Chapter 129. Save Futsu Mitama!
Outside Mondstadt City, the Knights of Favonius and their elite forces—who had been bustling about moments earlier, preparing to head toward the tornado's location—now stood slightly stunned, gazing at the dissipating tornado and dark clouds in the distance.
"I'll go first."
Watching the storm rapidly disperse, Acting Grand Master Jean felt an immediate sense of unease. Without hesitation, she rushed toward the area.
"I'll come too!"
Eula felt the same ominous premonition as she stared at the fading clouds and followed after her. Because the tornado and the dark clouds represented two very different existences.
The tornado was the wind calamity stirred up by that unknown dragon—only such a being could cause a disaster of this scale within Mondstadt's borders.
As for the dark clouds, those who understood Futsu Mitama's identity knew exactly what they signified.
When the Knights of Favonius had witnessed Futsu Mitama confronting the Lady in Mondstadt City, the Archon Authorities both sides wielded had produced distinct phenomena.
The Lady wielded the Cryo Archon Authority—without even fully releasing it, everything around her had frozen.
Futsu Mitama wielded the Electro Archon Authority—whenever he used it, dark clouds rapidly gathered overhead, lightning faintly flashing within them.
That was why Acting Grand Master Jean and Eula rushed out first. They didn't want Futsu Mitama to come to harm while helping Mondstadt. Though both of them were deeply grateful for his assistance, they were equally worried about his safety.
After all—that was a dragon.
Historically, very few Dragon Crises in Mondstadt had ever been resolved easily.
"Oh dear, oh dear."
Watching Jean and Eula hurry off, Lisa shook her head and sighed languidly. "Why are you all in such a rush? I'm really not good at physical labor."
As she spoke, Lisa took a few exaggerated breaths and patted her ample chest, clearly indicating she was already exhausted.
"Same here," Kaeya said with a chuckle.
His gaze, however, drifted toward a red-haired young man not far away—one who swiftly passed by, his destination clearly Starsnatch Cliff.
—
At the same time, at Starsnatch Cliff—
With the help of the purification water, the poisonous thorns embedded in Dvalin's body were quickly neutralized.
The purification water seemed to possess the power to restore life itself.
Dvalin, who had previously been beaten half to death by Futsu Mitama, recovered from his injuries in a short span of time.
"Barbatos—"
Dvalin looked at Venti. He could feel it clearly—his condition was better than ever. The poison and curse that had tormented him for centuries were completely gone. Even the injuries inflicted earlier by the Raiden Shogun's Retainer had fully healed.
Venti's actions told him everything.
They had come to save him.
Not to kill him.
This realization filled Dvalin with complex emotions. Because only moments earlier, he had still harbored distrust toward Barbatos and the others—and under the Abyss Order's instigation, he had even intended to attack them.
"Dvalin, now isn't the time for reminiscing."
Venti glanced at the group live stream screen, which remained pitch black. He sighed softly and looked back at Dvalin.
"You and I are both on the verge of committing a grave mistake. If we don't rescue that Electro Archon's Retainer next, you'll probably die. Even if I don't, I'll be strung up and beaten—so next, we'll likely have to take the offensive."
At this moment, Venti had no time for sentimentality. If the two of them mishandled this situation, things would spiral out of control.
No matter how one looked at it, the incident had begun with Dvalin.
And as the Anemo Archon, Venti had failed to protect Futsu Mitama.
This was both Dvalin's fault—and Venti's dereliction of duty. Although, strictly speaking, it shouldn't all be attributed to Venti—
It could certainly be attributed to Dvalin.
"???"
Dvalin looked utterly confused, clearly not understanding why Barbatos was speaking this way.
Then, as he looked around, a realization struck him.
"Oh, right."
Where was that Raiden Shogun's Retainer—the one who had fought him to a standstill and suppressed him twice?
"He was taken by the Abyss Order," Venti replied calmly. "We need to bring him back—quickly. Dvalin, how's your condition?"
Venti's tone was steady, but surprise flashed through Dvalin's eyes. Because this was the first time he had ever seen such a serious Barbatos. The last time Barbatos had been like this—
It was…too long ago. He couldn't remember.
"My condition is excellent," Dvalin said without lingering on the question. He spread his wings and spoke solemnly. "And he just saved me. It's only right that I save him in return."
Seeing Barbatos's demeanor, it was clear that he, too, intended to act seriously.
To Dvalin, this was a small matter. Breaking into the Abyss and rescuing someone—wasn't that all it was?
With him and Barbatos working together, snatching someone back should be easy.
"Good."
Seeing Dvalin's cooperation, Venti smiled gently. He sat atop Dvalin's back and looked toward Kuki Shinobu and Albedo in the distance.
"Dvalin and I will move ahead. If anything happens, contact me."
As he spoke, Venti lightly strummed his lyre. With the familiar melody, Dvalin felt as though everything from the past had returned.
"Roar!!!!"
Dvalin let out a resounding roar, beat his wings, and soared into the sky.
—
After Dvalin and Venti departed, only Kuki Shinobu and Albedo remained at Starsnatch Cliff.
"Is Mitama…going to be alright?"
Worry flickered in Kuki Shinobu's eyes. The Abyss Order was notoriously difficult to deal with. Last time, they had already sent people to ambush and assassinate Futsu Mitama—and that mysterious Prince had even appeared.
Kuki Shinobu couldn't help but fear that the first enemy Futsu Mitama would face after being teleported would be that Prince, whose strength rivaled that of an Archon. After receiving guidance from the Raiden Shogun and witnessing Venti's decisive intervention, Kuki Shinobu now truly understood just how terrifying Archon-level power was.
"I don't know," Albedo replied softly. "But the Abyss—no, the Abyss Order—will probably fall into great chaos."
If anything happened to Futsu Mitama, Barbatos couldn't remain idle. And if Barbatos moved, then Morax and Beelzebub certainly wouldn't stand aside.
The intervention of three Archons was something Albedo could already foresee.
Silently, he mourned for the Abyss Order. Three Archons acting together—and all of them were victors of the Archon War. The Abyss Order would likely be utterly baffled as to why capturing an Electro Archon's Retainer had drawn the attention of three Archons.
At the moment, however, Albedo's only concern was this—
Futsu Mitama was still being teleported.
The group live stream remained completely black.
What kind of battle awaited him once the screen lit up again?
Just as this thought crossed Albedo's mind—
Acting Grand Master Jean and Eula arrived at Starsnatch Cliff, accompanied by Diluc, the owner of Angel's Share.
—
"What… happened here?"
Jean stared at the scene before her, momentarily stunned, her gaze sweeping across Starsnatch Cliff as she tried to grasp what had transpired in this place.
"Albedo, where is Futsu Mitama?" Eula likewise surveyed the surrounding devastation. A trace of astonishment flickered through her eyes—she was completely at a loss as to what could have caused such destruction.
At this moment, Starsnatch Cliff lay in utter disarray. In the distance, a massive dragon-shaped crater scarred the ground, as though a colossal dragon had been struck down from the skies, crashing violently into the earth and carving out a deep pit.
Dense Electro and Geo elements lingered heavily in the air, interwoven with clearly perceptible traces of Anemo.
Diluc, his greatsword resting across his back, examined the remnants left behind with a calm, steady gaze. "It seems we arrived too late," he said evenly. "The battle has already ended."
"It's just…" Jean frowned slightly. "Where is Futsu Mitama?"
Facing the three who had just arrived, Kuki Shinobu and Albedo proceeded to explain everything that had occurred.
They did not conceal Venti's true identity. The Anemo Archon himself had shown no intention of hiding it, and had even mentioned it openly. Allowing certain people to know who he truly was was, in some ways, beneficial—it made many matters far more convenient to handle.
When they learned that the Dragon Crisis had been caused by Stormterror Dvalin, and that Futsu Mitama had been seized by the Abyss Order, all three of them were visibly shaken.
The sheer volume of information was overwhelming: the reappearance of the Anemo Archon Barbatos, the truth behind the Dragon Crisis, the Abyss Order's machinations, and the fact that Futsu Mitama had suppressed Dvalin not once, but twice.
And in the end, in order to save Dvalin, Futsu Mitama had been ambushed by the Abyss Order and forcibly teleported to an unknown location.
Just as Kuki Shinobu was about to continue—
A streak of violet lightning tore through the air, descending upon Starsnatch Cliff in an instant. Everyone's attention snapped toward the purple Electro flash.
"Where is Futsu Mitama?"
The lightning dispersed, revealing Raiden Ei's figure suspended in the air. Her gaze fell upon Kuki Shinobu as she spoke calmly, "What happened to him? I can no longer sense his presence. Did something unexpected occur while dealing with Dvalin?"
Her tone was composed, but the aura radiating from her was terrifying. It was clear that the Raiden Shogun—who had secluded herself for five hundred years—was now truly angered.
Indeed. The moment Raiden Ei arrived in Inazuma, she had sensed it immediately: Futsu Mitama's aura had vanished.
Because Futsu Mitama bore the Electro Archon Authority within him, as long as he remained on the continent of Teyvat, Raiden Ei could perceive his existence. If he encountered danger, she could rush to him without hesitation—whether to resolve the crisis or to extract him from peril. That was her duty.
After all, Futsu Mitama was the Raiden Shogun's retainer, the future Eternal Guardian personally acknowledged by her. His potential and strength had already proven his worth.
But now…where was her retainer? Where was the future Eternal Guardian?
He had vanished—completely. It was as though he had been erased from the continent of Teyvat itself. Even with the Electro Archon Authority's unique perception, she could no longer sense him.
Thus, Raiden Ei did not hesitate. She crossed unimaginable distances in an instant, returning from Inazuma to Mondstadt.
Sensing that Futsu Mitama had disappeared at this location, she turned her attention to Kuki Shinobu, demanding an explanation.
"This is… the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma."
Diluc looked at the god suspended in the sky, a rare flicker of shock passing through his eyes. Jean and Eula immediately bowed. Both had undergone rigorous etiquette training, and before an Archon—even one from another nation—they offered the highest reverence without hesitation.
Especially when that god's retainer had been captured while resolving Mondstadt's crisis.
"The situation is as follows—"
Kuki Shinobu gave a succinct account, briefly outlining everything that had just happened.
"..."
Raiden Ei fell silent. The oppressive aura around her intensified, growing heavier with each passing second. Her gaze shifted, locking onto a distant direction.
She could sense Barbatos's presence—and Morax's as well. The Geo Archon had evidently been waiting there for some time.
It seemed they were already aware of Futsu Mitama's predicament.
Swish—!!!
In the next instant, Raiden Ei vanished, transforming into a bolt of violet lightning that shot off toward Barbatos and Morax.
Only after she departed did Jean and the others quietly exhale. The pressure carried by divine authority was fundamentally different from that released by ordinary beings. Everyone present had felt it.
The Raiden Shogun, one of The Seven, was furious—and intended to resolve this matter personally.
To be honest, Jean and Eula felt a sense of relief. With both the Anemo Archon and the Raiden Shogun acting together, even the Abyss Order would likely face severe consequences.
In that case, Futsu Mitama would be saved.
"It seems this matter can be temporarily concluded," Diluc said calmly, crossing his arms as he watched the lightning fade into the distance. "The Abyss Order probably has no idea who they've provoked."
"As for the Knights of Favonius," he continued, glancing at Jean and Eula, "you can now focus on dealing with the Fatui."
Though he was not a Knight himself, that did not stop him from offering the reminder. The Dragon Crisis had ended, but the Fatui remained a latent threat. They would not simply wait to be dealt with.
Although it felt somewhat unfair to Futsu Mitama, with both the Anemo Archon and the Raiden Shogun moving to rescue him, the Knights should seize this opportunity.
Diluc couldn't help but feel a trace of schadenfreude. The Abyss Order likely never imagined that capturing Futsu Mitama would draw the attention of not one, but two Archons.
He understood the Abyss Order's strength—and that among them were beings capable of rivaling The Seven. But if one Archon was insufficient—what about two?
At that thought, a faint smile curved at the corner of Diluc's lips.
"Mm."
Jean nodded slightly in agreement. Though it felt unjust, the reality of the situation was undeniable.
"May Anemo Archon Barbatos bless him," Eula murmured softly, offering a quiet prayer for Futsu Mitama.
With that, Diluc, Jean, and Eula departed for the time being. Albedo and Kuki Shinobu, however, chose to remain behind, waiting for further developments. This had already been discussed between them. With access to the Chat Group, they could contact Venti at any time.
Alternatively, the moment Futsu Mitama's live stream ceased being a black screen, they could immediately obtain valuable information.
Albedo, in particular, had conducted research on the Abyss. As an alchemist, his pursuit of knowledge naturally led him there. The Abyss Order wielded Abyssal Power, but they were not synonymous with the Abyss itself. Because of this distinction, Albedo possessed a method to reverse-track them.
Of course, such a method required preparation.
Thus, Albedo and Kuki Shinobu remained at Starsnatch Cliff. Kuki Shinobu assisted, while Albedo began his preparations—ready to act the moment contact was established or visual confirmation was obtained.
The winds of freedom swept across Mondstadt.
In a secluded location, three Archons gathered.
The Anemo Archon Barbatos, astride Dvalin.
The Geo Archon Morax, concealed behind a stone mask.
And Raiden Beelzebub, newly arrived, her presence steeped in palpable danger.
"..."
Dvalin remained silent.
At this moment, he could clearly feel the gazes of both the Geo Archon and the Raiden Shogun upon him. He instinctively drew his head back, suddenly grateful for Barbatos's presence.
That being—whether the Geo Archon's successor or the Raiden Shogun's retainer—had now been captured by the Abyss Order.
The pressure bearing down on him was immense. No wonder Barbatos had joked earlier that failure to rescue Futsu Mitama might end with Dvalin being caught and stewed. It now seemed…entirely plausible.
Moreover, if Dvalin remembered correctly, Futsu Mitama had even wielded Anemo Archon Authority earlier.
Which meant Barbatos, too, held him in high regard. Thinking back, that human truly was formidable. Judging by his life aura, he was still a teenager—yet he had suppressed Dvalin twice.
Had it been a battle to the death, Dvalin would have suffered severe injuries both times. With such strength and talent, Barbatos clearly had his own intentions as well.
Alas. It seemed he had truly made a grave mistake.
While Dvalin's thoughts churned, the three Archons harbored their own considerations. At the very least, Venti eyed Zhongli—now clad in different attire, face hidden behind a stone mask, Geo spear in hand—and spoke in a rather peculiar tone. "Your speed is truly impressive."
Zhongli's current appearance made it clear: when he was serious, he was even more resolute than Venti himself.
It was also proof of how highly he regarded Futsu Mitama. Otherwise, the Geo Archon of Liyue would never mobilize in such a manner. For the sake of one individual, he had made such a grand display.
If the Adeptus or the Qixing were to learn of this, rumors of Futsu Mitama being the next Geo Archon would likely spread uncontrollably.
And, coincidentally, there was indeed a Qixing member in the group chat—Keqing, the Yuheng Star.
"Mm."
Zhongli gave a slight nod. Holding his Geo spear, he spoke calmly. "The momentum has already been set. Futsu Mitama is vital to Liyue's present. And Guizhong's relic remains with him. I must retrieve it. Therefore, I must act. This does not violate any contract."
As he spoke, Zhongli turned his gaze toward Raiden Ei. In truth, he was explaining himself—to make it clear that he harbored no ulterior designs on Futsu Mitama. So long as Raiden Ei did not force him into a contract, he had no intention of revealing everything. Though excessive, he believed it necessary.
For Liyue's next millennium, it was worth it.
Moreover, he was also working toward Baal's revival. Zhongli believed that when Beelzebub eventually joined the Chat Group, she would understand his actions.
And the live stream was still ongoing.
Zhongli was well aware of the Abyss's dangers. If not for Futsu Mitama, he would not have altered his appearance to personally intervene. On Teyvat, most matters could be resolved without him ever showing his face. But now—
It was time to step forward.
Raiden Ei said nothing. At this moment, she did not even fault Venti for failing to keep watch over Futsu Mitama. Nor did she speculate on Morax's motives.
To her, there was only one priority: rescuing Futsu Mitama. Everything else could wait.
Her gaze fixed on the seemingly ordinary space ahead. Her voice was cold as she spoke.
"Is this the closest point to the Abyss?"
Entering the Abyss was no simple matter. One first had to locate a passage or entrance. Moreover, to descend into the Abyss, one had to possess Abyssal Power—otherwise, they would be repelled outright.
And within the Abyss lurked not only the Abyss Order, but terrifying monsters—and deeper still, taboo existences capable of rivaling The Seven themselves.
This was precisely why the Archons had never attempted to eradicate the Abyss Order outright. The cost far outweighed the reward.
But now, the situation was different.
With her successor captured, Raiden Ei—despite her confidence—was not so arrogant as to believe she could enter the Abyss alone and emerge unscathed with Futsu Mitama. With Barbatos and Morax willing to act alongside her, it was an extraordinary stroke of fortune.
"Yes."
Venti nodded lightly. He plucked the strings of his lyre, and with the gentle music came a rising breeze. Before them, space tore open, forming a bottomless, pitch-black fissure.
"This is the closest access point to the Abyss," Venti said. "I do know of a taboo land that leads there directly, but—"
Seated atop Dvalin, he shrugged, signaling there was no need to provoke unnecessary complications.
For now, they would bypass the taboo land. By entering the Abyss directly—just as the Abyss Order did—they could search for Futsu Mitama from within. After all, Futsu Mitama carried both the Electro and Anemo Archon Authorities. Once inside the Abyss, Venti and Raiden Ei would be able to immediately locate him.
Raiden Ei nodded in acknowledgment.
Her gaze settled on the pitch-black rift ahead.
Then, she gently raised her hand.
Purple lightning flashed, violently expanding the dark rift until it fully transformed into a teleportation gate. This gate was sufficient to send its occupants deep into the Abyss.
"Then, let's go." Raiden Ei did not draw Musou Isshin. Instead, she summoned Engulfing Lightning into her grasp.
Musou Isshin was the blade used to govern the nation—and the blade she wielded when instructing Futsu Mitama.
But the moment Raiden Ei took out Engulfing Lightning, it meant only one thing.
She was treating this battle with absolute seriousness. No—more accurately, Raiden Ei had returned to the state she once possessed during the Archon War.
In a flash, she transformed into pure lightning and plunged directly into the teleportation gate.
"Mm." Zhongli gave a slight nod and followed, walking calmly into the gate without hesitation.
Venti glanced at the comparatively small teleportation gate, then down at Dvalin beneath him. "Dvalin! Let's go!"
Dvalin did not object. His massive form dissolved into pure Anemo, carrying Venti as they compressed themselves and entered the rather petite teleportation gate.
In an instant, Mondstadt fell silent.
—
On the other side, within the group live stream.
Futsu Mitama's screen had remained black for nearly ten minutes. No one knew what was happening on his end, and the uncertainty made everyone increasingly anxious.
[Futsu Mitama: "I know you're all anxious, but I'm just as anxious!!!"]
[Futsu Mitama: "I'm still being teleported. This teleportation was clearly designed to maximize delay!!!"][]
[Aila: "Young Master… it's good that you're alright."]
[Raiden Makoto: "It's good that you're alright. Barbatos has already begun acting. Just wait a little."]
[Yae Miko: "Ten minutes ago, I saw a bolt of lightning return to Inazuma from the ship—then immediately turn back toward Mondstadt. I didn't even have time to shout."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "How much stamina have you recovered? Do you still have the ability to protect yourself?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Stamina is recovering very slowly. This teleportation is strange—as if time itself has stopped. My consciousness remains clear. But if this were an ordinary ten minutes, I would've recovered most of my stamina by now."]
[Azhdaha: "Don't worry. You are the Raiden Shogun's Retainer and Morax's successor. Those two will not stand idle."]
[Guizhong: "Azhdaha is right. Morax will not ignore this. He is very likely already on his way."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Lady Shogun has gone, but when will the Geo Archon move?"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Even if Rex Lapis hasn't acted yet, with Lady Shogun present, there will be no problem."]
[Albedo: "The Raiden Shogun already arrived here once. She headed in another direction afterward."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Albedo and I are preparing a backup plan. If Venti and Lady Shogun fail, we'll attempt to forcibly teleport Futsu Mitama back."]
[Venti: "There's no need. Morax, Beelzebub, and I will act together. Futsu Mitama, before we arrive, prioritize self-preservation and conserve your strength. We are already on our way."]
[Keqing: "The Archon is acting?! When?"]
[Azhdaha: "Hahahahaha!!! As expected of Morax!!!"]
[Guizhong: "Three Archons acting together… in that case, Futsu Mitama's safety is guaranteed."]
[Aila: "Phew… that's really good."]
[Yae Miko: "Three Archons moving for you at once, little one. You're quite important."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Stop chatting. I'm focusing on recovering stamina. Even a little resistance is better than none."]
[Venti: "I'm sorry. This teleportation was likely created specifically for me—to prevent interference with the Abyss Order's plan."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Apologies can wait. Save him first."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "This teleportation was clearly designed to restrain the Seven. In that sense, it's fortunate—otherwise Futsu Mitama would already be suffering."]
[Azhdaha: "By the way—where's Zhongli? I don't think I've seen him speak."]
[Zhongli: "Here. In Mondstadt. Powerless to intervene."]
Seeing the final message, Futsu Mitama did not know how to respond.
Nothing had happened on his side yet.
There had been no combat, no interrogation—nothing at all.
Yet, as Venti had said, this teleportation was almost certainly designed specifically for him. For the Abyss Order, capturing Dvalin had been inevitable. In the original course of events, Dvalin himself had stated that Venti could only save him by re-donning his crown.
But the Abyss Order had already declared that even if Venti reclaimed his authority, they possessed corresponding countermeasures.
What those countermeasures were, Futsu Mitama did not know.
Because in the original story, thanks to Lumine's existence, the Abyss Order's plan was never fully executed—it had abruptly halted midway. After realizing Lumine was the Prince's blood relative, the Abyss Order had made concessions.
This had not happened only once. Time and time again, the Abyss Order yielded because of Lumine.
Even Enjou of Enkanomiya—within the highly secretive Abyss Order—had unconditionally provided Lumine with vast amounts of information, openly guiding her actions.
From this, it was clear that the Abyss Order harbored little hostility toward Lumine. If anything, they seemed to indulge her.
But Lumine was Lumine.
And Futsu Mitama was Futsu Mitama.
One was the Prince's blood relative, someone who would likely join the Abyss Order after completing her journey.
The other was a Raiden Shogun's Retainer—a man who stood firmly with the Archons.
For the remnants of Khaenri'ah, hatred toward those aligned with the Archons ran deep. A peaceful meeting would be nothing short of a miracle. Especially considering that Futsu Mitama had already disrupted their plans once—nearly killing an Abyss Lector and forcing the Prince, Aether, to intervene personally.
Now that Futsu Mitama had been captured in place of Venti, his situation was unquestionably grim.
'No—once I arrive, I need to assess the situation and immediately use Musou no Hitotachi.'
Futsu Mitama's thoughts were sharp and decisive. The moment the teleportation ended, he would observe his surroundings. If Abyss Order members were present in force, he would strike first—channeling both the Anemo Archon Authority and the Raiden Shogun Authority to unleash Musou no Hitotachi and erase the area outright.
If that failed…then he would resort to one of Aila's remaining sign-in items. Among the items Aila had obtained, the most practical were:
The Broken Pocket Watch, capable of accelerating personal time.
And a special sword-forging recipe.
The brewing recipe had been signed in by Futsu Mitama himself.
Aside from those, there were several one-time consumables that had already been used.
Only one item remained. A particularly useless one.
Sweet Coconut Milk.
Drinking it restored a small amount of stamina and mental energy.
It was laughably ineffective in daily uses.
Both Futsu Mitama and Aila had tested it before. The taste resembled coconut milk from his previous life. When they first obtained it, they had exhausted themselves sparring in the wilderness—testing not only each other's strength, but also the item itself.
The result was clear: a small cup restored only a small amount of stamina and mental energy.
At the time, Aila had speculated whether consuming it all at once might yield better results. But they never tested that theory. After that sparring session, they had embarked on their grand brewing plan, followed by a cascade of events.
In intense combat scenarios, neither of them ever thought to use it again.
If not for the fact that he had just fought Dvalin and expended seventy to eighty percent of his stamina, Futsu Mitama wouldn't have remembered this item at all.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
A faint ray of light appeared ahead. Compared to the pitch-black teleportation tunnel, it was dazzling.
He was nearing his destination.
Futsu Mitama's focus sharpened instantly. He prepared himself to give the Abyss Order a memorable welcome.
—
Meanwhile, deep within the Abyss.
In a dark, crumbling ancient kingdom.
Upon a throne, Aether stood with his back to several Abyss Lectors. His voice was calm.
"Did it succeed?"
As the Prince, he was fully aware of the plan underway. Though it pained him, he knew it was inevitable.
Turning Dvalin into a weapon of war had never been his personal desire—but the Abyss Order needed overwhelming combat power.
The Primo Geovishap plan had failed.
Thus, Dvalin had become the focus.
"Your Highness, there was a slight problem."
An Abyss Lector wreathed in lightning stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Dvalin—cannot be transformed into a weapon of war."
"…"
Aether fell silent. This had been one of their most critical operations.
"Was it the Anemo Archon?" he asked calmly. "Did he re-don his crown?"
"No." The lightning-shrouded Lector shook his head. "We anticipated all possibilities regarding that Archon. The unexpected variable was a Raiden Shogun's Retainer from Inazuma—the same individual who interfered in Liyue and obtained the Primo Geovishap."
Aether frowned and slowly turned around.
"Which retainer?" he asked. "What did he do to obstruct the plan?"
Frankly, Aether was skeptical.
He had personally taken an attack from that retainer before. The opponent had not been particularly strong. By aura alone, he hadn't even reached Adeptus level.
And that encounter had been barely ten days ago.
In ten days, could someone like that truly obstruct a plan involving Dvalin—a being with the power of a weak Archon, even while poisoned and cursed?
Furthermore, intelligence suggested that Futsu Mitama had needed to team up with Shenhe just to defeat a fragmented Doctor.
"Um…"
The Abyss Lector hesitated.
How could he explain this?
That Futsu Mitama had suppressed Dvalin twice. That he could purify Abyssal curses. That even after forcibly teleporting him away, the Anemo Archon still possessed means to cleanse Dvalin.
There were simply too many variables.
Another Abyss Lector, this one surrounded by Hydro energy, stepped forward. "Allow me to explain."
He calmly recounted everything that had occurred in Mondstadt.
After listening, Aether also fell silent. This was indeed a major variable. In just over ten days, Futsu Mitama had reached Adeptus level—capable of repeatedly using Musou no Hitotachi and even Starfall.
And the purification method—
Aether felt a headache coming on. Still, he was not angry. The plan had never been guaranteed to succeed.
Instead, he asked quietly, "Then…what did you do with the Raiden Shogun's Retainer?"
"We captured him," the Abyss Lector replied coldly. "He will remain in the Abyss forever. He will atone for his sins with death."
Aether fell into thought. Capturing Futsu Mitama meant provoking someone deeply connected to three Archons.
But…Futsu Mitama had caused them too much trouble.
Liyue.
Mondstadt.
Again and again.
At last, Aether made his decision. If the Anemo Archon or the Raiden Shogun dared to enter the Abyss—
Then he would stop them.
"Tear—!!!"
A brilliant bolt of lightning suddenly split the dim sky as space itself ruptured. From within the rift, a hand forged entirely of lightning slowly reached out.
"Sizzle—!!!"
A hand woven from violet lightning condensed into a tachi in its grasp, and in the next instant, it cleaved downward—its blade aimed directly at the ancient city below.
"Raiden Shogun?!"
"Beelzebub!!?"
"How dare you trespass into the Abyss!!!"
"Why have The Seven Archons descended upon this place?!"
For a brief moment, a cacophony of shocked and furious voices echoed throughout the ancient city. But soon—
A colossal humanoid machine, its entire body wrapped in an ominous and oppressive aura, rose from within the city. It stepped forward and used its massive frame to forcibly intercept the descending divine strike.
It stopped the blow from obliterating the ancient city.
"Bang—!!"
A divine strike born of wrath was never something that could be so easily restrained.
The colossal humanoid machine was smashed violently into the ground, its body shattered beyond repair. Yet even in destruction, it could take pride in one thing—it had blocked a divine strike from an Archon without being erased outright.
Immediately afterward, figures surged upward from within the ancient city.
The Abyss Order—led by Aether—rose collectively into the sky, charging straight toward the descending Archons.
"Raiden Shogun."
Aether lifted his gaze, fixing it upon Beelzebub as she slowly emerged from a spatial rift in the dim, fractured sky. A simple yet dignified longsword manifested in her hand, its presence alone suffused with killing intent.
If it were only the Raiden Shogun, then she would have to pay a price to leave the Abyss.
"Roar—!!!!"
At that moment, another spatial rift tore open.
Dvalin and Venti descended together.
Dvalin released a thunderous roar, his fury shaking the air itself as he glared at the Abyss Order before him. His rage was unmistakable.
If not for these wretches who had misled him, how could he have committed such a disgraceful act?!
Today—he would settle every old debt!
"Anemo Archon Barbatos?!"
"Stormterror Dvalin?!"
"Damn it! Two Archons have arrived!!!"
The Abyss Order was thrown into visible disarray. The arrival of even a single Archon from The Seven was already a nightmare—now there were two?!
"…"
Aether's gaze flicked toward Venti. Seeing that the Anemo Archon was not wearing his crown, Aether quietly released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Venti without his crown was not a critical threat at this stage. The truly dangerous one was the murderous Raiden Shogun.
But just as that thought settled—
Another presence emerged.
Zhongli stepped out from the spatial rift, wearing a stone mask. In his hand was a Geo spear, steady and unyielding.
Aether and Zhongli exchanged a glance. In that brief moment, complex emotions surged within both of them.
At the same time, the other powerhouses of the Abyss Order sucked in sharp breaths of cold air. This one…was on an entirely different level.
"Can we talk?"
Aether spoke, his voice was quite low, his eyes fixed on Zhongli's bearing. He understood that the Geo Archon—the one who had once protected Liyue—was no longer merely observing.
Aether was confident he could contend with Beelzebub and the uncrowned Barbatos, especially on his own territory. Even if two Archons descended into the Abyss, he did not believe they could truly defeat him in Abyss.
Moreover, the Abyss Order was not without those capable of standing against Archons. As long as one of them could be held at bay, the scales of victory would tilt.
But Zhongli's presence disrupted everything. This guy was truly special, he knew almost everything, formidable in combat and sealing.
Recognizing this, Aether—despite his unwillingness—acknowledged that this matter had exceeded his control. Even if the Abyss Order managed to repel these three Archons, the price would be unimaginably catastrophic.
That was a future Aether refused to accept.
"Where is Futsu Mitama?"
Raiden Ei's eyes gleamed with perilous violet lightning. She tightened her grip on Engulfing Lightning and issued her threat coldly.
"If you do not tell me where he is, the Abyss Order will be erased from history today."
"Arrogant!"
"Raiden Shogun! How dare you!!!"
The surrounding powerhouses of the Abyss Order erupted instantly. These were people whose homelands had already been destroyed by The Seven Archons—now, even after retreating into the Abyss, they were still being threatened?!
"Refuse to speak… then die."
Raiden Ei's voice carried no hesitation. Few Archons who survived the Archon War possessed gentle temperaments. To her, Futsu Mitama was Inazuma's eternity—an eternity neither she nor the Shogun alone could sustain.
She had finally found an heir. And the Abyss Order dared to lay hands on him. There was only one possible outcome.
With that thought, Raiden Ei swung Engulfing Lightning. Behind her, Chakra Desiderata manifested, and the shadow of the Omnipresent God loomed into existence.
"Now—comes annihilation."
Ineffable lightning illuminated the ruins of the ancient nation. Raiden Ei's opening move was a killing blow, meant to obliterate the Abyss Order entirely. Since entering the Abyss, she had failed to sense Futsu Mitama's aura or location. That absence had already seeded ominous possibilities in her mind.
Her killing intent, therefore, was absolute. The instant Raiden Ei moved—
"Roar—!!"
Dvalin unleashed another furious roar. Dragon breath poured from his maw as countless wind bullets rained down upon the Abyss Order.
Venti gently plucked the strings of his lyre. The breeze responded, amplifying Dvalin's power and pushing it to terrifying heights.
The Abyss Order reacted swiftly. Several Abyss Lectors joined forces, erecting defenses to block Dvalin's assault.
They could withstand Dvalin.
But against the Raiden Shogun—
They had no answer. They had learned, five hundred years ago, just how terrifying Archons truly were.
"Wait! Let's talk!!!"
Aether shouted as he swung his longsword. He did not wish to confront that strike directly, but for the sake of his subordinates, he surged forward regardless.
Unknown energy erupted from his blade as he forcibly intercepted Musou no Hitotachi.
"Boom—!!!"
A violent explosion shook the sky. Raiden Ei was driven back several steps—forced into retreat by Aether's strike.
"Good."
She acknowledged his strength openly. He was qualified to fight her to the death. But for the crime of stealing Inazuma's eternity, she would make him pay dearly.
"…"
Aether did not respond. Reasoning with her was futile.
His gaze shifted instead to Zhongli, silently hoping that the Geo Archon truly intended only to observe.
Zhongli shook his head.
"You have gone too far."
His voice was calm, unwavering. As he crossed his arms, golden light surged forth.
"Boom—!!!!"
An enormous Planet Befall descended from the heavens, crashing toward the ancient nation below.
This celestial mass dwarfed even the Planet Befall once created by Futsu Mitama. The powerhouses of the Abyss Order erupted into motion, unleashing elemental powers in unison to halt its fall.
"Awoo!!!"
At that moment, a golden beast—resembling a massive wolf—awoke from slumber. Its claws tore through space itself as it fixed its gaze upon the descending celestial body. From its jaws poured forth an ominous energy capable of dissolving all things.
"Bang—!!"
With a deafening crash, the combined efforts of the golden beast and the Abyss Order finally shattered the Planet Befall.
A breath of relief passed through the ranks.
Zhongli observed the golden beast and the exhausted powerhouses with utter calm—almost indifference.
"Then," he said evenly, "how will you stop the second one?" (Said it in Madara's tone!)
As his words fell—
An even larger celestial body descended from the sky.
The Abyss Order froze, utterly dumbfounded.
Aether could only watch in helpless fury. He was locked in combat with Raiden Ei and could not break away. To resist the first Planet Befall, the Abyss Order and the golden beast had already exhausted nearly all their strength.
Another one? How were they meant to survive this?!
The golden beast spiraled upward in a counter-clockwise motion, forming a mobile tornado as it rushed to meet the descending mass.
But this time—
The celestial body pressed down relentlessly.
The tornado was crushed, its might rendered pitiful and insignificant.
"Boom—!!!"
The Planet Befall smashed down and shattered.
Most of the already-ruined ancient city was obliterated. The petrifying force pinned the majority of the Abyss Order in place, their bodies frozen mid-motion.
Only one structure remained untouched.
The palace-like building at the city's center stood intact—uncracked, unpetrified, and eerily silent.