The vendors of Jinzhou City all said that Jiyan was the youngest general of the Midnight Rangers, a dazzling Azure Dragon, and an undefeated commander.
Jiyan remembered a dream—one as dark and cold as the black souls that filled the sky.
In the dream, where the Tacet Discords passed, the flames of war never ceased, and the frequencies of countless fallen soldiers on the battlefield were devoured.
Amid the endless despair, a spear tore through the low hum in the air, and the fire gnawing at the earth illuminated the plains.
One, a hundred, ten thousand Tacet Discords were annihilated and scattered.
Yet, even as they were destroyed, they reformed and converged once more. By the time he snapped back to his senses, he was the only one left standing.
The malice around him surged, pressing in relentlessly, trying to swallow him whole.
"Jiyan, for whom do you fight?"
Jiyan snapped back to reality once more. On his overclocked, cyan-green arm rested a golden banner.
Countless Millelith soldiers watched him, just like in the dream—amidst the black mist that filled the sky, amidst the wails of agony.
Jiyan took a deep breath, gripping the flagpole in his palm tightly, then swung it forcefully against the rampaging black souls.
"All troops—engage!"
With that resounding command, Jiyan led his soldiers into battle against the black souls.
He glanced back at Geshu Lin, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
Geshu Lin finally smiled—not in doubt, nor in mockery, but because he had received the answer Jiyan had given him.
He fought for the living.
And he fought for the dead.
...
"The spatial arrangement here likely follows different rules. Perhaps... if we can identify the distinctions between these spaces, we can reach the deepest part."
Under Jiyan's cover, the group successfully entered the Fantastic Compass.
Inside, there were numerous spatial layers. Before each one stood a massive phantom of the Fantastic Compass, with a smaller dial in front. Rotating the small dial opened new spatial tunnels. To find a path that wouldn't loop endlessly, they had to follow a certain rule.
Rover quickly deduced the pattern and began operating the mechanism. Under his lead, the group soon arrived at the deepest layer.
Before they could survey their surroundings, a streak of green shot past them. The spark of clashing weapons erupted instantly—Xiao had intercepted the strike aimed at Aether's vitals.
Xiao was already wearing his mask of the Yaksha, his golden eyes icy. A surge of Anemo, tinged with black, radiated from him.
Focusing once more, Xiao flicked his spear, forcing the attacker back.
"Bosacius... It really is you..."
Behind the mask, Xiao lowered his gaze, biting his lip. But in the end, he still charged forward, clashing with Bosacius.
The two Yakshas fought fiercely, each strike aimed at a fatal point. Rover glanced at Yelan, signaling her to protect the others, then joined the battle.
"Filthy monsters... How many have died because of you...?"
Bosacius' voice echoed through the space. Xiao hesitated for a split second—just long enough for a violet-black fist to shoot toward his face. But then, a flash of cold steel cut through the air. A blade wreathed in Havoc forced the fist off its trajectory.
Rover flicked the Havoc energy off his blade without looking back.
"You alright?"
"Mn."
Xiao nodded.
"Go! I'll hold them off! Don't let these monsters reach the surface! Remember—hold the Chasm's thousand-mile front at all costs!"
The voice rang out again. Rover's speed turned him into a blur. The black miasma around Bosacius shuddered—then, in the next instant, Rover was in front of him, driving a knee into his chest. Bosacius felt an overwhelming force launch him into the air.
He tried to move, but the Spectro particles lodged in his chest immobilized him. Xiao appeared behind him, kicked him back to the ground, then fired his Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, pinning Bosacius to the earth.
"You must... must... hold the line..."
"Enough!"
The fragmented voice continued. Xiao removed his mask, revealing bloodshot eyes. The Yaksha on the ground had long succumbed to madness—Rover could see that karmic debt had completely consumed him. What drove him now was nothing but his final lingering will.
"The foremost Yaksha under the Emperor, reduced to this... Why? I don't understand. How could someone as mighty as you die here?"
Xiao stepped forward, each footfall unbearably heavy. He didn't know why, but he was furious—so furious that he didn't even notice his own voice trembling.
Bosacius didn't struggle anymore. Instead, he shielded something that had fallen during the fight.
Xiao picked it up—a stack of letters.
"Trapped underground with my brothers... I don't know how long we've walked. But judging by the situation, it seems we've won. Well... the price is just not being able to go home."
"I remember Hulan's granddaughter just turned two. Qingming's family is getting on in years... I could tell they all missed home. No one wants to stay here, but since we are, we're each other's family now."
"Home... my so-called homeland... My memories have blurred, but I've never forgotten our promise to each other. Even in death, we can't forget. None of us can let them escape. We'll bury these monsters underground, even if it kills us!"
...
The hastily scrawled words left the group in silence. Watching Bosacius, who was still uttering broken phrases, Rover handed Xiao his Havoc-infused blade, letting him make the final decision.
There was no saving a Yaksha this far gone. The only mercy left was to end his suffering quickly.
Yelan understood now—those who had gone missing back then had all perished here.
"Bosacius..."
Xiao clenched his fists. In his memories, that dependable elder brother was still vivid, unchanged.
"We Yaksha fight for this world. Bosacius... I'll fulfill your wish for you."
Xiao donned his mask once more and drove the blade into Bosacius. In his final moments, Bosacius smiled, mouthing words without sound—but Xiao understood.
"Alatus... I'm glad I got to see you one last time."
...
This was a battlefield without blood—only spirits clashing directly against spirits. Countless golden souls vanished in the first wave of collision, leaving no last words, their particles disappearing into the unfathomable abyss.
The great formation rippled. Roars, screams, and wails rose and fell. Jiyan's spear never stopped moving, the Azure Dragon circling the battlefield, shielding the soldiers from all enemies.
The aura of slaughter erupted abruptly as a crimson-eyed Yaksha joined the fray.
"Bane of All Evil, Xiao—entering the formation!"
Xiao unleashed all his karmic debt. Anemo blades erupted from the ground like reapers, devouring every black soul that dared approach.
Yelan and Yanfei worked swiftly, conducting the final ritual with the Fantastic Compass. Aether stood guard beside them, sword in hand.
As the battle grew more chaotic, Rover closed his eyes. The Sword floated beside him, gradually encased in Geo particles, transforming into a massive blade of light.
He could feel the conviction of the countless Millelith around him—just like back in Inazuma. Slowly, he opened his eyes and gripped the hilt with both hands.
The blade's unsheathing resonated across heaven and earth. The moment it appeared, time stood still. A blinding flash later, the battlefield fell into silence—every black soul ahead obliterated in the same instant.
Jiyan noticed Rover's actions.
"Soldiers—charge!"
Seizing the enemy's weakened momentum, Jiyan led the final assault, determined to drive the black souls back underground.
The Fantastic Compass activated once more. Under the artifact's radiance, the monsters stood no chance of breaking the seal again.
"At last... it's over."
Jiyan returned the banner to its rightful place as the group gathered together.
"Heh, hey, bull-chucker! Did you see my heroic performance?"
The newly awakened Arataki Itto was still dazed, but he could tell Paimon was bragging again.
Kuki Shinobu, who had been tending to him, sighed. Those two were about to start bickering again.
"After this battle, their forces are severely weakened. With the seal reinforced, there shouldn't be any further issues."
Yelan analyzed the situation, and Yanfei nodded in agreement, placing the Fantastic Compass at the center.
"We can use the artifact to leave now. Everyone, hold steady."
As the Fantastic Compass activated, the group finally returned to the surface.
"Friends, it's been a while."
The moment they emerged, a familiar voice greeted them.
"Zhongli? Why are you everywhere?"
Paimon crossed her arms, eyeing Zhongli suspiciously—as if he had been waiting there all along. Zhongli chuckled softly and shook his head.
"With the Chasm's outer regions recently unsealed, I took an interest and came to see if I could find rare ores. I didn't expect to run into you."
Paimon pondered for a moment before gasping in realization.
"Wait—did you come here just to freeload off us again?"
Rover's lips twitched. Anyone could tell Zhongli had come specifically for this.
Zhongli paused, then laughed again. After glancing at the group, he extended an invitation.
"How about a gathering at Xinyue Kiosk? My treat."