37: Abyssal Corruption

"Like a puppet on strings." Lin Yi's voice carried no emotion, but it made Saphir's skin crawl.

She knew he was right—that was the saddest part.

For a fleeting moment, a terrifying idea crossed her mind: what if she just killed everyone here? What would happen?

"You can try."

A voice whispered suddenly in her mind.

"Who's there?!"

Saphir jolted, frantically scanning her surroundings. Time seemed to freeze.

She looked toward Barbara and Lumine, who were tending to Noelle.

Toward Paimon, hovering with a worried face.

Toward Lin Yi standing calmly beside her.

The sunlight filtered through the leaves.

She was sweating cold.

But the only answer she received was the soft rustling of leaves.

Lin Yi frowned, noticing her odd state.

"What's wrong?"

Saphir stared at him.

"You didn't hear that?"

He looked around and shook his head.

"Hear what?"

Her breathing quickened.

She muttered again, "Like a puppet…"

"What puppet?" Lin Yi asked again.

Her eyes widened.

She looked up at him—his expression was calm, genuinely confused. Not mocking. Not cold. Just… confused.

She yanked her hand out of his grasp and stepped back.

"Something's wrong."

She tried to make sense of it, but the pieces wouldn't connect.

"Give up," the voice returned. "This isn't something you're ready to touch."

Voices layered together. Lin Yi. Lumine. Paimon. Noelle. Barbara.

Speaking together in unison.

She clutched her head and dropped to her knees.

Footsteps approached.

She looked up—Lin Yi, covered in blood, was standing in front of her.

Her heart dropped.

She turned—and saw the others.

Lumine, blood-soaked.

Noelle clutching a broken sword.

Barbara's voice trembled: "Sister… I haven't…"

Saphir couldn't breathe.

Behind her, Lin Yi raised his sword.

The blade plunged into her chest.

Blood gushed.

"You ruined everything."

"I was happy."

"It's all your fault."

"You should've submitted to me."

"You broke my plan."

Lin Yi's voice was crazed.

He yanked the blade free—and stabbed her again.

Blood filled her mouth. Her body grew cold.

She could feel her life fading.

Above her, her constellation began to flicker, stars dimming one by one.

No strength to fight.

No will to resist.

Just close her eyes.

Let it all end.

"Let go," the voice whispered.

"Give in."

"Why fight? There's no hope."

"Die, and they're all mine," Lin Yi snarled.

Then—

A rift tore open in the sky.

A single black eye peered through the crack.

She could still see?

Even as her vision faded?

That eye…

It was watching her.

A voice—distant, male: "Found her."

Another voice: a woman, and a child:

"What's happening?"

"Saphir!"

"Yanling: Dream Devourer!"

Lin Yi's voice echoed.

Suddenly, the pain faded.

The world blurred.

She blinked. "Didn't he stab me? Why is he helping me?"

Her brain restarted—logic returning.

A false world. An illusion.

She'd been pulled into a dream.

As soon as she realized it, the world shimmered.

Reality trembled.

Strength returned.

She stood.

A massive glowing cross appeared in her hands.

She leapt into the air and drove it into the ground.

Light exploded—pure, divine.

"As light guides the faithful, so shall it purge the dark. Begone, evil!

Holy Revelation!"

[Holy Revelation]:

Summon a divine cross.

Grants nearby allies enhanced strength, elemental mastery, attack and movement speed.

When planted into the ground, emits waves of holy light that damage enemies and culminate in a powerful explosion.

The illusion shattered.

Saphir's eyes snapped open.

Four familiar faces surrounded her—Lumine, Paimon, Barbara, Noelle.

Lin Yi sat nearby, pale and drenched in sweat.

"Saphir! Are you okay?!"

Paimon flew into her arms, clinging tightly.

Though closest to Lumine, Paimon had come to trust Saphir deeply.

Barbara and Noelle looked equally anxious.

They hadn't expected someone as powerful as Saphir to suddenly collapse.

Only Lumine stood quiet, analyzing the cause.

Saphir exhaled.

"I was caught… again."

She knew what this was.

The Abyss had never given up on corrupting her.

Years ago, she had accompanied Scaramouche into the Abyss.

They returned in ruins.

He had natural resistance—she did not.

Even the Tsaritsa had to intervene, suppressing the corruption with divine power.

But it had never been cured.

Now, it resurfaced.

Lin Yi finally stood, swaying a little.

"Seriously… I just held your hand and you collapsed?"

The others immediately focused in.

Lumine and Paimon stared with curious glints.

Barbara and Noelle looked away nervously.

Saphir resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"What were you trying to say earlier?"

Lin Yi glanced at the girls and said calmly,

"Does it matter? You've already unlocked Insight Scan, haven't you?"

The system screen floated before him.

Three names gleamed:

Keqing, Jean, Saphir.

He grinned.

That was enough.

Saphir stood frozen.

Wait—what?!

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the cause of her hallucination:

A red crystal—the tear of Dvalin.

She stared at it.

Insight Scan.

[Item Name]: Dvalin's Tear Crystal (Corrupted)

Description:

A crystal tear left by Dvalin, infused with both Abyssal and Barbatos's energy.

Dangerous for unprotected users.

Can be purified to mimic Barbatos's aura.

Lin Yi immediately understood.

"You didn't purify it?! Seriously?"

"You used to carry that anti-Abyss talisman—that chess piece.

But now it's gone, of course this thing messed with your mind."

Saphir looked awkward.

Too many distractions lately.

Paimon and the others didn't understand the details, but they got the gist—this thing was bad news.

Lumine's eyes widened.

"I remember now! You had this when we first met!"

Saphir nodded.

Then tossed the crystal to Lumine.

Rosalyne was gone now—there was no more conflict over the tear.

Lumine instinctively caught it—and to everyone's surprise, the red color faded.

It turned clear, glowing softly with wind energy.

"Whoa, it's beautiful now!" Paimon clapped.

"She can purify Abyss energy," Saphir explained.

"This was nothing for her."

Everyone nodded—even if they didn't fully grasp it.

Only Lumine grew quiet.

So… she could purify Abyss?

It made sense.

If Aether was tied to the Abyss, then her power must be the opposite.

Lin Yi finally stood and held out his hand.

"Don't push yourself too hard next time. You had us worried."

Saphir stared at him.

Then slapped his hand away and stood up on her own.

Hands on hips, she turned away with a huff.

"Don't think this means you've won. You've still got a long way to go!"

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