"Sir, the Opera Epiclese has not yet opened. Please leave immediately…"
Before the guards stationed at the entrance of the Opera Epiclese could finish their sentence, they collapsed to the ground.
"How annoying…"
Dottore glanced at the fallen guards and spoke flatly:
"I spared your lives because I didn't want to make things too final."
"After all, you are the official personnel of Fontaine."
With that, Dottore proceeded unhindered, entering the opera house and arriving at the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale.
Looking at the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale before him, Dottore couldn't help but marvel:
"The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, such a beautifully intricate creation… The true Hydro Archon must be a genius."
"I've already noticed that the Hydro Archon on display, Furina, is not the true Hydro Archon…"
"Though I did suspect Neuvillette, he lacks the aura a true deity should have."
"Everything I've done has simply been to satisfy my curiosity—I want to know, who is the true Hydro Archon of Fontaine?"
"I've poured my power into the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, hoping it would trigger a lawful upheaval to reveal the true Hydro Archon…"
"But to my surprise, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale didn't explode, and the true Hydro Archon didn't appear."
"Later, I seized the opportunity to incite the people of Fontaine, to destroy the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, hoping to force the true Hydro Archon to reveal themselves. But, I didn't expect Clorinde to destroy everything."
"I suspect that ordinary uprisings are too easy to suppress, so Fontaine's high-level combat forces didn't need to be involved much."
"So this time, I controlled the Oceanid creatures in Fontaine to incite a riot. Those people are probably scrambling to handle it now..."
"So, that's why I can appear here without much concern, and personally conduct the experiment I've been wanting to do…"
"Reveal yourself, true Hydro Archon, I know you're here."
Dottore spoke, but there was no response from the surroundings.
"Oh? After all this, you're still hiding and disguising yourself?"
Dottore smiled slightly, and in the next moment, a dark and crimson flame suddenly ignited in the palm of his right hand.
He was about to throw it into the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale.
"Must I force you to come out?"
"Dottore! Stop!"
Focalors finally appeared next to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, shouting loudly.
"Heh, now that's more like it."
Dottore said, looking at Focalors, and the eerie flame in his hand dissipated.
"Now, let's have a good chat."
................
Furina slowly opened her eyes and woke up in her exclusive suite on the top floor of Palais Mermonia.
She glanced at the time and realized it was already this late—she rarely ever slept in.
It seems she really had been exhausted yesterday…
Furina quickly changed her clothes, washed up, and hurried to Neuvillette's office, but when she arrived, the office was empty.
"Huh? Why is no one here?"
Furina said with some confusion.
"Did they all go to the Opera Epiclese to discuss countermeasures with Focalors?"
"Well, in that case, I'd better hurry over there too!"
..................
Su Yuan and Neuvillette breathed a sigh of relief as they watched Clorinde slice the giant purple armored crab into pieces.
Su Yuan couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
As expected of a local legend, it actually had the strength to fight against Clorinde after corrupted by the eerie power.
However, as time passed, once the incomplete eerie power on the giant crab was fully consumed, it was no longer a match for Clorinde.
But this also confirmed that this was the work of "Doctor" Dottore!
Suddenly, Su Yuan had an unsettling feeling...
At the same time, so many coastal villages were being attacked by the eerie armored crabs.
What could Dottore's purpose be in doing this?
Could it be… to lure the tiger out of the mountain?
Dottore shouldn't know about Focalors' existence, so could his target be Furina?
Or perhaps the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale?
That madman Dottore could do anything!
"Neuvillette! Clorinde!"
Su Yuan spoke urgently.
"We can't focus on the other affected areas for now. I have a bad feeling…"
"We need to head back to Fontaine immediately!"
...............
"Tsk... This thing is tough to deal with..."
Chiori wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, staring at the massive purple armored crab before her.
Chevreuse, gripping her overheated gun barrel, also had a grim expression on her face…
This giant armored crab, corrupted and controlled by the eerie force, was far more difficult to handle than she had imagined.
Its defense was simply too strong—she and Chiori could barely slow it down, let alone stop it…
"Miss Chiori, Miss Chevreuse, we're here to help!"
At that moment, they heard a voice from behind them.
Turning around, they saw three familiar figures from the Hearth's Shadow—Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet.
"What are you three doing here? This place is dangerous!" Chevreuse said sternly.
"We came under 'Father's' orders to put an end to this disaster!" Lyney responded.
"I appreciate the thought, but do you understand? Elemental power is useless against them."
Chiori's tone was doubtful.
With their seemingly fragile bodies, how much physical damage could they possibly inflict?
Could they really change the course of this battle?
"'Father' already told us. You need pure physical force to fight them, right?"
As Lyney spoke, he stepped aside, revealing a figure who had been standing behind them.
Only then did Chevreuse and Chiori notice her presence.
The woman had a calm expression and was dressed in an outfit primarily of green and white.
More importantly—neither of them had sensed her presence at all.
She had no presence whatsoever!
"'Father' has paid a price to convince Miss Katheryne to lend her aid," Lyney said with a smile.
...............
Tartaglia was half-kneeling on the ground, panting heavily, as his Foul Legacy transformation gradually faded…
The eerie aura surrounding the Emperor of Fire and Iron also completely dissipated.
It shook its head in confusion, glanced around a few times, then turned and slowly returned to the sea.
"Tartaglia, are you okay?!" Everyone immediately rushed over.
"That crab's shell was seriously tough..."
Tartaglia let out a helpless chuckle before forcing himself to stand up.
"Luckily, it was only partially corrupted by the eerie force. Once its eerie energy was drained, it naturally returned to normal."
"I'm really sorry... I couldn't be of much help…" Kirara said apologetically.
"Tartaglia…" Aether looked at the exhausted Harbinger, unsure of what to say…
For a moment, he had feared—once again—that Tartaglia was going to die right before his eyes.
"Hah! A battle fought purely with skill and physical strength—now that's exhilarating! I feel like I've gotten even stronger!"
Tartaglia laughed heartily, but Aether noticed something…
Among his fiery hair, several distinct strands of white had appeared.
Even though he hadn't collapsed from exhaustion like last time, he must have paid a heavy price once again…
---------------
Exclusive access : 138ch on paetron
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz