"How strange… why would it be 'Great Fortune'?"
Fu Xuan rubbed her smooth chin, her face a mask of confusion.
Anyone could see that Tingyun was heading off with the intention of dying. And besides, she had previously done a divination for the General, and the result was 'inauspicious'…
Could it be that the events to come were inauspicious for the General, but represented great fortune for Tingyun?
Fu Xuan gazed at Tingyun, who had already boarded the skiff, completely baffled. In the end, she resorted to the simplest method.
She performed another divination for Jing Yuan.
"Eh? This… what is this situation? Why has the original 'ill omen' turned into 'auspicious'?"
Refusing to believe it, Fu Xuan performed the divination once more, but the result remained 'auspicious'…
"Incredible… Could it be that someone is capable of changing their fate!?"
Fu Xuan's head snapped up, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"If that's the case…"
Turning her head in the direction of Wende's residence, Fu Xuan's expression grew even more solemn.
"It seems the Marshal's judgment was still a bit too conservative…"
Fu Xuan shook her head, a headache coming on, but she couldn't stop the frantic pounding of her heart… The ability to change fate…
---o---
"Huh? Are you sure? Is that really what Elio said? He can suddenly see another, better future?"
In a corner of the Xianzhou, Silver Wolf, who was studying a newly developed model of a golden automaton, listened to the voice on the other end of the line with an incredulous look.
"Of course. Elio doesn't lie. There's no need for him to."
On the other end, Kafka, who was casually stepping on some Abominations of Abundance that had gotten too close, spoke to Silver Wolf with a serious tone.
"Fine, fine, you guys are really something else. But… why are we sending them to a shithole like Punklorde? I've already 'cleared' that place. You're not going to make me go back, are you?"
Silver Wolf's tone was all wrong. Who goes back to replay the starting zone of a game they're in the middle of? Did the starting zone get a hard mode update? But even a hard mode starting zone would be boring, right?
"Don't worry, we'll go with you. But this time, it's not convenient for us to make an appearance."
Kafka's tone was very calm, but Blade, who was standing beside her, could clearly feel a sense of "excitement" from her.
"Kafka…"
"Mm, don't worry. I'm fine."
Silver Wolf fell silent on the other end. After a long pause, she could only sigh helplessly.
"If I'd known it would be like this, I should have just joined the Astral Express in the first place. Anything's better than being sent back to my 'spawn point'!"
Silver Wolf pouted and complained before hanging up on Kafka. Looking at the large golden automaton that was now covered in her favorite graffiti, she decisively turned and left.
Infiltrating the Astral Express and changing its course would be a piece of cake for her. It's just… the thought of going back to Punklorde… Should she go raise hell at the IPC headquarters right now and use "being hunted by the corporation" as an excuse to skip this mission?
"Tch… if I have to go back, I'll go back. If it's boring, I'll just bail…"
Silver Wolf muttered under her breath, casually kicking a stone on the side of the road. She then teleported herself to the closest point to the Astral Express.
"Owww! Where'd that rock come from! Ya nearly broke this old man's back~~~!"
---o---
"What the hell! Why can't I damage this thing!!"
An infuriated Sister Guoguo cycled through her team's characters, blasting their Ultimates at Phantylia one after another, only to be met with a cold sneer from the giant face on the screen…
"Damn it! At this rate! How am I supposed to get revenge for my Yìfù! For my waifu Tingyun! And for all the Cloud Knights who sacrificed themselves!! Aaaaargh! Phantylia! Let me kill you! A thousand times! It's not enough!"
---o---
"Dan Heng!"
Jing Yuan seized the right moment, catching a flaw in his opponent's movement, and immediately shouted to Dan Heng.
"Hn!"
Dan Heng instantly understood Jing Yuan's intent. Even though he had never fought alongside the General of the Xianzhou before… he could read his meaning…
With a draconic leap, Dan Heng's eyes flashed with the majestic light unique to the [Dragon]! Then, seawater condensed into a colossal wave! Carrying immense power, it crashed down viciously upon Phantylia!
"BOOM!!!"
The seawater, mixed with a dragon's roar, charged straight at Phantylia's massive body like a true dragon!
Instantly, a world-shattering tremor rose from beneath their feet. A torrential downpour began to fall from the sky, and Phantylia's form was obscured behind a curtain of mist.
"Did we get her?" March 7th asked Welt, nervously holding her bow.
"Hmph, the [Immortality] of the [Dragon]? A little interesting…"
Phantylia's voice emerged from the water curtain. Immediately after, a pair of gigantic, slender arms shot through the mist, striking towards the group on the platform!
"Will of the Preservation!"
Stelle decisively stood in front of everyone. The lance in her hands shone brightly, and then, an illusory wall made of flames materialized before them.
"BOOM!!"
Stelle was pushed back a few steps but quickly stabilized herself. She bit her lip, glaring at Phantylia, who had now emerged from the mist, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Whoa… when did you learn that move?" March asked, staring in shock at Stelle, who looked like a goddess who had descended to the mortal realm. Did they level up behind her back again?
"Not bad… not bad at all. As a dying struggle for an ant, reaching this level is quite impressive."
Phantylia coolly retracted her reddened palm.
"In that case, allow me to let you all… appreciate the greatest harvest of my trip."
"Tsss!!"
A hissing sound of evaporating water was heard. Phantylia's body began to emit a shocking amount of heat. White flames floated around her, adding a touch of sanctity to the body that was originally born from the Ambrosial Arbor.
"This flame…"
Jing Yuan's brows furrowed deeply. Could this be the trump card Phantylia was relying on?
"Next, I will use this purest of Yang fire to reduce you all to the most refined matter in the universe… Come, how will you stop me?"
Phantylia propped up her physical body's chin with one hand, looking down on the people below with contempt.
---o---
"Hm?"
Sister Guoguo, who was fighting Phantylia, looked at this new form and suddenly noticed something was off.
"These special effects… and these flames… You bitch, you stole my Yìfù's skills!!!"