She was visibly damaged now. The vitality that the conversion had built into her was still present, still substantial, but it was no longer untouchable.
It had limits.
Two full island clearances without any attempt at defense had worn it down, until a significant portion of it had been stripped away. And still, she kept moving. The behavioral directive did not recognize damage thresholds. It did not recognize inefficiency, or risk, or sustainability. It recognized only its single instruction, and it executed it without deviation.
She reached the third island.
Lin Yi watched from the Greater Qilin's back, his posture relaxed but his attention absolute. He made no move to intervene. Interference would alter the data he wished to collect. A test that ended too early was worse than no test at all. He let it continue, watched her cross the narrow entry bridge and step into engagement range of the four monsters waiting on the far side.
The pattern did not change.
