Aerin's campaign against the Abyss had officially begun.
This battle held no suspense.
Yet far beyond Teyvat—
within the boundless cosmos—
the gathering presence of a colossal dragon sent shockwaves through the hearts of all who sensed it.
The Dragon King — Nibelung.
Instigator of the War of the Hidden Flame.
The being that once drove Teyvat to the brink of collapse.
The origin point of Abyssal power.
No native of Teyvat ever imagined they would witness such a legendary existence with their own eyes.
"The Black King who shook the foundations of the world…"
Wandering across Teyvat, Dainsleif slowly came to a halt.
The so-called Black King was, in essence, the will of the Abyss itself.
Abyssal power was not merely energy—it possessed intent, direction, and purpose.
Like a living consciousness, it gnawed away at Teyvat, step by step.
Liyue – Mountain Ravine
Cloud Retainer stared skyward, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Could it be… that the consciousness of the Abyss stems from Nibelung's hatred toward Phanes after his defeat?"
Her heart pounded.
The greatest events she had ever known were the Archon War.
Yet now—
through the revelations of the future—
she was witnessing beings on the same level as the Primordial One.
Something once unthinkable.
[Hu Tao]: "I'm starting to think Bella is actually a genius."
[Apep]: "She reconstructed and reawakened the Dragon King's consciousness."
[Furina]: "She specializes in manipulating consciousness. Reassembling what Nibelung left in the Abyss would be easy for her."
[Yelan]: "A being on par with the Primordial One… I'd only heard rumors. Seeing one today is unreal."
[Kamisato Ayato]: "To witness a legend of Teyvat within one lifetime—astonishing."
[Eula]: "What's there to be excited about? In front of Master, it's just a thought away."
[Venti]: "True… but we've never seen it before. Of course it's shocking."
[Zhongli]: "Bella has gone to a world called Jarilo. I wonder if we'll glimpse other worlds through her."
[Shenhe]: "We definitely will. Wherever she goes, she brings trouble back for Aerin."
[Lumine]: "Is the Geo Archon treating Bella like a walking camera now?"
Even more thrilling than Nibelung's return was the world Bella chose.
If she intended to cause trouble for Aerin, then only another cosmic-scale world would suffice.
Teyvat – Unknown Ruins
No one noticed what occurred beyond the false sky.
Inside ancient ruins—
Two blond figures clashed.
Steel rang sharply as swords collided, sparks echoing through the halls.
They crossed again—
then turned to face each other.
"Aether. Give it up."
Dainsleif lowered his blade, gaze sharp.
"The eye of the First Field Tiller has already fallen into the hands of the Fifth Descender."
"The Abyss Order's plan is no longer possible."
"Dainsleif!"
A Hydro Abyss Herald rushed forward.
One strike—
and it was sent flying.
"The Fifth Descender…"
Aether murmured.
"The one who attacked Mondstadt… and defeated the Raiden Shogun?"
Since Aerin's invasion of Mondstadt, Aether had completely lost track of Lumine.
And now—
Dainsleif called him the Fifth Descender.
Aether's heart trembled.
Descenders brought cataclysm.
And they never coexisted peacefully.
Phanes and Nibelung together once destroyed the world.
The Third Descender became the Gnoses.
Lumine was the Fourth.
The Fifth Descender would never tolerate another world-level will nearby.
"Damn it… what world did he come from?"
Aether clenched his fists.
Dainsleif frowned.
Mentioning Aerin only made Aether angrier.
"Where is he?!"
"Lumine must've been harmed—
I'll take revenge for her!"
Dainsleif's expression darkened.
"Aether… you can't even defeat me."
"I fought him once at Stormterror's Lair."
"One move."
"I lost consciousness."
Aether froze.
Dainsleif was powerful.
If not for old bonds, Aether would never stand a chance.
And Aerin defeated him in a single strike?
Despair hollowed Aether's eyes.
The Abyss Heralds panicked.
"Your Highness—please calm yourself!"
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed beyond the sealed door.
A voice rang out.
"Lumine… the Abyssal aura here is really strong."
"I feel it too. Someone used Abyssal power recently."
"Come on, Paimon. Let's check it out."
Who!?
Aether snapped back to attention.
That familiar name—
His gaze locked onto the gate.
Hope flooded his chest.
"How do we open this door?"
"No mechanism?"
"It's thick…"
"Lumine, just cut it open."
"Is that okay? What if there's something Master wants?"
"No way. This place is ancient junk."
Silence.
Then—
Golden light flashed.
BOOM!
The door collapsed.
Dust rose.
A small figure and a slender one stepped inside.
Lumine.
Paimon.
"…Huh? There are people here?"
Paimon blinked.
Lumine froze.
"Aether…"
"WHAT?!"
Paimon shrieked.
Golden eyes—identical to Lumine's.
"…Brother?"
Aether rushed forward.
"Lumine—you're alive!"
He examined her carefully.
Aside from hair now reaching her hips—
she was unchanged.
"I've always been alive. Why would you ask that?"
"And…"
She puffed her cheeks.
"You're really hard to find. I chased Abyss trails everywhere."
Paimon turned away, sweating.
They may have toured nations, eaten everything, and soaked in hot springs…
Finding Aether wasn't exactly urgent.
Aether stood stunned.
So…
after becoming a Valkyrie under Aerin, Lumine just… wandered casually?
"Well—Aerin said Abyss matters were up to you."
"So Lumine wasn't worried he'd deal with us."
The Abyss Herald nodded stiffly.
"Exactly… Princess is favored by Lord Aerin."
Aether finally understood.
His sister… had become something else entirely.
"You mean—he didn't hurt you?"
Lumine shook her head.
"Master treats us very well."
That word again.
Master.
Aether's mouth twitched.
Then—
she explained everything.
The power of a Valkyrie.
Even Dainsleif and the Abyss Heralds were stunned.
"Stronger than the Abyss…?" Dainsleif asked quietly.
Paimon crossed her arms.
"Know the Raiden Shogun?"
"Her Gnosis shattered during the Valkyrie awakening."
"Can the Abyss do that?"
"And Valkyries receive power daily from Master."
"If Master weren't reinforcing the Ley Lines…"
"Lumine could've shattered the planet."
Silence.
Dainsleif inhaled sharply.
Abyss Heralds stared blankly.
Aether's vision went dark.
His sister…
was this terrifying now?
Lumine patted his shoulder.
"Aether. Give up."
"I know you want to revive Khaenri'ah."
"But you don't need to worry anymore."
"When Master finishes with Teyvat, I'll ask him."
"If he agrees, restoring the flower sea is a moment's work."
"And when the old order collapses…"
"All sins will be forgiven."
Like a royal amnesty.
A new era erasing the past.
"So… he really spared me back then."
Dainsleif murmured.
"He said he'd give me a chance to complete my revenge."
He finally understood.
The Valkyrie wasn't merely world-level.
She exceeded it.
Dainsleif vanished without warning.
"DAINS?!"
Gone.
"…Was he taken?" the Abyss Herald whispered.
Lumine shook her head.
"Master's in Fontaine. He didn't manipulate the World Tree."
"But…"
"I think Master took him."
"To face his enemy."
Casually.
Seizing someone who wielded power rivaling the world itself.
Aether grabbed his head.
"…What kind of power is that?"
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