"Great Sage Idris, can you create teleportation portals?"
Nahida asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Shenhe and Zhongli were just as shocked.
Idris smiled faintly.
"Not created. I already have one. The Abyss Mages' portal technology is advanced, but it isn't irreplaceable. With a few… special methods, it's actually quite simple."
"Then what's the plan?" a soldier asked eagerly.
"First, locate their portals. Then we wait," Idris said calmly.
"If we catch them, we interrogate them. If they refuse to talk—"
he paused briefly,
"—we use them as foundation stones."
Everyone froze.
Foundation stones…?
For the first time, Zhongli and Shenhe truly understood why so many people described the Great Sage as not a good man.
What kind of sane person used Abyss Mages as construction material?
This wasn't ruthless anymore — it was downright deranged.
Yet Idris said it as if he were discussing road maintenance.
"Sounds dangerous," Nahida nodded seriously,
"…but I don't know why, I'm kind of excited."
"Risk is unavoidable," Idris continued.
"I'll personally lead a strike team to lure them out. Nahida, you stay in Sumeru and reinforce city defenses. We can't afford a rear collapse."
"Yes, Great Sage!"
Nahida clenched her small fist with determination.
Zhongli and Shenhe exchanged looks.
Sumeru… is nothing like Liyue.
"And us?" Zhongli asked. "We're not here to watch."
"You'll handle coordination," Idris replied.
"If possible, form a temporary alliance. Once I enter the Abyss through the portal, you'll be responsible for interrogations."
He then turned to Shenhe.
"You stay here. Once this is over, I'll deal with your fate… personally."
His voice carried unquestionable authority.
No one argued.
Orders were executed immediately.
Nahida began reinforcing city defenses down to the smallest detail. Zhongli quietly contacted hunters and villagers for intelligence, though nighttime limited his progress.
That night, Sumeru glowed with vigilance.
From atop the city walls, Idris gazed into the star-filled sky, anticipation flickering in his eyes.
The Next Morning
Idris personally led an elite squad into the wilderness, searching for Abyss activity.
They found nothing.
So he made a decision.
He ordered everyone to stand back.
"This is dangerous," he said calmly.
"If someone must go in alone, it might as well be me."
After all—
if he couldn't win, he could always leave.
And he did have a cheat.
Standing before the Abyss portal, Idris adjusted his breathing and stepped forward.
Inside the Abyss
Silence.
No immediate attack.
Dozens of Abyss Mages stood motionless, like statues.
Idris counted silently.
Only a dozen?
This wasn't a stronghold.
Either the portal wasn't fixed…
or it dropped him into random Abyss nodes.
The surroundings even resembled Mondstadt's terrain.
Without alerting them, he withdrew.
Back in Sumeru
The soldiers exhaled in relief as he emerged.
Idris smiled faintly.
"Get ready. Abyss Mages may come through the portal soon.
Remember—capture alive."
"Yes, Great Sage!"
Then Idris jumped back in.
Second Entry
This time, he didn't bother hiding.
The moment he landed, his voice thundered across the Abyss.
"HEY, YOU LITTLE BASTARDS—
YOUR GRANDFATHER IS HERE!"
The reaction was immediate.
Abyss Mages snapped awake.
This zone was different.
More enemies.
Two elder-class Mages.
One wreathed in fire.
The other was cloaked in frost.
Idris's eyes gleamed.
Good. Much better.
They screeched and raised their staves, elemental chaos exploding around them.
Idris moved.
He weaved through the battlefield with inhuman agility, dodging flames and ice alike.
In his hand—
Frostmourne.
The blade flashed.
Cold light carved through darkness.
Several Abyss Mages fell instantly.
Idris smiled.
If Abyss Mages can reinforce each other through portals…
Then all I need to do is wait.
So he slowed down.
He didn't kill them all.
He taunted.
"Come on!"
"Is that all the Abyss has?!"
"Trash! Absolute trash!"
Insults flew faster than his blade.
Whether they understood the words didn't matter.
Rage translated universally.
The Abyss Mages howled, calling for reinforcements.
Idris's grin widened.
Exactly.
He deliberately wounded instead of killing, herding them closer to the portal's exit point.
Then he slammed one Mage to the ground, stepping on its chest.
He leaned down and sneered.
"Well?
Why aren't your friends coming to save you?"
The Abyss answered.
More portals flared.
More enemies rushed in.
Idris's eyes burned with delight.
So it works.
Fishing law enforcement.
Perfect.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito