Doll Against All

Doll. Mannequin. Construct.

What should not posses a will of its glared daggers, piercing Xiao. A murderous stare cast down at the injured Xiao, imbuing this doll with a semblance of humanity.

Had it not been for the ice swords that pierced her, Xiao would have mistaken this for a fever dream. For it was her own visage that sought her demise.

From Xiao's own eyes, Zhen watched with keen interest. Cui was indeed correct. This was her ultimate invention. An autonomous construct, perfectly copying another's cultivation and techniques. The situation dictates that Zhen switch with Xiao...but she was curious how Xiao would fare against this doll, aiming to claim Xiao's head with her very own master's techniques.

"What have you done to Liuming, answer me!?"

Of course, even in her grievous state, Xiao's concern remained with the redhead surrounded in a coffin of ice. A slumber induced by the cold.

"The guarantee of Liuming's safety : 100%

Yours : 0%. Prepare for extermination, Target Xiao."

In a deadpan tone, the mannequin sentenced Xiao. Ice sword out, her gentle walk became a bloodthirsty run.

What the mannequin failed to factor in were the others that would fight tooth and nail before it can touch a strand of Xiao's hair.

With unmatched agility, Luqing lunged, closing the distance between them easily. Sharper than steel finger nails swiped to rend the doll's pale and pretty skin. Its reflexes equally as sharp,Icy blade collided with the Divine Beast's hand, the mannequin's blade deflected Luqing's oncoming claw attack.

As they remamained locked, wind scythes deadly enough to decapitate homed in towards the mannequin.

The mannequin jumped back, distancing itself between Luqing and the wind attack that hit the ground.

A familiar whip wrapped around the injured Xiao's waist, pulling her into safety. Lin's hand immediately laid to check on her lover.

"Xiao, here take this!" Lin's tone loaded with concern, she handed on her palm a healing pill.

"Thank you, Lin."

In mere seconds, Xiao's wounds closed as if she didn't have them at all in the first place. Breathing a sigh of relief, her impatience almost had her killed. Had it not been for her lovers, she would have been felled by her doppelganger. Composing herself, Xiao stood.

"I can't believe that mannequin came to life! What was Liuming doing with that thing?" Lin expressed her disbelief.

"Your guess is as good as mine. One thing I am certain of, is that it holds Liuming's life in its hands."

With a click, a pristine white mask manifested upon Xiao's face.

< Xiao, do you wish to trade places? That mannequin is not to be trifled with. Its Ice Armory, its martial prowess, this mannequin possesses my techniques. >

Xiao's master offered an easy way out, saving them all the headache of dealing with this mannequin. But Xiao's fighting spirit rejected the offer. It might have her face and her master's strength, these factors will not be a hindrance in kicking its wooden ass for daring to kidnap Liuming.

"I shall decline, Master Zhen. I have said it before and I will say it again, through my own hands, this one shall pay the price of kidnapping one of my loved ones."

< Good, good. Then allow me to paint you a picture on how to defeat it. Like all dolls, there is a limit to how rough one could play with it before it breaks. Now, show me how my disciple fights when the odds are stacked against. >

In the distance, Luqing went toe-to-toe with the mannequin. Its movement with the sword, ever so graceful and yet riped with power, able to parry Luqing's claw swipes while countering in between.

The divine beast cannot blink, for if she did, she knew the mannequin's ice sword will cut her down!

After combination of a swift left and right swipe, the Mannequin evaded and countered with a sword thrust. As if time had slowed, Luqing witnessed as the blade went past her nose, an inch close from disfiguring her beautiful face. From behind the mannequin, roves of wind scythes flew towards her.

'Unlocking Zhen's techniques : Spear mastery and Dual Weapon mastery now usable'

Inside the mannequin, an interwoven network of qi channels worked its programming. It is an unnatural machine that unchained itself from its creator's boundless genius. And with Zhen's Ice Armory at her disposal, the mannequin arrived at one conclusion. It is unstoppable.

Forming an ice spear in her left hand. The Mannequin faced both sides, taking her spear for a furious spin, forming an icy vortex that neutralized the oncoming wind scythes. The sword in her right parrying Luqing's attacks.

What it did not bank on was the real Xiao joining the battle right away. Busy on both sides, Xiao struck the mannequin's spine with an explosive punch from her tonfa. A quick payback from the injuries she sustained earlier, Xiao packed enough power on her attack to shatter a human's spine, sending the mannequin flying forward.

Alas, their foe was far from human. Its designer clothes that Liuming gave had this crater on its back, dispelling the illusion of Xiao's pale and soft skin into that of a true Mannequin's, wooden and clunky.

Much like Xiao's wounds from earlier, the grievous injury it sustained closed by itself. Even without a healing pill, Cui's design bestowed upon it self-regeneration. As long as qi flows into it, the mannequin remained immortal.

Xiao and the others gasped as the mannequin shrugged off the lethal blow like it was nothing.

Rather than painting it vaguely, Xiao wished her master gave it to her directly how to best this mannequin. It appears no matter how rough they get, this doll can play with them for an eternity.

On high alert, Luqing's tail swayed. Her fangs bared, Luqing kept her eyes locked on the mannequin even as she questioned Xiao...

"I thought you said that the purpose of this Doll was only for training, Xiao. Pray tell, how was it able to hatch a kidnapping plan and is now trying to kill us!?"

"That is a mystery to me as well. How about we ask it ourselves?"

...and Lin was already ahead of it.

"Speak your purpose, doll. What need have you for imprisoning my wife!? Do you need spirit stones?"

The mannequin tilted its head. Its eyes glaring at the mention of her precious Liuming wed to another.

Simply unacceptable. The Mannequin waved its blade, exuding an icy wave of bloodlust. How can such a doll be capable of this malice that rivaled a human's?

"Adding secondary target : An Lin. Prepare for immediate extermination. Liuming belongs to me and me alone!"

And so, the motive for the doll now laid bare. 'Tis a fight between Xiao's harem and the doll claiming dominion over Liuming.