jean's mind spun. Klee was still a child, after all, and likely misunderstood things. But Jean, as an adult, knew a bit about such matters—some of her favorite novels, after all, had hinted at… certain things.

And Klee's description sounded an awful lot like…

No, it couldn't be. Barbara was too innocent to act like that, especially toward Lucas—who was just a child now!

Without wasting a second, Jean grabbed Klee's hand, and they hurried toward the other hut.

But with each step closer, Jean's anxiety grew.

If they really were… what would she do?

But before she could think further, there was a loud thud as Lucas's body flew out of the hut, crashing against a large tree trunk.

"Ugh!" Lucas coughed, but then, smiling, he gave a thumbs-up. "Nice work, Barbara!"

Barbara stepped out of the hut, adjusting a headband she'd tied around her forehead, her golden hair pulled back. She bowed respectfully, her hands clasped in front of her. "Thank you for your guidance, Master Lucas!"

Jean and Klee arrived just in time, both wearing identical expressions of utter confusion.

"Um…" Jean ventured, her tone baffled, "What… exactly are you two doing?"

"Huh? Sister… did we make too much noise and wake you up?" Barbara asked, guilt flickering across her face. "Sorry about that!"

"Well, here's what happened—Barbara found me just now," Lucas explained calmly. "Since Captain Jean and I have both turned into children, Barbara is the only one of us who still has her full combat abilities. She wanted me to teach her some combat techniques, just in case."

"So…" Jean's eyes widened in realization. "When Klee said she saw Barbara pinning you down… was that also…?"

"Exactly! That's called groundwork!" Lucas said shamelessly. "It's a grappling technique I learned from a martial artist in Inazuma."

"Ah, I see!" Jean nodded thoughtfully. "I've heard that Inazuma has a martial art called 'Judo.' I didn't realize you knew it as well."

"Of course," Lucas said, seizing the chance as Jean nodded along. "Barbara and I were practicing Judo! But actually, it's originally from Liyue."

Technically, he wasn't lying… Judo was indeed a martial art.

"Klee, looks like you misunderstood," Jean explained, gently taking Klee's hand. "Your dad and Barbara were just practicing combat techniques."

"Hmm, but something still feels off," Klee muttered, scratching her head. Then her eyes lit up as she clapped her hands. "Wait, they weren't wearing…!"

"Klee!" Lucas interrupted hastily. "Daddy's hungry. How about we go blow up some fish for breakfast?"

"Blow up fish? Yay!" Klee quickly dropped her questions, grabbing Lucas in a hug. "Gotta make the most of our fish-blasting chance before Captain Jean says no!"

As Lucas and Klee left to prepare breakfast, Jean's smile faded, and she turned to Barbara with a cool expression. "Barbara, why would you do that?"

Oh no…

A chill ran down Barbara's spine.

Could it be… that her sister had already figured out everything between her and Lucas? Had Jean kept quiet just to spare her feelings?

"I'm… I'm sorry…" Barbara muttered, guilt written all over her face. "I… I got carried away."

"If you wanted to learn combat techniques, you could have asked me!" Jean replied with a hint of frustration. "As your sister, I would have been happy to teach you some swordsmanship myself."

Huh?

Barbara was caught off guard by the response, feeling an unexpected warmth in her chest.

For the first time in all these years, Jean had called herself "sister."

"Sister!" Overcome with emotion, Barbara hugged her, tears of joy and relief streaming down her face. "I am so so happy!"

"There's something else I don't quite understand," Jean continued, her expression puzzled. "Why were you shouting, 'I'm going to crush you' while training?"

A bead of sweat rolled down Barbara's forehead.

"Crush", of course, referred to... well... her crushing his figure under her two big mountains.

"That was…" Barbara quickly improvised, "a battle cry! Lucas said that yelling things like that can make you more intimidating during a fight."

"Hmm, I suppose that makes sense," Jean mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "A commanding presence is important in combat, after all."

Before long, Lucas and Klee returned, carrying fresh fish they'd blown up for a simple but delicious breakfast. The countdown to resuming the game was also down to a mere few minutes, and everyone felt refreshed and energized after their meal.

"Lucas," Jean said, picking up a nearby stick. "I've actually wanted to spar with you for a while now. Would you be up for it?"

Lucas could tell right away that Jean's challenge was more about demonstrating her skills to Barbara than anything else, so he nodded, smiling. "Sure thing, a little post-breakfast exercise sounds good. Besides, we're just kids right now, so let's keep it to technique only."

"But using sticks is a bit basic," Lucas said, taking two branches and transforming them with alchemy into small wooden practice swords. He tossed one to Jean. "Here, catch!"

Jean accepted the wooden sword, noting that, even with her reduced size, it felt quite comfortable in her hand. She twirled it once, pointing the tip at Lucas with a smirk. "I'm going to crush you!"

"…What?"

Lucas froze, glancing over at Barbara, who now had her face in her hands, clearly embarrassed.

Seeing Jean charge toward him, Lucas quickly raised his sword to block. Both had impressive technique, though their strength and speed were naturally hindered by their child-sized forms.

"Go, Daddy!" cheered Klee from the sidelines.

"Go, Sister!" Barbara added with equal enthusiasm.

Even though they were smaller, the skill gap remained. After about thirty or forty exchanges, Lucas got a good sense of Jean's level—she was about on par with Eula, though slightly less powerful than Diluc.

---

Though Lucas could easily have blocked the attack, he knew Jean was eager to show her skills to Barbara, so he purposefully left an opening.

Jean seized the opportunity, stepping forward and striking Lucas's midsection with the practice sword. Although the blow was harmless, Lucas feigned injury with a convincing grunt and fell dramatically to the ground.

His fall was so skillful, even a certain country's soccer team might have applauded.

"Are you okay?" Jean exclaimed, dropping the wooden sword in alarm and rushing over to help him up, her face full of concern. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean to hit so hard!"

"Daddy!" Klee was even more alarmed than Jean, clutching Lucas tightly and wailing, "Please don't die, Daddy! Wahhh!"

"Mmmph!" Lucas, small as he was, found himself smothered in Klee's much larger embrace. 

For a brief moment, Lucas relived the terror of being flattened by an unstoppable force—a sensation he had unfortunately experienced with Barbara just last night.

"Klee…" Barbara, blushing slightly, spoke up, "I think your daddy might be getting squished to death."

"Eh?!" Klee gasped and quickly released Lucas. The small boy now looked thoroughly dazed, his face flushed as he teetered between consciousness and confusion.

"Daddy, are you okay?" Klee asked, gently shaking him, her voice filled with worry. "Say something, please!"

"He'll be fine," Barbara reassured her, stifling a laugh. "Though… he might be a little dizzy."

"It's all your fault!" Klee huffed, puffing out her cheeks as she patted her chest in frustration. "Why'd you have to grow up so big?! You almost squished Daddy to death!"

Upon hearing Klee's outburst, Barbara and Jean both dropped a few silent beads of sweat, realizing just how oblivious she was to her own situation. 

Perhaps this was what it meant to not appreciate one's blessings.

Fortunately, after last night's… intense experiences, Lucas had developed a certain resilience to "big mountains"—no, to "older sisters." Within a few moments, he had cleared his head and regained his composure.

If Jean's sword strike had dealt 5 points of physical damage, then Klee's "attack" had definitely added a stun debuff.

Just as Lucas recovered, the game board signaled it was time to continue, and this round, it was Lucas's turn to roll.

"Wait a moment…" Jean seemed to recall something, her brows knitting together. "Wasn't there a message on the board yesterday saying you had to do something 'bad' before the game could continue?"

At Jean's question, both Lucas and Barbara visibly paled.

"So…" Jean narrowed her eyes, suspicion flickering in her gaze. "Did you do something bad, Lucas?"

Lucas and Barbara exchanged a quick, worried glance—one which Jean didn't miss. Her sharp gaze settled on them, and she frowned. "Does this 'bad deed' have something to do with Barbara?"

For anything to be classified as a "bad deed," it would need both a subject and an object. Jean herself couldn't be the victim, and Klee, as Lucas's daughter, seemed an unlikely candidate. That left Barbara as the most plausible answer.

Though Jean did have a favorable impression of Lucas, if he had wronged Barbara, she certainly wouldn't let it slide.

Just as Jean's gaze grew sharper, Barbara suddenly spoke up. "It's not Lucas's fault. I… I was the one who asked him to do it."

"What?" Jean and Lucas exclaimed in unison.

"Back when we got separated from you, Lucas and I discussed how he could complete the 'bad deed' required for the game to continue." Barbara blushed slightly. "So… I let him…"

"It… it wasn't that serious!" Barbara quickly shook her head. "I just let him… peek at me while I was bathing, that's all."

Whoa, whoa. If she'd agreed to it, then it wasn't "peeking"; that was practically an invitation!

"Is… is that all?" Jean asked, frowning in concern.

Though it was certainly serious, considering the unusual circumstances, she found it more understandable.

Though Jean struggled to accept this, the fact that Lucas was now allowed to roll the dice confirmed he had indeed completed the required bad deed.

"Fine. It was for the sake of the game," Jean finally sighed, patting Lucas's shoulder. "But if you ever think of using Barbara as… inspiration for unholy activities, I'll make sure you regret it!"

As if! Ever since he got that simulator, Lucas had left "solo activities" far behind.

And besides, Barbara was long past being just inspiration material.

Lucas nodded solemnly, "Don't worry—I'd never do that."

"What are you talking about?" Klee asked, eyes wide in confusion as she looked from one to the other. "Klee wants to do it too!"

"No!" the three others said in unison.

...

Finally, Lucas tossed the dice.

A three and a four.

Sighing, he noted with disappointment that he hadn't rolled a one, meaning he couldn't revert to his adult form just yet.

[A wave of monsters is approaching…]

As the text appeared, the ground around them began to tremble. Fissures opened in the earth, and countless monsters crawled out, surrounding the group of four.

But these weren't mere Hilichurls or slimes. Instead, they were high-ranking monsters: Geovishap Hatchlings, a Rifthound, a Stonehide Lawachurl and even a Pyro Regisvine.

Monsters that, even on their own, would cause major trouble were emerging as if there was no monster budget to worry about.

Even if Lucas and Jean hadn't been turned into children, facing this many powerful enemies at once would have been a formidable challenge.

"Wh-what do we do now?" Barbara stammered, anxiety flashing across her face. "This is way too many!"

"Stay calm!" Lucas quickly reassured her. "Remember, this is a game. If it's a game, there has to be a way to win. There must be some way out of this…"

"Maybe they just look strong but are actually really weak?" Klee guessed, raising her hands as a large fireball materialized in her palms. "Kaboom!"

Even as a child, Klee's elemental power had been considerable. Now, with her adult form amplifying her Pyro abilities, the massive fireball struck a Geovishap Hatchling dead-on, shattering part of its stone armor but failing to deal critical damage.

Worse, the monster roared in rage, stomping toward them with a vengeance that made the earth shake with every step.

"Oh no," Barbara scratched her head nervously, laughing. "Looks like we made it mad!"

"Jean!" Lucas suddenly called, an idea flashing through his mind. "It's your turn to roll next. Hurry! Maybe the next event will help us deal with this!"

"Yes!" 

Jean quickly realized the strategy.

Using one round to counter another, magic against magic!

Just as the monsters closed in, Jean picked up the dice and threw it toward the board.

A roll of four and five—nine steps forward!

But when the piece moved across the board and landed on its new square, the text that appeared left Jean, Lucas, and Barbara all staring in dismay.

[Repeat the previous round's event.]

Meaning…

The ground began to rumble again, and yet another wave of monsters emerged from below, surrounding them on all sides.

Monster count, doubled!

Instead of solving the problem, they had now made things far worse.

"This was your solution?" Barbara asked anxiously, her face pale. "Didn't it just make things worse?"

"How was I supposed to know this would happen?" Lucas said, feeling helpless. "Think of something else!"

"What else can we do?" Barbara's voice trembled as she watched the overwhelming horde of monsters closing in like a tidal wave. "Are we… going to die here?"

"I don't think so," Lucas tried to reassure her. "It's just a game. If we lose, we probably just go back to reality."

After all, The Hero Klee vs. the Demon King was a fairy tale come to life from Klee's innocent imagination, and in a fairytale world, the heroes never die, right?

But that didn't mean Lucas would just stand there and surrender.

As a Stonehide Lawachurl charged forward, Lucas formed an ice spear in his hand and hurled it straight at its chest.

"Dragon Piercing Spear!"

The Stonehide Lawachurl, who hadn't flinched at Klee's massive fireball, wasn't about to back down from a small ice spear. It raised a giant hand to swat it aside.

Unexpectedly, the razor-sharp ice spear pierced clean through the Lawachurl's palm, continued through its chest, and exited, leaving a gaping hole.

[Executioner perk activated: Permanent 10% strength increase]

The Executioner perk had the potential to grant bonuses after defeating a target, depending on the strength of the enemy.

But in the current situation, these bonuses wouldn't mean much.

Lucas might be able to deal with a few monsters, but with his limited stamina, he could only form so many Dragon Piercing Spears before tiring.

"What now?" Jean asked, pressing her back against Lucas, her brows furrowed with worry. "If the game ends, are we going to…?"

"I don't know," Lucas answered coolly. "But we need to make sure Klee and Barbara are safe."

"You and I think alike," Jean replied, managing a faint smile. "If only we were in our regular bodies right now."

Together, Jean and Lucas's combined abilities could buy enough time, even if they couldn't defeat the horde outright.

But just as they braced themselves for a final stand, a clattering sound broke through the tension—the unmistakable sound of dice hitting the wooden board.

"It's Klee's turn!"

Amid the chaos, Klee had taken her turn and rolled the dice once again.

The three of them gasped.

Their situation was already critical, and if Klee's roll triggered another dangerous event, it might be game over for all of them.

A roll of two and four—six steps.

[Summon the thing you fear the most.]

This was it. They were doomed.

As if the two waves of monsters weren't enough, now they had to deal with a summoned boss on top of it.

After all, for a little girl like Klee, the scariest thing imaginable would probably be another huge, fearsome monster.

Let alone a creature terrifying enough to frighten even Klee, who was typically so fearless.

A summoning circle appeared in front of them, glowing intensely as a figure began to take shape in the center.

When the light faded, everyone squinted in confusion at what they saw, their faces filled with astonishment.

---

What emerged from the summoning circle was neither a monster nor any kind of deformed creature, but instead, a breathtakingly beautiful elf woman.

Her long, pale golden hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her deep crimson eyes carried an intense gaze—none other than Klee's mother, Alice!

"Oh my, my…" Alice stretched with a lazy smile. "Let's see now, who managed to summon me out of nowhere like this?"

"Lady Alice?" Jean exclaimed, her face a mix of shock and surprise. "How can this be you?"

Then it hit her—considering Klee's boundless boldness, it made sense that the only person she could truly be "afraid" of would be someone as unfathomably powerful as her own mother, Alice.

"It's you all?" Alice scanned the group with a thoughtful look, her gaze falling on each in turn. "Miss Jean, little Barbara, and… hmm?"

When Alice's gaze finally settled on Klee, she narrowed her eyes with a slight expression of doubt. "And you are…?"

Since Klee had been transformed by the board's effects, she now looked like a grown-up, nineteen years old. Naturally, she no longer resembled the little girl Alice was used to, which left Alice herself uncertain for a moment.

"Mom!" Klee cried out, running over and throwing herself into Alice's arms with joy. "Klee missed you so much!"

"Klee?" Alice's surprise was evident. "Well, it seems I've been away quite a while if you've grown this much!"

Hearing this, the other three couldn't help but drop a few sweat drops. How relaxed did Alice have to be to have no clue about her daughter's age?

"Lady Alice, the situation is rather complicated," Jean interjected with a tense expression. "We'll explain everything in a moment, but for now, could you please help us deal with the immediate danger?"

"Danger?" Alice tilted her head in mild confusion. "What danger?"

"Those monsters, of course!" Barbara replied hastily. "Can't you see them?"

Unlike Jean, Barbara had little experience with Alice and was unaware of her terrifying power.

"Oh, you mean those?" Alice glanced toward the approaching horde with a casual air. "Klee, dear, would you like to see some fireworks?"

"Yes!" Klee's eyes lit up as she nodded excitedly.

"Watch carefully then," Alice said with a smile, extending her hand toward the horde that was now dangerously close. She formed her fingers into the shape of a gun and whispered softly, "Bang."

At her word, an Geovishap Hatchling that was mere steps away seemed to be lifted by an invisible force, rising high into the air before exploding with a spectacular "boom," scattering in a radiant burst of colorful lights like a firework.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

Alice continued with a few more casual "shots," and every time her finger moved, yet another monster would be flung up into the sky, only to detonate in an awe-inspiring array of colors. The entire horde of monsters was soon bursting overhead, leaving the scene completely mesmerizing.

Indeed, what was a "dangerous" monster surge to the four-person team was, for Alice, nothing more than something she could obliterate with a snap of her fingers.

Rather than calling it "dangerous," it was more like something just slightly annoying.

"Wow! Mom, you're amazing!"

Klee expressed her admiration for Alice without a hint of restraint.

Seeing this, Barbara and Jean began to understand why Alice was, to Klee, "the most fearsome existence."

"Alright, that minor issue has been handled," Alice clapped her hands with a smile. "Now, can someone tell me what's actually going on here?"

Jean nodded and began to explain, "It's like this, you had Lu…"

She paused, suddenly remembering that Lucas had been playing Klee's father on Alice's request. She quickly rephrased, "Your dear husband brought Klee a toy, which ended up pulling all of us into this game world. That's why you were summoned here as well."

"Husband?" Alice scratched her cheek, looking hesitant. "You mean... my husband?"

"Yes! Yes, indeed!" Jean threw Alice a meaningful glance, adding, "Wasn't it you who asked Klee's father to visit her?"

"Klee's father?" Alice looked at Klee, who, now an adult, nodded and said, "Yes, Daddy's here too!"

Though she wasn't sure what exactly was going on, Alice was nothing if not sharp. Catching on to the strange circumstances, she played along with a smile. "Oh, silly me, how could I forget? Now then… where is my dear husband?"

Wait… Why did that line sound a bit too familiar?

"Daddy!"

Klee immediately pointed at Lucas and waved. "Mom's looking for you!"

At that moment, Lucas, who had been trying to slip away unnoticed, had no choice but to stop in his tracks. He turned around slowly, trying to smile. "H-honey, you came too."

My husband… is a little kid?

Alice had expected someone pretending to be her non-existent husband to be someone sinister, not an actual child.

Even though this little boy looked quite cute, to call him her husband was still pushing it, wasn't it?

It seemed that he, too, was affected by this game, reverting from an adult to a child.

"Klee, be a good girl," Alice said with a smile, "wait here with the others for a moment. I need to have a talk with your daddy."

"Got it, Mom!" Klee nodded, appearing used to these kinds of things. "Take your time. Klee won't be a third wheel!"

"Come along," Alice walked over to Lucas, an ominous smile on her face. "Shall we go have a chat over there?"

This scene reminded Lucas of those days in middle school when he was called out for a "talk" by bullies.

Except that time, it ended with all of them lying on the ground after he took them down.

Meanwhile, Klee, Barbara, and Jean watched the scene unfolding from a distance.

"Klee, I have to say…" Barbara frowned. "Why does it feel like your parents barely know each other?"

"Barbara!" Jean immediately reprimanded her. "Don't speak out of turn!"

"Klee's not sure either," Klee shook her head. "But Klee likes both Daddy and Mommy a lot!"

Unlike others affected by the "Dream," Klee, due to her young age, found it harder to distinguish between reality and the virtual world.

Plus, having been raised in the Knights of Favonius, Klee had few real memories of Alice.

Any conflicting details between reality and the dream were naturally filtered out by Klee's brain. Thus, her memories of Alice were entirely based on reality, while her memories of Lucas came entirely from the dream.

This led to Klee remembering her parents as two distinct individuals with almost no interaction.

...

Only when they were far enough from the others did Alice stop and cross her arms, a smirk on her face.

"Alright, spill," she sneered. "I won't even ask why you're pretending to be my husband. But why does Klee think you're her father?"

Even just standing before Alice, Lucas could feel an unimaginable, overwhelming pressure.

It was the same kind of pressure he felt in the Simulator when he faced the Tsaritsa directly.

He had no doubt that if he slipped up even once, he would be treated just like the monsters Alice had obliterated earlier.

"It's… hard to believe, to be honest," Lucas decided to go with the truth. "Klee and I shared the same dream. In the dream, I was her father. I didn't expect Klee to have the exact same dream and end up thinking of me as her dad. To avoid disappointing her, I didn't correct her."

Honestly, Lucas wasn't even sure he believed it himself, let alone expecting Alice to believe such a far-fetched story!

"The dream you're talking about…" Alice muttered thoughtfully, "could it be… the one where someone kidnapped my daughter Klee to raise her as a criminal?"

At Alice's words, Lucas felt his heart sink.

"Wait…" Lucas stammered. "How do you know about that?"

"It's simple," Alice replied, her smile unreadable. "I had the same dream."

What?

How could Alice know about the Simulator's contents?

Klee's connection to the Simulator could be explained by her proximity to him.

But Alice, who was so far away, dreaming about the Simulator too… how did that make any sense?

"System!" he called inwardly. "Explain yourself!"

[During the simulation, certain characters may be assigned corresponding roles in dreams to ensure realism.]

[Generally, the system clears these memories upon waking.]

[But due to the character's immense strength, memory erasure may have been incomplete.]

[PS: Final interpretation rights belong to the system.]

Did they have an intern write this system code?

This was a major problem!

Actually, Lucas had been wondering for a long time about the Simulator's mechanism. If every character in it was created by the "system," then as an NPC, its performance was absurdly advanced.

So it turned out all the NPCs were real people playing their roles?

Alice seemed to sense the unusual look on Lucas's face and gave him a comforting smile. "Don't worry. I already understand why this strange dream happened."

Hearing Alice's words, Lucas felt a fresh wave of nervousness.

Could it be that Alice already knew he possessed a power not of this world—the system?

After all, the woman before him was the most "unfathomable" person Lucas had encountered since arriving in Teyvat—in every possible way.

"So, what… exactly are you getting at?" Lucas feigned ignorance, asking.

"Before we discuss that, I have one question for you. Don't lie to me," Alice eyed Lucas carefully, speaking in a serious tone. "You're not from this world, are you?"

So she really had figured it out.

The concept of an "otherworldly visitor" would be hard for most people to grasp, but for Alice—who could travel between worlds—it was no surprise at all.

Lucas's instincts told him it was best not to deceive her. Her power was likely on par with the Seven Archons and, in some areas, could even… surpass them.

"That's right," Lucas nodded, answering truthfully. "It was an accident that brought me into this world."

"I like an honest young man," Alice nodded approvingly. "Since you're also a traveler between worlds, this should make my explanation a lot easier."

She raised her hand, and a stray twig instantly flew into her palm. With it, she poked a point into the sandy ground, then drew a straight line from that point. "Originally, the world we live in was moving forward along a straight line. But…"

Abruptly, she stopped the twig, then drew two lines diverging from the end of the first line. "At a certain moment, because of some divergent event, the world may start developing in two entirely different directions. This is what gives rise to 'parallel worlds.'"

With a flick of her hand, the lines in the sand began to branch off continuously, like the boughs of a tree, until there were so many branches it was impossible to keep track of them all.

"Innumerable points of divergence create countless parallel worlds, and the world we're in now is just one of those," Alice tossed the twig aside with a smile. "But these parallel worlds aren't entirely disconnected. When we fall asleep, it's very possible to experience life… as someone completely different in another parallel universe."

"That's why our dreams are always so bizarre and surreal," Alice pointed at Lucas. "For example, while you and I have no connection in this world, in other worlds, we might be lifelong companions."

"So you mean…" Lucas murmured, "those dreams aren't illusions, but rather, 'reality' in another world?"

If Alice's theory were correct, then everything Lucas had experienced in the "Simulator" wasn't some virtual construct but events that truly took place in another parallel world.

And all the "bad deeds" he had committed weren't just meaningless data.

"You could see it that way," Alice nodded. "The three of us must have simply dreamed of lives in the same parallel universe—an extremely rare coincidence. Though theoretically speaking, it's incredibly unlikely, it's not entirely impossible."

Unaware of the system's existence, Alice's theory placed the probability of such an occurrence somewhere around the chance of three people winning the lottery's grand prize simultaneously.

"Generally, though, these dreams are faint, and we forget more than ninety percent of them after waking."

Alice suddenly leaned in, gazing intently into Lucas's eyes. "But that dream involving you felt too real. Rather than calling it a dream, it's more like I fully experienced my life in another parallel world."

For a moment, she was overcome with the desire to experience that joy again…

In that dream, the happiness she had felt with this man.

Of course, this thought merely flitted across Alice's mind; after all, it was just a dream.

And besides, with Lucas turned into a child by the board's magic, even if she were willing, he certainly wasn't capable.

"Miss Alice, it seems we've resolved our misunderstanding," Lucas said, a bit awkwardly. "Since it was just a dream, perhaps you should take a chance to explain to Klee that I'm… not really her father."

"There's actually a favor I'd like to ask," Alice shook her head, smiling slightly. "I hope that you might… continue pretending to be Klee's father."

"What?" Lucas exclaimed in surprise. "Why?"

"Klee adores you, doesn't she?" Alice sighed softly. "I've been traveling for so long, I rarely get to spend time with her. I feel terribly guilty about that. If she had a father figure around from time to time, she'd probably be very happy."

"But that's only temporary," Lucas reminded her. "Once Klee grows up a little, she's bound to figure it out."

"That's alright. Who knows, maybe before then…" A somewhat ambiguous smile appeared on Alice's face. "We might… make the act real."

Wait… was she hinting at something?

"Haha, judging by that look on your face, I was just kidding," Alice waved her hand with a laugh. "Just keep playing the role of Klee's dad. I'll handle the rest."

Although it seemed like Alice was merely "requesting" this, Lucas knew full well that rejecting her would likely have some unpleasant consequences. It was better to accept and earn her goodwill.

"Understood," Lucas nodded. "After all, I do genuinely like Klee."

"Don't worry; I never leave debts unpaid." Alice reached out, pinching Lucas's cheek with a playful smile. "I'll make sure you're well-compensated."

Lucas, with his cheeks squished, could only manage a garbled reply, "Th-thank you…"

"Let's see… how about a little treat?" Alice said, and then, suddenly, she leaned in and gave Lucas a gentle kiss on the lips.

There was a faint scent of cinnamon.

[Talent Acquired: "Witch's Prank"]

[Rank: S]

[Effect: Once per day, you may randomly cast a spell as a "Witch." The level, effect, and power of the spell are entirely unpredictable.]

"Muah!"

Alice wiped the corner of her mouth, smiling slyly. "Take it as a small gift from me. Maybe it'll come in handy if you're ever in a pinch."

Alice's explanation was far simpler than the system's description of the talent.

This was less a "reward" and more of a prank on Alice's part.

Random magic? It sounded like a recipe for chaos.

Any D&D player knows that a wizard's spell list is vast, with effects as varied as they are strange. Who knew what odd occurrences might result from using Alice's magic?

Still, to grant an S-rank talent with just a casual kiss—Alice's power was… truly terrifying.

"Since you've accepted my gift, the contract is now complete. You Liyue people value contracts, don't you?" Alice looked mischievously at him. "If you dare break our contract, I'll just have to pay a visit to Zhong… I mean, to the Geo Archon himself to discuss it!"

Wait… did she almost say Zhongli just now?

Does she actually know that Zhongli is the Geo Archon?

"Don't worry, Miss Alice," Lucas replied, feeling both amused and helpless. "Even if I had the guts, I'd never dare to mess with you."

"Wrong," Alice wagged a finger playfully. "Our relationship is that of husband and wife now, remember? How should you address me?"

"Um… Lady? Madame?" Lucas guessed, unsure.

"Those are much too formal," Alice giggled. "Just call me wifey. Go on, give it a try."

Lucas's face turned a deep shade of red as he mumbled, "Wif—wifey…"

Alice found it amusing to be called that by a young boy, though… she didn't dislike the feeling.

Though her marriage to Lucas was something that had happened in a parallel world, those dreams and memories felt almost like they had been real experiences. So, in her heart, Alice did hold some special affection for Lucas.

"Well, I'm counting on you, then," Alice whispered into Lucas's ear, her voice sultry, "my dear husband."

Lucas felt his ears turn hot, and memories from the Simulator flooded back to his mind—memories of the things he and Alice had done there.

For him, that had been far more than just a dream.

---

"Mom! Dad!" As the two returned, Klee ran over to them with curiosity, asking, "What were you two talking about?"

"Oh, just a little chat," Alice pinched Lucas's cheek with a smile. "After all, it's been a long time since I last saw your dad."

"Is that so?" Klee pondered, rubbing her chin. "I thought maybe you two were doing some 'grown-up things.'"

At Klee's words, Jean's expression shifted, and she quickly asked, "Klee! Who told you about that?"

"Brother Kaeya!" Klee replied without hesitation. "Brother Kaeya said that when husbands and wives don't see each other for a long time, they do grown-up things together. But… what are grown-up things?"

"This Kaeya…" Jean muttered with a frown. "Telling Klee things like that…"

Then again, it was just like Kaeya to make such jokes.

"Oh, it's just… kissing," Alice said, picking Klee up and planting a kiss on her soft, squishy cheek. "Just like this."

Klee giggled with delight, but then her eyes widened with surprise as she looked at Alice's hand. "Mom, what's happening to your hand?"

Alice glanced down and saw that her hand had begun to dissolve into particles of light, along with the rest of her body.

"It seems my time here is up," Alice said with a helpless smile. "I was summoned here, after all, so now it's time for me to go back."

"But Klee doesn't want you to go!" Klee's eyes filled with tears as her happy expression faded.

"Mom will come back to see you again, and…" Alice glanced at Lucas with a smile, "you'll have your dad with you. Be good, okay?"

"Klee… Klee will be good!" Klee's words were brave, but her tears still flowed despite her best efforts to hold them back.

After all, she was still a child, and it was hard for her to part with her mother.

"Oh, I almost forgot—I have a gift for you, Klee." Alice held out her hand, and a soft, fluffy stuffed toy with a big tail appeared as if by magic. "If both Mom and Dad aren't around, you'll have this to keep you company."

"Wow! I love it!" Klee hugged the toy with joy. "I've decided—I'll call you… Dodoco!"

"Thank you, everyone, for always taking care of Klee… Goodbye." Alice's voice faded as she disappeared along with the light particles.

But before vanishing completely, she gave Lucas one last, meaningful look—a message that needed no words.

Farewells always carry a hint of sadness. Alice's departure left everyone quiet for a moment, especially Klee, who turned her back to the group, her usual cheerfulness dimmed.

Just as the three were about to go comfort her, they saw Klee wipe her eyes, then turn back around with her usual, carefree smile.

"Let's keep adventuring!" she said with a slight redness still in her eyes but a bright smile on her face. "Mom was right. I'm already so lucky to have you all with me!"

Seeing Klee's resilience, the others felt a wave of relief.

"Alright, I guess it's my turn!" Barbara took the dice in her hand, but she felt a bit nervous.

What if something strange or dangerous happened again?

Seeing her worry, Jean gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry, no matter what happens, as long as we work together, we can handle it!"

Encouraged by her sister, Barbara finally mustered the courage to roll the dice.

A one and a six—seven steps.

"Wow, it's a one!" Klee exclaimed. "Are we going to change back… huh?"

Before she could finish, her body had already transformed from that of a grown woman back into her usual little girl self.

And the other three had also reverted to their original ages.

"Aww, that's too bad…" Klee mumbled in slight disappointment. "Now I'm short again."

"I'm short again too…" Barbara sighed as she looked down at her chest, which had shrunk back. "I have to admit, being grown up was actually kind of nice."

Just then, a new event appeared on the board—

[The dice roller becomes a giant for one turn]

"A giant…?"

All four of them looked a bit puzzled.

"L-look!" Klee suddenly exclaimed. "Barbara… she's growing bigger again!"

Lucas and Jean both turned to see that Barbara's body was indeed enlarging at a visible rate.

But rather than aging up, she was simply growing in size.

Luckily, her clothing also grew with her body; otherwise, her clothes would have surely torn apart by now.

Two meters, three meters, five meters, ten meters… she kept growing until she towered over the surrounding trees.

"W-what's happening to me?!" Naturally, Barbara was the most astonished of all. She watched as her body rose further and further from the ground, while everything around her—including the others—seemed to shrink smaller and smaller.

If this were the real world, a sudden enlargement of the human body would cause all sorts of issues. But here in this game, somehow, it all worked perfectly.

Finally, Barbara's "growth" stopped, but her body had reached an enormous, astonishing size.

"Barbara, try not to panic!" Lucas called up to her. "It's only supposed to last one turn!"

However, as he tilted his head back to look up, Lucas's expression became somewhat complicated.

Due to Barbara's enormous size, her skirt was now like a vast, dark cloud hanging over the three of them.

And, of course, the "scenery" beneath that "cloud" was also… entirely on display.

What's more, everything was so magnified that every detail was clearly visible, down to the very pores.

Barbara seemed to realize this as well and squeaked in embarrassment, "D-don't look!"

Due to her size, Barbara's voice boomed louder than usual, and her sudden shout left the others dizzy and shaken.

"S-sorry, I didn't mean to!" Barbara stammered, her face red with worry.

She tried to adjust her position, but, still not fully used to her new size, she wobbled and suddenly lost her balance, landing heavily on the ground with a thud.

"Klee, watch out!"

Jean's first thought was to protect the youngest among them. Using her Anemo powers, she quickly launched Klee to safety.

But a huge shadow fell over her just as Barbara's giant form was about to land on top of her.

At that critical moment, Lucas dashed forward, shoving Jean out of harm's way.

"Lucas!"

Jean's shout was cut short by the deafening thud as Barbara, seated in a ducking position, landed on the sandy ground.

And Lucas… was nowhere to be seen, seemingly buried beneath her.

"Lucas!" Jean cried out in horror. "Barbara, quick… get up!"

Even Jean herself didn't realize her voice had taken on a tremor.

"D-daddy…" Klee stared, wide-eyed, mumbling, "He really got squished by Barbara… waaah!"

"I-I didn't mean to!" Barbara quickly scrambled to her feet, but she couldn't bring herself to look down.

Being crushed by such a weight would flatten even a Ruin Guard, or squish a Geo Slime into paste.

But, to their surprise, there was no bloodied corpse on the ground where Barbara had fallen.

"Eh?"

Suddenly, Barbara's face flushed crimson, and her voice trembled as she said, "L-Lucas… he's… he's still alive."

"Really?" Jean asked immediately. "Where is he?"

"Where's Daddy?" Klee asked, her voice filled with worry.

"L-look over there first!" Barbara pointed behind them in a flustered gesture.

Jean and Klee turned to look, only to see nothing but the open sea stretching out before them, with no sign of Lucas.

"Barbara, you're teasing us! Daddy isn't… huh? Daddy!"

As Klee turned back, she saw Lucas in the palm of Barbara's hand. "Wow! Barbara's doing magic and made Daddy appear!" Klee squealed with delight.

Barbara said nothing, though her expression was complex. She carefully set Lucas down on the ground, and Klee immediately dashed over to him, asking in concern, "Daddy, are you alright? Eh? Why do you smell funny?"

"Lucas, what exactly happened?" Jean asked as she came over, looking baffled. "Weren't you… just crushed?"

"I…" Lucas's face flushed. "I was lucky enough to find… a gap."

"A gap?"

Jean didn't quite understand at first, but glancing at both Lucas and Barbara's faces, she seemed to catch on.

In that split-second of survival, Lucas finally understood the meaning behind the saying, "When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back."

"A gap?" Klee looked around at the patch of ground where Barbara had landed. "Where's the gap?"

The enormous weight from Barbara's body had flattened the land into two shallow oval-shaped depressions, more dramatic than anything Klee could achieve with her bombs. There was clearly nowhere to hide.

"Klee, let's not ask too many questions," Jean interjected at the right moment. "Your father just went through something very dangerous and needs a little time to calm down."

Yes, he very much needed to calm down.

----

Lucas thought to himself, If I ever write a memoir a few decades from now, this experience would definitely make the top three in "My Most Outrageous Near-Death Escapes."

The only comfort was that he had already had Barbara's "first glass of red wine." Otherwise, his current state would've been enough to make him lose his sanity.

"Oh, Daddy, do you need comforting?" Klee tugged lightly at Lucas's sleeve, her little brows knitted with worry. "Klee cares about Daddy a lot!"

"Daddy's fine now," Lucas patted Klee's head with a smile. "And don't blame Barbara; she didn't mean it."

"Barbara!" Klee cupped her little hands together and shouted up at Barbara, looking up with a big smile. "Daddy doesn't blame you! And I don't either!"

"Well, thanks a lot, you two…" Barbara responded, her face stricken with helpless embarrassment. "So… whose turn is it next? Let's get this over with; I don't want to stay like this a second longer than I have to!"

"But I think it's amazing!" To everyone's surprise, Klee looked up at Barbara with envy. "Being able to grow so big is super cool!"

"It's not cool at all…" Barbara murmured with a pout. "That's not the kind of 'growing up' I wanted, and besides…"

Besides, that embarrassing moment had almost broken her!

For a sweet, gentle girl like Barbara, suddenly growing so huge was indeed hard to accept.

"In any case, the faster we get on with the game, the sooner your size will go back to normal." Without further delay, Lucas picked up the dice and rolled them.

A three and a five—eight steps.

[The player will be teleported to the person who most wants you dead. You will return in three hours; if you die, you will be removed from the game.]

"The person who most wants Lucas dead?" Jean frowned slightly. "What does that mean?"

"Captain Jean, something's wrong!" Klee gasped. "Daddy's gone again!"

She glanced suspiciously at the enormous Barbara and, hands on her hips, said, "Did Barbara hide Daddy again?"

"I did not!" Barbara protested, her face—no, her giant face—turning red. "Where would I even hide him?!"

To be honest, there were places she could hide him… and more than one.

Jean looked around, and sure enough, Lucas had completely vanished from where he had been standing a moment ago.

"What happened?" Jean muttered, her face worried. "If he really got teleported to someone who wants to kill him, that could be dangerous."

"N-no way!" Klee shook her head vigorously. "Daddy's a good guy. Why would anyone want to kill him?"

"Good people are often the easiest to hold grudges against," Jean sighed but remained resolute. "But with his skills, I doubt he'd be killed so easily. Don't worry, Klee."

"I'm not worried about Daddy—I'm more worried about Barbara!" Klee said with innocent curiosity, scratching her cheek. "If she has to 'go potty' while she's this big… wouldn't the potty be… really big?"

"Stop thinking about such weird things!" Barbara wailed in embarrassment.

---

Strange… where is this place?

Lucas opened his eyes, only to realize that he was no longer on the island board but in a confined space.

Beneath him, he felt a gentle swaying.

It's… a sedan chair!

It dawned on him that he was seated inside a palanquin. Drawing back the curtain, he saw that it was nighttime, and he was in Liyue, the familiar streets stretching out beyond him.

Strangely, even though this was usually when Liyue's night market would be bustling, the streets were nearly empty, with only a few shops still open.

Just then, the sedan chair halted, and a deferential voice came from outside:

"Young Master, there's a strange woman blocking the road ahead. Should we shoo her away?"

Young Master?

Lucas was momentarily puzzled, but he quickly understood.

In his simulation experiences, he had twice played the role of a young master. Once was with the Lawrence family in Mondstadt, but since he was currently in Liyue, there was only one possibility.

He was now in his first simulation, the one involving a dark version of Keqing.

They say people always remember their first experience most vividly.

Now he understood the meaning of being "teleported to the person who most wants you dead."

Indeed, if there were anyone who wanted him dead, she'd undoubtedly be at the top of the list.

"No need to be rude," Lucas replied, lifting the curtain and stepping out of the sedan. "She… is my guest."

Sure enough, at the end of the road stood a purple-haired woman. The moonlight was at her back, obscuring her face, but her violet eyes glowed ominously.

With a sudden "boom," a bolt of lightning cracked across the clear sky, sending a shiver through the sedan-bearers.

"It's… it's the Thunder Rakshasa!"

"Oh no… it's that fiend!"

"Young Master, run! She's a demoness!"

It was Keqing, but in this world, she had another identity—Thunder Rakshasa.

In this simulation, Lucas had played the role of a school bully who liked to torment his classmates, especially Keqing. His bullying had led to her being ostracized by her peers. After a series of tragic events, Keqing had not only lost her chance to become the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing but had also chosen to descend into darkness, joining the Abyss Order and becoming the "Thunder Rakshasa."

By this point, Keqing had committed several serious crimes in Liyue, and all her victims were former classmates who had once bullied her. Now, she was here for him, the "mastermind" behind it all.

In the simulation, Lucas had undoubtedly been executed by Keqing, and now, the board's magic had transported him to that fateful moment.

"Well, well… it's been a long time."

Keqing walked forward, her movements calm and deliberate as she drew her sword from her waist. The blade crackled with lightning.

Unlike the Keqing of reality, "Thunder Rakshasa" looked identical in appearance and build, but her aura and personality had transformed completely.

"Yes," Lucas replied, taking a step toward her, his face unafraid and smiling. "It has been a long time, hasn't it?"

The attendants around him were now completely terrified, shouting, "Young Master! Don't go over there! She's the ruthless Thunder Rakshasa!"

"Hmph… they're not wrong," Keqing sneered. "I am indeed a ruthless killer."

"Oh?" Lucas remarked casually. "Then… don't your eyes get dry?"

Keqing blinked, momentarily thrown off guard. She had expected him to be scared out of his wits, yet here he was, making jokes instead.

"Lucas!" she growled, gritting her teeth and gripping her sword, ready to strike, when suddenly Lucas stretched out his arms and pulled her into an embrace.

"Keqing!" Lucas patted her back, his voice thick with emotion. "I missed you so much!"

"You…!" Keqing trembled, shoving him away with fury on her face. "How dare you mock me!"

"I'm not trying to mock you," Lucas shook his head, smiling. "Ever since you left, I've missed you dearly."

Keqing was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly let out a cold sneer. "Lucas! Do you really think I'm still the naive girl I was ten years ago? Don't think a few soft words will make me forgive you. All the pain I've endured up until now was for one purpose alone… to kill you!"

With that, Keqing raised her sword, ready to thrust it at Lucas.

However, Lucas noticed that, perhaps due to his words, Keqing's movements were slightly slower than usual.

By now, Lucas's abilities far exceeded those of the lazy, spoiled young master from his first simulation. Instead of being hit, he dodged like a slippery eel, avoiding her blade with ease. Seizing the moment, he pinched her cheek with a grin. "Your temper's as nasty as ever, but you're even prettier now."

"You…!"

Keqing was both embarrassed and enraged, but more than anything, she was shocked. How had Lucas suddenly become so powerful?

For this revenge, Keqing had planned meticulously. She had carefully studied each target, knowing full well that Lucas was a useless rich kid who knew nothing but falconry and dogs. Confident in her ability to kill him in the street, she'd never expected his strength to have increased so much.

But she wasn't about to give up on her revenge. Dark lines of energy began to appear across her skin, crackling with purple lightning. The surge of electricity made Lucas's fingers sting, and he quickly pulled his hand back.

This wasn't the power of a Vision. In this world, Keqing hadn't been granted a Vision. Her control over Electro energy was the result of modifications from the Abyss Order.

The dark markings on her skin shimmered like lightning, which had earned her the title "Thunder Rakshasa."

"Thunderstorm Surge!"

Keqing's sword unleashed a fierce bolt of lightning that struck toward Lucas's chest. Lucas didn't dodge, instead activating his Diamond Body ability to absorb the first blow.

Although this ability reduced the attack's damage by ninety percent, Lucas still felt a numbing sensation throughout his body. If he had taken the full force, he'd likely be paralyzed.

It was undeniable that this "Thunder Rakshasa" was stronger than the real Keqing—though that power came at a price.

Lucas could see the pain in her eyes, twisted with hatred and suffering.

Seeing that her powerful technique had failed, Keqing gritted her teeth, unleashing a flurry of strikes at Lucas, all aimed at his chest. But with his agile movements, Lucas dodged each one with ease.

"Damn it!" Keqing shouted in frustration. "If you're so strong, then fight back! Or are you just here to toy with me?"

"Well, since you asked…" 

Lucas slipped behind her, and before she could react, he reached up and plucked a hairpin from her hair. Her violet hair cascaded down, and he twirled the hairpin between his fingers with a smirk.

The hairpin wasn't particularly beautiful and was rather old-fashioned, but it gleamed from being worn so often.

[Talent Activated: A Knight Never Fights Barehanded.]

[New Weapon Acquired: Thunderstrike Pin]

[Effect: Increases attack speed by 30%, adds Electro damage]

Seeing her hairpin in his hand, Keqing was furious. "Give that back!"

"Oh, you want it?" Lucas continued twirling it with a mischievous grin. "Come and take it."

"Die!"

Keqing's anger flared, her lightning intensifying. The crackling electricity on her blade lit up the night sky.

Sword flashed with lightning, hairpin glinted with silver.

Keqing's strikes were fast and fierce, but Lucas deflected each one effortlessly with the small hairpin. Sparks of electricity flew as their weapons clashed in the dimly lit street, illuminating the scene with a flickering glow.

The few people left on the street fled in fear, leaving only Lucas's servants, who, too worried about their master's safety, stayed close despite their terror.

They could hardly believe what they were witnessing. The usually lazy young master, who never seemed to take anything seriously, was now skillfully holding his own against the infamous "Thunder Rakshasa" with just a hairpin.

While Lucas remained calm, Keqing grew increasingly anxious. Killing someone in the middle of the street was dangerous enough, and her plan had been to finish him in two minutes and then flee.

But now, after battling Lucas for so long, she knew it wouldn't be long before the Ministry of Affairs dispatched guards. Not only would her revenge fail, but she herself might be captured.

Realizing this, Keqing frowned and crossed her blades over her chest, summoning even more lightning.

"Secret Sword: Celestial Thunder Parade!"

In a flash, Keqing leapt into the air, splitting into a dozen lightning-formed shadows that encircled Lucas.

This technique, created by combining her family's Cloud Sword Style with Electro power, was her fastest and most lethal move, one so swift it could seemingly strike down stars.

No one had ever escaped her shadow-blade formation unscathed.

However, rather than trying to escape, Lucas closed his eyes as he stood surrounded.

Is he surrendering to his fate?

Keqing smirked, her shadows charging at him from all directions, while her true form waited just behind him, prepared to strike through his chest.

But just as Keqing moved, Lucas abruptly spun around and hurled the hairpin straight at her face. Startled, Keqing reflexively blocked with her sword. At that moment, Lucas slipped under her defenses, grabbed her ankle, and with a powerful twist, slammed her down onto the ground.

Keqing felt a jolt of pain through her entire body, her head spinning from the impact. In the distance, she suddenly heard the sound of disciplined, hurried footsteps.

"Ministry of Affairs! All unrelated individuals, clear the area!"

Hearing this, Keqing's heart filled with despair.

She had endured years of suffering and even descended into the Abyss for power, only for it all to end like this.

She was a wanted criminal with numerous charges, and if the Ministry of Affairs captured her, her fate would be sealed. Furious, she glared at Lucas, "Just… kill me!"

"Why would I kill you?" Lucas picked her up, placing her inside his sedan chair. As he closed the curtain, he shot her a meaningful smile and said, "We're old classmates, Keqing… our story isn't over yet."

The sedan-bearers and servants, seeing Lucas carry the "Thunder Rakshasa" into the chair, looked at each other in shock. But Lucas cast a cold glance at them, saying, "I'm taking her back for interrogation. Be careful not to let any word of this slip."

The sedan-bearers exchanged nervous glances before nodding.

Although the eldest young master Lucas was usually arrogant and lazy, at this moment, he exuded a powerful aura that made it hard for anyone to breathe.

Soon, the sound of footsteps approached as a woman led a squad of Elite troops toward them.

The woman at the front was tall and strikingly beautiful, with a shapely figure. Her short, midnight-blue hair barely reached her shoulders, and she wore a luxurious white fur cape adorned with embroidered sleeves—a clear sign of wealth and prestige.

But the most eye-catching detail was the unhidden neckline and a small, dark beauty mark that contrasted against her fair skin, like a drop of ink on a snow-white canvas, irresistibly drawing the eye.

"I am Yelan, special agent of the Ministry of Civil Affairs," she said, her emerald eyes sweeping over Lucas with a subtle gleam. "My informant reported flashes of lightning here, suggesting 'Thunder Rakshasa' may be causing trouble. Would you happen to have any clues, young master?"

"Well, well! You mean that famous Thunder Rakshasa?" Lucas feigned surprise, shaking his head with a theatrical frown. "The one with purple hair and pink eyes, dangerously beautiful, and a real cold-blooded killer?"

"Exactly!" Yelan's eyes lit up. "You know of her?"

For some time, the elusive Thunder Rakshasa had plagued the Ministry of Civil Affairs, driving them to their wits' end. Even Yelan, a master of intelligence, only had records of Thunder's activities from ten years ago—recent leads had all run dry.

The Tianquan star, Ningguang, had publicly promised a hefty reward to anyone who could capture or kill the Thunder Rakshasa.

"Oh, I wouldn't know," Lucas said, waving his hand dismissively. "I just thought it was a lovely day for a stroll—how could I possibly run into such a terrifying character?"

Yelan had worked in the Ministry long enough to develop a keen sense for deception, and she could tell Lucas was hiding something. Her tone hardened as she warned, "Thunder Rakshasa is a wanted criminal of the Ministry. Harboring her is a severe offense."

"Oh, how imposing, Miss Yelan," Lucas retorted with a smirk. "So, is the Ministry blaming us regular folk just because they can't catch the criminal?"

Yelan gave him a sharp look, but then her expression shifted as she seemed to remember something. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "Wait a moment… I recall now! You're the young master of a prestigious family. My files show that you crossed paths with Thunder Rakshasa when you were young, just like the other families she's targeted. Are you certain she hasn't come looking for you?"

"Come now, Miss Yelan," Lucas shook his head. "If I knew I had a deadly enemy coming after me, I'd be hiding at home, surrounded by guards. Why would I be out here?"

After considering his words, Yelan nodded. As annoying as this young master was, what he said made sense, and her informant had only reported seeing flashes of lightning—not definitive proof that Thunder was here.

"Very well," Yelan replied, not wanting to waste any more time. "If you discover anything, report it to the Ministry of Civil Affairs immediately."

"But of course," Lucas replied with a mockingly polite bow. "My thanks to Miss Yelan and the soldiers for your hard work. You're welcome to stop by my family's hotel anytime for tea—half price on the house."

Yelan was about to turn and leave when her gaze fell on the sedan chair behind Lucas. She noticed his servants shifting nervously, avoiding eye contact, and then caught sight of a bit of purple fabric peeking out from beneath the sedan's curtain.

"Young Master Lucas," Yelan suddenly took two steps forward, her voice cold. "If you're not harboring anyone, then who is in this sedan?"

Inside the sedan, Keqing felt her heart racing. Her hand gripped her sword, ready to fight to the death if Yelan lifted the curtain.

Though the "Thunder Rakshasa" was formidable, she had expended a lot of energy in her recent battle. Moreover, Yelan was rumored to be a force to be reckoned with, and Keqing knew her chances of escaping unscathed were slim.

Lucas felt a slight tension as well but kept a steady smile. "Oh, it's nothing more than a little secret pleasure of mine. I like to take a young lady in my sedan through the bustling streets—spices things up a bit. But, uh… she's a bit of a mess at the moment and isn't fit for visitors."

Even Yelan's cheeks flushed slightly at this explanation.

Rich people are really something else!

"If you don't believe me," Lucas teased, "why not lift the curtain and see for yourself?"

Keqing tensed up even more at his words, her voice quivering as she called out, "If you dare lift that curtain… I'll end my life right here!"

Yelan's hand, just inches from the curtain, paused.

If Lucas was telling the truth, barging in uninvited would be a massive embarrassment.

Besides, the real Thunder Rakshasa would hardly conspire with someone from her own revenge list.

"My apologies," Yelan withdrew her hand with a slight nod. "However, carrying out such activities in public is rather improper. Please exercise discretion."

"Oh, I don't think so," Lucas replied with a shameless grin. "Indulging in little pleasures is what I live for. And Miss Yelan, if you're ever interested, you're welcome to join me. I'd arrange for my largest sedan—enough room for anything you'd like."

At first, Lucas's words seemed harmless enough, but considering his earlier comments, they took on a distinctly flirtatious undertone.

Although Yelan felt a surge of irritation at this womanizing young master's teasing, she kept her composure and raised her hand. "Fall back!"

"Wonderful!"

Lucas immediately let out an approving cheer.

"What did you say?" Yelan raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him. "Why so pleased? Are you happy to see us go?"

"You… you misheard!" Lucas quickly improvised with a grin. "When you raised your hand just now, Miss Yelan, I noticed your armpit—smooth as jade, with not a hair to be seen. Pure perfection. I was merely admiring that, saying 'perfect pits.'"

At this, even the soldiers accompanying Yelan couldn't help but chuckle.

Blushing, Yelan tucked her arms in and glared at Lucas. "You… watch yourself! Let's go, men!"

As Yelan and the Soldiers finally left, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. He turned back to the sedan, but as he reached for the curtain, there was a sudden tearing sound. A blade pierced through the fabric, thrusting toward him.

But knowing Thunder Rakshasa's temperament, Lucas had anticipated this. He tilted his head to dodge the sword and smoothly slipped into the sedan, now sitting directly beside Keqing.

Although the sedan was spacious, it still felt cramped with the two of them inside. Before Keqing could react, Lucas pressed a finger against a point on her neck. Keqing's breath caught, and she passed out.

Lucas' skill in pressure points wasn't a system reward; he had learned it himself thanks to his Medical Sage talent. 

This high-grade golden talent, beyond just medical expertise, also provided several additional abilities, like knowledge of medicinal properties, acupoint manipulation, and therapeutic massage techniques. With some practice, each skill could be quite useful.

"Y-young master…" came a hesitant voice from the sedan bearers outside. "What now?"

Lucas placed a hand on Keqing's shoulder, savoring the faint fragrance around her, and replied with a grin, "Back to the manor!"

After all, he only had three hours here, and he had things to wrap up in that time.

---

SPLASH!

A cold bucket of water jolted "Thunder Rakshasa" Keqing awake, sputtering and coughing.

She immediately surveyed her surroundings with suspicion. She was in a dim, small room, sparsely furnished with a few punishment tools, and a single small window through which a sliver of moonlight streamed.

Keqing herself was bound to a wooden cross, her hands tightly tied to the frame with thick ropes.

"Good evening, Miss Thunder Rakshasa," Lucas greeted her with a smile. "Though, personally, I still prefer calling you Keqing."

"Where am I?" Keqing asked coldly. "An interrogation room?"

"No need to worry. We're from a proper family; we don't use those kinds of facilities." Lucas waved dismissively. "This is merely a holding room used to discipline unruly servants. You know, some people only respond to firm discipline."

"Spare me the chatter," Keqing snarled through gritted teeth. "It's my bad luck to have fallen into your hands. Do whatever you like, but remember this: even if I die, I'll haunt you. I'll make sure you never get a single night's rest again!"

"I've known many beautiful women, but I've yet to experience a beautiful ghost," Lucas replied cheekily. "Relax; I'm not going to kill you."

"Save it!" Keqing sneered. "Don't think that'll make me forgive you. As long as I live, you'll never have peace."

"I'm not sparing you out of kindness, nor to seek forgiveness," Lucas clicked his tongue. "It's simply because you… don't have much time left."

"What are you talking about?" Keqing was taken aback.

"Have you not noticed?" Lucas shrugged. "The Abyss's power has already begun to consume you."

"Don't try to deceive me," Keqing replied icily. "I know my own body better than anyone."

"You don't understand at all." Lucas reached forward, pressing a finger just below her navel.

"What… what do you think you're doing?" Keqing's face flushed, and she snapped, "Take your hand off me!"

Ignoring her, Lucas applied a slight pressure, causing a sharp, intense pain to shoot through her abdomen.

"How… how can this be?" Keqing gasped, sweat beading on her forehead. "What did you do to me?"

"You've been used by the Abyss Order," Lucas replied calmly.

"Do you really think it's so easy to obtain the powers of a Vision? Each time you wield the Abyss's strength, your body incurs hidden injuries. I just pressed on your Gate of Origin point. If you don't believe me, try pressing on your Marsh at the Bend, Shoulder Well, or Great Abyss points; you'll feel the same pain." (AN: Yes they're all real names)

"So what?" Keqing sneered defiantly, as though she had expected something like this. "If I have to die to kill you, I'll gladly pay the price."

"But you're not going to kill me, and you're on the brink of death yourself," Lucas replied with a taunting smile. "Fortunately for you, I can't stand seeing people suffer. So, I'll give you two choices. First, you can spend the rest of your days in this dark holding cell. If I'm ever in the mood, I might come by to… entertain myself with you."

"And the second option?" Keqing asked, her eyes cold.

"A deal," Lucas snapped his fingers. "I can use medicine and medical techniques to counteract the side effects of the Abyss's power. In return, you'll work for me as my informant within the Abyss Order."

"An informant in the Abyss Order?" Keqing's face showed a flicker of curiosity. "What's your goal?"

"The Geo Archon is gone, the Tianshu is suffering from an illness, and the Yuheng's seat is vacant," Lucas clenched his fist, a greedy smile spreading across his face. "If I can combine forces with the Abyss Order, I may just be able to sweep away all obstacles and place Liyue in my hands!"

In this reality, Lucas's family was wealthy, but their businesses had been continually suppressed by the Liyue Qixing, particularly by the Tianquan, Ningguang. To the people of Liyue, Lucas was nothing but a spoiled, useless heir.

Originally, he was destined to die under Thunder Rakshasa's blade, but with fate rewritten, Lucas thought… he might as well aim big.

After hearing Lucas's plan, Keqing was stunned for a moment, then sneered. "Madman… absolutely mad! People say I've lost my mind, but you're a thousand times, no, ten thousand times crazier than I am!"

"If you don't take a chance, how will you know?" Lucas replied nonchalantly. "What's life without a little gamble?"

"Even if you actually go through with this, why should I help you?" Keqing glared at him. "Don't forget—you're my enemy."

"You're wrong. I'm not your real enemy," Lucas's expression grew serious. "Your enemy is the stifling rules, the atmosphere of bullying at school, the way the herd bands together to drive out the tiger. And… the silent majority who watched it happen."

Lucas's words left Keqing conflicted.

Indeed, her tragedy hadn't come from one person alone. Her isolation, her torment, the bullying she endured—all stemmed from the monster known as "the atmosphere."

"Yes, I was a despicable bully back then, but don't forget," Lucas whispered in her ear, "when everyone else turned a cold shoulder, I was the only one by your side."

"So, make your choice," he continued, extending both hands toward her with a smile. "Choose my left hand, and you can live out the rest of your life here. Choose my right hand, and together, we'll tear open the belly of this monster called 'atmosphere' and unleash chaos."

A twisted smile spread across Keqing's face. "Fine… but let me go first. You tied these ropes way too tight."

"Tying down a tiger needs a firm hand," Lucas replied as he cut the ropes binding her. "Now, make your choice."

"Can't believe you actually untied me," Keqing smirked, rubbing her wrists. "Aren't you worried I'll go back on my word?"

"If I can subdue you once, I can do it again," Lucas shrugged. "Now, hurry up; my arm's getting tired."

With a resounding slap, Keqing's hand met Lucas's right hand in a firm grip.

"If you disappoint me," she said, squeezing his hand hard enough to hurt, "I won't let you off the hook."

"While you were unconscious, I prepared a treatment to neutralize the Abyss's influence on your body," Lucas said, pulling out an object shaped like a small torpedo. "This is it."

"This… is a medicine?" Keqing looked skeptical. "It doesn't look like something you'd swallow."

"Oh, it's a special family remedy, administered rectally," Lucas said with a straight face. "Once inside, it melts quickly at body temperature, releasing the medicine throughout your system."

"Inside… where?" Keqing asked, momentarily at a loss.

"Inside…" Lucas leaned close and whispered two words in her ear.

"What?!" Keqing's face turned crimson. "There's no way!"

"It's for your own good," Lucas shrugged. "Oral administration won't work. This method is the only way for your body to fully absorb the medicine."

Seeing her hesitation, Lucas pressed further. "Keqing, do you really want to let the Abyss's power consume you, turning you into a mindless monster?"

"…Fine." Keqing turned her back to him, saying, "Just… administer it. But close your eyes."

"You really don't make this easy," Lucas chuckled. "It's not like I'm a circus performer throwing knives blindfolded."

"Just… get it over with!" Keqing urged, her voice flustered.

---

Three minutes later.

"Hah…" Keqing exhaled, her expression slightly flustered. "Is that it? That wasn't as difficult as I thought."

"It's quite simple, really," Lucas nodded. "In fact, it's usually self-administered."

"Then why did you…" Keqing trailed off before scowling. "Help me?"

"It was a demonstration," Lucas replied shamelessly. "Would've been awkward if it went in the wrong place."

"Enough!" Keqing glared at him. "From now on, we'll meet at the Heyu Tea House on the first and fifteenth of each month to exchange information."

"Got it." Lucas nodded. "You should go now, or the Abyss Order might grow suspicious."

"Understood." Keqing nodded, glancing around. "Where's the door?"

"Oh? So you're using the door?" Lucas asked, feigning surprise. "How unremarkable. I thought you'd vanish the moment I turned around."

"Have you been reading too many novels?" Keqing replied, her eyes filled with exasperation. "I don't mind cracking your skull open to see what's inside."

"The door's that way," Lucas said, pointing with a grin. "Not escorting you out."

"You're not leaving?" Keqing asked, surprised.

"I have some planning to do," Lucas replied. "I get my best ideas here."

"Lunatic."

Keqing sneered as she finally pressed her knees together, walking out in a strange manner.

Clearly, leaving in a swift, mysterious fashion wasn't very realistic in her current state.

[Crisis resolved. Awarded Character Card: "Keqing – Thunder Rakshasa"]

A delicate card appeared, gently landing in Lucas's palm.

The card's artwork depicted Keqing herself, but dressed in the Abyss Order attire, her body faintly traced with ominous magical patterns—the "Rakshasa" version.

In other words, it was essentially a new skin for Keqing!

[Keqing – Thunder Rakshasa]

[Effect: Grants access to the skill "Secret Sword: Celestial Expedition"]

"A character card?" Lucas looked down at the card in his hand, puzzled. "What's this supposed to do?"

[Character Cards are a type of special reward. When carried, they grant bonuses related to the character. In addition, using a character card allows the player to either teleport to the character's location or summon them to your side.]

After a long absence, the system finally responded, answering Lucas's question in its usual manner.

"Oh, there you are, System—it's been a while," Lucas snickered. "Let's hear it. How much have you been keeping from me? Were you intentionally misleading me, or are you just trying to dodge for as long as you can?"

[This system provides answers based on situational logic. I am, however, curious. Even after learning the "truth" about the Simulator, do you still choose to be a villain?]

Lucas's system certainly had a knack for "adapting to circumstances."

For as long as Lucas had been questioning the system's mechanics, it had always fabricated "reasonable" explanations, convincing him that all his villainous actions in the Simulator were simply part of a "game" without real consequences.

But the appearance of Alice, who could traverse dimensions, had made Lucas realize the Simulator's reality.

Had the system failed?

No, it had succeeded.

After all, through playing the villain across these Simulator scenarios, Lucas had come to accept his dark side. Or perhaps, he had started to understand the true nature of "evil."

In response to the system's question, Lucas asked back, "System, of all the parallel worlds you're aware of, is there any world completely free of villains?"

[None. With light, there is shadow; with purity, there is impurity. And with goodness… there will inevitably be evil.]

"Exactly. I've come to understand," Lucas said calmly. "If this world must have a villain, then why can't that villain be me?"

[What?]

"Now I have a dream—to become the ultimate villain" Lucas proclaimed, placing a hand over his heart with resolute conviction. "If I'm destined to be the villain, then I'll rise to the very top and rule over all villains."

Lucas' thoughts were simple: if he couldn't change his role as a villain, he might as well climb to the pinnacle of villainy, bringing "evil" under his own control.

In this way, he could transform "chaotic evil" into "lawful evil."

Even the system seemed taken aback by Lucas's answer.

In truth, Lucas wasn't the first to undergo the Villain Simulator's trials, but previous participants had almost always met tragic ends.

Some couldn't accept their evil deeds and chose to end their own lives.

Others were consumed by malice, straying down a dark path with no happy ending.

And still others simply gave up, living in a constant, numbed state.

But a participant like Lucas, who embraced the concept of "evil" and aspired to reach the pinnacle of villainy… the system had never seen before.

Perhaps… this man might actually change something.

[Whatever path the host chooses, this system will do its utmost to assist.]

"No need for the formalities," Lucas scoffed. "I just have one small request—when I ask you questions, could you avoid dodging them from now on?"

[Within the bounds of my permissions, I will answer all the host's questions.]

How artful, Lucas thought sarcastically.

"By the way," he added, "aside from entering this dimension, can I access other Simulator worlds?"

[Yes, but only within the moments before your death in each one, as in this instance.]

In other words, even if he entered other dimensions, he would only be able to experience his character's final moments.

If he entered a scenario where his character died of natural causes, he would still die peacefully, without changing the storyline.

It was like a novel nearing its end: even if he edited the ending, it wouldn't alter the preceding plot.

However, in those dimensions where he "died prematurely," he just might have the chance to defy fate.

[Three hours have elapsed. The player has survived and will be returned to the game world.]

With the appearance of this message, Lucas felt himself being transported back to the game board once again.

"Daddy!"

Klee, who had been waiting in place, immediately leapt into his arms, her small voice full of relief. "Are you okay?"

"Look, I'm perfectly fine," Lucas comforted her, patting her head. "Your dad's tougher than you think."

"I knew nothing would happen to you." Jean also approached, curiosity evident on her face. "By the way, who was it that wanted to kill you?"

Lucas hesitated. He couldn't very well tell Jean that the person who wanted him dead was none other than his superior, Keqing.

"Oh, just some crazy woman," he offered vaguely, changing the subject. "Speaking of which, where's Barbara?"

"Oh, don't even ask! She felt embarrassed about being so big, so she wandered off alone to get some space," Jean sighed. "I was worried it might be dangerous for her, but… look."

Following Jean's gaze, Lucas saw that, given the island's small size, Barbara's massive form was still visible in the distance.

With her towering presence, she was likely impervious to danger here on this tiny island—or even back on the mainland.

"Let's let her have some time alone," Lucas said, sitting down on the ground to rest. "I want to recharge a bit so that if there's any more danger in the next round, I'll be ready for it."

Klee and Jean both nodded in agreement. After a few rounds of this game, they'd realized one thing: as long as no one rolled the dice, the island remained completely safe.

---

Meanwhile, in a modest home in Mondstadt…

"Esteemed Father and Mother, I have returned," Fischl announced as she stepped into the house, offering her parents a formal bow. "May I inquire if Mother has prepared the evening feast?"

"Ahem…"

Her father, seated at the dining table with a newspaper, put it down and sighed. "Amy, you're old enough now. Don't you think it's time to… stop with all this?"

"Yes, you're not a little girl anymore," her mother added, setting a stew on the table with a weary smile. "You should start to move on from these fairytales."

"What… what are you saying?" Fischl asked, a hurt look on her face. "You weren't like this before…"

"Well, that's because you were a child then, and of course, we wanted to make you happy," her father replied, patting her head gently. "Listen, starting tomorrow, how about letting go of these strange phrases and outfits, hmm?"

"But how could it all be fake?" Fischl pointed to Oz perched on her shoulder. "You can see Oz, can't you? He's the King of the Night and proof of my true identity."

"Amy! Stop it. We can't see any raven friend of yours!" her father's voice hardened. "Before, we pretended we could see it to make you happy. But there's no Netherworld, no Oz, and no Prinzessin der Verurteilung. All of that… is nothing but fantasy!"

"F-Fantasy?"

Fischl looked back at her shoulder, only to find that her faithful companion Oz had vanished.

Tears slipped down her cheeks in an instant.

"Honey, don't be so harsh on her!" Her mother rushed over, trying to soothe the girl. "It's nothing unusual. We all have 'imaginary friends' at some point. You just need time to let go of the fantasy."

"Oz isn't some imaginary friend!" Fischl's voice cracked as she shouted, "He's real!"

With that, Fischl turned and ran out the door.

"Amy!" Her mother tried to chase after her, but her father held her back.

"Let her be. She needs some time to face things alone." He shook his head, looking defeated. "This wasn't entirely her fault. If we hadn't indulged her in all those role-playing games back then, maybe she wouldn't have grown up like this."

"Maybe we're being too hard on her," her mother murmured thoughtfully. "Let's talk to her once she's calmed down."

---

Fischl walked aimlessly through Mondstadt's streets, her spirit shattered.

Deep down, she knew. She'd always known. The so-called "Immernacht Realm" and her title as "Prinzessin der Verurteilung" were nothing more than fantasy.

She clung to them all this time to mask her own weakness, unwilling to face reality.

The truth was that "Fischl" was a persona Amy had created to deceive herself, to escape into a world where she wasn't just… ordinary.

"So even Oz is fake?" Fischl wiped away a stray tear, muttering, "Did he vanish because I finally faced reality?"

As if sensing her despair, a thunderclap suddenly echoed through the sky, followed by a bolt of lightning. In an instant, rain poured down, draping the entire city in a heavy, relentless curtain.

Within seconds, Fischl was drenched, her once-pristine dress clinging to her, soaked and bedraggled.

"Well, well, isn't that the Prinzessin herself?"

"I'd say she looks more like the 'Drenched Duchess'! Hah!"

"She's probably talking to that invisible raven of hers again. My mom says she's not right in the head!"

"Such a shame… she's cute but totally nuts."

A few passing kids, sheltered under their umbrellas, caught sight of Fischl's miserable state and began mocking her.

On any other day, proud Fischl would have stood up, hands on her hips, and fired back at them. But now, she only hugged herself, lowering her head in silence.

"Enough, you noisy brats!"

With a sudden, icy voice, a figure appeared, and raindrops began to freeze into hailstones, crashing down and leaving holes in the kids' umbrellas.

"It's that wicked woman from the Lawrence family!"

"R-run!"

Fischl looked up, surprised, to find a tall woman with blue hair standing over her, an umbrella shielding them both from the rain. The woman raised an eyebrow, smirking. "It's you, huh? What, couldn't get your big bird to shield you from the rain?"

It was Eula.

Fischl's eyes widened. "You… can you see Oz?"

"What are you talking about?" Eula frowned. "Of course I can see him. What, did you cook him for stew?"

"Of course not! Oz… he just disappeared." Fischl's voice dropped, sounding desolate. "I… can't find him anywhere."

"I know someone," Eula replied with a small smile. "He might be able to help you."

"Who?" Fischl asked eagerly.

"Lucas, of course. Isn't he supposed to be your loyal 'vassal'?" Eula raised an eyebrow. "Besides, I get the feeling there's not much he can't fix. You'll probably find him at the Knights of Favonius."

"You're right!" A flicker of hope reignited in Fischl's eyes. "I'll go to him right away!"

"Hold on," Eula said, passing her umbrella to Fischl. "Take this with you."

"But…" Fischl took the umbrella, confused. "What about you?"

"Watch and learn."

Eula lifted her hand, forming a delicate umbrella of ice, shimmering and beautiful.

"Thank you…" Fischl said gratefully, then hesitated. "But… why are you helping me?"

She knew that her relationship with Eula wasn't exactly friendly, especially after their previous clash over Lucas.

"I don't know. Maybe it's because…" Eula paused, then shrugged. "In everyone else's eyes, we're both 'outsiders,' I suppose."