This strange, unstable space does not necessarily bode well for what I might encounter; it shifts and wavers at the edges, ever so slightly smudged around the corners in the way of dreams. The fact that I appear to be lucid, as do my companions, is intriguing. For a moment I wonder if someone has gotten their hands on Siraj's technology and adjusted it to keep the members of its hivemind in a dream similar to the events of the Sabzeruz Festival, only with each member granted some agency so as to keep them from suspecting the truth. It's a thought worth merit and one I ought not to forget while here. This place, however, also bears resemblance to the domains I've encountered before... I must gather more information. My companions are an eclectic bunch, consisting of a Fontainian-style magician, a pale-haired high-ranking Millelith(?), a Shongunate tengu general, and a sparkling young mistress. The last catches my eye, what with her cranial wings and budding golden halo, unlike any species I have seen or read. I'll need to interview her for research purposes should we get a free moment and she oblige.
Across from us sit a pack of slimes and a couple of hilichurls. Weaker opponents, and depending on the capability of the others, easy enough to take down. As each person makes an introduction and an attack, I take note of the skills and the clear competence displayed: some of these people are evidently experienced in war—ah, that man is not in fact a Millelith. I've never heard of a "Xianzhou Luofu" or Cloud Knights, but the way he swings his glaive, and the sheer power in his attacks... okay, there has to be a logical reason why I'm thinking of adepti all of a sudden. Hmm. Oh, he has a spirit like Cyno, although unlike Cyno the spirit appears separate from this Jing Yuan's body and takes up almost the entire room. Well, then. If this man really does exist in real life, they need to meet. The General Mahamatra's reactions to him should be very enlightening.
Roll Energy: 7.
Elemental Skill activates! 1 Chisel-Light Mirror active. 1 Dendro Core active. Damage dealt: 3. Energy used: 2. Hydro Slime A: 4/26 HP
Roll Charged Attack: 20. Crit! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors active. 2 Dendro Cores active. Damage dealt: 4. Energy used: 1. Hydro Slime A: 0/26 HP
Hydro Slime A has been defeated!
Elemental Burst activates! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors consumed. 4 Dendro Cores active. Damage dealt: 3. Energy used: 2.
Hydro Slime B: 4/26 HP. Large Hydro Slime: 10/32 HP. Hilichurl Berserker A: 11/23 HP. Hilichurl Berserker B: 11/23 HP. Large Cryo Slime: 24/27 HP
Aggravate activates twice! Damage dealt: 2. Large Hydro Slime: 8/32 HP. Alhaitham: 8/10 HP
Roll Normal Attack: 7. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Hydro Slime B: 3/26 HP
Roll counter: 1. Miss!
Roll Normal Attack: 15. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Hydro Slime B: 2/26 HP
Roll counter: 19. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Alhaitham: 7/10 HP
"Alhaitham, scribe of the Sumeru Akademiya," I offer before launching into my own offensive. Dendro energy blossoms out of me and into my surroundings as I fight, fruiting into cores and zipping across the battlefield with the assistance of my prismatic mirrors. Although this results in me getting myself zapped thanks to the Electro charging the air, I still feel satisfied at my initiative (and at least one of the slimes is gone now, so. There is that). The magician takes advantage of the numerous Dendro Cores and sets them exploding in the monsters' faces to gratifying effect, with Jing-jiāngjūn mopping up the remaining resistance. Of course, things can't end that swiftly, and while Ms. Robin dispenses with praise, several bulky machines enter the battle chamber. They share few, if any, similarities to the constructs I know, a bit more akin to the images of Gardemeks I've seen before. This battle should prove to be a little more difficult, but I suspect that we have this well in hand based on everyone's previous performance, as the singer maintained.
(I can't tell what element she's using, if any. It's none of the seven I'm familiar with.)
"Let's deal with these constructs first, then we can think about watching each other's performances. I'll need your Electro, Kujou-san, Jing-jiāngjūn, and your Pyro, Monsieur Lyney."
Soon, the pale-haired General is calling for me to finish the battle. I meet Ms. Robin's eyes and nod at her; with her coordinating her attacks to follow on the others', I would be wise to make use of her services. "On it."
Roll Energy: 6.
Elemental Skill activates! 1 Chisel-Light Mirror active. Burning activates! Damage dealt: 2. Energy used: 2. Automaton Direwolf: 6.5/30 HP
Roll Charged Attack: 6. Hit! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors active. Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Automaton Direwolf: 5.5/30 HP
Elemental Burst activates! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors consumed. Damage dealt: 3. Energy used: 2. Automaton Spider: 0/20 HP. Automaton Direwolf: 2.5/30 HP
Chains of Destruction activates! Roll Self-Exploding Module: 3. Miss!
Automaton Spider has been defeated!
Roll Normal Attack: 11. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Automaton Direwolf: 1.5/30 HP
Roll counter: 3. Hit! Bleed does not activate! Damage dealt: 1.5. Alhaitham: 8.5/10 HP
Unfamiliar as these are, they still Burn the same way, my Dendro reacting to the heat and sparks M. Lyney's left behind to set them on fire. I wrinkle my nose at the acrid scent of scorched metal and mechanisms—hopefully none of these materials give off toxic fumes when incinerated, or else the five of us will be in a world of hurt. The smaller machine, looking like a hand on wheels, explodes after being struck through with my particular field, though fortunately the shrapnel misses our party. All that's left is the bipedal construct, and I manage to whittle it down to barely-functioning scrap. "If you would, Ms. Robin."
Vox Harmonique, Opus Cosmique is active!
Wingflip White Noise activates! Roll Normal Attack: 15. Hit! Damage dealt: 2. Automaton Direwolf: 0/30 HP
Automaton Direwolf has been defeated!
The songstress sends the mecha toppling over, sparking and dead. I turn and nod to each of my four companions; we appear to have been well-partnered, and the synergy within our group is clear even if some of us have never met before. "Good work, everyone. We make an effective team."