Seeing Su Yuan's utterly shocked expression, Dottore knew that his goal had already been achieved…
Then, with a wave of his hand, Dottore released something unknown—Aether and Paimon instantly fell unconscious and collapsed to the ground.
Dottore showed a faint, knowing smile as he looked toward Su Yuan and said:
"Don't worry, Su Yuan. I know this is your greatest secret, so I'll help you keep it. I won't let anyone else find out…"
"The inscription on your right palm—I saw it."
"Every single word of it—I saw everything!!!"
Su Yuan completely panicked at that moment, his mind spinning as he stammered:
"Why… Why can you see it, Dottore? Weren't these markings supposed to be visible only to me?"
Dottore nodded slowly, replying with calm amusement:
"Yes, originally only you could see them. That means you are special, Su Yuan…"
"But now that I can see them too, it means that while you are special—you're not unique."
"I'm special as well!!!"
"Just that fact alone—isn't it enough proof that we're meant to be true friends?"
Su Yuan looked at Dottore's gleeful and manic expression, at a loss for words…
What mattered now was that one of his biggest trump cards—his palm's secret information—had been exposed to Dottore.
"Su Yuan, so the intel you've been receiving… you get it one day at a time, don't you?"
Dottore continued, his tone almost curious:
"Each night you pass, you gain a little more information."
"So tell me, Su Yuan—have you never wondered who is the one carving that information onto your palm?"
"So! Work with me!!!"
"Go to sleep peacefully… and let me observe and record everything!!!"
"Dottore!!! Tell me—how do you know all this?!" Su Yuan shouted loudly, his voice trembling.
"Alright, alright, Su Yuan—no need to get so worked up. I'll tell you."
Dottore waved his hand dismissively, smiling helplessly as he said:
"It was just yesterday. When my 'Scholar-phase' segment fell into a state of Eerie state, by sheer coincidence, he caught sight of your palm…"
Hearing this, Su Yuan frowned in disbelief.
That shouldn't be possible—he had confirmed it countless times before: even those corrupted by Eerie forces shouldn't be able to see the inscriptions on his palm.
Seeing Su Yuan's confused expression, Dottore continued:
"Su Yuan, I know what you're thinking. Perhaps that particular 'Scholar' segment of me saw nothing at all with his own eyes…"
"But you know, all of my segments share their senses."
"Logically, something should either be visible or invisible. But do you know what's strange? Among all my segments, some could see it—and others couldn't. Do you know why that is?"
Su Yuan was completely lost in thought, trying to comprehend Dottore's words.
Why could some segments see it while others could not?
Dottore watched his expression and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"See, Su Yuan? That's why we're the same kind of person!!!"
"Whenever we're faced with the unknown, we can't help but dive deep into thought!!!"
"Now then, let me tell you the answer!!!"
"It's an answer that may exceed your imagination!!!"
At that moment, Su Yuan felt an overwhelming sense of dread—an ominous premonition that whatever he was about to hear would lead to something terrible.
Just then—at that critical instant—a slash of dark violet sword energy ripped through the air, cutting straight toward Dottore from above.
Dottore reacted instantly, retreating several steps back and narrowly dodging the attack!
Seeing the traces left behind by that attack, which were still corroding the ground, Dottore frowned slightly and said:
"Oh? The power of the Abyss, is it?"
"It seems I've already guessed who the one hiding in the shadows and helping you really is…"
"Su Yuan! Quickly—summon your Foul Legacy Armament! Let's defeat this Dottore together!!!"
Along with Lumine's voice, her figure descended from above, landing right between Su Yuan and Dottore.
Su Yuan didn't have time to question why Lumine was here—he immediately said,
"But I just tried earlier! It seems I can't summon the Foul Legacy Armament right now…"
Lumine quickly explained,
"That's because Dottore set up some kind of sealing barrier. It blocks certain connections with the outside world, preventing you from channeling Abyssal power."
"But just now, I destroyed that barrier!"
Hearing that, Su Yuan didn't hesitate any longer—he tried summoning the Foul Legacy Armament again, and this time, it actually worked!
"Lumine, as expected of the Princess of the Abyss Order—you immediately saw through the core of the problem."
Dottore nodded and said with a calm smile:
"That sealing barrier was already tested back in the Spiral Abyss. Now is the perfect time to use it in real combat…"
"Though for now, its effects are quite remarkable, the defense and concealment still need further improvement."
Hearing this, Su Yuan instantly understood—back in the Scholar Dottore's chamber inside the Spiral Abyss, there must have been the same kind of sealing barrier.
That was why he couldn't connect to the Abyssal power and summon the Foul Legacy Armament at that time.
Dottore continued with a faint smile:
"But now, all the evidence has shown that Abyssal power is, in the end, an external force. Once the connection to it is severed, it poses no real threat—nothing worth worrying about."
"However, the Eerie power is different. It's rooted deep within the human body. No matter where you are or when it happens, it can easily drive you into Eerie state."
"From that perspective, Eerie power seems to be a higher, stronger force than Abyssal power!!!"
"So—even though both of you possess formidable Abyssal power—when facing me, my strongest segment, the one who wields the greatest amount of Eerie power… can you truly be certain of victory???"
As Dottore spoke, violent Eerie flames suddenly ignited in both of his palms!
Then, he slowly guided both clusters of that Eerie power toward his own forehead and the center of his brow…
"Now… I am no longer who I once was. Allow me to show you—my strongest power!!!"