Rubble flew, grazing her cheek.
The Doll stood in the distance, covering its mouth with a fake laugh. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. Someone must have left something lying around and tripped them up. But... the Herrscher of Thunder's power should have no trouble dealing with small fry like these, right?"
It was a provocation.
And a test.
Mei lowered her blade, her expression indifferent. "There's no need to use lightning. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? A sword is enough."
The next instant.
A ribbon of steel flashed through the air.
An iaido draw slash.
Clean, decisive, ruthless.
The Honkai Beast puppets that had just risen froze mid-motion.
Then their enormous bodies fell apart, scattering fragments through the air.
The Doll paid no attention to the wreckage at its feet and continued strolling forward.
Wherever it passed, more sleeping puppets opened their scarlet eyes.
The once-quiet theater instantly became a slaughterhouse in waiting, ready for mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
"Looks like we prepared a few too many 'toys' this time."
The Doll looked back, its eyes mocking. "If you don't hurry up, you'll get lost."
Mei sheathed her blade, her voice as steady as still water. "Don't concern yourself with that. Just lead the way."
Several battered Honkai Beast puppets crashed to the floor.
Raiden Mei had not so much as moved a fingertip.
There was no need to draw on her Herrscher Authority at all. Close combat alone had been enough to wipe out the field.
She walked up to the Doll and looked down at it from above.
"What are you standing around for?"
Her tone was flat, yet carried an unquestionable weight.
"Didn't you say you'd show me around? Why have you stopped?"
The Doll froze in place, the expression beneath