In the Minecraft World, things were progressing in their own rhythm.
Despite Alhaitham and the others in Teyvat crafting their intricate schemes with such precision, Ryen had, to put it bluntly, long since forgotten about them.
After all, his trip to Sumeru back then had been little more than a casual visit , just to take Nahida home for a while, set up a few protective measures, and perhaps leave some contingencies behind.
If they proved useful, all the better. If not, then so be it.
If Sumeru could heal on its own, then everything would fall into place naturally.
If it couldn't… well, he could always go there himself and sort things out personally.
Ryen wasn't the type for elaborate plotting. His preferred method was far simpler , show up, tear down the problem, and rebuild until it worked.
As for Azar's current state… Ryen hadn't really followed up. Even if he knew, his only comment would probably be a casual remark on how fascinating the zombie virus behaved in Teyvat's environment. Perhaps he'd remind Ningguang to strengthen the quarantine around the "Trial Lands" she'd planned, just in case.
But none of that mattered now.
Ryen and his team had already arrived at their next destination , the Final Plateau.
It was a desolate world of deadrock. The ground beneath their feet was pale as bone, stretching endlessly toward a distant, colorless horizon. A sense of lifeless dread hung over everything, an oppressive stillness that made the air itself seem to shiver.
Above, the once-eternal night sky shimmered with an eerie blue hue, as though the moon itself had turned cyan.
And far on the horizon, veiled by mist, they could just barely make out the shape of a colossal structure sprawling across the barren land ,
the Final Castle.
"No matter how you look at it," Lumine murmured, standing atop a ridge, "this place feels like where the final boss of an entire world should live."
Ryen chuckled softly.
"You're not wrong. By all accounts, the Final Castle is supposed to be our final stop , the home of the strongest monsters this world can generate.
But whether a true final boss actually exists in there… even I can't say for sure."
He shrugged with easy humor.
"After all, before I came to Teyvat, the developer of this mod never got around to coding one in."
Ningguang frowned faintly.
"Even you aren't certain?"
"I'm not omniscient," Ryen replied with a small smile.
"But even if there's no ultimate monster in the castle itself, this region is still the most dangerous in the entire dimension. The Final Plateau hosts countless hostile biomes, and the Castle contains some of the strangest mechanisms ever designed , traps, cursed rooms, even pocket dimensions. It's perilous by design."
He adjusted the telescope in his hands and began scanning the area.
"Fortunately, we don't need to storm the castle yet. Our target for today is the Troll Caves. Once we get the Magic Beans there, we'll move on to Cloud Cottage , that's where the remaining major boss awaits."
As Ryen plotted their route, the group gathered behind him, waiting for instructions.
Eula crossed her arms, giving him a sidelong look.
"You know," she muttered, "back in Teyvat you lazed around like a salted fish. But here? You're suddenly Mr. Motivated."
Jean chuckled softly at the jab.
"That's just how he is. Teyvat is Ryen's resting ground , a place where he doesn't need to take things seriously. With his power, nothing there really demands it. But this world is different. Our abilities are suppressed here, and even Ryen can't wield his full strength. It's dangerous , and it's his creation's foundation. He has to take it seriously."
"Work when it's time to work, rest when it's time to rest," Jean added with a knowing smile. "Balance brings results."
Eula blinked, half amused and half incredulous.
"Balance? That doesn't sound like you at all. Aren't you the one who can't go five minutes without thinking about Knights of Favonius paperwork?"
Jean's smile turned introspective.
"That's exactly the problem I've come to recognize here. I used to believe that doing everything myself kept Mondstadt safe. But it only made the people dependent , and that's not freedom. I'm learning that governing a nation means neither clinging too tightly nor letting go entirely. You have to hover somewhere in between."
Eula huffed, pretending to lose interest.
"Sounds complicated. Not my problem. Anyway, we're supposed to meet a Druid Mage, right?"
She couldn't hide her excitement at the thought. Ever since seeing the elemental staves the others had acquired , relics that forcibly boosted their elemental power , she'd been tempted.
Though her fighting style focused on physical damage, amplifying her Cryo element could only make her stronger.
As a Cryo Archon's champion, how could she resist?
"Druid Mages aren't that rare," Jean replied thoughtfully. "Otherwise we wouldn't have gathered this many staves already. But if you're hoping for one that uses Cryo magic , and a master-tier staff at that , well, that's luck-based."
She smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. We'll keep exploring. You'll find one eventually. Besides, the first batch of Delusions will be ready soon. Once they're crafted, you could use one and wield dual elements , you wouldn't even need to rely on a Cryo staff."
Eula's eyes narrowed slightly, irritation flickering in her tone.
"I've been meaning to ask , why are all of you treating Delusions so casually now? Since when did that cursed Fatui invention become part of our equipment list?"
Eula frowned slightly.
"Isn't that thing supposed to erode your life force?"
Before anyone else could answer, Rosalyne spoke up in her usual cool tone.
"That was before," she said, waving a hand dismissively.
"Back in the old days, even we Harbingers couldn't use Delusions without harm. The lightest cases caused tissue collapse; the worst burned through body and mind alike. But now it's different. Ryen himself wears seven Delusions, and it hasn't so much as ruffled his hair."
Eula rolled her eyes.
"Please. The man could punch Teyvat into orbit. If that thing affected him, that'd be the real miracle."
Rosalyne allowed herself a faint smile, but shook her head.
"Even so, that's not the whole picture. The side effects have been nearly eliminated. With regeneration potions and enchanted golden apples, anything the Delusion does to you can be reversed instantly."
Her crimson gaze flicked to the group.
"And if that somehow fails, there's always the Totem of Undying. When it activates, it restores your body to full vitality , instantly. And now, Delusions can even be enchanted, reducing the strain on the body while amplifying elemental output and duration."
She folded her arms elegantly.
"In short , the benefits outweigh the costs by far. Delusions have become a standard piece of equipment, not a forbidden power. Albedo's alchemy workshop is refining them for mass production. Once this expedition is done, everyone will receive their own. You'll even get to choose the element you prefer."
She ended with a wry smile.
"In the end, it's simply another form of strength."
Eula's sarcasm faded a little at that. Truth be told, if the Delusion truly had no significant drawbacks, who would turn down the chance at a second elemental power?
From beside her, Kujou Sara raised a brow and asked quietly:
"Does that include us as well?"
Rosalyne nodded without hesitation.
"Naturally. You're part of the alliance now. We look after our own."
Sara inclined her head in thanks, but her eyes grew distant in thought.
Eula, meanwhile, tilted her head.
"Speaking of safety , have you actually tested whether these Totems of Undying really work?"
The question made the air in the group shift abruptly.
Across from her, Tartaglia froze mid-motion, his expression twitching with barely concealed anticipation.
And then came Venti, ever the first to stir the pot, grinning with that too-innocent sparkle in his eyes.
"Ehe~!"
The tone alone made half the group brace for teasing.
"You see," Venti said dramatically, "to trigger a Totem of Undying, one does have to die first. But since Ryen's so methodical, he usually plans things out so far in advance that the totems almost never need to activate."
He twirled his empty bottle and added with a mischievous wink:
"That said, there have been a few cases."
The crowd leaned in instinctively.
"The second to use one," Venti continued, "was Azhdaha. His consciousness had been eroded beyond recovery, mind splintering under centuries of decay. In the end, Ryen personally used a Totem on him , after killing him, of course."
Gasps and uneasy glances rippled through the party.
"When he revived," Venti went on, "Azhdaha was whole again , his power restored, his mind cleansed of all the corruption. Even his fragmented soul was healed."
Ei , the Raiden Shogun , blinked in surprise. Her hand drifted toward her waist, where a carved emerald totem hung from her belt. Ryen had given one to everyone who entered this world, but she had never considered its power might reach that far.
To think that such a small charm could restore a god whose mind had crumbled...
Her gaze softened with quiet determination. If it could heal even that, then perhaps… perhaps Makoto's spirit wasn't beyond her reach either.
Even if it meant dying once.
"So… the real me," she asked softly, "also has one?"
Kamisato Ayaka nodded gently.
"Of course, my Lady. The Shogun's body bears a totem as well , though only one. They're still rare treasures, even now. Ryen said that as friends, he'd give each of us one freely. But after that, every nation must earn their own , by exploring, conquering Pillager Outposts, building Totem Farms, or opening Lucky Blocks."
She smiled lightly.
"At present, only Liyue has managed to establish a functioning Totem farm."
Ei's brows furrowed. Her eyes flicked to Jean, whose waist gleamed with seven Totems of Undying, strung together like charms of protection.
Jean noticed the look and smiled faintly.
"We're fortunate to have Klee," she said. "Her constellation , Four-Leaf Clover , makes her incredibly lucky. Every Lucky Block she opens drops something valuable. She's never missed once."
Understanding dawned in Ei's expression.
"Ah… so that's why Liyue has its farms, and Mondstadt its lucky star."
"No wonder your supply never runs dry."
She rubbed her forehead, then turned to Kujou Sara, her voice steady and commanding.
"Sara. Once the Inazuma New Army completes their training, dispatch an expeditionary force. Have them locate and secure Pillager Outposts , and search for Lucky Blocks. We'll need more Totems. The real Makoto must carry a full set at all times."
Her tone grew softer, but the conviction within it was absolute.
"I won't lose her again."
Kujou Sara bowed her head.
"Understood."
Eula, meanwhile, seemed more amused than alarmed. Mondstadt, after all, was prosperous and well-prepared. She already carried five Totems on her belt , as did Yelan.
That was the benefit of being early to the party.
But curiosity still tugged at her.
"So… if Azhdaha was the second," she mused, "who was the first to actually use one?"
A beat of silence.
Venti's grin widened.
"Ehe~!"
Everyone turned at once to the visibly tense Tartaglia, who tried , and failed , to look unconcerned.
"Tartaglia," Venti sing-songed, "should I tell the story, or will you?"
The Harbinger's face twitched.
"…Can we not?"
Venti's smirk was merciless.
"Nope~!"
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