The shattered sky continued to spread apart,
as the pitch-black night was slowly replaced by blinding daylight.
As the people of Teyvat witnessed this magnificent, world-altering phenomenon,
they were left utterly speechless.
No words could describe the shock in their hearts.
"Master… what exactly is happening?"
Raiden Makoto covered her mouth in astonishment.
The sky of Teyvat had always been false—
a crucial component of the Heavenly Principles,
both binding human fate
and shielding the world from external interference.
Now that Nibelung had shattered it…
Why had night and day themselves been replaced?
Aerin glanced sideways at the stunned Raiden Makoto,
momentarily wondering if she had been frightened into stupidity.
"This is simply because the False Sky has broken," he said calmly.
"Teyvat is now experiencing its true cycle of day and night."
"The light and heat illuminating this land now come from the star belonging to Teyvat's own star system."
He decided, in the end, to explain.
"St-star…?"
Raiden Makoto blinked rapidly.
"You know it as the sun."
Only then did realization strike her.
And with it—embarrassment.
"Why is your face so red?" Aerin asked curiously.
Raiden Makoto hurriedly replied,
"It's just… we were ignorant. To think beings as insignificant as us could receive Master's favor—
it feels undeserved."
Aerin fell silent.
The cognitive limits of Teyvat's natives were indeed severe.
Seeing her flustered expression, the atmosphere grew awkward.
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Knowing or not knowing such things doesn't really matter."
"Those bearing Stigmata will grow stronger with time—
strong enough to casually destroy entire stellar systems."
"Would you still care about things weaker than yourself?"
The moment he finished speaking, Raiden Makoto's pupils tightened.
Yae Miko's earlier words echoed in her mind.
What is your true purpose for being recreated?
To guide Inazuma?
Even Teyvat itself—
could be reshaped by a single thought from their master.
The only thing that truly interested Aerin
was the deployment of Spiral Power—
creating awakeners of that force.
Unfortunately, Spiral Power was too extraordinary.
Even Aerin himself had failed to implant it directly.
Lost in thought, Raiden Makoto gently tugged at Aerin's sleeve, her voice soft and shy.
"Master… you can conduct experiments on me anytime."
"…Experiments?"
Aerin was momentarily baffled.
Curious, he used the Stigmata to peer into her thoughts—
his first time doing so with a Valkyrie.
The result struck him like lightning.
He knew the people of Teyvat speculated endlessly about him—
but he never cared.
They feared him, tried to appease him, or simply hoped not to be erased.
What he never expected—
was Yae Miko's conclusion.
That pink-haired fox had reached a truly outrageous theory.
From the visions, she deduced that Aerin's goal was the creation of Spiral Power awakeners.
Mass ideological screening had failed.
So, in her mind, Aerin's final trump card was—
bloodline inheritance.
In simple terms:
Reproduction.
Use Valkyries to bear offspring inheriting Aerin's blood—
and thus Spiral Power.
Once Spiral Power existed, awakening would be inevitable.
Yae Miko had encouraged Raiden Makoto to seize the opportunity.
She and Raiden Ei would "do their best" as well.
"…That fox," Aerin muttered, his lips twitching.
This line of reasoning had gone so far off the rails
it ended in childbirth.
For long-lived beings, reproduction itself held little meaning.
More importantly—
Without Aerin's permission, such power could never be inherited through blood.
Still—
He wasn't offended.
"If nothing else," he mused,
"that pink fox occasionally behaves like a genius."
Aerin casually pulled Raiden Makoto into his arms.
"You're skilled at this?"
She avoided his gaze.
"I've studied it through books while governing Inazuma… but I have no practical experience."
Aerin nodded, then pinched her waist lightly.
"You and Beelzebul are twin gods.
I'm curious what differences you have beyond personality."
"Come."
The Shattered Sky
The sky tore apart.
Night was replaced by day.
The people of Teyvat didn't understand why.
Their ignorance only deepened their fear.
Snezhnaya
In the land of eternal frost, the Tsaritsa gazed solemnly at the heavens.
Beside her, Rosalyne asked uneasily,
"Your Majesty… this is—?"
"The False Sky enveloping Teyvat," the Tsaritsa replied flatly,
"has completely shattered."
Rosalyne's heart raced.
Breaking the False Sky had always been part of the Tsaritsa's plan.
Yet when it truly happened—
an indescribable fear emerged.
The sun hanging overhead was far larger than before.
Its presence alone felt oppressive.
"Why does this sun feel… hotter than before?" Rosalyne asked.
The Tsaritsa remained silent.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"Rosalyne…
this sun's light and heat are not suited for ordinary human survival."
Back in her chambers, the Tsaritsa stared at the vision in shock.
"So our plan was flawed from the very beginning…"
She laughed bitterly.
She had despised the Heavenly Principles for shackling human fate.
She wanted to destroy the False Sky and return destiny to mankind.
Yet when the truth arrived—
when the real sun illuminated the world—
it proved harmful to humanity itself.
The irony was cruel.
Barbatos:
"So the False Sky truly existed to protect humanity."
Morax:
"Before it, this land belonged to elemental life—far more ferocious than today."
Faruzan:
"Teyvat's climate back then favored elemental beings."
Eula:
"Good thing Master reinforced the world through the World Tree beforehand.
Otherwise, humanity wouldn't need Nibelung—the sun alone would've wiped them out."
Alhaitham:
"This is after Nibelung absorbed all surrounding Abyss power."
Kaveh:
"If it hadn't, humans would've faced lethal Abyssal contamination as well."
Yae Miko:
"All of this was within Master's expectations.
Teyvat belongs to him—
even executions require his approval."
"Someone like Nibelung can only dream of causing calamity."
Jade Chamber, Liyue
Ningguang smiled faintly.
"Inazuma's Guuji truly lives up to her fox heritage."
Keqing frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I think she made a very sound point."
"…Well—" Keqing hesitated.
"The saying 'Even beating a dog requires acknowledging its owner' fits, but…"
The metaphor was a bit crude.
The Dragon King Descends
Before people could recover—
a colossal black silhouette plunged them back into terror.
Nibelung descended upon Teyvat,
its vast body sweeping across the land.
Yet confusion filled its mind.
Why could humans endure direct sunlight?
"Interesting."
Its roar shook the skies.
"Phanes' insects… adapting to the old world's environment?"
It snorted disdainfully.
"And worse—
dragonkind itself has adapted to human order."
"Pathetic."
Nibelung sensed the dragonkin it had summoned—
already crushed by human forces.
Its pride burned.
"Useless trash."
"You've forgotten dragon glory."
Its gaze shifted toward the sea.
"No matter. I'll wipe out humanity and create new dragons."
"But first…"
"I'll personally educate those traitors."
"Starting with the Hydro Dragon who bent the knee to humans."
Fontaine
At the Court of Fontaine, Furina shot to her feet.
"That damn dragon is really coming here?!"
"Does it not know Fontaine has two Valkyries?!"
"If it dares show up, I'll peel its hide!"
Her boasting echoed through the hall.
Outside, Clorinde and Sigewinne exchanged glances.
Clorinde forced a smile.
"Lady Furina's contrast is… striking."
Sigewinne nodded.
"Anyone acknowledged by Aerin ascends instantly."
"He values unwavering will."
"Lady Furina endured five hundred years bearing Fontaine's prophecy as a human."
"Confidence now is only natural."
Abyssal Space
The sky's collapse hadn't yet affected Aerin's battlefield.
The Abyss conflict raged on.
Dainsleif launched his vengeance—
but faced only Surtalogi.
Black flame and dark blade collided, detonating violently.
As Surtalogi glanced afar—
his pupils shook.
The plan had been simple:
He would stall Dainsleif.
The others would stop Aerin.
Failure meant death.
They fought desperately.
Yet—
he never saw when the other battle ended.
Rerir, Hroptatyr, and Vedrfolnir lay writhing on the ground.
Rhinedottir dangled in Aerin's grip, feet kicking.
"DAINSLEIF!" Surtalogi roared.
"You also consumed Abyss power!"
"This is not the time for vengeance!"
"If you kill us, the Fifth Descender will kill you too!"
Before he finished—
Rhinedottir was hurled between them, crashing down unharmed.
"You're mistaken," Aerin said calmly.
He lifted her again—
then sat down on her.
"Killing you holds no meaning."
"There are more meaningful things waiting."
"What do you mean?!" Surtalogi demanded, fear creeping in.
Aerin pointed.
Purple-black mist evaporated from the three bodies.
"That's…" Surtalogi froze.
"Abyssal power," Aerin replied.
"The true owner wants it back."
"The Black King?!" Surtalogi gasped.
Aerin nodded.
"Soon, all Abyss power will be stripped from you."
He smiled regretfully.
"You once believed yourselves superior."
"When the power leaves—
you'll be worse than ordinary humans."
"So I won't kill you."
"I'll let you live."
"With that helplessness for the rest of your lives."
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