Stormterror's Lair.
Aerin looked over the future he had woven, then glanced at the surge of Emotion Points he had collected.
Satisfied, he nodded lightly.
As for the method he used to freeze Amber and Lumine—it had nothing to do with Valkyrie Eula.
That had been entirely his own power.
According to the judgment of the Future Weaving System, nearly all rewards manifested in the form of items.
Even a living mount like Benareus was classified as an item.
The moment Aerin obtained Benareus, all of its power stacked directly onto him—
granting him access to Ice, Fire, Lightning, and Darkness as offensive attributes.
The only pity was that these were attribute forces, not authorities.
…
…
When the mass of Mondstadt's remaining combatants poured out of the city like a dark tide,
it marked the climax of Aerin's war against Mondstadt.
Yet even now, no one truly understood why Alice had been sent flying so abruptly.
The sensation was eerily similar to what had happened to Dainsleif earlier.
If Alice and Dainsleif had been struck by the same ability, then what about Amber and Lumine?
Those two had been dragged straight to Aerin as if seized by an unseen force.
Suspended midair, they were bound as though by an invisible hand.
And Aerin?
He remained utterly relaxed.
No one even noticed when he had acted.
Mondstadt had numbers—but defeat felt inevitable.
What no one knew was what fate awaited them after that defeat.
"Just what kind of world did he descend from…" Zhongli murmured softly.
In over six thousand years, he had never witnessed such an aberrant power.
"Does he have no weaknesses?" Ei felt a chill run through her very soul.
She knew Alice's strength well.
Yet even someone like Alice was utterly powerless before Aerin.
Ei couldn't imagine what would happen if she ever faced him directly.
If he came to Inazuma…
what kind of bloodstorm would follow?
Fontaine — Palais Mermonia.
Furina's body had gone rigid with fear.
What… just happened?
In a single moment, the Celestia-aligned faction had been taken as though they were mere spoils of war—
sealed away into Aerin's Imaginary Space.
That was the savior appointed by Celestia itself.
The Fourth Descender and the Primordial Loom of Fate—
stripped of their right to contend for the world in a single exchange.
As a false Hydro Archon, Furina had no real power beyond enjoying theater.
If Aerin ever reached Fontaine, her identity would be exposed instantly.
And then… she'd be finished.
Sumeru — Sanctuary of Surasthana.
A small white figure sat trapped within a sealed cage.
Nahida let out a quiet, sorrowful sigh.
Even now, with the Seven Nations potentially facing invasion by the Fifth Descender,
not a single person had come to see her.
"It seems… the people of Sumeru truly don't need me anymore."
She shook her head gently.
"Even if they did come… I still wouldn't be able to stop him."
The Tsaritsa and Mavuika were less sentimental.
They were simply astonished by Aerin's bizarre and terrifying power.
This clash with Mondstadt was an opportunity—
to learn more about the Fifth Descender.
As Mondstadt's Archon, Barbatos wore a relaxed expression.
Dvalin glanced at him in confusion.
"You don't seem as nervous as I expected, Barbatos."
Barbatos nodded, smiling.
"The Fifth Descender isn't a normal existence to begin with.
Everyone can see how terrifying and strange his power is."
"No one expects me to win."
"So even if I'm beaten back into a wind spirit…"
"I don't think anyone would laugh at me, right?"
Dvalin fell silent.
On the surface, it made sense.
The more he thought about it, though, the more shameless it sounded.
[Nearly every combat-capable individual in Mondstadt stood facing Aerin.]
[They had heard Alice's account of his abilities.]
[The power to fling people away without warning.]
[The power to draw people toward him like magnets.]
[As for the freezing of Amber and Lumine—no one knew whether it was Eula or Aerin.]
[But based on Alice's experience, Eula had been some distance away at the time.]
[Aerin had raised his arm.]
[Which suggested one thing—Aerin possessed Cryo power as well.]
[Everyone swallowed hard.]
[What… was Miss Alice even saying?]
[It sounded like a fairy tale.]
[And yet—Eula freezing Mondstadt with a single strike had happened before their eyes.]
[If Eula's power came from Aerin…]
[Then how terrifying was the man standing there?]
"Is that the one manipulating the mutated hilichurls behind the scenes?"
"Aerin…?"
Diluc's eye twitched uncontrollably.
Though Aerin stood alone,
to Diluc, he felt like an immovable mountain blocking their path.
"What if we rush him together?" Kaeya asked.
So far, Aerin's repulsion ability had only been used on Alice.
And according to Alice, the attraction effect had first pulled Lumine—then Amber.
Kaeya believed there might be a limit to how many targets Aerin could affect at once.
Maybe… even just one.
"I don't know," Alice said helplessly, shaking her head.
Jean hadn't joined the discussion.
Her jaw was clenched tight, sweat soaking her palms.
Her trembling eyes never left Aerin.
The moment Aerin took a step forward—
Jean reacted as if facing a mortal enemy.
"Aerin!" she shouted.
"What exactly do you want?"
"What is your purpose in coming to Mondstadt?"
Now that the mastermind had revealed himself, Jean believed negotiation was the best option.
Even if war was inevitable, they needed to understand his goal.
What if… there was some misunderstanding?
"Long time no see, Acting Grand Master Jean," Aerin replied, pausing slightly and smiling.
"I don't have any special objective."
"I simply wish to enter Mondstadt…
and send a group of people back to the Ley Lines."
The words struck like thunder.
In Teyvat, returning someone to the Ley Lines was synonymous with sending them to their deaths.
Lisa—who had studied in Sumeru—specialized in Ley Line research.
It was common knowledge that the Ley Lines recorded all information,
and that the dead eventually returned to them.
Aerin's meaning was painfully clear.
Translated plainly—
I'm going into Mondstadt to kill people.
"Bastard!"
The people of Mondstadt had never seen someone so openly arrogant.
One man—
yet he treated them as though they were nothing.
"Everyone, with me!" Jean shouted.
"We must stop him from entering Mondstadt!"
As Aerin began walking forward again, Jean raised her voice.
This man was insane.
Absolutely insane.
Had Mondstadt wronged him in any way?
Why come here just to slaughter them?
As someone who had sworn to protect Mondstadt with her life,
Jean Gunnhildr would never allow Aerin to act freely.
She stepped forward first.
At the same time, faint green light flickered around everyone once more.
No one noticed.
Under Jean's lead, Diluc, Kaeya, and dozens of knights charged.
Even if some were blown away,
the rest could seize the opening to strike.
Empowered by the Thousand Winds, they moved at terrifying speed.
In a blink, Jean was already upon Aerin, sword raised.
Diluc and Kaeya followed close behind, flanking him from both sides.
Above Aerin, several knights descended from the air, attacking from multiple angles.
"Hmph."
Facing the oncoming storm, Aerin smiled disdainfully.
Jean's pupils contracted.
She saw Aerin slowly raise his arm.
Smiling, he spoke calmly:
"Shinra Tensei."
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted.
The first wave of attackers felt their heads go numb, vision blurring.
They saw nothing—
Only an overwhelming force hurling them outward.
"Aaaah—!"
Screams rang out endlessly.
Those waiting to follow were left staring in horror.
They hadn't seen what happened.
Only that the first wave had been blasted away upon nearing Aerin,
dust and shockwaves tearing through the field.
Then—
Like dumplings dropped into boiling water—
Bodies screamed as they were flung one after another into Cider Lake.
Yet within the swirling dust—
One figure remained unaffected.
Walking forward.
Unhurried.
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