Someone in Fontaine had actually merged human consciousness into a single collective entity?
The people of Teyvat were horrified.
They didn't even understand what kind of experiment this was—but no one could have imagined that Fontaine could give birth to something so grotesque.
"If that Doctor fellow were still alive," Arlecchino remarked thoughtfully,
"he'd probably be stunned."
"To think Fontaine could produce something this terrifying…" Rosalyne said in shock.
Arlecchino nodded lightly.
"Even the creator of puppets likely never imagined that his former close friend could go this far."
"Unfortunately, without independent consciousness, the people he wanted to save are no longer themselves."
She paused briefly, then added calmly:
"But none of that matters to that lord."
"What he truly cares about… is the decisive battle with the Abyss."
Palais Mermonia, Court of Fontaine
Having just barely recovered her mood, Furina was about to enjoy a little cake.
Then the contents of the light screen froze her hand in midair.
"…Huh?"
"What's going on?"
"Why is Lord Aerin planning to settle things with the Abyss in Fontaine?"
[Navia]: "Is this really the moment where we say goodbye to the Abyss once and for all?"
[Clorinde]: "Lord Aerin said the creature known as the All-Devouring Narwhal comes from the Abyss."
[Abyss Mage]: "Hey—this has nothing to do with us!"
[Skirk]: "Ah… sorry. That one's on me. It's my master's pet."
[Makoto]: "From what Master said, the main reason Fontaine's prophecy exists is because of that whale. It devoured nearly all the Primordial Seawater. Tartaglia was the key to awakening it. Once awake, it keeps consuming seawater. Tartaglia ends up fighting it in another dimension. When there's no seawater left, the whale gets tempted by the Primordial Seawater inside Fontaine's people."
[Furina]: "…Huh?!"
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata]: "In short, once the seawater runs dry, it comes to Fontaine to eat people. The Hydro Dragon joins the battle. As the whale releases power, the seawater it consumed floods back out—submerging Fontaine and dissolving its people. The prophecy completes its loop."
[Makoto]: "And Fontaine drowns. Everyone dissolves. Perfect causal closure."
[Aether]: "Skirk, so all of this is your master's doing? What was he thinking, tossing a whale into Primordial Seawater?"
[Paimon]: "Lumine, your brother is really trying hard to distance himself from the Abyss."
[Lumine]: "Aether, don't be scared. Master promised he wouldn't trouble you. If Skirk isn't worried as the whale's caretaker, what are you afraid of?"
[Skirk]: "…Lumine, could you please stop talking."
[Focalors]: "I never should've locked Tartaglia in Meropide. My future self probably realized his connection to the whale and hoped he'd slow its growth—buying me time to gather power. I never expected it to backfire."
[Makoto]: "Even without you, fate would've pushed him to meet the whale anyway."
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata]: "Master said that since he hadn't dealt with you yet, you were still bound by the old Heavenly Principles—so escape was impossible."
[Abyss Mage]: "You all have to testify for us! The Abyss Order didn't harm Fontaine's people! If you want to blame someone, blame Surtalogi!"
Cider Lake, Mondstadt
Beside the lake, watching Alice cheerfully supervise Klee blowing up fish, Rhinedottir went completely stiff.
She didn't know what method Aerin would use to end things with the Abyss in Fontaine—
But she had absolute faith that he could do it.
"Alice… I think I'm finished."
"When the time comes, please put in a good word for me with that lord."
Alice rubbed her head, stared at the darkening sky, then suddenly brightened.
"If it comes to that, I'll just drag you along tonight and go apologize to Master."
Rhinedottir stopped breathing.
She stared at Alice.
"…Ever since you became a Valkyrie, haven't you developed some strange hobbies?"
"…You wouldn't happen to have been dragged around like that yourself, would you?"
"And you still have the energy to worry about me?" Alice snorted.
"I've already made it ashore. You're on your own."
Palais Mermonia
Recently, Furina hadn't been eating or sleeping well.
Once upon a time, the only thing that brought her a bit of joy was watching trials at the Opera Epiclese.
But ever since Aerin had slammed that list onto Neuvillette's desk—
Trials had completely changed in nature.
The crimes of those arrested were horrifying beyond belief.
Human trafficking.
Deliberate framing leading to death.
Unspeakable atrocities.
Some even hired assassins to kill their own lovers—and children—for money.
Every single one of them was sentenced to death.
Judgment delivered.
Immediate dissolution.
Furina was so frightened she no longer dared step into the Opera Epiclese.
Combined with rumors of divine trials and punishment, fear spread across Fontaine.
People lived in constant terror, afraid they might be "chosen" next and erased from existence.
But what shocked Furina and Neuvillette most—
Was Focalors' sudden reappearance.
She revealed her entire original plan without hiding anything.
Her final method of saving Fontaine had been destroyed by Aerin.
And then—
Aerin had simply left.
Without another word about Fontaine.
The three of them were completely lost.
"…Do you think that god might abandon Fontaine?" Furina asked quietly.
Focalors shook her head and sighed.
"I don't know… but if that lord truly didn't want Fontaine to perish, then he must have a way."
She believed that without doubt.
Originally, after splitting off Furina, Focalors could never return to reality.
But Aerin's arrival changed that.
To free the consciousnesses merged by Rene, she was granted a Stigmata Elixir.
Blue markings—resembling Aerin's name—appeared on her body.
Even without Neuvillette becoming a complete dragon, she now possessed enough power to change Fontaine's people.
Still—
Without Aerin's order, she dared not act.
"Furina," Focalors whispered, leaning close,
"I'll tell you a secret."
"Master already gave me special power."
"As long as I use it, I can freely rewrite Fontaine's prophecy."
Furina's eyes widened in horror.
"Then use it!" she grabbed Focalors' hands excitedly.
"I can't," Focalors sighed.
"Not without Master's permission."
Furina's vision went black.
She nearly fainted.
She hadn't forgotten—
She herself was also a Hydro mimic.
When the Primordial Seawater surged, she'd dissolve too.
"…Wait."
"Why do you call him Master?" Furina suddenly realized something was wrong.
Focalors frowned.
"I don't know either. Ever since I returned, I just… feel compelled to call him that."
"…That's weird," Furina muttered distractedly.
She stood up and began pacing the room, glancing at Focalors from time to time.
Back then, it was Focalors who told her that playing a god would save Fontaine.
But now the plan had collapsed.
Which meant—
Didn't that mean she'd played a god for five hundred years for nothing?
In the end, she saved no one.
"…That lord absolutely cannot abandon Fontaine."
"If he really does…"
"Then didn't I suffer for five hundred years for nothing?!"
"Not only did I suffer in vain—when the prophecy hits, I'll dissolve too!"
"Isn't that just a massive loss?!"
Furina spread her hands, muttering to herself.
Her expression made Focalors burst out laughing.
"Stop laughing!" Furina spun around anxiously.
In her agitation, she yanked open a drawer and pulled out a vividly colored bottle hidden among desserts.
Focalors' pupils shrank instantly.
"Furina—that's—"
She stared in shock at the Stigmata Elixir in Furina's hand.
"How… how could something this precious be here?"
"Oh, that?" Furina replied casually.
"That lord left it behind when he left. Said it was for me."
"I didn't know what it was, so I kept it."
"It's pretty colorful though. No idea how it tastes."
Primordial Sea
Clad in his Foul Legacy armor, Tartaglia was locked in fierce combat with the awakened All-Devouring Narwhal.
Suddenly—
The entire Primordial Sea trembled.
His vision spun violently.
When he regained consciousness, he realized he was still trapped in that strange space.
"…This place?"
Before he could process what happened—
A sky-rending screech tore through the void.
It was the whale's agonized roar.
"What happened to that giant thing?!"
His heart lurched.
Tartaglia rushed toward the sound—
Only to find the massive Narwhal collapsed motionless.
And atop its head—
Sat a lone figure.
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