"You damned Abundance Abomination! Die! Die! Die!"
"I'll plunge you into utter Destruction! I'll plunge you into utter Destruction!"
"I'll turn you into a Voidranger! I'll turn you into a Voidranger and keep you by my side every day to toy with you to my heart's content! Toy with you! Toy with you!"
After the Ambrosial Arbor's body completely collapsed, Phantylia realized that her Heliobus Physique was no match for Lumina's power. She immediately transformed into a stream of light, desperate to escape the Ambrosial Arbor's space and flee from the clutches of that damned Abundance Abomination.
But how could the brilliantly perceptive Saintess not anticipate Phantylia's intentions and escape route?
The moment the Ambrosial Arbor's body crumbled, Lumina unleashed the Path power of Abundance to conjure a cage. Before Phantylia could even begin her escape plan, she was firmly imprisoned within it.
"Little Phantylia, you still haven't grasped the situation, have you?" Lumina chuckled, listening to Phantylia's various defeatist ravings. She extended a finger and pinched the tiny, green-orb-encased Phantylia between her fingers.
"You are now my spoils of war, my possession."
"So, you'd best watch your tongue."
Lumina chuckled softly, releasing a sliver of Abundance power into the cage.
"Aaaaaahhhh!"
The next moment, Phantylia's agonizing screams erupted from within.
"When I get out, I'll... I'll tear you limb from limb!"
"I'll make you taste every Destruction in the galaxy!"
"I'll break you, make you weep, make you beg me on your knees!!!"
Even after Lumina's small "lesson," Phantylia remained stubbornly defiant.
"You're right, but that person is you." Ignoring Little Phantylia's "bedtime story," Lumina cast a silencing barrier around the cage and stored it away.
With Phantylia's Heliobus Body, escape from this prison was impossible through any means, so Lumina felt no urgency.
Time stretched before her, and she had plenty of it to properly "play" with this Little Phantylia~
Having finished her little game with Phantylia, Lumina raised her head and glanced at the Astral Express Crew and Jing Yuan standing not far away.
"Sister Lumina, your entrance was like a goddess descending—so cool!"
Seeing Lumina defeat the arrogant Lord Ravager, March 7th scurried over, radiating joy. The stars in her eyes seemed about to spill over.
Her adoration was plain on her face, as if she'd transformed into a fervent fangirl.
Hearing this, Lumina smiled and shook her head modestly. "It wasn't just my effort," she said. "You guys—March, San, Stelle—deserve the real credit. You had already crippled Phantylia before I arrived."
"I merely swooped in to steal a kill on a weakened enemy," Lumina added with casual indifference, as if recounting something utterly trivial.
"Sister Lumina, why are you being so modest? If I could solo the Lord Ravager, I'd be shouting it from the rooftops for the whole galaxy to hear!"
Watching her dear Sister Lumina being so humble, March 7th stood with her hands on her hips, sounding both exasperated and exasperated.
"You could still brag about it now, you know." Seeing March 7th's adorable pose, Lumina couldn't help but smile.
Without comparison, there's no hurt. Recalling Phantylia's earlier tantrum and then looking at March 7th...
One a vulgar shrew causing a public scene, the other a sweet, innocent little sister next door... How can people be so different?
Little Phantylia, couldn't you learn to be as considerate and adorable as March?
All I did was destroy your physical body! I didn't even hurt you! Why are you acting like a shrew screaming insults at me?
You may have lost your body, but you still have me! I've become your life's guide, haven't I?
*Phantylia: ***, ****, *****!!!
No more dwelling on that. Phantylia is my prisoner now. There'll be plenty of time to teach her a proper lesson later.
Lumina glanced at March 7th before her, then at the Astral Express Crew and Jing Yuan in the distance, a faint smile spreading across her face. "Astral Express Crew," she said, "you may leave now."
"I wish to have a proper discussion with General Jing Yuan."
"What do you intend to do?" Dan Heng, who was supporting Jing Yuan, instantly tensed up at her words, his grip tightening considerably.
"Cough... It's fine," Jing Yuan said, shaking his head as he noticed Dan Heng's reaction. "Just do as Miss Lumina suggests. You can all leave."
"Uhm... Si-Sister Lumina, is there something important you need to discuss with General Jing Yuan?"
Even the usually clueless March 7th sensed the tense atmosphere and quickly explained, "General Jing Yuan sustained a serious injury during the battle with Phantylia earlier..."
"So... could you perhaps wait until next time to speak with him?" March 7th finished, her eyes brimming with hopeful expectation as she gazed at her beloved Sister Lumina.
"I'm afraid not. This matter is too urgent."
Unlike before, Lumina shook her head, unusually denying March 7th's request.
"Uh..." Seeing this, March 7th realized that Sister Lumina truly had something important to discuss with General Jing Yuan.
"Then... then can we at least stay?"
Although March 7th completely trusted Sister Lumina and believed she had her reasons for saying so, the increasingly tense atmosphere in the room compelled her to speak up.
"No, that won't work either," Lumina replied, shaking her head. She then offered a brief explanation.
"Your presence here would serve no purpose for what General Jing Yuan and I need to do. In fact, it would only endanger your lives and add to my burden."
"Ah... I see."
Since Sister Lumina had spoken so firmly, March 7th had no reason to insist further.
"Everyone, you should leave now," Jing Yuan said, rising with Dan Heng's support and straightening his posture as if he were back at full strength. He waved to the Astral Express Crew. "It would be good to report your safety to Fu Xuan first."
"...Very well." Dan Heng glanced at Jing Yuan, then at Lumina, who stood radiant and serene, a gentle smile on her face. He remained silent for a moment.
In the end, Dan Heng chose to trust Lumina and stepped forward, taking the lead as he left the Ambrosial Arbor.
Though he didn't know Lumina's true purpose, the events spanning multiple Amber Eras and the Cosmos's varied opinions of her made it clear she wasn't malicious.
Moreover, as an Emanator, she was practically unbeatable. Thus, Dan Heng decided to trust her.
"Then... after you resolve things with General Jing Yuan, Sister Lumina, don't forget to show me around the Luofu!" March 7th called out.
"Of course! I'll text you when I'm free," Lumina replied.
March 7th cast one last reluctant glance at Lumina before scurrying over to Stelle. She forcibly dragged away Stelle, who had been about to say something, away with her.
"General Jing Yuan, we'll take our leave now," Welt said, adjusting his glasses as he stepped away.
Soon, only Lumina and Jing Yuan remained in the Ambrosial Arbor's space.
Oh wait, there was also Little Phantylia, firmly imprisoned by Lumina within the space.
Once everyone had departed and the Ambrosial Arbor's space had fallen silent, Lumina turned her gaze to Jing Yuan and approached him step by step.
"General Jing Yuan, now it's time for me to reveal the full extent of my purpose in coming to the Xianzhou..."