The newborn young dragon was very small.
Its entire body was covered in fine black scales, with four limbs and sharp dragon claws.
Its eyes were closed, as if it was still far from truly awakening.
An ancient aura lingered around it. The aura was faint, yet it was slowly changing.
It was as though the years were turning over, or perhaps like the cycle of life itself.
The "old" was becoming the past, while the "new" was gradually arriving.
K had welcomed a new birth.
[Kirara]: Aside from the size, it really looks exactly the same!
[Venti]: Brother Gu looks like he's been reborn, but he looks so weak like this. Feels like you could crush him with one hand. (smirk)
[Kaeya]: You can try. (Hu Tao • wicked smile)
[Dvalin]: Try and you'll die, right? (smirk)
[Zhongli]: I'm more curious about what the Cult Leader will do to this world once he's reborn and learns everything. (thinking)
[Shikanoin Heizou]: Hard to say without understanding Mr. Gu Chen's personality in this episode. We'll have to wait until the video reaches that point.
[Albedo]: My master simulated the flesh and blood of the True King. If that's considered blasphemy… then things may turn bad. (sigh)
[Alice]: The Rhinedottir in this episode might be doomed. (mischievous smile)
For the Oceanids, this day felt like the sky had collapsed.
The God of Water, Egeria, had reached the end of her life.
This was the price.
The Oceanids were Egeria's familiars, and at this moment she summoned the one she valued most among them.
Her name was Focalors.
"From now on, the authority of the Hydro Archon will be entrusted to you. You will ascend to the seat of the God of Water…"
Egeria passed on the power of the Hydro Archon to Focalors.
Focalors felt an intense headache coming on.
Ever since Egeria had created humans without permission, Fontaine's original sin had already been committed.
Both she and Egeria knew that Fontaine's final ending would certainly be tragic. But now that things had reached this point, there was no room for regret.
How could the coming catastrophe be resolved?
Focalors didn't know.
She was completely lost.
"The Hydro Elemental Dragon has already returned… K… perhaps he is the key…"
Egeria gave her final hint.
Then she fell.
The fall of the Hydro Archon caused immense panic among the Oceanids. Some of them had already begun fleeing the region.
Focalors felt a severe headache coming on.
Egeria had handed over the entire mess to her.
Fortunately, she had at least left one final clue.
But would it really help?
Focalors didn't know.
With confusion in her heart, she dove beneath the water, gradually descending to the deepest parts of the seabed.
She pondered and pondered, until even the clams beside her began bubbling. Only then did the rough outline of a plan finally begin to form in her mind.
Just as she prepared to leave, a faint drum-like sound suddenly made her stop.
She lowered her head toward the ocean floor.
Focalors' expression turned uncertain.
She had been one of the earliest Oceanid familiars to follow Egeria. Naturally, she knew how the Fontainians had been created.
By using the power of the Primordial Sea deep within the planet, Oceanids were transformed—turning them into incomplete humans…
And beneath this seabed…
It seemed to be the location of the Primordial Sea.
Focalors hesitated.
She wasn't sure whether she should go down and investigate.
At this moment she possessed a human form. Although she had inherited the authority of the Hydro Archon and gained the status of a god…
"Power left behind by the Ancient Progenitor… probably isn't something a minor god like me can withstand."
Focalors sighed inwardly.
Most secrets were unknowable to ordinary humans, but as the new Hydro Archon, Focalors knew a small portion of the truth.
She didn't know exactly what the Ancient Progenitor represented.
She only knew that the death of the Progenitor created the world, then came the Dragon Sovereigns, and finally beings like themselves.
The power of the Progenitor was as vast as the ocean, unfathomable.
The Primordial Sea itself originated from that Progenitor.
"I have to go take a look!"
Focalors finally made up her mind.
She passed through the ocean floor, and after an unknown amount of time, she finally reached the location of the Primordial Sea.
It was dreamlike and illusory, making everything feel unreal.
There, she heard the drum-like sound again.
This time it was much clearer, causing her to frown.
"It sounds like it's right beside my ear… but where is the source?"
Focalors swam through the Primordial Sea, using the power of the Hydro Archon to resist the mysterious force emanating from the seawater.
The deeper she went, the harder it became.
Only then did she realize she might have been wrong before.
The waters of the Primordial Sea could not only destroy her physical form—they could also erode the authority of the Hydro Archon.
Just like dough placed in water would slowly soften.
It wouldn't assimilate her immediately, but it was still far too dangerous.
Thump!
Another sound echoed.
Still, she couldn't locate the source.
Focalors descended to the deepest part of the seabed.
Here, she sensed an aura she had never felt before.
Following the direction of that aura, Focalors finally saw a creature she had never seen before.
How strange… why does it look like this?
It's somewhat similar to Elynas… could it be a dragon?
And it's completely fine in the Primordial Sea's water… could this be the Hydro Elemental Dragon Egeria mentioned?
Filled with curiosity and confusion, Focalors gently poked the black dragon with her slender finger.
The black dragon remained motionless, its eyes still closed.
Sleeping…?
"Should I take it away?" Focalors murmured.
She fell into hesitation.
After a long while, Focalors finally reached out with both hands, lifted the little black dragon, and began swimming upward.
[Nilou]: I imagined so many scenarios of Mr. Gu Chen meeting Focalors… but I never expected Focalors would pick up the reborn Mr. Gu Chen! (Paimon • shocked)
[Collei]: Newly reborn Mr. Gu Chen looks so tiny and cute. I want to raise one too! (Nahida • excited)
[Gu Chen]: …
[Kaeya]: I'm dying laughing. Raise one Brother Gu. (smirk)
[Albedo]: Shouldn't the unit for dragons be "one head"?
[Kirara]: I know it might sound disrespectful, but it's a tiny black dragon! Don't you all want to raise one?!
[Klee]: I do! (Klee • yay!)
[Paimon]: When it grows up you can even ride it and soar through the sky—or even space!
[Collei]: Now I want one even more!!!
[Nilou]: Is that really possible?!
[Gu Chen]: In your dreams. (shrug)
[Focalors]: Hehe, I've raised a dragon before! (hands on hips)
[Collei]: Please, wives of the Cult Leader—when you give birth to a dragon later, can I borrow it for a few days? (Klee • begging)
[Lumine]: Huh?!
[Buer (Nahida)]: (Paimon • shocked)
[Klee]: @[Gu Chen] Big Brother, Klee wants to be the little dragon's auntie! (Klee • yay!)
[Alice]: Oh? That sounds fun. Lend it to me for two days too… I mean, let me take care of it! (reaching hand)
[Gu Chen]: So you're all planning to play with my kid, huh. (Nahida • pointing)
Furina looked at Gu Chen with a conflicted expression.
"What's wrong?" Gu Chen suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Tell me… if I got pregnant, would I give birth to a baby dragon… or lay an egg?" Furina asked.
That question…
Actually seemed worth researching.
Seeing that Gu Chen had no answer, Furina sighed.
"Would it be like a hen… biu—and suddenly an egg pops out?"
Huh?
What kind of description was that?
Are you laying an egg or dropping one?!
"Sigh… I really want to raise a little dragon." Furina rested her face in her hands, eyes full of expectation.
She wanted one very badly—but didn't want to give birth to it herself.
After thinking for a while, Furina suddenly slapped her thigh.
"I got it! You and Focalors should give birth to a dragon for me to play with!"
"…Does that sound appropriate?"
"Oh come on—husband~ husband~ please! I really want a dragon. They look so cool!" Furina hugged Gu Chen's arm and shook it while acting cute.
Gu Chen looked at her with a faint smile, his gaze deep.
After a moment he said:
"If you want one, then you give birth to it yourself."
"Hey—it's daytime! And I still want to watch the video!"
"It won't affect that."
…
Focalors had never appeared publicly.
Carrying the sleeping black dragon, she arrived at a quiet residence.
Seeing that the little black dragon was still asleep—and hadn't been affected by leaving the Primordial Sea—Focalors sighed in relief.
She still wasn't certain whether the creature in her hands was truly the Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
After some thought, she activated the power left behind by the previous Hydro Archon to investigate.
Meanwhile, she continued refining her own plan.
News of Hydro Archon Egeria's death gradually spread.
All of Fontaine fell into panic.
The catastrophe had just ended, yet Fontaine had lost its god. The nation now seemed so fragile.
People longed for someone powerful to step forward and guide them.
Unfortunately, no one did.
Hidden in the shadows, Focalors had already received the investigation results.
"So it turns out the Hydro Dragon Sovereign isn't this little guy…"
She looked at the quietly sleeping black dragon and sank into thought.
Standing atop a massive skeleton was a tall young man.
His eyes were vertical pupils—clearly not human.
"So it's only suspected flesh of the True King…"
Looking down at the bones beneath his feet, the young man shook his head in disappointment.
Then he looked toward the distant horizon.
"What attracts me is not this suspected flesh… but something farther away."
He inhaled deeply and began moving toward that direction, guided by instinct.
After a long while, he arrived at a house by the sea.
He raised a hand to his chest.
The attraction from within his bloodline was growing stronger.
His expression became solemn, reverent.
Like a pilgrim approaching a holy shrine, he gazed toward the house.
Creak—
The door opened.
Focalors looked at the young man with confusion. When she noticed his non-human pupils, she became even more surprised.
The young man also paused when he saw her.
A trace of disgust flashed through his eyes before he took a breath and spoke:
"Hydro Archon, greetings. You may address me by my surname—Neuvillette."
Being recognized instantly as the Hydro Archon surprised Focalors, yet also felt reasonable.
"You must be the Hydro Dragon Sovereign?" she sighed.
Neuvillette nodded slightly.
"This is your residence?"
"Of course," Focalors replied.
"May I enter and take a look?" Neuvillette asked somewhat urgently.
Focalors frowned.
"Why do you want to look inside my house?"
Neuvillette fell silent for a moment before replying slowly:
"This is an audience."
An audience?
Focalors didn't understand.
Then she suddenly thought of Neuvillette's identity as the Hydro Dragon Sovereign—and the little black dragon at home.
After pausing briefly, she said:
"…Please come in."
"Thank you."
Neuvillette stepped inside politely.
The moment he entered, he saw the black dragon sleeping on the table.
His pupils trembled.
Feeling the stir within his bloodline, Neuvillette bowed his head with reverence.
"My King…"
Focalors' eyes widened in shock.
For the Hydro Dragon Sovereign to call someone King…
Could it be Nibelung?
Sensing her confusion, Neuvillette bowed toward the black dragon and softly explained:
"The True King fell into the void, and thus the world was born. The world then nurtured beings like us to inherit the authority of the True King…"
Focalors' pupils gradually expanded.
She barely heard the rest of what he said.
She finally realized—
The little black dragon she had picked up from the depths of the Primordial Sea was actually the Ancient Progenitor.
Legend said that all things in heaven and earth originated from the body of the Progenitor after its fall.
The ancient elemental Dragon Sovereigns.
Mountains and land.
Birds and beasts.
All living beings in the world.
Everything.
Now she finally understood what Neuvillette meant by "an audience."
"Why is the True King here with you?" Neuvillette asked coldly, staring at Focalors with hostility.
After hesitating briefly, Focalors explained what had happened that day.
"I see."
Neuvillette nodded in understanding.
"Thank you for bringing the True King out of the Primordial Sea. Without the Primordial Sea's concealment, I would not have known when I could finally have an audience with the True King…"
After expressing his gratitude, Neuvillette said firmly:
"Now, I will take the True King away."
Focalors immediately shook her head.
"That's unreasonable."
"You… and your kind… along with the usurper king in the heavens—are all enemies."
"Considering that you did not harm the True King and even brought him to land from the Primordial Sea, I refrained from attacking you. That is already my concession," Neuvillette said calmly.
So arrogant!
Focalors was unhappy.
What kind of attitude was that?
"Step aside."
Neuvillette's voice turned cold.
Immense Hydro elemental power surged around him, as if a battle would erupt at any moment.
Focalors wasn't afraid of him.
But technically, Neuvillette had the stronger claim—he was the direct bloodline of the Progenitor.
Taking the dragon away would be reasonable.
But…
I was the one who picked him up first!
Thump—
A sound like a heavy hammer suddenly echoed in their ears.
In the next moment—
Both Focalors and Neuvillette felt as though a supreme existence had descended.
Their breathing grew heavy.
It felt as though their shoulders bore an indescribable weight.
As if an immeasurable, transcendent being was gazing down upon them.
With just a single glance, both were drenched in sweat, unable to move.
A moment later, that gaze seemed to withdraw.
Neuvillette remained bowed in reverence, unmoving.
Only after waiting a long time did Focalors slowly raise her head.
She saw that the little black dragon on the table had begun moving its limbs.
Its claws scratched lightly against the tabletop as if it were trying to stand.
Its eyelids trembled, struggling to open.
K had awakened.
Just as the young dragon was about to fall off the table, Focalors hurried forward and caught it in her hands.
Its claws scratched painfully against her palm.
She stared at the dragon.
Its eyes slowly opened.
Golden dragon pupils scanned the surroundings.
Then the little dragon yawned, closed its eyes again, curled up in her hands—
And fell back asleep.
Neuvillette frowned deeply.
"How could this be…"
"See? He doesn't dislike me."
Focalors said proudly in a lowered voice.
Neuvillette's frown deepened.
Slightly irritated, he said:
"The frail body simply cannot contain the True King's immense will. That is why he appears like a newborn… You must not deceive the True King!"
"Oh please, I wouldn't." Focalors giggled, gently stroking the little dragon again. It still didn't reject her.
Neuvillette's brows furrowed even more.
How could anyone treat the True King so casually?!
This was blasphemy!
A grave offense of utmost disrespect!
After a moment, Focalors smiled and said:
"How about this—once he gets used to things, I'll let you hold him?"
Neuvillette's eyes widened.
"Really?!"
"Really."
"Good!" Neuvillette nodded immediately.
For a moment, he found Focalors much more pleasing to the eye.
[Kaeya]: Neuvillette, what's going on with you? You were ready to fight just now, furious that Focalors disrespected the True King. But the moment she says you can hold him, you switch sides? (smirk)
[Venti]: To be fair… I'd like to hold him too. (smirk)
[Neuvillette]: Pilgrims should be pious and sincere. Such actions were disrespectful and sinful. My past self… should not have behaved that way.
[Alice]: Neuvillette who can't hold the True King is crying and throwing a tantrum—aww, so pitiful~ (Yae Miko • teasing smile)
[Paimon]: How many Yae Mikos do you eat in a day?!
[Yae Miko]: Don't imitate the way I talk!! 😤
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