"Th-this… is this an Abyss Herald? It looks so different from an Abyss Mage."
Paimon sounded surprised, while Dainsleif, standing nearby, approved of Rover's actions and added,
"These Abyss Heralds are utterly loyal to the Abyss. This was the best way to handle it."
Aether finally regained his composure, his face filled with confusion.
"What just happened?"
Paimon looked at him worriedly and slowly explained,
"You were spacing out for a long time, and then Rover was the first to notice the Abyss Herald hiding near us. That's when the fight started."
Dainsleif picked up where Paimon left off, turning his gaze toward Stormterror's Lair.
"Do you remember when we came to Stormterror's Lair—were those guided missiles and laser devices still there?"
Rover nodded thoughtfully, already forming a theory in his mind.
"Could it be that after we left, the Abyss Order took all those mechanisms back but sent an Abyss Herald to erase any traces? And we just happened to run into it."
As soon as Rover finished speaking, the others understood.
The Abyss Order had gone to such lengths to retrieve those devices—they must be planning something major. The thought made Rover rub his temples. It seemed their journey from here on out would require extreme caution.
"By the way, Aether, why were you spacing out for so long just now?"
Paimon asked curiously. Aether remained silent for a while before finally speaking.
"I sensed her."
"The Princess?"
Dainsleif blurted out, only to receive a confirming nod from Aether.
"That person called the 'Princess'… feels familiar. I have a feeling… I knew her before."
Dainsleif crossed his arms, offering Aether some comfort.
"At the very least, you now know she's still in this world. Right now, the most important thing is this journey to find her."
Everyone present understood who Dainsleif was referring to—except Paimon, who was utterly lost.
"Wait, isn't Aether looking for his sister? What do you mean by 'this journey to find her'…?"
Paimon's tiny brain was about to short-circuit. Aether let out a soft sigh, making Rover feel a bit troubled.
But the next moment, Aether looked at Rover.
"Rover, even if she's my family, I don't want you to feel burdened. Since she's chosen to stand against you, she's my enemy as well. I just hope… when we meet her, you'll give me one more chance. Maybe we can avoid unnecessary conflict."
Upon returning to Mondstadt, Rover received a letter specially sent to him by the Adventurers' Guild—the client was Ganyu.
Rover unfolded the paper, carefully reading the contents, while Dainsleif prepared to leave but was stopped by Rover's call.
"This letter is about the Abyss."
Dainsleif halted, turning to look at Rover, whose expression was growing increasingly grave. A bad feeling settled in his heart.
"The Treasure Hoarders discovered an untouched ruin, secretly guarded by the Abyss Order. Given their mindset, they'd only assume there was treasure inside. So they devised a plan—using some low-level members to draw the Abyss Order's forces away while sending only their most elite expert deep into the ruins to retrieve the treasure and escape."
Dainsleif frowned, exhaling slowly before offering his assessment:
"A foolish idea. From what I know, the Abyss is never that simple. That 'expert' is likely in grave danger."
Aether pondered for a moment, summarizing Rover's words.
"So Ganyu wants us to take on this commission and investigate?"
Rover nodded. After some discussion, the group agreed—since this was another lead on the Abyss, why not follow it?
Following the address in the letter, they finally arrived at the ruins.
As soon as they reached the entrance, Dainsleif and Abby both stopped, exchanging a glance before their expressions turned serious.
"The Abyssal aura here… it's unsettling. So thick and viscous…"
Dainsleif also offered a warning.
"Everyone, these ruins are no ordinary place. Be extremely careful."
Upon entering, they found the mechanisms had already been activated, and Treasure Hoarder tools were scattered about.
The path ahead had only a few scattered monsters, swiftly dealt with by Aether and Rover in a single encounter. It seemed the Treasure Hoarders' plan had worked—there were indeed few guards here.
The ruins were vast, with many branching paths, but they could follow the traces left by the Treasure Hoarder expert and Abby's keen sense of smell to proceed deeper.
The further they went, the more the true nature of the ruins revealed itself—precipitous cliffs, eerie and terrifying mechanisms like hidden spikes and purple bubbles, walls covered in chaotic magic circle patterns, and a dark-purple mist wafting from the depths.
Whispers slithered from the shadows, and a chilling air spread relentlessly, casting a shadow over the hearts of every intruder.
The temperature dropped further, and Paimon gasped—this place was far too sinister and bizarre. It didn't seem like a treasure trove at all.
"You guys… go ahead. I'll stay behind and keep you company… This place is t-too creepy…"
Paimon shivered, hiding behind Aether. Meanwhile, Abby, flying ahead, had eyes that glowed brighter—red and blue—before turning back to Rover.
"Just ahead… there's something ominous."
Rover understood. He had already drawn his blade.
"That is…."
For the first time, Dainsleif's eyes widened in shock. He rushed forward, staring at the sight before him, speechless for a long moment.
"An inverted… Statue of The Seven!?"
Aether was stunned as well.
Before them, the Statue of The Seven of Mondstadt hung upside down, continuously emanating terrifying Abyssal energy. Black-purple spikes arched around it like an altar, encasing the statue in the center while the dark mist churned, as if devouring all light around it.
Bizarre. Utterly bizarre.
"Look, there's someone up ahead."
A person in Treasure Hoarder garb was kneeling. Upon closer inspection, his neck was broken, his head hanging limply toward the ground, his pupils trembling uncontrollably.
"We must leave. Now!"
Dainsleif seemed to realize something and immediately urged the others.
But before they could move, the Abyss Heralds arrived.
"The secrets of the Abyss… are not for your eyes."
Rover quickly assessed the situation—five Abyss Heralds in total.
Then, the last figure stepped out of the portal, and Aether froze once more. Staring at the silhouette, he could only utter two words:
"Sister…?"