One slash per continental plate.
Seven slashes to flatten all of Teyvat.
The Stigmata Elixir in Bella's hands was nothing short of monstrous.
It had granted Raiden Ei power so terrifying it defied imagination.
And that transformation—something never before seen—felt like an epic-tier evolution of her Magatsu Mitake Narukami form.
A form known as Susanoo.
Yet regardless of how many of Bella's words were true, one fact remained—
Aerin possessed the power to shatter the entire continent of Teyvat with a single strike.
Bella knew this very well.
Which was precisely why she used Raiden Ei as a source of amusement.
Her outward warmth toward Ei, contrasted with the ridicule she harbored within, instantly ignited fury across Teyvat.
Despicable.
People had never seen someone so vile.
The anger was real—but so was the fear.
No one dared to speak too loudly, afraid that their vision would blur and their consciousness would sink the next moment.
What truly sent shockwaves through the world, however, was the news from Natlan.
At dusk, someone spotted Bella in the mountains.
She stood atop towering volcanic rock, glaring at a glowing screen, stomping furiously—triggering a volcanic eruption in the process.
"Damn it! Damn it! Curse this future exposure—everything's been revealed! What's even left to play with?!"
Then she vanished.
The Pyro Archon, Mavuika, immediately issued orders—calling all tribes to gather in Natlan's main city and forbidding solitary movement.
Knights of Favonius Headquarters — Mondstadt
Night had fallen, yet the office lights burned brightly.
A long sigh echoed through the room.
"Who would've thought the Electro Archon would be the first to fall under Bella's spell…"
Alice crossed her legs leisurely, took a sip of tea, and set the cup down.
"Miss Alice," Jean reminded gently, "won't drinking tea this late keep you awake?"
Alice rolled her eyes.
"As if we'd be able to sleep even without it."
Mondstadt had entered a new phase of development.
The only thing that truly satisfied Aerin was that, aside from Durin's heart, the Mondstadt region posed few remaining concerns.
Seventy percent of the city's population had been forcefully put to work, while the remaining thirty percent were responsible enough to manage themselves.
Mondstadt, at least, had stabilized.
Still, the exposure of the future kept many awake—
Some from anticipation, others from anxiety.
And many from worrying about loved ones in other nations.
"Eula," Jean turned her attention toward her.
"What do you and Lumine usually do? Does Lord Aerin assign you tasks?"
In the exposed future, Eula had handed Jean a bottle of Stigmata Elixir before departing.
Yet back in reality, Aerin had never mentioned it.
An unexplainable sense of disappointment lingered in Jean's heart—alongside envy toward Eula, who had already become a Valkyrie.
"At the moment, the Director hasn't assigned us anything," Eula replied coolly, arms crossed as she leaned against the window.
"Because of the exposure, many real-world problems vanished, so we seem… unnecessary."
"And the Master wants to experience Teyvat on foot. If anything comes up, he deals with it along the way."
"For example, the Prince of the Abyss Order—Lumine told me he's already preparing to hand over all information regarding the Order's development."
"Other than Bella, there's no real crisis. And as for Bella… the Master knows her habits far too well to be worried."
"I'm so jealous," Alice muttered openly.
A Valkyrie—not only wielding power strong enough to dangle a god by one hand, but also owning a freely customizable Imaginary Space.
And their superior, Aerin, never assigned pointless tasks.
Life was absurdly good.
"If you're truly jealous," Eula sighed,
"you should speak up yourselves. Don't expect the Master to personally hand it to you."
The people present were among Eula's few close friends.
If she could help, she would.
She also hoped Aerin would have more Valkyries under his command—strength was the foundation of stability.
Besides, Barbatos had already submitted to Aerin.
Mondstadt now belonged to him.
If trouble arose, Eula would still be the one to deal with it.
"R-Really…?" Alice's eyes lit up.
Eula paused awkwardly before smiling dryly.
"I don't know if it'd work for you. You're already married—if a Stigmata manifested, Klee's father might not approve."
"Actually… I've never even seen Klee's father. He feels even more mysterious than the Master."
"You should spend this time with Klee."
Alice nearly spat her tea.
Her expression darkened—but she said nothing.
The truth was, Alice had never experienced romance.
Klee, much like Albedo and the Raiden Shogun, was a creation derived from Khaenri'ahn technology.
She had no father.
That so-called "mysterious adventurer" was entirely fabricated.
As someone tasked with repairing the borders of Teyvat, Alice could hardly afford emotional entanglements.
"Isn't that even better?" Lisa suddenly chimed in, startling everyone.
"Plenty of experience serving others."
Eula finally realized why she'd felt uncomfortable earlier.
Lisa's gaze—since the beginning—had never left her hips.
Eula spun around, flustered.
"Lisa! What exactly are you looking at?!"
Lisa smiled faintly before speaking lazily.
"When I studied in Sumeru, I read a book on bodily structures."
"It said frequent, intense impacts can cause… deformation."
"So I observed."
Eula's pale face burned crimson.
She hadn't expected Lisa to say something so shameless.
"It seems Lord Aerin doesn't favor you much," Lisa teased.
"Or perhaps you lack allure?"
Eula exploded.
"That's nonsense! The Master likes me very much!"
"Your research applies to normal humans. I'm not exactly human anymore!"
She shouted indignantly.
Though it was true she couldn't withstand Aerin's full force—
That didn't mean she was disliked.
"Oh my," Lisa chuckled.
"So how far has it gone?"
"Fully… explored?"
"Lisa! You dare—!"
Bang!
The office door suddenly swung open.
Everyone turned—and froze.
The one who entered was Aerin himself.
"L-Lord Aerin?!"
All the women instinctively stood at attention.
"Master… why are you here?" Eula quickly composed herself and stepped forward.
"I plan to head to Inazuma tomorrow," Aerin replied.
"I stopped by Mondstadt beforehand."
"I heard arguing, so I came to take a look."
He glanced at Eula awkwardly.
"You and Lisa get into a fight?"
"N-No!" Eula panicked.
"We were just joking around!"
Lisa seized the moment—shoving Eula aside and grabbing Aerin's arm.
As she led him inside, she smiled sweetly.
"I heard you handled Durin—tainted by Abyssal power—a few days ago for Mondstadt's safety."
"You've worked so hard, Lord Aerin."
Aerin allowed himself to be pulled onto the sofa.
Lisa's soft hands immediately began massaging his shoulders, while she subtly signaled Jean to prepare tea.
Alice chimed in nonstop with praise.
Aerin could only nod repeatedly, offering brief compliments in return.
Inside, he sighed.
Future exposure really robbed me of some… romance.
Still, it wasn't a big issue.
After all—board first, buy the ticket later.
"Since Lord Aerin rarely visits—and you're leaving for Inazuma soon," Lisa proposed,
"let's go have a drink at Mondstadt's finest hotel."
"To celebrate Mondstadt's rebirth under your guidance—
and to celebrate Teyvat welcoming its future ruler."
The suggestion was unanimously approved.
Mondstadt's people had crossed their mental threshold.
All pressure now rested on Inazuma.
In the hearts of its people, their Shogun was irreplaceable.
They truly did not want Aerin to judge Raiden Ei.
Anger burned through the nation—
Contempt for the Tenryou Commission.
Disappointment in the Kanjou Commission.
Rage toward Bella.
Inazuma was the nation that truly lost sleep.
Morning light streamed in.
All eyes fixed upon the glowing screen.
Grand Narukami Shrine
Yae Miko's trembling heart caused her body to shake.
Beside her, Raiden Ei appeared far calmer.
"Miko, there's no need to be so tense," Ei said softly.
"With the Fifth Descender's power, I believe he can lead Inazuma to a better future."
"Even if I die by his blade… I will have no regrets."
Yae Miko grabbed her shoulders desperately.
This idiot—
"You might not regret it," she said sharply,
"but have you considered that Aerin plans to put you on public trial?"
"In the eyes of Inazuma's people, you are irreplaceable."
"They will rebel."
"And once they rebel, Aerin will not spare them—even if he never intended harm."
"Inazuma will lose countless lives because of you."
Ei froze.
Fear seeped into her violet eyes.
"T-Then what should I do…?"
"If it comes to it," she said weakly,
"I'll take my own life before he arrives."
A Detention Cell — Holding the Tenryou Commission's Leadership
Aerin paused upon spotting a familiar figure.
Kujou Sara.
The former Shogunate general crouched silently in the corner, head buried in her knees.
Aerin turned to Kokomi.
"Why is Kujou Sara here?"
He wasn't one to condemn without cause.
As Kujou Takayuki's adopted daughter, Sara had been unaware of his dealings with the Fatui.
She was merely executing orders.
Upon discovering the truth, she had immediately confronted him—and then rushed to Tenshukaku to correct the Shogun's judgment.
"I… didn't arrest her," Kokomi said quickly.
"She insisted on coming."
Still haunted by Ei's interception, Kokomi feared Aerin might think she acted out of spite.
Sara wasn't on the execution list.
Yet raised by the Kujou Clan, she chose to share their fate.
What a foolish tengu, Kokomi thought angrily.
The Master gave her a way out—yet she insists on dying with them.
"I understand," Aerin nodded.
"With the Shogun missing, she lost the object of her loyalty."
"Her will collapsed."
"Then she should swear loyalty to you," Kokomi said hurriedly.
"Only someone as great as you can lead Inazuma forward."
Aerin laughed.
"I didn't realize your mouth was so sweet."
Kokomi beamed instantly.
"I meant every word."
On the Resistance front lines, Gorou stared at the screen in disbelief.
Is this really Lady Kokomi…?
Her flattery surpassed anyone in the Resistance.
If they didn't know Aerin never manipulated a Valkyrie's will, they'd think she was controlled.
Aerin paid Sara no further attention.
Their lives were already in his hands.
If she chose death, that was her decision.
After the inspection, he departed with Kokomi.
Along the way, she mentioned discovering Resistance members secretly hoarding Delusions.
They had already been dealt with per regulations.
Aerin felt nothing.
Those who seek death cannot be saved.
A Vision required not only ambition—but the body's ability to withstand elemental conversion.
Those who could wield Visions could survive Delusions—though at a cost.
Celestia would never grant Visions to those unable to endure them.
Desire itself wasn't wrong.
But obsession twisted ambition into madness.
As they were about to return to headquarters—
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky.
Clear skies darkened in an instant.
Kokomi's first thought was Raiden Ei.
Eager to redeem herself, she spoke quickly.
"Master, this anomaly is likely tied to the Shogun. Allow me to capture her and make amends—"
Aerin raised his hand, cutting her off.
"This power… isn't right."
He sneered coldly.
"Bella's doing, huh?"
"Raiden Ei… you actually accepted her power."
"You've truly lost the dignity of a ruling Archon."
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