Sometimes, it's best not to think too deeply about certain things.
Just like Osel right now—he was on the verge of exploding with rage, yet utterly powerless.
Perhaps this was fate, something irreversible that truly deserved the name.
"No, I refuse to accept this!"
Osel burned with fury.
Reflecting on his life, it had been nothing but cruelty.
Over two thousand years ago, during the Archon War, he had lost to Morax and been pinned beneath the sea by a geo spear for more than a millennium.
The agony of immobility was something only Osel himself could comprehend.
He had finally broken free, ready to vent his frustrations, only to discover it was all a sham—a deliberate trap set by that ancient fossil Morax to achieve his goals. Endless bitterness welled up in Osel's heart.
If nothing else had happened, Osel might have let it slide. After all, he wasn't Morax's match, so enduring in silence would suffice.
But then, the video exposed the Abyss Order's plans.
Osel felt these Abyss Order fools had no底线 whatsoever.
Had he ever wronged them?
They wanted his limbs and planned to改造 him— was that even remotely appropriate?
[Gu Chen]: Fuming mad. When will ordinary Demon Gods get their Gnoses and rise up? (lol)
[Kaeya]: Looking at it this way, Osel is suddenly so pitiful. (lol)
[Zhongli]: Osel, you've had it rough. (facepalm)
[Venti]: I've seen tragic, but never this tragic. Osel, you've shouldered way too much—heartbreaking! (Hu Tao smirk)
[Bache]: Sigh...
[Osel]: Infuriating! Infuriating! INFURIATING!!
[Dainsleif]: At least now you have a chance to guard against those Abyss Order scum.
[Osel]: Lord Morax, you have to keep me safe! If they drag me off for改造 and I shake the divine throne, the consequences don't bear thinking about! (Thoma kneel)
[Zhongli]: Morax is long dead. What nonsense is this?
[Osel]: Fine, fine. Going dark now. Gotta watch out for those Abyss Order creeps sneaking up on me.
[Osel]: This is ridiculous. Pinned down was bad enough, but now I have to watch for people eyeing my limbs? Is this any way for a Demon God to live?!
[Gu Chen]: Sympathy! (smirk)
[Kaeya]: I can feel Osel's thick resentment from here. (lol)
[Osel]: Hold up, not diving yet. I just spotted a fellow sufferer!
[Andrius]: ...
In the video, the group had arrived at Wolvendom.
This was once the domain of Demon God Andrius. After his death, his remnant soul lingered to protect it.
No sooner had they arrived than they spotted Abyss Apostles performing some ritual, with Razor struggling against the wolves alongside them.
"The closer we get to the target, the more enemies there are. Hmph, typical Abyss Order style." Dainsleif snorted coldly.
Gu Chen glanced at Lumine and nodded his chin.
Lumine nodded back, gripping her Edgeless Sword and charging forward.
Dainsleif joined the fray as well.
Though Lumine had always been under Gu Chen's protection, she was no powerless vase.
After her trip to Liyue, she'd gained geo elemental power. Wielding both elements with ease, she effortlessly suppressed the Abyss Apostles.
[Andrius]: I was just watching videos for fun, and now it's dragged me in. Speechless. (Qiqi flop)
[Osel]: Now you get how I feel? (Qiqi flop)
[Keqing]: What I really want to know is what Dainsleif meant. He clearly despises the Archons, yet he's saying not to trust them or hunt them—it's so contradictory.
[Dainsleif]: Exactly what I said.
[Zhongli]: ...
[Kaeya]: Is it because the Archons destroyed Khaenri'ah?
[Lumine]: No clue. Anyone care to explain? (Sucrose obedient)
[Heizou]: Not enough info to say for sure, but from what we know, the Abyss Order wants revenge on the Seven Nations for wiping out Khaenri'ah, and they're aiming to topple the heavenly throne.
[Tartaglia]: These Abyss Order guys are totally insane.
[Navia]: I spotted a blind spot! (genius)
[Gu Chen]: Spill!
[Navia]: Look, after those Abyss Apostles in the video clash with Miss Lumine, their power feels familiar. And Lumine is an outlander Traveler— the only one in Teyvat connected to her is her brother, right?!
[Venti]: Probably!
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: Does anyone remember the first time we met Mr. Venti? Didn't he say something like, 'A person like you, standing in the sunlight will become a hero, but in the shadows can guide calamity'? I feel like Mr. Venti knows the inside story! (Sangonomiya Kokomi pondering)
[Kaeya]: Bro, no more hiding. Spill the details! (Thoma kneel)
[Diluc]: When vague words like that get confirmed, the bard becomes even more suspicious.
[Gu Chen]: I hate riddlers the most in my life! (rage)
[Paimon]: But you've clearly become the type you hate most. (shrug)
[Venti]: Ahaha, I believe the video will explain everything. (Hu Tao cute)
The video progressed quickly.
After rescuing Andrius's remnant soul, the group headed to Stormterror's Lair.
[Dvalin]: Holy crap, good thing they're just after that cultivator machine's eye and not me. Scared me half to death! (shiver)
[Gu Chen]: Ever think maybe someone already had plans for you, but you got saved?
[Dvalin]: ...
[Osel]: Haha, another fellow sufferer!
[Tartaglia]: Back at that spot, fighting again. Hands itching—can Liyue's prison hook me up with some sparring partners? (Klee beg)
[Paimon]: Gu Chen's just spectating again. (shrug)
[Zhongli]: By common logic, Mr. Gu Chen is tempering Miss Lumine.
[Lumine]: Gotta say, these Abyss Apostles pack a punch. Even with Dainsleif, we're barely holding them—wait, who the hell's ambushing us?!
As Lumine and Dainsleif gained the upper hand, a figure suddenly appeared, repelling them both.
"Th-that person... could it be...?!"
Paimon gaped.
She'd heard Lumine describe her brother countless times, and this man matched perfectly.
"Brother!" Lumine stared in disbelief.
"Lumine..." Aether murmured.
"I finally found you!" Lumine was thrilled.
"Wait, Lumine—he just blocked an attack for the Abyss Apostles... Your brother seems tied to the Abyss..." Paimon's face was full of worry.
"Lumine, why are you with Dainsleif?" Aether asked.
"...What?"
Lumine froze. After so long apart, their reunion, and he was questioning unrelated people and matters first...
"Aether, we meet again." Dainsleif spoke up.
"Lumine, you shouldn't be traveling with him. He's my enemy." Aether said.
Lumine was baffled: "Hold on, stop saying things I don't understand!"
"But these are words you must hear. Lumine, don't come with Dainsleif to stop me. Don't stop the Abyss." Aether emphasized.
At that moment, Aether revealed Dainsleif's past.
But Lumine clearly didn't want to hear it. "Come with me first, brother. Let's go home!"
"Home... Yes, of course. Wherever you are is home. But I can't go with you to the next world, to find a new home... Not yet."
"Before the Abyss drowns the divine throne, I have an unfinished war with the Heavenly Principles..."
"Listen to me, Lumine."
"I've already completed one journey. So you must reach the end like I did, to etch this world's mark in your own eyes."
"We will meet again, but no rush. I have plenty of time to wait... Our time has always been enough."
With that, Aether turned and entered the deep portal with the Abyss Apostles.
Dainsleif leaped after him, but Lumine, rushing forward, grasped at nothing.
[Furina]: Everyone! I have a guess!