The early morning sea breeze of summer, carrying the saltiness of the sea and a fresh scent, gently blew through Rosalyne's fiery red hair. Her hair danced in the breeze like flames leaping in the air.
Rosalyne stood quietly on the deck of the cruise ship, her figure appearing especially graceful under the rising sun. She lightly rested her hand on the ship's railing, her crystalline eyes reflecting the distant horizon.
She once thought her destined end would be a pile of burning embers. But that man had told her she could change it all. Although reversing fate seemed incredible to her, she believed he could do it.
Because he was Yide.
Before long, the silhouette of Port Fudé gradually sharpened before her eyes, appearing like a mirage rising from the sea level. After another half hour of smooth sailing, the passenger ship docked steadily at the bustling pier.
As she gracefully stepped off the deck, her gaze was captivated by the vibrant city before her, and she marveled at the sight. The streets of Port Fudé were clean and tidy, lined with lush green trees and various beautifully designed signs and markers. It felt as if she had stepped into a highly advanced civilization.
Soon after, she arrived at the most prosperous commercial street in the city center. Although she had heard about the street's prosperity beforehand, the bustling scene of crowds and lively activity still shocked her.
She followed the throng of people, weaving between the dazzling array of shops. Suddenly, in front of the busiest store, she saw a very familiar figure.
"Columbina, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Liyue retrieving Tartaglia?" Rosalyne walked up and asked Columbina, who was busy queuing.
A flash of panic crossed Columbina's face, like a petty thief caught in the act. But she quickly regained her composure and feigned confusion. "Columbina? Who's that? I don't know that person..."
Before she could finish, she hurried into the store, leaving Rosalyne standing there, bewildered.
Having witnessed her colleague's corruption firsthand, Rosalyne lost all interest in continuing her stroll and headed straight for the nearby West Factory office building.
Not long after, in a bright and spacious office, she met Yide. Looking at him, an indescribable feeling welled up in Rosalyne's heart; he increasingly seemed like the protagonist of this world.
Yide spoke to her in a calm tone, "Rosalyne, from today onwards, you will bid farewell to your past self and welcome a new beginning."
Hearing these words, Rosalyne's heart was filled with mixed emotions. Although her life as the Crimson Witch of Flame was not a good experience, it was the longest season of her life. She nodded slightly. "I understand."
Afterward, Yide took her to a villa by the sea.
The moment she stepped into the villa, Rosalyne's gaze was drawn to the brand-new puppet body lying in the center of the living room. This puppet body looked almost identical to her real self, the only difference being that it lacked a soul.
"Is this the masterpiece of the Raiden Shogun?" She touched the puppet's delicate, lifelike skin, marveling, "Its realism is truly breathtaking. It's hard to imagine such technology came from her hands."
Yide gently shook his head. "Actually, she didn't develop this technology. It came to her by accident."
Raiden Ei was, in essence, a pure warrior, and it was highly unlikely she could have developed such high-tech puppet technology. The true origin of this technology was most likely intertwined with the Abyss and the civilization of Khaenri'ah. Before pursuing the path of god-creation, Khaenri'ah had already delved into the forbidden domain of "artificial humans," its pinnacle creation being the Chalk Prince, Albedo, created by Rhinedottir.
Rosalyne smiled faintly. "Indeed, it doesn't seem like something a stubborn person like her could come up with."
Yide replied calmly, "You call her stubborn, but are you any different? Sunk in pain and resentment, extremely paranoid."
Rosalyne retorted with dissatisfaction, "But at least I didn't cause countless innocent citizens of Inazuma to live in misery, unlike her."
Hearing this, Yide couldn't help but sneer, "I'd advise you not to disparage her too much. After all, this new body of yours came from her hands."
Rosalyne snorted lightly. "Understood. I'll remember this favor."
"Alright, playtime's over." Yide's expression suddenly turned serious. "Now, we begin the official procedure."
Rosalyne's heart tensed, and she nodded.
Following that, Yide began a complex and delicate operation. Rosalyne's soul was currently nestled safely in the heart of the Crimson Witch, protected by a layer of solid ice condensed by the Tsaritsa's divine power, which allowed her soul to remain unharmed within the scorching inferno.
Yide was fully concentrated, beginning to circulate the Kitsune Intent Cultivation Secret Art. His consciousness, like gentle tentacles, slowly enveloped Rosalyne's fragile and beautiful soul-butterfly, preparing to gently pull it from its original Crimson Witch vessel.
The moment the soul-butterfly left the vessel, the body that had once housed Rosalyne's power, as if losing its life support, was swiftly consumed by the residual flames within. In the roaring blaze, it turned into a pile of ashes and scattered with the wind.
Faced with this scene, Yide showed no hesitation or panic. He carefully carried Rosalyne's soul-butterfly and slowly placed it into the heart of the new body. This process required extreme precision and care, as any slight error could result in damage to the soul.
Once the soul-butterfly was securely settled in the new heart, Yide once again used the Kitsune Intent Cultivation Secret Art, guiding Rosalyne's soul to gradually adapt to this brand-new body. His consciousness traveled through the meridians of the new body, helping the soul establish a subtle connection with it, ensuring the two could merge perfectly.
...
After a long time, Rosalyne slowly opened her dazed eyes. She felt as if she had just had a very long dream. In the dream, she seemed to be gently embraced by a pair of motherly hands that rescued her from the cold frost and the inferno of flames, leading her to a warm and peaceful shore.
She tried to extend her right hand and was pleasantly surprised to find it as smooth and delicate as white jade; the scars once seared by fire were gone.
As her soul gradually merged with this new body, she noticed that this body was no different from that of an ordinary person.
"Did... did I succeed?" Her voice revealed a hint of confusion, but more so, an indescribable joy.
"Yes! Congratulations, you've won the revival match!"