Sacred Flame Colosseum.
Rios slowly descended from the air, ultimately landing in the center of the colosseum.
For him, who had become a god, flying in the air was not a very difficult task.
Similarly, when flying to high altitudes, using arrows condensed from flames for long-range strikes also didn't take him much effort.
Ever since firing Mavuika, Kinich, and the others, Rios had single-handedly taken on the heavy responsibility of eliminating Natlan's Abyssal monsters.
He couldn't remember exactly how many Abyssal monsters he had taken down—like a vampire who doesn't remember how many times they've eaten bread.
But he knew that up to now, no Abyssal monster had survived after being hit by his arrows.
"Pyro Archon, my lord."
The secretary from the reception desk walked over: "Xilonen has completed the production of the new weapons. Do you need to go take a look?"
"Let's go take a look... No, on second thought, never mind."
Rios changed his mind: "Have Mavuika go test the new equipment."
Although Mavuika no longer needed to fight recently, she also wasn't idle.
Because she was the Pyro Archon from five hundred years ago and had experience serving as the Pyro Archon, she was simply assigned by Rios to the position of Pyro Archon assistant.
What did this Pyro Archon assistant do? She handled all of the Pyro Archon's paperwork.
Rios had no desire to spend a large amount of time every day sitting in an office approving documents as the highest combat force.
Since there was now a young, capable, and experienced former Pyro Archon like Mavuika available, it would be a tremendous waste not to exploit her.
As a result, Rios's recent days had been quite leisurely. He visited each of Natlan's six major tribes, gifting mass-produced Visions on the spot to anyone who caught his eye, and casually mooching food and drink along the way—he was having a great time.
The only pity was that when he went to the People of the Springs, Mualani had gone out traveling and he didn't get to see her.
Auntie Agaya of the People of the Springs urged Rios to stay a bit longer, but Rios said he still needed to go to the other tribes to distribute Visions, so he left without waiting for Mualani to return.
"Understood. I'll notify Assistant, my lady."
The secretary nodded, then continued her report: "Pyro Archon, my lord, are you aware that the major tribes are secretly plotting to hold the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame on their own?"
As she spoke, the secretary even lowered her head, not daring to look into Rios's eyes.
"Are you sure it's a secret plot?" Rios couldn't help but laugh. "While I was wandering around the major tribes, my ears were about to grow calluses from hearing about it."
Despite the Pyro Archon's order to suspend the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame.
But this event had continued in Natlan for far too long, deeply ingrained in the bones of the Natlan people.
Even if the Sacred Flame no longer needed the Flames of Contention from the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame.
Even if there would be no Night Warden Wars after the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame ended.
The people of Natlan still wanted to hold this event.
Otherwise, their hearts would itch.
"If they want to hold it, then let them go ahead and do it."
Rios had paused the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame precisely to obtain emotion values from the people of Natlan.
Now, the emotion values provided by the people of Natlan had stabilized; they no longer surged in large quantities over short periods like before.
Since that was the case, it was time to give the people of Natlan some new stimulation.
"Sigh, it's a pity that Teyvat doesn't have Trump."
"If I could get his true teachings, I'd guarantee to have the people of Natlan providing massive emotion values every day."
Rios couldn't help but feel regretful.
Meanwhile, his secretary felt the exact opposite.
"Pyro Archon, my lord, does that mean you're agreeing to resume the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame?" the secretary asked in surprise.
"I haven't agreed." Rios answered decisively. "This is just something you're holding privately."
"As the Pyro Archon, I won't make any speeches on stage, and after the competition ends, there won't be any Night Warden Wars, so naturally, there won't be any honors either."
Rios reminded her.
Natlan's Ley Lines—the Night Kingdom—were still in an unstable state.
If there were casualties in the Night Warden Wars, there would be no way to revive them using the Ode of Resurrection.
Therefore, even though Rios wanted emotion values and tacitly allowed the people of Natlan to resume the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame, he would absolutely not permit the Night Warden Wars to occur.
"Understood." The secretary kept her head lowered, a hint of disappointment in her words.
For the people of Natlan, the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame was merely an appetizer; the main course was the Night Warden Wars that followed.
Participants in the Night Warden Wars could gain tremendous honors.
Although only ancient name holders could participate in the Night Warden Wars.
But in the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame, those who were in the same squad as ancient name holders could enjoy equal honors.
If they were only allowed to hold the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame without the subsequent Night Warden Wars, the people of Natlan definitely wouldn't be satisfied.
But... the people of Natlan had always liked compromises.
If they were told they couldn't participate in the Night Warden Wars, they would refuse a thousand—no, a million—times over.
But if the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame and the Night Warden Wars were closed off simultaneously, and then later only the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame was opened separately, the people of Natlan could accept it.
Compared to before, the current situation was vastly improved.
"Is there anything else?" Rios asked.
"Pyro Archon, my lord, regarding the Traveler we've been monitoring as per your orders—she has now left Fontaine."
"I believe it won't be long before she arrives in Natlan."
Hearing the secretary's words, Rios nodded slightly: "She's finally coming."
Once the Traveler arrived in Natlan, the main storyline for Natlan would begin.
"This time, I have to make sure the Traveler gets a good look at me."
Players mostly experienced the story through the Traveler's perspective.
In other words, if Rios wanted more emotion values, he needed to show off more in front of the Traveler.
"Speaking of which, when the Traveler first arrives in Natlan, she doesn't resonate with the Pyro element, right?"
"If I give her a mass-produced Vision, I should be able to get some emotion values."
"It would be great if I could design the skills for the Pyro Traveler."
The best scenario would be for the Pyro Traveler to have two versions: the first version awakened by the Pyro Archon Rios giving the Traveler a Pyro Vision, and the second version given after completing Natlan's main storyline.
Then, the Pyro Traveler designed by Rios would be stronger in terms of power than the one after players complete the main storyline...
Whether people liked it or not was one thing, but it would definitely mess with the players' mindsets.
[Responding to the host.]
[The host can indeed unlock the Pyro element version of the Traveler (hereinafter referred to as Pyro Traveler) early for players by gifting the Traveler a mass-produced Pyro Vision, and the host can also design the Pyro Traveler's mechanics.]
[Moreover, the Pyro Traveler will be divided into the host-designed version and the official version.]
Just as Rios was thinking this, the system's voice rang in his mind.
"This is good."
Rios still had some mass-produced Visions left undistributed; he could use one to send warmth to the Traveler.
[The Traveler is about to arrive in Natlan.]
[Natlan version hype is about to begin.]
[Do you wish to participate in the production?]
"Participate."
Rios agreed without hesitation.