"Demon King, Demon King, Yay! Klee is here to catch you, Grrr—"
"Little Klee, always so energetic..."
Paimon chuckled, a hint of fondness in her voice.
"Before the ground shook, I heard sounds like mechanisms. In my opinion, there's a colossal mechanism beneath this sea, and the entire island rests upon its framework. When the mechanism activates, it lifts various islands out of the water. Only a handful of people in all of Teyvat could achieve something like this..."
Jean frowned in thought. Through meticulous observation and bold speculation, she had formed a general hypothesis about the architect of this island.
This fantastical and unrestrained style of arrangement felt somewhat familiar to Jean.
"Such a feat is nothing short of a miracle... Could it be the power of Lord Barbatos, the Anemo God?"
When it came to the island's designer, Barbara's first thought was Mondstadt's protector.
"It shouldn't be."
Jean shook her head. This did not align with the Wind God's usual demeanor.
"Whatever the truth may be, we'll find out when we go see. Do you see the island in the very center? All the energy fluctuations are emanating from that island..."
Feng Yi interrupted their speculation. He noticed that Jean seemed to have grasped something.
As expected of Acting Grand Master Jean!
Although, this might also be due to Jean's familiarity with Alice.
"Demon King! I've finally found you! Since Klee was supposed to find you, Klee is here! Dodoco, let's go!"
Klee, hands on her hips, pointed excitedly at the platform in the center of the sea.
"Everyone, let's approach and investigate together with Klee, but please remain vigilant."
Jean cautioned them before they set sail towards the central island on their wave rider.
"That is..."
Everyone discovered that on the central circular platform of the island sat a strangely armored figure in Inazuman armor. Attached to either side of the armored figure's shoulders were two giant, person-sized Oni masks.
"Is that... a very tall person?"
Paimon looked around, hesitant to approach.
"It looks like a person, but something feels off?"
Barbara's tone was heavy. She sensed no life force from the figure, but rather a dangerous aura.
Danger!
Very dangerous!
Even though the figure was currently motionless, like it was dormant...
"Dodoco's Demon King, Klee has come to see you! You can... uh... judg-judg-judge... Hmm? You can judge Klee now!"
Klee, mistaking the armored figure for Dodoco's Demon King, stepped forward, chest puffed out, ready to be judged.
It wasn't surprising that Klee would mistake the armored figure for Dodoco's Demon King, as the figure, with its Oni masks, looked extremely fearsome.
"Hey, Demon King—why aren't you talking to me?"
Klee received no response and assumed Dodoco's Demon King had fallen asleep.
"It really was repaired by Alice..."
Seeing the Ruin Sentinel nearby, Feng Yi murmured softly.
He recognized this thing; it was an elite boss from the game, and Inazuma had one just like it.
However, the Ruin Sentinel in Inazuma was intact, while this one, having crossed the sea and gone through various experiences, had fallen into a paralyzed state.
Its limbs were repaired, but to activate it, a 'Ruin Core' similar to a heart device would still be needed.
"Feng Yi, do you recognize this humanoid machine?"
Jean, seeing Feng Yi frown as if he recognized it, asked curiously.
This humanoid machine was out of place with the island's atmosphere, and its attire suggested it had drifted from Inazuma.
"Yes, I have some understanding. These humanoid machines are called Ruin Sentinels. Some individuals with extreme ideologies replace their limbs and bodies with durable mechanisms, ultimately replacing their hearts with intricate 'Mechanist Cores,' all in pursuit of an eternity beyond mortal flesh and bone..."
Feng Yi nodded, sharing information about the Ruin Sentinel with everyone.
Based on the 'Ruin Core' of the Ruin Sentinel and the 'Chaos Devices' of the Ruin Guards, Feng Yi speculated that the Ruin Sentinel was likely created using the Ruin Guard as a prototype. However, because the Ruin Guard was too cumbersome, only parts of its structural principles were adopted.
This was not Feng Yi's conjecture; there was a passage in the description of the 'Ruin Core':
Because the core's size was too large, it was unsuitable for this mechanical swordsman and would affect its speed.
Therefore, we placed the core's energy supply on the Chaos Device.
Finally, a mechanical "heart" was created.
Due to the advantage of the core's large size in storing a vast amount of energy, and the mechanical "heart" being small, we worked tirelessly to ensure the mechanical swordsman could operate at all times.
Ultimately, we utilized the "power" of the sun and the "power" of the wind to ensure they were constantly supplied with energy.
For warriors who sought eternity, any exquisite martial skill or beautiful memory would wither with the decay of their physical bodies.
Suffering of flesh, ascension of machinery—this was their understanding of eternity.
Feng Yi was unsure if this concept of eternity was right or wrong. However, this neither human nor ghost state was by no means the eternity he sought.
"I see. It's hard to imagine the mental state of the creator. Such inhuman experiments violate human morality. Regardless of other countries, such practices are strictly forbidden in Mondstadt..."
Jean frowned. As the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, she absolutely forbade any inhuman experiments within Mondstadt.
"Ah? Isn't this Dodoco's Demon King? Then where is Dodoco's Demon King?"
After hearing Feng Yi's explanation, Klee realized this strange fellow wasn't the Demon King she was looking for, and she was slightly disappointed.
But soon, Klee adjusted her mood, determined to find Dodoco's Demon King.
"Klee won't give up! Demon King, just wait, Klee will definitely find you!"
*Clack~*
*Crouch, crouch, kuka...*
Just as everyone was preparing to leave the circular platform, the Ruin Sentinel in the center of the platform suddenly emitted the sound of a mechanism activating.
"Everyone, be careful, this Ruin Sentinel is alive!"
Jean drew her sword, loudly alerting everyone, and placed Klee behind her, ready for battle at any moment.
"Jean, you protect Barbara and Klee, leave this guy to me."
Saying this, Feng Yi drew his spear and walked towards the Ruin Sentinel.
He was also a bit perplexed. Logically, without a 'Ruin Core,' the Ruin Sentinel shouldn't have come back to life...