Saint Hu Tao was born.
The moment Klee cheerfully declared, "Sister Hu Tao is a Saint," Futsu Mitama felt as though the entire world had suddenly become radiant and pleasant. Hu Tao, on the other hand, was instantly covered in goosebumps. She hurriedly clapped a hand over Klee's mouth, whispering urgently for her not to call her that. She was still young—still a maiden. Being called a "good person" was more than enough; a saint was far too much.
Yet in Klee's eyes, Hu Tao truly was saint-like. She not only took her out to play, but had even enthusiastically helped enhance the power of Jumpy Dumpty. And when things went wrong, she immediately stepped forward to take responsibility, calmly stating that she would handle everything herself. After all, she was the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—so long as no one had died, most matters could still be discussed.
Amidst the teasing and laughter, time slipped by unnoticed. Before long, Kuki Shinobu's voice rang out clearly from the kitchen: "Dinner's ready!!!"
The group gathered to eat, and Hu Tao and Klee soon returned to their usual lively, carefree selves. During the meal, Kuki Shinobu took a moment to ask what had happened earlier, and Futsu Mitama naturally explained the entire situation from beginning to end.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, Hu Tao decided to take Klee out again. Albedo and Zhongli stopped them, pointing out that it was already getting late and suggesting they play again tomorrow. Hu Tao, however, flatly refused. The night market, she insisted, was the true charm of Liyue Harbor. They were only going shopping—not causing trouble, and certainly not playing with bombs.
Faced with Hu Tao's earnest insistence, Albedo reluctantly confiscated all of Klee's explosives.
"…."
Meeting Klee's tear-filled gaze, Albedo felt a sharp pang of guilt. But this was Liyue Harbor, and the Rite of Descension was close at hand—the city was at its busiest. If thieves were to steal Klee's Jumpy Dumpty at a time like this, who knew what might happen?
Fishing bombs were one thing; at worst, they might leave people covered in dust or temporarily knocked out. But if someone got their hands-on explosives meant for blasting mountains—
That would be catastrophic. Albedo himself had helped design that destructive power—he knew exactly how dangerous it was.
To prevent Klee from ever being labeled a "terrorist," Albedo, as her older brother, confiscated all her bombs, intending to return them later.
"Alright, alright, let's go!" Hu Tao said brightly, taking Klee by the hand. "Let Sister Hu Tao show you the night market of Liyue Harbor!"
"Yay!! Klee's going out to play!!!"
At once, Klee forgot all about her confiscated bombs and happily followed Hu Tao toward the bustling lights of the harbor.
After the two departed, Futsu Mitama handed his house keys to Albedo, speaking seriously. "While I'm gone, I'll leave the cleaning to you."
Perhaps only Futsu Mitama would entrust Mondstadt's Chief Alchemist with housekeeping.
Albedo flushed slightly, feeling a hint of embarrassment, but having a temporary place to stay was indeed convenient. "I understand," he nodded. "I'll make sure the place is spotless. When you return, it will be completely refreshed."
"If my cleaning isn't good enough," he added after a pause, "I'll resort to alchemy if necessary."
Futsu Mitama nodded in approval. Saying nothing further, he turned and led Kuki Shinobu toward the Guiyan Assembly. After collecting the one hundred million mora, they would head back to Mt. Aocang. The Rite of Descension was only two days away; they planned to spend the night there and return to Liyue Harbor tomorrow with Aila.
From his interactions with Zhongli, Futsu Mitama could sense that the former Geo Archon had already begun preparing for his retirement. Zhongli was quietly waiting for the right moment—to deliver a carefully planned shock to Liyue.
Thus, Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu left the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor together, heading toward the Guiyan Assembly.
After they departed, only Zhongli and Albedo remained.
"Does the Group Leader know?" Albedo asked quietly, his gaze fixed on Zhongli. "About your identity."
"I cannot be certain," Zhongli replied, shaking his head slightly. "Though I suspect he does."
He paused before continuing calmly, "I am in the midst of preparing a plan. I must proceed with extreme caution. If possible, I hope you can keep my identity confidential."
Zhongli himself did not know whether Futsu Mitama truly understood who he was. At times, the young man seemed genuinely unaware; at others, Zhongli felt as though he were being subtly guided—though it was a case of mutual willingness. What Futsu Mitama had offered was enough for Zhongli to act more than once, and so he chose to see through it without comment.
At the very least, Futsu Mitama had not revealed Raiden Makoto's existence to Raiden Ei or the Shogun. Otherwise, Inazuma's current state might have been entirely different.
"I see," Albedo said, nodding. He did not press further. This was, after all, a matter of Liyue, and as a Mondstadtian, he had no intention of interfering.
"But what about that Archon?" Albedo asked after a moment, curiosity surfacing again. "The one Lady Makoto mentioned."
Zhongli glanced at him, then shook his head. "No. I have already signed a contract. I cannot speak of such matters."
He sighed faintly. "What I can say aligns with Baal's words. That is why I must go to Mondstadt—to find that bard who lacks all sense of elegance."
If circumstances allowed, Zhongli would rather not seek out Barbatos. Though they were old friends, there was always an inexplicable feeling whenever it came to the Anemo Archon. Had he not needed help, he would not have made the journey.
"Understood," Albedo replied, accepting the refusal.
"However," Zhongli continued, shifting the topic, "about the Sign-In System. I have confirmed that methods of boosting luck do, in fact, influence it."
"The trinkets I crafted have shown clear effects. It seems the system is closely tied to one's fortune. Have you researched this in alchemy?"
Since research into condensed resin had stalled, Zhongli now turned his attention toward luck itself.
"If we cannot study Time," he mused inwardly, "why not study fortune?"
Albedo considered this, recalling recent events. "It does work. At the very least, experience gains increase noticeably."
"As for luck itself, I have researched it," he said slowly. "But luck must be accumulated. Use too much at once, and misfortune follows. It's best to let things proceed naturally."
As an alchemist, Albedo had long studied such matters—and after joining the Chat Group, he had even attempted to enhance his own fortune. Unfortunately, as the Kreideprinz, benefits that aided ordinary people were largely meaningless to him.
If possible, he would have liked to consult Yae Miko. As the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, she surely understood the workings of luck. Sadly, she was still in Inazuma, and the Sakoku Decree made any visit impractical.
Zhongli nodded in understanding. "That is why the trinkets I distributed slowly accumulate fortune."
"The item given to Futsu Mitama, however, greatly amplifies luck. As the Group Leader, if he signs in, the results should be exceptional."
Zhongli believed in Futsu Mitama's potential—and in that of Aila as well. Though her destiny had been stolen, her innate fortune had not vanished entirely. The workings of fate were subtle; Zhongli could guide them, but never fully control them.
As for whether Futsu Mitama would obtain something extraordinary—Albedo simply smiled and nodded.
In truth, he did not know either.
After all, since joining the Chat Group, Futsu Mitama had only get something once. Every other time, it had been Aila.
And Albedo himself had yet to get anything even once.
However, Futsu Mitama had been signing in for a full five or six years, yet after all that time, he had obtained only a single item. No matter how one looked at it, that was undeniably tragic.
"Regarding luck," Albedo said after a brief pause, "I do have some ideas we can discuss."
Even while complaining inwardly, he still began exchanging thoughts with Zhongli.
The night grew deep. The moon hung high, its pale light washing over the land in quiet stillness.
Meanwhile, after collecting one hundred million mora from the Guiyan Assembly and receiving most of the prepared materials from the shopkeeper's daughter, Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu set out toward Mt. Aocang. They did not linger in Liyue Harbor, planning instead to bring Aila and Shenhe down from the mountain the next day.
As for Shenhe, Futsu Mitama's reasoning was simple: he needed her strength.
As an adeptus disciple, Shenhe's combat power was formidable. If the two of them fought together, even a weaker Archon could be held at bay for a time. Should anything go wrong, they only needed to endure long enough for Cloud Retainer or the Liyue Qixing to arrive.
Although Dottore had repeatedly claimed he would not attack them and was only interested in Aila's "Individual," Futsu Mitama never truly trusted those words. To ensure Aila's safety, he gathered every combatant he could.
Even if Dottore did appear, this would not be his main body—merely a slice. He could not wipe everyone out in an instant.
As they traveled toward Mt. Aocang, Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu moved at an unhurried pace.
"Do you think Mr. Zhongli and Albedo will succeed?" Kuki Shinobu asked quietly, glancing at him. "They're going to Mondstadt—but can the Anemo Archon really be found that easily?"
Unlike Liyue or Inazuma, Mondstadt's Archon had been absent for an extraordinarily long time. If the Anemo Archon had truly fallen, a successor would already have ascended—just as Lesser Lord Kusanali had replaced Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Knowing that all Seven Archons were still alive was the only reassurance.
"The Raiden Shogun can be found in Tenshukaku. Morax appears at the Rite of Descension," Kuki Shinobu continued. "But Barbatos—how does one even meet him?"
"It'll be fine," Futsu Mitama replied calmly. "We'll meet him."
If Zhongli personally went to Mondstadt, then the Anemo Archon—who spent his days drinking and slacking off—would almost certainly sober up and start taking things seriously.
Just as they spoke and drew closer to Mt. Aocang, space suddenly twisted. A teleportation portal snapped open, and a hand shot out toward Futsu Mitama.
"—!"
Years of fighting the Raiden Shogun had honed his instincts to a razor's edge. Futsu Mitama retreated instantly, his hand flicking forward.
"Baleful Omen!"
Electro power tore through space itself, carving a bone-deep wound into the intruding hand. Blood—or something very much like it—spilled out.
A muffled groan followed. The portal vanished, and a humanoid figure appeared, clad in attire that seemed half formal wear, half armor. He clutched his injured hand, clearly shocked.
"As expected of a god's dog."
An Abyss Lector.
An elite of the Abyss Order, capable of traversing the continent through teleportation networks. His voice was thick with rage.
"His Highness's plan allows no interference," he said coldly. "You have blocked our path. For the Abyss. For His Highness. You will die here."
With a sweep of his arm, another portal opened behind him. A Mitachurl and an Electro Hilichurl stepped through, followed by several Geovishaps exuding a sinister aura.
It was an extravagant lineup—clearly assembled to kill Futsu Mitama.
The Lector had not forgiven him for sparing the Abyss Mage last time. This ambush was fueled by pure fury.
[Futsu Mitama: "@Zhongli @Albedo — Kuki Shinobu and I are under attack by the Abyss Order. Midway between Liyue Harbor and Mt. Aocang. What's this place called?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Near Cuijue Slope. But at this distance, Cloud Retainer and Aila would arrive faster."]
[Futsu Mitama: "No need. Zhongli and Albedo will be enough. Don't disturb Aila—she's training."]
[Raiden Makoto: "The Abyss Order? That's dangerous. They're fanatics."]
[Azhdaha: "Then they truly intend to act on Liyue's land."]
[Zhongli: "Understood. I'm on my way."]
[Albedo: "Give us half an hour."]
The Geovishaps charged. Sensing something within Futsu Mitama, their eyes burned red, their aura surging.
"Just as I thought," the Abyss Lector sneered. "Hand over the Juvenile Jade, and I'll leave you a whole corpse."
"Try and take it."
Geo energy surged.
"Immovable."
A Jade Shield enveloped Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu as Geo pillars erupted from the ground, blocking the Geovishaps' path. The beasts crashed into them like living mountains, shattering the stone amid deafening impacts.
In the next instant, Electro light flashed in Futsu Mitama's eyes.
Musou Isshin condensed in his hand.
He vanished—and reappeared before a Geovishap.
One strike.
Its head fell, but the blade dimmed instantly, its edge losing brilliance for a brief moment.
The Abyss Lector lunged in.
"Serve the Abyss!"
Twin blades slashed forward, crashing against the Jade Shield in a burst of light.
"I'll handle these two!" Kuki Shinobu shouted, rushing the Mitachurl and Electro Hilichurl.
Futsu Mitama nodded. He could not afford to divide his focus.
The Jade Shield trembled. It would not hold much longer.
Electro flared again.
With Chakra Desiderata, he appeared behind the Lector. Dozens of lightning arcs erupted, only to be crushed by surging Hydro energy.
The Lector reached out—then recoiled abruptly, retreating at full speed.
"Trying to run?"
Musou Isshin extended, its glow intensifying as divine pressure descended.
The Geovishaps roared but dared not approach.
The authority of the Electro Archon radiated outward—power, intimidation, dominion.
The blade struck.
The Abyss Lector screamed as an elemental barrier flared to life, halting the blow.
"You cannot kill me!" he roared, sanity fraying as power consumed him.
Black aura burst forth, engulfing the Geovishaps, erasing the last traces of restraint.
They charged.
Futsu Mitama clicked his tongue, eyes narrowing. The Lector's state would not last—but until then, this would not be easy.
Futsu Mitama had never intended to clash head-on.
Using his strongest state to forcibly contend against the opponent's peak was irrational. From a purely logical standpoint, so long as he delayed, the Abyss Lector's abnormal state would inevitably collapse on its own. There was no reason to gamble everything on a direct confrontation.
Thus, he chose to stall.
He would wait—wait until the Abyss Lector weakened, until instinct took over and retreat became inevitable. Then, and only then, would he strike to finish it.
As for Albedo and Zhongli, barring unforeseen variables, they should already have arrived.
He simply had not noticed them yet.
And indeed, atop a nearby mountain peak, two figures were quietly observing the battlefield.
By ordinary standards, even Vision holders moving at full speed would require close to half an hour to reach this location from Liyue Harbor. But Zhongli was no ordinary being. Upon receiving Futsu Mitama's message, Lord Rex Lapis had taken Albedo with him and crossed the distance directly through the sky.
The speed was overwhelming—so fast that Albedo felt as though his consciousness lagged behind his body.
Looking down at the battlefield below, Zhongli spoke calmly, almost contemplatively. "His strength has grown considerably. Were it anyone else, facing this degree of encirclement, they would have collapsed long ago. Yet he still has energy to spare. Truly remarkable."
Zhongli knew better than anyone what Futsu Mitama's strength had been before—and what it was now. To achieve such growth in merely a few days was, even by his standards, astonishing.
That period of secluded training had clearly borne fruit. At the very least, Futsu Mitama's foundation had been thoroughly refined.
If this pace continued, then within half a year, he might truly reach the level of an adeptal vassal—comparable to Cloud Retainer and the others.
And with that strength, combined with the Authority of the Electro Archon—had he lived during the Archon War, he might even have been able to contend with the weaker gods.
"It doesn't look particularly intense," Albedo said at last, his breath finally steadying. "Your speed is excessive."
"In less than three minutes, we crossed from Liyue Harbor to here." He paused, then frowned slightly. "By the way—are Hu Tao and Klee all right?"
Before they departed, the two had not yet returned. Given their personalities, Albedo could not help but worry that something might go wrong.
Zhongli fell silent.
As the omniscient guardian of Liyue, he found himself—uncharacteristically—unable to give a proper answer.
After a brief pause, he redirected the topic, his gaze returning to the battlefield below. "Compared to that—how long do you think this will last?"
Below them, the clash continued.
Futsu Mitama held the Abyss Lector and the frenzied Geovishaps firmly at bay. Not far away, Kuki Shinobu had already thrown out more than a dozen talismans, forcibly activating the Electro Delusion she had seized from a Kanjou Commission samurai.
A thunderbolt descended from the sky, its brilliance tearing through the night as it obliterated a Mitachurl outright.
Yet she was hardly unscathed. The Electro Hilichurl retaliated, swatting her away with brute force. Fortunately, the Jade Shield bestowed by Futsu Mitama absorbed most of the impact, preventing serious injury.
Still, the situation eased slightly. One enemy down—only the Electro Hilichurl remained, troublesome but manageable, something she could stall.
"Less than half an hour," Albedo said calmly, watching the Abyss Lector's protective energy steadily dissipate. "Though I'm not a combat specialist, I can tell—he's being sustained by an abnormal force."
"If it were me, I would have targeted Kuki Shinobu by now. Instead, he fixates on Futsu Mitama." Albedo shook his head lightly. "That decision alone means he's already lost."
After a moment, he added with mild exasperation, "At least we arrived in time. Otherwise, I'd once again earn the title of 'Albedo is on his way.'"
Zhongli gave a faint nod. "Indeed. This battle is already decided."
At that moment, Futsu Mitama vanished.
He reappeared atop a maddened Geovishap's head.
"ROAR—!"
The Geovishap twisted violently, flames erupting from its body as it sensed imminent danger. Its claws ignited, slashing upward, intent on tearing Futsu Mitama apart.
But the outcome had already been sealed.
Before the attack could land, Musou Isshin flashed.
The Geovishap's head fell.
Only three remained.
Futsu Mitama steadied his breath, Musou Isshin humming softly as it recharged. His gaze turned to the Abyss Lector, whose breathing had grown ragged.
"It seems you're close to your limit."
The turtle-shell-like barrier surrounding the Lector had nearly vanished. One decisive strike would suffice—but the Geovishaps still remained. If he allowed them to interfere while he engaged the Lector directly, the situation could become troublesome.
"Limit?" The Abyss Lector sneered, forcibly dispersing the remnants of his barrier as he stepped back. "You overestimate yourself. There is no limit in the Abyss. You are nothing more than a worm."
Even as he spoke, he began to recover, dark energy surging faintly. Yet throughout it all, he did not spare Kuki Shinobu so much as a glance—as though her existence were beneath notice.
Threats, hostages—none of it entered his calculations.
Futsu Mitama was the only target that mattered.
"Is that so?" Futsu Mitama replied, already shifting his focus.
The Abyss Lector said nothing further. At Futsu Mitama's speed, it would take at least a minute or two to finish off the remaining Geovishaps.
By then, his own condition would have largely recovered, while his opponent would be further drained. Endurance was the Abyss's specialty. On that front, he feared nothing in Teyvat.
The three remaining Geovishaps roared in unison, charging forward as Water, Pyro, and Electro energies erupted from their bodies—each tainted with an ominous black hue.
Futsu Mitama glanced at Musou Isshin in his hand.
The Abyss Lector's reasoning was sound—but it was not exclusive to him.
Futsu Mitama extended his hand.
Geo authority surged.
Earth spears burst from the ground in rapid succession, impaling the Geovishaps and pinning them in place. The beasts howled, struggling violently, yet their thick hides prevented immediate death.
"Die. Annihilate."
Lightning tore through space.
A rift—larger than before—split the air as Futsu Mitama vanished and reappeared in rapid succession. Within ten seconds, spatially severing lightning cleaved through all three immobilized Geovishaps, reducing them to lifeless husks.
Shenhe's casual advice echoed in his mind.
Why not use that space-tearing strike to kill enemies?
He would remember to thank her properly—perhaps over a meal after the Rite of Descension.
"How is this possible?!" The Abyss Lector's pupils shrank.
He had not anticipated such speed. Realizing his mistake, instinct took over. A portal opened behind him.
"Hmph. Trying to escape?"
Purple light flared in Futsu Mitama's eyes.
In the next instant, he appeared before the Abyss Lector, a kick sending the latter crashing backward. Musou Isshin, fully charged, resonated violently as Electro authority descended in full.
"Now," Futsu Mitama said coldly, "is the time of annihilation."
The blade fell.
Purple lightning flooded the world.
The Electro Hilichurl cried out and staggered back, blinded by the radiance.
And then—
Clang.
An ancient longsword intercepted the strike.
The lightning scattered.
A blond-haired man stood between them, expression calm, gaze steady, as though the overwhelming force before him were nothing more than a passing breeze.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens