Bang! Rumble...
Just as the trio was being dominated by the "Great Terror" Lumina, a deafening sound suddenly reverberated throughout the Irminsul Space, jolting them out of her terrifying grip.
"Could something have happened to Nahida?"
Hearing the sound, the trio suddenly remembered why they were here—to handle serious business, not to be mesmerized by Sister Lumina's peerless beauty and absolute warmth...
Without her weapon, Nahida might not be able to defeat Phandrea... Moreover, they still hadn't found Sister Lumina in her normal state and didn't know if she was in danger.
The moment these thoughts surged through their minds, their concern for Nahida and Sister Lumina overwhelmed everything else, instantly shattering the "Great Terror" Lumina's hold on them.
"We have to go check on them!" March 7th exclaimed, her face etched with worry as she hurriedly took the "Great Terror" Lumina's small hand and pushed open the door to venture outside.
Just like inside, the outside was equally desolate. The once vibrant scene, filled with countless Sister Lumina manifestations of varying personalities and emotions, had vanished completely.
"What... is this?"
At that moment, however, the trio's attention wasn't focused on the vanishing emotional Avatars. Instead, they were staring blankly up at the sky, as if they had witnessed something terrifying.
No, it wasn't just as if. They had indeed seen something terrifying. The once jade-green sky had been completely swallowed by an unfathomable darkness, its oppressive atmosphere making them feel profoundly uneasy.
"Is this... the Abyss?"
The trio murmured to themselves, their gazes drawn to the pitch-black sky as if by some malevolent force, leaving them utterly mesmerized.
Hmm?
"Great Terror" Lumina tilted her head, puzzled by the trio's dazed state. She reached out and touched them lightly.
!
The touch snapped them out of their trance. Cold sweat drenched their backs as they frantically lowered their heads, avoiding direct contact with the inky void above.
"That was terrifying... Just one look almost wiped us out."
A wave of lingering fear washed over March 7th. If not for the "Great Terror" Lumina's presence, they likely would have been annihilated instantly...
March 7th might not be much herself, but Stelle was the Stellaron incarnate, and Little Swarm was a Pseudo-Emanator. Yet neither of them could muster even a shred of resistance. Just a single glance had nearly plunged them into the Abyss...
Shaking her head to dispel the lingering fear, March 7th's face instantly clouded with worry. "Nahida... she's not... dead, is she?"
She recalled the battlefield where Nahida had faced Phandrea. Sister Lumina's Staff had been rooted there, creating a barrier to repel the encroaching darkness and the Abyss.
Now that the Abyss was fully invading, it meant both Sister Lumina's Staff and Nahida had fallen...
"Hey, just how little faith do you have in my abilities?"
"A mere Phandrea? Even without my Weapon, she couldn't possibly be a match for me, you know?"
Just as this thought crossed March 7th's mind, a familiar voice rang in her ear.
Turning to look, she saw a slightly disheveled Nahida standing with her arms crossed, her face radiating exasperation as she stared at March 7th.
Her hair was disheveled, her clothes slightly torn and stained with blood, and her breathing came in ragged gasps. Though she spoke lightly, the recent battle had clearly not gone as smoothly as Nahida had suggested.
"Nahida, I'm just glad you're safe."
Seeing Nahida appear before her, March 7th immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Though she had sustained some injuries, none were life-threatening. Given time, they would likely heal on their own.
"Where's Lumina? Did you give her the Forest Book?" Nahida asked, quickly tidying her tangled hair and brushing the dust from her clothes.
"Uh..." The group hesitated, exchanging awkward glances, unsure how to explain the situation to Nahida.
"?"
Having finished tidying her hair and clothes, Nahida tilted her head, a question mark slowly forming above her head as she observed their hesitant expressions.
If you gave it to her, you gave it to her. If you didn't, you didn't. What's with all the stammering and indecision?
Oblivious to Nahida's bewildered expression, the trio nodded and stepped aside, fully revealing the figure of the "Great Terror" Lumina to her.
"Um... hello there."
The "Great Terror" Lumina was initially dazed, but she quickly spotted Nahida standing before her.
Seeing Nahida, whose appearance was almost identical to her own, a flicker of curiosity sparked in the "Great Terror" Lumina's innocent, guileless eyes.
She extended her hand, gently waved, and greeted Nahida with a sweet, childlike voice.
"..."
As the "Great Terror" Lumina appeared in Nahida's vision, Stelle, Little Swarm, and March 7th all noticed a fleeting moment of dazedness in Nahida's eyes, as if she were recalling something. However, this emotion vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
It seems Nahida recognizes this emotional Lumina, the Sister Lumina.
The three exchanged a quick glance, confirming their suspicion.
Nahida furrowed her brow, sizing up the "Great Terror" Lumina before turning to March 7th and the others. "What is this thing? Where's the real Lumina?"
"The barrier she created has already been swallowed by the Abyss. I have no means to resist it. If she doesn't show herself soon, I'm running."
Nahida spoke in a calm, even tone, her words carrying no hint of jest. It was as if she truly intended to flee before the Abyss completely descended.
"So, that's what happened..."
Seeing Nahida's bewildered expression, March 7th realized she was just as clueless about what had transpired with Sister Lumina. She quickly summarized the situation, keeping it brief and to the point.
"What on earth is Lumina up to?"
Upon hearing the explanation, Nahida's already tense brows furrowed even deeper. She lowered her head, propped her chin in her hand, and sank into deep thought.
Her strained expression didn't detract from her features; instead, it added a peculiar charm to her already endearing appearance.
"Ah, well, it should be fine..."
Lost in thought, Nahida glanced up and down at the "Great Terror" Lumina once more, ultimately deciding to trust her.
"Um... Nahida," March 7th said, looking Nahida up and down after her pondering. A question had been burning in her mind.
"What is it?"
March 7th glanced at Nahida, then at the "Great Terror" Lumina, and asked curiously, "Nahida, you're not another emotional Avatar of Sister Lumina, are you?"
"Do you think I resemble one?"
Seeing March 7th's earnest expression, Nahida had braced for something significant. This is what she asks?
After her counter-question, Nahida regarded March 7th with undisguised exasperation - the look one reserves for particularly dense children.
This silly girl, she mused. Surrounded by all these Lumina variants, she's started seeing her "sister" in every shadow.
"Ahaha... N-no, you don't," March stammered, rubbing her nose under Nahida's withering gaze. The realization of having asked something profoundly foolish burned her cheeks.
As an Avatar of shifting emotions and temperament, Nahida's very nature defied singular classification. While emotional Avatars typically manifest fixed aspects, her mercurial disposition made any association with Lumina's emanations impossible by definition.
Nahida sighed audibly before turning to the "Great Terror" Lumina.
"Whatever variant this is, hand over the Forest Book."
"R-right!" March bobbed her head, conjuring a viridescent orb that drifted toward the imposing figure.
"Mm?"
The "Great Terror" Lumina tilted her head, fascination kindling in her eyes as she extended a finger toward the luminous sphere.
In the next instant, the orb of light transformed into a magnificent, ornate book, plummeting from the sky and embedding itself in the ground, its cover smeared with mud.
"..."
Everyone except the "Great Terror" Lumina fell into stunned silence.
Oblivious to the tense atmosphere, Lumina crouched down, first wiping away the mud before gripping the Forest Book with both hands, preparing to lift it.
Hmm... Ah!
Lumina exerted all her strength, straining with her arms, but the Forest Book remained immovable.
Ugh? That... It's so heavy, I can't lift it...
After several futile attempts, Lumina gave up, rose to her feet, and flashed the group an innocent smile.
"..."
The group fell silent once again.
Never mind, I'll just leave then.
Without a moment's hesitation, Nahida turned and walked away.