Chapter 39. Finding Black Aila! (6K words!!!)
A wave of surprise, astonishment, and layered scrutiny converged on Tartaglia all at once. Even Xiao, who had never concealed his hostility toward the Fatui, cast him a few additional glances, his gaze sharpening as if reassessing something that did not quite align with expectation.
"Hey, hey, hey~ what's with that look?"
Tartaglia spread his hands slightly, an expression of exaggerated helplessness surfacing on his face as he glanced around at everyone.
"Is it really that strange? The way you're all staring at me—it's like I said something I shouldn't have."
Paimon nodded without hesitation, her reaction immediate and blunt. She crossed her arms, hovering in place as she stared straight at him.
"Because you really shouldn't have said that!"
"You Fatui are always like this—when it comes to intelligence, you hide everything, and when it comes to action, you only move if there's profit. If there isn't, you run faster than anyone else!"
She jabbed a finger toward him, clearly not planning to let him off easily.
"And just now? You were exactly like that! Holding your bow, waving it around, looking busy—but you weren't even trying seriously!"
Hearing that, Tartaglia's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second before shifting into something faintly awkward.
He hadn't expected this tiny floating companion to be so perceptive.
"Ahem…"
He cleared his throat lightly, straightening his posture as if to recover his composure. At that time—how could that possibly be called slacking off?
He had, after all, fulfilled the contract—he had participated in battle, and he had assisted Futsu Mitama in dealing with enemies.
As for the degree of effort he invested—
Well, that was an entirely different matter; and it most certainly wasn't because of the group's openly hostile attitude toward him that he had chosen to hold back.
Absolutely not.
"Do you know what this thing is?"
Yelan's voice cut cleanly into the exchange, direct and without embellishment. Her gaze locked onto Tartaglia, sharp and probing, carrying neither Paimon's bluntness nor her levity—only calculation.
The fact that he had voluntarily revealed information just now was, in itself, unusual.
Yelan might not fully understand the origin of the object before them, but according to the records she had access to, it possessed the ability to purify those dark, corrosive substances. Yet what stood before them now—had clearly deviated from that purpose.
Why had something meant for purification fallen into such a state?
That, she did not know.
Two years ago, the upheaval within The Chasm had erupted too suddenly, cutting off nearly all reliable intelligence. This was her first time entering its depths since then—and the unknowns were far greater than she preferred.
"I do."
Tartaglia nodded without hesitation, meeting her gaze with a faint, almost teasing smile.
"Though, given our relationship—" he tilted his head slightly, tone turning casual, "I wouldn't normally tell you. After all, this falls under Fatui secrets."
Yelan's brows drew together instantly, the air around her growing colder by a subtle degree. The look she gave him lost any trace of neutrality, sharpening into something distinctly unfriendly.
Keeping secrets was one thing.
Speaking halfway and stopping there—was another entirely. In her eyes as Liyue's intelligence hub, that was nothing short of deliberate provocation.
Although Yelan herself often spoke in half-truths and layered implications, she found it particularly unpleasant when the same tactic was turned back on her. That slight narrowing of her eyes, the faint tension in her posture—it was subtle, but unmistakable.
"Are you angry?"
Tartaglia tilted his head slightly, clearly amused. There was a playful glint in his eyes as he looked at her, as though he genuinely enjoyed this reaction. Ever since they had entered The Chasm, the two of them had been at odds, their exchanges laced with constant friction.
To be fair, Tartaglia understood that his relationship with Liyue was—delicate, to say the least.
But still, he had already signed a contract with Futsu Mitama. Within The Chasm, at least, that should have been enough to earn him a baseline level of trust. There was no need for this level of vigilance, was there?
More importantly, if Futsu Mitama hadn't extended that trust in the first place, Tartaglia would never have spoken a single word about the Celestia Nail. He would have remained silent, observing from the sidelines, watching how things unfolded without offering any assistance.
Yet now—
Seeing how determined Futsu Mitama was to save that "traitor" from Snezhnaya, Tartaglia found himself unexpectedly willing to loosen his tongue.
"For Futsu Mitama's sake," he said at last, sweeping his gaze across the group, "I'll reveal a little Fatui secret."
His tone grew slightly more serious.
"This thing is called the Celestia Nail. It comes from [The Sky]."
He paused deliberately, letting the words settle.
"As for which 'Sky'—you should already understand that in your hearts."
A faint smile tugged at his lips, but his eyes carried a trace of caution.
"This object possesses the power to purify all defilement. Logically speaking, anywhere it exists, such concentrations of corruption shouldn't be able to gather."
His gaze shifted toward the black, writhing matter surrounding it.
"But its current state…" he continued slowly, "is likely due to an overwhelming amount of corrupted energy. So much so that even it cannot fully purify everything."
Then, as if struck by a thought, Tartaglia turned to Futsu Mitama, his expression brightening with interest.
"Do you want to reactivate it?" he asked. "If you do, I can help."
In truth, he had only just arrived and had no clear idea what Futsu Mitama's objective was. But instinct told him that something like the Celestia Nail—especially one in this condition—would not remain quiet if disturbed. Reactivating it could very well trigger unforeseen changes.
And that was exactly what intrigued him.
Standing before such a massive Nail within The Chasm, Tartaglia couldn't help but feel a trace of awe. Its very existence implied that an ancient civilization had once been annihilated here.
At the same time, another thought surfaced in his mind.
Could Azhdaha be nearby?
Could this Nail have been placed here by Morax himself—to suppress that ancient dragon?
The moment that possibility formed, Tartaglia's interest sharpened. If reactivating the Nail truly caused something to stir—if it led him to Azhdaha—then this trip would become far more rewarding than he had anticipated.
"No."
Futsu Mitama simply smiled and shook his head, dismissing the suggestion without hesitation. His attention shifted away from the Nail entirely as he turned to Aila.
"Where is it?"
To him, the Celestia Nail was irrelevant—for now.
What mattered was the location of that unknown space—the place where Black Aila was trapped.
"Below."
Aila stepped forward, her gaze lowering toward the vast expanse beneath them—the hollow ground marred by pools of black mud. Her voice remained calm, but there was a faint tension beneath it.
"I can feel her. She's underground."
She paused briefly, as if weighing her next words.
"Very deep… unimaginably deep. I don't know how far it goes, but…" her brows knit slightly, "it's dangerous."
Aila hesitated.
"Young Master—before you've made further preparations, perhaps we shouldn't—"
The closer she drew, the clearer it became.
The Abyssal Power within her—power that belonged to Black Aila—was no longer dormant. It stirred restlessly, pulsing as though it had gained a will of its own.
And within that restless surge, only two words echoed again and again.
[Run.]
The connection between them deepened with every step.
Just as Black Aila had once said—this bond could not be severed, not even by a god. They were, fundamentally, the same existence.
And now, as that distance shrank—
Even that mysterious space could no longer fully block the transmission.
Danger. Extreme danger.
The message came again and again, urgent and unrelenting.
Yet—
"It's fine."
Futsu Mitama reached out and took Aila's hand, his grip steady, unyielding. His gaze remained fixed downward, as though nothing in that abyss could shake him.
"No matter what lies ahead," he said calmly, "it won't stop me from saving her."
He paused, then added, almost casually—
"And don't forget—your Young Master is strong."
Simple words.
But they carried a weight that silenced everything else.
The unease in Aila's heart gradually settled. She nodded softly, no longer voicing her earlier hesitation. Instead, she stepped closer, her body naturally leaning toward him, as though drawing strength from his presence.
Not far away, Kuki Shinobu and Sangonomiya Kokomi exchanged a brief glance.
Kokomi quietly unfolded a small fan, lifting it to cover the faint smile tugging at her lips, while Shinobu's eyes curved subtly behind her mask, her expression betraying a hint of amusement.
Shenhe, on the other hand, watched in silence.
Her expression remained calm, yet something flickered faintly in her eyes—an emotion she couldn't quite name. She didn't understand why they would hold hands at a moment like this. Such things—had never been part of what she had been taught.
Her master had never explained it.
Nor had anyone else.
In matters of emotion, she was still, in many ways, a blank slate.
"Oh my~"
Paimon lifted her hands to cover her eyes, but her fingers parted just enough for her to peek through, completely unable to look away.
Beside her, the Traveler simply smiled, an expression of quiet curiosity on her face, as though she found the scene unexpectedly endearing.
"Alright. Let's move."
Futsu Mitama's voice cut cleanly through the atmosphere. He glanced once at the Celestia Nail above, then looked back down.
"We'll ignore that for now. Our objective is to enter that space."
"As for how—" a faint smirk appeared, "I already have an idea."
Between his prior knowledge and Aila's guidance, the location of the entrance was already clear.
Right beneath them.
As for the method—
It was as straightforward as it was excessive.
Break through.
With Planet Befall.
If one wasn't enough, then three. If three weren't enough, then four.
After all, over the past six months, Futsu Mitama hadn't been idle. His grasp of the Geo Archon's legacy had deepened significantly, and his control over Planet Befall had reached a new level.
Four or five casts?
At most, it would cost him a few breaths.
Seeing his decisiveness, no one objected.
Only Tartaglia let out a faint sigh, a trace of regret crossing his face. He still found the idea of activating the Celestia Nail far too tempting—especially if it might reveal Azhdaha's location.
But for now—he had no choice but to follow.
Soon, the group arrived beneath the Nail, stepping onto ground thick with black mud.
Working together, they dispersed the surrounding corruption, sealing the mud vents one by one. These vents were far larger than the ones Lumine had dealt with earlier—twice the size, at least.
Purification would have been difficult.
But sealing them?
That was another matter entirely.
With Yelan's techniques, Shenhe's talismans, and the expertise of both Shinobu and Kokomi, the process was handled efficiently.
Especially Kokomi.
As the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, her breadth of knowledge was astonishing. It was no coincidence that, within the Resistance, Gorou stood at the forefront, yet the true strategist behind everything had always been her.
After the last of the vents was sealed, all eyes turned toward Futsu Mitama.
"You all step back." His tone grew serious. "I'm going to open the path below."
Xiao remained where he stood, his gaze steady as he spoke.
"Do you need assistance?"
"For purely destructive force, I can help as well," Shenhe added, her fists tightening slightly, her expression composed yet resolute.
The Traveler, too, drew her blade, dual elements surging faintly around her.
Futsu Mitama, however, shook his head.
"No need. Leave it to me."
Black Aila's warning lingered in his mind. If the space below was unstable, then sending everyone in together carried unnecessary risk.
His own recovery was fast enough to withstand the strain.
Better to conserve everyone else's strength—for what awaited beyond.
Seeing his insistence, the others did not press further. They silently retreated, giving him space.
"That should be enough."
Golden light flickered in his eyes as he crossed his arms slightly.
The Geo element surged.
Condensed.
And then—
A massive celestial body formed high above.
"Planet Befall."
The colossal construct descended.
"Boom—!!!"
The impact shook the ground violently, cracks spreading in all directions.
Without pause, a second formed.
Then fell.
Another explosion.
The crater deepened.
Third.
Fourth.
Each strike heavier than the last.
Watching from the side, Tartaglia's expression twitched involuntarily. The intelligence reports had mentioned Futsu Mitama's strength—but this?
This was something else entirely.
Even without drawing on the Raiden Shogun's legacy, he could already overwhelm opponents at their level. The sheer stamina required to unleash Planet Befall repeatedly without pause was—absurd.
If it were him—
Three strikes.
At most, three before collapse.
Unless he maintained Foul Legacy indefinitely and even then, the outcome was uncertain.
Was this even reasonable?
Six months ago, he had still believed he could win. Now—the gap felt almost insurmountable.
Nearby, even Xiao's gaze flickered slightly. Strength alone did not equate to endurance. As a Yaksha, he understood that better than most.
Yet Futsu Mitama showed no such limitation. Within half a minute, six Planet Befalls had already torn open a massive section of the earth.
"Very close now, Young Master."
Aila's voice sounded, steady but tinged with urgency.
"The connection is reacting."
Only one or two more; that was all it would take.
"Good."
Futsu Mitama exhaled slowly, pausing just long enough for his stamina to recover. Then—
"Hm?" Xiao's eyes sharpened. "Jump!"
There was no hesitation. Everyone reacted instantly, leaping upward.
"Eh—?!"
Paimon froze for a split second before grabbing onto the Traveler and being pulled into the air.
"Rumble—!!!"
The ground exploded.
A massive mechanical serpent burst forth, its body composed of interlocking gears, its size immense and oppressive.
Though not as large as a mountain-class Geovishap, its coiling form was more than enough to rival one.
And worse—
Its entire body was coated in black, writhing matter.
The Ruin Serpent thrashed violently, its movements shattering the seals they had just placed. The mud vents ruptured once more, black sludge surging out in torrents.
Whether it was the creature's movement or the corruption it carried—
The result was the same.
The battlefield was instantly flooded again.
Futsu Mitama's expression darkened.
He had anticipated this creature's presence—but to save time, he had ignored everything else, focusing solely on breaking through to the space below.
He hadn't expected it to emerge at this exact moment.
Was it drawn by the impact of Planet Befall?
Or—
Had sealing those vents triggered its appearance?
Either way… this was no longer something that could be ignored.
Now, Futsu Mitama could no longer be bothered to care. A broken machine from Khaenri'ah dared to block his path?! It was simply courting death!
Futsu Mitama drew the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami. He stared at the Ruin Serpent, lightning flashing within his eyes.
"Everyone! Attack together!"
Futsu Mitama directly gave the order, intending to finish off the Ruin Serpent in one strike, preventing it from causing any further trouble.
Hearing Futsu Mitama's words, everyone gave slight nods before launching their respective attacks.
Yelan drew her bow without a word. Hydro Element arrows condensed instantly, while the catalyst on her wrist glowed a deep blue, its power surging into the arrows.
Kuki Shinobu took out a talisman, then a small ceremonial-looking knife, and began muttering something under her breath.
Sangonomiya Kokomi had over a dozen bubbles condensing around her, while she stood atop a jellyfish.
Tartaglia also utilized the power of his Foul Legacy. He drew his bow without a word, arrows imbued with both Hydro and Electro Elements.
Aila's light gold bracelet glowed purple. She struck a sword-drawing stance in mid-air.
Xiao was simple and brutal, donning his mask without a word, his aura utterly murderous.
Shenhe silently raised the Calamity Queller in her hand.
The Traveler did not raise her dull blade, instead condensing Geo Element energy, seemingly intending to create something.
In the next second, countless attacks were unleashed, all landing upon the Ruin Serpent.
Pure Hydro Element arrows struck the Ruin Serpent's head.
Furious lightning descended from the sky, striking the Ruin Serpent's body and rendering it immobile for a brief moment.
The combined Hydro and Electro Element attack directly dislodged parts from the Ruin Serpent.
A dozen seemingly harmless bubbles, upon approaching the Ruin Serpent, exploded violently, leaving it in a miserable state, with even more parts falling away.
Several Geo Element spikes descended from the sky, rapidly targeting the Ruin Serpent's various joints, making its movements extremely sluggish.
In the next moment, the masked Xiao, Aila, and Shenhe appeared.
Aila drew her sword, the power of a shattered god erupting. Ominous dark purple lightning enveloped the blade as it struck directly at the Ruin Serpent.
Xiao, meanwhile, impaled the Ruin Serpent's head with his spear, tearing it off completely.
Shenhe was far more violent. After landing, she first used the Calamity Queller to pin it down, then, with her terrifying brute strength, forcibly tore off the Ruin Serpent's tail.
After their three attacks concluded, they left the spot without a word, dodging to the side, because something immense was about to arrive.
Purple lightning carrying divine pressure erupted. Futsu Mitama swung the Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami in his hand.
The ultimate art of the Raiden Shogun, Musou no Hitotachi, descended from the sky, striking the Ruin Serpent!
"Boom—!!!"
Accompanied by a flash of purple light, the violent explosion made Paimon instinctively shut her eyes.
When she opened them again, she saw that the Ruin Serpent had been reduced to only a few large gears and fragments of its body structure.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Paimon mumbled, thinking the Ruin Serpent had ended up a little too miserable.
Although the opponent was in the wrong for suddenly ambushing everyone just as Futsu Mitama was about to rest for a while,
It shouldn't have ended up like this, right? In less than a minute. The once lively Ruin Serpent had now become a pile of scrap?
"Too much? I don't think so." The Traveler felt it was acceptable. She descended from the sky and explained to Paimon, "Simply put, the Ruin Serpent's actions just now—"
"It's like when you're about to eat gourmet food, and it suddenly appears, slaps you, and tells you not to eat the gourmet food."
Upon hearing this analogy, Paimon's eyes widened instantly. She stomped her feet mid-air.
"What?! Is it that serious?! Then isn't it guilty sentenced by death?!"
Because of A Bite of Liyue, Paimon had developed an almost obsessive fixation on gourmet food.
The moment she thought of the Ruin Serpent being so [bad], Paimon immediately felt that leaving it with just a few remaining parts was already merciful!
The Traveler looked at the furious Paimon and couldn't help but smile.
Then the Traveler turned her gaze toward Futsu Mitama, wondering whether he would start smashing the ground again after dealing with this Ruin Serpent.
"What a pity. If we could take this back, perhaps I could even get some rewards."
Tartaglia walked up to the Ruin Serpent's remains. At this moment, he felt a trace of regret. Ever since Khaenri'ah was gone—
Things of this level had become quite rare. If he could take this Ruin Serpent back as a gift for Dottore or the Marionette—
Those two would likely be very pleased, as both of them were involved in research.
The Marionette would probably be even happier, as she particularly liked things of this nature.
As for Dottore, Tartaglia wasn't entirely sure, as it depended on his [age segment].
Some versions of [Dottore] would be interested in this, while others would not.
"Indeed."
Yelan also felt a bit of regret, though her regret stemmed from the fact that this thing had been contaminated by dark energy.
Not to mention its enormous size, how would they even transport it back?
The dark energy it carried alone was enough to give Yelan a severe headache.
It wasn't as if they could ask the golden-haired Traveler to expend that much stamina to help them cleanse all of this dark energy, could they?
"Pity." Sangonomiya Kokomi also felt quite regretful. If this Ruin Serpent could have been captured alive or brought under control, the value it could produce would have been immense.
But unfortunately, could that dark energy infect not only living beings, but even machines?
" Mitama, what do you think?" Kuki Shinobu looked toward Futsu Mitama, asking for his decision on what to do next.
But Futsu Mitama looked at the ground beneath his feet. He frowned slightly and said,
"Get ready. The previous attacks have further damaged the ground. We might fall."
"Eh?" Paimon was slightly stunned, then placed her hands on her hips and said, "Fall?! Impossible! I can fly!"
The Traveler revealed a subtle expression. She felt Paimon's words were somewhat of a quibble.
Even if she could fly, once they descended, how would she return alone to the [safe location]?
One had to know that it was extremely far from the [safe location].
Even though a large number of monsters along the way had already been eliminated by Futsu Mitama's group, Paimon was still a weakling with a combat power of one. Aside from acting cute and eating, she couldn't do anything else.
"Hmm." Aila nodded, indicating her understanding.
Xiao also nodded silently. He was already prepared to [fall].
Because he had come here precisely for this moment. The truth of that year, the final fate of the Nameless Yaksha—he wanted to witness it all.
Shenhe's expression remained calm. She silently tightened her grip on the Calamity Queller, clearly prepared to deal with the impending [accident].
"Crack—!!"
"Crack—!!"
"Bang—!!!"
At that moment, a massive crack spread across the ground. Paimon, who had just been standing with her hands on her hips declaring she would absolutely not fall, suddenly felt a strange suction force.
"Eh eh eh eh!!!!"
Paimon shrieked. Ironically, despite being able to fly, she was the first to fall.
Seeing this, the Traveler rushed forward without a word, grabbing Paimon with both hands.
"Aila!"
Futsu Mitama grabbed Aila's hand, while his other hand seized Shenhe's.
He shouted, "Everyone, hold on to each other! We might get separated! To avoid being completely scattered, grab onto someone—preferably their hand!"
These words were mainly directed at Xiao, Yelan, and Tartaglia.
Everyone else already knew this, because Aila had made it very clear that she had caused a major disturbance below.
That space had developed a minor issue. If outsiders entered, they were very likely to be scattered apart.
Futsu Mitama wasn't certain whether this method would work, but regardless of the outcome, trying it certainly wouldn't hurt.
Kuki Shinobu grabbed Shenhe's hand.
Sangonomiya Kokomi grabbed both Aila's and Yelan's hands.
"Good!"
Tartaglia nodded, then turned to look at Xiao.
"..."
Xiao remained silent for roughly a tenth of a second before reluctantly extending his hand to grab Tartaglia.
"Help—!!!!"
Paimon shrieked, completely unable to do anything.
At that moment, everyone felt a wave of dizziness, as if they had been caught within a whirlpool.
Then, a white light engulfed them all.
—
Outside the Chasm, Zhongli stood silently with his arms crossed. He watched as the Millelith rapidly mobilized below, while Ganyu continuously released her aura.
"Are you worried?"
Guizhong appeared beside him. Standing at his side, she seemed unable to maintain her usual smile, speaking with a hint of helplessness, "If you're worried, why didn't you let me go?"
"I'm still a demon god, aren't I? No matter how dangerous it is down there, it's not as though I could die again, right?"
Even now, Guizhong remained puzzled as to why Zhongli had not allowed her to go.
As the second strongest force in Liyue on the surface, she had every reason to act alongside Futsu Mitama and the others.
Hmm The strongest force was Morax
The hidden second strongest force, Azhdaha, was currently sealed beneath Mt. Hulao.
Thus, calling herself the second strongest force on the surface was not an exaggeration. No matter how weak a demon god might be, they could not be defeated by ordinary Adeptus.
Moreover, Guizhong was not weak. Although she had died in battle back then, she had still managed to severely wound the opposing god.
Not being adept at combat was one thing, but she was far from incapable of fighting.
"..."
Zhongli did not respond. His gaze remained fixed upon the Chasm below as he spoke calmly, "They have already gone in. If an accident truly occurs, then I will act."
Seeing that Zhongli still did not answer her question, Guizhong spoke with clear dissatisfaction, "Hey!! Tell me! Why didn't you let me go!!!"
"Tell me quickly, or I'll bite you!"
As she spoke, Guizhong wrapped her arms around Zhongli and opened her [gaping maw], ready to bite at any moment.
"..."
Zhongli looked at Guizhong with a hint of helplessness before finally speaking, "That space possesses a faint sense of self-awareness. If you were to go, your life would be in danger."
"It's not that something within that space would endanger you directly, but rather that it would reject you. Do you intend to face spatial turbulence head-on?"
Upon hearing the words "spatial turbulence," Guizhong fell silent for a moment. Even gods were unwilling to confront such a thing.
Zhongli continued, "Even our existence poses a significant threat to that space. Although it possesses self-awareness, it is still limited."
"When faced with an overwhelmingly dangerous entity attempting to forcibly invade your domain, what would you do?"
Guizhong did not answer. The answer was obvious—fight to the death. That had been her choice back then, and she had died because of it.
If she had not left behind a fragment of her soul within the Memory of Dust, she would have truly perished.
Realizing this, Guizhong let out a helpless sigh. She had not expected that even [gods] could appear somewhat restrained at times.
"Furthermore." Zhongli shifted the topic slightly. His gaze lowered, as if piercing through space, his tone remaining calm, "Futsu Mitama's strength is not inferior to yours. Although he does not possess authority—"
"But he holds the Gnosis granted by the drunken poet, the martial arts guided by Beelzebub, and—"
Zhongli raised his hand. As if recalling something, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Pure Geo Element energy condensed within his palm, gradually compressing into a form resembling a Geo Hypostasis.
"Hmm?! You're finally willing to grant the Geo Archon Authority?" Guizhong revealed a peculiar smile at the sight.
Because it was rare. Zhongli was truly preparing to hand over the Geo Archon Authority.
Earlier, Guizhong had been puzzled. Since Zhongli had already decided to put Futsu Mitama the next Geo Archon in public, why had he delayed granting him that authority?
Of course, whether he granted it or not was secondary. The important thing was his attitude.
Look at the Anemo Archon of Mondstad, no matter how irresponsible he was he knew what benefit him and his nation!
He only met Futsu Mitama a few times, yet without a word, he handed over the Anemo Archon Authority. He even gave away his Gnosis and simply left.
And then there is the Electro Archon. She went even further. Not only did she pass on the Electro Archon Authority and its inheritance, she publicly declared that the next Electro Archon would be Futsu Mitama.
As long as she abdicates, the next Electro Archon will undoubtedly be Futsu Mitama.
This is a decision that no one can change.
In contrast, Zhongli's situation is far more nuanced. Although he granted the Geo Archon's inheritance, it was not complete, and he did not hand over the Geo Archon Authority.
During the Rite of Descension, he only verbally stated that there was an heir, yet did not specify who it was, acting like a maker of riddles.
Now that Zhongli was actually preparing to take the initiative, it made Guizhong give a thumbs up, inwardly praising, "Well done!"
"It's merely a matter of having a justified reason. He wishes to save Bosacius, but his strength is insufficient. As the Geo Archon, what is wrong with me granting him power?"
As he spoke, Zhongli cast down the Geo Archon Authority. The Geo Archon Authority transformed into a streak of light, shooting straight into the depths of the Chasm.
Then Zhongli crossed his arms and said calmly, "And what I am giving is not limited to the Geo Archon Authority."
"?!" Guizhong's eyes widened as she looked at Zhongli and asked, "You're not planning to give him the Gnosis as well, are you?!"
Zhongli shook his head slightly. Although he did intend to give the Gnosis, if he were to do so now, Beelzebub would likely rush over from Inazuma, which would only complicate matters further.
He would not do something that invited unnecessary trouble.
Everything had to be "logical." Since he was competing for an heir, he had to secure it in one decisive move. He could not leave any opportunity for others.
"Then what exactly are you going to give?" Guizhong found herself unable to guess Zhongli's intentions.
She could not figure out what else he intended to bestow aside from the Geo Archon Authority.
"You will understand shortly,"
Zhongli said casually, before continuing to observe below.
"Fine."
Guizhong did not press him further, as she was also pondering what Zhongli had given to Futsu Mitama.
As for whether the Geo Archon Authority would successfully reach Futsu Mitama, Guizhong was not worried in the slightest.
Because it was only a matter of time before it reached his hands; there was no need for concern at all.
—
On the other side, within that peculiar space, accompanied by a strong burst of light, Futsu Mitama slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
He found himself inside a mine shaft, with no one else nearby, causing him to let out a helpless sigh.
As expected, just as Black Aila had said, this kind of situation would occur when space became unstable.
Of course, it was also possible that this self-aware space had realized that Futsu Mitama and his group were in danger, and thus forcibly scattered them.
However, when faced with this situation, Futsu Mitama felt it was necessary to confirm things.
He opened the Chat Group. Everyone was still chatting. As expected, the system could not be interfered with, which was reassuring.
[Futsu Mitama: "@Aila @Kuki Shinobu @Shenhe @Sangonomiya Kokomi @Lumine @Paimon, how are things on your side?"]
[Azhdaha: "Hmm? Looks like they've gone in."]
[Raiden Ei: "It seems so."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Let's not interrupt them. Let them exchange information."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Agreed."]
[Keqing: "Have they already gone down?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "We were forcibly separated. Kokomi and I are together. We're in a desert with nothing around."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Yes, Shinobu and I are together. I feel something is off about this desert, but no enemies have appeared."]
[Paimon: "Me, me, me, me!! I'm with the Traveler!! We're safe! And Yelan is right next to us."]
[Lumine: "We're in a strange place. How should I describe it—there is something called the The Arrayed Pylon in the sky."]
[Lumine: "Yelan explained it to us. According to her, the The Arrayed Pylon was something her ancestor carried, which was lost in a battle 500 years ago. She did not expect to find it here."]
[Paimon: "Yelan also said that this thing is much larger than she imagined, so she believes we were likely scattered into different locations. Maybe we can use the power of the The Arrayed Pylon to locate all of you."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Wait? There's something in the sky? We don't have anything here."]
[Shenhe: "I am also alone here and cannot see anything in the sky. I am in an underground tunnel, currently exploring the surroundings in hopes of finding a way out."]
[Futsu Mitama: "I do not have the The Arrayed Pylon either. I am in a mine shaft."]
[Aila: "I'm in Inazuma City, alone."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Eh?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Hmm?"]
[Aila: "Hmm~ Inazuma City, in the middle of a snowstorm."]
[Guizhong: "It seems you have been scattered into different spaces. This is truly quite eerie."]
[Albedo: "Regret. I regret it now."]
[Klee: "Huh? Albedo brother, what are you regretting? Aren't we already on our way?"]
[Yae Miko: "He regrets not arriving at the scene immediately. Because if he had arrived earlier, there would have been more interesting developments. But now hehe"]
[Yae Miko: "Albedo is still on his way This situation is truly endlessly amusing~"]
[Albedo: "..."]
[Venti: "Do you require the assistance of the Anemo Archon? Although I am on the Nameless Island I can still offer a small blessing. All you need to do is provide a small offering, such as a few bottles of fine wine or some gourmet food, and you may receive the Anemo Archon's blessing~"]
[Albedo: "Alright!"]
[Venti: "Ehe~"]
[Yae Miko: "Tsk, cheating!!"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Do not derail the conversation. Also...those who entered this unknown space with me, report your locations. If any of you encounter danger, inform me, and I will reach you as quickly as possible."]
As Futsu Mitama's words fell, Aila, Kuki Shinobu, Shenhe, and Lumine all sent their respective locations.
Futsu Mitama also shared his own location, then briefly checked the "positioning" within the Chat Group.
This caused him to frown, as he noticed that Kuki Shinobu and Lumine were the closest to each other, while Shenhe and himself were positioned very far away from them.
As for Aila, her location was extremely peculiar.
She was distant from everyone else, as if she had been completely isolated.
Futsu Mitama glanced to the side. The Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami silently appeared in his hand. The closest person to him at the moment was Shenhe.
If he finished exploring this area and still failed to locate Xiao and Tartaglia, he would directly break through space and use the power of Chakra Desiderata to cross space and find Shenhe.
No matter what, regrouping with his allies first was unquestionably the correct decision.
However, the cost of breaking through this space might be significant. In the original account, Xiao, a top-tier adeptus whose combat power was comparable to that of an average Archon, had repeatedly struggled within this space.
Although part of that was due to his unwillingness to harm Bosacius, which resulted in Bosacius relentlessly attacking him,
In that same account, Xiao, who forcibly broke through space to reach Lumine and the others, had expended an immense amount of stamina.
Therefore, Futsu Mitama was already prepared to search for his companions one space at a time.
Of course, the most urgent priority at present was to locate Black Aila and ensure her safety.
"Hmm? Wait!"
At that moment, Futsu Mitama suddenly realized something and halted his steps.
He had just remembered something—why had Aila not mentioned Black Aila after entering this space?
Although the two had been separated, they were still fundamentally the same person.
Upon arriving in any location, her unique perception should allow her to sense the other. Why had she not mentioned Black Aila's approximate position at all?
Thinking of this, Futsu Mitama @Aila in the Chat Group, asking whether she had sensed Black Aila.
Aila seemed to fall silent for a moment before replying.
Black Aila was right in front of her, and they had already reunited.
On the other side, within Inazuma City engulfed in a snowstorm, Aila pushed open a familiar door. She calmly looked at Black Aila lying on the bed.
"You're here."
On the bed, Black Aila, with waist-length black hair and a more youthful appearance, slowly opened her blood-red eyes, looking at her "other half."
She said, "You should not have come. You should have persuaded young master not to enter this place."
At this moment, Black Aila's aura was extremely weak. Her maid outfit was tattered, clearly indicating that she had undergone an unimaginable battle.
Aila calmly looked at her other "self" and said seriously, "Young master asked me to trust him, so I came with him."
"This is the mental world you created, correct? Before the final battle officially begins, is there any information you wish for me to relay to young master and our companions?"
Black Aila raised an eyebrow slightly. She looked at Aila with a complicated expression, then gave a slight nod.
"Yes. I will tell you everything about this space truthfully."
Aila nodded seriously. She was also very curious as to how someone as powerful as Black Aila could have sustained such severe injuries.
One had to understand that Black Aila was not weak—she was extremely powerful. Even Xiao, who ranked second within the group, would not be able to gain an advantage against her.
Black Aila, possessing Abyssal Power and incomplete Archon authority, while not as overwhelmingly powerful as young master, who dared to claim to be the strongest beneath the Archons,
Was still an exceptionally powerful adeptus-level existence, far beyond the reach of ordinary opponents.
"You are aware of the battle 500 years ago, correct?" Black Aila looked at Aila and spoke calmly. "The Abyssal Tide from Khaenri'ah attacked the Seven Nations."
"And this place, or rather, based on the information you provided to me, I know this is the Chasm. The Abyssal Tide that attacked the Chasm back then was sealed within this space."
"Perhaps I am too dangerous. This space's consciousness regarded me as a formidable enemy. It sent Yakshas, Millelith, and Exorcists—all of whom I repelled or defeated."
"But the Abyssal Tide is different. They are still alive, and there are many of them. Their destructive power is immense. I am not their opponent."
Aila frowned slightly. She had not expected that her "self" would be severely wounded by the Abyssal Tide from 500 years ago.
That force had been sealed for 500 years—had it truly not perished yet?
Black Aila's blood-red eyes remained fixed on Aila as she continued calmly,
"People have moments when their strength is exhausted. If I were at my peak, they would not have been able to seriously injure me. Even with Abyssal Power and incomplete Archon authority, I can still be worn down. This space possesses self-awareness."
"And it behaves like a mirror, reflecting both the scenes you most hope for, as well as your deepest fears."
"Tell young master and the others to remain cautious. When they encounter scenes of hope or fear, they must not lower their guard, because the enemy is highly likely to launch a sudden attack."
This was a warning. Black Aila had suffered a heavy loss because of this.
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