Ei: "Then the Yashiro Commission shall organize it."
Since the Almighty Shogun had spoken, the "Number One Simp"—the Tengu Kujou Sara—naturally nodded her head frantically in support. The others expressed no objections.
Kujou Sara: "However, I did not expect that everyone present would be a Vision holder."
Paimon: "Paimon doesn't have a Vision!"
Yun Jin added: "After all, we are all members of the Elite Live Room. Xingqiu, you didn't even answer a question, so why are you here?"
Xingqiu crouched on the ground with a sigh: "I had no choice. The broadcast room said there were fewer than twelve people, so it dragged me in just to make up the numbers."
The viewers from the four nations of Teyvat watching the stream couldn't help but laugh.
"None of us have been to the Spiral Abyss. If we go in groups of four, should we leave the most difficult ninth floor to the Shogun?"
Everyone turned their gaze toward Ei.
Ei (expressionless): "It matters not. I shall follow your plan."
Kamisato Ayato held his chin in thought: "The Shogun's martial prowess is unsurpassed. While we have twelve people, little Paimon can only provide guidance and visibility. I suggest that the Shogun lead General Kujou Sara and myself. The three of us will take Paimon to challenge the ninth floor. What do you think?"
Paimon swallowed hard, still feeling quite intimidated by the majestic Electro Archon.
Arataki Itto yelled: "As long as this young master isn't on the same team as the Kujou En-Chicken, I'm not afraid of any difficulty!"
Kamisato Ayato continued to observe: "Then..." He had to balance the teams' strengths carefully. "Of those present, who among you fights regularly?" After all, they didn't know each other's combat capabilities well.
"This young master! I've had over a thousand duels in games!" Arataki Itto looked quite proud.
"..."
"..."
[Kuki Shinobu: @Kamisato Ayato, the Boss's combat strength is actually very high. He can handle the seventh floor.]
Hu Tao also brought out the Staff of Homa: "When it comes to fighting, this Director has some experience."
Rosaria gripped her polearm coldly: "I am accustomed to battle and slaughter. I'll take charge of that."
"A nun is skilled in that?"
Rosaria tilted her head: "There are some things hidden in the dark that a nun who only knows how to pray cannot handle."
She radiated a chilling aura, and the moment her gaze met Kamisato Ayato's, he thought: "This woman is not simple." His intuition for judging people was rarely wrong.
Kamisato Ayato finalized the plan: "Then, the first floor will be led by Sister Rosaria, with Xiangling, Sucrose, and Miss Yun Jin. How does that sound?"
Sucrose responded softly: "I'll... do my best."
Yun Jin: "With one heart and mind!"
Xiangling brandished her spear, Guoba following at her heels: "My spear is sharpened and ready!"
"As for the rest—Director Hu Tao, Arataki Itto, Young Master Xingqiu, and Miss Fischl—you will handle the seventh floor. You must be careful."
Arataki Itto patted his chest: "A minor matter! Watch as this young master settles it!"
Xingqiu: "With the 'Cliff-Jumping Bro' and Director Hu Tao there, I'll just provide support from the side."
Fischl struck an elegant pose: "Praise my descent!"
Hu Tao took a wide stride: "Then let's move! Let's go!"
The three teams were formed, and the twelve participants walked toward the gate of the Spiral Abyss.
The people in the Elite Live Room watched the screen with bated breath. Jean and Lisa were at the Knights' headquarters; Amber and Eula were at Stormbearer Mountains; Kaeya and Diluc were on the second floor of the tavern; Ningguang, Yae Miko, and Ganyu were at the Jade Chamber; while Chongyun, Beidou, and Yanfei were behind Wanmin Restaurant. Everyone had moved to secluded spots, knowing that things like Khaenri'ah and monsters were best kept away from the common folk.
As they approached the gate, ripples of space swirled, and three doors appeared, marked with their respective numbers.
"Let's go!"
The groups rushed into their doors, and the broadcast lens focused on the first floor.
[Thoma: Why is the footage only showing the first floor? What about the other two teams?]
[Kamisato Ayato: We are currently in a dark space, unable to move, but we can see the broadcast.]
[Hu Tao: We can't move either. Does that mean we have to wait for the first floor to finish before it's our turn?]
[Xingqiu: Wouldn't that mean the thirty-minute time limit is effectively cut into three?]
[Zhongli: It cannot be calculated that way. If the first floor consumes twenty minutes, then only ten minutes will remain for the seventh and ninth floors combined.]
[Yanfei: @Xiangling, you all have to hurry!]
However—
「The first floor of the Spiral Abyss has begun. Once started, challengers cannot communicate with the outside world.」
[Kamisato Ayaka: Oh no, the four of them have no idea that the time is being pressured!]
[Kamisato Ayato: I overlooked this point. I only considered that the first floor would be the easiest.]
Everyone else grew tense. Looking at the composition, the four assigned to the first floor didn't seem like the strongest combatants. Sucrose was shy, Yun Jin was in her opera attire (Ayato knew she was a famous performer, but her fighting skills were unknown), and Xiangling was a chef. Only the battle-hardened Sister Rosaria offered much confidence.
The first floor was a massive space glowing with a dark green light.
Rosaria walked at the front, while Sucrose clenched her small fists and swallowed nervously. Xiangling held her spear to the left, and Yun Jin held her stage spear to the right.
[Xiao: The purple aura in the footage is problematic. Ordinary people will grow weak near it, while monsters will be significantly strengthened.]
Rosaria gripped her spear tightly with her right hand: "Everyone stay alert, I have a bad feel—"
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Before she could finish, ten Slimes instantly manifested in the space.