Chapter 38. Celestia Nail
"This Abyssal Power is out of control!! Black Aila's consciousness hasn't been transmitted!!!"
The moment those words left Futsu Mitama's mouth, his expression hardened sharply.
Without the slightest hesitation, the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami was already in his grasp, arcs of violet lightning crawling along the blade as if responding to his will. The oppressive crackle of thunder gathered around him, clearly signaling his intent to annihilate the surging Abyssal Power in a single decisive strike.
Shenhe reacted just as swiftly.
Her gaze turned cold and focused as several talismans slipped between her fingers in one fluid motion, ready to be unleashed at any moment. Without Black Aila's consciousness to stabilize it, this Abyssal Power had become entirely masterless—and precisely because of that, it was far more dangerous than the mud vents Lumine had purified earlier.
If allowed to descend and take root, it would not merely linger. It would evolve, expand, and ultimately tear open a passage to the Abyss itself.
The thought alone was enough to make the situation spiral into something far beyond control.
The Chasm had only just stabilized after immense effort—if an Abyssal passage were to open here now, the consequences would be catastrophic, the kind of disaster that would engulf the entire region in chaos.
After all, Abyssal passages were not some rare anomaly across Teyvat.
Liyue had faced them before, just as Mondstadt and Inazuma had, and every nations had. Each time, they were suppressed immediately by Archons and Adeptus alike, sealed before the creatures within could fully emerge. Any delay meant devastation, and no nation was willing to gamble with that risk.
Even Snezhnaya was no exception. A certain Fatui Harbinger had once fallen into the Abyss through such a rift in his youth, and even now, multiple Harbingers remained stationed within the Abyss, hunting its denizens in exchange for power and merit.
Which was precisely why—
Keqing and Lumine had already stepped forward, their expressions equally resolute. They understood all too clearly just how dangerous this was.
"It's fine."
Aila's voice cut through the tension.
Calm. Steady. Unshaken.
She raised her hand—and instead of resisting, she reached toward the surging Abyssal Power.
"Its origin is her and it is also mine."
Her eyes did not waver in the slightest as she spoke, as though stating an undeniable truth.
"She and I are one. This power should belong to me as well."
As her words fell, the Hydro Vision at her waist began to glow softly, its gentle light contrasting sharply with the ominous flicker of dark purple lightning beginning to coil around her.
"This—"
Futsu Mitama's instincts screamed at him to intervene, but it was already too late.
Aila had accepted the Abyssal Power.
His expression tightened, a trace of helplessness surfacing beneath his composure. For reasons he could not fully articulate, Aila was unyielding when it came to this matter. Anything Black Aila possessed—whether incomplete Archon authority or the dangerous remnants of Abyssal Power—she would not allow herself to lack it.
There was no hesitation in her pursuit.
No retreat.
Only acceptance.
Futsu Mitama exhaled slowly, his grip on Narukami tightening ever so slightly. At the same time, he prepared to activate the Anemo Gnosis without delay. If anything went wrong—if even the slightest deviation occurred—he would forcibly expel that power from her body, no matter the cost.
Yet as the Abyssal Power flowed into her, something unexpected happened.
There was no violent resistance.
No rejection. No struggle.
Compared to when she had absorbed the remnants of a Demon God to reclaim fragments of authority, this process was almost natural.
Effortless.
The energy slipped into her like water returning to its source, seamlessly merging with her existence as though it had always belonged there.
Aila closed her eyes, focusing inward.
She could feel it—this power, cold and profound, carrying with it the faint echoes of something deeper. Although Black Aila's consciousness had not been transmitted this time, the Abyssal Power itself still carried traces fragments of information hidden within its depths.
Something important. Something urgent.
Around her, Futsu Mitama, Shenhe, Lumine, Keqing, and Paimon watched in tense silence, every nerve drawn tight. None of them dared relax—not when they had already witnessed what could happen when Aila absorbed foreign power.
They remembered it all too clearly.
The instability.
The danger.
The edge of losing control.
Then—
Aila opened her eyes. A faint ripple of Abyssal energy lingered around her form, yet her gaze remained clear, her presence steady and composed.
"Young Master," she said quietly, her voice unwavering despite the power coursing through her. "I know the exact coordinates now."
There was no confusion. No hesitation.
Only certainty.
"Should we depart?"
From the Abyssal Power she had just absorbed, Aila had already grasped the truth—Black Aila's condition was far worse than before.
But she did not say it she would not say it. Instead, she deferred the decision to him.
Because whether it was herself or Black Aila—they were the same person. And neither of them would ever place him in danger for their own sake.
"Depart." Futsu Mitama did not hesitate. "We're heading into the depths of The Chasm."
His voice carried finality; enough time had already been lost.
This time, Black Aila had not even managed to transmit her consciousness. That alone was proof that her situation had deteriorated beyond what they had expected.
If they delayed any longer—
He did not finish the thought.
But everyone understood.
"Mm."
Shenhe and Aila responded almost simultaneously, their resolve aligning without the need for further words.
On the other side, Keqing stepped forward, her expression firm yet composed.
"I'll handle things here," she said, her tone steady. "Go without worry. We will hold this position."
Her presence alone carried weight—backed not just by her authority, but by the hundreds of Millelith now stationed above and ready to descend.
Meanwhile, Lumine exhaled softly, her body still recovering from the strain.
"I won't be able to fight for now," she admitted, her voice calm but honest. "I need time to recover."
"You've done enough."
Futsu Mitama's reply was immediate. He would not allow her to push further. Not before the true battle even began.
Then—
He raised Narukami.
Lightning flared. A divine pressure surged outward without restraint.
"Buzz—!!!!"
For the first time, he released it completely—an overwhelming presence, vast and domineering, spreading across the entire region of The Chasm.
This was no mere display of strength.
It was a declaration.
A warning.
A summons.
To enemies: this territory now belonged to him.
To allies: gather.
Move. Prepare to depart.
Far in the distance, those who felt it all reacted instantly. Kuki Shinobu stilled, quietly sheathing her blade as realization dawned.
"So, it's time."
Beside her, Sangonomiya Kokomi lowered her hand, dispersing the water constructs around her with a gentle motion, her expression turning serious.
Yelan, too, drew in a breath before straightening, already moving.
"Let's go."
Without another word, the three of them set off, heading straight toward Futsu Mitama's location.
And elsewhere—
Tartaglia stood before the remnants of the Fatui. He let out a quiet sigh, his gaze sweeping across the exhausted soldiers before him.
"So this is all that remains?"
His tone was light, but his eyes were not.
Anton Melnikov, the acting captain of the Ninth Company, stepped forward and gave a firm nod.
"To be precise—only nine of us are left."
Silence followed.
Heavy. Unavoidable.
Then Tartaglia smiled; a rare, gentler expression.
"Doesn't matter," he said. "Surviving is what counts."
But even as he spoke, his mind was already elsewhere. Time was running out and he still had one question left to answer.
Then Tartaglia looked at them and asked, "Regarding my coming here, saving you all was just a small matter. How much do you know about The Chasm?"
"I mean those hidden matters. For example, in the past two years, have you seen any large sealed areas there, or encountered anything particularly strange?"
Tartaglia asked directly here. This was really important to him. The rendezvous time was almost here.
He didn't want to meet Futsu Mitama and the others, go to where Black Aila was trapped, and still not have any news about Azhdaha.
"This—"
Both Anton and Catalina, as well as the other members of the Ninth Company, looked at each other at this moment. Because there were indeed strange things, but those strange things were basically caused by dark energy or the Abyss Order.
As for large-scale sealed locations—would a place like The Chasm even contain something like that?
This was, after all, a site meant for mining rare ores. If one were to speak of the largest "seal" within it, then it would likely only be the massive barrier at the exit—jointly established by the Liyue Qixing to control access to the area.
Even so, although they did not understand why this Harbinger would ask such questions, the members of the Ninth Company still recounted everything they knew without reservation. One after another, they described the strange occurrences they had witnessed deep within The Chasm over the past two years, leaving nothing out.
At the same time, they also made it clear that the unrest in the deeper regions was, in all likelihood, connected to the Abyss Order.
During these two years, they had repeatedly discovered traces of Abyss Order activity within The Chasm. Their movements were frequent, deliberate, and far from subtle. And just a few days ago, those same Abyss Order operatives had even launched a direct assault on them.
That battle—it had cost them three lives.
The Ninth Company had been left with no choice.
Their situation had been no different from that of the nearby Millelith—cut off from supplies for two full years, unable to repair weapons or replenish equipment. Their rations were scarce, their bodies worn down, and yet they still fought.
The fact that they could continue resisting under such conditions was already proof of their strength.
"Alright, alright— that's enough. Thank you for the information."
After listening to everything, Tartaglia let out a quiet breath. His expression, however, carried an unmistakable trace of disappointment.
Because none of it—none of it had anything to do with Azhdaha.
For a moment, he fell into thought.
Could the intelligence be wrong? No! that didn't make sense.
The records within Liyue Harbor were clear. Aside from Zhongli himself, numerous historians who had studied Azhdaha all agreed on one point—his last known appearance had indeed been within The Chasm.
Back then, after falling into madness, he had battled the Geo Archon alongside three Adeptus. That battle had taken place here, deep within this very land.
Which meant—the place where he had ultimately been sealed should also be here.
Unless—
The seal had endured for far too long, buried so deeply that reaching it would require venturing even further below.
But if that were the case, then the time required to search for it would increase exponentially.
And more importantly—
Even if The Chasm were reopened, Liyue Harbor would never place that level of trust in the Fatui again.
This was his only chance.
"Should I really give up just like this?"
For the first time, Tartaglia's expression revealed genuine conflict. He had finally gained entry into The Chasm, only to come up empty-handed.
The disparity between expectation and reality was far too great—even for someone like him.
"Lord Harbinger— are you searching for something?"
Katerina, noticing the faint sigh that escaped him, couldn't help but speak up.
"If that's the case, perhaps you could contact Liyue's people. Since we're allies, they might be willing to provide information."
Hearing this, Anton's eyes lit up as well, and he immediately added his support.
"That's right, Lord Harbinger. I have acquaintances within the Millelith. If necessary, I can ask them to investigate on your behalf."
Tartaglia simply shook his head.
Impossible.
Asking about Azhdaha's location was not something that could be done openly.
As Morax's old companion—even if erosion had driven him into madness—Azhdaha had never been slain. He had only been sealed.
And within Liyue, the prevailing sentiment toward him was not hatred, but sorrow.
If the Fatui were to openly inquire about his whereabouts, or worse, begin probing The Chasm for that very purpose—
Tartaglia let out a silent laugh.
At that point, the Liyue Qixing wouldn't even need to act.
The Adeptus would come personally.
And Morax himself would descend to ask a single question—
What exactly are the Fatui trying to do?
"You all should follow this route and head toward the exit first."
Having reached his conclusion, Tartaglia no longer lingered on the matter. He turned to the members of the Ninth Company and spoke decisively.
"Our allies have already begun establishing defensive lines there. As long as the Qixing aren't incompetent, the Millelith will continue reinforcing the area. Once you reach the exit, someone will take over your protection."
As his words settled, a faint yet unmistakable pressure swept across the area from afar.
Tartaglia's gaze lifted instantly.
He recognized it.
Unlike him, however, the members of the Ninth Company reacted instinctively. Their bodies tensed, hairs standing on end as an overwhelming sense of danger surged through them. Almost reflexively, they raised their weapons, entering a defensive stance.
Divine pressure.
Even diluted by distance, it was not something ordinary people could withstand. It pressed down upon them like an unseen blade at their throats—cold, suffocating, inescapable.
"It seems— they're about to begin."
Tartaglia's tone was calm, almost casual. He knew exactly what this signal meant.
"Lord Harbinger, you must be careful."
Anton stepped forward, his expression grave.
"That aura—it may provoke the terrifying entities deeper within. The one you defeated earlier was only one of them. And the Abyss Order—they won't simply ignore this."
Having survived within The Chasm for two years, Anton understood better than anyone just how dangerous its depths truly were.
The Abyss Order was only part of the threat.
There were also the monsters driven mad by dark energy, the various forms of Geovishaps, and the remnants of Khaenri'ah's ancient war machines—all of them lurking, waiting.
Individually dangerous.
Collectively overwhelming.
Even if he trusted Tartaglia's strength—trusted the reputation of a Harbinger—it did not change a fundamental truth.
No matter how powerful someone was… there would always come a moment of exhaustion.
"Don't worry." Tartaglia waved it off lightly, a faint smile returning to his face. "You have no idea how strong the people I'm with are."
He paused, as if considering something, before adding casually—
"Even I can probably only rank third among them."
"What?!!"
The reaction was immediate.
The Ninth Company froze, their expressions shifting into outright disbelief.
A Harbinger—ranked third?
The Fatui Harbingers were ranked by strength. Even if Tartaglia was the youngest among them, his position alone placed him among the top combatants in all of Snezhnaya.
And yet—
He could only be third? What kind of monsters occupied the first and second positions?
"There are always stronger people in this world," Tartaglia said lightly, as though it were nothing worth dwelling on.
"And even at third—if I'm careless, the fourth or fifth could still defeat me."
Those words struck even harder.
Five individuals.
Five…Harbinger-level combatants.
Within a single team.
The Ninth Company fell completely silent, shock written plainly across every face.
Tartaglia, however, remained entirely at ease. In his mind, the hierarchy was clear.
He was confident he could defeat Shenhe and Aila—but against Futsu Mitama and Xiao, that confidence disappeared entirely.
One stood at the threshold of Archon-level power, wielding legacies that rivaled divine authority.
The other was the Conqueror of Demons, a Yaksha whose strength within Liyue bordered on the absolute.
Against them—
Even Tartaglia had no illusions.
"Enough talking. Pack up—we're moving." He gestured forward, urging them into action. "I need to rejoin them as well."
"Understood!"
The Ninth Company immediately began preparing.
In truth, they had little left—some dry rations, and a few treasured bottles of firewater they had long since stopped drinking.
Once ready, they set off together, heading toward the exit of The Chasm.
As they moved, Tartaglia let out a quiet breath.
In the end—His greatest gain from this excursion had not been information.
It had been this.
The Ninth Company—who should have been completely wiped out—were now alive.
That alone brought him a measure of satisfaction.
And yet—the absence of any trace of Azhdaha still left a lingering sense of frustration.
"Perhaps I should abandon this line entirely."
His thoughts shifted.
If Azhdaha was not here, then perhaps it was time to consider another target.
After all, what he needed—was not Azhdaha specifically.
He needed an Archon-level opponent.
Someone who could force Morax to act.
Someone capable of standing against him—even if only briefly.
Otherwise, what was the point?
If Morax could crush them effortlessly, then Tartaglia might as well challenge him directly.
Of course—
He was not foolish enough to attempt that.
Morax's strength was beyond question. Even Futsu Mitama—who had yet to fully step into the Archon realm—already possessed the power to suppress both him and the Lady.
And Morax himself?
Even the Tsaritsa exercised caution.
Even Dottore avoided provoking him.
Even Pierro had made it clear—
If possible, do not offend the Geo Archon.
Because once angered—even the Heavenly Principles might take notice.
"So I need something else."
Something strong enough. Something worthy. Something that could draw Morax's attention.
Only then—Only then would his plan truly begin.
—
On one side, Tartaglia led the Ninth Company toward the exit.
On the other—
Deep within The Chasm—
Xiao stood alone.
Before him, five Abyss Lectors, two Abyss Heralds, and more than a dozen Black Serpent Knights formed a tight encirclement, their killing intent locking onto him without restraint.
Under normal circumstances, Xiao would have already moved. For him, such enemies were hardly worth consideration.
Even if the battle proved troublesome, he was confident he could cut them down.
But now—
"Calm yourself."
Aether stood at the forefront, his expression carrying a rare trace of restraint.
"Our objectives here do not conflict with yours."
"Conqueror of Demons… the Abyss Order has no intention of engaging you. Leave, and I will not attack."
Xiao said nothing.
His grip on the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear tightened slightly, his golden eyes fixed unblinkingly on Aether.
The aura around him did not recede.
If anything—
It continued to rise.
Even if he chose to withdraw—he would not do so without bloodshed.
"Insolence!"
An injured Abyss Herald stepped forward, fury evident in his voice.
"We are already preparing to retreat! Why must you pursue us to the end?!"
He had nearly died.
In just a few exchanges, Xiao's spear had almost pierced through him entirely. If not for the intervention of his allies—and the Prince stepping in personally—he would have already fallen.
The other Abyss Lectors remained silent, but their expressions were grim.
They feared opponents like Xiao the most.
Fast.
Relentless.
Unforgiving.
Even their elemental shields could not guarantee survival—especially not against someone wielding a mythical weapon, backed by overwhelming strength.
If Xiao truly chose to strike—they would not even have time to complete a chant before being impaled.
"… "
Xiao remained silent.
Because there was nothing worth saying.
Enemies were enemies.
And to enemies—he had never wasted words.
The Black Serpent Knights shifted formation, weapons raised, their stance tightening as tension filled the air. The moment Xiao made a move, they would strike without hesitation.
Aether exhaled slowly.
"This is troublesome."
With a quiet motion, he drew his blade.
He had not intended for this to escalate. He had already ordered a retreat. The Abyss Order had no plans to interfere further in The Chasm—for now.
And yet—
Xiao had arrived and the moment he did…He chose to kill.
If not for the contract bound to Rex Lapis, the Traveler would not have remained still for even a moment. With his temperament, he would have already drawn his blade and struck the opponent down without hesitation.
Yet even as he restrained himself, his gaze sharpened imperceptibly, because the intent radiating from the other party was unmistakable—before leaving, Xiao clearly intended to take a few lives with him.
That, however, was something the Aether could not allow.
He could tolerate Xiao's presence, and even his hostility, but the moment it crossed into indiscriminate killing, the situation would no longer be negotiable. The air grew taut, as if the balance between the two sides could shatter at any instant.
"Buzz—!"
At that precise moment, a faint yet unmistakable divine pressure rippled outward from the distance, like an unseen tide brushing across the battlefield.
"This aura?!" One of the Abyss Lectors stiffened abruptly, his expression changing as recognition dawned. "That guy again—has he returned?!"
'Again?'
Xiao's brows knit slightly, a trace of confusion surfacing in his mind as he caught the nuance in that single word. Yet before he could dwell on it, the aura surrounding his own body gradually receded, his killing intent withdrawing like a tide pulling back from the shore.
He cast Aether a long, measuring look.
Then—with a sharp whoosh, his figure vanished without a trace.
Futsu Mitama's message had already reached him. There was no reason to continue lingering here.
Originally, Xiao had intended to delay the Abyss Order, to probe their intentions while waiting for an opening to strike decisively. But once his presence had been exposed, the situation had shifted; what remained was a fleeting opportunity—to kill amidst chaos and withdraw cleanly.
Unfortunately, that Abyss Prince was far too vigilant.
Every time Xiao moved to deliver a fatal strike, the other party would appear without fail, intercepting his intent before it could fully unfold.
Still, one question lingered.
Why had he not counterattacked? Was it truly because of Rex Lapis?
That fleeting doubt passed through Xiao's mind as he retreated, though he did not linger on it. Compared to unresolved suspicions, the matter at hand carried far greater urgency.
Had it not been for the Nameless Yaksha, he would never have withdrawn so easily. And if he had chosen to stay—then what followed would not have been a simple skirmish, but an all-out purge.
"Let's go."
Watching Xiao disappear into the distance, Aether finally spoke, his tone calm yet decisive. "We withdraw as well."
"Your Highness!" An Abyss Lector stepped forward immediately, his voice edged with indignation. "Why should we fear a mere Liyue Adeptus? We could have slain him and withdrawn without issue!"
"Your Highness shows mercy, yet he refuses to leave—insisting on waiting for that damned Archon's hound to reveal himself before retreating. He truly has no sense of his place!"
Another Abyss Lector followed, his expression equally grim. "Does Liyue truly believe we fear them? If not for the plan—!"
"What of the Adeptus? What of Morax? We could destroy them all the same! Your Highness is too lenient—always yielding!"
Their words carried both reverence and frustration—reverence toward the Prince, and dissatisfaction toward Xiao's defiance. In their eyes, Liyue was never the true target; the Abyss Order's ambition lay far above, directed toward the Heavenly Principles themselves.
"Enough."
Only after they had vented their grievances did Aether speak again, his voice low but firm, immediately silencing the unrest.
"Their operation will not proceed as smoothly as they expect. There is no need for us to intervene directly—we simply wait."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
"I am…rather curious to see what becomes of them once they enter that place."
At those words, the Abyss Order fell into silence. A subtle glint appeared in their eyes—something bordering on anticipation, even schadenfreude.
They knew exactly where Futsu Mitama and the others were heading.
A place from which one did not emerge unscathed.
Without special means, survival itself would already be a challenge. And if one wished to escape intact—then without the intervention of Archon-level power, such an outcome was nearly impossible.
Unless—they chose to destroy that space along with themselves.
But that was nothing more than an impractical fantasy.
Having operated within The Chasm for so long, the Abyss Order had gathered ample intelligence. The mysterious space at its deepest point had already been investigated repeatedly, and the conclusion they reached was consistent—
even if Futsu Mitama and the Yaksha entered, they should not expect to return unharmed.
At that moment, one of the Abyss Lectors hesitated before speaking again, his tone more cautious than before. "Your Highness—your sister?"
The moment those words fell, the surrounding atmosphere shifted.
Every member present understood the weight behind that question.
His Highness's sister was no ordinary existence.
Though she currently stood in opposition, none of them doubted that one day, she would stand beside them, uncover the truth of this world, and confront the Heavenly Principles together.
Futsu Mitama's group could perish or be crippled—it mattered little.
But she—she must not come to harm.
"It's nothing."
Aether shook his head lightly, his expression returning to calm. "Lumine has her own path to walk. I have already interfered once. There will not be a second time. Only by experiencing these trials herself—will she come to understand everything."
He raised his hand as he spoke, tearing open a spatial rift with practiced ease. The teleportation gate unfolded silently before him.
"Let's go. Our operations here are suspended for now. There are more important matters awaiting us."
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and disappeared into the portal.
The Abyss Order members exchanged brief glances, then followed without another word, vanishing one after another into the shifting light.
Only a dozen Black Serpent Knights remained.
After the Traveler's departure, they moved silently, dispersing across the battlefield as they approached the fallen Hilichurls, their movements methodical and devoid of emotion.
—
On the other side, Futsu Mitama and his group had already begun their advance.
They had set out ahead of both Tartaglia and Xiao, though the delay posed no real issue.
Without restraint, Futsu Mitama released the authority of the Electro Archon.
It spread outward like a provocation cast across the entire field, a blatant declaration of dominance that drew every lurking monster toward them.
Any creature that dared approach met only one end.
Death.
Whether by Futsu Mitama's blade or Shenhe's spear, not a single one survived long enough to become a threat.
Kuki Shinobu, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Yelan found themselves with no opportunity to act at all.
At the forefront, Aila led the way.
With Black Aila's Abyssal Power now within her, she could clearly sense a direction—a distant call that resonated faintly within her consciousness.
It was as if something was guiding her forward.
A contingency. A path deliberately left behind.
"Whoosh—!"
A streak of green light tore across the battlefield.
Xiao reappeared in an instant, his primordial jade winged-spear already piercing through the chest of a charging Hilichurl the moment he materialized.
He lifted his gaze briefly toward Lumine in the distance, though he said nothing. Instead, his attention shifted to Futsu Mitama.
"Has it begun?"
"Yes." Futsu Mitama nodded, his tone steady, leaving no room for hesitation. "We don't have time to waste. We enter that space immediately."
Black Aila's consciousness had failed to transmit.
That alone was enough to confirm it—her condition had deteriorated to a critical level.
Perhaps even beyond that.
The Chat Group's level had yet to increase, but at this point, such concerns were irrelevant. Whatever advantages they might gain could wait.
The priority was clear.
Reach her. Protect her. Everything else could be dealt with afterward.
"Understood."
Xiao gave a brief nod before vanishing once more.
When he reappeared, another monster had already been skewered through the torso.
"Swish—swish—swish—!!!"
In the next instant, he became nothing more than a streak of green light.
Each flicker of his movement marked another life extinguished.
With Xiao's presence alone, the battlefield became a one-sided purge. Monsters fell faster than they could gather, leaving Futsu Mitama and Shenhe with little need to intervene.
Under Aila's guidance, their pace accelerated further.
Obstacles soon appeared—collapsed tunnels, energy barriers sealing off pathways—but none of them lasted more than a moment.
Futsu Mitama raised his blade and struck.
In a single motion, both barriers and rubble disintegrated as though they had never existed.
Watching it unfold, even he couldn't help but feel a faint sense of satisfaction.
Compared to the constraints of the game—puzzles, mechanisms, forced detours—this reality was far more direct.
One strike.
And all obstructions ceased to matter.
The only drawback was the noise.
Each destruction sent waves of disturbance rippling outward, drawing in even greater numbers of monsters.
This time, their numbers swelled beyond what Xiao alone could immediately suppress.
Without a word, the rest of the group moved.
Aside from Aila and the already-exhausted Lumine, everyone joined the fray. In an instant, the approaching horde was reduced to nothing but lifeless remains, scattered across the ground.
They pressed forward.
Through a long, winding tunnel—until at last, they reached the deepest region of The Chasm.
And there—suspended in the air—was the Celestia Nail.
Dark matter coiled around it like a suffocating shroud, exuding an oppressive, ominous presence that filled the entire cavern.
"This?! What is that?!!!"
Paimon's eyes widened in shock as she grabbed Lumine's arm, her voice rising uncontrollably. "Did you see that, Traveler?! That thing—it's incredible! And…and so strange!"
Lumine said nothing at first, her gaze fixed firmly on the object ahead.
She could feel it.
The immense, terrifying energy contained within that seemingly simple structure.
And surrounding it—that black substance—was it akin to the mud they had been purifying all along?
"Is this…what Futsu Mitama saw before?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi's eyes gleamed faintly, her expression filled with quiet fascination. Leaving Watatsumi Island to come here had already proven worthwhile—but this sight alone made the journey invaluable.
Kuki Shinobu narrowed her eyes, analyzing the situation rapidly.
Should they rely on Lumine's purification?
Or deploy Albedo's artificial purified water?
Before a conclusion could be reached—
"Oh dear~ finally caught up."
Tartaglia stepped out from the tunnel behind them, exhaling lightly as if in mild exhaustion. "You all move far too quickly. I barely returned to camp before I had to rush over again."
There was a hint of complaint in his voice, though it carried no real weight.
He had escorted the Ninth Company to safety—only to realize that Futsu Mitama's group had already advanced.
Had he delayed even slightly longer, the consequences would not have been trivial.
Breaking a contract bearing Rex Lapis's authority—was not something even the Tsaritsa could easily overlook.
Fortunately, the path had been cleared ahead of him. Most threats had already been eliminated, allowing him to arrive just in time.
"Oh~ you actually made it."
Paimon looked at him with a rather complicated expression, clearly not expecting him to appear at all.
Through the Chat Group, she already understood the stakes. Had he failed to arrive—the punishment awaiting him would have been the so-called Stone-Devouring Retribution, decreed personally by the Geo Archon.
That he managed to avoid it was honestly surprising.
"Hm? That thing—"
Tartaglia's gaze shifted upward toward the Celestia Nail, his expression tightening slightly as he studied it.
After a brief pause, he spoke.
"That's no ordinary object. If you intend to activate it…" his eyes narrowed faintly, "then you'll first need to clear away the dark energy surrounding it."
At those words—everyone turned toward him, surprise evident in their expressions, as the implication of his statement settled in.
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