Eldritch Horror Theatre

"When the answer was found, Vivian was so happy she even gave me a gift."

As Fu Qian marveled inwardly, Niniane's reminiscence continued.

"A mermaid, one who truly came from the outside world."

"I heard their voices more than once, but my sister wouldn't let me respond."

"But that day, she personally guided a lost mermaid in here, letting me use her to verify the discovery."

"I was thrilled. During the attempt, I shared some things with her to show my gratitude."

So this is the true origin of the fishmen?

Niniane's words naturally made Fu Qian think of that cage at Siren.

That distinct face had indeed come from a different creator's hand.

Niniane's reminiscence came to an abrupt halt.

"Fu Qian, you're also from the outside, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Fu Qian didn't mind her taking the opportunity to ask.

"You entered on your own without any guidance? You must be very powerful."

Niniane's praise sounded quite sincere, but the question made Fu Qian's mind race.

Although his entry had seemed like an accident on the surface, looking back at everything along the way truly made him doubt if there had been no guidance behind the scenes.

At the very least, according to his recent deductions, "Vivian's" survival tactics were an absolute trap for him.

Of course, she still lacked the ability to persuade him, so she couldn't actually trick him.

But his core plan of finding the anomaly was making zero progress, remaining stalled and bogged down.

Based on the date of his meeting with Chief Yuan, he didn't have much time left.

"Are you looking for Vivian to find a route out? I can tell you right now."

"This is truly not a good place for your kind."

Niniane offered unprompted.

"Alright."

Fu Qian naturally didn't mind securing another way out.

"Actually, if you want to leave right now, you can just follow her. She's about to wake up."

After this sharing of information, as if in response to Niniane's words, the little mermaid on the ground twitched.

"She doesn't have my sister's Imprint on her. I just heard her singing so pitifully."

Niniane explained.

"If you're willing to travel with her, she'll be much safer. I'm not too clear on the situation outside, but those fishmen... aren't very friendly."

"All this time, I've guided them here just for that faint trace of my sister's aura, but they don't recognize me at all. Calming them down is very strenuous..."

Yet you still did it more than once.

Fu Qian noted inwardly, though he didn't mock her persistence.

In his field of vision, the little mermaid had slowly propped up her upper body, looking around in confusion.

The moment she turned her face, he could clearly see that her originally ferocious visage had vanished. In its place were facial features that, while retaining fishman characteristics, were no longer a generic template.

It was obvious that compared to "Vivian's" violent infusion, Niniane favored guiding a more natural transformation.

Of course, this relatively delicate face twisted the moment she saw Fu Qian, and she instinctively tried to shrink toward Niniane.

However, she was quickly frightened by that mountain of flesh and retreated again.

Looks like her brain isn't broken yet.

Fu Qian commented silently. Glancing at the gradually dimming radiance on his own body, he mimed a finger-gun gesture at the little mermaid again to remind her of his true nature.

"Unfortunately, I still have things to do. But unless her luck is terrible, those fishmen shouldn't give her a hard time."

Naturally, his spoken words remained perfectly normal.

"Thank you for the help, Niniane. Now, I have one last question—"

"My sister didn't send you, did she?"

But the next moment, Fu Qian's words were cut off by the voice in his mind.

Niniane's sudden shift in demeanor didn't carry much anger. It was filled more with endless sorrow.

Oh?

Fu Qian didn't speak, just glancing at the little mermaid.

The latter had overcome her fear and was inching closer to Niniane once again.

Considering Niniane's method of communication, it wasn't hard to imagine that the little mermaid had already silently relayed his previous actions to her.

Although the little mermaid didn't know much, it was enough for Niniane to gauge his level of friendliness.

And to realize that his earlier behavior had been a deliberate scheme to tempt her into breaking her sister's instructions.

"I should have known... This might also be why I subconsciously avoided asking where Vivian went..."

"Fu Qian, I don't know what your goal is, but can you tell me how my sister is doing now?"

"Her condition isn't great."

Fu Qian answered the plea, his tone unusually cold.

"But look on the bright side. Perhaps it won't be long before she returns to your body, and then she'll truly be with you forever."

"Please, don't do this... I can do anything for you. Since you wanted to come here, you must have something you're looking for!"

It was clear that Fu Qian's words had brought her immense fear and agony.

And given Niniane's poor state, there was nothing she could do but beg.

"Is that so? Then take a guess at what I want."

Facing what was likely the most unique existence in the Shattered Crown, Fu Qian pushed the pressure to the absolute limit, anticipating the result.

"...I don't know. You are like a complete mystery—intangible, hard to observe... My will seems to be growing weaker and weaker..."

Unfortunately, when Niniane's voice rang out again a moment later, it remained full of pained helplessness.

"But please give me a little more time. I can definitely do it. Don't hurt my sister."

"Why? It's just a brief release, and then you'll see her very soon. Are you really that afraid, or is it that she can't return to your body like the other creatures?"

Fu Qian didn't give in to disappointment just yet, continuing to apply pressure.

"No... it's different. Everything that spawns here, no matter how much it resembles its original owner, is still just a part of 'me' that has mutated."

Niniane explained in a panic.

"If it were really possible to directly graft two different existences together, I would have begged my sister to take me with her long ago. Even if I had to discard most of my body, it wouldn't have mattered. Sadly, in the Ash Sea, that is impossible."

Then you're just ill-informed. As far as I know, out there on a ship right now, an existence exactly like the one you described is currently floating around—

The next moment, Fu Qian's thoughts seized up as if something were slipping away.

[SAN Value -10]

Without the slightest hesitation, he directly activated his Pseudo-God Incarnation.

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