Fontaine, Fontaine, Afternoon.
Sunlight streamed through the towering Gothic spires, shattering into shards that scattered across the mirror-smooth streets.
The air was thick with the rich aroma of coffee and the cloying sweetness of desserts. As Furina's trial was set to begin today, most Fontaine residents and news reporters had flocked to the Opera House.
Yet life carried on as usual for many, with crowds bustling through the streets. Among them moved an incongruous figure, a being unlike any other.
His form defied human proportions. His body was encased in a cold, hard metal, a fusion of organic and mechanical elements, with eerie, violet energy patterns flowing through the joints.
His heavy footsteps landed on the uniquely Fontainian, water-patterned cobblestones without producing the expected thunderous sound. Instead, a low, oppressive hum resonated from his energy field, akin to a massive beast stalking with its claws retracted.
The helmet's iconic array of crimson lenses, resembling an insect's compound eyes, coldly scanned the surroundings. Jiang Mumu, the ultimate boss of the Abyss Faction, now masquerading as an Intellitron lifeform of above-average intelligence from the Abyss, had arrived in Fontaine!
He wasn't hiding, but neither was he flaunting his presence.
The pure, icy-cold pressure emanating from the Abyss hung like an invisible force field, instinctively causing discomfort and anxiety among the bustling crowd.
People subconsciously steered clear of his path, yet couldn't resist stealing fearful or curious glances at this never-before-seen "monster" radiating an inhuman aura.
Children's laughter abruptly ceased as he passed, the children scurrying away to hide behind their mothers' skirts in the distance.
The Intellitron remained indifferent to these ant-like reactions, his crimson lenses focused solely on the architecture of Fontaine itself.
He paused beside a massive fountain in the center of a plaza, its waters refracting sunlight into a rainbow halo.
The Intellitron's head tilted slightly at an inhuman angle, and its array of compound eyes flickered with an eerie glow, as if conducting a meticulous scan.
[ Analysis: Ordered movement of H2O molecules. ]
[ Energy efficiency: Low. ]
[ Structural pressure limits: Calculable. ]
[ Destruction scenarios: 17 options. Optimal solution: Resonant energy pulse to disrupt molecular bonds, maximizing entropy increase. ]
A cold, monotonous electronic voice echoed within him, devoid of emotion, offering only assessments based on the efficiency of destruction.
This fountain, revered by the Fontainians as a symbol of art and faith, was to him merely a collection of fragile structures awaiting disassembly and return to chaos.
He turned toward a pastry shop lining the street.
The display window showcased a vibrant array of intricately designed macarons and cakes, their tantalizingly sweet aromas wafting into the air.
A young girl was carefully placing a cake adorned with sugar-frosted petals into an exquisite box, her face radiant with contentment.
Laigushi's compound eyes locked onto the cake.
[ "Detection: Complex organic compound aggregate. ]
[ Energy density: Moderate. ]
[ Structural stability: Extremely low. ]
[ Objective: Transient pleasure. Conclusion: A meaningless form of existence. ]
[ Destruction priority: Low. More suitable as an observation sample for the 'dissolution' phenomenon." ]
Within his logical framework, he could not comprehend the act of meticulously crafting such fragile objects for fleeting sensory gratification.
Human emotions and creativity, when measured against the scale of "Destruction," seemed absurd and redundant.
His primary interest lay in the "material" of the Fontainians themselves—those peculiar beings said to dissolve in Primordial Sea water. He needed data.
The Intellitron's body turned toward Fontaine's iconic waterways.
Under the precise control of a sophisticated hydraulic system, the currents flowed smoothly, carrying Aquabuses and pedestrians. The Intellitron's gaze pierced the crystal-clear surface, focusing on the complex underwater infrastructure.
[ "Scanning: Fluid control system. Precision-engineered. Relies on external energy for stability. ]
[ Weakness: Insufficient node redundancy. Entropy trigger point: Marked. 'Destruction' can be efficiently introduced through this location." ]
His crimson eyes seemed to transform into invisible carving tools, marking virtual coordinates representing "fragility" and "vulnerability" across the pipes, valves, and energy nodes supporting Fontaine's aquatic civilization.
To him, Fontaine's proudly proclaimed waterway system had become a blueprint dotted with optimal demolition points.
As he walked through the bustling square, he noticed a poster of the Hydro Archon Furina on a nearby bulletin board.
The Intellitron halted, its compound eyes focusing with a steady, eerie glow on Furina's close-up portrait on the poster, radiating confidence.
"Priority target confirmed: 'Hydro Archon' Focalors.
Status: Anticipating the prelude to 'Destruction'.
Observation value: High.
Associated phenomenon: Dissolution effect of 'Primordial Sea water'.
One form of 'Destruction': Collapse of order and reversion to Zero."
A faint, almost imperceptible flicker of what might have been "interest" seemed to pulse through the electronic voice, but it vanished instantly, leaving only cold confirmation.
Its purpose here wasn't to directly execute destruction, but rather to "recover."
Beyond "recovery," it also intended to observe how a God approached her ordained "dissolution," how a civilization struggled under the yoke of prophecy, and ultimately verify the inevitability and ultimate beauty of "Destruction"—whether physical dissolution or the collapse of faith and order.
The Hydro Archon Focalors' Trial marked the opening act of this grand "dissolution" ritual.
The Intellitron's massive frame cast a long, unsettling shadow across the edge of the plaza.
The surrounding clamor seemed unable to penetrate its icy barrier, forged from pure, unadulterated "Destruction" Will. Like a silent, mobile tombstone, it proclaimed the inexorable approach of some unavoidable end.
After a moment, the Intellitron slowly turned, its heavy footsteps resuming their march toward the imposing and oppressive silhouette of the Fontaine Opera Epiclese.
Its crimson compound eyes scanned the Fontainians in the streets, who instinctively recoiled from its presence.
[ Ultimate Target: Soul Imprint of Individual 'Fidelle'. Scan Result: Not within visual range. Priority: Highest, at any cost. Current Order: Proceed to observation point (Opera House) and await the unfolding of the 'plot'. ]
The Intellitron departed Fontaine, retracting its Abyssal Power as it made its way to the Opera House.
On the way to the Opera House, Jiang Mumu felt a surge of excitement. Her villainess persona seemed to be working perfectly—the Fontainians were avoiding her like the plague!
This scene would later be revealed to players as a flashback after her official debut, giving them a glimpse into the nature of the Abyss.
The Intellitron swiftly arrived at the Opera House, requiring only a minor cognitive adjustment to blend in.
Inside the Opera House, the "Trial" had not yet officially begun, but Lyney was already preparing to perform his magic trick that would conjure Furina.
The Intellitron took its place along the edge of the audience, neither disturbing anyone nor attracting any attention.