The moment Dainsleif vanished, Aether felt the crushing weight in his heart lessen by several degrees.
Aerin had truly honored his promise to Lumine—
he couldn't even be bothered to spare Aether a glance.
The Abyss Herald Incarcerator of Flames let out a long breath of relief.
"Your Highness… since we weren't taken along, does that mean we're safe?"
Aether nodded lightly.
"I'm certain of one thing," he said calmly.
"If the version of me in the vision had turned away after meeting Lumine and continued Abyss activities…"
"…she would've personally imprisoned us using force."
"After all," he added dryly,
"even Valkyries don't dare act recklessly in front of that being."
The Herald agreed completely.
This wasn't because Lumine didn't care about her brother—
It was precisely because she did.
Only by doing so could she preserve his life.
"Yes, Your Highness. Even violent confinement… would still be the mercy of blood kin."
An Isolated Space Beyond Worlds
Five figures appeared simultaneously.
The Five Sinners of Khaenri'ah stared at one another in stunned silence.
No one understood what had happened.
They had been dragged—
together—
into the same unknown space.
Surtalogi's gaze fell upon the massive body sprawled nearby.
The All-Devouring Narwhal lay motionless.
"What happened?" he muttered.
"Why is the Narwhal here?"
"And why are we here?"
Even Hroptatyr, the Sage, frowned deeply.
His immense wisdom failed him.
"The person lying atop the Narwhal is—"
"My disciple's disciple," Surtalogi replied calmly.
"Skirk's student."
"The key variable in Fontaine's prophecy?"
Rerir, the Moon Hunter, asked grimly.
Vedrfolnir, the prophet, had long foreseen Fontaine's calamity.
Yet even they never expected—
That the Narwhal raised by Surtalogi
and Skirk's disciple
would become the decisive triggers.
Empowered by Abyssal forces, every one of them wielded world-rivaling strength.
And yet—
The laws set by Heavenly Principles still bound their fate.
Egeria's creation of mimetic humans enraged the heavens.
Fontaine was doomed to flood.
But the key factor triggering that prophecy—
came from the Abyss itself.
A perfect mockery.
"You had the chance to refuse becoming pawns of fate."
A voice echoed.
"But you lacked the courage to change it."
"Who dares speak!?"
The five instantly turned toward the sound—
But saw nothing.
"Vedrfolnir already foresaw Fontaine's prophecy."
"If you truly possessed the resolve to defy destiny…"
"Surtalogi could have refused to cast the Narwhal into the Primordial Sea."
"But you feared deviation."
"You feared changing the script."
"So despite resentment and hatred—
you followed fate to the letter."
"With willpower like that…"
"How dare you call yourselves superior beings?"
The voice laughed softly.
Two figures materialized.
When the Five Sinners saw them—
their pupils shrank violently.
They did not recognize Aerin.
But the woman beneath him—
they knew all too well.
Skirk.
Surtalogi's only disciple.
"Skirk?!"
Surtalogi's expression shattered.
In the prophecy, after Focalors returned the Ancient Dragon Authority,
the Hydro Dragon Sovereign Neuvillette would gain power rivaling an Archon.
Even then—
Neuvillette would only qualify to speak equally with Skirk.
In Teyvat—
no one could restrain her.
And yet—
She was being used as a seat.
Unable to speak.
Unable to resist.
"Who are you!?"
Hroptatyr's voice trembled.
"Why have you brought us here?"
"To drag beings outside the world itself into a single space…"
"The difference in level is undeniable."
That presence atop Skirk—
was unapproachable.
"I've caused quite a stir in Teyvat," Aerin said calmly.
"Even her disciple knows who I am."
"If you don't—
that's your problem."
"I'm under no obligation to explain myself."
As he spoke—
Aerin flicked a riding crop against Skirk.
She shuddered violently, biting down hard—
not daring to make a sound.
His words weren't wrong.
They had always viewed themselves as above mortals.
Rarely returning to Teyvat at all.
Now—
a being several tiers above them had appeared.
Skirk felt only fear.
"You're shaking too much," Aerin said mildly.
"How am I supposed to enjoy their final dance?"
Her trembling made his body sway rhythmically.
Annoyed—
he struck her twice more.
Then clapped his hands.
A figure appeared instantly.
"Dainsleif!?"
Vedrfolnir cried out.
Dainsleif stood there, disoriented—
Until he recognized the familiar faces.
Confusion turned to fury.
"It's you."
"Khaenri'ah's sinners."
He sensed something behind him—
turned—
and froze.
"…You."
"The Fifth Descender."
"The Fifth Descender!?"
Rhinedottir's eyes trembled.
"Impossible… even a Descender shouldn't possess power like this."
They had all noticed Dainsleif's earlier confusion.
He, like them, had been dragged here without resistance.
Even a Descender—
shouldn't be this terrifying.
Aerin glanced over them, then looked afar.
Smiling coldly:
"Stop wasting time."
"You don't have much left."
"Dainsleif."
"Your enemies stand before you."
"The rest—
depends on how well you perform."
Somewhere in Teyvat
Dainsleif stood in silence.
His hatred was real.
His desire for vengeance, unshakable.
But—
He had planned to hunt them one by one.
Now—
all five were laid out before him.
Neatly.
"I wield power rivaling the world."
"So do they."
"One against five…"
Surtalogi and Rerir were lethal combatants.
Rhinedottir possessed countless Abyss-born Golden constructs.
Even with memory erosion failing to dull his hatred—
this was suicide.
"…I should've just died back then."
Mondstadt
Jean looked at Lisa.
"Has Master already sensed Nibelung's revival?"
Lisa nodded firmly.
"Of course. Otherwise, he wouldn't call this the Abyss' final dance."
"Even if Master didn't act—
Nibelung's return would doom them anyway."
Jean sighed.
"They truly believed themselves above mortals."
"Yet when power came too easily, arrogance followed."
"Now their disgrace is broadcast to the world…"
"They won't survive it mentally."
"I don't see Skirk breaking down," Lumine interrupted, pointing.
"She's blushing."
"And judging by her eyes…"
"She's excited."
Jean folded her arms.
"…She really doesn't look distressed."
Lisa chuckled.
"You don't get it."
"She's excited because Master is sitting on her."
"Benelass is a mount."
"She's a chair."
"So in a way…"
"She is Benelass."
"Oh!" Lumine nodded seriously.
"That fits Skirk perfectly."
"I thought she liked watching herself get whipped."
Jean's mind went blank.
She suddenly imagined—
Aerin riding her with a crop.
K-Knight charge—!
Jean hurriedly shook her head.
Are they always this intense…?
Can I even qualify?
Court of Fontaine
Neuvillette was buried in paperwork, sweat dripping.
Suddenly—
A blue figure flashed into the office.
He looked up sharply—
Only to see Furina, legs crossed, calmly sipping tea.
"F-Furina?"
When did she arrive?
"…Surprised?" she smiled smugly.
Neuvillette stared blankly at the screen.
Is she really showing off after gaining power?
So childish…
He sighed and returned to work.
"If you're that free, go find the god who descended."
The memory of Aerin made his heart tremble.
Flooding Meropide with Primordial Seawater.
Dragging Focalors' consciousness out of the Oratrice.
Now—
the Oratrice judged without her.
Death sentences meant instant dissolution.
Even non-Oceanids dissolved.
Neuvillette frowned.
"The prophecy remains unresolved, yet you're playing around."
Suddenly—
His face went deathly pale.
Pain seized him.
He collapsed onto the desk.
"N-Neuvillette?!"
Furina panicked.
He was unconscious.
Terrified, she rushed out.
"Focalors—something's wrong! Neuvillette collapsed!"
Beyond Teyvat — The Cosmos
At last—
Nibelung opened his eyes.
After absorbing all Abyssal power—
the colossal black dragon twisted his neck.
"Damn you… Phanes."
As memories flooded in—
He saw Teyvat's history.
Phanes had fallen.
A new order rose.
But what enraged Nibelung—
was the dragons.
Living peacefully in Phanes' world.
Some tamed by humans.
Elemental Dragon Sovereigns serving Archons.
Worst of all—
Fontaine's Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
Born in human form.
Protecting humans.
"His will defected to Phanes' order."
"Disgrace."
"The greatest disgrace in dragon history."
"For dragonkind's pride…"
"I will correct this."
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