Chapter Forty-Nine: Furina—I'm Not So Easily Bullied!

"Is that even possible?" Furina's eyes widened, brimming with bubbling joy. If Lu Mingfei's power truly influenced the world of Teyvat, then she was no longer a powerless Water God; she could intimidate enemies through the Dream Tapir.

Yet, the conditions for her to utilize Lu Mingfei's Dream Tapir were rather peculiar. She had to fear someone in order to draw them into his dream and slay them. But if she could kill them through the dream, why would she need to be afraid?

Hmm...

Should I convince myself that the opponent is terrifying, so I can launch a Dream Tapir attack? Clearly, I can defeat them in the dream, but I must still fear them first—this sensation... I feel so petty.

"Ah..."

Furina softly exhaled and answered, "Though I want revenge, I can't let a Fatui Harbinger die in Fontaine. That would cause diplomatic issues between Fontaine and Snezhnaya, perhaps even greater turmoil. If we face too many foes that must be dealt with through the Dream Tapir, or even enemies beyond its power... it could be dangerous."

"..."

After hearing Furina's words, Lu Mingfei fell silent for a moment before speaking: "Don't worry. No matter what you choose, I'll always support you."

"Mm, thank you."

...

So, I can't kill that person?

Lu Mingfei gazed at the Dragon Pearl—or rather, the Evil Eye—in his hand, his craving for power rekindled.

I'm still too weak!

Although I can drag a Fatui Harbinger into the Dream Tapir and slay them, this doesn't truly kill them. And whether I can pull multiple Harbingers in at once is another question.

It's precisely because of these limitations that Furina must be so cautious. If I were strong enough to kill Harbingers outright, to draw several into the dream at once, even the Tsaritsa herself—wouldn't Furina no longer need to be so timid and hesitant?

Oh, right—I was supposed to test what the Evil Eye could do...

After perfecting it, I instinctively wanted to share the news with Furina and forgot to try it out.

...

Lu Mingfei paused in silence, but soon relaxed and smiled. Forgetting to experiment and chatting with Furina wasn't neglecting his purpose; his goal was clear: to live a happy life with her. Maintaining their bond was essential; the experiment was insignificant by comparison.

In short, he convinced himself.

Then, he started testing!

The Evil Eye activated, consuming the dragon's will within, transforming it into powerful thunder that swept through the room. The purple lightning shone so fiercely, it seemed capable of annihilating everything in an instant.

But the violet brilliance didn't last long; Lu Mingfei swiftly suppressed it with authority.

"This power... it's strong," he couldn't help but praise.

He hadn't converted all the dragon will into elemental force, just a small portion, yet even that small part possessed immense might. It's hard to imagine how powerful he'd be if he converted all of it.

More importantly, after some dragon will was consumed, the draconic transformation effect on him also weakened. If he exhausted all the dragon will, the transformation would likely vanish altogether.

For a hybrid who uses Blood Rage, this is a supreme blessing!

There might be scenarios like this in the future...

A hybrid uses a fourth-degree Blood Rage; the resulting dragon will is stored in the Evil Eye. The body suffers little of the madness's side effects, and in the heat of battle, or when his will falters, he can unleash the stored dragon will as a powerful attack!

The only price is mental exhaustion—which is far preferable to losing control and self-awareness. This can hardly be called a side effect.

Because the spirit has become an attack!

It's not disappearing into nothing!

"Brother, now you understand, don't you?" The little devil looked at Lu Mingfei, whose expression had shifted several times, and continued matter-of-factly. He was already used to it.

"Furina says this thing closely resembles the Evil Eye from their world—a dangerous artifact. If hybrids get their hands on it, it would indeed be perilous," Lu Mingfei nodded deeply in reply.

...

"Well... fine, as long as you understand."

...

Not long after

"You say a Fatui Harbinger attacked you?" Neuvillette, busy in his office, set down his pen. The sharp dragon eyes blossomed with an unusual color, not the usual cold indifference.

"That's right, but they failed. After all, I am Focalors, the Water God, Queen of the Waters—how could a mere Fatui Harbinger overpower me?" Furina lifted her chin proudly, arms crossed.

"Hmm?" Neuvillette's gaze grew suspicious. He wasn't naive—he knew Furina's true strength. He had merely been polite, never exposing her.

Still, he thought perhaps Furina had some hidden means; as the Water God, even without power, she ought to have backup strategies. She was one of the Seven Archons, the Seven Rulers of the Mortal Realm—she couldn't be entirely powerless.

Having reasoned thus, Neuvillette said, "If that's the case, I must investigate the Fatui thoroughly. The Water God is Fontaine's supreme leader; an attack on her is a grave matter."

"Go ahead. We Fontainians don't provoke trouble, but we're not afraid of it, either. I'm not a god to be trifled with!" Furina declared confidently.

On the day she was attacked, she was terrified—not only hiding in a cabinet all night but even neglecting her favorite cake. She was so frightened she couldn't bring herself to speak to Lu Mingfei, fearing he'd become even more despondent because of her.

Now, she wasn't afraid. She would use the momentum to pressure the Fatui. Although she couldn't kill a Harbinger on Fontaine's soil, she could certainly apply pressure through proper channels.

That Fatui Harbinger had already been slain twice in dreams by Lu Mingfei; her mental state must be poor. If she faces an investigation led by Neuvillette, she's likely to suffer for quite some time.

If my information is correct, the Harbinger who attacked me was the fourth-ranked Servant, the Father of the Hearth House.

Fourth seat...

The top three Fatui Harbingers possess power rivaling gods; the Servant is fourth, and while perhaps not equal to divine strength, he's not far behind. Yet such a Servant could be dragged into a dream and easily slain by Lu Mingfei...

He truly is remarkable!